Eclat Chocolate - Caramelized Hazelnut 65% Dark Chocolate Bar - Mar. 6, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Eclat Chocolate
Caramelized Hazelnut 65% Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 250.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week.

Today's Caramelized Hazelnut 65% Dark Chocolate Bar was from Eclat Chocolate (West Chester, PA).

Aroma notes included: roasted cacao and nut (hazelnuts) and faint vanilla and caramel/toffee.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, punctuated by crisp, crunchy and sweet caramelized (toffee-d) nut bits.

Flavor notes: smooth, sweet, dark chocolate with a smooth, even melt; sweet caramelized, roasted hazelnut bits; and vanilla.

I enjoyed the Henry Miller quote* and the description of a "Destination Bar" -- complete with a map (on inner packaging) showing several destinations (airplane hops necessary to fully appreciate the diverse ingredients, experiences and cultures around the globe. 

Looking at this map, today's bar contained cacao nibs from Brussels, Belgium; caramelized hazelnuts from Tarragona, Spain; as well as inspiration for chocolates and flavors from these travels. Chocolate is indeed one of the best forms of virtual travel.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate couverture (Min. cocoa 65%, cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), chopped and caramelized hazelnut (hazelnut, sugar).

Allergen-related information: "Product may have trace elements of nuts, soy and dairy." 

*One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." -- Henry Miller

Eclat Chocolate - Hazelnut Dragee - Mar. 5, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Eclat Chocolate
Hazelnut Dragee
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 250 calories in 1 serving (1/2 package)
Cost: $14.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week.

Today's Hazelnut Dragee chocolates were from Eclat Chocolate (West Chester, PA).

Aroma notes included: malty, caramelized nut and subtle chocolate (cocoa).

Texture: at the heart of each marble-sized round was a crunchy, toasted whole hazelnut; and each nut was covered in firm dark chocolate and dusted with cocoa powder. 

Flavor notes included: firm, smooth dark chocolate, toasted hazelnut and very light caramel, cocoa, vanilla and malt notes.

These dragees were attractive, well-balanced, and well-executed, bite-sized confections. (They're good by themselves; and would make a nice pairing with coffees/lattes, or wines/sherry and cheese.)

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (min. cacao 60% couverture chocolate, cocoa mass, sugar, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), roasted hazelnuts.

Allergen-related information: "Product may have trace elements of nuts, soy and dairy."

 

Ethereal Chocolate - Dubai Pistachio Cream & Puffed Quinoa 40% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar + Basquia - Dubai Chewy Cookie - Mar. 4, 2026

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Ethereal Chocolate
Pistachio Cream & Puffed Quinoa 40% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 358 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week.

Today's Pistachio Cream & Puffed Quinoa 40% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar was from Ethereal Craft Chocolate (Ethereal Confections (Woodstock, IL)). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate, very faint dried fruit (apricot, fig, strawberry), nut/seed paste (sesame), and vanilla.

Texture: smooth, creamy dark chocolate exterior with a soft, rich crispy-crunchy and nut buttery filling.

I enjoyed the complex and hearty blend of flavors in this bar. The sesame paste provided subtle, middle Eastern flavor in the background as well as "nutty" flavor along with the pistachios.

The Dubai chocolate craze in recent years has spawned many creative versions of the original bar, made with traditional kataifi pastry shreds (similar to phyllo dough) and pistachio nuts. 

Thankfully, today I found two gluten-free versions of this bar, where the pastry shreds in the filling were replaced by quinoa and/or other ingredients to give these confections and bars a hearty, crunchy texture, but without the gluten.

Ingredients: "40% Chocolate* (Cane Sugar*, Cacao Nibs*, Cocoa Butter*), Dubai Chocolate Center (Pistachios*, Powdered Sugar* (Cane Sugar*, Tapioca Starch*), Coconut Oil, Puffed Quinoa*, Tahini* (Ground Toasted Sesame), Salt, Vanilla Powder (Vanilla Bean Extractives*, Dextrose*). (* Organic Ingredient)"

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Tree Nuts, Sesame. Made on shared equipment with peanuts & tree nuts"

Basquia - Dubai Chewy Cookie(s)

Basquia Rice Bakery
Dubai Chewy Cookies 
Good ++
Weight: Not Listed (2 cookies)
Cost: $10.00 ($5.00 per cookie)
Purchased from: Basquia in Mega Mart, East Palo Alto, CA

I also enjoyed two small Dubai Chewy Cookies from Basquia Rice Bakery (California).

These round-ish cookie-confections were covered with an almost mochi-like, velvety chocolate outer layer. 

