Tropical Trail Mix Recipe for a Hawaii Road Trip

Dried Pineapple Chunks

If I asked you to name a Hawaiian fruit, you’d probably say pineapple and so this Hawaiian snack mix starts there with dried pineapple chunks. Though native to South America, pineapple was first introduced to Hawaii in the 1500s. Today, the state produces almost one third of the world’s pineapple crop and supplies nearly 60% of all canned pineapple products.

Banana Chips

Bananas are another fruit typically associated with Hawaii. Though it’s a declining industry, and most of the bananas we find in grocery stores come from other parts of the world, Hawaii is still the largest producer of bananas in the United States. The banana chips in this recipe bring a crisp texture to contrast the soft pineapple.

Coconut Chips

The coconut tree (niu) was introduced to Hawaiians by the original Polynesian settlers hundreds of years ago. The fruit thrives in the humid air, warm climate, and lush soil of the islands and so coconuts grow bountifully on all eight of the Hawaiian islands. The palm trees grow up to 100 feet in the air and are a quintessential backdrop to the ideal Hawaiian landscape. If you’re visiting Hawaii and road tripping the islands there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself eating the meat or sipping the water, so coconut chips (or shredded coconut) are a must-have ingredient in this mix.

Macadamia Nuts

Every trail mix needs a nut and if you’re going for a Hawaiian-themed snack, there’s only one nut you can use: Macadamia Nuts. The Macadamia Nut industry began in Hawaii and almost all of Hawaii’s macadamia nuts come from the Big Island. The state has more than 700 macadamia nut farms and the nut is one of their biggest exports.

Cacao (or Dark Chocolate Chips)

Cacao in its original form looks like a coffee bean and produces a bitter base for the chocolate we know and love. While Hawaii is known for its tropical climate, its actually the coldest place in the world that cacao can grow and the only US state that grows the crop. For this recipe you can use cacao nibs for the chocolate element, or dark chocolate chips if you can’t find it.

Li Hing Mui Powder

Li hing mui powder is a salty, sweet, sour spice made from pickled plum. It was introduced to Hawaii from China in the early 1900s. The ingredient is staple among native Hawaiians and can be eaten in its original form or as a powder coated over snack, dried mango, or fresh fruit. It’s hard to come by on on the mainland (you can buy it on Amazon here), so it’s an optional ingredient in this Hawaiian snack mix. The snack will still taste delicious without it, but sprinkling the mixture with Li hing mui powder will heighten the taste and give it a new, unique flavor.

Tropical Trail Mix Recipe for a Hawaii Road Trip – Hawaiian snack mix made from dried, pineapple, banana chips, coconut chips, macadamia nuts, cacao and Li Hing Mui Powder.