Fazer Confectionery Ltd. - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar - Feb. 13, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery Ltd.
Nordi - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.12 oz. (32 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nordi - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar was from Fazer Confectionery Ltd. (Ventaa, Finland).

This 70% dark chocolate bar had a pleasant, smooth, sweet milk chocolate aroma and flavor with nutty* and vanilla notes. The texture was rich, thick and smooth.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, reduced fat cocoa powder, natural vanilla flavor. *This bar did not contain nuts.

Fazer Confectionery Ltd. - Nordi Raspberry and Tangy Licorice Dark Chocolate bar - Feb. 12, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery Ltd.
Nordi Raspberry and Tangy Licorice Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.12 oz. (32 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nordi Raspberry and Tangy Licorice Chocolate bar was from Fazer Confectionery Ltd. (Ventaa, Finland).

This bar offered a fun blend of slightly tart and refreshing sweet raspberry and piquant licorice—incorporated into dark chocolate (no cacao percentage listed).

Northern Europeans tend to take their licorice more seriously than we do. Higher-end licorice candy there is, I would argue, more flavorful and better tasting than our corn-syrup laden offerings. So, it's not a surprise to see this flavor fusion in a bar from Finland. I have yet to see this blend in this U.S.

Fazer Confecionery - Nordi Hazelnut & Campsite Coffee Naturally Flavored (bar) - Feb. 11, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery
Nordi - Hazelnut and Campsite Coffee Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good
Weight: 1.675 oz. (47.5 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nordi Hazelnut and Campside Coffee Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate bar was from Fazer Confectionery (Ventaa, Finland).

The bar had an authentic sweetened coffee (cafe mocha hazelnut latte) aroma and flavor that suffused the dark chocolate base. Embedded bits of hazelnuts added crunch and a faint, nutty flavor that complemented the chocolate, which also had a light, lingering coffee finish.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, reduced fat cocoa powder, natural vanilla flavor), Hazelnuts, Natural Coffee Flavor. 

Fazer Confectionery - Sea Buckthorn and Salty Caramel Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 10, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery
Nordi - Sea Buckthorn and Salty Caramel Chocolate (bar)
Good
Weight: 1.12 oz. (32 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

This Sea Buckthorn and Salty Caramel bar was from Fazer Confectionery (Ventaa, Finland). Fazer is a large company with a big brand portfolio, and a substantial bakery, confectionery and industrial export business.

The first sensory input that registered with me when I bit into this bar was an authentic sea buckthorn berry aroma and flavor. Many folks outside of northern Europe may not be familiar with these bright orange-yellow edible berries that grow on bushes.*

The berries have a mild sweetness and slight astringency and are high in Vitamin C. I found them closer to milder varieties of gooseberries or goji berries than to berries we see in the U.S. (e.g. strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or other berries we use for eating or in pies and jams). I hope to try these festively orange berries, dried or fresh, in the future.

Small caramel/toffee chips added sweetness to this chocolate.

*Also known as seaberries, sea buckthorn berries (and other parts of the plant) also have been used historically across northern Europe for medicinal purposes. 

Note: photos have been delayed this week. The image of  kayak on the water (on the package surrounding today's bar) was particularly relevant as this bar was enjoyed the day after an unusually windy and high tide day near the San Francisco Bay where I live, to the delight of windsurfers and kite surfers around the bay. Water levels were high enough to support small sailboats as well as canoes and kayaks. Chocolate is a wonderful outdoor snack.

Helsinki Heaven - ChocOat - Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar - Feb. 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

ChocOat - Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar
(manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY)
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 137 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Oats Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Finland Theme Week.

Today's ChocOat Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY (Helsinki, Finland).

The bar had a fruity blueberry and roasted chocolate aroma and even, authentic flavors and texture.  

Helsinki Heaven - ChocOat Plain Original Oat Milk Chocolate bar - Feb. 7, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

ChocOat - Plain Original Oat Milk Chocolate bar
(manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY)
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 138 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Oats Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Finland Theme Week.

Today's ChocOat Plain Original Oat Milk Milk Chocolate bar was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY (Helsinki, Finland).

This single serving oat milk in this bar will offer a nice alternative to those who are vegan or who may want to avoid dairy products. It had a smooth, even chocolate taste and uniform texture and was not too sweet (thank you!).

The chocolate had a roasted (almost burnt) aroma, and a slightly waxier melt than a dark milk chocolate made with dairy might have. It was also eaten on a cold, winter morning, which can create a shift in perceived texture and mouthfeel with many chocolate bars. (Slowly bringing bars closer to room temperature (e.g. from 50 or 60 degrees F. to 68 or 70 degrees F.) before tasting generally softens the chocolate a bit and leads to more accessible aroma and flavors as well.)

Straw Propeller - Almond Cacao Crunch -- oats, almonds, cacao nibs - Feb. 6, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods, Inc. (distributed by)
Almond Cacao Crunch
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.6 oz. (74 g.) in 1 cup
Calories: 240 calories in 1 cup
Cost: $3.25 for 1 cup
Purchased from: The Store House, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Almond Cacao Crunch was distributed by Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods, Inc. (Redmond, OR).

Made with Organic, gluten free oats, organic coconut sugar, organic almonds, organic cacao nibs and a smidge of sea salt, this oatmeal provided a satisfying warm breakfast.

I really liked that this was not too sweet (thank you!). Cacao nibs added natural essential chocolate flavor—without the added sugar (usually present when dark chocolate is added). And almonds added a bit of nutty flavor and protein.

Straw Propeller offers a variety of oatmeal flavors, including Chocolate Strawberry (look for that to be featured soon); Banana Pancakes; Hemp and Honey; and Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, as well as seasonal flavors like Oh My, Pumpkin Pie. (They company also offers grain-free options.)

Note: Photos are delayed for this month's entries.