Clio - Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate - Feb. 15, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Clio Snack Company
Strawberry - Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Strawberries Theme Week.

Today's chilled Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate were made by Clio Snack Company (Roselle, NJ).

The company's line of chocolate covered bars are described as: "greek yogurt (with a cheesecake texture and a sweet and tart flavor) meets chocolate in a bar." Indeed, all this was true, and the strawberry greek yogurt complemented the chocolate quite nicely.

This bar was marketed as containing "billions of probiotics" and 8 grams of protein. It was very tasty, although a bit on the sweet side for me. However, if you're looking for an elevated, gluten free dessert with some extra health benefits sprinkled in, this would be a great choice.

Note: Photos that accompany this entry have been delayed.

Strawberries and Sprinkles - Strawberries dipped in Belgian dark chocolate - Feb. 14, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Strawberries and Sprinkles
Strawberries Hand Dipped in Real Belgian Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total container of 4
Calories: 110 calories estimate for 2 strawberries
Cost: $7.99 for 1 container of 4 chocolate covered strawberries
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Happy Valentines Day and welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Strawberries Theme Week.
Roses, chocolates and red berries (heart-shaped strawberries fit right in) go together on this romantic February holiday.

Big, plump, sweet ripe strawberries hand-dipped in dark chocolate. These were as tasty as they were visually appealing.

-o-o-o-o-

I also revisited a San Francisco classic...dark chocolate truffles with a hint of burnt caramel from Recchuiti Confections (San Francisco, CA) that I found across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, CA. Fittingly, these truffles were adorned with images of this iconic bay area bridge.

Recchuiti Confections
(for COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA)
Filled dark chocolates/truffles (with Golden Gate Bridge designs)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz (24.9 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $5.50 (estimate) for 2 pieces
Purchased from: COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA

Note: Photos have been delayed this month, but will be posted later.

Fazer Confectionery Ltd. - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar - Feb. 13, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery Ltd.
Nordi - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.12 oz. (32 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nordi - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar was from Fazer Confectionery Ltd. (Ventaa, Finland).

This dark chocolate bar had a pleasant, smooth, sweet milk chocolate aroma and flavor with nutty* and vanilla notes.

The texture was rich, thick and smooth.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, reduced fat cocoa powder, natural vanilla flavor. *This bar did not contain nuts.

Fazer Confectionery Ltd. - Nordi Raspberry and Tangy Licorice Dark Chocolate bar - Feb. 12, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery Ltd.
Nordi Raspberry and Tangy Licorice Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.12 oz. (32 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Finland Theme Week.

Today's Nordi Raspberry and Tangy Licorice Chocolate bar was from Fazer Confectionery Ltd. (Ventaa, Finland).

This bar offered a fun blend of slightly tart and refreshing sweet raspberry and piquant licorice—incorporated into dark chocolate (no cacao percentage listed).

Northern Europeans tend to take their licorice more seriously than we do. Higher-end licorice candy there is, I would argue, more flavorful and better tasting than our corn-syrup laden offerings. So, it's not a surprise to see this flavor fusion in a bar from Finland. I have yet to see this blend in this U.S.

Fazer Confecionery - Nordi Hazelnut & Campsite Coffee Naturally Flavored (bar) - Feb. 11, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery
Nordi - Hazelnut and Campsite Coffee Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good
Weight: 1.675 oz. (47.5 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Finland Theme Week.

Today's Nordi Hazelnut and Campside Coffee Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate bar was from Fazer Confectionery (Ventaa, Finland).

The bar had an authentic sweetened coffee (cafe mocha hazelnut latte) aroma and flavor that suffused the dark chocolate base. Embedded bits of hazelnuts added crunch and a faint, nutty flavor that complemented the chocolate, which also had a light, lingering coffee finish.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, reduced fat cocoa powder, natural vanilla flavor), Hazelnuts, Natural Coffee Flavor. 

Fazer Confectionery - Sea Buckthorn and Salty Caramel Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 10, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery
Nordi - Sea Buckthorn and Salty Caramel Chocolate (bar)
Good
Weight: 1.12 oz. (32 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Finland Theme Week.

This Sea Buckthorn and Salty Caramel bar was from Fazer Confectionery (Ventaa, Finland). Fazer is a large company with a big brand portfolio, and a substantial bakery, confectionery and industrial export business.

The first sensory input that registered with me when I bit into this bar was an authentic sea buckthorn berry aroma and flavor. Many folks outside of northern Europe may not be familiar with these bright orange-yellow edible berries that grow on bushes.*

The berries have a mild sweetness and slight astringency and are high in Vitamin C. I found them closer to milder varieties of gooseberries or goji berries than to berries we see in the U.S. (e.g. strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or other berries we use for eating or in pies and jams). I hope to try these festively orange berries, dried or fresh, in the future.

Small caramel/toffee chips added sweetness to this chocolate.

*Also known as seaberries, sea buckthorn berries (and other parts of the plant) also have been used historically across northern Europe for medicinal purposes. 

Note: photos have been delayed this week. The image of  kayak on the water (on the package surrounding today's bar) was particularly relevant as this bar was enjoyed the day after an unusually windy and high tide day near the San Francisco Bay where I live, to the delight of windsurfers and kite surfers around the bay. Water levels were high enough to support small sailboats as well as canoes and kayaks. Chocolate is a wonderful outdoor snack.

Helsinki Heaven - ChocOat - Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar - Feb. 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

ChocOat - Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar
(manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY)
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 137 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Oats Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Finland Theme Week.

Today's ChocOat Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY (Helsinki, Finland).

The bar had a fruity blueberry and roasted chocolate aroma and even, authentic flavors and texture.