What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about coffee? As I love my morning cuppa joe, when I wake up I am looking forward to that warm feeling that you get from taking your first sip. Next is definitely caffeine! Some of us are so focused on getting that morning or afternoon pick me up that we might not think about or consider what we are actually putting into our body. Well, coffee overall in moderation (and with a minimum on sugar) can be healthy for you. It is ok to be drinking it everyday. However, it is also possible to be drinking too much. Now, keep reading below to find out why the right amount of coffee is good for you.

Boosts your performance

Like we mentioned earlier… caffeine!! The magic ingredient in this plant, really gives you a boost! Drinking coffee in the morning helps you wake up quicker and puts you in a better mood to be more alert for work and the rest of the day. Well, caffeine also increases the adrenaline levels in your blood therefore improving physical performance. Having a strong cup of coffee before heading to the gym definitely makes sense!

Helps you burn fat

Caffeine is found in almost every fat burning supplement. It is actually one of the few natural plant based substances proven to assist in fat burning.
Studies show that caffeine can boost your metabolic rate by 3-11%, wow!
Caffeine stimulates your nervous system, telling your fat cells to break down body fat.

Contains essential nutrients

Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11% of the Reference Daily Intake. 
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 6% of the Reference Daily Intake.
Manganese and potassium: 3% of the Reference Daily Intake.
Magnesium and niacin (vitamin B3): 2% of the Reference Daily Intake.

This might not seem like that much, but for those of you drinking multiple cups a day, it increases the intake on these nutrients.

May Lower Your risk of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that is currently affecting millions of humans worldwide. This major health problem is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels caused by insulin resistance or your body not being able to secrete insulin. Studies show that coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. People who drink the most coffee per day have about a 23-50% lower risk of getting this disease in comparison to non coffee drinkers.

Can Fight Depression and make you happy

Depression, another serious illness can reduce ones quality of life. 4.1% of people in the United States are currently clinically depressed. Caffeine blocks mood-depressing chemicals in the brain. It also blocks the receptors in the brain from binding with a chemical called adenosine which causes fatigue and a depressed mood.
Caffeine also indirectly affects serotonin and acetylcholine-both neurotransmitters.

Antioxidant

Coffee is very high in antioxidants. Many people with a Western diet tend to get more antioxidants from coffee than from fruits and vegetables combined! We definitely do not recommend on relying on this as your antioxidant consumption as it is important to have a healthy and balanced diet. One of the healthiest drinks on the planet is coffee. I guess it really depends how you like your coffee and what you add into it.

Coffee is an extremely popular beverage across the entire world. There are definitely an impressive amount of health benefits to drinking it. Not only does your daily cup of coffee make you feel more awake and energized, but it helps you burn fat, boost physical performance, and lowering risks of certain health diseases or conditions. We definitely recommend staying fairly healthy with it if you are going to drink it everyday. As tasty as an iced nutella latte sounds, it is more of a treat compared to an americano. However you like your coffee, now you know why the right amount of coffee is good for you!

There is a special dish on the Belle Surf Cafe menu called the Ahi Coco. Customers are constantly asking where the dish originates from, what are the ingredients, what type of fish is Ahi, and is it cooked? The Ahi coco dish is actually a name we titled it to add a little Hawaiian twist. Most may recognize this dish as Poisson Cru which means raw fish in French. Poisson Cru is a Tahitian dish that consists of raw tuna, lime juice, various vegetables, and coconut milk. There are other names for Poisson cru such as ia Ota or e’ie Ota meaning raw fish. Let me tell you more about how we prepare the Belle Surf Cafe’s Ahi Coco.

How is the Poisson Cru Prepared?

To prepare, first you start by marinating the tuna in lime juice briefly.  Second, add coconut milk to balance the acidity. The authentic way of preparing this is by wrapping coconut meat in cloth and then squeezing the milky juice over the fish and vegetables. Poisson Cru is a sweet, exotic and refreshing dish. You can find it pretty much anywhere in Tahiti.

Well… you are in Maui or Hawaii which is fairly close to Tahiti. The local fisherman catch fresh fish on the daily! And boy do we have tasty fish. Belle Surf Cafe, Maui has a delicious and well prepared poisson cru style dish, but you will find this on the menu as Ahi Coco.

