If you've seen inamona listed in a poke recipe or on a Hawaiian menu, you may have wondered: What is inamona?
ʻInamona is a traditional Hawaiian condiment made from roasted kukui nuts, also known as candlenuts. The version we carry from Paradise Farms of Hawaii combines roasted kukui nuts with salt for a rich, nutty and savory seasoning.
It's especially well known for its use in poke, but inamona can also add flavor to fish, vegetables, soups, stews, sauces and other dishes.
Here's what makes this Hawaiian ingredient so interesting.
What Is Inamona?
Inamona is a Hawaiian condiment traditionally made from roasted kukui nuts.
Kukui (Aleurites moluccana) is also known as the candlenut tree. Kukui has a long history in Hawaiʻi, where different parts of the plant have had numerous practical and cultural uses. University of Hawaiʻi resources specifically describe ʻinamona as a relish made from roasted kukui nuts.
Our Inamona comes from Paradise Farms of Hawaii, a family-owned and operated business that got its start as one of the local producers of inamona on Hawaiʻi Island.
What Is Inamona Made From?
The Inamona we carry has a wonderfully simple ingredient list:
Roasted kukui nuts (candlenuts) and salt.
The kukui nuts provide the rich, roasted flavor and texture that make inamona distinctive.
Recipes and preparations can vary, so always check the ingredient list of the particular inamona you're purchasing rather than assuming every version is identical.
What Does Inamona Mean?
When you encounter ʻinamona in Hawaiian food, the term refers to the preparation made from roasted kukui nuts.
Historical documentation of Hawaiian foods lists kukui nut ʻinamona among Hawaiian condiments, alongside salt and seaweed.
You'll sometimes see the word written as inamona without the ʻokina when shopping or searching online. Our product is labeled Inamona, so you'll see both forms in this guide.
What Is a Kukui Nut?
The kukui nut comes from the kukui or candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccana).
Kukui was brought to Hawaiʻi by Polynesian voyagers and became important for far more than food. The oil-rich nuts were historically used for lighting, while other parts of the plant had additional practical and cultural uses.
For ʻinamona, the nuts are roasted and prepared as a condiment. University of Hawaiʻi sources specifically identify a relish called ʻinamona made from the roasted nuts.
Raw kukui isn't something to casually substitute for prepared inamona: authoritative references note toxicity/purgative concerns with raw kukui, while traditional culinary preparations use roasted nuts.
What Does Inamona Taste Like?
Inamona has a rich, roasted, nutty and savory flavor.
The kukui nuts bring richness while the salt enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
One University of Hawaiʻi forestry reference describes the flavor of the traditional roasted-kukui condiment as somewhat reminiscent of peanuts.
That doesn't mean inamona is simply a substitute for peanuts, though. It is its own traditional Hawaiian ingredient with its own culinary context.
What Is Inamona Used For?
One of the best-known uses for inamona is poke.
But that's certainly not the only way to use it.
Paradise Farms of Hawaii recommends incorporating its Inamona into foods such as:
- Poke
- Sushi
- Fish and seafood
- Vegetable dishes
- Soups
- Stews
- Sauces
- Pesto
- Meat dishes
Its roasted, savory flavor gives you plenty of room to experiment.
What Is Inamona in Poke?
If you've encountered the word inamona in a poke recipe, now you know what you're looking at.
It's the roasted kukui nut condiment used to add richness, flavor and texture to the dish.
Rather than treating it as just another generic seasoning, it's worth understanding that inamona comes from a much longer Hawaiian culinary tradition. Historical references document kukui nut ʻinamona as a condiment in Hawaiian foodways.
How Else Can You Use Inamona?
Poke might be the introduction, but it doesn't have to be the end.
Paradise Farms of Hawaii suggests using Inamona with dishes such as Pulehu grass-fed filet mignon and seared mahi mahi with warm tomato Inamona salad.
One of their favorite uses is Inamona pesto.
You can also experiment with small amounts in vegetable dishes, soups, stews and sauces when you want to introduce its distinctive roasted, nutty flavor.
Can You Make Inamona at Home?
Traditional inamona is made using roasted kukui nuts, but this isn't a recipe where we'd recommend casually substituting raw candlenuts and experimenting without knowing how to properly prepare them.
Raw kukui has documented toxicity and purgative concerns. Traditional edible preparations use properly roasted/prepared nuts.
For most home cooks who simply want to experience inamona in a poke recipe or another dish, purchasing a properly prepared product is the easier option.
Where Can I Buy Inamona?
If you've been searching “inamona where to buy,” “inamona for sale,” or even “inamona near me,” you don't necessarily need to be in Hawaiʻi to find it.
We carry Paradise Farms of Hawaii Inamona, made in Hawaii with roasted kukui nuts and salt.
Find it at:
Life Essentials Refillery
4317 W El Prado Blvd
Tampa, FL 33629
Or order online.
→ Shop Paradise Farms of Hawaii Inamona
The Bottom Line
So, what is inamona?
ʻInamona is a traditional Hawaiian condiment made from roasted kukui nuts (candlenuts). The version we carry from Paradise Farms of Hawaii combines roasted kukui nuts with salt to create a rich, savory and nutty seasoning.
It's closely associated with poke, but its uses don't stop there.
Try it with seafood, vegetables, soups, sauces and other dishes—or experiment with something unexpected like Inamona pesto.