L'Amourette Chocolatier - Chocolat Noir English Toffee 72% Dark Chocolate with almonds (bar) - Mar. 10, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

L'Amourette Chocolatier
Chocolat Noir English Toffee 72% Dark Chocolate with almonds (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: L'Amourette, online order 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week.

Today's English Toffee 72% Dark Chocolate with almonds (bar) was from L'Amourette Chocolat LLC (San Francisco, CA).

Most toffee chocolates are quite sweet and are made with somewhat flat (boring) chocolate. Thankfully, this was not true for today's bar.

Aroma notes included: flavorful, very slightly fruity, dark chocolate, sweet green botanical (green walnuts in syrup), faint toffee, nut and vanilla. (Hurray, some complex, layered flavors/dark chocolate ahead.)

Texture: smooth, substantial dark chocolate, with layered, crunchy toffee and almonds. The embedded  warm-tasting hunks of buttery toffee were just right, i.e. not too hard, and not too soft. 

Flavor notes included: hearty, balanced dark chocolate with faint fleeting diffuse, tart-sweet fruit (citrus, dried plum, berry), balanced earth, and botanical (vanilla, sweet green walnuts in syrup). 

The buttery, sweet toffee, bold, flavorful dark chocolate and vanilla beans not only balanced and complemented each other nicely, but resulted in a bar that had the addictive quality of a toffee confection and the deeply satisfying, complex and hearty flavor of a single origin/single variety 72% dark chocolate. (The almonds and sea salt played a background role, but mellowed and rounded out this trio very nicely.)

This is a well-executed toffee chocolate I would recommend to dark chocolate lovers.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans (Trinitario), Cocoa Butter, Cane Sugar (Vegan), Toffee (Butter (Milk), Sugar, Almonds, Vanilla Paste & Sea Salt), Vanilla Beans.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Almonds. Soy & Gluten-free"

Dick Taylor - Chocolate Coated Butter Toffee Hazelnuts - Mar. 9, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor
Chocolate Coated Butter Toffee Hazelnuts
Good++
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) / 6 oz. (171 g.) in total container
Calories: 330 calories for 1/3 container
Cost: $18.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Pistachios, Hazelnuts & Almonds Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Coated Butter Toffee Hazelnuts were from Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (Eureka, CA).

These whole roasted hazelnuts were covered in 65% Tanzania dark chocolate.

Aroma notes included: smooth, dark chocolate; browned sugar and butter toffee; very slight, pleasing warm spice (candied ginger); and nut (hazelnut, almond). (Note: there were no ginger or almond ingredients.)

Texture: Each round confection was a blend of lightly dusted, smooth dark chocolate surrounding a thin layer of buttery toffee, and at the heart was a softly crunchy, roasted hazelnut.

Flavor notes included: sophisticated, balanced and layered "just-right" flavors. The chocolate was smooth but flavorful, the butter toffee layer was nice and thin, and while these were sweet, they weren't too sugary-confection sweet. The vanilla was faint--just enough to add some warmth.

I liked that the first two ingredients were "hazelnuts" and "cacao" -- then sugar; and I appreciated the makers' choice of a short list of high-quality and organic ingredients, including single origin cacao.

Ingredients: Hazelnuts, Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Sugar, Butter (Cream, Salt), Cocoa Butter*, Cocoa Powder, Sea Salt, Natural Vanilla Flavor (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Nuts and Milk. Processed on shared equipment with milk, tree nuts, wheat and peanuts. 

Fine & Raw - Chocolate Hazelnut Chunky - Mar. 8, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Fine & Raw
Chocolate Hazelnut Chunky
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total chocolate
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 chocolate
Cost: $6.00 for 1 chocolate
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week.

Today's rainbow-packaged Chocolate Hazelnut Chunky was from Fine & Raw (Brooklyn, NY).

Fine & Raw was founded in 2007 by Daniel Sklaar in a Brooklyn artist loft. The company offers a variety of chocolate bars (typically made using cacao from Belize and/or Ecuador). They also make at least one bar made with mesquite.*

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache, slightly smokey, earthy cocoa); coconut sugar; sweet green and nut; faint caramel and vanilla.

Texture: chunky and smooth. The hazelnuts were fully incorporated into the chocolate, and this "Chunky" had the mouthfeel and melt of a hearty, roasted nut butter and chocolate truffle bar -- likely similar to the company's other small chunky chocolate truffle bars (that I haven't tasted yet).

I liked that this chocolate was dark, nut-roast-y and not too sweet. I loved that my teeth weren't coated with sugar or tannins afterwards. This bar reminded me that the buzz/jolt one feels after eating chocolate is more often from the sugar than the inherent stimulants in chocolate (theobromine and caffeine). 

The Fine & Raw made hazelnut butter added nutty flavor and balanced bitterness/acidity. (This bar was more roasty than it was bitter.) I enjoyed the soft, substantial, almost stone-ground texture. And I appreciated the maker's choice of a short list of organic ingredients in this homemade hazelnut butter and raw cacao bar.

Ingredients: organic hazelnuts, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao bean, organic cacao butter

Allergy-related information: Made in a factory that processes tree nuts

*Years ago I was searching for more chocolates to try that were made with mesquite. (The first chocolate with mesquite that I found was featured here was 2010.) I found Fine & Raw's mesquite (and Alderwood smoked salt) bars in Brooklyn (featured here on Chocolate Banquet in 2019).

As expected, I also found other wood and smoke related chocolates in the Southwest U.S. (Arizona, New Mexico and eventually Texas). But, I still remember those Brooklyn/NYC bars, that seemed novel at the time.

Chocolove - Pistachios & Sea Salt in Milk Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 7, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove
Pistachios & Sea Salt in Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from friends
Purchased from: Gift from friends; thank you Evan, Maddy & Isla!

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Pistachios, Hazelnuts & Almonds Week.

Today's Pistachios & Sea Salt in Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Chocolove (Denver, CO).

Aroma and flavor notes for today's bar included: rich milk chocolate, pistachio/butter cookie with nuts, and faint vanilla. 

Texture: smooth and creamy milk chocolate plus soft crunchy pistachio pieces. 

The rich milk chocolate, pistachio, sea salt and butter flavor blend resulted in a sweet and addictive chocolate. (The pistachios and salt help balance the sweetness.)

I appreciated that the company chose to use Rainforest Alliance Certified Cacao even as certain challenges in obtaining cacao from West African countries continue to be tackled. It's been a step in the right direction.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Pistachios, Butter Oil, Sea Salt. (** Rainforest Alliance Certified. For more see ra.org.)

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

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.)