Thursday, April 30, 2015

Mast Brothers - Belize 70% bar - April 30, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mast Brothers
Belize chocolate bar - 70% cacao
Good
Weight: .71 oz. (20 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 106 calories in 2/7 bar
Cost: $10 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Oxbow Produce and Grocery, Napa, CA

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

This Belize 70% dark, single origin bar was crafted with just a few ingredients (cacao beans and sugar) from the Mast Brothers (Brooklyn, NY).

The bar had a sweet, flavorful almost milk chocolate taste, and a smooth, but very slightly chaulky texture.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Charm School Chocolate - 70% Dark Belize bar - April 29, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Charm School Chocolate
70% Dark Belize bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 157 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Belize Theme Week -- an extension of the past few weeks with a focus on chocolate and (other) Central American countries.

The 70% Dark Belize bar from Charm School Chocolate (Reisterstown, MD) was made with just a few ingredients: organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar and organic cocoa butter. The cacao came from Maya Mountain Cacao (MMC) in southern Belize, an organization that sources cacao beans from farmers in the region.

The tasting notes on package read: "reminiscent of plump raisins and chocolate sandwich cookies." I wasn't that excited about this description. Or, I should say I'm not sure this description does the bar justice. But, darn, I could really taste the raisins and chocolate cookies in this smooth dark bar, so it was accurate. I liked the complexity, the fruit/acid (raisins) and the chocolatey elements.

Today's Belize bar was part of a line of dairy free and vegan, single origin chocolate bars from Charm School Chocolate. (Other bars include a very tasty coconut milk chocolate bar.)



Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Diego's Chocolate - Cinnamon - April 28, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Diego's Chocolate
Canela (Cinnamon) 75% cacao
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) /1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total roll/package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1/2 roll/package
Cost: $6.00 for 1 roll/package
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA


Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Central America Theme Week, and I've started and ended this week with a rustic, single origin 75% chocolate from Diego's Chocolate (San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala).

Diego's chocolates are cigar-shaped, hand-crafted rolls that maintain the bright flavors and texture (slightly grainy) of fresh ground ingredients. Today's artisanal chocolate was infused with subtle ground cinnamon flavor.

This authentic chocolate comes from rural Central America, a region with volcanic mountains, lakes and forests where cacao grows. It may lack some of the buttery smooth, conched-for-days mouthfeel of a Swiss-made chocolate bar, but it is a wonderful example of how chocolate confections were first (and still are) created in Central America.

This style of chocolate stretches back for centuries, and pre-dates more expensive, stainless steel industrial machines and infrastructure. And these chocolates are Maya grown and Maya made chocolates that are created "in-country" -- a treat in and of itself.






Monday, April 27, 2015

Equal Exchange - Panama 80% bar - April 27, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Equal Exchange
Panama 80% bar
Good+
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 174 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Central America Theme Week; and I'm featuring the Panama 80% dark chocolate bar from Equal Exchange (W. Bridgewater, MA).

Today's Panama 80% bar had a very similar flavor as yesterday's Panama 80% bar. Both looked the same (same molds) and both were made in Switzerland -- likely by the same Swiss chocolate manufacturer.*

Two Costa Rica bars (one sold at Whole Foods) featured earlier this week also looked very similar, and both were made by Kim's Chocolates in Belgium. There were, however, a few, very subtle flavor and color differences in the Costa Rica bars.

Today's Panama bars tasted like they could have come from the same batch in the same factory. (Both were made with cacao beans from the COCABO Cooperative in Panama.) And the bar color was the same as well.

Today's bar smelled and tasted of rich, hot chocolate with a slight hint of raspberry fruit, and the texture was creamy, almost buttery. As I commented on yesterday's bar, the flavor profile was very smooth for an 80% bar. Both bars were quite good.

Transparency in the manufacturing supply chain process is helpful, not just for the odd blogger such as myself, who is seeking to eat a "different" kind of chocolate every day.

It's also important for those who would like to understand where their chocolate comes from, and how it's made. Equal Exchange includes quite a bit of of information about farmers and the origins of cacao on their packaging (see inside of wrapper), and their website. And their commitment to fair trade is admirable.

