Moksha - Turkey Tail Maitake & Chaga Functional Mushrooms in 70% Dark Chocolate - July 1, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Moksha
Turkey Tail Maitake & Chaga Functional Mushrooms in 70% Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (15 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 90 calories in 1 package
Cost: $6.00 for 1 package 
Purchased from: Far West Fungi, SF Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Mushrooms Theme Week.

Today's Turkey Tail Maitake & Chaga Functional Mushrooms in 70% Dark Chocolate (square) was manufactured (from cacao bean nib-to-bar) by Moksha Chocolate (Boulder, CO). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: hearty, dark chocolate with a slight, woody/umami bitterness and acidity. 

Texture: smooth texture (no detectable mushroom powder(s) in the mouthfeel or melt)

This 70%er was packed with deep, dark, chocolate-y flavor with authentic woodsy mushroom notes--and balanced acidity and bitterness--making it satisfying and easy to savor slowly. I enjoyed the depth of the combined flavors and that the resulting chocolate wasn't too sweet. 

I appreciated the well-executed flavor blend, the use of coconut sugar, and the short list of ingredients. 

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Coconut Sugar, Cacao Butter, Dried Mushrooms (Turkey Tail, Maitake & Chaga)

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut (Sugar) 

Moksha - Reishi - Functional Mushrooms in 65% Dark Vegan Chocolate - June 30, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Moksha
Reishi - Functional Mushrooms in 65% Dark Vegan Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (15 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 90 calories in 1 package
Cost: $6.00 for 1 package 
Purchased from: Far West Fungi, SF Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate & Mushrooms Theme Week.

Today's Reishi Functional Mushrooms in 65% Dark Vegan Chocolate (square) was manufactured (from cacao bean nib-to-bar) by Moksha Chocolate (Boulder, CO). 

This reishi mushroom chocolate bar was labeled for "Night Time"--a reference to the thought that reishi mushrooms contain compounds that can act as a non-drowsy relaxant at the end of the day.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, dark chocolate; faint coconut; and mushroom.

Texture: smooth textured (no mushroom powder "grit")

I appreciated the balanced and well-executed flavors, and the short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Coconut Sugar, Coconut Milk Powder, Cacao Butter, Dried Mushrooms (Reishi)

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut (Coconut Sugar, Coconut Milk).

Moksha - Cordyceps & Lion's Mane 80% Dark Chocolate + Chocolita - Morning Matcha with Lion's Mane White Chocolate (bar) - June 29, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Moksha
Cordyceps & Lion's Mane 80% Dark Chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (15 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 90 calories in 1 package
Cost: $6.00 for 1 package 
Purchased from: Far West Fungi, SF Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Chocolita
Morning Matcha - Raw White Chocolate with Matcha & Herbs 59% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .416 oz. (11.6 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 83.3 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Mushrooms Theme Week.

Moksha Chocolate - Cordyceps & Lion's Mane 80% Dark Vegan Chocolate

Today's main attraction was a Cordyceps & Lion's Mane Functional Mushrooms in 80% Dark Vegan Chocolate (square) manufactured (from cacao bean nib-to-bar) by Moksha Chocolate (Boulder, CO). 

Aroma notes included: smooth, sweet cacao chocolate with warm spices (cinnamon), lucuma (butterscotch, vanilla).

Texture: hearty, yet smooth texture and mouthfeel, with a satisfying melt.

Flavor notes included: intense and chocolate-y (balanced, ultra-dark, fudge brownie); diffuse warm sugar and spices (from the cacao and coconut sugar); and mushroom (very faint earth, wood, umami).

This 80%er was full of authentic, quality flavors, with medium acidity and relatively moderate bitterness for an ultra-dark chocolate.

I appreciated the bold, balanced and well-executed flavors, and the short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Coconut Sugar, Dried Mushrooms (Cordyceps & Lion's Mane)

Allergen-related information: (None found on label of small package.)

Chocolita - Matcha White Chocolate with Lion's Mane (bar)

Today's second mushroom bar--the "Morning Matcha" Raw White Chocolate with Matcha, Herbs (& Lion's Mane) (bar) from Chocolita (Sedona, AZ)--was a mushroom chocolate pairing with Moksha Chocolate's 80%er. 

Both offerings contained lion's mane mushrooms and both companies are focused on plant-based chocolates; but the two bars were, otherwise, quite different. 

Moksha's ultra-dark 80% dark chocolate (above) had a hearty intensity; and this sweeter white chocolate was infused with gentle matcha tea, a touch of vanilla, and other flavor inclusions.

But, instead of a light ivory hue, today's bonus "white" chocolate bar was a rich, dark green-khaki color.

Aroma and flavor notes included: gentle green tea notes, subtle vanilla--and a background blend of herbal (and Lion's Mane) flavor additions. (I could not really taste the mushrooms.)

Texture: relatively smooth; the added tea, herbs, flavorings and mushroom(s) were fully incorporated

I appreciated the use of coconut sugar, that made this sweet bar seem less sweet and "buzzy" (than a white cane sugar version might have been).

Ingredients: *Cacao Paste, *Lucuma, *Coconut Sugar, *Matcha, *Maca, *Cinnamon, *Lion's Mane, Sea Salt, *Vanilla. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. "Made In A Facility That Processes Tree Nuts."

Mandala Chocolate - "Cloud Forest" 62% Cacao Organic dark chocolate (bar) - June 28, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Mandala Chocolate
"Cloud Forest" 62% Cacao Organic dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 302 calories in 1/2 bar (151 calories in 1/4 bar (1 serving))
Cost: $10.80 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA 

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Earth, Mountains, Forests & Gardens Theme Week and Day #2 of Chocolate and Mushrooms Theme Week.

