Goodio Craft Chocolate - Chai 50% Cacao bar - Mar. 31, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodio Craft Chocolate
Chai 50% Cacao bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: goodio.com (online order)

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

Today's raw, vegan and organic Chai 50% Cacao bar from Goodio Craft Chocolate (Helsinki, Finland) was made from stoneground cacao.

The bar had a coconut aroma. The melt was fairly creamy. And a variety of chai spices* unfolded in a balanced and pleasing way after the first bite.

*Ingredients: cacao beans, coconut palm sugar, cacao butter, coconut flakes, cashew nuts, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, black pepper. (There were no dairy, gluten or soy ingredients listed.)

Cocomel - Cinnamon Spice Coconut Milk Caramels - Mar. 30, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Distributed by JJ's Sweets, Inc.
Cocomel Bites - Cinnamon Spice Coconut Milk Caramels
Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 237.5 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Menlo Park, CA

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

Today's Cinnamon Spice Cocomel Bites Coconut Milk Caramels were distributed by JJ's Sweets, Inc. (Boulder, CO).

These chewy, chocolate coated, chewy caramel rounds had a warm, authentic cinnamon roll aroma and flavor. And the sweet cinnamon lingered in the finish.

These bites were organic, vegan and made without dairy. 

Theo Chocolate - Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar - Mar. 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate, Inc.
Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .95 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Cinnamon Horchata* 45% Milk Chocolate bar was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The cinnamon elevated the flavor of this sweet milk chocolate bar.

And, instead of rice milk, which I associate with American horchata beverages, the "rice" came from crispy brown rice embedded in this bar, giving is some crunchy texture as well.

*Horchata is a light-colored, opaque, grain or rice-based beverage, flavored with cinnamon from Latin America. 

Horchata's origins stretch back to North Africa (when the beverage was often made from soaked tiger nuts) and Spain, and the idea was likely brought to Mexico and Central America). 

Horchata (origin likely from a word for barley) refers to a larger class of plant- and grain-based beverages from the Mediterranean. Ingredients for these beverages may include ground almonds, rice, barley, sesame or tiger nuts.

**Ingredients: Organic, Fair Trade Cane Sugar; Organic, Trade Cocoa Beans; Organic, Fair Trade Cocoa Butter; Organic Milk Powder; Organic Crisped Brown Rice; Organic, Fair Trade Crisped Quinoa; Organic, Fair Trade Cinnamon; Organic Ground Vanilla Bean.

Bakeology - Chocolate Chip Crunchy Cookie Bites - Mar. 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bakeology, LLC
Formula 1: Chocolate Chip Crunchy Cookie Bites
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week. Some starches are delightful, in the cake and cookie form. When creating gluten-free baked goods, alternatives to wheat flours and starches often play an important role.

For example, today's "Formula 1: Chocolate Chip Crunchy Cookie Bites," manufactured and distributed by Bakeology, LLC (Malibu, CA), had organic rice flour and organic tapioca starch to thank for their success.

These small crunchy, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies were also vegan and contained no trans fats.

Gracie Jones, Jessica's, Paleonola, Sunfood - Three Granolas - Mar. 27, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Gracie Jones Bake Shop
Granola

Good +

Jessica's Natural Foods, LLC
Gluten Free Chocolate Hazelnut Granola
Good +

Paleonola Granola
Chocolate Fix (Grain Free Granola)
Good

Sunfood Super Foods
Raw Organic Chocolate Rice Protein (powder)
OK+ - Good

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week—a good day for a Granola fest. It was gray, rainy and sad-looking outside. Time for some upbeat music and bowlfuls of fun.

Today, we're celebrating three gluten-free granolas and one chocolate rice protein beverage. These three granolas each had their own flavor profile. Oats and rice provided our "starches" today.

The Granola from Gracie Jones Bake Shop (Palo Alto, CA) was fruit-forward and beautiful to look at (with golden raisins and red goji berries). It also contained diced/snipped pieces of other fruits (that looked like pears and peaches). It did not contain cacao from what I could tell, but it was too pretty to leave out of this crunchy granola sampler trio.

Chocolate Hazelnut Granola from Jessica's Natural Foods, LLC (Birmingham, MI) was naturally nutty with rich and authentic hazelnut and chocolate flavors. (You could see and taste whole hazelnuts.) Chocolate chips added extra chocolate flavor; and pumpkin seeds gave it some additional soft crunch and pleasant seed flavor.

