Thursday, January 31, 2019

No Cow - Raspberry Truffle Bar - Jan. 31, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

No Cow LLC
Raspberry Truffle Bar
OK + - Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 105 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.89 for 1 bar
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week.

This Raspberry Truffle Bar was from No Cow LLC (Denver, CO), a company that specializes in non-dairy, high protein and low sugar bars that are also vegan, gluten-free and soy free.

Today's bar had chocolate and raspberry flavors and a slightly granular texture that accompanies some protein bars. The bar contained no added sugar, and was sweetened with erythritol, monk fruit and stevia.


Skinny Dipped Almonds - Dark Chocolate Raspberry - Jan. 30, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Skinny Dipped Almonds
Dark Chocolate Raspberry 
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $2.99 for 1 serving
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week.
Today's Dark Chocolate Raspberry Skinny Dipped Almonds were distributed by Wild Things Snacks, Inc. (Seattle, WA). Whole roasted almonds were surrounded by dark chocolate and dusted with a light tart-sweet, raspberry coating. 

Packaged in a resealable pouch, these almonds were "skinny" in that they lacked the thick confectionary coating that nuts are often are smothered in. They had "way less sugar," and, it was true, they were "...more delicious." 

The mother and daughter behind these almonds wanted to develop a healthier version of the traditional chocolate covered nuts. They chose almonds as a base. And other choices included lower sugar levels while avoiding artificial ingredients and sweeteners (thank you). The pasteurized almonds were treated with heat, not with PPO (a fumigant). And organic maple sugar was used to supplement the sugar that was part of the chocolate. 

(Note to those avoiding allergens: these nuts did contain soy (lecithin) and dairy, in the form of milk fat (butter).)






Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Chocolate and Love - Dark 71% Peru Dominican Republic bar - Jan. 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate and Love
Rich Dark 71% Dark Chocolate Peru and Dominican Republic bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 174.8 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #26 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Organic Rich Dark 71% Dark Chocolate Peru and Dominican Republic bar from Chocolate and Love Ltd. (Crescent Perth, UK), was made in Switzerland and imported into the U.S. by Belgium's Chocolate Source (Milton, MA).

This bar was smooth, sweet and dark and had a pleasing, almost silky-creamy melt and texture.

Inside the wrapper was more detailed information about the origins of this bar. And the packaging also was printed with a photo of a farmer, from El Quinacho, Peru—presumably where the Peruvian cacao was raised.

And, that's a wrap. Twenty six bars made from Peruvian grown cacao in as many days, with several bars made in Peru as well.






Monday, January 28, 2019

Nibble Chocolate - 85% Cocoa Organic Extra Dark Peru bar - Jan. 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nibble Chocolate, LLC
85% Cocoa Organic Extra Dark Peru bar
Good +
Weight: .954 oz. (27 g.) / 1.908 oz. (54 g.) in total bar
Calories: 157.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Nibble Chocolate (Old Town location), San Diego, CA

Welcome to Day #25 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 85% Cocoa Organic Extra Dark Peru bar was from Nibble Chocolate, LLC (San Diego, CA).

This ultra-dark chocolate "Nine (square) Nibbler" bar had a fairly pronounced dried fruit (fig) aroma and flavor and very slight green and coconut notes, with a balanced bitter-sweetness.






Sunday, January 27, 2019

Taste Artisan Chocolate - 75% Amazonas Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 27, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taste Artisan Chocolate
75% Amazonas Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order) 

Welcome to Day #24 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 75% Amazonas Dark Chocolate bar came from Taste Artisan Chocolate (Provo, UT).

The chocolate maker's description of this bar read, in part, as follows: "Awajun natives harvest...fruit from deep in the Peruvian Jungles using wooden tools to avoid damage to the fresh beans. Rich flavors of blackberry and fresh cream shine in this bar."

This bar did have a hint of a deep, quiet, dark jungle in the aroma. And the melt and texture were creamy and appealing. The flavor was (similar to tasting notes above) that of a blackberry, with fruit notes that imparted balanced flavor, and not sugar in the middle and finish. This 75% chocolate offered a friendlier, subtly luscious natural flavor and finish than expected, without being too sweet or too bland



Saturday, January 26, 2019

Taste Artisan Chocolate - 75% Piura Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 26, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taste Artisan Chocolate
75% Piura Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order) 

Welcome to Day #23 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 75% Piura Dark Chocolate bar from Taste Artisan Chocolate (Provo, UT) had pleasant aroma and flavor notes with hints of caramel, chocolate and fruit (dried peach, apricot vs. bolder citrus or berry).

