Sunday, June 30, 2013

Chocolat Lily - Chai Truffle - June 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Lily
Chai Tea Truffle
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle
Calories: 60 calories in 1 truffle
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: Chocolat Lily, Portland, OR

Chai Tea truffles never looked prettier than these two pieces from Chocolat Lily (Portland, OR). These were filled with a creamy, chai and vanilla-infused milk chocolate ganache.

Thank you to Anne Pattison, founder, Chocolat Lily, for her lovely understanding of flavors, and commitment to Belize chocolate.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Chai Tea Caramel - June 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sixth Course
Chai Tea Caramel
Good + - Very Good
Weight:
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 caramel
Cost: $15.49 for one 6-piece Caramel Sampler box
Purchased from: Buyer's Best Friend, San Francisco Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

I spent a blissful hour meandering through the Farmers Market outside the San Francisco Ferry Building this morning. Once in the Ferry Building I bumped into the Buyer's Best Friend retail shop/nook, and bought a few new chocolates, including a 6-piece Caramel Sampler from local chocolatier, Sixth Course.

Sixth Course has created a line of truffles and caramels. Many are artful combinations of sweet and savory flavors. Today's Chai Tea Caramel was flavorful and delicious -- described as "a tea party for your taste buds." I think I would agree with this statement.

Bite into this round milk chocolate (38%) covered beauty and experience lovely cardamom and chai tea flavors infused into a flowing caramel. Sixth Course used organic cream and butter, and partnered with local San Francisco Bay Area vendors for other quality ingredients, for example, Numi's Organic Golden Chai tea.

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



Friday, June 28, 2013

Chocolate, Chai and Ube - June 28, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Rick's (Rather Rich) Ice Cream
Ice Cream Sundae (with Chocolate Ice Cream + Ube Ice Cream)
Good - Good +
Calories: 525 calories (estimate) in 1 sundae
Cost: $4.49 for 1 single size sundae in a cup
Purchased from: Rick's Ice Cream, Charleston Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week technically ended last night, with a bubble gum bar. However, it was a hot day today, and during a walk with a neighbor (thanks Margaret and Albert!), I couldn't resist stopping at the local ice cream shop, Rick's Ice Cream (Palo Alto, CA), to enjoy one last fun flavor.

I picked up an ice cream sundae. Underneath the whipped cream, nuts, cherry and chocolate sauce were small scoops of Ube ice cream and "plain" chocolate ice cream. The Ube ice cream, a popular Filipino dessert, was made with purple yam, and had a very slight yam-like texture. However, the added purple color brightened up the sundae.*

*Also, I can now say I've mixed chocolate with a food starting with a "U." Now I have only to find a food starting with "X" and I will have covered the whole alphabet.

The "plain" chocolate ice cream (one of several chocolate ice creams offered at Rick's) was anything but plain. It was all that I'm generally hoping for in a chocolate ice cream -- rich, authentic, creamy chocolate flavor and texture.

- @ - @ - @ - @ - @ -

Peet's Coffee and Tea
Iced Chai Latte with a shot of mocha/chocolate syrup
Good - Good +
Weight: 12 oz. in 1 small Iced Chai Latte
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1 latte + shot
Cost: $3.49 + shot
Purchased from: Peet's Coffee and Tea, Charleston Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Today's Iced Chai Latte from Peet's Coffee and Tea was a variation on a traditional Indian spiced milky tea. It was constructed with a blend of Peet's teas and spices (don't forget the cardamom), and 2% fat chilled milk. No whipped cream today; it was too hot. This flavorful, satisfying cold tea latte kept me from over-heating on the walk back home.










Askinosie CollaBARation #5 - June 27, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Askinosie Chocolate
Dark Milk Chocolate + Ancho Chile and Pistachio bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Today's Dark (goat) milk chocolate bar was a lively mixture of Maldon sea salt flakes, ancho chile and pistachio nut pieces. The single origin 62% bar was made using cacao beans sourced from the Davao region in the Philippines. There was a lot going on in this bar; a veritable fiesta of interesting and high-quality flavors. Perhaps a bit too much. But, it was fun to try.

The 5th bar in Askinosie Chocolate's CollaBARation series, this bar was a collaboration with Cafe Pascual's (Santa Fe, NM) -- a restaurant that serves savory dishes that echo flavors from New Mexico, Old Mexico, the Mediterranean and Asia. (I hope to visit there one day; their menu looks great.)


- @ - @ - @ - @ - @ - @ -

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week. But, there was one more bar in my chocolate vault that deserved an honorable mention, a Bubble Gum bar from Hagensborg Chocolate (British Columbia, Canada) -- see below.

