Have you always wanted to learn about how farmers grow, harvest, and process coconuts on Maui? If that’s your dream, then put Punakea Palms on your radar. Set in the heart of Lahaina, this 13-acre working farm gives you a glimpse into the world of coconuts plus offers a chance to sample their bounty. To get the full experience, you’ll need to pre-book your tasting tour reservations before arriving. Want to just stop by the café and gift shop instead? You can definitely do that without booking your spot ahead of time.
For a deep dive into coconut deliciousness, the tasting tour is the way to go, however. Even though it’s just 1.5 hours long, their tour will teach you all there’s to know about growing coconut trees, making coconut milk, and everything in between. Your journey will start with a look at how the farmers amend the dirt to create a healthy living mix for their saplings. After that, you’ll also learn about the lifecycle of coconut trees, including how they evolved over time to produce scrumptious coconut fruits.
As you explore the trees’ lifecycle, your guide will show you how to open up coconuts from their earliest stages through to full ripeness. You’ll get to sample the water and meat inside as you do that, letting you decide when the fruit hits its tastiest stage. In between all the coconuts, you can cleanse your palate with in-season fresh fruit grown right on the farm.
Using the coconuts you opened up on the tour, you will have the opportunity to make your very own coconut milk. Your guide will lead you through the process of removing the meat to start. Then, you will extract the coconut milk and cream using time-honored practices before getting to drink down your creation. If there’s time, you might also get to create fresh sugar cane juice, and then sip on it for even more decadent sweetness.
Their top café offerings include:
Fresh Coconut Water
There’s perhaps nothing more refreshing than coconut water fresh off the tree. Whether you go to the café or do the whole tour, you can sample this amazing treat for yourself. Then, once you sip all the water out of the coconut, have it sliced open, so you can enjoy all the sweet meat inside.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk adds an incredible richness to the coconut water flavor profile. So, it’s definitely well worth enjoying even if you don’t go on the tour and make your own. As you sip on the milk, pair it with fresh coconut meat to enjoy all the complex flavors inside this amazing fruit.
Coconut Milk Iced Coffee
If you need to kick your day up a notch, you cannot go wrong with Coconut Milk or Iced Coffee. Only served in their café, this drink pairs robust coffee beans with lightly sweet coconut milk. Then, it all goes over ice to add an even more refreshing spin to the mix.
If you fall in love with the taste of fresh coconuts, buy a few before you leave to take them back home with you. You don’t have to worry about having to eat them all before leaving the island either. It’s actually possible to take them back on the plane by simply declaring them at the airport. Then, they’ll just need to get inspected before receiving the all-clear for your travels.
Insider Tips:
-Their tour only accommodates up to 10 guests. So, if you’d like to come by with a large group, you’ll need to book a private tour instead.
-If you’d like to enjoy a cool, refreshing beverage during the tour, arrive early, so you can grab an iced coconut milk coffee at the café before checking in.
-Since mature coconut trees flower all year long, there’s never a bad time to plan your visit to the coconut farm.