Black Mountain Chocolate - 70% Sea Salt bar - Dec. 10, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Black Mountain Chocolate
Dark Chocolate - Sea Salt Bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.25 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.99 (+ any shipping costs)
Purchased from: Black Mountain Chocolate (online order)

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week, and I had the opportunity to talk to bean-to-bar chocolate-maker, Brent Peters of Black Mountain Chocolate (Swannanoa (near Asheville), North Carolina) about the company's Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt bar.

The Black Mountain 70% dark bar base, was made with organic cacao from the Dominican Republic -- selected for its bright acidity.

I found it to be flavorful and well-balanced with bright/acidic fruit notes and just the right touch of smoothness and bitterness that I appreciate in a well-crafted, fine-flavored cacao.

There was a faint constellation of tiny Celtic sea salt "stars" on the back of the bar, almost lost in the blackness of chocolate night. And, indeed, the taste of salt was as faint as the sparkle of a far-away galaxy -- just enough to give a very slight balanced shift of flavor, but barely detectable otherwise. This bar was a great example of very judicious use of sea salt. (Other makers use more salt, but would be wise to avoid an overly heavy or uneven sprinkle, as it can overpower the chocolate.)

I asked Brent Peters if he, or founder Dave Mason, had thoughts about an optimal amount of salt to use with chocolate. He indicated that their goal has been (with salt) to provide a partner (for chocolate), and not a focus. The use of fine-ground salt (from a local, Asheville, NC, based salt provider), adds balance without being a competitive flavor.

More about Black Mountain and Chocolate Making

Future goals include opening Black Mountain Chocolate factory to the public (for tours), in the next year or two -- a move that would be a milestone in the journey from "hobby that got out of control that meant a lot to us" to growing the business and helping educate customers about who is producing their food, and how it's produced.

Brent was recently interviewed by local (NC Wine and Food) radio host, Bob Bowles. I'm including a link to this interview as I believe anyone wanting to know more about bean-to-bar chocolate-making might find this interesting.

http://www.buzzsprout.com/17473/128396-ncwf-black-mtn-chocolate_brent-peters_08nov2013-mp3

Lonohana Estate - Nene bar with sea salt - Dec. 9, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC
The Nene Milk with sea salt bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 173 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week.

Most great chocolate bars contain five ingredients or less. Today's bar was no exception. The Nene Milk with sea salt bar from Lonohana Estate Chocolate (Honolulu, HI) ingredient list read as follows: 1.) Lonohana Estate grown cacao; 2.) cocoa butter; 3.) organic whole milk powder; 4.) Maui cane sugar; and 5.) Alaea sea salt.

This Nene milk chocolate bar possessed wonderful caramel notes, without being overly sweet, and just the right, light touch of sea salt.

Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC, is the product of two families' efforts to both grow their own cacao fruit/trees in Hawaii and to make their own chocolate from the cacao beans. They planted their first tree back in 2009, and have started selling small production runs of bars (through a club system) within the last year.

Classified as a tree-to-bar company, this maker has more control over the complete process (raising the probability of making a great chocolate bar). However, the many steps involved, from propagating cacao seedlings to tempering and molding finished chocolate bars, also present more complex challenges (and opportunities for things to go wrong). For these reasons, the maker(s) at Lonohana are to be congratulated.* (Thank you Seneca, and Sunita.)

*Note: If the greatest alchemy is to turn fear into strength, the second greatest feat may be to turn cacao beans into great chocolate. There are more than 20 steps involved. The process rivals wine-making and any other complex craft food-making that I've encountered.

Dick Taylor - Fleur de Sel bar - Dec. 8, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Dick Taylor
Fleur de Sel bar
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $9.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week, and the chocolate of the day was a dark chocolate single origin bar with salt, hand-crafted* by bean-to-bar maker Dick Taylor in Humboldt County (Arcata, CA).

This 74% Dominican Republic bar had well-balanced earthy and acid/ripe fruit notes, and just the right, even sprinkling of fleur de sel (sea salt) on the back side of the bar.

With a three ingredient bar like this (organic, fairly traded cacao, organic cane sugar and fleur de sel), there's no where to hide if you want a great bar. Each of these three ingredients needs to be of the highest quality and has to play well with others. There are no texturing or flavor agents to cover up off-tastes or an uneven flavor profile.

Thankfully, the makers and serial craftsmen at Dick Taylor (Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor are also boatbuilders and designers/printers, musicians, and I'm sure I'm leaving a few things out here) take each step of their craft(s) seriously. And, I haven't tasted a bad bar yet.

*Note: When I last checked the Dick Taylor website (Dec. 2013), most of their bars were "Sold Out," so stock up when they're available.

