Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Chocolove - Currants and Almonds bar - January 2, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolove
Currants and Almonds bar
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) total bar
Calories: 168 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.29 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mollie Stone's, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Currant Theme Week and Day #2 of Chocolate and Poetry Theme Week. I've worked my way through some tasty chocolates this past week combined with fresh red and dried black currants, currant jellies, and creme de cassis (made from black currants and brandy).

Today's featured item was a Currants and Almonds bar in Dark Chocolate (73% Cocoa Content), made with Fair Trade Certified organic Caribbean cocoa beans, and ingredients that were "certified organically grown and processed" by Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

The chocolate was rich and strong enough that it was difficult to detect the the small, dried currants. There was a bittersweet dark fruit flavor that I recognized. The same taste was present in the cassis dark chocolate truffles I made. It may not appeal to those who like milk chocolate and lighter flavors, but I enjoyed it. The organic, unroasted almond pieces added an occasional bit of crunch and texture to the bar, and were a nice mellow complement to the dried currants and dark chocolate.

The love poem printed on the inside of the Chocolove wrapper:
an excerpt from Romeo and Juliet,
a quote from Lady Capulet.
From this poem, I'll include a few lines, no less;
even though the story's end lacked happiness.

...So shall you share all that he doth possess,
By having him, making yourself no less.

~ William Shakespeare

Chocolove - Holiday bar - January 1, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolove
Holiday bar - Limited Edition
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) total bar
Calories: 160 calories for 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.00 (clearance price)
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Happy first chocolate day of 2013. Today's Holiday Fruits and Nuts in Dark Chocolate bar from Chocolove (Boulder, CO) was a limited edition flavor; and I was lucky to find one late in the holiday season.

The (55% Cocoa) bar was made up of 18 small, dark, glossy domes of Belgian chocolate fused together. The chocolate base was smooth and firm, and easy to break apart -- a nice plus if you plan to share with others. The bar contained a nicely balanced blend of winter holiday flavors, like pecan bits, currants, dried cherries, walnuts, hazelnuts, and hints of candied orange peel and ginger.

I'll try this bar with a cup of cinnamon tea (or Douglas Fir tea) later by a warm, crackling fire -- for the full holiday experience. No need for a book to read by the firelight, as this bar came with a love poem (below) -- inscribed inside the wrapper -- as is the custom for all Chocolove bars I've tried.

Night

My voice, to which love lends a tenderness and yearning,
Disturbs night's dreamy calm ... Pale at my bedside burning,
A taper wastes away ... From out my heart there surge
Swift verses, streams of love, that hum and sing and merge.
And, full of you, rush on, with passion overflowing.
I seem to see your eyes that, in the darkness glowing,
Meet mine ... I see your smile ... You speak to me alone:
My friend, my dearest friend .. I'm your's ... your own.

translated from - Alexander Pushkin


Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Currants Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Poetry Theme Week.


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