Preston's - Apricot Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar - Oct. 28, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Preston's Candy + Javier Confectionery
Apricot Bliss Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (per label) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week -- a series that includes a variety of fruits blended with chocolate(s).*

Today's generously-sized Apricot Bliss Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Preston's Candy + Javier Confectionery (Burlingame, CA).**

I enjoyed the rich, chocolate-y flavor (fudge brownie) with warm vanilla beans and authentic dried apricot pieces and the blend of textures--with dark smooth dark chocolate and lightly-sweetened, dried apricot pieces.

Texture: This hearty bar had a generously thick, smooth (almost creamy) 63% bittersweet, dark chocolate base. Embedded in this chocolate-y base were pieces of authentic, relatively moist and chewy dried apricot. (I grew up around apricot and cherry orchards, so I'm always happy to feature these two flavors.)

Ingredients: 63% bittersweet chocolate (cacao beans, pure cane sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, vanilla beans), dried apricots (apricots, sulfur.)

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that also makes products containing milk, soy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat. 

*The fruits featured so far this week have included: passion fruit, mango, pineapple; lemon; pomegranate; longan, persimmon and candied winter melon; mulberry; cherry; scorpion pepper (yep, it's a technically a fruit); raspberry; and apricot. Fruits waiting in the wings (will appear soon) include: orange, clementine, cacao fruit, (and more cherry).

**Preston's Candy & Ice Cream opened in 1946 and, until fairly recently, served up sweet treats to customers in downtown Burlingame, CA, at 1170 Broadway Ave. Happily the store is still there, although it became Preston's Candy + Javier Confectionery--after Javier Santiago, a chocolatier (from Mexico) who purchased the historic Preston's a few years ago. 

Javier offers his own chocolate bars and creations as well as many Preston's classic flavors/items. And he's worked to preserve elements of the original business (e.g. the historic sign, original flavors/crowd favorites). Great combination of old and new (and some would say, timeless) chocolate bars and confections.

 

Scorpion Pepper 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) & Raspberry Cream 38% White Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 27, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Scorpion Pepper - 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 79 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: N/A - gift from a friend (thank you Wendy!)
Purchased from: NA - gift from a friend 

Sted Foods
Raspberry Cream 38% White Chocolate (bar)

Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.)
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sted Foods, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week, featuring three different bars from Sted Foods in Minnesota.

(See previous entry, for information on the first of the three chocolate bars featured today from Sted Foods--the "Cherry Nibbler" 50% Dark Milk Chocolate bar (with crunchy cacao nibs, cherry bits and vanilla.))

All three bars contain a different fruit. And yes, the Scorpion Pepper is, technically, a fruit. 

Today's Sted Foods Scorpion Pepper 70% Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Cream 38% White Chocolate bars were manufactured by TC Foods, LLC (Fergus Falls, MN).

Scorpion Pepper 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)

Aroma and flavor notes for this small bar included: refreshing, smooth and subtly complex dark chocolate with very faint butter, and faint chili pepper fruit, with spicy chili heat kicking in after the first several seconds.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy dark chocolate. (The scorpion pepper was fully incorporated into the chocolate. There were no pepper bits or spice grit.)

I appreciated this blend of pleasant, smooth dark chocolate and the contrasting spiciness of the scorpion pepper that blossomed toward the end of the tasting experience. After the spiciness receded, the pleasant, chocolate-y dark chocolate (with faint caramel and fudge brownie notes) returned.

Maker's tasting notes: "This bar has just a touch of heat from Trinidad scorpion pepper. You'll get the endorphin rush of heat from the pepper, balanced with the richness of our dark chocolate."

Ingredients: "organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic scorpion pepper powder"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that uses coconut, almonds, pecans, and milk"

Raspberry Cream 38% White Chocolate (bar)

White chocolates (with no cocoa solids) may not count here as they lack the darker cocoa solids/mass; but I sometimes include them, or pair them, with other dark or dark milk chocolate bars from the same maker. Such was the case today with this Sted Foods Raspberry Cream 38% white chocolate.

Aroma notes included: a dessert chocolate with aromatic sweet berries (fresh raspberries) and sweet white chocolate 

Flavor notes included: authentic-tasting, tart-sweet raspberry fruit (including some seeds and fruit) and cream. There was no added vanilla (unlike many other sweet white chocolates), which meant the focus stayed on the raspberry flavors and textures. It was more true to its name: Raspberry Cream, vs. a white pudding or other cream-based dessert with raspberry flavoring.

Texture: a pleasing blend of creamy white chocolate with authentic and effectively integrated raspberry textures (raspberry seeds, dried raspberry pulp) that made this more interesting than a plain white chocolate. 

I appreciated the short list of quality and organic ingredients in all three of today's featured Sted Foods bars. And I was glad to have been able to try Dark Milk, Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate bars for this chocolate + fruit series.

Maker's tasting notes: "This bar evokes the joy of sunny days spent gathering freshly picked raspberries. Each bite melds the sweet and tangy flavor of ripe raspberries with the creamy richness of white chocolate."