Outsourcing of Manufacturing

It would be nice if the company who owns the "brand" and is selling the chocolate also mentioned where the chocolate was made. (Felchlin, Durig and others offer organic and fair trade chocolate in Switzerland.) Why should we care? While the Swiss are known for fine, creamy smooth chocolate; labeling regulations are different in the EU than in the U.S. Outsourcing manufacturing overseas might actually result in better product, but more transparency would be great.


Sunday, April 26, 2015

Chocolate and Love - Panama 80% bar - April 26, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolate and Love
Organic Panama 80% bar
Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 196 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: Chocolate and Love, U.K.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Central America Theme Week.

The attractively designed and packaged, single origin, organic Panama 80% dark chocolate bar was brought to you by Chocolate and Love Ltd. (Perth, U.K.). Made with fairly traded cacao beans (from partner Cocabo in Panama), this single origin bar was manufactured for the company in Switzerland.

This is a great bar for those who shy away from high percentage bars for fear of bitter flavor. This bar had a pleasing hot cocoa aroma, and an even, smooth dark flavor, particularly for an 80 percent cacao bar. There was a very subtle hint of earthiness, and no sharp or acidic notes.

*Chocolate and Love is a family-owned business, operated by Richard O'Connor and Birgitte Hovmand.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Whole Foods - Costa Rica 71% dark bar - April 25, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Whole Foods
Costa Rica 71% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 153 calories in 1/4 bar (2 squares)
Cost: $ lost information
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Central America Theme Week.

This Costa Rica 71% dark chocolate bar was made with cacao beans from Costa Rica that were Rainforest Alliance Certified, and carried the "Whole Trade Guarantee" seal from Whole Foods Market (Austin, TX).

Kim's Chocolates, a large chocolate maker in Belgium, likely made today's bar, as well as yesterday's Hageland* Costa Rica 71% dark chocolate bar. The bars were the same size and molded shape.

Large companies are very good at creating consistent flavor from many small batches of cacao beans, that may vary from season to season. Smaller chocolate makers learn to do this too, but have a bit more freedom to experiment with flavors that (like wine) vary from year to year. And there may even be a bit of the notion: "If you can't fix it, feature it," occasionally. And some customers might appreciate more fruit, or more floral aroma, or other flavor characteristics in a given year, as long as a bar is well balanced.

Today's bar was likely produced under very similar conditions, with similar Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao beans, as yesterday's bar. It had some of the same dark, almost smoky flavor, but it was slightly sweeter and smoother, and less nutty than the Hageland bar.

I also used some previously squirreled away Britt Licor de Cafe (coffee liqueur) from Costa Rica and this chocolate to make a small treat. Que bueno.

*Hageland (a region in Belgium) is a brand that was originally developed by Kim's Chocolates for large chain stores (Walmart) -- likely, at least in part, to help introduce single origin chocolate to a broader audience, at an affordable price point.


Friday, April 24, 2015

Hageland - Costa Rica 71% dark bar - April 24, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hageland
(Kim's Chocolates)
Costa Rica 71% dark bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Central America Theme Week.

Kim's Chocolates is a large chocolate maker in Belgium that manufactures bars under different brand names in the U.S., including KC, Cachet, and Hageland (a brand originally developed for Walmart).

The Hageland Costa Rica 71% dark chocolate bar, was made in Belgium, with Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa, and imported into the U.S. and stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I bought this bar.

Evolving supply chain, sourcing

Ingredients and commodities are often shipped thousands of miles, as part of our food supply chain, before they arrive, wholly integrated and packaged on grocery shelves. I try to shop local where I can. However, most chocolate I buy has a back-story that started with growing cacao in the tropics, and involved shipping cacao beans to a manufacturer or maker elsewhere.

The good news is that even larger players like Kim's Chocolates are trying to make improvements to their supply chain and manufacturing process. (E.g., they're working to switch to a more sustainable sourcing model, and to power their plant in Belgium with solar and alternative energy sources. Twenty percent of their energy is coming from their own solar panels.)

Today's single region bar was made, as mentioned above, with Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao. What does that mean? It means that beans were sourced from Costa Rican farms that met certain criteria for production and farming methods and treatment of workers. "Cocoa workers and families have proper housing, education, access to medical care and safe working conditions."

So, what did the bar taste like?

