Our Story

All about Baumkuchen and us
Baumkuchen Tree Ring

MEANING OF BAUMKUCHEN

Baumkuchen is a traditional German cake.

In 1908, the German, Karl Juchheim brought Baumkuchen to Japan. Today, in Japan Baumkuchen is a very popular gift. With the perfect rings the Baumkuchen symbolizes harmony and prosperity of each year to come. Therefore it is also a typical wedding present.

This is what we all dream and wish each other. However, in reality our life is much more common to a real Baum (tree), with irregular year rings. Some are wide and prosper and some are narrow and withered. But like all trees we can place our roots at the right place.

“Blessed is the person who obeys the law of the Lord.
They don’t follow the advice of evil people.
They don’t make a habit of doing what sinners do.
They don’t join those who make fun of the Lord and his law.
Instead, the law of the Lord gives them joy.
They think about his law day and night.
That kind of person is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water.
It always bears its fruit at the right time.
Its leaves don’t dry up.
Everything godly people do turns out well.”
(The Bible, from Psalm 1)

Baumkuchen bakers

WHO WE ARE

Surrounded by Palm Trees, violent Volcanos and the blue Pacific Ocean, Baumkuchen Farm lies on the lush hills of Big Island Hawaii. Here the German couple Marie & Markus bake a Baumkuchen between Asia & Western America.

Markus, born in Japan, soon loved the Japanese style Baumkuchen. In recent years, the couple visited many traditional shops in Germany and studied and baked the original recipes. With a German oven, they moved to Hawaii and started Baumkuchen Farm.

Besides many ingredients from local farmers such as Macadamia Nuts, Eggs, Milk, Hawaiian Coffee, Pineapple, and Hawaiian Chocolate, they grow on the 9 acre Baumkuchen Farm delicious Vanilla Beans and Cocoa pods.

70th+80th

The beginning

Markus grows up in Japan & Germany. His mother teaches him the love to cakes. She gives baking classes (how to bake German cakes) in Japan. He decides in an early age to become a baker.

2013

Foodies

It still takes some years for Markus dream to come true. After many years of work in the private sector he and Marie get married and short after their marriage they start a Gourmet business together.

2018

Hawai'i calling

Markus & Marie are drawn to Hawai'i. So with their three kids they make the change from Germany to Hawai'i to bring the German Baumkuchen, the king of cakes, to beautiful Hawai'i. They connect the traditional German recipe with Hawai'ian ingredients.

2021

Baumkuchenfarm

After many challenges the former garage was converted into a commercial kitchen and the final recipes were developed. Sales and introduction of this delicious treat to local Hawaiians and visitors from around the world has started. The production is a celebration of old Western baking tradition with Asian innovation and deep rooted Hawaiian fruits of Aloha.

Discover our first-class products baked for you with love!