Cocopotamus - Razzmanian Devil + Yo-Ho-Ho - Dec. 31, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus

1.) Razzmanian Devil
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) for 1 box of 5 pieces
Calories: 78 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $11.95 for 1 box of 5 pieces
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

2.) Yo-Ho-Ho 
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) for 1 box of 5 pieces
Calories: 82 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $12.00 for 1 box of 5 pieces
Purchased from: Cocopotamus (website, online order)

Happy last day of 2013, and a Very Happy New Year's Eve to all. Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Rather than go with champagne and chocolate, I opted for four "fs" -- feisty, fun, fantastic and fudge: Cocopotamus dark chocolate fudge balls, individually wrapped in festive foil, and infused with spirits.

The Cocopotamus Razzmanian Devil dark chocolate fudge balls were bouncing with delicious, sweet black raspberry and raspberry brandy flavor. And the Cocopotamus Yo-Ho-Ho fudge balls were infused with jolly shot of Caribbean rum, lightly frosted with a gold shimmer, and rolled in crunchy, sweet grains of caramel colored Turbinado sugar.

Here's a fifth "f": fearless. I hope you live joyfully and fearlessly in 2014. May all your dreams come true -- chocolate and otherwise.

TCHO Craft Bourbon truffles - Dec. 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

TCHO Ventures, Inc.
"Nutty" PureNotes + Woodford Reserve Craft Bourbon (truffle)
Very Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) (estimate for 2 pieces)
Calories: 127 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $5.00 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: TCHO, Pier 17, San Francisco, CA

TCHO was a leader in helping educate chocolate lovers about specific flavor notes that could be coaxed from cacao beans from various origins. They created (and still offer) four basic PureNote dark bars: "Citrus," "Nutty," "Chocolatey" and "Fruity" -- so named because of flavor notes that are present with certain beans.

More recently, the company has branched out into different products, and this last year decided to produce a limited number of confections. In the display case of their shop in San Francisco, were four different flavors -- one that corresponded to each of their four basic flavor groupings, available by the piece. Each confection/truffle was paired with complementary flavor additions.

Today's dark truffle used TCHO's PureNotes dark "nutty*" 65% cacao chocolate as a base, made with beans from Ecuador. (This chocolate was described as having hints of roasted nuts, espresso and toasted malt.) It paired very nicely with a touch of spirits, a great choice for the winter holidays. The smooth, dark ganache (filling) was infused with Woodford Reserve Craft Bourbon (Versailles, KY).

*Note: "Nutty" describes a flavor profile. There are no nuts in this blend.

Cocopotamus - Humpty Eggnog truffles - Dec. 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus
Humpty - Eggnog + Brandy Caramel Fudge Truffles
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) total mesh bag of 5 pieces
Calories: 78 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $12.00 in 1 bag
Purchased from: NYDC Chocolate (online order)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...Well, he wouldn't have survived long, even if the king's men had found him, because he was eaten.

Nursery rhymes can be pretty grim, can't they. But, today's chocolate Humpty was definitely on the sweeter side.

Today's "Humpty" Eggnog + Brandy Caramel Fudge Truffle was part of the Cocopotamus chocolate family from NYDC Chocolate (Albuquerque, NM), the creation of Max and Ally Sinclair. These gluten-free, fudge and caramel filled truffles, with brandy flavoring, were covered with chocolate and decorated with a light golden eggnog colored icing swirl.

Individually wrapped in gold foil, five of these Humpty truffles were nestled inside a shiny mesh bag, tied with a slender white ribbon. As noted on the label, Cocopotamus truffles have also been included in celebrity gift bags at high-profile awards events: "Oscars, Golden Globe, Emmys." Packaged as they were, they made an attractive small gift.

