Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Endangered Species - Oat Milk + Dark Chocolate 55% (bar) - Mar. 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Endangered Species
ONE - Oat Milk + Dark Chocolate 55% cocoa (bar)
Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA  

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and NOPQ Theme Week, where chocolate items with flavor inclusions or origins that start with the letters N, O, P and/or Q are featured.

Today's ONE Oat Milk + Dark Chocolate 55% cocoa (bar) was from Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC (Indianapolis, IN). The company offers a wide selection of chocolate bars with flavor inclusions; and a portion of net profits from chocolate sales (10% from this bar) are set aside to help "save our wildlife."

Oats and oat milk (and coconut) have become popular non-dairy add-ins/alternatives for chocolate bars in recent years. Oats, rice and other cereal grains can also help tame or mellow certain bitter, or ultra-dark cacao flavor notes.

This relatively thick, well-tempered bar had an aroma with dark chocolate and oat cereal/granola notes. 

Their texture was uniform and relatively smooth, with a very faint, barely detectable graininess/dryness (from the finely ground oats I'm guessing).

The flavor was quite even, with dark, dense (Forastero cacao variety-like) and sweet chocolate notes (enhanced by a touch of vanilla); hints of oat cereal and malt; and a very faint, flicker of nuttiness (roasted hazelnut) in the finish. 

This bar tasted like it was made using a heavily roasted, deep, dark and bold cacao, which made it taste darker than most 55% bars usually taste. (It could easily pass as a 65% or even a 70% chocolate.) Both the bold cacao and higher sugar levels (than, say, a 70%+ chocolate) were somewhat muted by the oats. 

Ingredients: Chocolate liquor,* cane sugar,* cocoa butter,* whole grain oats, soy lecithin, vanilla.* 

Allergen information: "Contains soy. Produced on equipment that also processes products containing milk, peanuts and tree nuts."

*"Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards." The bar was also Non-GMO Project Verified. 

Rowe of Venice - Cacao Nibs superfood snack - Mar. 23, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Rowe of Venice 
Cacao Nibs superfood snack
Good ++
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 80 calories in 1/2 package 
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh to You CSA box, add-on item 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and NOPQ Theme Week, in which chocolate items are featured with flavor inclusions and origins that begin with the letters of N, O, P and/or Q.

Today's organic, Cacao Nibs raw, vegan superfood snack squares were from Rowe of Venice (Los Angeles, CA).

Cacao nibs are the essence of cacao. They are pieces of cacao bean used to make chocolate. And as long as they are high-quality (well sorted) nibs, they are great a la carte too. They add true chocolate (brownie), almost nutty, and occasionally fruity/fermented flavor--as well as a soft, crunchy texture to any chocolate item. 

This was absolutely true for today's Cacao Nibs "superfood snack." The small squares were peppered with nibs, and offered a super-sized, substantial, satisfying tasting experience. (*The fact that they were made with organic ingredients was an added bonus.)

These squares had a rich, authentic cocoa and coconut aroma, and flavor. The nibs, together with cocoa powder, created divinely true cacao/chocolate flavor with very slight earth, cream and fermented flavor notes. 

*Ground almonds added protein. And nibs, nuts and coconut all contributed some natural plant fat/oils. A little fat and protein makes chocolate snacks more filling, and more satisfying than items that are high in sugars or carbohydrate content. For me, this holds true whether I'm on a walk in the hills, or sitting around indoors.

Last, but not least, these agave nectar-sweetened snack squares weren't too sweet (thank you!).

*Ingredients: "Organic almonds, organic unsweetened shredded coconut, organic cacao powder, organic raw blue agave nectar, organic raw cacao nibs, organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, Himalayan Pink Salt. Gratitude."

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