Inside there were ground pistachio nuts/nut butter (and possibly quinoa?) -- that gave them a pleasant, smooth flavored and relatively sweet and satisfying, crunchy-chewy texture. The makers blended light and substantial textures with skill and apparent ease.

These two cookies were quite good; they were sweet without being overly so.

Ingredients: (No ingredients listed on small container)

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on small container; however, Basquia specializes in rice-based bakery items, and all their offerings are wheat/gluten-free.)

Undercover Chocolate Quinoa Crisps + Hammond's Peppermint Marshmallows with Chocolate Chips - Mar. 3, 2026

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Undercover 
Chocolate Quinoa Crisps
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 260 calories in 1 package
Cost: $3.49 for 1 package 
Purchased from: FarmFresh (add-on to produce delivery service)

Hammond's Candies
Peppermint Marshmallows with Chocolate Chips
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $7.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate & Mint Theme Week. Today's two chocolate snack offerings were hiding in the chocolate vault, just waiting for the opportunity for chocolate and mint items to be featured.

Chocolate Quinoa Crisps

Today's Chocolate Quinoa Crisps were manufactured by Undercover Chocolate Co. (East Hanover, NJ). 

Aroma notes: smooth, dark chocolate, very faint cookie, and mint.

Texture: these small rounds had a soft crunch that seemed just right; it was easy to enjoy small bites without it being too soft or stiff. The quinoa that supplied the crunch was not too tough or granular.

I enjoyed these chocolate-y snack discs more than I thought I would. The dark chocolate was smooth, and satisfying, the texture was satisfying. And the mint (crushed peppermint) complemented the chocolate and quinoa. It was not too much mint, and not too little. 

I also appreciated the thoughtful list of ingredients (e.g. Rainforest Alliance Certified Cacao; peppermint candy with natural plant-based colors; and lack of artificial ingredients).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cacao Beans*, Pure Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter*, Vanilla Beans), Quinoa, Crushed Peppermint (Pure Cane Sugar, Organic Rice Syrup, Colored with Red Cabbage and Purple Carrots, Peppermint Oil). (*Rainforest Alliance Certified)

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility FREE from: Wheat, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Fish, Shellfish, Sesame, and Poppy Seeds."

Peppermint Marshmallows with Chocolate Chips

The Peppermint Marshmallows Topped with Chocolate Chips were from Hammond's Candies (Denver, CO). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: Light, sweet peppermint; sweet, light marshmallow; and smooth, small, dark chocolate chips. 

Texture: fluffy soft marshmallow accented with tiny morsels of smooth, dark chocolate (chips). 

These tasted fresh and were fun to eat (and float in hot chocolate). They could also be incorporated into other desserts or ice creams as well. Each light pink and white layered marshmallow was topped with tiny, dark chocolate chips. 

Chocolate is dense, dark and lovely. And I'll always appreciate this. But, today I enjoyed the fresh and fluffy marshmallow texture that balanced the chocolate chips. The marshmallow, mint and chocolate flavors harmonized well in this light snack and possible chocolate accessory.

Ingredients: Sugar, Tapioca Syrup, Water, Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin [an emulsifier], Vanilla), Kosher Gelatin, Tapioca Starch, Powdered Sugar (Sugar, Tapioca Starch), Peppermint Oil, Vegetable Juices (color), Salt.

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a Facility That Processes Egg, Milk, Mustard, Peanuts, Sesame, Soy, Sulfites, Tree Nuts & Wheat."

Fruition Chocolate - Fresh Mint Milk Chocolate 54% (bar) - Mar. 2, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Fresh Mint Milk Chocolate 54% (bar)

Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 166 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Mint Theme Week.

Today's Fresh Mint Milk Chocolate 54% Batch #1 (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was grown in the Semuliki Forest in Uganda. (Sourcing Partner: Latitude Trade Co.) 

Aroma and flavor notes included mint (aromatic, authentic mint/subtle spearmint); dark chocolate (subtler chocolate aroma with stronger flavor notes: dark, fudgy, single origin chocolate/ganache. 

Texture: smooth and relatively creamy, dark milk chocolate.

Mint chocolates often are candy-level sweet. Happily today's bar was balanced, i.e. not overwhelmingly sweet or minty. 

The mint tasted natural--closer to spearmint than vibrant peppermint candy. (The type of mint was not identified on the packaging; but the makers did use both fresh mint and mint oil.)

And the light touch of vanilla (beans) seemed just right.

Maker's description: "Fresh mint is blended into a creamy 54% milk chocolate crafted from intense and fudgy Ugandan cacao."

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter*, Mint, Vanilla Beans, Mint Oil, Salt (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Eggs and Sesame.