The tasting notes on the back of the bar package contained this description: "This strong dark origin chocolate" (has an) "...exquisitely bitter cocoa taste," (with a) "tempting bouquet of smoke and wood."

I also thought this bar had a very "dark" earthy, heavily roasted, smoky (almost burnt) flavor, with a hint of nuttiness as well. Given its strong flavor it was still well balanced and enjoyable to eat. And, very reasonably priced.

Tomorrow I'll taste and feature a very similar Costa Rica 71% dark bar, also made by Kim's Chocolates, for Whole Foods Market (with a Whole Trade Guarantee symbol). The ingredients were just a tad different, but the tasting notes on the back look very similar (dark, smoky). 

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Escazu - Costa Rica 65 percent bar - April 23, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Escazu Artisan Chocolates
Single Origin Guapiles Costa Rica 65% bar
Good++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving)
Cost: $ lost information (approximately $7.00)
Purchased from: Escazu Artisan Chocolates (at an event)

Today was Day #2 of a theme week highlighting single origin chocolates from three countries in Central America: Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. (I featured chocolates from Nicaragua last month, and will be writing about Belize next week.)

Central American cacao culture and history stretches back thousands of years, to the Olmec, Aztec, Maya, and others, to regions with boundaries that pre-dated today's countries. The "birthplace" of cacao lies in the equatorial forests of South and Central America.

Today's 65% cacao dark chocolate bar from Escazu* Artisan Chocolates LLC (Raleigh, NC) was crafted using Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao beans from Guapiles, Costa Rica.

This single origin bar had a pleasant aroma and well-balanced, pleasing chocolate flavor profile. The bar was also lactose-, soy-, and gluten-free.

*Escazu is the name of a capital city, and also a district (San Miguel de Escazu, or simply San Miguel, district) in the province of San Jose in Costa Rica. It is also the name of today's chocolate maker based in the U.S. Guapiles is located in the province of Limon, further east (closer to the Caribbean coast).

Note: This bar is currently (April 2015) unavailable on the Escazu website.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Diego's - Chocolate with Cardamom - April 22, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Diego's Chocolate
Chocolate with Cardamom
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.94 g.) for 1 roll
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. (14.1 g.) serving
Cost: $6.00 for 1 item/roll
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Central America Theme Week.

Last month I devoted a theme week to one Central American country: Nicaragua. Today, I'm following that up with week devoted to chocolates from 3 other countries in the region including Guatemala, Panama and Costa Rica. (I have yet to find chocolates from Honduras.)

It's common to see carefully wrapped, chocolate "rolls" with twisted ends in parts of Mexico and Central America. Diego's Chocolate (San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala) cigar-shaped, chocolate rolls can be sliced into penny-sized servings of rich chocolate goodness.

Rustic in style, and slightly rougher in texture than your average chocolate bar, the flavors of today's fudge-y Chocolate with Cardamom offering remained bold, i.e. the flavors hadn't attenuated with processing. Tiny grains of chocolate, sugar and cardamom danced around in my mouth to create an authentic tasting treat.

Mayan grown and made in-country (tree-to-finished product in Guatemala), Diego's* Chocolate is imported into the U.S. by GlobeWright, LLC, and can be found on Etsy, and in the SF Bay Area at The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA); or in San Francisco at the Delores Park Cafe, Precita Park Cafe, or Duboce Park Cafe.

*And, yes, in case you were wondering, there really is a Diego. He and his family are continuing a chocolate-making tradition that began thousands of years ago in Latin America (the birthplace of cacao).






Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Arete - 75% dark Brazil bar - April 21, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
Brasil Fazenda Camboa 75% Organic Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31.13 g.) / 2.2 oz. (61 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #14 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Arete Fine Chocolate (Milpitas, CA) recently launched their bean-to-bar chocolate offerings. This week I tried both of the company's single origin dark chocolate bars carefully crafted from Brazilian cacao beans.

Today's Arete 75% cacao dark bar was made with organic cacao beans from Fazenda Camboa (a large organic farm/plantation in the state of Bahia, Brazil). This bar was made with the same beans as yesterday's 70% dark roast bar, but tasted slightly less sweet, and slightly darker. Hard to tell them apart unless you're eating them side by side.

