Friday, May 8, 2015

Whole Foods - 70% Dark Chocolate Walnuts - May 8, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Whole Foods
70% Dark Chocolate Walnuts
Good +
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) / 10 oz. (284 g.) in total container
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) in 1/4 container
Cost: $7.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

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

Immersing walnut halves in dark chocolate is a simple and direct way to enjoy this bittersweet combination.

These glossy, generously sized 70% Dark Chocolate Walnuts from Whole Foods Market (Austin, TX) were surrounded by a generous coating of smooth dark chocolate. The soft crunchy walnuts inside tasted fresh and added satisfying nutty texture.









Julian Bakery - Paleo Ecuador bar - May 7, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Julian Bakery
Paleo Chocolate Ecuador 82% bar
Good
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) total bar
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's single origin Paleo Chocolate Ecuador bar from Julian Bakery, Inc. (Oceanside, CA) didn't contain any walnuts, but the tasting notes did. The description read: "Hints of Walnut, Banana and Toffee."

Julian Bakery is to be commended for creating several paleo chocolate (and other food) offerings -- that are lower in certain sugars and carbohydrates, and made from relatively unadulterated ingredients. For example, there was no added soy or other lecithin or preservatives added to this bar.

This 82% cacao, dairy-, soy- and gluten-free, stevia*-sweetened bar was bittersweet. The erythritol, stevia and vanilla bean made it difficult to taste the precise nuances of the underlying cacao, and may have contributed to a slight bitter note (also a common aftertaste in walnuts, in part due to beneficial phenolic acids, tannins and other substances/flavonoids/anti-oxidants).

This chocolate was also undeniably sweet, with a hint of banana-floral-marshmallow taste and texture (sometimes associated with some Ecuador cacao). You'll definitely get a sweet fix, for fewer calories and less sugar with this bar.

*Stevia is a great plant-based natural sweetener, but can be challenging to work with re: flavor profile.



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