Taza - Spiked Eggnog chocolate - Dec. 28, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Dark Spiked Eggnog
Good - Good +
Weight: .675 oz. (19.25 g.) / 2.7 oz. (77 g.) total package
Calories: 101 calories (estimate) in 4 wedge serving (1/4 package)
Cost: N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Taza

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Taza Chocolate's Chocolate Mexicano Disc line included many different flavors. A seasonal favorite, the Dark Chocolate (55% Dominican cacao) Spiked Eggnog offering, blended stoneground chocolate with eggnog flavors (essence of rum, spices) for a holiday twist on a cold weather favorite. The Eggnog was labeled as a "Winter Warmer" flavor.

Break off the desired number of chocolate wedges; and stir them into a small mug of very hot water until they're fully dissolved. Or you could add some hot milk and grate some fresh nutmeg over the top. Either way, these wedges make an authentic-tasting, flavorful drinking chocolate.

John and Kira's - Mut Vitz Coffee Whiskey - Dec. 27, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Mut Vitz Coffee Whiskey chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .383 oz. (10.86 g.) / 5.75 oz. (163 g.) total 15-piece assortment box
Calories: 57 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $32.00 total for original order, 15-piece Every Flavor Collection box
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Today was Day #3 of Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

I needed a boost this Christmas holiday week Friday a.m. I stayed up too late working last night, and I wanted to fully appreciate today. Time flies by too quickly not to enjoy your life and your chocolate. And, while I don't drink coffee anymore, I still love the smell and taste in small quantities, say, in a piece of chocolate.

Today's, Mut Vitz Coffee* Whiskey square -- enrobed in a thin layer of 62% Valrhona dark chocolate -- contained subtle infusions of coffee and whiskey in a creamy, Valrhona dark chocolate ganache (filling).

This piece was part of John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA) 15-piece Every Flavor Collection box. (Other flavors have been previously featured.)

*The coffee used for this chocolate was "shade grown coffee from the fair-trade Mut Vitz Cooperative in Chiapas, Mexico."

Barlovento - Eggnog truffle - Dec. 26, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Eggnog Brandy truffle
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece (if part of 4-piece box, otherwise $2.75 for 1)
Purchased from: Barlovento Chocolates, California Ave. Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the Day after Christmas, and Day #2 of Holiday Spirits Theme Week. It was nice to still be unwrapping presents, like this dark shimmering Eggnog Brandy truffle from Barlovento Chocolates (Oakland, CA).

The Barlovento chocolates I bought this past week (at the local farmers market) were all made from Venezuelan dark chocolate, including this Eggnog truffle that was infused with very subtle spice and brandy flavors.

The rich, slightly acidic dark chocolate ganache (and dark couverture) dominated this truffle. Dark, bold and beautiful, with no sugary, white fluff.

Sixth Course - Peppermint Schnapps truffle - Dec. 25, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sixth Course
1.) Peppermint Schnapps truffle - Good ++
2.) Spiked Eggnog truffle - Good ++

Weight: .832 oz. (23.58 g.) for 2 pieces / 2.5 oz. (70.7 g.) total box of 6
Calories: 124 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $17.00 for 6-piece box (already accounted for in previous post)
Purchased from: Heath Ceramics (Mission location), San Francisco, CA

Christmas morning was a time to unwrap presents and take a walk along the San Francisco Bay Trail. This morning's gifts included Peppermint Schnapps and Spiked Eggnog truffles from Sixth Course (San Francisco, CA).

Covered with dark chocolate (couverture from Guittard) and filled with extra creamy, sweet white chocolate ganache (made using local cream), these two holiday flavored truffles were both attractive and well executed, with a touch of sparkle and shine.

The Peppermint Schnapps truffle was topped with a little sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy, and was light on the alcohol. The Spiked Eggnog truffle was full of rich cream and brandy flavor (which I liked), and was topped with a dusting of spice (nutmeg).

Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, there's no escaping this winter holiday. So, I hope you all had a relaxing and wonderful week that included something sweet.