The bar was shaped like 3 pigs, stuck together in a white chocolate conga line. This creative offering was surprisingly good. (Note: I don't count white chocolate as "real" chocolate, but I do appreciate tasting good white chocolate now and then.)

Honorable Mention:

Hagensborg Chocolate
Bubble Gum bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories for 1 bar
Cost: $4.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hagensborg Chocolate, online order

Surprise! We're having a heat wave in the San Francisco Bay Area. This bar started to melt in my hand, so I had to lick white chocolate off my fingers almost immediately. (What a shame.) Inside the bar a sweet, pink filling held another surprise -- three tiny, pink pillows of natural bubble gum.

This bar may have been sweet, and it melted easily in the hot weather we had today; but it was also surprisingly good. My advice, do as the packaging advises: "Wallow in European white chocolate truffle heaven," if this sounds tempting to you.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Mango Juniper bar - June 26, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Antidote Chocolate (Tripple Red Corp)
Mango Juniper bar
Good
Weight: .92 oz. (26 g.) in 4 squares / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 4 squares
Cost: N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample, The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

In the world of chocolate, bold flavor experiments yield surprising, and often delightful results. Today's Antidote Chocolate Mango Juniper dark chocolate (84% cacao) bar held promise in this category.

I braced myself after seeing the tasting notes inscribed on the bar packaging. "Potent and aromatic" the description read. On the back of this package was a reference to the Greek goddess, Hybris. Known for her pride and insolence, the goddess was also cited as "the Antidote to fear and timidity."

The Flavors...
Despite this build-up, this chocolate was balanced and interesting, and nothing to fear. Each small rectangle of mango embedded in this dark bar sparkled with fresh, authentic and sweet flavor. The juniper berries were surprisingly restrained. Juniper must be a challenging ingredient to incorporate. Its woodsy, spicy, and pine-like qualities call for a great mixologist with good instincts and a steady hand. (I've been delightfully surprised by chocolates made with Douglas Fir (Douglas Fir truffle from Soma Chocolatemaker), Spruce and other tree-related ingredients in the past, and am always interested in new plant-based creations.)

The Chocolate...
Today's vegan and gluten free dark chocolate bar was relatively subtle for an 84% cacao bar. The mild, almost flat cacao profile (common with raw chocolate) allowed the flavor additions to poke through nicely. Part of this subtle, lower-acid, only slightly bitter profile was due to the 50/50 blend of raw + roasted "Arriba" cacao beans (from certified organic farms) in Ecuador. The inclusion of some roasted beans helped elevate and balance the flavor a bit, while preserving what I presume are higher levels of antioxidants and "raw nutrients" present with beans not exposed to higher temperatures.

The Creative Talent...
Hats off to "austrian chocolate empress" Ms. Red R. Thalhammer, and her team, for creating fearless and surprising flavor blends. Yesterday's rose salt + lemon bar was quite nice, and I look forward to trying more Antidote bars in the future.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Rose Salt + Lemon bar - June 25, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Antidote Chocolate, LIC (Tripple Red Corp)
Rose Salt + Lemon bar
Good+
Weight: .92 oz. (26 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) total bar
Calories: 153 calories in 4 squares
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the 5th day of Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week.

Surprise #1
My first chocolate choice for today (a hazelnut filled "Rose of the Dolomites" dark, flower-shaped chocolate from Loaker), turned out to have a wafer in it. Crunch. Surprise! (I don't eat wheat/gluten.) This led to a quick search to find an alternative chocolate.

Surprise #2
Fortunately, I'd been given a few sample chocolate bars from The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA) last night. Thank you Sunita for this nice surprise! And, one of these samples was a (gluten free) Rose Salt + Lemon 77% cacao dark chocolate bar from Antidote Chocolate (Long Island City, New York).

The rose salt and lemon flavors in this bar were subtle and quite nice, and a 50/50 blend of raw + roasted ("Arriba" cacao beans from Ecuador) gave the base chocolate more flavor than raw alone. And, even better, the added dark roasted flavor didn't overwhelm the inclusions (rose salt, lemon).


Monday, June 24, 2013

German Chocolate Julie Bar - June 24, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Julie Bar LLC
German Chocolate bar
Good +
Weight: 1.62 oz. (46 g.) in 1 bar / 19.44 oz. (552 g.) total box of 12 bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $18.75 for 1 box of 12 bars
Purchased from: Abe's Market, online order

For an interesting experience, try responding to questions with this two-word answer: "Surprise Me." Do you want paper or plastic? (I was asked at the grocery store). Surprise Me. Would you like ice in your water or not? Surprise Me. You may not always get exactly what you wanted. In fact, you may run the risk of getting something better. This is why, each year, I create a Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week, like this week.

