ChocolateBet: August 25, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
1.) Wild Fennel Truffle - Good + - Very Good
2.) Cardomom Truffle - Good + - Very Good
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 119 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $3.75 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: The Xocolate Bar, in Berkeley, CA

Today I enjoyed two chocolates from (an earlier chocolate field trip to) The Xocolate Bar in Berkeley, CA. I like being able to taste natural spices and flavorings when they're blended and balanced well with chocolate. Both the wild fennel and the cardomom made their presence known in these chocolates.

The Xocolate Bar makes a variety of interesting chocolates (such as banana jerky, ginger bark, and naturally flavored chocolates). However, they may be most well known for their attractive and interesting molded chocolates (e.g. a chocolate buddha). The chocolate coverings are a bit hard and thick on these molded pieces. This means the chocolates hold their shape and don't leak; however, I would be interested to try some with thinner "shells" so I could enjoy more of the ganaches/fillings.

ChocolateBet: August 24, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Furuta Confectionery Co., Ltd.
(Exported by Daiso Industries Co., Ltd.)
Chocolate(s with) strawberry crem (sic) filling
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (12.66 g.) in 2 pieces / 1.8 oz. (57 g.) total package of 9 pieces
Calories: 69 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $
Purchased from: Daiso store, in Mountain View, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week, and today's chocolate (individually wrapped milk chocolates filled with strawberry cream filling) from Furuta (and brought to the U.S. courtesy of Daiso) hailed from Japan. For anyone in the U.S. not familiar with Daiso, they are a very large worldwide retail chain. Daiso stores are typically packed with economically priced goods ranging from chop sticks and dishes to writing pads and wrapping paper.

It was a very hot day today (over 100 degrees Farenheit). A cool beverage was in order; so I blended some summer-themed iced water, lemonade and frozen berries to accompany these chocolates.