Piura is a cacao growing region (and the name of the capital of the Piura Region) in northwestern Peru.

The maker's description of this bar and tasting notes read as follows:

"Some of the rarest genotypes of heirloom cacao grow white. This bar is created using some of those rare white beans, which gives this bar a unique light color. Enjoy notes of caramel, fig and subtle melon."


Friday, January 25, 2019

Guittard - Machu Picchu Peru 65% Cacao Bittersweet bar - Jan. 25, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Guittard Chocolate Company 
Machu Picchu Peru 65% Cacao Bittersweet (large) bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.1 pounds (500 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. of large bar
Cost: $12.96 for 1 large bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order) 

Welcome to Day #22 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's jumbo-sized Machu Picchu Peru 65% Cacao Bittersweet bar was from Guittard Chocolate Company (Burlingame, CA).

I was speaking with a chocolatier in Burlingame, CA, recently. And she remembers her father driving across town to Guittard to pick up the chocolate they needed to create their own chocolate confections. That was then...and Guittard has grown quite a bit since then. Still, every local chocolatier that uses Guittard chocolate that I've spoken to is very proud to tell you so. 

Guittard has been crafting chocolate in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1868, or 150 years ago. That's impressive. More remarkably, the company is still run by family members. (Gary Guittard is currently at the helm.) The company claims to be the "oldest, continuous family-owned and operated chocolate-making business in the United States."

Today's giant bar was not meant for a single consumer, but rather was an example of the bulk and couverture chocolate that Guittard sells to other businesses. This 500-gram bar is more well-suited to a restaurant, catering company or bon bon maker. But we're willing to break off a tiny piece and take a nibble.

This thick, substantial bar had a pleasing dark chocolate aroma and taste, with fruit notes, and a smooth dark cocoa finish. 





Thursday, January 24, 2019

Nina Fine Chocolate - 85% Cacao bar - Jan. 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nina Fine Chocolate
85% Cacao bar
Good
Weight: .4 oz. (12.5 g.) / .8 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 75.95 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.50 for 4-bar assortment
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #21 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Nina Fine Chocolate 85% Cacao bar was produced and distributed by Proyecto Chazuta (Chazuta, San Martin, Peru).

This bar was part of an attractively packaged 4-bar assortment pack that contained 45, 55, 70 and 85 percent cacao bars.

Today's 85% cacao chocolate was similar to yesterday's 70% cacao bar. It had an aroma with chocolate, fruit (slight vinegar*) aroma with a very faint slightly darker, almost earthy note. And, like yesterday's bar, the flavor had a (slightly less pronounced) sweet and sour tart fruit acidity that one could feel in the throat. The bar was sweeter than many ultra-dark bars, in a pleasing, balanced way.) The finish lingered a bit with a smooth fade, and was accompanied by a very slight astringency.

Due to it's slightly higher calorie count than yesterday's 70% bar, it may have had slightly more added cocoa butter (which tends to moderate stronger flavors in ultra-dark bars).

*A high percentage of bars featured this month made with Peruvian cacao, particularly those made in-country (in Peru), have had a trace of sweet/fruit vinegar to them. 

This flavor almost always originates early in the chocolate making process, and can result from fermentation choices. In some cases flavor can be characteristic of local conditions, or it could be the result of deliberate fermentation choices (e.g. co-fermentation or secondary fermentation of cacao beans with fruit), resulting in a characteristic regional flavor profile.

Nina Fine Chocolate - 70% Cacao bar - Jan. 23, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nina Fine Chocolate
70% Cacao bar
Good
Weight: .4 oz. (12.5 g.) / .8 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 71.75 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.50 for 4-bar assortment
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #20 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Nina Fine Chocolate 70% Cacao bar was produced and distributed by Proyecto Chazuta (Chazuta, San Martin, Peru).

