ChocolateBet: February 19, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
2/5 bar
Republica del Cacao
Single Origin - Galapagos Islands Dark Chocolate with Coffee Nibs (bar)
Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 142 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.00 total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Single Origin Theme Week. Today's Republica del Cacao dark (75% cacao solids), single origin bar was a sparkling combination of dark chocolate, sugar and coffee nibs (ground fine enough to avoid being gritty, but coarse enough to add nice texture). I don't believe I've ever used the word sparkling to describe a chocolate, but this fits -- in that each flavor had it's turn to shine.

I have been wanting to try a bar with cacao from the Galapagos Islands for quite some time. Republica del Cacao features cacao grown in Ecuador, and by extension the Galapagos to the West. If I can't get to these islands in person this year, I feel happy I can traverse the globe, in my imagination at least, via chocolate.

My chocolate adventures are largely made possible due to places like The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto. Thank you Sunita -- for continuing to make chocolates available that I haven't tasted yet (even after 1,600+ chocolates). The Chocolate Garage is both an educational venue for people wanting to learn more about "happy" chocolate through tastings and workshops, and also a great source for a chocolate banquet (can there be an edible chocolate atlas?) in the Palo Alto, CA, area.

Thank you also to Judy and friends in San Francisco for tasting assistance and sharing tasting comments.