Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Manoa - Ghost Pepper bar - June 30, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Manoa Chocolate
Ghost Pepper 60% bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .66 oz. (18.9 g.) / 2 oz. (56.7 g.) in total bar
Calories: 99 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Botanicals Theme Week.

Chili was an early plant-based addition to cacao, dating back to days when beans were first roasted over a fire and stone-ground by hand in Central and Latin America.

Today's Ghost Pepper 60% dark milk chocolate bar from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, Oahu) was a hand-crafted (bean-to-bar), Hawaiian-made chocolate with some chili pepper heat.

The first few bites of this bar yielded smooth, chocolatey, dark milk chocolate flavor. Then a slight burn warmed things up in my mouth, but never to the point of being unpleasant. The chili heat hovered at a low sizzle, and then gently faded away.

Manoa chocolate maker, Dylan B., uses local ingredients when he can. Cocoa beans often come from Hawaiian cacao growers; the cane sugar is from Maui.

Ghost peppers (Naga Bhut Jolokia) are from northern India I'm told, and are rumored to be the hottest chili peppers in the world, with a Scoville rating that's hovers around 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), under ideal growing conditions. It's possible these hotter-than-hot peppers could have been Hawaiian-grown as well, but you'd have to check with Manoa. Good news, just a few small peppers could probably liven up a whole batch of bars.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Manoa - Ali'i Kula Lavender bar - June 29, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Manoa Chocolate
Ali'i Kula Lavender 60% bar
Good++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.7 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $10 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Botanicals Theme Week.

Lavender is a strong floral flavor often linked to soaps, perfumes, and teas. For an unlucky few, the association between these fragrant, almost pine-y purple buds and soap/perfume is so strong that the thought of eating lavender is considered odd at best. But, for lavender lovers, today's freshly minted Manoa Chocolate Ali'i Kula Lavender bar would be a special treat.

Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, Oahu) founder and chocolatemaker, Dylan Butterbaugh, was born and raised in Oahu, and makes bean-to-bar chocolate -- using local ingredients when possible. For example, the cacao beans frequently come from "a network of farmers" across Hawaii (the only U.S. state that currently grows cacao commercially). And the cane sugar is from Maui.

The dehydrated lavender buds used to flavor this 60% cacao chocolate came from Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm in the hills of Maui -- a beautiful spot. The dried buds were ground into a fine powder that imparted a uniform lavender flavor throughout this bold-flavored dark milk chocolate bar.




Sunday, June 28, 2015

SOMA Chocolatemaker - Bergamot - June 28, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

SOMA Chocolatemaker
Bergamot
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $N/A - part of a larger box of chocolates
Purchased from: SOMA Chocolatemaker, Toronto, Canada

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Botanicals Theme Week.

This creamy, dark Bergamot truffle from SOMA Chocolatemaker (Toronto, Canada) had subtle but clear bergamot notes.

This chocolate was flavored with Bergamot Orange oil, also used to flavor Earl Grey tea. I happen to love the aroma of this citrus-based scent, and having its essence infused into a chocolate was a special treat.



Saturday, June 27, 2015

SOMA Chocolatemaker - June 27, 2015

SOMAchocolate.com
Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

SOMA Chocolatemaker

Maya Dome
Good++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $N/A - part of a larger box of chocolates
Purchased from: SOMA Chocolatemaker, Toronto, Canada

Blood Orange Marzipan Pinch
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $N/A - part of a larger box of chocolates
Purchased from: SOMA Chocolatemaker, Toronto, Canada

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Botanicals Theme Week. This is a very easy theme week, and most everything in good chocolate has a flavorful plant origin story -- including the cacao, sugar and flavorings. Citrus peel offers a tangy sweet zing to today's two chocolates.

The glossy Maya Dome from SOMA Chocolatemaker (Toronto, Canada) was a version of the company's Maya drinking chocolate -- in domed, truffle form. The smooth ganache (filling) was infused with a tasty blend of chili, ginger, orange peel, allspice and cinnamon.

The second chocolate, a pleasantly plump Blood Orange Marzipan Pinch truffle, was a curved beauty stuffed with classic marzipan. Said marzipan filling was flecked with tiny bits of blood orange peel throughout that helped balance the sweet marzipan.


SOMA - Jasmine truffle - June 26, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

SOMA Chocolatemaker
Jasmine truffle
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (33.9 g.) (estimate) for 3 pieces
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $ N/A - part of a larger box of chocolates
Purchased from: SOMA Chocolatemaker, Toronto, Canada

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Botanicals Theme Week.

