Patric Chocolate, The BOSS bar - July 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Patric Chocolate
The BOSS (bar)
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .766 oz. (21.66 g.) in 1/3 bar / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $free bar for future chocolate holder purchase
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Alan "Patric" McClure of Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO) has put the "craft" in American handcrafted chocolate. It is with eager anticipation that I try new Patric Chocolate bars.

Today's limited edition* bar, The BOSS, was no exception. Salty milk chocolate with an even sprinkling of crunchy Rio (Caribe) cacao nibs.

A bit of added cocoa butter and milk powder made this bar very smooth, while still maintaining much of the pleasing, bright flavor associated with Patric's darker bars.

The nibs were embedded (at just the right depth) into the back of this bar. Tiny, high-quality, crystalline shards of cocoa bean, none too sharp, the nibs crunched down to wonderful bits of rich and concentrated cacao flavor.  There was just enough salt to round out and enrich flavors, not too much. Another winner from Patric.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs Theme Week.

*Note: This bar was made several months ago for The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA, and continues to be very popular.

Sea Salt and Nibs bar - July 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Madecasse LLC
Sea Salt and Nibs bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $ N/A
Purchased from: N/A

This small 63% cocoa bar from Madecasse LLC made up in flavor and texture what it lacked in size. I couldn't detect any sea salt (good for those who prefer less salt and want to focus on the chocolate, perhaps not as good for those who want a bit more salt flavor that might enhance certain flavors). The base chocolate was flavorful and the uniform scattering of cocoa nibs provided crunchy texture in every bite.

Madecasse makes their bars in-country, from bean to bar (in Madagascar), using Madagascar-grown cocoa beans. Being closer to both the beans and the farmers, makes it easier for chocolate making, and for the company to develop local relationships and encourage natural farming practices that may include, for example, natural composting, and alternatives to herbicides and pesticides.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs Theme Week.

Coco Polo - 70% Cocoa Nib bar - July 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coco Polo
70% with Cocoa Nib bar
Good +
Weight: .49 oz. (13.8 g.) (estimate) for sample packet/bar
Calories: 69 calories (estimate) in sample bar
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - Coco Polo table at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, CA

Photo: Coco Polo

The "sugar-free chocolate" section in sweet shops, or grocery stores, can be a bit off-putting. However, there is no need to fear stevia-sweetened chocolate bars from Coco Polo (Highland Park, NJ).

The company is using quality ingredients and an aftertaste-free stevia formulation (with Reb A, an FDA-approved stevia extract) for its line of bars. This may be the new gold standard for sugar-free chocolate.

I obtained today's small sample size 70% dark chocolate bar with cocoa nibs at an industry show earlier this year. Full-size 3-oz. bars are available in stores, or online. (See image of the (larger) full-size bar from Coco Polo's website, at right.)

Dude, Sweet EVOOC - July 28, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dude, Sweet Chocolate

1.) Extra Virgin Olive Oil - hickory and cocoa nib infused - Good +
Weight: 1/2 teaspoon / 8.5 oz. (241 g.) total bottle
Calories: 18 calories (estimate) for 1/2 teaspoon
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bottle
Purchased from: Dude Sweet Chocolate, Dallas, TX

2.) Break Up Potion Chocolate Sauce - Good +
Weight: 1/8 teaspoon / 4 oz. (113 g.) total bottle
Calories: 3 calories (estimate) for 1/8 teaspoon
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bottle
Purchased from: Dude Sweet Chocolate, Dallas, TX

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Cacao Nib Theme Week. Cacao nibs (pieces of unsweetened cacao bean) can be used for sweet or savory dishes. Today's two items from Dude Sweet Chocolate (Dallas, TX) were sweet but could also be incorporated into savory dishes.

I drizzled both carefully over a small sundae (coffee and butter pecan ice creams in a shotglass*).