And, the Chocolate Fix Granola from Paleonola (Pawtucket, RI) was made with a variety of nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts), seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, flax) and fruits (cranberries, apple juice). It was grain, soy and dairy free (made without oats or grains). And this honey and fruit-sweetened granola was the most chocolate-forward of the three granolas. Made with chocolate chips and a chocolate cookie like flavor with a faint coconut note.

We also tried some Raw, Organic, Vegan and Gluten-Free Chocolate Rice Protein Powder from Sunfood Super Foods (El Cajon, CA) that we mixed with water, to create a chocolate rice milk beverage to accompany these breakfast granolas.

It had an authentic rice flavor with a subtle and balanced hint of cacao and was high in protein (17 grams of protein per serving). However, don't expect this dairy/whey-free and soy-free powder to taste like the dairy milk you may be used to pouring on cereal.

Cru Chocolate - Flor de Maiz (bar) - March 26, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cru Chocolate
Flor de Maiz (bar)
Good
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 66 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's attractively packaged Flor de Maiz (bar) was created by Cru Chocolate (Roseville, CA). The bar capitalized on the long cultural and culinary history of maize (corn) and cacao in the Americas.

The bar was a fusion of Nicaraguan cacao and heirloom roasted and stone ground corn (seasoned with a tiny pinch of spices). This dark chocolate blend was inspired by pinole, a traditional corn and cacao beverage from Central America.

W3 Chocolates - I Am Grounded Candied Quinoa bar - Mar. 25, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

W3 Chocolate

I Am Grounded - Candied Quinoa Dark Chocolate bar

Good+++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (46 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA 

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

Today's "I Am Grounded - Candied Quinoa Dark Chocolate" bar was the creation of the women at W3 Chocolate (Pittsburgh, PA), and is part of a line of bars from the company.

W3 Chocolatier Amanda Wright hails from California. And, rounding out the team's trio of women, are Naomi Davila (from Switzerland) and Sritha Thayi (from India). 

This bar had a dark chocolate aroma with a faint roasted malt/seeds note. The melt was smooth, and a constellation of candied quinoa, a touch of sesame and salt and vanilla, in dark chocolate created a rich blend of flavors made extra accessible via an ultra-thin bar.

A slight buttery, roasted flavor (cocoa butter, coconut oil, salt) was satisfying, and a light sesame finish rounded out the tasting curve.

The addition of a "starch" (quinoa) combined with the other ingredients mentioned above, gave this bar more of a "meal" feel, while being ultra-light at the same time. This was a nicely balanced dark bar.

One Degree - Gluten Free Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps - Mar. 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

One Degree Organic Foods
Gluten Free Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps (cereal)
Good
Weight: 3/4 cup (35 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information



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

These Gluten Free Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps were manufactured in the U.S. for One Degree Organic Foods (Canada).

Reminiscent of other cocoa crisp rice cereals, these crunchy cereal pieces were suffused with sweet cocoa flavor. (Only these were organic and made with sprouted organic brown rice.)

Ladera Foods - Chocolate Almond Granola - March 23, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Ladera Foods
Chocolate Almond Granola
Good+
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 11 oz. (312 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Almond Granola was made by Ladera Foods (San Mateo, CA).

It was sweet and chocolate-y, and the oats and almonds helped balance this sweetness out. The maker claims that at 4 grams of sugar (per 1/4 cup serving), the granola contained "40% less (sugar) than leading brands." We believe it. Granolas can be very sweet.*

Note the position of the brown sugar in the ingredients list (below). It's much further down the list. Ingredients: whole grain oats, slivered almonds, maple syrup, olive oil, cocoa powder, brown sugar and salt. It had a light crunchiness and texture, and rich flavor to it.

*Today's granola was based on a family recipe; and their offering is created in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most granola cereals/snacks are oat-based.

When we grew up in the Bay Area, a family we knew had developed their own recipe they developed in 1968 for a three-ingredient granola (oats, butter and brown sugar). 

Their dad lightly stirred these three ingredients together in a frying pan on the stove. Their kitchen smelled like oatmeal cookies. Today's granola is likely healthier without the butter. However, we're also glad our first taste of granola was imbued with good memories from a friend's kitchen, where most granolas were based on homemade recipes as well.