This bar was part of a 4-bar assortment pack that contained 45, 55, 70 and 85 percent cacao bars.

Today's 70% cacao chocolate had a chocolate, green and dried fruit aroma that blossomed into a fairly strong, sweet and sour upbeat tart fruit acidity. The same fruit sweet and sour blend tailed off in a long finish, accompanied by a slight astringency.






Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Nina Fine Chocolate - 55% Cacao and Milk (Leche) bar - Jan. 22, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Nina Fine Chocolate
55% Cacao and Milk (Leche) bar
OK
Weight: .4 oz. (12.5 g.) / .8 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 70.7 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.50 for 1 package of 4 bars
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #19 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 55% Cacao and Milk (Leche) bar from Nina Fine Chocolate was part of a 4-bar assortment pack, produced by Proyecto Chazuta (Project Chazuta) located in Chazuta, San Martin, in north central Peru.

This 55% Cacao bar had an aroma of dried fruit (raisins), and a sweet milk chocolate flavor with a very faint solvent note.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Nina Fine Chocolate - Macambo and Coconut bar - Jan. 21, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Nina Fine Chocolate
45% Cacao - Majambo Coco (Macambo and Coconut) bar
Good
Weight: .4 oz. (12.5 g.) / .8 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 76.3 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.50 for 1 package of 4 bars
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 45% Cacao Macambo and Coconut (Majambo y Coco) bar from Nina Fine Chocolate (Chazuta, San Martin, Peru), was part of a 4-bar assortment pack.

This was a lighter bar than expected, due to a somewhat unique texture: slightly soft and gummy, light mousse-like. The flavor was light, and not too sweet, with only a hint of coconut.

The "lighter" flavor was due to the lower percent of cacao (45%), and from Macambo—a relative of the cacao plant (Theobroma family) from South America, that was blended with cacao in this bar.*

Macambo seeds are generally eaten roasted and are said to have a slightly savory flavor. (I didn't pick up the latter, but the macambo seemed to have less of the fruity and acidic flavor than cacao often has, judging by the absence of these cacao-related flavors.)

*Ingredients: cacao, macambo, sugar, cocoa butter, coconut 









Sunday, January 20, 2019

Chocolat Bonnat - Piura Blanco Perou 75% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 20, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat
Piura Blanco Perou 75% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar
Good +++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Chocolat Bonnat Piura Blanco Perou 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir (Dark Chocolate) bar was made with Criollo cacao ("white beans") from the Piura cacao-growing region in northwest Peru.

This bar had a smooth, creamy melt and texture, notes of complex fruit (including citrus, tart stone fruit, berries) and a hint of coffee.*

*Chocolate maker's tasting notes read: "lightly acidulated and fruity flavors"

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Chocolat Bonnat - Cacao Cusco Perou 75% Dark bar - Jan. 19, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Cacao Cusco Perou 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Chocolat Bonnat Cacao Cusco Perou 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir bar was made with cacao grown in the Amazon region of  Peru.

This bar had a clean aroma and flavor with fruit and green coconut notes*, and
a creamy melt and texture—characteristic of many Bonnat chocolate bars.

*The maker's notes also listed notes of sugar cane.





Marana Craft Chocolate - San Martin Peru 70% Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 18, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Marana Craft Chocolate
San Martin Peru 70% Dark Chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 213.15 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.60 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's organic Marana Craft Chocolate San Martin Peru 70% Dark Chocolate bar was manufactured by Cacao Valley E.I.R.L.

This bar had a slightly green and fruity aroma, complex fruit flavor with a tiny hint of black pepper in one bite, a slight uptick in (balanced) fruit sour notes about 2/3 way through, followed by a smooth, fruitiness and a very slight astringent finish. Fun ride.






Thursday, January 17, 2019

Marana Craft Chocolate - San Martin Peru 80% Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 17, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Marana Craft Chocolate
San Martin Peru 80% Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.70 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Marana Craft Chocolate San Martin Peru 80% Dark Chocolate bar was made "in country" by Cacao Valley E.I.R.L. (Lima, Peru).

San Martin, located in north central Peru is one of 10 major cacao-growing regions in the country. This chocolate was made using the "Amazonica" variety of cacao beans from Tarapoto.