Ingredients: "organic cocoa butter, organic cane sugar, organic whole milk powder, organic dried raspberry"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that uses sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, coconut, cashews, hazelnuts, and milk."

Sted Foods - Cherry Nibbler 50% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 27, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Sted Foods
Cherry Nibbler 50% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 79 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar (bought in a pack of 10 small bars for $30.00)
Purchased from: Sted Foods, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Sted Foods Cherry Nibbler 50% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by TC Foods, LLC (Fergus Falls, MN).

Aroma notes included: chocolate-y (fudge brownie and vanilla), and chocolate + cherry desserts (chocolate cake/torte/soft cookie).

Flavor notes included: smooth, milky/creamy and fudge-y chocolate with cacao nibs and sweet cherry bits.

Texture: smooth, creamy dark milk chocolate, crunchy cacao nibs, and softly chewy, almost velvety, cherry bits.

I really enjoyed this tasty and well-executed blend of bright flavors and textures: smooth, relatively creamy chocolate; crunchy cacao nibs; sweetly tart cherry bits; and cheery, warm vanilla.

The maker's tasting notes mention that black forest cake inspired this bar. If that was the goal, the result was a success! This well-crafted chocolate did bring back some fond chocolate-y memories. (Black Forest Cake was a favorite chocolate dessert when I was young.) 

Maker's tasting notes: "Fruits + Indulgence + Black Forest Cake"

My only regret: this .5 oz. (14.1 g.) Cherry Nibbler bar was small. Great size for a modest snack; but it disappeared quickly. And, speaking of disappearing, this may have been a seasonal bar. (It's not currently listed on the Sted Foods website. Fingers crossed it will reappear in the Spring.)

So, I decided to taste two more "fruit" containing chocolate bars from Sted Foods. See next entry...

Ingredients: "organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic whole milk powder, organic freeze-dried cherry, organic cocoa nibs, organic vanilla bean powder"

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk. Made in a facility that uses sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, coconut, cashews, hazelnuts, and milk"  "Free From Soy, Gluten & Palm Oil"

Lucid Chocolatier - Mulberry 54% dark milk (bar) - Oct. 26, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Lucid Chocolatier 
Mulberry 54% dark milk chocolate (bar)
Good++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 256.5 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $23.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Mulberry 54% dark milk chocolate (bar) was from Lucid Chocolatier, in the Wairarapa region, Aotearoa, North Island, New Zealand. It was part of the company's "Finite Collection" of special, small batch chocolates using Peruvian cacao.

Lucid Chocolatier is located on "a family sheep and beef farm" in coastal Wairarapa. And the mulberries--that played a starring role in this micro-lot bar--were hand-harvested from a 100+ years old mulberry tree on the farm.

Founder and chocolate maker Johnty Tatham explains: "We strive to create curious and intoxicating craft chocolate." 

Judging from their chocolate infused with Tawny Port (featured earlier in 2026) and today's dark milk bar-- made with Piura cacao and mulberries from the family tree--they're succeeding at creating delicious well-executed chocolates.

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: aromatic dark chocolate (balanced, flavorful, single origin, relatively low in bitterness) with tart sweet mulberry + very faint dark berry, dried grapes and sultanas. Attractive berry-fruit acidity and complementary cacao flavors.

This bar was made using Piura, a rare native variety of cacao in Peru, known for bright, fresh and fruit flavors. The maker's blend with the freeze-dried mulberries resulted in a complementary and vibrant tasting experience. The milk mellowed the fruit acidity without dulling it.

Texture: This well-tempered bar broke with a snap, had an even, satisfying melt, and smooth texture. (Roast: Medium well; and conch time was 74 hours.) The freeze-dried mulberries were almost completely incorporated into the chocolate.

I loved the bold, balanced mulberry and dark milk (single origin) Piura cacao chocolate blend, especially the authentic, ripe, tart-sweet berries--mellowed by a very subtle touch of milk. Warning: This bar can be addicting. 

I'm  looking forward to trying more craft chocolate(s) from this rural New Zealand maker soon.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Mulberry, Cream, Malt"

Ingredients: Cacao Mass*, Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Milk Powder*, Mulberry (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. May Contain: Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tree Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecan, Macadamia, Pistachio)

Chocolate and Love - Organic 70% Cocoa Pomegranate (bar) Madagascar Dark Chocolate with Pomegranate - Oct. 25, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Chocolate and Love GmbH
Organic 70% Cocoa Pomegranate (bar) Madagascar Dark Chocolate with Pomegranate
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (9 pieces/squares) of bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week. Yesterday's dark chocolate bar contained cocoa nibs and pomegranate. Today's Pomegranate dark chocolate bar contained some of the same ingredients but had a different twist.*

Today's Organic and Vegan 70% Cocoa Pomegranate (bar) with Madagascar Dark Chocolate and Pomegranate was a product of Switzerland, and was made for Chocolate and Love Ltd (Perth, UK).

Aroma and flavor notes included: soft dark chocolate (hot cocoa, cacao nibs) and tart sweet red fruit (pomegranate).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with almost fully integrated, but not quite, softly chewy bits of pomegranate, sweetened with apple juice and vanilla.

