Sirene - Pure Cacaco Pur 100% Ecuador (Costa Esmeraldas) bar - March 3, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Sirene Chocolate
Pur Chocolate Pure - 100% bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) pkg. of 2 bars
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #5 of 100% Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's 100% Cacao Pure Cacao Pur Ecuador (Costa Esmeraldas Plantation) bar from Sirene Chocolate (Victoria, B.C., Canada) had a relatively mild dark chocolate, a faint, soft green aroma and flavor, and a relatively thick, uniform, creamy melt. The ultra-dark bar had dense dark, roasted cacao flavor with an occasional light earthy/loamy note, and a well-balanced bitterness that lingered in the finish.

Like all 100% cacao offerings with a deep bass ebony color and flavor, today's bar was not for those who prefer sweet or delicate chocolate. However, if you savor and appreciate the unadulterated essence of 100% cacao, you'll want to include this Sirene bar in your personal lineup.

Koko Samoa - drinking chocolate - March 2, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Koko Samoa
Imported by American Samoa Cacao
(drinking chocolate)
Good
Weight: 8 oz. cup (88 or 86? g.) / 5.6 oz. (158 g.) in total package
Calories: 196 calories in 1 cup serving
Cost: $ N/A - gift (Thank you Eric!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Welcome to Day #4 of 100% Chocolate Theme Week.

If you travel to cacao-growing countries you may find unprocessed rounds of 100% cacao drinking chocolate that can be shaved to create a hot drinking chocolate beverage, generally be adding boiling water and stirring until the cocoa is fully dissolved. This is one way to taste the native flavor of cacao and to support local chocolate-making activity.

Generally a sweetener is added to the rustic drinking chocolate to balance any bitterness. (This is not your mild, dutched* hot cocoa, and just how rustic the chocolate flavors are will depend greatly on local conditions.)

It had authentic cacao flavor with a touch of rich earthiness/loam.

*The Dutch process involves alkalinizing cocoa to reduce acidity and bitterness found in some unprocessed cocoa powders and is frequently used in hot cocoa mixes, baking chocolate, ice cream and other chocolate offerings. Dutched cocoa powder also tends to have a richer, darker and slightly more auburn color to it.

Pascha Chocolate Co. - Black Chocolate 100% Cacao with Nibs bar - March 1, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pascha Chocolate Co.
Pascha Organic Black Chocolate 100% Cacao Dark Chocolate with Crunchy Cacao Nibs bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 255 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.97 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of 100% Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Black Chocolate 100% Cacao Dark Chocolate with Crunchy Cacao Nibs bar was from Pascha Chocolate Co. and was made from bean-to-bar, using organic cacao "at the source" in Peru.

Pascha offers a line of organic chocolate bars (chocolate chips and spreads) that are allergen free. This 100% bar was vegan, organic and "Keto Friendly," and made without gluten/wheat, dairy, soy or any added sugar or sweetener.

This chocolate had a dark roasted cocoa bean aroma with a creamy, nutty texture and flavor; a very faint tropical/lychee fruit note; crunchy cocoa nib bits; and a light lingering finish with an echo of the above flavors and textures.

French Broad Chocolate - 100% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 29, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

French Broad Chocolate
100 - 100% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 (wild guess) in 1 bar
Purchased from: COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA

Happy Leap Year* and Welcome to Day #2 of 100 percent Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's 100 - 100% Cacao bar was made by French Broad Chocolate (Ashville, NC).

This chocolate had an aroma of mixed fruits very light molasses and very faint incense, and a creamy, fudgey melt and mouthfeel. The maker's tasting notes called out wild grape and lime. I would agree with that description. The resulting chocolate had a very nicely balanced bright fruit and citrus tang to it. Not bad for chocolate with one ingredient: "cacao."

The maker's description of this bar also likens the strength of this chocolate to a "freshly pulled espresso shot." That may be true for those expecting at least some sugar in every bite of chocolate. But, for a 100% cacao bar, this was well-crafted, flavorful, bold and smooth, with a lingering, complex and well-rounded finish..and maybe a faint intermittent wisp of fruits mentioned above and green (tea).

*French Broad Chocolate works closely with partners in cacao-growing countries such as Cacao Bisiesto in Nicaragua -- Biseisto means leap year; and French Broad was celebrating their partner's founding date (on leap day, 8 years ago) with special filled chocolate frogs (putting the leap in leap year). Thank you for great work also Cacao Bisiesto!