Luna - Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chunk (bar) - Mar. 22, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Luna 

Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chunk (bar)

Good

Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g.) bar / box of 6 bars

Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $3.49 for 1 box of 6 bars

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Oats are a popular starch and cereal grain, often combined with chocolate chips or chunks, in cookies, granolas, cereals and oatmeal cereals. 

They're also a popular (non-wheat) inclusion in energy, nutrition and cereal bars, such as today's Luna Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chunk bar distributed by Clif Bar and Company (Emeryville, CA). 

Oats* can add a bit of substantial cereal oomph and texture/fiber to a bar and, to some extent, can help balance sweetness (if extra sugar isn't added to compensate for this muffling effect). Speaking of sugar this bar was labeled as "low glycemic" (19 grams carbohydrates and 5 grams of sugar).

This bar had mild peanut butter flavor. And small chocolate chunks adhered to one side of the bar, gave it a hint of rich chocolate flavor.

*The first ingredient listed was a Protein Grain Blend (soy protein isolate, organic rolled oats, organic rice flour). This gluten-free bar contained 7 grams of protein.

Freed Foods - NurturMe Organic Ancient Grain Cookies - Cocoa - Mar. 21, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Made for Freed Foods

NurturMe - Organic Ancient Grain Cookies - Cocoa

Good

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 5 oz. (1?? g.) in total box

Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving (7 small cookies)

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's NurturMe Organic Ancient Grain Cookies - Cocoa - were manufactured for Freed Foods (Austin, TX), and were made from a flour blend of millet, sorghum and quinoa—considered "ancient grains" here (as well as potato and tapioca starch).

Quinoa is a plant from the Andes with starchy seeds that looks like a grain. Technically it's a pseudo-cereal, that has become popular in the U.S. in recent decades. Today's small cocoa-flavored cookies were crunchy, and not too sweet (thank you).

Quinoa can add a satisfying crunchy texture to baked goods, especially cookies. The cocoa gave these cookies a rich flavor. These were a bit on the dry side, but it was nothing a glass of water, milk, coffee, or companion beverage of your choice wouldn't be able to address.

Did I mention these cookies included probiotics? The probiotic(s) listed: GanedenBC30(R) (Organic Inulin, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086). Sounds technical. We weren't sure what this beneficial bacteria is used for in terms of digestive or overall health. But, it didn't seem to affect the taste of these small cookies.

Natural Nectar - ChocoDream Organic Cocoa Rice Stix - Mar. 20, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Natural Nectar
ChocoDream - Organic Cocoa Rice Stix - Coconut cream filled
Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 4.4 oz. (125 g.) in total box of 5 packets
Calories: 130 calories in 1 packet (2 pieces/stix)
Cost: $4.49 for 1 box of 5 packets
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Grasses and Grains Theme Week.

Today's ChocoDream - Organic Cocoa Rice Stix - Coconut cream filled packaged snacks were made in Italy and distributed by Natural Nectar (Huntington, NY).

Why incorporate starch from rice, corn, millet, quinoa, oats, grains, pseudo-cereals, and other grains and root vegetables into a chocolate item? Chocolate can certainly perk up grains. And starches and grains can add crispy texture, e.g. to an oatmeal or quinoa chocolate chip cookie, or to today's organic crunchy rice treats.

Chocolate purists may not agree, but this week we're sampling chocolates with a bit of starch added.

Today's box* of light, sweet, crunchy cocoa flavored** tube-shaped sticks were filled with creamy coconut resulted in an addictive combination—as tasty as any cookie out there (if you like a bit of coconut). And they were gluten free, vegan and organic.

*This box of 5 individually-wrapped packets contained two pieces in each packet.
**Ingredients: organic cane sugar, organic rice flour, organic grated coconut,  organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, organic low-fat cocoa powder, organic quinoa flour, organic millet flour, salt.

Chocolate Story Manufaktura Czekolady - House Blend Milk 44% kakao with roasted hazelnuts - Mar. 19, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Story

Manufaktura Czekolady 

House Blend Milk 44% kakao with roasted hazelnuts (bar)

Good +++

Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 279 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $N/A - gift

Purchased from: N/A - gift from maker

Welcome. Sometimes one is in the right place at the right time to hear a wonderful new chocolate story. Such was the case recently, while at Chocolate Covered in San Francisco. Krzysztof Stypulkowski* was in this shop speaking with Jack, the owner, about carrying some new bars from Poland. What luck! We were there too, chocolate shopping.

Today's House Blend Milk 44% kakao with roasted hazelnuts bar was made by Manufaktura Czekolady (Chocolate Story) based in Poland.

