Angelika Recently, we spent another 10 days on the Hawaiian island of Oahu to relax in the wonderful tropical climate. While we were stocking up on sunscreen and the like at Costco (yes, there is a Costco in Hawaii too), we discovered a sales stand offering a reddish fruit juice drink called... Kona Red" is already in English. It is abrand name, often associated with coffee products made from coffeebeans grown in the Kona region of Hawaii. When the friendly saleswoman, who looked as if she had just emerged from the waves with her surfboard, informed us that the juice is extracted from the fruit of the coffee plant, there was no stopping me. As is well known, I am an absolute coffee fan and particularly love the one brewed from 100% Kona beans, which seems to taste three times better when you're on vacation in Hawaii. However, Kona coffee doesn't come directly from Oahu but from the island of Big Island (also called Hawaii). Just as the wine "Bordeaux" can only be called Bordeaux if it comes from the French region, real Kona coffee only comes from the Kona region of the Big Island. Due to the volcanic, fertile soil and the mild climate there, coffee plants thrive particularly well in this region.
The fruit juice drink "Kona Red" is now made from the red fruit that surrounds and protects the future coffee bean. The drink consists of 100% fruit juice with no added sugar and tastes very refreshing. It is reminiscent of a mix of cherry, blackberry, and grape juice with a not-too-sweet, slightly tart note. The drink is deep red and also healthy, as the fruit of the coffee plant is considered a superfruit, packed with vitamin A, E, and other antioxidants. The company also produces a variant in a bluish bottle that is enriched with coconut water.