Fjak - Licorice Root & Sea Salt Milk Chocolate 50% (bar) Nordic Collection - Feb. 4, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak 
Licorice Root & Sea Salt Milk Chocolate 50% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / ~2.11 oz. (~60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 176 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate & Central America Week.

Today's Licorice Root & Sea Salt Milk Chocolate 50% (bar) was from Norwegian maker -- Fjak Chocolate AS -- from their Nordic Collection. 

This bar was made using cacao from Guatemala. Once again, a chocolate with a global story that spans at least three continents (Central/South

Aroma notes included: gentle, but aromatic milk chocolate (authentic cacao, drinking chocolate, fermented berry/wine, almost undetectable black pepper) and faint, herbal (licorice) root.

The licorice root was fully incorporated into a smooth, buttery milk chocolate that had a slow, creamy melt.

Flavor notes included pleasant, light flavors (criollo/white cacao bean; almost white milk chocolate), making this bar initially seem a bit "blander" than most licorice chocolate bars. I highly recommend you savor this chocolate slowly to appreciate the nuances of flavor and aroma that seem to reveal more of themselves over several minutes. 

The licorice root and the sea salt flavor inclusions were quite subtle. And that helped the cacao notes to shine through.

I appreciated the maker's skillful balancing of more subtle flavors; their use of high-quality, organic and gluten-free ingredients, and single origin organic cacao beans from Guatemala.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Milk Powder*, Cocoa Butter*, Liquorice Root*, Sea Salt. Min. 50% cocoa.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Certified Organic. Gluten Free"

Ritual Chocolate - Orange Cranberry Bar 46% Cacao - Feb. 3, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Orange Cranberry Bar 46% Cacao 
Good ++
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 420 calories in 1 bar
Cost: This was 1 of 3 items in a $44.00 holiday bundle
Purchased from: Ritual Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week.

Today's Orange Cranberry Bar 46% Cacao was from Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT). I paired this chocolate with a hot, spiced cider (with an extra dash of cinnamon).

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich, sweet, milk chocolate; caramel; and fruit (dark red berry/cranberry; subtle, authentic citrus (orange)).

Texture: creamy, smooth, orange extract-infused milk chocolate broke with a light snap. About every third bite contained a whole, plump, dried cranberry--that was moist, softly chewy and satisfying. 

The ruby-hued, dried cranberries were sweetened, but weren't overly sweet (thank you).

This was a sweet, holiday chocolate. (When the cacao content of a chocolate dips into the 40% cacao range (less than 50% cacao), relatively more sugar can mask cacao and other flavors.) But the complementary, balanced and authentic cacao, citrus and cranberry elements in this bar helped balance the sweetness.

I appreciated the thoughtful execution behind this orange milk chocolate with cranberries bar and the choice of organic, authentic-tasting ingredients.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Orange Zest, Cranberry & Light Caramel"

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic A1/A2 Whole Milk Powder, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Cranberries (Organic Dried Cranberries, Organic Sunflower Oil), Orange Extract (Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Orange Oil)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk." "Manufactured in a facility that also processes Milk, Tree Nuts, and Wheat." 

Ritual Chocolate - Gingerbread Toffee Crisp - Spiced Oat Milk Chocolate with Molasses Toffee Crisp 53% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 2, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Gingerbread Toffee Crisp - Spiced Oat Milk Chocolate with Molasses Toffee Crisp 53% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 420 calories in 1 bar
Cost: This was 1 of 3 items in a $44.00 holiday bundle
Purchased from: Ritual Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week.

Today's Limited Edition Gingerbread Toffee Crisp - Spiced Oat Milk Chocolate with Molasses Toffee Crisp 53% Cacao (bar) was from Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT).

Aroma and flavor notes included: relatively smooth dark chocolate; (ginger) cookie dough; and a full spectrum of warm, gingerbread spices.

Texture: relatively smooth, oat milk dark chocolate base, with a layer of finely ground spiced and slightly crunchy (very tiny toffee bits).

I appreciated the thoughtful execution behind this gingerbread chocolate. I loved the layer of high-quality gingerbread spices (and barely perceptible toffee bits) on the back of the bar, that created a layered tasting experience. I also appreciated that this 53% bar was sweet--without being overly so, and that the oat milk was not too grainy-feeling.