Lake Champlain - Salted Caramel bar

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lake Champlain Chocolates
Salted Caramel bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .8125 oz. (23 g.) / 3.25 oz. (92 g.) total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/4 bar (2 squares)
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today's organic Salted Caramel bar broke apart into eight domed squares with a sturdy snap. Pockets of fresh-tasting*, soft, salted caramel filling were securely contained inside each 55% cocoa dark chocolate square. And each square was marked with a stag, a suggestion of waves (lake), and 5 stars, all part of the Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT) logo and origin story.

The company has expanded the percentage of fair trade and organic chocolate over time. This bar contained organic and fair trade chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla.

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Caramel Theme Week, and the beginning of Chocolate and Salt Week. Many of the best chocolate caramel bars now include a pinch of sea salt. More about this topic over the next several days.

*Note: Freshness and proper storage (at proper temperature) significantly affects both chocolate and caramel. Over time, and/or if stored improperly, a silky caramel can become stiff, lifeless and even chalky. And chocolate can become brittle, bloomed, or lose flavor notes. It's easier to prevent problems like this in the cooler months like December, but things can still go wrong in transit. So, a bit thank you to chocolatier and distributor/retailer for ensuring a fresh product. 

Chocolate of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus - Vegan Mary - Vegan Salted Dark Caramel Fudge Truffles
Good +
Weight: .46 oz. (13 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) (estimate) for total package of 5 truffles
Calories: 69 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bag of 5 truffles
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Caramel Theme Week.

Winter weather makes me want to spend time inside, reading a book, or watching a movie. It's 2013 Academy Award season here in the movie-watching United States. Movies released in November and December will most likely be fresh on Academy voters' minds; and when award winners are unveiled to the public in early 2014.

I plan to celebrate the winners with a little chocolate. And, I'll also be focusing on 2013 Chocolate Banquet award nominees.

Today's Cocopotamus -Vegan Mary caramel fudge truffles from NYDC Chocolate (Albuquerque, NM) would be a good, vegan movie snack to accompany your popcorn and beverage of choice. According to the company, Cocopotamus truffles have also been enjoying red carpet status as "celebrity chocolate" at the Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys.

I might nominate these fudge-inspired truffles (packaged in a sheer drawstring bag) to attend movie screenings in my living room -- along with other Cocopotamus "un-caramel"* truffles, and the company's Rosie Posy Mediterranean Rose Water flavored truffles reviewed last month.

*No gooey caramel in the traditional sense, they're not your dear grandma's fudge; nor are they your grandpa's caramels.

P.S. Did I mention these were vegan and gluten-free?

TCHO - Sea Salt and Roasted Nib Caramel - Dec. 5, 2013

Exploratorium - Chocolate

Chocolate of the Day: 

TCHO
Sea Salt and Roasted Nib Caramel
Very Good
Weight: .83 oz. (23 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $5.00 for 2 ($2.50 each)
Purchased from: TCHO, San Francisco, CA

This week I visited the Exploratorium at their scenic, new location on San Francisco Bay. Conveniently, TCHO (San Francisco, CA), was located next door (Pier 17). The chocolate makers at TCHO have branched out from bars and chocolate covered items into confections; and I picked up two Sea Salt and Roasted Nib Caramels to try.

Hallelulah! Someone's finally gotten these right. The caramel was surrounded by dark, flavorful couverature (helps if you're making the chocolate from scratch), and given more depth with the inclusion of roasted cacao nibs. Top this off with a soft, flowing caramel center that isn't cloyingly sweet, and you have a winning combination in my book. Thank you TCHO!

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Caramel Theme Week.

Madecasse - Milk Chocolate bar - Dec. 4, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Madecasse LLC
Milk Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.) / .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 66 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (N/A - part of larger, previously recorded package)
Purchased from: (part of previous online order)

Bean-to-bar makers at Madecasse Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY; Ambanja, Antananarivo (Madagascar)) take pride in the fact that their cacao is grown on the island of Madagascar. More unique is the fact that their finished chocolate is also made in-country, in Madagascar.

Today's 44% cocoa, "silky smooth," milk chocolate bar had an "Intensity" rating of 1 out of a possible four. Intensity is a tricky rating criteria. I generally want a great chocolate to be intense enough to discern the full tasting arc, but not so strong as to be overwhelming. Whereas, a lesser chocolate is often fine if it's fairly mild. Objectionable flavors can be muted with the presence of cocoa butter, or sweeteners.

However, mild intensity works when certain notes are present that may be easily overwhelmed. Flavor Notes printed on the label for this bar stated: "a "dark" milk bar with clear notes of caramel. In this case, caramel notes paired well with a mellow milk chocolate. The texture was smooth, but slightly gummy -- a characteristic I sometimes experience when soy lecithin has been added to smooth out texture.

Overall, this bar was pleasant -- and a few squares paired well with a small dish of Three Twins (Petaluma, CA) Sea Salted Caramel ice cream.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Caramel Theme Week.