Happiness this week was receiving a box of truffles from Toronto, Canada. And several were flavored with botanicals of the floral, fruit or nut variety.

Jasmine is a lovely, romantic floral scent in a perfume, tea or chocolate. I could get lost in it. But, I also appreciate the subtler layers of balanced flavor in this Jasmine truffle from SOMA Chocolatemaker (Toronto, Canada).

This creamy square melted like butter the moment I put it in my mouth. As it did, subtle sips of jasmine tea-like flavor were revealed. And what looked to be grains of paradise carefully strewn across the top of each piece provided some crunchy almost grain-like texture that balanced the creamy texture and softened some of the jasmine flavor notes.


Thursday, June 25, 2015

SOMA Chocolatemaker - Magnolia Peach - June 25, 2015

Source: SOMAChocolate.com
Chocolate of the Day: 

SOMA Chocolatemaker
Magnolia Peach
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $ N/A part of a larger box of chocolates
Purchased from: SOMA Chocolatemaker, Toronto, Canada

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

I was intrigued the moment I stepped into SOMA Chocolatemaker's Distillery District location in Toronto several years ago. I must have spent 2 hours there, appreciating as much chocolate as I could, including a Douglas Fir truffle, which I loved, and other wonderful items at the bar/counter areas.

Recently, I've been experimenting with magnolia flower petals (and other flowers) in my yard, only recently realizing many of them were edible. The large, creamy white flower petals that occasionally flutter down from high up in the magnolia trees in my neighborhood are enjoyed for their floral aroma; but magnolias are also pickled and/or eaten by some in the U.S. I tried a peck of pickled petals, and they were a bit like sweet pickles infused with a light floral perfume. I hope to experiment more in the future with this lovely flower.

So, when I had an opportunity to order SOMA's seasonal Spring flavor -- Magnolia and Peach, I jumped at the chance. If you like botanicals, you'll appreciate this heavenly blend. The dark chocolate ganache (made with beans from Ecuador) was rich but just mellow enough not to mask the subtle magnolia flavor. And the natural, fresh peach flavor took me back to childhood memories of peach jam on buttered toast, devoured slowly near a sunny window.

Thank you to Sandy, Cynthia and others at SOMA for all their help with this order (that required and ice pack and dodging warm weather for the journey from Toronto to California); and for their ongoing creativity.


Spicely - Sage Lavender Orange chocolate - June 24, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Spicely Organic Spices
Sage Lavender Orange chocolate
Good+
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) in 1 small box of discs
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 small box
Cost: $2.49 for 1 small box of discs
Purchased from: Piazza's Find Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Yesterday, was the conclusion of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. But the faint warm citrus aroma of Orange Week past carried over to today's Sage Lavender and Orange chocolate, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Botanicals Theme Week.

Botanicals are substances obtained from plants used as flavor and aroma additions in drinks and foods.

Spicely Organic Spices Inc. (Fremont, CA) produces a line of organic herbs and tea, and herb and tea infused chocolates. I imagine having all those good herbs, spices and other botanicals must lead to robust creative experimentation when developing chocolate flavor inclusions.

Today's organic, kosher, thin, round discs of Sage Lavender and Orange were made with creamy 60% dark chocolate, infused with sage, lavender and orange.

I like all of these ingredients separately. Does that mean the combination will work? Not necessarily. Flavor balancing is an art. The resulting herby-floral-fruit blend did work though. Individual flavors were layered and detectable if you focused on them (or re-tasted a few times); and I found this chocolate evoked a slight rosemary-like flavor note, which upon re-tasting had morphed into sage. Go figure.



Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Timothy Adams - All Things Orange - June 23, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Timothy Adams Chocolates
1.) Orange chocolate
Weight: .39 oz. (11 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 58.5 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Timothy Adams Chocolates, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Orange Bunny Bar
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 211 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Timothy Adams Chocolates, Palo Alto, CA

Timothy Adams Chocolates (Palo Alto, CA) is swirling with creative graphics, bounding bunnies in bright pink and turquoise, and a great selection of bonbons and bars.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week, and fortunately, there were two orange items to try in this Palo Alto sweet shop: an Orange bonbon, topped and filled with bits of tender candied orange; and a Dark Orange (72%) Chocolate Bunny Bar, with pieces of candied orange pressed into the back of the bar.