Note: Often gingerbread flavors are seasonal. This Limited Edition bar was still available on Ritual Chocolate's website when I checked today (2/2/2026).

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Oat Flour, Organic Cocoa Butter, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ground Ginger, Allspice, Cloves, Cayenne Pepper, Sunflower Oil, Molasses Toffee (Unsulphered Molasses, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Coconut Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Sea Salt, Baking Soda)

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes Milk, Tree Nuts, and Wheat."

Elements - Maple Toffee Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 1, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Elements
Maple Toffee Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 304 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.99 total bar
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week.

Today's Maple Toffee Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was made in Switzerland and distributed by Elements Truffles (Union City, NJ). The company offers a line of different chocolate bars with connections to Ayurveda; and it donates 25% of profits to a non-profit dedicated to helping children.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar (made with Ecuador cacao) included: dark chocolate (roasted/roast-y cacao), faint brown/maple sugar, and very faint herbal--that might have come from the subtle dose of moringa* powder.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy dark chocolate with tiny grains of maple sugar (and possibly coconut sugar and moringa powder).

The attractive artwork on the packaging (a design with a bear among maple trees) was "inspired by the Gond tribal artisans." (The Gond are a group of indigenous peoples in India known for their cultural practices and nature-themed artwork, including beautiful paintings of trees.)

I appreciated the maker's choice to use single origin cacao from Ecuador and the bar's relatively short list of Non-GMO ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Maple Syrup, Organic Moringa Powder.

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that processes nuts.

*Moringa is derived from a tree that likely originated in northern India (in the Himalayan foothills). Moringa is cultivated in countries in Asia, Africa and Central America. And different parts of this tree have been used in traditional medicine (e.g. in Ayurvedic practices). Moringa contains vitamins A, C and E, as well as iron, potassium and calcium.

TCHO - Yule Nog Oat Milk 35% Cacao (bar) + Napa Noir - Salted Cabernet 64% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 31, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

TCHO

Yule Nog - Eggnog with Nutmeg & Rum Flavor Cashew Oat Milk White Chocolate (bar)
Good++
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in 1 package of three small bars
Calories: 360 calories in 3 small bars (1 package of 3 bars)
Cost: $7.19 (sale) for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

TCHO + Clif Family
Napa Noir - Cabernet Salted Bar Made With Organic Dark Chocolate And Barrel-Aged Nibs 64% Cacao 
Good ++
Weight: 1.65 oz. (46.2 g.) /2.5 oz. (70 g.) total package of three bars

Calories: 240 calories in 2 small bars
Cost: $11.99 for 1 bar (package of 3 smaller bars)
Purchased from: TCHO, online order 

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week here on Chocolate Banquet.

Today two winter warmer bars were from TCHO Ventures Inc. (Berkeley, CA): 

• 1.) a "Yule Nog" (Eggnog With Nutmeg & Rum Flavor Cashew Oat Milk White Chocolate) 35% Cacao chocolate
• 2.) a "Napa Noir" - Cabernet Salted Bar Made With Organic Dark Chocolate And Barrel-Aged Nibs 64% Cacao - a collaboration with the Clif Family Winery (Saint Helena, CA)

Yule Nog (bars)

Aroma and flavor notes for this Organic bar included: aromatic and authentic nutmeg spice; warm spirits (rum); white chocolate cookie dough; faint nut--all culminating in a surprisingly tasty white chocolate with convincing eggnog taste--without egg or dairy.

The texture was quite smooth for a non-dairy, white chocolate bar. I noticed a very faint, fine granularity in my throat from the oat milk and cashew (and maybe ground nutmeg); but it didn't distract me that much. It had a thick, creamy-gummy texture that resolved into a very satisfying melt and mouthfeel.

I appreciated the company's choice to use organic ingredients, their blend of 100% Plant-based ingredients and the high-quality nutmeg and rum flavors that conjured up the true spirit of eggnog.

Ingredients: Cocoa Butter*+, Gluten Free Oat Flour* (Oat Flour*, Natural Vitamin E), Cane Sugar*, Cashew Butter*, Coconut Oil*, Nutmeg Powder*, Sea Salt, Vanilla*, Natural Flavors* 

* = Organic, + = Fair Trade Certified - Over 34% Fair Trade Certified Ingredients

Allergen-related information: Contains Cashews. May Contain Other Tree Nuts.