Both Arete Brazil bars had a pleasing chocolatey aroma, broke with a hard snap, and had a complex but well-balanced flavor profile.

As I re-tasted this 75% medium roast bar throughout the day and evening, different flavor notes came forward. I got more of a slightly bitter jungle flavor than yesterday's 70% deep roast bar. And at certain times I picked up a few tropical fruit notes (lychee + peach/nectarine), citrus caramel.

Cacao beans are a bit like coffee beans -- both are surrounded by a fruit, and are fermented, roasted and ground before they are consumed. However, cacao beans need to be roasted more carefully -- often at slightly lower temperatures and for less time than coffee beans. Also cacao beans have a light husk surrounding them that can be flammable, and that isn't winnowed away until after beans are finished roasting. 

Monday, April 20, 2015

Arete - Brasil 70% dark bar - April 20, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
Brasil Fazenda Camboa 70% Organic Dark Chocolate bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31.13 g.) / 2.2 oz. (61 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #13 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Arete Fine Chocolate (Milpitas, CA) is a relatively new entrant to the bean-to-bar chocolate scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. The owners, David and Leslie, have been working to perfect their chocolate for some time, and started selling their bars earlier this year (2015).

I was able to pick up two Arete bars, made from Brasil Fazenda Camboa organic cacao beans, from The Chocolate Garage, near where I live.

These two Arete bars were made with the same beans (from the same large farm or plantation in Brazil), yet were created with different roasts and percentages, yielding noticeably different results in terms of flavor profile.

Today I'm featuring their 70% dark roast bar; and tomorrow I'll try the 75% medium roast bar. I've learned a lot about the complexities of chocolate (and roasting) by eating two similar bars like this side-by-side. I highly recommend doing so if you're interested in learning more about how chocolate is made.

Today's 70% darker roast bar had a pleasant chocolatey, almost fruity aroma. The flavor profile: malty, well balanced fruit-acid, nutty. Very nicely done. 

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Brazil Sundae + Fox's U-Bet Chocolate Syrup - April 19, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

H. Fox and Co., Inc. (aka Fox's)
U-Bet Original Chocolate Flavor Syrup
Good
Weight: 1 teaspoon / 22 oz. (624 g.) in 1 bottle
Calories: 20 calories in 1 teaspoon
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 bottle of syrup
Purchased from: Saul's Restaurant and Deli, Berkeley, CA

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

When the weather gets hot, I start thinking about ice cream. What would a Brazilian-inspired acai ice cream, or a Brazilian ice cream sundae taste like? I wondered. Since it was Sunday, I made the latter.

The "Brazil" sundae had layers of coconut granola and chopped Brazil nuts, chocolate coconut ice cream, caramel rum tres leches ice cream, and coffee liqueur from Latin America. It was topped with a light drizzle of American-made Fox's U-Bet chocolate syrup.*

*H. Fox and Co., Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) is a century-old company that makes ice cream syrups and several other items. I had picked up a plastic squeeze bottle of Fox's U-Bet Original Chocolate Flavor Syrup during a deli visit in Berkeley, CA. U-Bet chocolate syrup is also famous for being a key ingredient in chocolate egg cream sodas.

New York Egg Cream
In a tall glass, pour...
1/2 inch of Fox's U-Bet Chocolate Syrup
3/4 inch of whole milk
Add carbonated water, and mix briskly


Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates - Caipirinha, Black Currant - April 18, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts
Caipirinha
Black Currant
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $17.00 + $15.64 (shipping) = $24.35 for a box of 8 chocolates 
Purchased from: Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts, online order

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Caipirinha is considered the national cocktail of Brazil. The drink is made with Brazilian sugar cane brandy, lime and cane sugar (or sugar cane juice).

So, I was excited to feature a Caipirinha-inspired chocolate as part of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

I got close, but unfortunately, Coastal Mist was out of their Caipirinha confection -- filled with a "dark Belgian chocolate ganache mixed with muddled fresh limes and Brazilian cachaca."

Instead I was able to try two other filled Coastal Mist chocolates: a "Black and Gold" (six types of chocolate + nibs) and a "Black Currant." I had the latter today. I enjoyed the creamy milk chocolate ganache that was infused with a subtle black currant flavor.