Let's start with the Dude Sweet Chocolate extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The oil was infused with hickory smoked cacao nibs, cinnamon and vanilla bean to make "EVOOC." And the Break Up Potion Chocolate Sauce was made with Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon and agave. (The latter was not technically 100% gluten free, but I allowed myself a delightfully flavorful drop or two.) Both complemented the ice cream flavors, and were packaged simply, in sturdy, brown glass bottles.

*A shotglass typically holds between 1 1/2 oz. and 2 oz. of liquid content. I've found using a shotglass is a great way to exercise portion control for richer dessert items.

Coffee and Cocoa Nib bar - July 27, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Trader Joe's
Coffee and Cocoa Nib bar
Good
Weight: .66 oz. (19 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) total bar
Calories: 106.6 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $9.99 part of a 7-bar pack
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Cacao Nib Theme Week.

Trader Joe's dark chocolate (70% cacao) Coffee and Cocoa Nib bar featured today was part of a 7-bar "Takes Flight" tasting odyssey package. Other flavors in this (seasonal) collection of bars included black sea salt with caramel; orange hibiscus; coconut caramel; salt and pepper potato chip; almond ginger; and chili cinnamon.

Today's chocolate had a dark, even flavor; and finely ground cocoa bean bits (nibs) and coffee nibs enhanced the flavor and added a hint of texture.

Mocha Palets - July 26, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Byrne and Carlson
Mocha Palets
Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7.07 g.) / 3.25 oz. (92 g.) total package
Calories: 36 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $ n/a
Purchased from: Fog City News, San Francisco, CA

These smooth dark chocolate (60% cacao) discs from Byrne and Carlson (Portsmouth, NH) were just the right size and shape for tasting. Flavored with rich coffee and crushed nibs, they were quite tasty too.

Today was the first day of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs Theme Week.

Midnight Mocha bar - July 25, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

The Tea Room
Midnight Mocha bar
Good
Weight: .36 oz. (10.2 g.) in 1/5 bar / 1.8 oz. (51 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 56 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Tea Room table at Chocolate Salon (show) in San Francisco, CA

I didn't wait until midnight to try the Midnight Mocha dark chocolate bar from The Tea Room (San Leandro, CA). Instead I enjoyed this bar after dinner, while watching a particularly colorful summer sunset outside. The sunset hues seemed to match colors on the bar's packaging.

Speaking of harmonizing, I liked the fact that Tea Room chief chocolatier, Heinz Rimann, created a bar where the coffee flavor was pleasingly present, without being overwhelming. I also liked that this dark 72% cacao bar was made with organic* ingredients: chocolate, "cacao fat", cane sugar, and coffee ("Premium Arabica Espresso").

There was soy lecithin added to this bar as an emulsifier. Soy lecithin and cocoa butter (fat) can help make dark chocolate taste smoother, but soy lecithin also can alter the texture and taste - a potential trade-off in chocolate making. Overall, I think most people will appreciate the smoothness of this bar.

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

*The Tea Room has worked to source quality organic chocolate, that is also Non-GMO and gluten free. Check labeling on individual chocolate bars for the latest specifics.

Salazon - Organic dark coffee bar - July 24, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Salazon Chocolate Co.
Organic Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and Crushed Organic Coffee (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) in 1/4 bar / 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 105 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Whole Foods, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

I recommend this well balanced and skillfully crafted, organic dark chocolate coffee bar from Salazon Chocolate Co. (Eldersburg, MD).

The 57% dark chocolate bar (made from cacao beans from a single co-op in the Dominican Republic) had a wonderful, more complex flavor and tasting arc than I've been used to tasting recently. (That is one advantage of a buying a bar from a company that makes their own chocolate from scratch.)

Happily, the organic, fair trade ground coffee, sprinkled on the back of the bar (from Larry's Beans in North Carolina) was flavorful but didn't overwhelm the rich dark chocolate flavors.

Just the right touch of salt (evaporated sea salt from Brazil) added interest and helped to round out the other flavors.

