Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Taza - Chipotle Chili, Salted Almond Discs - July 29, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate

1.) Chipotle Chili - Chocolate Mexicano
Good ++
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 2.7 oz. (77 g.) total package
Calories: 112 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

2.) Salted Almond - Chocolate Mexicano
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 2.7 oz. (77 g.) total package
Calories: 112 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.95 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #5 of Smoke and Savory Theme Week on Chocolate Banquet.

This Mexican Chocolate double header from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) featured the sultry smokiness of Chipotle Chili and the savory goodness of salted almonds. The month of July may be drawing to a close, but I'm determined to enjoy summer while it lasts, with all the outdoor living, picnics, and smoke and savory flavors I can manage.

Taza stonegrinds (with hand-carved, Oaxacan granite millstones no less) their rustic, Mexican style chocolate that is packaged in discs that break off into smaller wedge-shaped segments for hot chocolate or other uses (e.g. incorporate a wedge or two into a mole or a barbecue sauce; or grate it into (or melt and pour over) Mexican Chocolate ice cream or vanilla yogurt).

The "rougher" stoneground texture resulted in fresher, less processed/homogenized flavors. It may take some getting used to if you favor buttery smooth chocolate, but I recommend giving these organic, kosher, gluten-, dairy- and soy-free Taza chocolates a try.

I tried all of these "uses" for these two Taza (smokey and savory) Mexican Chocolates today. Que rico. The Chipotle Chili chocolate had some earthy, smoky fire to it, balanced nicely with a rich, dark chocolate (70% dark) flavor. I loved the Salted Almond ("40% Dark"), and had no trouble eating a wedge of this chocolate all by itself. All four flavors: 1.) sweet (organic cane sugar), 2.) salt (kosher salt), 3.) nutty (organic roasted California almonds), and of course 4.) chocolate (organic cacao beans) were well balanced and really sang together.

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