The bar had a pleasant aroma with green and fruit notes. The first bite yielded a bloom of flavor with more fruit acidity—and a slightly astringent (drying, almost granular) mouthfeel. The flavor was complex, fruity with faint green, sour milk and coconut notes.





Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Marana Craft Chocolate - 70% Piura Peru bar - Jan. 16, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Marana Craft Chocolate
70% Piura Peru bar
Good
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 213.15 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.70 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's organic, Marana Craft Chocolate 70% Piura Peru bar was produced by Cacao Valley E.R.L. in Lima, Peru.

The company's Piura "collection is made from the finest variety of "blanco" cacao beans, grown in the fertile valleys of Alta Piura." These beans yielded a great fruity tasting 80% Piura Peru bar yesterday, and a similar, slightly sweeter 70% Piura Peru sibling today with balanced red fruit (cherry) and citrus (tangelo-to-tangerine) notes.

Tasting notes on the package read: "This chocolate boasts a huge personality, offering an...experience dominated by fruity citrus notes."

Ingredients: Organic cacao mass, organic sugar and organic cacao butter



Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Marana Craft Chocolate - 80% Piura Peru bar - Jan. 15, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Marana Craft Chocolate
80% Piura Peru bar
Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225.4 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.85 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week(s).

Today's attractively packaged, 80% Piura Peru bar from Marana Craft Chocolate was made in Peru (produced by Cacao Valley E.I.R.L.).

Bars labeled as 80% cacao or over are generally more bold and deep dark in flavor. However, today's 80% Piura Peru bar was relatively cheerful for an 80%-er. This chocolate was fruit-sweet (red fruit, cherry), with a very faint (balanced) red fruit-acetic acid (vinegar) note.

*Piura is a city, region and province in northwestern Peru, approximately 5 degrees south of the Equator. Piura is also one of of the top 10 cacao growing regions in this South American country. 

Marana Craft Chocolate offers bars made with Cusco from at least three of these ten regions: Cusco, Piura and San Martin.




Monday, January 14, 2019

Spencer Chocolate - 70% Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 14, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Spencer Chocolate
70% Dark Chocolate Peru Bean to Bar
Good
Weight: 1.05 oz. (29.5 g.) / 2.1 oz. (59 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate Peru Spencer Chocolate bar was manufactured by Annie's Goodies...Naturally, LLC (Portland, OR).

The company is a small, family-owned operation and was, at last check, producing at least four single origin bars (containing cacao from a unique country), including this bar made with Peruvian cacao. (They also feature their dog, Spencer, on the packaging.)

The well-tempered, three ingredient* bar had faint notes of dried fruit (cherry), and a slight astringency.

*Ingredients: cacao, sugar, cocoa butter

Chocolate Always - 85% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar - Jan. 13, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Always
85% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar Health Lover's Affair bar
Good
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 85% Cacao Dark Chocolate ("Health Lover's Affair"), Bean to Bar at The Source bar was made in Peru for Chocolate Always (Weston, FL) and had relatively even, dark chocolate flavor.

Saturday, January 12, 2019

Chocolate Always - 70% Cacao with Raisins & Almonds Organic Dark Chocolate Bar - Jan. 12, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Always
70% Cacao with Raisins and Almonds Organic Dark Chocolate Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $ missing information 
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 70% Cacao with Raisins and Almonds Organic Dark Chocolate Bar was made in Peru for Chocolate Always (Weston, FL).

This dark chocolate bar contained bits of roasted almonds and organic raisins that added pleasing crunchy texture and dried fruit notes to a smooth dark base.

Bloom gloom
Apologies for the photo of the bar. I hesitate showing any bar that has some slight white discoloration or "bloom" on it. People work hard to make bean-to-bar (or any) chocolate and to deliver chocolate to consumers, but temperature fluctuations in transit can wreak havoc on appearances.

This discoloration did not really affect the flavor. And if you buy chocolate, it is inevitable that you'll open bars that have experienced a momentary encounter that caused separation of ingredients (or change in cacao butter crystal structure) after sitting in the bright sunlight on a loading dock or in a truck or storage area. This can happen anywhere in the 1,000+ mile journey a bar might have traveled to get to a store near me. (Expiration date was in May 2019, so age was not a factor.)