Conversation with Salazon founder, Pete Truby

I enjoyed speaking with Salazon founder, Pete Truby, this afternoon about his chocolate + salt. ("Salazon" means salt-covered in Spanish.) When Truby founded the company, he decided to focus on making a high-quality (bean-to-bar, small batch) single-origin line of chocolate bars with sea salt.

Salazon bars are made with organic, fair trade ingredients, and come with Rainforest Alliance and Kosher certifications as well.

Truby took an active role in selecting the cocoa and coffee beans in today's bar. The company aims to help improve living conditions for the community of cacao farmers (co-op) in the Dominican Republic where the cocoa beans are grown, fermented for a week and air dried. He also flew down to Chiapas, Mexico, where the coffee was being grown.

"Cacao is grown in the developing world. If you want good beans, you need to be aware and involved in the community. We can't fix everything, but maybe we can help with a well...We try to have the best relationship possible with our co-op," Truby explained.

I would like to add: And the results speak for themselves. Better beans + better care along all the steps in the process = better chocolate.

Cappuccino Swirl - July 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
Almond Dream
Cappuccino Swirl non-dairy frozen dessert
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup (39 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) total container
Calories: 70 calories in 1/4 cup
Cost: $4.19 for 1 Pint
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

For those looking for a lighter, non-dairy alternative to ice cream, today's Almond Dream, Cappuccino Swirl non-dairy frozen dessert, from The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Melville, NY) might be something to try. At only 140 calories in 1/2 cup serving, compared to 250 calories for a fuller fat ice cream, I could enjoy this along with some fruit for lunch.

The coffee + cocoa swirls, running through a a fairly creamy base (made from almonds), boosted the flavor a bit more than plainer flavors. 

Vanilla Bean Espresso bar - July 22, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Haagen-Dazs
Vanilla Bean Espresso (ice cream bar)
Good
Weight: 1 bar / box of 3 bars
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 3 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

I don't normally eat ice cream for breakfast; however, my morning meal this summer morning was a Vanilla Bean Espresso ice cream bar from Haagen-Dazs (Oakland, CA (Dreyer's)). This bar helped to fuel a 7-mile+ hike today in the redwoods, in the nearby coastal mountains. (It worked.)

At this ice cream bar's core were strips of espresso (and cocoa) running through vanilla bean ice cream. This center was dipped in (covered by) a milk chocolate coating.

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

Coffee Toffee Dark bar - July 21, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Bissinger's
Coffee Toffee Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good
Weight: .583 oz. (16.4 g.) in 1/6 bar / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 90 calories (estimate) in 1/6 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the third day of Chocolate and and Coffee Theme Week. I love the taste of coffee, but caffeine makes me hyperactive. So, much as I've loved tasting chocolate + coffee items the past few days, I've already needed to take a few deep breaths and slow down.

Despite the challenges of being in a state of perpetual caffeination this week, my chocolate research continues...with today's Coffee Toffee Dark Chocolate bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO).

Bissinger's used "100% African (cocoa) Beans" to make this (gluten free) dark chocolate bar, that was decorated with a festive shower of toffee pieces pressed into the bar's backside. The coffee in this bar came from Rainforest Alliance* Certified farms.

The dark chocolate base as deep, almost impenetrable thicket of darkness. Brighter fruit notes (often found in chocolate made with Madagascar beans) might have added some interesting notes. But, interesting isn't always better if you have a lot of different flavors interacting already. In this case, the rather homogenous dark chocolate in this bar did blend seamlessly with the dark coffee flavor.

*The Rainforest Alliance is an organization that focuses on teaching sustainable practices -- that are "good for farm families, the community, the environment and wildlife."

