Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Elements Truffles - Maple Toffee Crunch infused with Moringa - April 16, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles
Maple Toffee Crunch infused with Moringa (bar)
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1 serving (per label)
Cost: $3.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Plant and Herb Theme Week.

Maple Toffee Crunch infused with Moringa from Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ)

The aroma was mild and pleasant, as was the tasting experience. The unwrapped bar displayed an intriguing constellation of inclusion bits on the back side.

This 70% cacao bar was made from cacao sourced from Ecuador and had a creamy melt. (In very cold weather, you might notice the melt is slightly waxy, as the number one ingredient is cocoa butter—not a bad thing.) The flavors were mild (muted somewhat by the cocoa butter).

As with other bars from this same company, it felt very balanced and relaxing. Their bars are slightly lower in cocoa solids (that contain the stimulant portion of cacao) than some other bars and lack refined sugar. (Bars are, instead, lightly sweetened with honey and, in today's case, also with a bit of organic maple syrup.) The organic powdered moringa* was very subtle, and would have been hard to pick out in a blind taste test.

This Ayurveda-inspired chocolate made me feel more serene than hyped up. I feel I could meditate or enjoy a peaceful conversation or walk after this company's chocolate. Again, a good thing, in a world that can often feel too hectic or busy.

*Moringa (Moringa oleifera) comes from the Moringa tree native to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and is cultivated in Asia and Africa. Moringa has been used for medicinal purposes. (It has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and other properties.) The pods, seeds, leaves and roots are all edible.

Only Child Chocolate - Ginger and Rosemary Walk into a Bar - Apr. 15, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Only Child Chocolate Co.
Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Plants and Herbs Theme Week.

Today's Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar) was from Only Child Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). Company founder, Yana, grew up as an only child in Moscow. And, via Chicago, eventually made her way to Portland. After pastry-making and bakery experience, she started her own chocolate company.

The title of today's bar was a clever pun. (It's tax day in the U.S., and a bit of humor and a spring hike in the green hills brightened this day.) And how did this milk chocolate bar with rosemary and candied ginger taste?

This thick, sweet milk chocolate bar had a minty, spicy aroma, and smooth, creamy melt.

The two inclusions played nicely together. The balanced, subtle and natural rosemary flavor was fun. And the ginger added warmth and a light spiciness without being overwhelming.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...