World Market - S'Mores Cocoa Mix - June 6, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

World Market/Cost Plus, Inc.
S'Mores Cocoa Mix
Good
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total packet
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 packet
Cost: $ unknown - lost info
Purchased from: World Market/Cost Plus, Inc. store

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate Tea and Beverage Theme Weeks.

What are S'Mores?
S'mores are a popular campfire dessert treat, often tinged with childhood memories that date back to the late 1920s (possibly earlier). I recall assembling S'mores on picnic tables or atop an unsteady plate on my lap in lantern-lit darkness. A graham cracker was topped with a piece of chocolate bar, a gooey hot, freshly campfire-roasted marshmallow (carefully pried off a stick), then topped with another graham cracker, to be eaten sandwich style.

These were so good, it was explained to me, that you'll doubtless want "some more," thus the name s'more.

I tried a gluten-free version of a s'more with fancy dark milk chocolate a few years ago, and it was too sweet for me. But, roasting marshmallows and putting these little desserts together with friends around a campfire was great fun.

S'Mores Inspired Cocoa 
Long ago, I purchased today's cheery red packet of S'Mores Cocoa Mix from a World Market/Cost Plus store, intending to use it for a theme week around s'mores or hot cocoa. But, that week never arrived, and this packet sat in my chocolate vault. Until now.

It tasted like packaged hot cocoa, with some subtle flavor additions. I think adding marshmallows on top, and serving with a side of graham crackers might create a more authentic flavor match, but good for them for trying to include all this in a mix.

S'Mores Inspired Tea
In the spirit of Chocolate Tea and Beverage Week, I concocted a "tea" version of this hot cocoa mix that contained cocoa/chocolate, vanilla, mallow flowers, and coconut palm sugar. I must admit I feel more comfortable with beverages with fresh, natural flavors (although the word "natural" seems to have drifted away from its original meaning when it comes to food additives over the years). When I added a tiny splash of milk and took a sip...I was a little surprised that the tea tasted not too different than the cocoa mix. The mallow plant/flower gave this hot tea a bit of marshmallow texture which was fun too. Add a drop of smoky campfire, and I'm there.