Madecasse Arabica Coffee Bar - July 20, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Madecasse LLC
Arabica Coffee (bar)
Good - Good+
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/2 bar / .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: part of a larger package of 5 mini bars
Purchased from: (online order)

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

Madecasse (with locations in Brooklyn, San Francisco, Ambanja and Antananarivo) is a bean-to-bar company that sources cacao from Madagascar. More important, the company also makes their chocolate in Madagascar. Most chocolate companies buy cacao beans from farmers or co-ops that have been grown in developing countries and ship them to manufacturing plants in developed countries (such as the U.S. or Europe). The coffee in today's bar also was also grown in Madagascar.

This rich and pleasant Arabica Coffee bar was made with 44% cacao milk chocolate and was studded with Arabica coffee nibs (bits of bean) on the back of the bar. The coffee beans imparted a strong flavor, making the bar taste darker than 44% cacao. The chocolate was smooth, although milk powder and soy lecithin gave it a certain characteristic mouth feel (slightly gummy texture). A hint of vanilla and sea salt helped round out the stronger cocoa and coffee flavors.

Almond Brittle - July 19, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

G. L. Alfieri LLC
Almond Brittle - Dark Chocolate Coffee
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total package
Calories: 45 calories (estimate)
Cost: not available
Purchased from: G.L. Alfieri table at San Francisco Ferry Building, SF, CA

Today was the first day of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

This dark chocolate covered, crunchy almond brittle* infused with coffee flavor, from G.L. Alfieri (Ripon, CA), was well balanced, with a good mix of rich flavors and textures.

Alfieri Farms are located in the central valley of California -- an area known for farms and agriculture, about 90 miles inland from the San Francisco Ferry Building (where I bought these). The third-generation family owned business specializes in premium nuts and fruit(s); and almonds were the first ingredient listed in this brittle.

*Note: Chocolate products may not be available in the summer/hot weather months. 

Sea Salt Escape bar - July 18, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Sea Salt Escape bar
Good
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) in 1/4 bar / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 125 calories (estimate) for 1/4 bar
Cost: $4.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: de Young Museum (museum store), San Francisco, CA

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

The Sea Salt Escape bar from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA), seemed like the perfect choice for today's ramble around San Francisco Bay.

First, Ghirardelli history in the City by the Bay (San Francisco) runs deep. Second, I'll be spending time by the waterfront looking at boats (America's Cup, boatbuilding), thus a tie-in with "sea salt escape" reference. Third, I'll be walking the SF Bay Trail, and will be bird watching. And last, but not least, it's chocolate and almond theme week.

Earlier this year, I picked up a specially packaged edition of this milk chocolate bar with almond pieces and sea salt, at the de Young (art) museum in San Francisco. As part of promotion of the Dutch painting exhibit in town at that time, this Ghirardelli bar was packaged in a second/outside wrapper that came adorned with "The Goldfinch," a painting of a bird from 1654, by Carel Fabritius. I've only seen one goldfinch in my area, but maybe I'll get lucky and see another one in my walk around the Bay.

NibMor Almond bar - July 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

NibMor Group Inc.
Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds (bar)
Good
Weight: .366 oz. (10.3 g.) in 1/6 bar / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 43.3 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $5.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Nibmor Group Inc. (Huntington, NY) makes organic chocolate bars that are notable for what they contain and what they don't.

Today's NibMor Almond bar contained no refined sugar. It was, instead, sweetened with organic agave nectar. Also absent: "dairy, gluten or GMO." This dark chocolate (65% cacao) bar was vegan and kosher, and was "crafted at low temperatures to minimize the loss of valuable nutrients and flavanols."

The bar's texture and consistency gave it an almost rustic style. When I broke off a piece, the bar's snap was clean, but lacked a hard snap sometimes present in bars with a sophisticated tempering process (that requires heating chocolate to higher temperatures first before cooling). The consistency was smooth (helped by cocoa butter and sunflower lecithin), even though particle size seemed relatively large, again likely due to more minimal and low temperature processing to preserve nutrients.

The bar itself had dark richness, and was not too sweet (thank you). The dark cocoa flavor was interspersed with small almond bits.

