What Is Lilikoi? Hawaii’s Passion Fruit, Explained
The tart, tropical flavor you will see on every menu in Hawaii — what it is, what it tastes like and four ways to try it on Kalākaua Avenue.
Lilikoi is simply the Hawaiian name for passion fruit — most often the yellow variety that grows on vines all over the islands. Cut one open and you get a tangy, fragrant pulp full of crunchy black seeds that tastes like a mix of citrus, pineapple and guava. Hawaii puts it in everything: butter, chiffon pie, shave ice syrup, malasada fillings, drinks. At Kona Coffee Donut on Kalākaua Avenue you can taste it four ways, from a lilikoi lemonade ($8.95) to Paradise Lilikoi shave ice ($12.95).
Taste Lilikoi From $8.95
Lilikoi lemonade $8.95, lilikoi matcha $9.95, Paradise Lilikoi bingsu $12.95, Mango Coconut Lilikoi smoothie $12.95. 2142 Kalākaua Ave, open 7 AM to 9 PM daily.
Lilikoi = Passion Fruit
Same fruit, Hawaiian name. The yellow passion fruit common in Hawaii is a little larger and more tart than the purple kind sold in many mainland stores. The name is usually traced to Lilikoʻi, a gulch on Maui where the vines were first planted in the islands.
What Does Lilikoi Taste Like?
Bright and sour first, then sweet and floral — think a tropical cross between citrus, pineapple and guava. The seeds are edible and add a little crunch. Because it is so tart, lilikoi is usually sweetened or blended with creamier flavors like coconut or mango.
Four Ways to Try It in Waikiki
Every price below is from our register this month:
- •Lilikoi Lemonade — $8.95, tart on tart, very refreshing
- •Lilikoi Matcha — $9.95, whisked matcha over a lilikoi layer, hot or iced
- •Paradise Lilikoi Hawaiian bingsu — $12.95
- •Mango Coconut Lilikoi smoothie — $12.95, the creamiest of the four
Other Places You Will See Lilikoi in Hawaii
Lilikoi butter (a sweet spread for toast), lilikoi chiffon pie, lilikoi malasada filling at some bakeries and lilikoi shave ice syrup. If you like the flavor, look for it on menus all over the islands.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Taste Lilikoi Today
Lilikoi lemonade $8.95, lilikoi matcha $9.95. 2142 Kalākaua Ave, open 7 AM – 9 PM daily.