This tasty tropical meal will make your mouth water. In Hawaiian, the word Ahi means tuna fish. The fishermen deliver fresh caught tuna in the morning. We prepare the Ahi Coco right away. This way, the fish is as fresh as it gets!  On our menu, the Ahi Coco is served over a bed of warm white rice. The contrast between the cold fish and the hot rice will make your taste buds tingle! It will leave you coming back for more!

Belle Surf Cafe Ahi Coco dish

The Ahi coco here in Belle Surf Cafe, Lahaina contains fresh Ahi marinated in lime juice, coconut milk, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, carrots, Himalayan salt, cracked black pepper served over a bed of rice with a side of mixed greens.

Think of it similar to a poke bowl!

How do I prepare a Poisson Cru style dish at home?

If you are missing Hawaii and craving a delicious dish that reminds you of your dreamy vacation, you can definitely make this at home! We recommend heading to your local fish market or grocery store and getting fresh fish. Typically, the main ingredient is tuna. However, crab, lobster, mussels, octopus / squid, prawns and plenty of other fish will work well as a substitute. To see a step by step recipe, click here.

Fishing in Maui

Many visitors and locals alike, love to fish! It is a very common activity, sport, job, and way of feeding your family here in Hawaii. There are plenty of different charter fishing boats to choose anywhere from bottom fishing to extreme deep sea fishing. Belle Surf Cafe is located in Lahaina right across the street from Lahaina Harbor (640 Front Street). This is where you may be catching a fishing boat. Come stop by and try the Ahi Coco! We are open everyday from 8-2. Good luck and we hope that you catch something to bring back to your rental to prepare dinner!

Now you know more about Belle Surf Cafe’s Ahi Coco or Poisson Cru, bring some friends and family along to taste it.  Here at Belle Surf, we are always striving to provide the freshest and tastiest ingredients leaving our customers coming back for the duration of their stay!

Ruling the courthouse square in downtown Lahaina is one of the most remarkable trees to ever lay eyes on. One quarter of a mile in circumference, its snake like limbs stretch outward, spreading a vast network of branches, leaves and aerial roots towards the streets and buildings surrounding it. An extraordinary tree that seems like something out of a movie leaving many people wondering if it is all truly one tree, or even real? How did this giant Banyan tree come to lay its roots in this tiny port of Lahaina town? Keep reading, and I will share the history of Lahaina’s famous banyan tree with you.

History of the Lahaina Banyan Tree

Dating back to April 24, 1873, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina, which was started at the request of Queen Keōpūolani, the sacred wife and widow of King Kamehameha the Great, Sheriff William Owen Smith planted the exotic Indian Banyan.
At the time, it stood only 8 feet tall.

How it Grew

Once the tree was rooted in, it slowly sent branches outward from its trunk. From the branches came many different types of roots, some descending from above ground down towards the earth. Certain roots actually hit the ground and dug in, growing larger and larger until eventually forming trunks of their own!
Lahaina residents adorned this banyan tree and encouraged the symmetrical growth of the tree by hanging large glass jars filled with water on the roots that the wanted to eventually grow trunks.

The tree that was once just a tiny sapling, has now turned into a monument.

Today, the Lahaina Banyan tree is the largest banyan in the United States, standing over 60 feet tall with 46 major trunks and shades. This tree shades about two-thirds of an acre, wow! The Maui County Arborist Committee carefully maintains this tree watching its health and shape closely. In its honor, the courthouse park has been renamed “Banyan Tree Park”. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation cares for the parks grounds.

Banyan Tree Park

You may be wondering, well, what is there to do in Lahaina at this banyan tree? This is a very nice place to sit back and relax beneath the large canopy. Lahaina can be very hot most days, and this tree provides tons of shade with benches beneath it! You will find the banyan tree at the end of Front Street. After a long day of shopping and eating, this is a nice place to end up for some fun photos! The long beautiful roots make for very cool backgrounds. On the weekends, you will find local artists and crafters that set up their tables to display and sell their work from 9-5pm. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to hear music or see a hula dance on the stage in the park!

Now that you are familiar with the history of Lahaina’s famous banyan tree, you will probably be eager to see it while you are visiting Maui. Belle Surf Cafe is located right across the street from this tree! If you are craving a coffee, food or refreshment, come check us out! 640 Front Street.