The aroma was one of high-quality dark milk chocolate. The melt and texture were smooth, and the mouth feel became even creamier after the first bite. The chocolate tasted richer and darker than its 44% cacao content. The carefully distributed whole roasted hazelnuts added fresh nut flavor and a satisfying soft crunch.

Looking forward to tasting and featuring more Chocolate Story bars in the near future. (The taste we had of the company's Uganda bar recently caught our attention.)

*Krzysztof has background as an Information Technology (IT) professional. This is not unusual for artisan chocolate makers. Some of the best bean-to-bar chocolate we've seen has come from people with technical backgrounds, who feel as at home building and fixing machines and problem-solving as they do with sharing their chocolate story with others.

Solstice Chocolate - India 70% Dark Chocolate Anamalai bar - March 18, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Solstice Chocolate
India 70% Dark Chocolate Anamalai bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .766 oz. (21.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 106.6 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate Anamalai (India) bar was from Solstice Chocolate (Salt Lake City, UT).

This bar had a stronger fruit aroma and flavor than other bars made with cacao from Anamalai* featured this week.

The aroma of today's 70% dark bar had dried fruit (golden raisins, goji berries) and very faint spice notes. The bar broke with a hard snap; and the melt and texture were smooth.

The flavor had strong fruit notes (tangy red raspberries, passion fruit) and a faint hint of of acetic acid (fruit vinegar), followed by light black pepper and spice.

The packaging was attractive and unique in that it was also a re-sealable pouch.

*Anamalai is a cacao, coconut and nutmeg farm in southern India. 

Tiny House Chocolate Artisans - 67% India Dark Chocolate (Anamalai) bar - March 17, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Tiny House Chocolate Artisans
67% India Chocolate bar - Source: Anamalai
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .705 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 112 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's 67% Anamalai India Chocolate Artisans bar was from Tiny House Chocolate Artisans (Santa Cruz, CA).

Tiny House Chocolate was featured in an article in Good Times (Santa Cruz, CA). (Photo of founders at right is from this article.)

Gustavo Hilsdorf and Maiana Lasevicius, the artisans behind small batch Tiny House Chocolate Artisans, moved to Santa Cruz, California, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and started offering bean-to-bar chocolate in 2015. (Lasevicius's father makes chocolate in Brazil, likely providing them with some helpful background and experience.)

The duo roast and grind cacao beans from multiple origins around the globe and sell two-ingredient (cocoa beans and sugar) single bars as well as bars with carefully selected inclusions. (Look for a write-up on their Sarsaparilla bar in a few weeks.) Today's bar was made from Forastero and Criollo cacao beans grown in the Anamalai area of Southern India.

This bar had an aroma with light green, fruit and faint spice notes, and a creamy, smooth melt,  texture and finish.

The 67% bar was similar in flavor profile to other Anamalai bars featured this week (all were well-executed and balanced) only with a tiny bit more fruit acidity (which some will like) that was perhaps highlighted by a tad more sugar than the other bars. Although it certainly was balanced and did not taste too sweet.

Makers tasting notes listed on the packaging read: "Dried fruits and Brazil nuts."

Pascati - 81% Dark Idukki, Inda bar - March 16, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pascati Foods LLP

81% Dark Idukki, India bar

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.32.5 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar

Calories: 230 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

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

Today's 81% Dark Idukki, India bar was manufactured by Pascati Foods India LLP (Palgahar, Maharashtra, India).

Like its sibling, the 72% Dark Idukki bar (featured yesterday), this darker 81% version had an aroma with green, dried fruit, slight earth and very faint spice/herb notes.

The flavor* was similar to the aroma with green, fruit, green herb, and mild earthiness throughout.

This bar possessed a balanced dark flavor profile without the bitterness or sharpness you might find in other high-percentage, ultra-dark bars. It had a creamy melt and texture, smooth taste, and subtle finish.

This organic bar contained/listed three ingredients: organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar and organic cocoa butter.

*This bar contained "added natural flavours;" and details concerning these flavors were not specified.

Pascati - 72% Dark Idukki, India bar - March 15, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pascati Foods LLP

72% Dark Idukki, India bar

Good ++

Weight: 1.32.5 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar

Calories: 228 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

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

Today's 72% Dark Idukki, India bar was manufactured by Pascati Foods India LLP (Palgahar, Maharashtra, India).

