Next by Nature - Dark Chocolate Blueberries - May 31, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Next by Nature 

Dark Chocolate Blueberries 

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package

Calories: 380 calories in 1 package

Cost: $5.10 for 1 package ($6.00 less member discount)

Purchased from: Land's End Gift Shop, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, featuring a variety of chocolate and fruit flavor blends.

Today's Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Blueberries were produced by Tropical Valley Foods (Plattsburgh, NY).

These ebony-colored pearls had a dark milk chocolate, hot cocoa, and faint/diffuse fruit aroma. I enjoyed the darker 58% dark chocolate and slightly "darker" berry (blueberry) flavor choices with this offering. The pieces may still have been sweet--by single origin dark bar standards--but had richer, deeper flavors than many chocolate covered items.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (unsweetened cocoa liquor processed with alkali; sugar; cocoa butter; cocoa powder; milk fat; non-GMO soy lecithin (an emulsifier); vanilla extract), dried blueberries (cultivated blueberries, cane sugar, sunflower oil), dextrin (non-GMO), confectioners glaze (regular lac resin)

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy."

Crunchies Natural Foods - Freeze-Dried Bananas in Milk Chocolate - May 30, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Distributed by Crunchies Natural Food Company, LLC

Freeze-Dried Bananas in Milk Chocolate

Good +

Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) in total package

Calories: 280 calories in 2 servings

Cost: $3.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Freeze-Dried Bananas in Milk Chocolate were distributed by Crunchies Natural Food Company, LLC (Calabasas, CA).

These glossy, milk chocolate covered pieces had an aroma with mild milk chocolate and faint fruit (banana milkshake) notes.

The authentic, light (almost airy) and crunchy banana slices that lay at the center of these chocolate confections were a cause for celebration. The company offers a line of crunchy freeze-dried fruits, including some that are chocolate-coated (strawberry, banana and blueberry).

The smooth creamy and fairly sweet milk chocolate (coating) was the metaphorical "icing on the cake." These pieces also had an addictive snack quality (real milk chocolate with whole milk powder will do that to me sometimes). So if you're overly hungry or craving something sweet, you may eat more than you planned.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), natural vanilla extract), freeze-dried banana, confectioners glaze, gum arabic.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy" "May contain eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat"

Exquisito Chocolates - Apeeling Chocolate (Plantain Clusters) - May 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates
"Apeeling Chocolate" - Chocolate Covered Plantain Clusters
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) / 6.88 oz. (195 g.) in total package
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) serving/piece
Cost: $12.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Exquisito Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, featuring a variety of chocolate and fruit items. 

Today's "Apeeling Chocolate" Chocolate Covered Plantain Clusters were from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL).

The package of generously-sized, bark-like pieces had an aroma of rich milk chocolate and faint plantain/banana chips. The smooth and flavorful dark milk chocolate paired well with the embedded crunchy pieces of authentic plantain (chips).

Maker's description: "...crispy milk chocolate-covered plantain chips which bring the perfect balance of Miami sweet and salty."

Ingredients: "Cacao, cocoa butter, unrefined cane sugar, milk, plantain. Contains cow's milk. Processed in a facility that also processes milk, peanuts, tree nuts and wheat."

Miette et Chocolat - Third Culture Ube Bar With Coconut - May 28, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Miette et Chocolat

Third Culture Ube Bar With Coconut 

Good +

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) / (total weight not listed on packaging)

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bar

Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Third Culture, Berkeley, CA

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

Today's Third Culture Ube Bar with Coconut was from French patisserie and chocolate shop Miette et Chocolat (Aurora, CO). 

As one might expect from the name (and the subtle, beautiful purple color), this bar had an aroma with chocolate, coconut and fruit (ube, sweet purple yam and sweet black/blue berry) notes.

