Holm Made Toffee Co. LLC - Oregon Hazelnut Toffee Himalayan Pink Salt - Mar. 16, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Holm Made Toffee Co., LLC 
Oregon Hazelnut Toffee Himalayan Pink Salt 
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) in total package
Calories: 290 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh, add-on to produce delivery service

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut and Almond Theme Week.

Today's Oregon Hazelnut Toffee with Himalayan Pink Salt was from Holm Made Toffee Co. (Bend, OR).

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth chocolate, rich, buttery toffee, authentic and fresh-tasting hazelnuts, and faint vanilla.

Texture: hearty, perfectly crunchy and buttery toffee covered with a thin layer of smooth chocolate and crunchy hazelnuts.

Holm Made Toffee makes great toffees. The generously thick slabs of buttery, crunchy toffee are delicious. The choice of toffee flavor inclusions: also very nicely executed. 

I would have loved to see a little thicker chocolate layer on today's toffee, but I understand this may not be practical due to cost or possible warm weather meltage (related to shelf life and compromised appearance if chocolate melts and smears). And...toffee is the hero ingredient here, rightly so.

Ingredients: "Butter [cream (milk) & salt], pure cane sugar, Oregon Hazelnuts, dark chocolate [unsweetened chocolate, sugar, sunflower lecithin, and vanilla], Himalayan pink salt"

Allergen-related information: Contains dairy and nuts (hazelnuts)

Theo Chocolate - Organic Almond Brittle Crunch 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 15, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Almond Brittle Crunch 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 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 and Isla

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week.

Today's Organic Almond Brittle Crunch 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made in Canada and distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate, subtle vanilla and faint nut and sweet malt.

Texture: This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap--not always the case for a sweeter chocolate with brittle or toffee flavor inclusions.

I liked that this bar wasn't too sweet, and that the relatively subtle chocolate, brittle, nut and vanilla flavors were all balanced, pleasant and complementary.

I also appreciated Theo Chocolate's (historic and continued) use of organic and fair trade ingredients.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans*+, Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Ground Vanilla Bean*), Almonds*, Brittle* (Sugar*, Rice Syrup*, Coconut Oil*, Sea Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate), Sea Salt. (*Organic, + Fair Trade -- Contains 89% Fair Trade Ingredients.)

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds). Made on equipment that also processes milk, peanuts, and other tree nuts. May also contain almond shell pieces. 

Hu Chocolate - Almond Butter Almond Crunch Milk Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 13, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Hu Chocolate
Almond Butter Almond Crunch Milk Chocolate (filled bar)
Good++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 360 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift 
Purchased from: N/A - gift; thank you Bill!

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week. 

Today's Almond Butter Almond Crunch Milk Chocolate (filled bar) was made in Italy and distributed by Hu Products LLC (Austin, TX).

Aroma and flavor notes for this nut butter filled bar included: sweet, flavorful milk chocolate with warm (brown/coconut sugar); nuts (almond butter, hints of toffee, very faint ground hazelnut butter); and just the right touch of sea salt. (Note: this bar contained almond butter and almonds, but no hazelnut ingredients.)

The texture was a pleasing, hearty blend of creamy 48% cacao dark milk chocolate with thick, creamy + crunchy almond butter and almond bits. 

This was a sweet, delicious, flavorful, nut butter filled milk chocolate bar that was "seasoned" with just the right amounts of coconut sugar and sea salt.

I appreciated the use of organic and fair trade ingredients, and the absence of emulsifiers and the use of a less processed sugar--that added a warm toffee-like flavor that was a great match with the nuts and chocolate ingredients.

Ingredients: organic unrefined coconut sugar*, organic cacao*, organic grass-fed milk, organic cocoa butter*, organic almond butter, organic almond, sea salt. (*Certified Fairtrade ingredients)

Allergen-related information: "Contains almond, coconut, & milk. May contain cashew, hazelnut, & pistachio. Allergen cleans made prior to production, but beware that (this) product is produced using equipment that also processes other tree nuts, soy, & wheat."

Theo Chocolate - Organic Cherry Almond 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 12, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Cherry Almond 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut & Almond Theme Week.

Today's Organic Cherry Almond 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made in Canada and distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, slightly roast-y; faint roasted almonds; and fruit (cherry).

Texture: a mix of smooth dark chocolate, crunchy almond pieces, and fleeting cherry (occasional, tiny chewy cherry bits).

Flavor notes included: chocolate-y dark chocolate, faint malt; cherry; and nut (almond) with slightly roasted flavors from the dark chocolate and the almonds.