The bar was carefully packaged in a wrapper that contained more information in the inside than on the outside, including a photo of the inside of the Palo Alto shop, and another glimpse of a bright pink bunny captured in mid-air, with all four paws off the ground.


Monday, June 22, 2015

Jennies Chocolate Drizzle Macaroon + Orange - June 22, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jennies Gluten Free Bakery
Chocolate Drizzle Macaroons
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total container
Calories: 145 calories in 1 macaroon
Cost: $3.99 for 1 container of 10 pieces
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

I first expected today's chocolate drizzled, gluten-free macaroons from Jennies Gluten Free Bakery (Moosic, PA) to be like other macaroons, that is very, very, very sweet. However, they were good, and only very sweet.*

The coconut flavor did dominate. But, they were macaroons after all! Unsweetened sulfite-free coconut was the number one ingredient. The chocolate flavor accent complemented the coconut and an orange pairing item (see below) very nicely.

Citrus Magic

I paired this macaroon with a dab of Sicilian orange marmalade. Marmalade's bitter sweet character helped balance the sweetness of the macaroons. I added more sugar to a macaroon, and the end result was a less sugary, more interesting flavor blend. This little trick reminded me of when I first added a lemon peel to an espresso. Adding bitter to bitter, somehow had the reverse effect of what I thought it would -- the end result was less bitter.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

*Jennies also offers sugar-free macaroons.


Sunday, June 21, 2015

Foxy's - Fancy Pash Dark Chocolate Tangerine yogurt - June 21, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Foxy's Frozen Yogurt
Fancy Pash - Dark Chocolate and Tangerine Zest
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (118.25 mL) / 1 Pint (473 mL) total container
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $2.99 (estimate)
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

The 1950s era couple on this Foxy's Frozen Yogurt container looked fun. They looked like they might enjoy a cocktail now and then in addition to their serving of Fancy Pash Dark Chocolate and Tangerine Zest frozen yogurt.

The lack of fat in frozen yogurt (vs. in cream-based ice cream) meant that the flavors were clear and discernible - fresher tasting tangerine citrus flavor and sweet chocolate texture and flavor. I amped this up with a drizzle of Cointreau (orange liqueur) and a few toasted walnuts because I thought the Fancy Pash couple wouldn't mind. Cheers.

Happy Summer Solstice Day and Father's Day to those in the U.S.


Saturday, June 20, 2015

Caro - Orange Delights - June 20, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Caro Chocolate
Orange Delights
Good++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 50 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $1.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: ZombieRunner, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

Sometimes great, satisfying chocolates come in small packages.

Today's dark chocolate covered orange slice from Caro Chocolate (Aragon/Zaragoza, Spain) came in a single-serving package. It was full of natural tasting, chewy orange flavor. Caro specializes in fruits and chocolate, and it was a pleasure to enjoy their expertise.

Citrus flavor done right is a balancing act -- not too sweet, and not too sour/tart (but contains some of both); and the texture is chewy without being too soft or tough. Done right the orange flavor and texture blends well with dark chocolate; and it does here.




Friday, June 19, 2015

Vanini - Milk Chocolate Orange bar - June 19, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Vanini
Milk Chocolate 49% Cocoa with Orange Peel bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 174 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $3.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Greedy Ant, Belmont, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

A bite of this 49% cocoa Milk Chocolate bar with Orange Peel bar evoked a pleasant memory of Christmas chocolate + orange spice flavors from decades past.

This, gluten-free, bean-to-bar Vanini* bar was made in Italy by ICAM SpA (Orsenigo, Italy). The company buys "Bagua cocoa direct from the 460 Peruvian families that make up the Aprocam co-operative." Bagua is a region in Peru where cacao has been "grown as far back as 3000 AD (sic) by the Mayo Chincipe people...before the Olmec and Maya."

*Vanini is a registered trademark of ICAM SpA.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Patric Chocolate - Blood Orange 66 bar - June 18, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Patric Chocolate
Blood Orange 66 bar
Good ++
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 345 calories for 1 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

The Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO) Blood Orange 66 bar was suffused with a lovely, almost floral hint of blood orange essence (essential oil) from Aftelier Perfumes (Berkeley, CA). The base chocolate bar was smooth, almost creamy, and was uniformly flavorful.

If you'd like to order this bar, you should know that today's Blood Orange bar was made especially for The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA)*. So, try checking with them first.