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

Dark Bar with Almond - July 16, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Coco Polo
70% Dark with Almond bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) for 1 small sample bar
Calories: 73 calories (estimate) for 1 small sample bar
Cost: N/A - sample bar
Purchased from: N/A - sample bar from Coco Polo

Earlier this year, while attending a show, I was given some small sample bars from Coco Polo (Highland Park, NJ) to try. I've been enjoying working my way through the different flavored bars. One thing all these bars have in common: they are all sweetened with stevia rather than sugar. And,  they all taste well balanced and much better than other artificially sweetened chocolates I've tasted in the past. No funny aftertaste.

Today's "70% Dark with Almond" sample was just the right level of sweet for me. The dark chocolate was satisfying, and there was a pleasant, almost undetectable, malty or cooked grain taste to the bar. The almonds embedded in the bar were crunchy and fresh.

An Ode to Almonds
Almonds add taste and texture, offer health benefits, and can be a great palette cleanser. Who could ask for more from an edible seed/nut?

• Taste - I have fond childhood memories of the sweet taste of (Peter Paul) Almond Joy and (Hershey's) Milk Chocolate bars with almonds. Crunchy almonds simply tasted great with chocolate (as do almond products such as almond paste or marzipan, almond liqueur, roasted salted and smoked almonds, and almond butter).

• Health - Almonds also seem to act as a counterweight to sweet things. Perhaps the almond's protein, fat and fiber content help dampen blood glucose spikes that can accompany eating too many sugary sweets. Fortunately, stevia (in Coco Polo bars) doesn't alter blood glucose in the same way that sugar can, but the almonds taste great anyway in today's bar.

• Palette Cleanser - I bring a bottle of water and some unsalted almonds to chocolate tasting events -- to act as a palette cleanser between several chocolates. Very effective.

So, a toast to almonds this week!

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

Dark Chocolate Almond Toffee - July 15, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cary's of Oregon
Dark Chocolate Almond toffee
Good
Weight: .21 oz. (5.9 g.) / 1.3 oz. (36.79 g.) for 1 small package
Calories: 30 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $2.25 for 1 package
Purchased from: Cary's of Oregon, Grants Pass, OR

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

One way to satisfy an almond and chocolate craving (and there are many I'm finding this week), is to look for English Toffee with almond pieces embedded in a sweet, chewy-crunchy toffee center.

Today's package of 6 diminutive squares of dark chocolate enveloped almond toffee from Cary's of Oregon (Grants Pass, OR) were just the right size for sharing or a snack. 

Chocolate Almonds - July 14, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sunbiotics
Chocolate Almonds
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 180 calories in 1 package
Cost: $ N/A
Purchased from: N/A

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

These Chocolate Almonds from Sunbiotics (Glenview, IL) were made with health-conscious consumers in mind -- from whole organic, sprouted raw almonds that were coated with organic, raw cocoa powder, and organic coconut sugar -- and a hint of probiotics. (The soaking and sprouting process was used to make the almonds more digestible.)

The chocolate played a secondary role to the almonds in this organic, raw, gluten free and dairy free offering, which was nice for a change. And these chocolate almonds were not overly sweet (something else I liked). There was no detectable taste to the probiotics (live bacteria, similar to what you might find in yogurt and soy yogurt, that may confer health benefits).

Almond Crunch truffle - July 13, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Almond Crunch truffle
Compartes Chocolatier
Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) in 1 piece/truffle
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $25.00 for 1 box of 10 different truffles
Purchased from: Compartes Chocolatier, Los Angeles, CA

Today's Almond Crunch Truffle from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA) -- adorned with a stylish yellow plaid pattern across the top -- was part of a 10-piece Jonathan's Signature Truffles assortment box. The not too sweet almond crunch filling (made with finely chopped roasted almonds and crunchy wafer bits*) was surrounded by dark chocolate.

Note: I discovered after I ate this truffle that the "crunch" in the Almond Crunch came from wafer bits, i.e. wheat. The truffle was still good, but I don't eat wheat. I'll have to check the ingredients list more closely next time.

