Maui Fruit Jewels is a young award-winning fruit confection creating much excitement in Hawaii and quickly gaining popularity since the relaunch of the entire product line in January 2016, especially for visitors of the islands looking for omiyage that are uniquely Hawaiian.
Owners Chris and Lin ter Horst are professionals who lived and worked in quite a number of different countries, before moving to Maui in 2012 from China, where they met and got married. Chris is a Dutch national, and Lin was born in Shanghai and grew up in New York City since the age of 10. Lin was working in Beijing as an investment banker when the financial markets collapsed in 2008. Inspired by both Julia Child and Julie Powell(Julie & Julia), Lin made a decision to study pastry arts at Le Cordon Bleu London, a decision that forever changed her path. Lin taught pastry arts to local Chinese and expats at her pastry studio in downtown Beijing, and made beautiful wedding cakes that were featured in Beijing editions of the CosmopolitanBride magazine.
After moving to Maui, Lin wanted to open a small French patisserie at first, but quickly changed her mind when she saw the abundance of exotic tropical fruits at local farmers markets on Maui, and decided to make a fruit confection similar to the French pates de fruits using locally-grown fruits to share her love for the islands with the world. By using the pulp from the fruits, and even the seeds in the case of the lilikoi passion fruits, the candies retain all the minerals and fibers, and some of the antioxidants and vitamins that were present in the original fruits, which made these candies not only delicious, but also full of health benefits.
In 2014, before they could even find ideal packaging for their new candy line, Chris and Lin were highly encouraged when their fledgling Maui Fruit Jewels received a silver award for the prestigious and highly coveted sofi™ Award for food innovation with their Hana Collection which featured the six most popular tropical fruit flavors - coconut, guava, mango, lilikoi passion fruit, papaya and pineapple, from the Specialty Food Association. Exhibiting at the Summer Fancy Food Show that year in New York City, Chris and Lin took to hearts feedback from interested buyers who wanted their delicious candies with a much longer shelf life. They also continued to expand their offering by incorporating locally made wines, and herbs such as turmeric for the increasingly health-conscious customer base. The Maui Fruit Jewels line includes 18 flavors presently.
Unwilling to compromise their vision for creating a line of premium candy line untainted by chemicals, Chris and Lin worked hard to fine tune their production techniques and sought a custom packaging solution that allowed them to create a fruit candy that was shelf stable and free of additives.
The resulting fruit candies are very intense in flavor, natural, vegan, and wheatless, preserving the pureness, authenticity, and essence of the Hawaiian islands. The candies also have a shelf life of one year without refrigeration.
In January 2016, Chris and Lin finally relaunched Maui Fruit Jewels in beautiful new packaging, and the candies became an instant hit with tourists and locals alike. Maui Fruit Jewels was a finalist for Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association's 2016 Taste Awards in both the "Startup of the Year", and "Product of the Year" categories.
Here, Chris and Lin provide our readers with a photo gallery for how these beautiful candies are made with much love and attention.
Fresh fruits grown on Maui and other Hawaiian islands are washed, and processed into fruit purees.
The fruit purees are cooked with organic cane sugar, glucose, pectin, and citric acid. The cooked mixture is poured into molds, and left to set,
dehydrated,
and cut down to size with the use of a guitar cutter.
Finally, the candies are individually packaged,
and sorted into packaging boxes.
Now visitors of Hawaii can bring home a taste of Hawaii-grown tropical fruits in beautifully packaged, easily transportable products. The candies are not sensitive to heat, and can be transported in carry-on luggage.
