Saturday, December 10, 2016

Yves Thuries - Milk Chocolate Passion Fruit, Pumpkin Seeds bar - Dec. 10, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Yves Thuries
Milk Chocolate Passion Fruit and Pumpkin Seeds bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) in 1/4 package (3 pieces)
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Seeds Series.


Today's Milk Chocolate Passion Fruit and Pumpkin Seeds bar was the creation of French Chef Yves Thuries.*

This 34% cacao milk chocolate bar came nestled in a plastic tray with 12 compartments that contained 12 separate pieces, or micro bar shaped bites.

I liked the design and packaging. Having pre-molded pieces made this easier to share (there was no need to break off pieces with your hands) and more attractive to display on a plate (with each neatly finished piece bearing its own sprinkling of seeds and fruit).

The milk chocolate itself (made with cacao beans from Ecuador**) was sweeter than I prefer, but the pumpkin seeds gave the bar a pleasant, natural crunchy texture that complemented the smooth, sweetness. I couldn't taste the sweetened fruit pieces with passion fruit as I believe they blended in with the overall, relatively high sugar level. But, some with a sweet tooth may enjoy this bar.

 *This Product of France was distributed by SALPA Inc., Greenwich, CT.
**The packaging read that the chocolate was made from "Quality cacao from our farm in Ecuador." What a great story. I would have loved a higher percent cacao so that I could have tasted the chocolate a bit more.




Endangered Species - Dark Lemon Poppy Seed bar - Dec. 9, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Endangered Species
Dark Chocolate with Lemon Poppy Seed bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $missing information
Purchased from: Whole Foods, Cupertino, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of the Chocolate and Seeds Series.

Today's bar was a Dark Chocolate with Lemon Poppy Seed bar from Endangered Species (Indianapolis, IN).

This 60% Cocoa bar was flavored with lemon zest, organic poppy seeds and "natural flavors." The lemon flavor kicked in a few seconds after the first bite. And the bittersweet chocolate seemed to get progressively sweeter during the tasting experience.

The finish was accompanied by a very subtle crunch from the tiny poppy seeds and some acidity.



Charm School Chocolate - 2 Coconut Milk bars - Dec. 8, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Charm School Chocolate

Dark Coconut Milk Ecuador with Cocoa Nibs bar
(Limited Release)
Good+++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Black Sesame Bar with Sour Cherries
Very Good
Weight; 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today is a chocolate transition day—between a Chocolate and Coconut Series and Chocolate and Seeds Series.

And I can't think of a better chocolate maker to feature on this day than Charm School Chocolate (Reisterstown, MD). They make vegan chocolate bars using coconut milk; but you won't necessarily know that by tasting their bars.

The first of today's two Charm School bars, a Dark Coconut Milk (64% cacao) Ecuador (bar) with Cocoa Nibs, was created as a Limited Release, for The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA). It had a complex aroma with hints of dried fruit, spice and sweet cocoa. The flavor changed slightly as I re-tasted this bar over a period of several hours, but it was always good, and the flavors and textures (smooth dark chocolate and a generous smattering of crunchy nibs) were always very nicely balanced.

Fortunately, the Garage is across town from me and I was able to pick up both this bar, and a Charm School Black Sesame Bar with Sour Cherries.

The black sesame seeds and cherries bar had a pleasing slightly smoky sesame and fruit aroma, a creamy buttery melt and texture, and a unique and pleasing flavor with the concentrated tart sweet chewiness of dried Montmorency cherries.

While not technically a traditional chocolate bar (it contained cocoa butter but no cocoa solids), this second bar was a tasty example of a non-dairy (vegan) 40% cacao white chocolate bar, that (due to the color imparted by dark seeds) could fool people.








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