Napa Noir (bars)

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate; faint red fruit (red grape, red berry, red wine); barely detectable pepper.

Texture: smooth base dark chocolate mixed with crunchy cacao nibs bits

Flavor notes: smooth dark chocolate (chocolate-y, hot cocoa/drinking chocolate, dark fudge, cocoa nibs) with faint red fruit (red grape, berry, watermelon, red wine) and a perfect touch of salt.

This was a tasty, well-balanced bar with chocolate, red fruit, salt, and crunchy (Peruvian) cacao nibs -- all blended harmoniously together. 

Both TCHO bars today exceeded my expectations and I'd happily enjoy them again (if they are available in the future). 

(Note: this Napa Noir bar was still available on the TCHO website shop as well as the Clif Family Winery online store when I checked this week. The Clif Family red wine used to make this bar was: "Kit's Killer Cab.")

I appreciated the packaging (3 individually-wrapped bars that can be easily shared with others); the maker's use of Organic, quality and thoughtfully sourced ingredients; and the clever use of using wine infused sugar and salt to flavor this sweet and salty dark chocolate*.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Wine Sugar (Cane Sugar, Wine), Organic Roasted Cacao Nibs, Organic Cocoa Butter, Wine Sea Salt (Salt, Wine), Organic Sunflower Lecithin

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Tree Nuts. Contains Less Than 1% Alcohol."

*Chocolate is hydrophobic (does not play well with water/liquids), so if you're stirring around a large vat of melted chocolate, the last thing you want to do is to add water, milk, beverages or other liquid libations. You run the risk of the chocolate seizing up. (Milk chocolate is made by adding powdered milk.) 

Wine-flavored chocolates can be created by storing/aging cacao nibs in old wine casks. Or, liquids can be reduced/dried and infused into melted cocoa butter--or blended with batches of sugar and salt using drying or evaporation techniques--with the result being wine-flavored sugar and salt. 

The first and third techniques mentioned above were likely used with today's Napa Noir bar. 

Definite Chocolate - Jalao Chocolate with Coconut & Ginger (bar) - Jan. 30, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Definite Chocolate
Jalao Chocolate with Coconut & Ginger (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Definite Chocolate, online order 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week.

Today's Jalao* Chocolate with Coconut & Ginger (bar) was from Definite Chocolate, S.R.L. (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic).

The company is a family-run business that makes bean-to-bar chocolate. They source their cacao from local producers in the Dominican Republic.

The packaging for this bar was adorned with colorful images of "Diablos Cojuelos" (aka catarrones) wearing colorful, fierce and smiling masks. These characters have roots in Santa Domingo as far back as the 1500s; and today they can be spotted during Dominican carnivals. I'm hoping these spirits--and the warm ginger--can help me kick the cold/flu I have to the curb.

Aroma and flavor notes for this DR bar included warm cocoa; smooth coconut milk chocolate; and warm spices (ginger).

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy base chocolate with tiny, chewy bits of coconut and candied ginger.

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, coconut sugar, coconut, cacao butter, coconut milk, candied ginger.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Coconut. Made in a facility that handles nuts & milk."

*Jalao is "a Dominican sweet typically made with coconut, honey and ginger. There are also variations with molasses or cinnamon."

Compartes - Eggnog Milk Chocolate 44% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 29, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Compartes
Eggnog Milk Chocolate 44% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (39.5 g.) / 2.8 oz. (79 g.) total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week.

Aroma and flavor notes included: an initial "artificial" flavor, dark milk chocolate; fruit (strong pear, faint kiwi and barely detectable green grape + celery); as well as vanillin/vanilla, egg, cream and warm spice flavorings. 

Given the initial strong, sharp/tangy pear-like flavor, I wondered if this bar (that was in a sealed inner wrapper) was "off" or had expired. (I couldn't find any expiration date on the package.)

Happily, after re-tasting this bar a few hours after the package had been opened, this chocolate got tastier with more authentic eggnog flavor taking center stage after the "pear" flavors receded.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy texture with no detectable spice particles (spice "grit").

I appreciated the attractive packaging and the fact this chocolate was gluten free. 

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Milk, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla), Egg, Sugar, Milk, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cream, Nutmeg, Vanilla

Allergen-related information: (Contains: Soy (lecithin), Egg, Milk and Cream)