I was in the mood for a bar I could take on a hike. Julie Cornelius, of Julie Bar LLC (Tucson, AZ) has created a line of organic, gluten free bars with a very short list of ingredients that are surprisingly good.  (I've found products with less than five ingredients are much more likely to taste better.) Previously I  sampled Julie's Chocolate Brownie bars with three ingredients. Today I tried the German Chocolate bars, with 1.) organic dates, 2.) organic walnuts, 3.) organic cocoa powder, and 4.) organic coconut. No dairy, no syrups, just plain goodness.

My hike today was cancelled due to rain, but I did have the unexpected opportunity to enjoy this bar outside for lunch. Whether you're scaling a mountain or walking around the block, this German Chocolate bar with a touch of flaked coconut would be great to carry along. Naturally rich and sweet, without the addition of sugar, it was a satisfying snack.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Elvis Dark Chocolate bar - June 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dinstuhl's Fine Candy Company
Graceland Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .466 oz. (13.2 g.) in 2 squares / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 69.5 calories in 2 squares
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Graceland, Memphis, TN)

Graceland is the home of Elvis Presley, in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis may have left the auditorium, but his image and energy as a hip-swiveling rock-and-roll performer last century lives on. Thank you Jeri for bringing back a bit of the king -- while on a recent trip to Memphis -- in the form of today's Graceland Dark Chocolate bar.

Pleasant and sweet, with a touch of vanillin, this bar should be a crowd pleaser for those who like dark chocolate, without a bolder, acidic flavor profile.

This chocolate was distributed by Dinstuhl's Fine Candy Company (Memphis, TN), a family business that has been making candy for five generations in Memphis, since 1902.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week.

Dude Sweet Chocolate - June 22, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dude Sweet Chocolate
Plum Sexy Chocolate Sauce
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) total bottle
Calories: 25 calories (estimate) in 1 Tablespoon
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week.

When a friend (thank you Toni!) gave me an intriguing brown bottle of "Dude, Sweet Chocolate," she picked up from Dallas, TX, I was intrigued. Inside the bottle was a dark, "Plum Sexy" chocolate sauce made with plum wine and cacao sagrada bitters.

Bitters are often used in alcoholic beverages. However, I decided to experiment with drink recipes later. It was a hot day today, and drizzling this sauce over a small scoop of chilled, coffee ice cream seemed like a better idea. (And indeed it was.)

This unique sauce contained cocoa powder and 72% cacao South American chocolate. It had a faint tartrate flavor that often accompanies bitters. Relatively lightly sweetened with agave nectar and sugar, the well-balanced, flavorful sauce had just the right amount of acidity from the plum wine. A tiny amount of sea salt helped round out the flavor profile.




Saturday, June 22, 2013

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bugles - June 21, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Betty Crocker (General Mills)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bugles
Good +
Weight: .56 oz. (16 g.) / 3.25 oz. (92 g.) total bag
Calories: 85 calories in 1/3 cup serving
Cost: $N/A
Purchased from: 7-Eleven, Palo Alto, CA

Occasionally I collect chocolates that defy neat classification into theme categories. This week I've created a special "Surprise Me" theme week to include whimsical chocolate gifts, as well as other surprising or unique chocolate treats.

Today's Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bugles from Betty Crocker (General Mills, Minneapolis, MN) were both fun and, surprisingly, tasty.

Made from degermed yellow corn meal, dextrose, coconut oil, sugar, peanut butter and a bit of cocoa, these small, crunchy horns made for a tasty carbohydrate snack (satisfying much like an occasional bowl of cold cereal). And, being that my site is called "Chocolate Banquet," I can hardly begrudge a cornucopia-shaped snack that looks like a horn-a-plenty.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Surprise Me Theme Week.



Friday, June 21, 2013

Hagensborg Peanut Butter bars - June 20, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Hagensborg Chocolates Ltd.
Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hagensborg Chocolates (online order)

Today's cleverly packaged Truffle PigBandJ, or Peanut Butter and Raspberry Jam bar, from Hagensborg Chocolates (Burnaby, BC, Canada) marked the end (Day #7) of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

This "Beurre d'arachide et confiture de framboise" milk chocolate truffle bar was constructed of three happy-looking chocolate pigs, stuck together, and filled with peanut butter and raspberry jam layers. My only quibble: this rich, creamy bar was a bit sweet; but that may be a plus to others.