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Venchi - 85% Organic Lamas - Sisa bar - Jan. 11, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Venchi S.p.A
85% Organic Lamas - Sisa bar
Good 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226.1 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 85% Organic Lamas - Sisa bar was from Venchi S.p.A (Castelletto Stura, Cuneo (CN), Italy) was made with cacao grown in the Lamas District, Lamas Province, in the San Martin Region, in northern Peru.

This Venchi bar came with two easy-to-decipher visual scores printed on the packaging. It showed us that this bar was rated a 2 on a scale of 5 for Intensity, and 3 out of 4 on a scale for Aromaticity.*

This rating system might be helpful to buyers, but without knowing what other chocolate bars they are comparing this to, it loses some of its utility. For example, this bar was way more intense than a blander commercially popular bar and still was fairly bold and acidic. (I wondered what a 5 would be like on this scale.)

The organic and gluten free deep, dark, slightly acidic bar had a slightly reddish color. It had an even, deep roast "feeling," a smooth cocoa butter** melt and texture and an even, dark flavor.

There was, surprisingly, a fleeting floral note. (The maker's tasting notes read as follows: "Note(s) of white flower, dried fruit and honey.") The floral note was surprising because, generally, smooth dark flavor and texture in an ultra-dark bar like this comes from longer conching/grinding times and the addition of lots of cocoa butter, meaning that more volatile floral notes are usually lost or masked in the process.

*Aromaticity is a term that refers to the properties of an organic compound that gives off an aroma. More specifically, this term is used in organic chemistry to describe certain molecules that have a "ring of resonance bonds" that exhibit more stability than found in other configurations.

**Ingredients: organic cocoa mass (from Peru), organic cocoa butter, organic cane sugar

Shattell - 70% Dark Cacao Saposoa bar - Jan. 10, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 
Shattell Chocolate Organico
70% Dark Cacao Saposoa Single Origin Peruvian Chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's organic, 70% Dark Cacao Saposoa Single Origin bar was crafted from Criollo Cacao grown in Saposoa, Peru—an area of Northern Peru in the San Martin Region.

This bar (like other Shattell Peru bars featured this week) had a fairly complex aroma and flavor profile, with dark chocolate, subtle fruit (sweet red berry, citrus), light spice, nutty, and acetic acid (vinegar) notes. The chocolate had a relatively complex finish with some herb to it. The melt and texture was smooth and fairly rich and cacao butter-y.





Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Shattell - Bitter 70% Cacao San Rafael, Peru bar - Jan. 9, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Shattell Chocolate Organico
Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao San Rafael bar
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 206 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao San Rafael bar was from Shattell Chocolate Organico (Lima, Peru).

This made in-country (grown and made in Peru) organic bar had a sweet dark aroma with hints of faint spice, herb and earth—and an
acetic acid (light fruit vinegar) flavor note that also has been present with other Shattell single region Peru bars featured this week.

*San Rafael, from what I could tell from some brief research, is located near two other cacao growing regions (Cusco and Arequipa) in southeastern Peru. 







Shattell - Bitter 70% - Cacao Tingo Maria Peru bar - Jan. 8, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Shattell Chocolate Organico
Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Tingo Maria bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 206 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Tingo Maria bar was from Shattell Chocolate Organico (Lima, Peru).

Made in Peru, from cacao grown in the Tingo Maria (Huanuco Region of central Peru), this organic bar was one of a series of Shattell 70% dark single region Peruvian bars, many of which are featured this week. Most have contained only three ingredients* with complex flavor profiles.

This bar had a pleasant aroma with light brown sugar, molasses and spice notes, and a smooth texture and melt. The flavor of the bar unfolded in a relatively smooth way and included very brief, balanced nut and earth notes. The finish was relatively smooth with a very, very faint acetic acid** and/or astringent note.

*Ingredients in Tingo Maria bar: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter

**Vinegar/acetic acid is a natural bi-product of the cacao fermentation process that takes place early on in the chocolate-making process, right after harvest. In most cases, this flavor is no longer present in bars. And, in fact, even with these Shattell bars, this note tends to dissipate after opening the sealed packaging.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Shattell Chocolate Organico - Bitter 70% Cacao Tarapoto Maras Pink Salt bar - Jan. 7, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Shattell Chocolate Organico
Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Tarapoto Maras Pink Salt bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 206 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Tarapoto Maras Pink Salt bar was from Shattell Chocolate Organico, an "artisan chocolate factory in Lima, Peru."