And, as a consolation, I made my own version of a Caipirinha later in the day, with the ingredients I had on hand. (Rum, brandy, cane sugar, lime, and chocolate bitters.) Saude! (a salute to your health) to all.










Friday, April 17, 2015

Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates - Brazil Nuts Caramel - April 17, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts
Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt Caramels with Brazil Nuts
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total box of 8 pieces
Calories: 128 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $24.35 for a 8-piece assortment box (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Today's filled chocolates -- two Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt Caramels with Brazil Nuts, were created by the Coastal Mist team that includes Nicole Malloy (owner, chocolatier) at Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts (Bandon, OR).

This attractive, curved teardrop (paisley-shaped) chocolate was embossed with a CM (Coastal Mist) logo.

Equally attractive was the flavorful, flowing smoked salt caramel filling, with tiny bits of Brazil nuts, beneath the dark Belgian chocolate shell. (I am a sucker for Alderwood smoked sea salt -- in things savory or sweet.)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Kika's Treats - Salted P'nutty Caramels - April 16, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Kika's Treats
Salted P'nutty Caramels
Good++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in total box of 3 pieces
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $4.99 for 1 box of 3 pieces
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Kika's Treats (San Francisco, CA) owner and chocolatier, Cristina Arantes, was born and raised in Brazil. I've had the pleasure of speaking with her, and talking about treats from Brazil (avocado pies, cheese bread, and other lovelies). A few years ago I ordered a batch of custom palm sugar caramels (made with local SF Bay salt) from her for an event. They were a big hit.

So I was looking forward to today's caramels; and I wasn't disappointed. These GMO and gluten-free, Salted P'nutty Caramels were -- exactly as advertised. Peanut-ty, slightly chewy, coconut palm sugar caramels covered with bittersweet, dark chocolate, with just the right touch of salt across the top. Great combination.

How were these caramels different from traditional caramels made in the U.S.?

Coconut palm sugar* caramels seem to have a richer flavor than caramels made with refined white sugar and corn syrup. And I get less of a sugar buzz after eating them -- not surprising given that coconut palm sugar has a lower glycemic index rating.

*Coconut palm sugar is made from coconut palm tree sap. It is golden in color (more similar to brown sugar), and is lower in fructose than cane sugar.


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Cabruca - Banana-Walnut Brigadeiro Truffle - April 15, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Cabruca Chocolates
Banana-Walnut Brigadeiro Truffles
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $34.00 for 15-piece assortment box  (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Cabruca Chocolates, online order

Today's Banana-Walnut Brigadeiro Truffles were the last in a series of Brazil-inspired chocolates from Cabruca Chocolates (Winchester, OR).

Juliana Bounds, who grew up in Brazil, created this piece that she described as a: "Dark chocolate with caramelized bananas, cinnamon and walnut-cocoa pralines; Sprinkled with cinnamon sugar."

The walnut and banana flavors were subtle, and the hint of cinnamon created a slight warmth. I feel I have a much better understanding of Brigadeiro chocolates after working my way through this dark chocolate assortment this week. Thank you Juliana!

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Cabruca Chocolates - Chile Pepper Brigadeiro Truffle - April 14, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cabruca Chocolates
Chile Pepper Brigadeiro Truffle
Good ++
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 232 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $34.00 for 15-piece assortment box (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Cabruca Chocolates, online order

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Brigadeiros are a popular Brazilian chocolate bonbon that often serve as a dessert or birthday party treat, and incorporate a touch of local flavor.

Today's Chile Pepper Brigadeiro Truffle -- one of a line of Brigadeiros created by Juliana Bounds at Cabruca Chocolates (Winchester, OR) -- was a great example of what these confections are all about.

This Brigadeiro truffle incorporated a dark chocolate couverture and "outer" ganache. At its core was a slightly sweeter inner ganache with brown sugar/caramel and subtle chile flavor. The outside was dusted with crushed bits of Brazilian chile pepper.






Monday, April 13, 2015

Cabruca - Lime Caramels - April 13, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cabruca Chocolates
Lime Caramels
Good ++
Weight: .8 oz. (22.64 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $34.00 for 15-piece assortment box (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Cabruca Chocolates, online order

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

These pretty, button-style, chocolate covered, flowing caramels from Cabruca Chocolates (Winchester, OR) were infused with just the right amount of tart-sweet lime flavor.