I liked the mix of smooth, crunchy and chewy textures; and the dark chocolate, almond and cherry were compatible and authentic-tasting.

I appreciated the list of organic and fair trade ingredients and certifications. Theo Chocolate--founded in Seattle in 2005 by Joe Whinney and Debra Music--was one of the first organic, fair trade craft chocolate makers in North America.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans*+, Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+), Dried Sour Cherries*, (Unsweetened Cherries*, Rice Flour*, Sunflower Oil*), Almonds*. (*Organic, +Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: "CONTAINS TREE NUTS (ALMONDS). Made on equipment that also processes milk, peanuts, and other tree nuts. Made with real cherries. In rare cases, may contain a small piece of cherry pit. May contain almond shell pieces...Contains 85% Fair Trade ingredients. Suitable for Vegans."

Chocofin Chocolatier - Dark Almond Bark 66% Couverture Chocolate - Mar. 11, 2026

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Chocofin Chocolatier
Dark Almond Bark 66% Couverture Chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99.05 g.) in total bar
Calories: 265 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: AJ's Fine Foods market, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut and Almond Theme Week.

Today's second chocolate for today was found while on a trip to Arizona: a Dark Chocolate Almond Bark bar--with 66% couverture chocolate blended with fresh roasted almonds--was from Chocofin Chocolatier (Fountain Hills, AZ).

Aroma and flavor notes included: relatively smooth dark chocolate with a slight, balanced bitterness and nut (almonds) from a generous helping of roasted almonds.

Texture: Smooth textured dark chocolate with softly crunchy almonds.

Ingredients: dark chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, natural vanilla, soy lecithin), whole natural almonds.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: nuts & soy; made in a facility that Handles peanuts"

Loon Chocolate - Almond 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 14, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Loon Chocolate 
Almond 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 500 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Loon Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate, Pistachio, Hazelnut and Almond Theme Week.

Today's Loon Chocolate Almond 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was Manufactured with White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, NH).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, nuts, and faint toffee.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, with lightly crispy and chewy, fresh-tasting, thinly-sliced almonds.

Flavor notes: roast-y, dark chocolate with balanced, faint bitterness. The almonds added texture but the almond flavors were very light, and the judicious pinch of salt was very faint.

I appreciated the thoughtful, short list of authentic and organic ingredients and the textural blend. This bar also paired well with several items, including ginger, some cheeses and certain wines.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Roasted Almond, Salt. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. Produced in a Facility That Uses Almonds, Milk and Wheat. "Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan"

Rawmio - Hazelnut Quinoa Crunch Dairy Free Oat Milk Chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Salt (bar) - Mar. 11, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Rawmio 
Hazelnut Quinoa Crunch - Dairy Free Oat Milk chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Sea Salt (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Pistachios, Hazelnuts & Almonds Theme Week.

Today's Rawmio Hazelnut Quinoa Crunch - Dairy Free Oat Milk chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Sea Salt (bar) was made by Windy City Organics, LLC (Northbrook, IL). 

This family-owned company got its start back in 2003 with an interest in raw/minimally processed cacao chocolate and healthy ingredients in mind, and offers several small-batch bars made with stoneground cacao chocolate. They source much of their fairly traded cacao from farmers in Peru.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, nut, coconut/brown sugar, faint toffee, vanilla and malt. I like salt with nuts and chocolate, so I enjoyed the relatively generous dose of sea salt.

Texture: smooth dark milk chocolate, crunchy quinoa, with soft crunchy whole hazelnuts

I liked that I couldn't taste the oats (oat milk).* balance? sweetness level? use of organic ingredients/organic certified? 

I enjoyed the blend of textures and the tiny crunchy quinoa bits in every bite. And I appreciated the choice of organic and fairly traded ingredients and the lack of emulsifiers.

Ingredients: Oat Milk Chocolate* (Raw Cacao Butter*, Coconut Sugar*, Raw Cacao Nibs*, Oat Milk Powder*, Lucuma Powder*, Vanilla Bean Powder*, Sea Salt), Toasted Hazelnuts*, Puffed Quinoa*, Celtic Sea Salt (* Certified Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains hazelnuts. Crafted in a facility that also handles Tree Nuts and Sesame but does not process any soy, dairy, or gluten. May contain naturally occurring shell and pit fragments.

*Nothing personal about oat milk; but I'm not always a fan of oat-y texture or flavor in chocolates. Happily there are now several good oat milk chocolates. That wasn't always the case a decade ago.