Thursday, June 20, 2013

Pit Bull Peanut Butter bar - June 19, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Rescue Chocolate
Peanut Butter Pit Bull bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.33 oz. (37.69 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) total bar
Calories: 213 calories (estimate) in 2/3 bar
Cost: $6.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA


This (vegan) Peanut Butter Pit Bull bar (made for Rescue Chocolate by Tumbador Chocolate, Brooklyn, NY) incorporated Belgian chocolate, peanut butter, toasted rice chocolate with caramel notes, that resulted in a rich, filling chocolate -- all for a good cause. All net proceeds from this line of Rescue Chocolate bars go to dog rescue and/or animal welfare efforts.

Rescue Chocolate founder, Sarah Gross, explains on her website, that a pit bull named Mocha, inspired the concept for the company.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Eli's Earth Bars, Treasure bar - June 18, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Eli's Earth Bars - Treasure bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

A handful of chocolate candy bars have been redesigned in recent years, to incorporate healthier ingredients. Today's peanut butter packed Treasure Bar with caramel highlights was an example of such a bar.

The Treasure bar from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) -- part of the company's Eli's Earth Bar line -- was organic, gluten-free and vegan, and made with dairy-free milk chocolate (that contained rice milk powder and almond milk).

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Eli's Earth Bars, Dream Big Bar - June 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Eli's Earth Bars
Dream Big Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Spring turns to summer this week, and the long, warm light days are evoking memories of barbecues, baseball games, walks in the park, trips to the beach, ice cream, and a whole lot more.

So, in the spirit of summer optimism, today I tried a "Dream Big Bar" (good name) -- part of the Eli's Earth Bars line from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA). The softly chewy bar was filled with caramel, peanuts and peanut butter.

Eli's Earth Bars are organic, gluten free and vegan; and the company donates 5% of their proceeds to a charitable children's organization.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week. Best wishes on all your own big dreams this summer.

Cleo's Peanut Butter Cups - June 16, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Go Max Go Foods LLC
Cleo's Peanut Butter Cups
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 package of 2 cups
Calories: 240 calories in 1 package of 2 cups
Cost: $1.20 (estimate) (going out of business sale)
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Chocolate and peanut butter -- a power couple in the dessert world. So, it's only right to devote at least one or two days this week to peanut butter cups.

These smooth, rich peanut butter cups from Go Max Go Foods (Dallas, TX) were gluten-free and vegan, with "nothing artificial" and no trans fats. Covering the creamy peanut butter center was a dairy-free rice milk "chocolatey" coating.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.


Sunday, June 16, 2013

'Bert' Bar - June 15, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Bees and Beans
'Bert' bar
Weight: 1.3 oz. (36.8 g.) / 2 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 195 calories (estimate) in 1.3 oz. piece
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

The 'Bert' candy bar from Bees and Beans (Portland, OR) contained a dense, slightly creamy jumble of ingredients, including filberts, milk chocolate, crispy rice and peanut butter, dipped in dark chocolate. Bees and Beans specializes in higher-end, handmade candy bars.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Organic Peanut Butter Cup - June 14, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates
Peanut Butter Cup
Good +
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) for 1 cup
Calories: 100 calories (estimate) for 1 cup
Cost: $1.50 for 1 cup
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

This organic, fair trade certified Peanut Butter Cup from Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates (San Luis Obispo, CA) kicked off Day #1 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

The peanut butter cup is a classic favorite for chocolate and peanut lovers, and this particular cup was quite good. It also was made without additives and preservatives. Nice to see there are more organic confection options like this, and more stores (like SweetE Organic) to distribute them.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Hibiscus Flower Sundae - June 13, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Talenti
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip (gelato)
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup (52 g.) / 1 Pint (473 ml) total container
Calories: 115 calories in 1/4 cup
Cost: $6.99 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

When thinking about incorporating hibiscus into an ice cream (or gelato) sundae, many intriguing possibilities popped into my head. The flavor combination that won out today:

A cool scoop of Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip (gelato) from Talenti (Minneapolis, MN), topped with Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Rose Syrup (Wild Hibiscus Flower Co., Australia), and chopped Lilikoi (passion fruit flavored) Macadamia Nuts (Ahualoa Farms, Hawaii).

The gelato was a pleasant collision of black raspberries, sugar, and flecks of dark chocolate. The wild hibiscus flowers in rose syrup were incredibly exotic, floral and not too sweet -- which I liked. The passion fruit flavored chopped nuts worked well. A bit of fresh coconut added to this sundae would have been great too.

