Onopop!

Umami was wandering through his favorite grocery store, Kale's Natural Foods, seeing what there was to see, when he happened upon a new display in the freezer case.  They looked like old school popsicles, but were obviously different, since these were a decent size and popsicles are now, like, freakin' tiny.

Onopops, ey?  According to their website, they're made with local and/or organic ingredients (which is why Kale's carries them).  Like the "Kula Strawberry/Maui Goat Cheese" flavor.  Faith, Kale's wife, really liked it, finding it creamy, which you would expect for something containing goat cheese.  Kale, however, thought there wasn't enough goat cheese.  Only one way to settle it.  Taste test!

Umami and Umami's friend, Sharla (who works at Kale's and whose sister is a good friend of one of Onopops owners, I know, I know, small island) tried the KS/MGC" flavor and decided . . . yup, not enough goat cheese and, therefore, not as creamy as you would think.  Maybe Faith got a special batch?  But, sometimes you have to focus on the good thing you have, and so it must be noted that KS/MGC is, in fact, a fine strawberry popsicle, which is to say that it tastes like a frozen strawberry and not like artificial strawberry flavoring. 

It all required further investigation.  So Umami convened another test at work the next day, with himself, Ms. D and Makizushi as testers.  Up for testing:  KS/MGC, Butter Mochi, and Mexican Chocolate.  Everyone thought that KS/MGC was a great strawberry popsicle, but that goat cheese fans would be disappointed.  Mexican Chocolate was a good solid chocolate flavor, but the cinnamon and chili spice were very, very subtle.  It could probably stand to be "kicked up a notch!"

Butter Mochi, however, was beautifully done and was easily the consensus pick for favorite flavor.  For one, it really does taste like a good butter mochi.  And, it's actually somewhat creamy, at least in comparison to the others, so it feels like a richer dessert.  All in all, they're all nice treats, but Butter Mochi is worth seeking out.

Kale's Natural Foods
Hawaii Kai Shopping Center (ironically, next to Safeway)
377 Keahole Street
Honolulu, HI 96825-3408
(808) 396-6993