Mi-Del Candy Cane Cremes - Dec. 24, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mi-Del
Candy Cane Cremes (Cookies)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.37 oz. (39 g.) / 9 oz. (255 g.) for 3 cookies
Calories: 195 calories for 3 cookies
Cost: $3.99 for 1 box
Purchased from: Whole Foods, Los Altos, CA

Happy Christmas Eve. What treats are we leaving out for the arrival of Santa Claus this evening? A tiny plate of Mi-Del Candy Cane Cremes, Limited Edition Cookies (manufactured for Panos Brands, Saddle Brook, NJ).

The creme filling between these crunchy, gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies contained flecks of peppermint, perfect for Christmas week.

Cocopotamus - Santa's Addiction - Dec. 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus - Santa's Addiction
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total box of 5
Calories: 55 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $11.95 for box of 5 pieces
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today's Cocopotamus Santa's Addiction ("a.k.a. Christmas everyday") peppermint fudge truffles (from NYDC Chocolate, LLC, Albuquerque, NM) were coated with white peppermint sugar, making it "a real snowball."

Dark chocolate fudgey centers were bursting with just the right amount of natural tasting peppermint.

I think Santa would approve of these individually wrapped, festive holiday truffles, from a company that knows how to have fun. Ho ho ho indeed. And, fortunately for me, I bought these before they were sold out at SweetE Organic (Mill Valley, CA).

Barlovento - Gingerbread Truffle - Dec. 22, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Barlovento Chocolates
Gingerbread Truffle
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle
Calories: 61 calories (estimate) for 1 truffle
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece (if part of 4-piece box/order)
Purchased from: Barlovento table/booth at California Avenue Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to bonus day (Day #8) of Chocolate and Holiday Spice Theme Week. The excitement of the holidays (we'll all need to crash and take a nap soon) has been fueled by sugar and spice and gingerbread this week.

So, infused with the thought of more sweets, I skipped off to the local farmers market and bought vegetables, fruit, nuts, and chocolates. I enjoyed today's Gingerbread Truffle from Barlovento Chocolates (Oakland, CA), and had visions of gluten-free gingerbread men cookies (from Mariposa Baking Company, also based in Oakland, CA) dancing in my head. I wondered what gingerbread men ate for breakfast...A bowl of Gingerbread Truffles perhaps?

The Barlovento Gingerbread Truffle, stenciled with a colorful holiday gingerbread motif*, was covered with Venezuelan dark chocolate. The truffle was filled with a white chocolate ganache, flavored with gingerbread spices and perhaps a drop or two of molasses. Sweet, seasonal and delicious.*

Note: this seasonal item may not be available much longer.
* Seen here photographed (upper left) with Barlovento Meyer Lemon truffles and Kirsch truffle

Sixth Course - Pumpkin Spice Truffle - Dec. 21, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sixth Course
Pumpkin Spice Truffle
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .416 oz. (11.79 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70.7 g.) total box of 6
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $17.00 for box of 6 different chocolates
Purchased from: Heath Ceramics, San Francisco, CA


Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Holiday Spice Theme Week.

This holiday Caramelized Pumpkin Spice truffle from the two chefs at Sixth Course (San Francisco) was sweet, pumpkin sugar and spice atop a round truffle filled with creamy chocolate ganache.

Madecasse - Winter Spice bar - Dec. 20, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Madecasse
Winter Spice bar
Good +
Weight: .54 oz. (15.6 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 89 calories (estimate based on labeling) in .54 oz. (15.6 g.) bar
Cost: $5.99 in 1 bar
Purchased from: Madecasse, online order

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Holiday Spice Theme Week; and I tried the Winter Spice bar from Madecasse (Brooklyn, NY; Ambanja, Antananarivo, Madagascar).

Made (in Africa)* with cacao beans from Madagascar, this 63% dark chocolate bar was infused with "warm spice notes and a gingerbread kick." Spices included ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. The dominant flavor was spicy ginger (akin to candied ginger root) and faint spicy acidic fruit and earthy molasses notes in the dark chocolate -- making the bar taste slightly "darker" than 63% cacao.