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Hibiscus Theme Week.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Pacari Lemongrass bar - June 12, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pacari Chocolate
Lemongrass (bar)
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $ N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Pacari Chocolate, San Francisco Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, CA

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

Combining a few semi-tropical flavors together today, I sampled a refreshing Lemongrass flavored dark chocolate bar from Pacari Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador), with a small glass of hibiscus coconut tea (from Republic of Tea).

Ecuadorian, tree-to-bar, organic chocolate maker, Pacari Chocolate, included this Lemongrass* bar in the company's 4-bar, flavors of the Andes collection (that also included bars with Andean blueberries, pink salt from Cuzco, and merken chili and coriander). Bars were made from "pure Ecuadorian Arriba National Cacao" and were gluten free, dairy free, kosher and soy free.

These flavors conjured up spending time on a lazy summer afternoon in a hammock, enjoying sips of exotic iced tea, listening to the sound of a gentle breeze wafting through palm trees overhead. Not bad; not bad at all.

*Note: Lemongrass is also known as Hierba Luisa in Peru (citron verbena in Germany, and vervaine citronelle in some French speaking regions). The Lemongrass essence in this bar was delightful -- very fresh, not quite lemon, not quite herb. Somewhere in between.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Orange Hibiscus bar - June 11, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate Bar - Orange Hibiscus
Good - Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 120 calories in .75 oz. (21.2 g.) piece
Cost: $9.99 for 7-bar tasting pack
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Menlo Park, CA

Today's citrus fruit and floral-forward bar was part of a Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) Dark Chocolate Tasting Odyssey pack of 7 different bars (a seasonal item from earlier in the year).

Orange is a good match with hibiscus and chocolate, and this Orange Hibiscus 70% cacao bar was no exception. The bar was infused with a "floral and fruity tea, mingled with orange (oil) and hibiscus (tea and powder) flavors." Other ingredients that added to this refreshing bouquet included: elderberry, apples, rosehip peels, kiwi, dried strawberry pieces, sunflower petals, rose petals and cornflower petals.

Fruit and floral, indeed. The dark chocolate base had a balanced profile, without any overpowering notes, allowing the tea or other flavor additions to shine through.

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

Monday, June 10, 2013

Rawganic Hibiscus bar - June 10, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Rawganic (Raw Chocolate)
Hibiscus bar
Good
Weight: .353 oz. (10 g.) for 1/6 bar / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1/6 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Rawganic, Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Hibiscus Theme Week.

Hibiscus flowers are grown in tropical and semi-tropical regions around the globe, including Australia.  This helps explain why the flowers are known by many names (rose mallow, roselle, Jamaica, sorrel, etc.). Today's Hibiscus bar hails from Rawganic (Burleigh Heads, Queensland) in Australia.

Rawganic offers a line of raw, organic and vegan chocolate bars (in addition to packaged lacuma, mesquite and maca).  

Today's dark chocolate (70% cacao) agave-sweetened bar contained organic hibiscus flowers, organic lacuma and just a touch of pink himalayan crystal salt. It had a slightly sharp flavor -- a hint of tartness from the hibiscus I am guessing. As with many raw bars, I liked the fact that it was not too sweet.


Sunday, June 9, 2013

Oakland Chocolate Co. - Hibiscus truffle - June 9, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

The Oakland Chocolate Company
Hibiscus Tea truffle
Good - Good +
Weight: .42 oz. (11.8 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 63 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

I enjoy mixing spices, herbs and flowers when cooking. This week I've been blending hibiscus, citrus and pink peppercorns, a combination that creates an interesting raft of flavor for beverages, desserts and chocolate items.

Happily, Nancy Nadel at The Oakland Chocolate Company (Oakland, CA) celebrates these flavors as well, inspired by her relationship with cacao farmers in Jamaica*.

I tried Nancy Nadel's Hibiscus Tea truffle and a Pink Peppercorn Caramel side-by-side today. The truffle's white chocolate ganache (filling) was infused with a hibiscus tea flavor, was coated with dark chocolate and topped with an attractive bit of tropical pink (lightly candied hibiscus blossom I'm guessing).

Today was the third day of Chocolate and Hibiscus Theme Week.

*Trivia: Hibiscus based drinks go by various names. The name for a popular, red drink in Mexico made with this flower is flor de Jamaica (pronounced ha-mie'-ka), and Hondurans enjoy: agua de Jamaica. Interestingly, a similar red beverage in Jamaica is called Sorrel.


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