Mountain Thunder Booms with Growth!
by Les Drent
Coffee cherry growing in the rainforest of Mountain Forest Coffee Farm
The recent growth at Mountain Thunder Coffee Farm is dizzying to say the least. After winning 2 blue ribbon awards at the Kona Spring Blossom cupping competition Mountain Thunder ran off with the Gold medals in both the People’s Choice and Chef’s Choice divisions at the recent cup off at the Kona Village Resort. The event was held this past July.
Fresh off their achievements Mountain Thunder Coffee has expanded its operations to include a ten acre organic macadamia nut farm. In addition to the nuts both green tea and the ancient Hawaiian mamaki herbal tea are now being cultivated at the farm. The mamaki tea is available for both wholesale and retail.
Nestled high in the rain forest (at the 3000 foot elevation) on the slopes of Hualalai mountain visitors to the farm have the opportunity to not only tour the milling facilities but to be roast master for the day. That’s right... you can learn to roast your own coffee! If that’s not enough... hand feed the geese and tropical hair sheep which control the farm’s weeds while also supplying a ton of free fertilizer!
Tea growing in the rainforest of Mountain Forest Coffee Farm
A gift shop and espresso bar are open for free tasting and purchasing of the prized Mountain Thunder 100% organic Kona coffee and tea.
Organic wild flower honey, cacao, noni, pineapple and bananas round off the farm’s offerings. Lunch is also available with reservations.
Mountain Thunder is now the official coffee tour destination for the Norwegian Cruise Lines ships that visit Kona’s port.
Mountain Thunder is also once again the official Gevalia coffee mill and roast master for the 2004 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival and cupping contest.
Follow the map and directions in the advertisement on the facing page to arrive at Mountain Thunder coffee farm and take part in Kona’s ultimate organic experience!
We’re also #1 on the Kona Coffee Belt Tour Map brochure found at the airport and all island hotels.
Readers may submit editorial comments to any of our stories by sending an email to les@lbdcoffee.com. We would be happy to attach your comments and feedback to anything we publish online. Thank you for your interest.
Story appeared originally in Coffee Times print magazine and appears online for archival purposes only. Any use or reprinting of these stories without the expressed written consent of the author is prohibited.
