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Exotic Cheesecakes - Flavors you might find on a Hawaiian vacation!Virtually everyone the world over is familiar with cheesecake - that delicate and delicious dessert that often provides the perfect cap to any meal. Local cultures and ingredients often find ways to alter and enhance this wonderful food, and the islands of Hawaii are no exception. From spicy wasabi to sweet pineapples, tasty macadamia nuts to the native lilikoi fruit, over the years some native flavors of Hawaii have made their way into some local cheesecake recipes. These unique Hawaii flavors mixed with the age old dessert create wonderful new taste sensations, and they may very well not be found anywhere else on earth! The Hawaiian culture is rich in its culinary resources, and the interesting fusions that have occurred between tastes and textures have made Hawaii an exquisite location for trying out new and different kinds of cheesecakes. Take, for example, the macadamia nut. As anyone familiar with Hawaii travel might know, macadamia nuts are as prevalent on the Hawaiian islands as Aloha's, and their unique taste is incorporated into a number of recipes. Adding macadamia nuts into the cheesecake crust or into the cheesecake itself is a wonderful way to enjoy a timeless favorite with Hawaiian flair. Crushed macadamia nuts can also be a wonderful garnish to the smooth, rich cheesecake topping! If you're touring Hawaii and have access to a kitchen, try stopping by a macadamia nut farm for the freshest nuts around! Lilikoi, a native fruit that is very similar to the purple passion fruit (although a little larger), is another popular local ingredient that is often used in cheesecake recipes. This fruit is prevalent enough that travelers with a sharp eye might just find the fruits growing right outside their Maui vacation rentals! The fruit can be used to create a light and refreshing cheesecake variation, and local dessert chefs often use this in their guarded cheesecake recipes. Combine lilikoi with native bananas and you'll have an even sweeter Hawaiian cheesecake to savor! Of course, while enjoying your Hawaii vacations, you might find the more expected variations - pineapple and coconut. But there are a number of ways that Hawaiian restaurants in the local and tourist areas of the islands use these plentiful ingredients to enhance most every recipe in their vast cookbooks - cheesecakes included! Beautifully sliced pineapple rings can be used for both garnish and flavor, while shredded coconut can add a unique texture and subtle taste to most any Hawaiian recipe. Over on the Big Island, Kona coffee is truly a product to be savored. Expert chefs for many of the luxury resorts around Hawaii often incorporate this locally grown coffee into their recipes, and desserts provide the perfect canvas for experimentation. Crushed Kona coffee beans, dark chocolate, and macadamia nuts are a heavenly combination that a fortunate Hawaii traveler might find in their dining experience - this is a cheesecake that should not be missed on a trip to the islands. Over on the island of Kauai, there is perhaps the most interesting cheesecake variation in the Pacific - wasabi cheesecake topped with raw Ahi tuna! While this is obviously not for everyone, we're pretty sure it has sent many a tourist back to their Kauai vacation rentals with a vast array of thoughts in their minds and feelings in their stomachs! One of the beauties of cheesecake is the cultural and culinary adaptations it can take on, and Hawaii's local flavors and tastes are a wonderful addition to the cheesecake family! |