Ube, a starchy tuber that looks like a purple yam or sweet potato, is popular in Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Hawaii, California and elsewhere as a dessert (Ube Halaya) and ice cream flavor, often paired with coconut or coconut milk. (Ube is also the name of the African pear, a purple fruit in West Africa.*)

I'm guessing today's bar was an homage to beautifully bright purple-pink ube glazed and coconut sprinkled (gluten-free) doughnuts I thought I spotted at Third Culture in Berkeley, CA---a bakery known in the San Francisco Bay Area for their mochi muffins. 

The percentage of cocoa solids in this bar may have been relatively low; but the thick and creamy, almost fluffy, melt and texture was likely due to a generous amount of cocoa butter. It had the mouthfeel and sweetness level of a white chocolate. (I'm guessing here as there was no detailed ingredients list on the packaging.)

Flavors detected were similar to the aroma notes mentioned above. These flavors included: cocoa butter, sugar, purple sweet potato, very faint tropical fruit and coconut--and a milky, plant-based (coconut milk) chocolate.

This was a fun bar to try. (I pair this Ube bar with an unflavored dark chocolate--a single origin filled dark chocolate from Exquisito Chocolates.)

Ingredients: (Not listed on package)

Allergen-related information: (None listed on package) Contained coconut.

*The ube tuber (Dioscorea alata) here is not the same species as the African Pear aka Safou fruit (Dacryodes edulis) (an edible drupe) that grows in West Africa and also has a purple (skin) color. In Nigeria it is called "ube."

TCHO - Organic, fair trade "Born Fruity" (filled bar) - May 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

TCHO 
Organic "Born Fruity" (filled bar)
Good ++
Weight: .83 oz. (23 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 3 bars
Calories: 120 calories in 1 small bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample from TCHO (from a factory tour; thank you Toni, Alana, Brad)
Purchased from: N/A - sample from TCHO

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, featuring chocolates with fruit inclusions as well as chocolate(s) with naturally occurring fruit flavors. 

Today's Organic "Born Fruity" bar was created by TCHO Ventures Inc. (Berkeley, CA), using fair trade certified cacao from Peru.

This package of three filled bars was part of a line of new "fair and square" bars with new packaging. Each square package that once housed 1 larger square bar, is now occupied by three, individually wrapped, rectangular bars. The bars are made with, you guessed it, fair trade certified cacao.

The aroma and flavor of this bold, dense dark chocolate (72% cacao external shell) had a slight earthiness, that gave it a slightly darker taste. 

The inside filling (just a little softer than the outer dark shell) was, by contrast, slightly sweeter, brighter, fruitier (sweet red berry, hibiscus), and a bit "juicier"-- with a very faint hint of coconut. 

I liked the subtle flavor shifts, and not having an ultra-sweet filling (or shell). These qualities may even cue people to slow down and consume this chocolate more mindfully. 

I enjoyed the layered flavors, that mirrored natural cacao notes, and the balanced hint of fruit acidity amidst deep cocoa taste. It was one of my favorite TCHO filled bars from the company's new, re-engineered, organic, all plant-based family.

Maker's tasting notes: "From Peru. The birthplace of cacao. Deep fruit notes; sweet and crisp finish."

Ingredients: Organic and fair trade certified cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic and fair trade certified cacao butter, organic coconut oil, organic sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: "May contain soy, milk, and other tree nuts."

Dick Taylor - Microbatch No. 42 - 70% Dark Chocolate Black Currant & Orange (bar) - May 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Microbatch No. 42 - 70% Dark Chocolate Black Currant and Orange
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Dick Taylor, online order 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and  Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Microbatch No. 42 - 70% Dark Chocolate Black Currant and Orange bar was created by Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (Eureka, CA).

Tasting this bar was a refreshing deep dive into the chocolate flavor pool. The opposite of a bland, chocolate and sugar bar. It began with the aroma. This 70% cacao dark chocolate had a rich aroma of dried fruit (prunes, dark berries with faint citrus) notes.

The dark chocolate (tasted slightly darker than 70% cacao and) had rich fruity dark chocolate, sweet-tart, dried dark berry/currant and (balanced, undulating, authentic, fresh orange) citrus tones. 