Maui Fruit Jewels can be purchased at the following locations:
| Store Name | City / Town | Island | Store Address | Phone Number |
| Four Seasons Resort deli - Hualalai | Kaiua Kona | Hawaii | 72-100 Ka'upulehu Drive, Kailua Kona, HI 96740 | (808) 325-8000 |
| Accents | Mauna Kea Beach Hotel | Kamuela | Hawaii | 62-100 Mauna Kea Beach Drive, Kamuela, HI 96743 | (808) 882-7511 |
| Foodland - Waimea | Kamuela | Hawaii | Parker Ranch Center, 67-1185 Mamalahoa Hwy., Waimea, HI 96743 | (808) 885-2022 |
| Accents | Mauna Lani Bay Hotel | Kohala Coast | Hawaii | 68-1400 Mauna Lani Drive, Kamuela, HI 96743 | (808) 881-1614 |
| Foodland Farms - Mauna Lani | Kohala Coast | Hawaii | The Shops at Mauna Lani, 68-1330 Mauna Lani Drive #200, Kohala Coast, HI 96743 | (808) 887-6101 |
| Punalu`u Bake Shop & Visitor Center | Naalehu | Hawaii | HI-11, Naalehu, HI 96772 | (808) 929-7343 |
| Accents | St. Regis Princeville | Princeville | Kauai | 5520 Ka Haku Road, Princeville, HI 96722 | (808) 826-1140 |
| Foodland - Princeville | Princeville | Kauai | 5-4280 Kuhio Hwy, Princeville, HI 96722-1700 | (808) 826-9880 |
| Haiku Market | Haiku | Maui | 810 Haiku Rd #143, Haiku HI 96708 | (808) 575-9291 |
| Down to Earth - Kahului | Kahului | Maui | 305 Dairy Road, Kahului, HI 96732 | (808) 877-2661 |
| Mr. Pineapple | Kahului | Maui | 370 Dairy Rd # C, Kahului, HI 96732 | (808) 871-6798 |
| Whole Foods Market Maui | Kahului | Maui | Maui Mall, 70 E. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului, HI 96732 | (808) 872-3310 |
| Kumu Farms - Molokai | Kaunkakai | Maui | 551 Huaai Rd, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 | (808) 351-3326 |
| Accents | The Marriott Wailea | Kihei | Maui | 3700 Wailea Alanui Drive, Kihei, HI 96753 | (808) 874-9604 |
| Foodland - Kihei | Kihei | Maui | Kihei Town Center Shopping Center, 1881 S. Kihei Dr., Kihei, HI 96753 | (808) 879-9350 |
| Tutu's Pantry | Kihei | Maui | 1914 S. Kihei Road, Kihei, HI 96753 | (808) 874-6400 |
| Whalers General Store Wailea | Kihei | Maui | The Shops at Wailea, 3750 Wailea Alanui Drive, Kihei, HI 96753 | (808) 891-2039 |
| Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm | Kula | Maui | 1100 Waipoli Rd, Kula, HI 96790 | (808) 878-3004 |
| Kula Botanical Garden | Kula | Maui | 638 Kekaulike Ave, Kula, HI 96790 | (808) 878-1715 |
| Kula Marketplace | Kula | Maui | 15200 Haleakala Highway, Kula, HI 96790 | (808) 878-2135 |
| Accents | Hyatt Regency Ka'anapali | Lahaina | Maui | 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina, HI 96761 | (808) 661-5014 |
| Accents | The Westin Maui Ka'anapali | Lahaina | Maui | 2365 Kaanapali Parkway, Lahaina, HI 96761 | (808) 662-0440 |
| Foodland Farms - Lahaina | Lahaina | Maui | Lahaina Gateway, 345 Keawe Street #304, Lahaina, HI 96761 | (808) 662-7088 |
| Kaanapali Beach Club gift shop | Lahaina | Maui | 104 Kaanapali Shores Place, Lahaina, HI 96761 | (800) 438-2929 |
| Lahaina Visitor Center | Lahaina | Maui | 648 Wharf St #101, Lahaina, HI 96761 | (808) 667-9175 |
| Napili Market | Lahaina | Maui | 5095 Napilihau Street #105, Lahaina, HI 96767 | (808) 669-1600 |
| Whalers General Store Front Street Sabia Bldg. | Lahaina | Maui | 816A Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761 | (808) 661-5089 |
| Mana Foods | Paia | Maui | 49 Baldwin Ave., Paia, HI 96779 | (808) 579-8078 |
| Foodland - Pukalani | Pukalani | Maui | Pukalani Terrace Center, 55 Pukalani Street, Pukalani, HI 96768 | (808) 572-0674 |
| Caffe Ciao Deli | The Fairmont Kea Lani | Wailea | Maui | 4100 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, HI 96753 | (808) 875-2225 |
| Mokapu Market | Andaz Maui | Wailea | Maui | 3550 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, HI 96753 | (808) 573-1234 |