*FYI, Patric Chocolate has moved to a rotating bar release schedule, where a smaller number of bars are released over the course of the year (and these bars usually sell out soon after the announcement is made). They also make bars for partners like The Chocolate Garage. 


Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Simply Enjoy - Vibrant Orange bar - June 17, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Simply Enjoy
Vibrant Orange bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 525 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

The smooth dark chocolate in this Simply Enjoy Vibrant Orange bar was a great match with the orange zest flavor and texture in this bar.

Bits of candied orange peel gave this bar an uplifting zing, reminiscent of Christmas holiday sweets. Although orange and citrus flavors are great, refreshing flavors for summer too.

Made with Utz Certified Cocoa (sustainably sourced cocoa), and made in Belgium, the choice of 57% cacao dark chocolate seemed perfect for this Vibrant Orange bar. Any less cocoa, and it would have started to taste too much like candy; and a "darker" blend might have overpowered the more subtle orange flavors.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Simply Enjoy - Crispy Almond Milk Chocolate bar - June 16, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Simply Enjoy
Crispy Almond Belgian Milk Chocolate bar
OK + - Good
Weight: 1.34 oz. (38 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories for 3 squares
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

This generously sized Simply Enjoy Crispy Almond Belgian Milk Chocolate bar was fairly smooth and quite sweet. The bar was made with Utz Certified cocoa -- a program geared toward helping farmers and promoting sustainable farming methods.

Some whiteish spots had formed around bits of embedded almond in the bar. I'm assuming this was due to a phenomenon known as "bloom."

When "Bloom" Happens
The best place to store chocolate is in a cool (not cold) dark place. If chocolate is stored at a colder or hotter temperature than recommended, the surface of a bar may develop bloom, a slightly white, splotchy appearance. Many times these changes are merely cosmetic. Other times, white splotches can signal a degradation in flavor quality or texture.

Chocolate bars are "tempered" using carefully controlled heating and cooling processes, to achieve a perfect crystalline structure. Particles of cocoa fat or butter become aligned with cocoa solids, helping to ensure that a chocolate bar breaks with a hard snap and has a longer-lasting, stable configuration.

If hot weather can melt chocolate and/or create "fat bloom," then storing chocolate in the moist fridge can result in "sugar bloom" where the sugar starts to crystallize out a bit. If there are flavor additions, like the almond bits in today's bar, and these nuts have been dipped in sugar or were roasted in oil (or both sugar and oil/fat), then it's possible that the sugar could crystallize differently around the nuts under certain conditions.

In the case of today's bar, the bloom (slightly whiteish discolored spots) did not influence the taste. This is often true, but it's better to be safe and adhere to proper storage methods and temperature if you have control over such things.

Bloom can be caused by a less than perfect temper, but more likely (in my experience) bloom is due to fluctuations in temperature and moisture, which can occur on a loading dock, warehouse, or in a delivery truck.

If it's any consolation, you can always use the affected chocolate to make chocolate fondue.




Monday, June 15, 2015

Perugina - Milk Chocolate Almonds bar - June 15, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Perugina
Milk Chocolate Almonds bar
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (39.68 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99.2 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 4 squares, or 2/5 bar
Cost: $3.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Greedy Ant, Belmont, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

This Perugina Milk Chocolate with Almonds bar was good for the sweet tooth. It was very sweet, making it difficult to pick out any particular chocolate or almond flavor notes. The smoothness of the chocolate was difficult to isolate as well, due to the riot of tiny caramelized almond bits so profusely present in every bite of this bar. The bar had a smooth finish. There were certainly no harsh flavors, and there was very little aftertaste.

Perugina was founded in 1907 in Perugia in central Italy. The Perugina brand now belongs to Nestle (Vevey, Switzerland). However, to this day there is a sense of pride about the company's Italian roots and base. (This bar was made in Italy by Nestle Italiana S.P.A., and distributed in the U.S. by Colavita USA.)

The Greedy Ant, the wonderful, small deli-style store where I bought this bar, was brimming with Italian-American origin stories, with most of the chocolates in stock having an Italian connection.


Tout Sweet - Chocolate Almonds - June 14, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tout Sweet Patisserie
Crunchy Caramel Chocolate Coated Almonds
Good+
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (84.9 g.) in total container
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1/2 oz. serving
Cost: $7.00 for 1 container
Purchased from: Tout Sweet Patisserie, Palo Alto, CA

It's always wonderful to find new chocolate makers or chocolatiers with new chocolate items to try. Yesterday I stumbled upon the new Palo Alto location of Tout Sweet Patisserie (San Francisco).

