ChocolateSmith: Backpacker's Chocolate - May 5, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

ChocolateSmith

1.) Backpacker's Pocket Pate Chocolate
Good
Weight: 1/2 oz. (14.1 g.) / 4 oz. (113.2 g.) total package
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 slice/piece
Cost: $9.25 for 1 package
Purchased from: ChocolateSmith, online order

2.) Chili Chocolates - Chili Pate Sampler
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226.4 g.) in total box of 2
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving (2 slices)
Cost: $24.75 for 2 chili sampler pack
Purchased from: ChocolateSmith, online order

Last week, I featured bars made from cacao grown in the Dominican Republic. Today, I'm moving figuratively north --  to the Southwestern U.S. -- and featuring two unique chocolate items from ChocolateSmith (Santa Fe, New Mexico).

Backpacker's Pocket Pate Chocolate
Today I went on a group hike in the Devil's Slide area with views of the Pacific Ocean (south of San Francisco, CA) -- a perfect occasion to try today's Backpacker's Pocket Pate Chocolate. This colorful wax-covered "weather-proof chocolate" was filled with a very sweet, dark chocolate ganache. And, with a knife, this chocolate was easily cut into share-able slices/pieces with the rest of the hiking group. Thank you for the tasting help and feedback to Nancy's hiking group!

There was no rain to worry about, or sizzling temperatures, just a mild coastal breeze during today's hike. However, the wax coating seemed like a great way to contain any "meltage" that sometimes takes place in hot weather or to prevent "squishage" when stuffed in the bottom of a backpack. This plain dark chocolate Backpacker's Chocolate was also available in other flavors, including: Raspberry, Orange, Peanut Butter Brownie.

Chili Chocolates - Chili Pate Sampler
I also tried two chili-shaped chocolates -- one green "mucho ancho" and one red "sunset orange" from ChocolateSmith. These two were also wax-covered chocolates, packaged together in a Chili Pate Sampler.

Green Chili - Mucho Ancho Pate
The green (Mucho Ancho) chili pepper was filled with a sweet, dark chocolate ganache "infused with earthy tones of local ancho chili"

Red Chili - Sunset Orange Pate
The red (Sunset Orange) chili pepper was filled with a sweet "dark chocolate orange ganache infused with a spicy blend of local chili and cinnamon."

Happy Cinco de Mayo to those who celebrate this day.