| Sweet Paradise Chocolatier | Wailea | Maui | 34 Wailea Gateway Center, Wailea, HI 96753 | (808) 344-1040 |
| Foodland - Kehalani | Wailuku | Maui | 370 Kehalani Village Drive, Wailuku HI 96793 | (808) 244-4460 |
| Kumu Farms - Maui | Wailuku | Maui | Maui Tropical Plantation, 1670 Honoapiilani Hwy #5, Wailuku, HI 96793 | (808) 244-4800 |
| Maui Ocean Center | Wailuku | Maui | 192 Ma'alaea Road, Wailuku, HI 96793 | (808) 270-7062 |
| Foodland - Pupukea | Haleiwa | Oahu | 59-720 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa HI 96712 | (808) 638-8081 |
| Accents | Ala Moana Hotel | Honolulu | Oahu | 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814 | (808) 944-6817 |
| Accents | Grand Waikikian | Honolulu | Oahu | 1811 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815 | (808) 947-8405 |
| Accents | Moana Surfrider Westin Resort | Honolulu | Oahu | 2365 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu HI 96815 | (808) 923-3996 |
| Accents | The Royal Hawaiian Resort | Honolulu | Oahu | 2259 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815 | (808) 924-9599 |
| Dean & DeLuca | The Ritz-Carlton Residences | Honolulu | Oahu | 383 Kalaimoku St., Honolulu HI 96815 | (808) 729-9720 |
| Down to Earth - Honolulu | Honolulu | Oahu | 2525 S. King Street, Honolulu, HI 96826 | (808) 947-7678 |
| Foodland - Beretania | Honolulu | Oahu | 1460 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96814 | (808) 946-4654 |
| Foodland Farms - Aina Haina | Honolulu | Oahu | Aina Haina Shopping Center, 820 Hind Dr. #101, Honolulu HI 96821 | (808) 373-2222 |
| Foodland Farms - Ala Moana Center | Honolulu | Oahu | Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Space 8000, Honolulu, HI 96814 | (808) 949-5044 |
| JTB Global Travel Plaza | Honolulu | Oahu | 2250 Kalakaua Avenue, B1, Honolulu, HI 96815 | (808) 924-4291 |
| Magnolia | Honolulu | Oahu | Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Ave. #1160, Honolulu, HI 96816 | (808) 734-2200 |
| Na Mea Hawaii (Native Books) | Honolulu | Oahu | Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite #100, Honolulu, HI 96814 | (808) 364-8737 |
| Neiman Marcus | Honolulu | Oahu | Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu HI 96814 | (808) 951-8887 |
| Tilia Exquisite Aloha | Honolulu | Oahu | 403 Kaiolu St. Suite 101, Honolulu, HI 96815 | (808) 888-2011 |
| Whole Foods Market Honolulu | Honolulu | Oahu | Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Ave. Suite #2000, Honolulu, HI 96816 | (808) 738-0826 |
| Lamonts | Turtle Bay Resort | Kahuku | Oahu | 57-091 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku, HI 96731 | (808) 293-8488 |
| Down to Earth - Kailua | Kailua | Oahu | 201 Hamakua Drive, Kailua, HI 96734 | (808) 262-3838 |
| Foodland - Kailua | Kailua | Oahu | Kailua Town Center, 108 Hekili Street, Kailua, HI 96734 | (808) 261-3211 |
| Whole Foods Market Kailua | Kailua | Oahu | 629 Kailua Road Suite 100, Kailua, HI 96734 | (808) 263-6800 |
| Down to Earth - Kapolei | Kapolei | Oahu | Kapolei Commons, 4460 Kapolei Pkwy #320, Kapolei, HI 96707 | (808) 675-2300 |
| Foodland - Kapolei | Kapolei | Oahu | 4850 Kapolei Parkway Bldg A, Kapolei, HI 96707 | (808) 674-1114 |
| Hapa Home | Hukilau Marketplace | Laie | Oahu | Polynesian Culture Center, 55 - 370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, HI 96762 | (808) 293-3333 |
| Dole Plantation | Wahiawa | Oahu | 64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786 | (808) 621-8408 |
| SeaLife Park | Waimanalo | Oahu | 41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy #1, Waimanalo, HI 96795 | (808) 259-2500 |