Entering into the shop, I was confronted with a visual feast. Colorful pyramids of gluten-free macarons, and impressive looking cakes and pastries, large and small all beckoned. I bought some small gluten-free cake/pastry items to take to a graduation celebration, and they were all very good. Look forward to featuring those and more chocolate items from this store in the future.

It was only as I turned to leave, bag of cakes in hand, when I saw today's Crunchy Caramel and Double Chocolate Coated Almonds, and realized they'd be perfect for this week's almond-themed chocolate week.

These chocolate covered almonds featured perfectly roasted/toasted almonds that were attractively dusted with cocoa powder. No gooey "caramel" here, but the nuts perfectly done, and the star of the show. The chocolate played second fiddle.



Trader Joe's - Chocolate Covered Almonds - June 13, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Almond Toffee
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 155 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $1.49 for 1 package/bag
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Daly City, CA

Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package/bag
Calories: 230 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $0.99 for 1 package/bag
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Daly City, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

These two dark chocolate covered almonds snack-sized packages from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) were fun. The first one, Dark Chocolate Almond Toffee -- round chocolate spheres with crunchy sweet toffee and roasted California almonds at the center -- was quite good. Sweet, without being cloyingly so.

The second package was filled with dry roasted almonds coated with dark chocolate. The almonds contributed a pleasant, roasted nut crunch and flavor. The surrounding dark chocolate had a very slight bitter or burned flavor, that was not entirely unpleasant -- but rather a contrast with the sweeter toffee almonds.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Creamy Almond Crunch bar - June 12, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Creamy Almond Crunch bar
Good
Weight: 1.67 oz. (47.5 g.) / 3.34 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 253.3 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Walgreens, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

Aptly named, the Creamy Almond Crunch Bar from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA) melted in my mouth. The buttery milk chocolate was balanced by a creamy and slightly crunchy almond filling -- advertised as a "creamy roasted almond filling blended with caramelized almond pieces." There's that word creamy again.

It's creamy, slightly nutty flavor and texture appealed to me today. My only quibble was with the ingredients list, i.e. a there were a few ingredients I'd rather not see, such as "natural and artificial flavors, soy lecithin -- an emulsifier, corn starch, salt, vanilla, TBHQ -- an antioxidant, and corn syrup."

Ghirardelli has a long history when it comes to making and selling chocolates -- beginning in 1852 in the Gold Rush era in San Francisco. Ghirardelli is the oldest continuously operating chocolate maker in the San Francisco Bay Area (and perhaps the U.S). Etienne Guittard soon followed. Both Ghirardelli and Guittard are still making chocolate in the San Francisco Bay Area in San Leandro and South San Francisco, respectively.




Thursday, June 11, 2015

Bissinger's - Chocolate and Almonds bar - June 11, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's
Chocolate and Almonds bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ lost information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

This Chocolate and Almonds bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) was an attractive bar, with the "B" for Bissinger's elegantly embossed on each square of the bar's front side. On the reverse side, whole California almonds were pressed into a 60% dark chocolate base.

The Bissinger family name has a long history in chocolate. The company had its origins in France (Paris in the 1600s), and was established in in the U.S. in 1845.

The Art of Nuts
Nuts handled well can be heavenly. But, like any flavor addition, care needs to be taken to achieve a successful complementary taste and texture balance between nuts and chocolate. Sometimes the underlying chocolate may be too strong for more delicate nut flavors. Under-roasted or over-roasted nuts can distract from an otherwise great experience; too much or too little salt in some chocolate and nut blends might be a consideration.

How big should flavor addition pieces be, nuts or otherwise, to created a layering of flavors? While pulverized herbs may release more flavor, not so with most nuts. Some chocolate bars with almonds will incorporate the nuts as tiny pieces, giving the bar a uniform mild crunch, but while adding texture, more delicate flavors may be lost.

Today's Bissinger's bar with whole roasted almonds gave the bar a more noticeable crunch, and made it easier to actually taste the slightly sweet, nutty flavor of the almonds, even with an otherwise smooth dark chocolate base with slightly bitter and earth notes.

I also liked that this bar wasn't too sweet. Too much sugar can also overpower subtle flavors.

This Chocolate and Almonds bar was made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao from the Ivory Coast, and was gluten free, and contained, from what I could tell, mostly Non-GMO ingredients.


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