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

Almond Ginger bar - July 12, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Almond Ginger - Dark Chocolate 70% bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 116 calories (estimate) in 3/4 oz. (21.2 g.) piece
Cost: $9.99 (estimate) for 7-bar tasting pack
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Palo Alto, CA

Several months back I spotted a Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) tasting pack of seven different bars -- all made with a 70% cacao dark chocolate base, with added flavors.

Today's Almond Ginger bar, from Trader Joe's "Takes Flight" dark chocolate tasting collection, sparkled with bits of crystallized ginger. Tiny flecks of almond added some crunchy texture; and a bit of salt helped round out and balance the sweetness.

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almond Week.

Lemon Ginger Immunity bar - July 11, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Good Superfood LLC
Lemon Ginger Immunity (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) piece / 1.5 oz. (43 g.) total bar
Calories: 146 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $5.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

I'm partial to chocolate bars made with fewer than five ingredients. However, I am interested in trying chocolates with a health/nutrition focus -- where cacao quality is high (and extra ingredients don't include preservatives, fillers, artificial flavors). I'm not sure I benefit directly from extra plant foods in my chocolate, but extra anti-oxidants probably don't hurt.

Today's Lemon Ginger Immunity 72% dark cacao bar from Good Superfood LLC (Boise, ID) fits in this health and nutrition category. Raw, single origin Ecuadorian cacao was mixed with 16 "superfood" substances, including Peruvian lucuma and maca, and Brazilian Cupuacu, African Baobab, Madagascar Vanilla, and "170 million-year old Jurassic Sea Salt." I couldn't taste any of these exotic items. However, bits of crystallized ginger imparted a pleasant flavor, as did the lemon zest.

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

Patric Lemongrass-Ginger bar - July 10, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Patric Chocolate

Lemongrass-Ginger bar

Good +

Weight: .575 oz. (16.25 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) total bar

Calories: 87 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar

Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week.

The minute I sliced open the plastic wrapper that enveloped today's bar, I was treated to the smell of good chocolate. I would happily try almost any Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO) bar for one reason: Alan 'Patric' McClure does such a masterful job crafting his chocolate, from bean to bar. Add a few high-quality flavors or "additions" to this already fine chocolate, and the stage is set for a great bar.

Authentic-tasting sparkles of ginger sugar dominated the first few bites of this Patric Limited Edition dark milk chocolate bar. The lemongrass essence was, initially, more diffuse and served as a fragrant backdrop until the latter part of the tasting arc. That was fine with me, as I was busy enjoying the ginger. Subsequent bites of this (soy and gluten free) bar see-sawed gently back and forth between lemongrass and ginger.

(Apologies: Pictures to follow later this week.)

Coconut Milk Ginger bar - July 9, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Madre Chocolate
Coconut Milk and Caramelized Ginger bar
Good +
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32.25 g.) / 1.5 oz. (43 g.) total bar
Calories: 169 calories in 3/4 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Madre Chocolate, Hawaii

Madre Coconut and Ginger bar
Today's Coconut Milk and Caramelized Ginger bar was handcrafted by Madre Chocolate (Oahu, Hawaii). The company constructed this bar from all-Hawaiian ingredients: 55% dark chocolate made from cacao beans hailing from the Hamakua Coast (on the Big Island of Hawaii); coconuts from Maui and the Big Island; and organic ginger from Hawaii.

Coconut milk and cocoa butter gave this bar an authentic, almost buttery soft and creamy texture. The smattering of candied ginger bits scattered throughout the bar provided chewy, spicy and sweet bits of complementary, natural Island flavor.

Ginger Lemongrass
Yesterday, I mentioned tasting other Ginger and Lemongrass chocolate bars this week. I did re-taste Artisan du Chocolat's (London) Ginger and Lemongrass milk chocolate (40% cocoa) bar, that had a pleasant, mild fragrant flavor. Tomorrow, I will sample Patric Chocolate's (Columbia, Missouri) Lemongrass-Ginger dark milk chocolate bar (sold through The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA).