These notes were amplified by (or at least harmonized with) the naturally occurring cacao flavors in the Madagascar and Belize cacao blend used to make the chocolate. (Madagascar cacao is known for berry and citrus notes.)

The best chocolate and fruit blends I've tasted use fruits that complement naturally occurring cacao notes, high-quality, often single origin cacao beans, and high-end, specialty fruit. The quality of the "...generous sprinkling of tart, chewy black currants from Washington" (and orange essential oil) included in this four-ingredient bar were exceptional. 

The wake-me-up, tart sweet chocolate flavors lingered a bit into a pleasing finish.

If there is a heaven where we're still allowed to experience earthly pleasures (like great chocolate), I'm hoping today's Dick Taylor bar (and other bars from this maker) will be on the menu. (Note: If you like the bolder fruit flavors in this bar, do try the Dick Taylor Black Fig bar as well.)

Sad to say, this small batch (monthly microbatch flavor) chocolate bar is already sold out. I'm hoping it will return soon.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic black currant, organic orange essential oil.

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

Exquisito Chocolates - Guava chocolate - May 25, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates

Guava (filled chocolate)

Good +

Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) (estimate) in 6-piece assortment box

Calories: 77 calories (estimate) in 1 piece

Cost: $21.00 for a 6-piece assortment box 

Purchased from: Exquisito Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week. 

Today's Guava chocolate was from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL). It was one flavor in a 6-piece Artisan Collection assortment box.

The filling in this festively-painted (red) dark chocolate was smooth, almost velvety. This flavorful dark chocolate center was infused with fully incorporated fruit--Florida-grown guava--that contributed a very subtle, diffuse bright fruitiness.

Guavas likely originated in Central and South America--where cacao trees first developed. Today, guava fruit is commercially grown primarily in Florida, Hawaii and California in the U.S. 

I'm hoping to (one day) enjoy guavas from the two small guava trees in my back yard in Northern California. 

In the meantime, I enjoyed this chocolate and the highly edible fuschia and pale pink flowers on my pineapple guava species. (Most other guava flowers are white.) Pineapple guava flowers have a mild, sweet tropical fruit punch flavor. 

Ingredients: (Not listed on box)

Allergen-related information: (Not listed on box)

Exquisito Chocolates - 73% Gettin' Nibby Wit It (bar) - May 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates 

73% Gettin' Nibby Wit It (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Exquisito Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week, featuring chocolates with sea salt and/or other maritime-related items.

Today's 73% Gettin' Nibby Wit It (bar) was from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL).

The dark bar was wrapped in festive maritime packaging--white paper outer wrapper with "cartoon" crabs with claws raised, in a flamenco-style, castanet-wielding dance pose. I've seen crabs doing this--maybe dancing, but usually when defending themselves against an octopus or other potential predators.) 

This bar had a very subtle dark chocolate aroma, but nice textural contrast between the smooth dark chocolate and the high-quality, crunchy, slightly nutty, cocoa nibs.

Like the last few Exquisito bars, this bar also paired with with sea salted items (roasted almonds, tamari, nori), and had a very faint "perfume" finish. 

Ingredients: Cacao beans, unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed on package; check website.)

Exquisito Chocolates - Produits Des Iles SA, Haiti 73% bar - May 23, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates
73% Haiti Organic - Produits Des Iles SA (Haiti) bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Exquisito Chocolates, online order 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week, involving for the most part chocolates with varying forms of sea salt, and sometimes other marine-related elements.

Today's 73% Haiti Organic Produits Des Iles SA (bar) was from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL). The company offers a range of bars and confections and makes bean-to-bar, and single origin chocolate.

