Kiawe is the Hawaiian word for mesquite - it grows wild in the arid desert areas of the islands and it grows in the open fields in Kihei.
A brief history of kiawe in Hawaii
As an island food, Kiawe beans have been forgotten but these bean pods are edible and taste like honey. In fact years ago kiawe honey was an export crop on Maui.
After the beans are harvested they need to be dried completely before they can be ground into flour. There's a local insect that sometimes bores small holes into the pods but they're still usable. Since the beans are dried, any insects or larvae would leave the pod before it's time to grind them. The beans can also be fire roasted prior to grinding
How to Harvest Mesquite is a short and informative YouTube video. In Tuscon, harvesting mesquite beans each summer is an annual event. Organic mesquite flour retails for $18/lb on Amazon.
The pods must be completely dry in order to grind them in to flour. They can be dried in the sun or in an oven on a low temperature.
The pods must be completely dry in order to grind them in to flour. They can be dried in the sun or in an oven on a low temperature.
Lots of photos, nutritional information and recipes can be found
on the Desert Harvesters website.
An article about a neighborhood in Tucson with kiawe trees in their sustainable landscape design:
Eat Mequite!
Information and links to uses and recipes for kiawe flour:
Native Cultures: Mesquite Flour
And, more information about kiawe in Hawaii:
Kiawe: Hawaii's Tropical Mesquite
An article about a neighborhood in Tucson with kiawe trees in their sustainable landscape design:
Eat Mequite!
Information and links to uses and recipes for kiawe flour:
Native Cultures: Mesquite Flour
And, more information about kiawe in Hawaii:
Kiawe: Hawaii's Tropical Mesquite