Today's "Cloud Forest" 62% Cacao Organic dark chocolate (bar) was from Mandala Naturals, LLC (Barnardsville, NC) and hand-crafted in Asheville, NC.

Aroma and flavor notes included smooth dark chocolate; gently fragrant herbs (similar to mint and lavender); very faint warm spices (cinnamon spice blend); and very faint lucuma (mild vanilla). 

Texture: smooth texture and melt

I enjoyed this bar. The diverse flavor blend was balanced, harmonious and slightly cooling--not unlike a cloud forest.

I wasn't able to taste the (Reishi and Chaga) mushrooms in this chocolate. There wasn't any mushroom powder graininess, or umami/earthy flavor, that would have given their presence away.

I appreciated the thoughtful sourcing and use of organic ingredients; the lack of additives; the company tagline "Cacao as Nourishment, Not Confection"; and the fact that the first ingredient listed was (heirloom) cacao*, followed by coconut sugar that wasn't too sweet. 

Ingredients: *Cacao, *Coconut Sugar, *Carob, *Sprouted Brown Rice Powder, *Lucuma, *Baobab, *Ginger, *Cinnamon, *Maca, *Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero), +Reishi, +Chaga, *Cardamom, *Turmeric, *Black Pepper, Celtic Sea Salt (TM) (* = Organic; + = Organic & Wildcrafted)

Allergen-related information: (None found on package.)

*While not specifically stated on packaging for this bar, the cacao used to make this bar may have come from Maya Mountain Cacao--a centralized fermentary/cacao processing facility in Punta Gorda, Belize--a source mentioned on the company's website.

Primo Chocolate - "Forest Bath" 68% Dark Chocolate With Smoked Maple & Salt (bar) - June 27, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Primo Chocolate
"Forest Bath" 68% Dark Chocolate with Smoked Maple & Salt (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Earth, Mountains, Forests & Gardens Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate & Mushrooms Week. 

Today's "Forest Bath" 68% Dark Chocolate with Smoked Maple & Sea Salt & "Adaptogenic Chaga" Mushrooms (bar) was from Primo Chocolate.

The cacao used to make this bar was grown in/from Ecuador

Aroma and flavor notes included: roasted cacao; faint, earthy rubber tree (initially), mushroom; and maple flavor. 

I enjoyed the flavor more than the initial aroma. I really enjoyed the rich chocolate (with very faint fruit); authentic maple; and the smoke-y and umami notes from the mushrooms, hickory smoke and the sea salt. I liked the idea of using crushed Vermont Maple candies to sweeten this 68% dark chocolate.

Texture: relatively smooth with an even melt. (The chaga mushroom (extract) was completely incorporated into the dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Organic Panela (Cane Sugar), Vermont Maple Candies, Hickory Smoke, Chaga Extract, Seneca Lake Sea Salt 

Allergen-related information: (No information that I could find in this area on the label.)

Chocolove - Dark Chocolate Marzipan Filled Trees - June 26, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Chocolove
Dark Chocolate Marzipan Trees 
Good++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 7.05 oz. (200 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 3 trees
Cost: $10.49 for 1 package of 19 pieces
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Earth, Mountains, Forests and Gardens Week. 

Today's package of individually-wrapped Dark Chocolate 55% Marzipan Filled Trees were brought to you by Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

Thankfully "Earth" includes many wild places and open spaces with trees. (Chocolate Banquet would not exist without cacao trees.) Today's tree-shaped chocolates were a lovely reminder that both cacao trees and almond trees were used to make these treats.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and sweet almonds/almond flavor (marzipan).

Texture: a smooth, firm dark chocolate shell, with a softer, white marzipan filling.

I enjoyed the little dark chocolate tree shapes, and the authentic chocolate and almond flavors and balance. Marzipan is meant to be sweet, and this was no exception. But, there was enough dark chocolate to keep the sweetness from being too overwhelming. 

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Liquor, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Marzipan (Sugar, Almonds, Natural Almond Flavor), Invert Sugar, Tapioca Syrup, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds, Soy. Made in a Facility That Also Processes Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, and Other Tree Nuts.

Sisters A. Chocolate - Bean-to-Bar 81% Cacao Dominican Republic Cherry & Juniper (bar) - June 25, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Sisters A. Chocolate 
Bean-to-Bar 81% Cacao Dominican Republic Cherry & Juniper (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.14 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing Information
Purchased from: Oceana Market, Pacifica, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Mountains, Forests, and Gardens Theme Week. 

Today's Bean-to-Bar 81% Cacao Dominican Republic Cherry & Juniper (bar) was from Sisters A. Chocolate. The company was founded in Lutsk, Ukraine, by two sisters: Olena and Oleksandra.

Aroma and flavor notes included: hearty cacao/dark chocolate, fruit (dark ripe cherries, cacao fruit pulp, dark berry) and faint wood, light pine, and barely detectable earth.

For an 81% cacao chocolate, this satisfying bar was quite smooth in flavor. Rich in taste but relatively low in bitterness and acidity.

Texture: creamy, soft (almost pillowy) dark chocolate with intermittent crunchy bits (candied/crushed juniper berries (and possibly cacao nibs)).

I really enjoyed the well-executed (balanced) yet hearty complexity, authentic flavors, and the natural (low) sweetness level from the ("sublimated") cherries--that provided rich, dark fruit flavor. I also appreciated the thoughtful sourcing and short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, freeze-dried cherry, juniper

Allergen-related Information: (No allergen information found on label)