Cabruca Chocolates makes a line of Brazil-inspired chocolates, including Brigadeiro style truffles, caramels and filled chocolates with traditional ganaches. These caramels were part of a dark assortment box that included flavors like Rapadura and Brazil Nuts, Brown Butter and Pink Pepper, and Acai and Honey.


Sunday, April 12, 2015

Cabruca Chocolates - Acai and Honey - April 12, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cabruca Chocolates
Acai and Honey
Good - Good +
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $34.00 for 15-piece assortment box (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Cabruca Chocolates, online order

Today I'm featuring another chocolate from Cabruca Chocolates (Winchester, OR). Owner and chocolatier, Juliana Renno Bounds, who grew up in Brazil, created today's Acai and Honey chocolate.

Acai berries grow on a type of palm tree in Brazil. The only acai berries I've located in the San Francisco Bay Area have been frozen*. The resulting dense, icy inky purple pulp I found was slightly tart, heavily sweetened, and designed for smoothies. (I asked Juliana about acai. She confirmed that most people use frozen acai berries for smoothies and acai bowls, even in Brazil.)

Acai fruit, and acai bowls (often topped with fruit and granola), have become popular in U.S. cities in the past few years -- in part due to the berry's high polyphenol and antioxidant content.

The Acai flavor in this chocolate was subtle and pleasant, and not too sweet (which I liked).

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

*Similarly, the only cacao fruit pulp I've been able to find in the U.S. has also been frozen. The cacao fruit starts to ferment quickly, after picking, especially in a warm tropical climate where its grown. A pity, as the fruit pulp has a pleasing fruit (ranging from citrus to watermelon) and floral flavor. 



Friday, April 10, 2015

Cabruca - Brown Butter and Pink Pepper - April 11, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cabruca Chocolates
Brown Butter and Pink Pepper
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $34.00 for 15-piece assortment box (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Cabruca Chocolates, online order

Bem-vindo!* to Day #4 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Today's Brown Butter and Pink Pepper was created by Juliana Bounds at Cabruca Chocolates (Winchester, OR). Juliana grew up in Brazil, and incorporates Brazil-inspired flavors into her line of Brigadeiro and Caramel Ganache truffles, as well as several traditional filled chocolates.

This generously-sized chocolate covered square was filled with dark chocolate and caramel ganache (made with brown butter), and sprinkled with tiny flecks of pink peppercorn (baies roses de Bourbon, aka Brazilian pepper, from Brazil). Creamy chocolate caramel and brown butter textures and flavors dominated this confection.

*Bem-vindo means welcome in Portugese.

Cabruca Chocolates - Rapadura and Brazil Nuts - April 10, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cabruca Chocolates
Rapadura and Brazil Nuts
Good - Good +
Weight: .68 oz. (19.2 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 102 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $34.00 for 15-piece assortment box (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Cabruca Chocolates, online order

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Nothing says Brazil like Brazil nuts. Today's Rapadura and Brazil Nuts truffle from Cabruca Chocolates (Winchester, OR) was filled with a dark chocolate and caramel ganache made with Brazilian whole cane sugar (rapadura), and was sprinkled with toasted Brazil nut pieces.

Cabruca Chocolates - Super Cocoa - April 9, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Cabruca Chocolates
Super Cocoa Brigadeiro Truffle
Good ++
Weight: .65 oz. (18.4 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 97 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $34 for a 15-piece assortment (includes shipping)
Purchased from: Cabruca Chocolates, online order

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks. As with most countries, Brazil is full of life and chocolate. It's a big country, and I found it easy to find several Brazil-inspired chocolates and confections.

Brigadeiros literally translates as brigadier. I'm not sure how the this term evolved from a military to a culinary one. But, today when someone offers you a Brigadeiro, say yes!

These sweet, soft, round confections are usually cooked with condensed milk and cocoa; and everyone seems to have their own creative variation.

Today's Super Cocoa Brigadeiro Truffle from Cabruca Chocolates (Winchester, OR) had a wonderful, sweet and creamy dark chocolate ganache (filling), and was rolled in crunchy cocoa nibs. 
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