“Brew Your Best Cup”- Coffee Brewing Workshop
Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farm • Farm • Holualoa, Island of Hawaii • Hawaii
.CkG1Zb0P_9hKQ1.webp)
The Science of Sweetness
Every bite of papaya or rambutan tells a story of volcanic ash, heavy rain, and powerful geology
Written by a Local Expert
Leilani AkoThe Foundation: Volcanic Soil Science
The amazing flavor of produce at Hilo Farmers Market comes from science. Every bite of papaya or rambutan tells a story of volcanic ash, heavy rain, and powerful geology.
The soil covering Hilo is special volcanic soil called Andisol. Scientists call it Acrudoxic Hydrudands. This formed over thousands of years from volcanic ash layers that Mauna Kea deposited.
This soil has amazing properties. It drains well but holds tons of water. It can retain more than its own weight in water, like a sponge. This comes from its unique volcanic minerals.
The soil is rich in organic matter but very acidic. The pH often ranges from 5.1 to 5.7. This acidity challenges farmers. The soil grabs phosphorus and holds it where plants can't use it. Farming in Hilo soil takes deep, generational knowledge. Farmers must add the right fertilizers to unlock the soil's fertility. They work against natural tendencies. Market farmers are not just lucky to have good dirt. They are skilled soil scientists.
🌋 Andisol Soil Type
Acrudoxic Hydrudands formed from thousands of years of Mauna Kea volcanic ash deposits. Unique mineral composition creates exceptional growing conditions.
💧 Water Retention
Soil can hold more than its own weight in water like a sponge. Excellent drainage combined with moisture retention creates ideal conditions.
🧪 Acidic Challenge
pH ranges from 5.1-5.7. Soil binds phosphorus, making it unavailable to plants. Requires skilled farmers to unlock fertility.
🌱 Organic Matter
Rich in organic matter from centuries of decomposed volcanic material and tropical vegetation. Creates nutrient-dense growing environment.
Measuring Sweetness: The Brix Scale
You can measure a fruit's sweetness and nutrient density with the Brix scale. This measures total dissolved solids, mainly sugars, in fruit juice. Higher Brix readings mean more sugars and minerals. This creates better flavor, nutrition, and storage life.
High Brix levels show plant health. They signal efficient photosynthesis and effective mineral drawing from soil. Volcanic soil rich in many minerals, like Hilo's Andisols, provides building blocks for complex sugars.
What is Brix?
The Brix scale measures the percentage of sugar content in fruit juice. One degree Brix equals 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of solution.
- • Low Brix (8-12°): Basic sweetness, lower nutrients
- • Medium Brix (12-16°): Good flavor, decent nutrition
- • High Brix (16-20°+): Exceptional sweetness, high nutrients
When you taste an incredibly sweet pineapple or papaya at the market, you experience healthy plants thriving in mineral-rich volcanic soil. Farmers use a simple tool called a refractometer to reveal this hidden quality. It turns the subjective taste experience into objective agricultural excellence.
🧪 Soil Science Facts
- Soil Type: Andisol
- pH Range: 5.1 - 5.7
- Formation: Volcanic ash
- Age: Thousands of years
- Water Capacity: 100%+ weight
📊 Brix Scale Guide
- Low (8-12°) Basic
- Medium (12-16°) Good
- High (16-20°+) Exceptional
🌧️ Climate Challenge
- 145 inches rain yearly
- Warm, humid weather
- No cold winter period
- Perfect for tropical fruits
The Rain Puzzle: Triumph Over Climate
Hilo's climate creates a fascinating puzzle. The area gets warm, humid weather with about 145 inches of rain yearly. This creates challenges best shown by two famous fruits: rambutan and lychee.
Rambutan is purely tropical. It thrives in these exact conditions. It needs high heat and 80 to 140 inches of rain yearly to flourish. Hilo provides a near-perfect environment.
The same conditions should hurt lychee. Lychee trees need a cool, dry winter period to flower and fruit. Hilo's constant warmth and rain should make trees produce only leaves, not fruit. Yet Hilo is known for high-quality lychee. This points to farmer skill, not climate luck.
Rambutan Success
Purely tropical fruit that thrives in Hilo's conditions.
- • Needs 80-140 inches rain yearly
- • Loves high heat and humidity
- • Hilo provides perfect environment
Lychee Challenge
Needs cool, dry winter to flower properly.
- • Should only produce leaves in Hilo
- • Farmers use special techniques
- • Human achievement over climate
Farmer Innovation Techniques
Exceptional Hilo lychee comes from active achievement, not passive climate gifts. Local farmers developed smart techniques to overcome environmental challenges:
Strategic Planting
Plant orchards on steep, well-draining slopes to prevent waterlogging and improve drainage.
Canopy Management
Trim canopy to increase air flow and sunlight penetration for better growing conditions.
Water Stress Technique
Use special methods to create the water stress needed to trigger flowering in lychee trees.
This elevates Hilo's produce story from simple terroir to compelling human achievement.
Superior lychee at the market shows farmers working both with and against powerful environmental elements. It's not just nature's gift—it's human ingenuity and generations of agricultural wisdom.
