Askinosie Chocolate - Super Dark Blend Tanzania + Ecuador 88% (bar) - June 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Askinosie Chocolate
Super Dark Blend - Tanzania + Ecuador 88% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 333 calories in 2/3 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Askinosie.com, online order

Bienvenidos (welcome) to the first day of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Super Dark Blend Tanzania + Ecuador 88% dark chocolate (bar) was made by Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, MO).

The aroma of this 88% marriage of two bold cacaos had true chocolate (faintly savory, fudge brownie), light spice (molasses, star anise, cinnamon), light, fleeting well-balanced green, and faint leather and vanilla-tobacco notes--flavors that were all present throughout the tasting experience as well, along with deep, fudge-y, satisfying dark chocolate flavor.

This flavorful ultra-dark bar might make a good pairing with a whiskey, or the basis for brassy brownies with cocoa nibs. 

Askinosie founder and CEO, Shawn Askinosie, featured the farmers in Tanzania and Ecuador (on the bar's packaging) and expressed gratitude to them for making this blend possible.

Ingredients: Mababu, Tanzania cocoa beans (Trinitario); Del Tambo, Ecuador cocoa beans (Arriba Nacional); Organic Sucanat cane sugar; cocoa butter (made in the Askinosie factory with Mababu beans); Organic vanilla bean.

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also processes milk, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat."

Honduran treats - Spiced banana licuado; Chocolate rice pudding; Mayan Coffee & Cacao cheese

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Homemade Honduran Chocolate items 

Spiced Chocolate Banana Licuado

with Honduran chocolate

Good + 

Chocolate and Cinnamon Rice Pudding

with Honduran chocolate

Good +

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

For the last day of this Central American theme week, I made Honduran rice pudding and spiced banana licuado (chilled banana smoothie with cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg) paired with Honduran chocolate. Combined with a slice of Mayan coffee and cacao cheese and sliced fruit, this was my idea of a proper dessert meal.

Mayan Coffee and Cocoa Fontal Cheese

The wedge of Go Board Mayan Coffee and Cocoa Fontal Cheese from the Schuman Cheese (Fairfield, NJ) had a faint spicy, mocha kick. And this cheese provided a great savory complement to the sweet, homemade sweet items above.

Ingredients: Fontal cheese (pasteurized cow's milk, cheese cultures, sea salt, enzymes), spices, cocoa, coffee, natural flavors, sweet potato, caramel color. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk...Manufactured in a facility that also processes tree nuts and shares equipment with an egg ingredient."