Friday, March 15, 2013

Coracao cacao + vanilla syrup - March 15, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Coracao Confections
1.) "Live" Almond Heart
Good - Good+
Weight: .658 oz. (18.6 g.) (estimate for 1 piece, 1/5 box) / 3.29 oz. (93 g.) total box of 5 pieces
Calories: 99 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $11.19 for 5-piece collection box
Purchased from: Coracao Confections, Emeryville, CA

2.) Raw Fudge Truffle
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .658 oz. (18.6 g.) (estimate for 1 piece, 1/5 box) / 3.29 oz. (93 g.) total box of 5 pieces
Calories: 99 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $11.19 for 5-piece collection box
Purchased from: Coracao Confections, Emeryville, CA

3.) Vanilla Palm Syrup
Very Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 6 oz. (.18 L) in 1 bottle
Calories: 36 calories (estimate) in 1/2 oz. (14.1 g.)
Cost: $10.99 for 1 bottle
Purchased from: Coracao Confections, Emeryville, CA

Today I sampled two raw chocolates from a 5-piece collection, made by Coracao Confections (Emeryville, CA). Coracao founders (Matthew Rogers and Daniel Korson) set out to craft bars, truffles, filled chocolates and other confections from raw chocolate and the purest ingredients they could find in 2008.

Today's collection, sweetened with coconut palm sugar, tasted less sugary sweet than other chocolates -- a refreshing change of pace, and a bonus if you want to taste the earthier, authentic flavors of cacao.

How much of enjoying chocolate confections is due to the sugar buzz? It's hard to know for sure. But, I recommend tasting Coracao chocolates to see what higher quality, lower glycemic chocolate options have to offer. You may not miss that sugar spike.

The Coracao Live Almond Heart was chock full of hearty, crunchy almonds. The Raw Fudge Truffle had a wonderfully moist and slightly chewy, fudge brownie like filling, covered in dark chocolate, and topped with crunchy cacao nibs. (I also re-sampled a third piece, the Caramel Cup, that I featured previously. I'll try the last two, Espresso Ganache and Hazelnut Mousse, truffles later this month.)

Vanilla Syrup Heaven
If you really want to get your sweet on, I highly recommend trying Coracao's Vanilla Palm Syrup. This mahogony-toned, honey-textured syrup (made from organic coconut sugar, "wildcrafted" vanilla bean and filtered water) was rich and naturally wonderful.

I envisioned stirring this vanilla syrup into my tea, or using it to make a healthier sundae. Spoon vanilla syrup over vanilla bean ice cream and organic whipped cream, and top with roasted cacao nibs, cashew nuts and a pinch of cardamom. 
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