I liked that this chocolate was made using certified organic, Fairtrade, and single origin (Madagascar) cacao. Madagascar cacao is known for its citrus and berry (fruit) notes--and that may have amped up the other (added) fruit flavors a little in this bar.

This 70% dark chocolate was actually quite sweet; but I could still make out some satisfying cocoa notes. The fruit bits ("pomegranate preparation" pieces)--embedded throughout the bar--yielded fairly strong apple and red fruit candy, and chocolate and vanilla cookie flavors.

The layering of flavors seemed about right. The fruit bits didn't seem too large. Nor were the bits totally incorporated--where it would have been harder to make out any single origin cacao notes. But, I think I would have preferred a lighter scattering of said fruit bits (even though they were flavored in a thoughtful way) so I could taste the chocolate more.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass*, raw cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, pomegranate preparation* 9%, (pomegranate, apple juice concentrate*, rice flour*, thickener* [pectin*]), vanilla pods*

*Certified organic. Cocoa, sugar, vanilla; traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards, total 91%. Visit: www.info.fairtrade.net. Cocoa solids 70% minimum (chocolate).

According to the information on the inside of this bar's label (kudos, lots of good info), the Madagascar cacao came from: "Cooperative Premium Cacao Sambirano CPCS". (The company sources cacao from  Fairtrade certified co-operatives in Peru, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Madagascar.)

Allergen-related information: May Contain Milk, Tree Nuts, Peanuts & Coconut

*You can take one fruit and dark chocolate and make a bar eight different ways with eight different results. I love the versatility of chocolate. It's compatible with so many beverages, bars, confections and desserts, and even savory dishes. Thank you to all the makers creating so many different implementations, all with subtle differences. 

Preston's Candy + Javier Confectionery - Glazed Nib Pomegranate All Natural Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 25, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Preston's Candy + Javier Confectionery
Glazed Cocoa Nib Pomegranate All Natural Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 255 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week -- a series that includes a variety of fruits blended with chocolate(s). (This will be another theme week that exceeds the conventional 7-day "week" by a wide margin.)

Today's generously-sized Preston's* Glazed Cocoa Nib and Pomegranate All Natural Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Preston's Candy + Javier Confectionery (Burlingame, CA).* 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, rich dark chocolate with faint vanilla (brownie batter, dark chocolate desserts) as well as very subtle upticks of red fruit (sweet, authentic pomegranate).

Texture: This hearty bar had a generously thick, smooth (almost creamy) dark chocolate base. Atop this chocolate-y base was a field of crunchy cacao nibs and ruby-hued (real) pomegranate seeds.

I enjoyed the rich, chocolate-y flavor, the hint of vanilla, and the blend of textured--with the interplay between creamy-smooth and crunchy elements.

Ingredients: 63% bittersweet chocolate (cacao beans, pure cane sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, vanilla beans), cocoa nibs, pure cane sugar, Glucose Pomegranate Kernels.

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that also makes products containing milk, soy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat. 

*Preston's Candy & Ice Cream opened in 1946 and, until fairly recently, served up sweet treats to customers in downtown Burlingame, CA, at 1170 Broadway Ave. Happily the store is still there, although it became Preston's Candy + Javier Confectionery--after Javier Santiago, a chocolatier from Mexico--a country with a very long cacao history)--who purchased the historic Preston's a few years ago. 

Javier offers his own chocolate bars and creations as well as many Preston's classic flavors/items. And he has worked to preserve elements of the original business (e.g. the historic sign, original flavors/crowd favorites). Great combination of old and new (and some would say, timeless) chocolate bars and confections.

Ethel M. Chocolates - Lemon Satin Creme Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 23, 2026

Chocolate of The Day 

Ethel M. Chocolates 
Lemon Satin Creme Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: AJ's Fine Foods, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week. 

Today's Lemon Satin Creme Dark Chocolate (bar) was from and distributed by Ethel M(R) Chocolates, LLC (Henderson, NV). 

Aroma notes included: Citric lemon (with a very faint lemon wax), and faint, smooth dark chocolate.

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate with an even melt contributed to a pleasant blend of dark chocolate, relatively creamy and sweet lemon. (The lemon flavor was more authentic in the flavor than the aroma.) There was a fair amount of sugar in the ingredients, but it didn't taste overly sweet (a good thing).

Texture: fairly smooth dark chocolate with an even melt, and a satiny smooth lemon filling.

I enjoyed the combination of dark chocolate and sweet lemon, and the smooth textures. I wasn't that excited about the long list of ingredients; but the overall flavor wasn't bad. (I appreciated the honesty in the labeling.)

Maker's description: "Lemon buttercream center made with European lemon puree, wrapped in gourmet dark chocolate and topped with crystallized lemon juice."

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Chocolate Processed with Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Cane Sugar, Corn Syrup, Heavy Cream (Cream and Carrageenan), Whey Powder, Lemon Puree, Lemon Oil, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Modified Food Starch, Invertase, Lemon Juice. No Artificial Flavors."

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk and Soy. May Contain Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Egg and Wheat...Contains Food Ingredients."