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

Thai Wonder bar - July 8, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Compartes Chocolatier
Thai Wonder bar
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 60 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $9.99 in 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes Chocolatier, Los Angeles, CA

The attractively packaged Thai Wonder - Ginger and Lemongrass - bar I enjoyed today was part of the Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA) World Series collection (Volume 01, Bar 06), that incorporated international flavor blends.

Today's dark chocolate (73% cacao) bar was infused with a very subtle blend of ginger and lemongrass. I broke off a small edge piece or two to try. These flavors may have been more intense in the middle of the bar.

Ginger and lemongrass combinations have become popular in the past year or two, and I look forward to trying another (new) bar with this blend tomorrow.

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

Ginger Papaya truffle - July 7, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
Ginger Papaya truffle
Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

Today's Ginger Papaya truffle from The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA), was made from Jamaican chocolate. The dark chocolate ganache (filling) was infused with a faint ginger flavor and the truffle was crowned with a small piece of golden-orange, dried papaya.

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

Pear Ginger Chocolate - July 6, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lillie Belle Farms
Pear Ginger Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .6 oz. (16.98 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece
Calories: 90 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Purchased from: Lillie Belle Farms, Central Point, OR

This week is all about Chocolate and Ginger. Ginger is one of my favorite food items to pair with dark chocolate.

Ginger stands up to, and still harmonizes with, dark chocolate. Many more delicate items are overwhelmed by chocolate, especially dark chocolate. For a simple shotglass dessert*, it's hard to beat a small scoop of high-quality vanilla ice cream topped with dark chocolate sauce and candied ginger.

I recently visited the Rogue Valley in Oregon, home to wonderful pears (home to Harry and David, and many a pear orchard), and cheeses (Rogue Valley Creamery smokey blue cheese, and cheddars). Within a few dozen steps of the Rogue Creamery is the lavender colored building that houses Lillie Belle Farm chocolates (Central Point, OR). A few years ago, I featured a blue cheese chocolate truffle from Lillie Belle Farms (made in partnership with Rogue Creamery). Don't knock it, it's better than it sounds.

Where am I going with all this chocolate and cheese talk? First, pears and cheese and ginger (or quince paste or honeycomb) are natural companions on a cheese plate. And, why not roll these wonderful flavors into a chocolate? As it turns out today's chocolate does just this. Second, this is a good time to talk about an upcoming Chocolate and Cheese/Dairy Week, I'm planning a few weeks. (If you have ideas, let me know.)

Today's unique chocolate started with a fresh, flavorful and incredibly moist dried pear half, rolled around roasted/toasted almonds. Enrobed in dark chocolate, this rolled pear confection was then topped with a thin stripe of candied ginger.

*For more information, see my Shotglass Dessert Gallery, coming soon.

Chai Cocoa - July 5, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cotton Tree Chocolate
Chai Cocoa
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 7 oz. (198 g.) in total bag
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Cotton Tree Chocolate, Punta Gorda, Belize


This was the last day of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week. I've enjoyed several combinations of cardamom and spiced chai (tea) blended with chocolate this week: truffles, caramels, bars, ice cream, and today -- a glass of cold Chai Cocoa from Cotton Tree Chocolate (Punta Gorda, Belize).

I mixed a few spoonfuls of this rich, slightly earthy, organic cocoa powder from Belize, into a cup of cold, 2% milk. The Chai Cocoa mix had hints of cinnamon, cloves and allspice. This flavorful and refreshing cold cocoa hit the spot on this hot July day.

Cotton Tree Chocolate, located on the Caribbean coastal town of Punta Gorda in Southern Belize, also has a line of bars with farm flavors that highlight endemic foods and spices -- such as Belizean coffee, coconut and black pepper.