This bar had an aroma with green, dried fruit, slight earth and very faint spice/herb notes.

The flavor* was similar to the aroma with green, dried fruit (golden raisins, goji berries), more green, and very mild earthiness toward the end of the tasting curve.

This bar possessed a rich, balanced dark flavor without bitterness or sharpness. It had an even melt and texture, smooth taste and subtle finish.

This relatively creamy organic bar contained/listed three ingredients: organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar and organic cocoa butter.

*This bar contained "added natural flavors;" and details concerning these flavors were not specified.

Arete Fine Chocolate - India Anamalai 58% Dark Milk Chocolate bar - March 14, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
India Anamalai 58% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Very Good
Weight: .76 oz. (21.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Arete Fine Chocolate (online order)

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

Today's India Anamalai 58% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) from Arete Fine Chocolate.

Today's four-ingredient bar contained India Anamalai cocoa beans, organic whole milk powder, organic cane sugar and organic cocoa butter. The bar broke with a well-tempered snap.

The aroma of this 58% dark milk chocolate bar was similar to the the 70% Arete India Anamalai dark bar sampled earlier this week, with pleasing chocolate and light spice notes.

However, the added milk resulted in deliciously complementary caramel/light butterscotch (aroma and flavor notes) and gave the chocolate an even creamier melt and texture.

I find well-crafted dark milk chocolate bars like this addicting. They start with high-quality dark chocolate and come from skilled makers. Makers David and Leslie also sent me a sample of their Peru milk chocolate bar with this order. (Thank you!). I'll probably be ordering both these bars again, soon.

Arete Fine Chocolate - India Jangareddygudem 70% Dark Chocolate bar - March 13, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
India Jangareddygudem 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .766 oz. (33.3 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $16.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's India Jangareddygudem 70% Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) was crafted by Arete Fine Chocolate.

This three-ingredient bar contained organic cacao, organic cane sugar and single origin Jangareddygudem cocoa butter.

The chocolate had an enjoyable, complex and subtle tasting profile with light green notes, light spice, and a trace young green coconut/coconut palm sugar. Very smooth and well executed.

Arete Fine Chocolate - India Idukki 70% bar - March 12, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
India Idukki 70% Organic Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .766 oz. (21.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's India Idukki 70% Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Arete Fine Chocolate.

Some cacao beans call for a little added cocoa butter. However, most chocolate makers producing single origin, artisan dark bars don't go the extra step of adding single origin cocoa butter (from the same origin as the cacao beans) to their bars. David and Leslie Senk, the duo behind Arete Fine Chocolate, do this.

Today's three ingredient bar contained organic cacao, organic cane sugar and single origin organic Idukki cocoa butter

This bar had a pleasing chocolate flavor with light spice and very light molasses note and smooth, even texture.

Arete Fine Chocolate - India Anamalai 70% bar - March 11, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Arete Fine Chocolate
India Anamalai 70% bar
Good +++
Weight: .766 oz. (21.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

In the last decade, many more chocolates made with cacao grown in (and flavor inclusions from), India have become more widely available.

Some of the best India single origin bars I've tasted have been made by David and Leslie Senk at Arete Fine Chocolate. Today's India Anamalai 70% Dark Chocolate bar from Arete was purchased as the Senks were relocating their chocolate factory from Milpitas, CA, to Spencer Tennessee. (Bars from both their previous and new locations are featured this week.)

Today's well-tempered Anamalai 70% dark bar broke with a hard snap and revealed a pleasing chocolate aroma with a light spice note. The melt was even, and the texture was smooth almost creamy.

Layered dark chocolate flavors gently bloomed into balanced fruit and molasses notes. This two-ingredient bar was made with cacao beans (from Anamalai* in Southern India) and organic cane sugar.

*The Anamalai hills straddle the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. The name translates into English as "Elephant Mountains;" and this hilly forested area includes a park, wildlife sanctuary—areas where you might find tigers, elephants, teak trees and waterfalls. There are also farms where cocoa, coconuts and nutmeg are grown.

Chocolats et Cacaos - Favarger - Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline bar - March 10, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolats et Cacaos - Favarger

Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline bar

Good

Weight: 1.166 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $3.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: World Market, N. Scottsdale, AZ

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

Today's imported Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline bar was from Chocolats et Cacaos Favarger (Versoix, Switzerland).

The dark chocolate had relatively robust dried fruit and slight earth flavor notes with a hint of ground, roasted hazelnut.