Our Story
At the heart of each treat is a sweet love story...
We're Lin and Chris ter Horst — the epicureans behind it all.
We are often asked how we ended up making candies in paradise. It’s a good question, seeing as our roots led us all over the world before we found our beloved home in the tropics. Lin is Shanghai-born and raised in New York, and Chris is a native of the Netherlands. It was when our paths led us separately to Beijing that we found each other and fell in love over a shared passion for running.
After moving to Maui in 2012, we were quickly enamored by the island’s abundance of fruits. We encountered fruits constantly as we adjusted to island-life—wild guavas on mountain hikes, ripened lilikoi dropping in neighbors’ backyards, prickly pears on roadside cacti, apple bananas gifted to us by kind farmers… Perhaps the answer to why we started it all is simply that it was impossible for us to sit idle with all that fruit on our doorsteps!
That’s when the idea for Maui Fruit Jewels began to shine.
Lin—trained as a professional pastry chef at the Le Cordon Bleu in London—began developing recipes to make the island’s beloved flavors shine. She adapted pâte de fruits, a traditional French confection, to better showcase the bold flavors of Hawaii’s local fruits. Chris—an engineer and, at the time, a professional triathlete—had been training on Maui’s intense slopes and oceans. Inspired by Lin’s ideas, Chris quickly shifted his goals and channeled his hard-working spirit into creating what would become Maui Fruit Jewels.
We are proud to provide treats that are crafted according to our values, utilizing ingredients of the highest quality and only fruits that are sourced locally. Maui Fruit Jewels remains a family-run operation, inspired by Hawaii and its people. We are thrilled to offer you a taste of our island paradise, no matter where you are.
Aloha, Lin & Chris
As a family-owned business on Maui, we carefully oversee every stage of our production process: from sourcing the best fruits to placing each individually wrapped product into sturdy, beautiful boxes.
our products
Exotic fruit jellies
Exotic Fruit Jellies is the original product line we created, and it is like divine fruit gummies for adults, made from Hawaii-grown fruits. It is inspired by the traditional French confection “pates de fruits”, and received the prestigious silver sofi™ Awards from the Specialty Food Association in 2014. Exotic Fruit Jellies are to be enjoyed in the same way chocolate bonbons are savored. Presented in premium gift boxes, it is a great way to share fruits of the islands.
hawaii fruit pastes
Hawaii Fruit Paste is our answer to the traditional quince paste ("membrillo" in Spanish) originated in Europe. Our Hawaii Fruit Pastes are best served as an accompaniment to artisan cheese and crackers. They are offered in: Lilikoi Passion Fruit (Winner Good Food Award in 2018), Guava, Pineapple, Hawaii Chili Pepper Pineapple, and Turmeric Ginger Pineapple.
Fruit-Studded Shortbreads
This one-of-a-kind classic buttery shortbread incorporates our signature soft exotic fruit jellies - the essence of the most beautiful place on earth. Filled with pockets of sea salt, these melt-in-your-mouth crispy cookies are perfect treats to pair your afternoon tea or compliment any dessert menu.
hawaii fruit purees
Made with 100% pure fruit grown on Maui, our fresh purées allow you to infuse any dish or drink with the taste of Hawaii. Enjoy yours in sauces, smoothies, cocktails, baked goods, jams, or even just swirled into yogurt. The purées contain no preservatives, fillers, or added sugars—only lush fruits nurtured by the bright Hawaiian sun and faint sea breeze.
Our quality
Gifts with Aloha
Find your Hawaiian omiyage: Embrace the Japanese tradition of gifting regional food specialties with brightly colored boxes of small Hawaiian treasures.