Eclat Chocolate - Zuta & Orange 54%/33% Cacao (bar) + Embers Chocolate Orange & Bay leaf (bar) - Mar. 1, 2026

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Eclat Chocolate 
Zuta & Orange 54%/33% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (30 g.) / 2.2 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 162 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Embers Chocolate
Chocolate Covered Orange Single Origin 45% Milk Chocolate with Bay (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 71 calories in 1 small bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Mint Theme Week.

Today's two bars both contained milk chocolate, orange and herb flavors.

Zuta & Orange 54%/33% Cacao bar

Aroma and flavor notes for this blended bar from Eclat Chocolate (West Chester, PA) included: dark milk chocolate (smooth, chocolate-y, slightly roasted cacao with faint cream and nut); light citrus and exotic mint (that tasted like light spearmint, with very faint lemon balm and/or Douglas Fir tips).

Texture: creamy, smooth textured milk chocolate blended into smooth dark chocolate.

The slightly exotic zuta (Israeli mint) and the citrus (orange) ingredients were well integrated with the chocolate. I noticed the mint a little more in the aroma than the flavor.

I liked the idea of running two different cacao percent chocolates together in parallel strips in the same bar. The integration of the two cacao percentage levels together was a smooth one, and added a gentle, balanced complexity to the chocolate. 

I also appreciated the choice (and subtlety) of the two flavor inclusions; although I found myself wanting to taste a little bit more of the unique zuta mint (Micromeria fruticosa).

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (min. cocoa mass 54%, sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), milk chocolate (min. cocoa powder 33%, sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), fresh zuta, orange. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Produced in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat and soy."

Chocolate Orange Milk Chocolate 45% bar

This diminutive bar was made by Embers Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: creamy, dark milk chocolate, citrus (orange), mint/menthol/laurel with a hint of lemon.

Texture: smooth, thick and creamy dark milk chocolate with chewy bites of candied orange pieces. Tiny green (bay leaf) micro-confetti added a light herbal flavor, but no detectable leaf texture/grit

This was a successful, thoughtful and well-executed blend of flavors. The bay leaf bits added gentle herbal (light laurel/bay flavor), i.e. Turkish Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)--not the much stronger California Bay variety (Umbelluria californica) that I'm used to sampling in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live.

I also appreciated the short list of ingredients and use of organic cacao and sugar.

Maker's tasting notes: "...bright citrus meets silky 45% milk chocolate, with a whisper of bay leaf that pulls out the sweetness and adds a savory, aromatic edge..."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Milk Powder, Candied Orange Peel (Sugar, Water, Malic Acid), Bay Leaf. (* = Organic Ingredient)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Made using shared equipment that may contain traces of milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and sesame.

 

Cru Chocolate - Peppermint Drinking Chocolate - Feb. 28, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cru Chocolate 

Peppermint Drinking Chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total package

Calories: 360 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces (1 package)

Cost: $8.99 for 1 package  

Purchased from: FarmFresh (add-on to produce delivery service)

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Mint Theme Week.

Today's small box of Peppermint Drinking Chocolate (wheel set of 2) was from Cru Chocolate (Roseville, CA). I enjoyed tasting one (gold foil-wrapped) chocolate "wheel" by itself; and I prepared the second wheel into hot drinking chocolate with whole milk.

Aroma and flavor notes for both pieces included: smooth, but flavorful dark chocolate, with sweet peppermint. 

The second wheel had especially rich, satisfying chocolate (cocoa) notes when prepared with milk to made a 6 oz. mug of hot drinking chocolate. The heat seemed to bring out the cacao nuances. And the milk also helped balance the sweetness of the peppermint candy and sugar.

Texture: The first ("dry") wheel had slightly rough/rugged with sugar crystals/candy bits, but still had a smooth melt. This chocolate was smoother and creamier when blended with (dissolved into) warm milk. 

I appreciated the maker's short list of only three ingredients, and use of organic sugar. While peppermint candy flavors tend to overpower subtle cacao nuances, I could still taste the balanced complexity of the cacao -- chocolate-y; faint and diffuse fermented cacao/tropical fruit; and barely detectable balanced, light earth/clay -- in between sweet ripples of mint.

Maker's Tasting notes:

Intensity: Light. 50% cacao

Style: North American

Body: Smooth & silky

Nose: Fresh mint

Mood: Fresh happy cheer

Suggested liquid: Whole milk

Preparation: Melt and mix 1 wheel into 6 oz. of suggested liquid. Enjoy.

Ingredients: Fermented cacao beans, organic cane sugar, peppermint candy

Allergen-related information: Manufactured on equipment that processes peanuts and milk.