This 70% cacao bar was made from Peruvian cacao grown in Tarapoto (San Martin Region), and it had brown sugar, green, dried fruit, deep smooth earth and a slight fruit vinegar/acetic acid aroma notes (that dissipated after the package was open for awhile).

A faint constellation of sea salt crystals were pressed into back of the dark bar; and the salt was nicely balanced and subtle.

*Maras pink salt is typically excavated near Cusco, in southern Peru.


Sunday, January 6, 2019

Shattell Chocolate Organico - Bitter 70% Cacao Tumbes bar - Jan. 6, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Shattell Chocolate Organico
Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Tumbes bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 206 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Tumbes bar was from Shattell Chocolate Organico* (Lima, Peru). And like other Shattell bars featured this week, the cacao used to make the bar was grown in a specific region within Peru.

It's notable, if not obvious, that the chocolate was made "in-country" (i.e. in the same country where the cacao was grown ), as this is rarely the case for the chocolate we buy in the U.S. and Europe.

Tumbes, located on the coast in the NW of the country, is one of 10 cacao growing regions in Peru—a country with diverse micro-climates and elevations ranging from coastal areas just meters above sea level to highland, mountainous regions. This week bars are being featured from several of these regions.

This 70% organic, dark chocolate had a complex aroma and flavor—with notes of dried fruit, spice, nuts, and a faint trace of fruit acid/vinegar.** This Tumbes bar had a relatively pleasing taste during middle and end, with a very slight astringent after-texture.

*This week's Shattell Chocolate Organico bars were produced and distributed by Qulinaria Peru S.A.C.

**The faint, fleeting fruit vinegar note seemed to dissipate later in the day, after the sealed, inner packaging had been open for awhile and/or when the bar was eaten with/after other food.


Saturday, January 5, 2019

Shattell Chocolate Organico - Bitter 70% Cacao Ayacucho bar - Jan. 5, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Shattell Chocolate Organico
Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Ayacucho bar
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 206 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Shattell Chocolate Organico Bitter 70% cacao - Cacao Ayacucho* bar was crafted from Peruvian Criollo cacao and made in Peru. It was produced and distributed by Qulinaria, Peru S.A.C. (Lima, Peru).

This organic, 2016 International Chocolate Awards Gold Winner chocolate bar had a slightly earthy aroma, with hints of dried figs and a smooth but somewhat granular melt and texture.

The flavor was consistent with the aroma, and the finish lingered a bit after the last bite.

*Ayacucho is one of 10 Peruvian regions that grow cacao. 

The city of Ayacucho is a relatively high-altitude (over 8,600 ft.) city in south-central Peru that lies on the fertile slopes of the Andes mountains. It is also the capital city of Huamanga Province, in the Ayacucho Region. The city is known for its colonial architecture and 33 churches, each said to signify a year in Christ's life. Small folk-art, clay churches (said to help ward away evil spirits) also adorn some buildings.

Friday, January 4, 2019

Pascha Chocolate - 46% Cacao Orange bar - Jan. 4, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pascha Organic Chocolate / Pascha Chocolate Co.
46% Cacao Orange bar
Good
Weight: .55 oz. (15 g.) / 1.1 oz. (30 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market (at Edgewood), Palo Alto, CA 
Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 46% Cacao Orange bar from Pascha Organic Chocolate (Toronto, Ontario) was made with organic rice milk and Peruvian cacao.

Co-founder, Simon Lester, had two daughters with food allergies, which helped inspired Lester and his wife to create Pascha Chocolate Co. bars.

Like other Pascha bars, this organic, vegan, plant-based bar was free of most common allergens (nuts, peanuts, wheat, gluten, milk, dairy, soy, eggs, sesame). The Orange bar tasted like a sweet milk chocolate bar with a hint of natural orange (oil).*

*Ingredients: organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic rice milk powder (rice syrup, rice starch, rice flour), organic chocolate liquor, sunflower lecithin, orange oil



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