Dessert

For dessert, I followed today's Madecasse bar with a pair of diminutive, gluten-free gingerbread men from Mi-del. These cookie men could be politely dunked into hot chocolate, or perched atop an ice cream sundae. In the future, after a long mountain hike outside in winter weather I imagine, I'll try dipping these gingerbread cookies, or hunks of freshly toasted gingerbread, into a high-end chocolate fondue. However, while today's Winter Spice bar was, thankfully, not too sweet, I've exceeded my sugar limit. Too many holiday treats this week. Right now, I want nothing more than a colorful holiday salad.

*Made in Madagascar by Shahin Cassam Chenai. (Chocolate is usually made in industrial countries with cooler climates. Most cacao trees are grown and cacao beans (from cacao fruit) are harvested in less industrialized nations closer to the equator.)

Askinosie - Gingerbread Dark Chocolate bar - Dec. 19, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Askinosie Chocolate
Gingerbread Dark Chocolate bar
Very Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115.5 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Holiday Spice Theme Week. Another day, another great Limited Edition bar with warm and inviting holiday spices. (This bar even came with crayons to color in a gingerbread factory on the packaging.)

Today's choice: the Gingerbread Dark Chocolate bar from bean-to-bar chocolatemaker Shawn Askinosie, of Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, MO). This bar tasted "darker" than other chocolates featured this week, in part due to the single origin cacao selected.

The chocolate was made with (Trinitario) cacao beans from Tenende, Tanzania; "minimally processed" and organic cane sugar; cocoa butter (from Tanzania beans); and spices: "ginger, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg, clove."

Gingerbread and chocolate is a match made in heaven, especially for winter holidays. Gingerbread and ginger spice cake have been valued as far back as the days of William Shakespeare:

"And I had but one penny in the world. Thou should'st have it to buy gingerbread." 
-- William Shakespeare, Love's Labours Lost

If Shakespeare had been better acquainted with hot drinking chocolate with gingerbread spices (the more likely exposure to cacao in his day), he might have penned a snappy, quotable tribute to the cacao bean. 

Patric - Oatmeal Cookie bar - Dec. 18, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Patric Chocolate
Oatmeal Cookie bar
Very Good
Weight: .575 oz. (16.25 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) total bar
Calories: 86 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Holiday Spice Theme Week; and it seemed like a perfect time to brighten up a cold, holiday morning with an Oatmeal Cookie chocolate bar, from bean-to-bar maker Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO).

This Patric bar was made of sugar and spice and everything nice, including: organic maple sugar, oats, cinnamon, and vanilla. These ingredients were skillfully blended into (and laid on top of) a chocolate bar base, and yielded very tasty results.

I preferred this Oatmeal Cookie bar over an actual oatmeal chocolate chip cookie; but then again the foundation for this "cookie" was a well-crafted, rich and flavorful chocolate that came from one of the best New American chocolate makers in the Show-Me State,* if not the U.S.

*The Show-Me State is an historic, informal name for the State of Missouri.

Patric - Ginger Spice bar - Dec. 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Patric Chocolate
Ginger Spice bar
Very Good
Weight: .575 oz. (16.25 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 86 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Holiday Spice Theme Week.

I don't know how Alan "Patric" McClure at Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO) hand-crafts such great chocolate bars with layered flavors; but it certainly was a pleasure to taste his Ginger Spice Limited Edition bar today.

You'll be rewarded if you can hold a piece of this bar in your mouth long enough to let the flavors unfold. I experienced the warming of the ginger, followed by a delicious gingerbread-molasses-cookie finish that took me back to childhood. (Ingredients included: cacao, ginger sugar, cocoa butter, cinnamon and vanilla salt.)

It was hard to think of better holiday dessert fare than these warming winter spices combined with great chocolate.