This bar was wrapped in a maritime-themed red paper with navy (boat) anchors. The packaging relates to an origin story that is close to the sea. The cacao was grown on a Caribbean Sea island nation (Haiti) and was made--not that far away by chocolate making standards--in southern Florida, close to the Atlantic Ocean/Biscayne Bay.*

The subtle aroma of this bar was one of dark, sweet chocolate. The melt was even and texture was smooth. The taste was uniform with balanced dark flavor. The cacao used to make this bar was from Produits des Iles SA (PISA), a Haiti food products company that supplies cacao to several specialty chocolate makers.

I ate this bar with a Japanese style (savory) "breakfast" that included a small side dish of roasted almonds, nori (seaweed) and sea salt. I found this savory, sea-related pairing brought out a subtle fruitiness in the dark chocolate that was not noticeable when the dark chocolate was tasted alone. (When tasted alone, the chocolate had a faint earth note, but not bright, diffuse sweet-tart fruit--that arguably was a sweet-salt contrast effect.)

Ingredients: Cacao beans, unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on package.)

*Arguably, Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL) is one of the closest U.S. bean-to-bar chocolate makers to Caribbean cacao growing nations.

Exquisito Chocolates - "Don't Be Salty" 73% Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt (bar) - May 22, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates
"Don't Be Salty" - 73% Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Exquisito Chocolates, online order 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week.

Today's "Don't Be Salty" 73% Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt (bar) was from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL). The company offers a range of bars and confections and makes bean-to-bar, and single origin chocolate.

Wrapped in white paper with "cartoon" black mustaches, this chocolate had a fun look. It was made in Miami--an important port city in the southeastern U.S. where the Miami River empties into Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Today's salt-forward bar had a relatively uniform sweet, dark chocolate aroma with very faint salt caramel notes. A generous sprinkle of sea salt resulted in a fairly salty dark chocolate flavor, that also balanced the sweetness. 

Ingredients: Cacao beans, unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter, sea salt

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on package.)

Exquisito Chocolates - Sea Salt Caramels - May 21, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates
Sea Salt Caramels
Good + 
Weight: .975 oz. (27.5 g.) / 3.9 oz. (110 g.) (estimate) in total box of 8 caramels
Calories: 151 calories (estimate) in 2 caramels
Cost: $20.00 for 1 box of 8 caramels
Purchased from: Exquisito Chocolates, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week.

Today's Sea Salt Caramels were from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL). The company offers a range of bars and confections and makes bean-to-bar, and single origin, "farm to table" chocolates.

I was a bit of a sugar hunter when young. (Less so now.) Trips to the beach included childhood memories of sea salted confections--primarily a wonderful range of salt water taffy flavors, and salt caramels. 

Today's sea salt caramels had an aroma with faint, sweet chocolate and caramel notes.

The caramel filling had a creamy melt and an almost fluffy soft, slightly flowing caramel chew, and very sweet caramel taste. 

The soft, velvety sweet caramel was enrobed in 73% cacao dark chocolate; and this dark chocolate added richness and depth. Tiny crystals of sea salt helped provide balance and contrast to the sweetness.

Ingredients: (Information taken from Exquisito website) "Cacao, unrefined cane sugar, cocoa butter, cream, butter, evaporated milk, glucose." 

Allergen-related information: (Information from Exquisito website) "Contains cow's milk. Processed in a facility that also processes milk, peanuts, tree nuts and wheat."

TCHO - Deep, Dark and Salty (bar) Monterey Bay Seaweed Big Sur Sea Salt - May 20, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

TCHO Ventures, Inc.
Deep, Dark and Salty (bar) with Monterey Bay Seaweed, Big Sur Sea Salt
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample from TCHO
Purchased from: N/A - sample from TCHO (thank you Alana?)

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week.

Today's Deep, Dark and Salty Monterey Bay Seaweed + Big Sur Sea Salt was from TCHO Ventures, Inc. (Berkeley, CA). 

This 74% cacao bar, made in Berkeley, was a collaboration between TCHO Chief Chocolate Officer, Brad Kintzer, and Monterey Bay Aquarium's Executive Chef, Matthew Beaudin.*

As advertised, this umami** bar had a "deep, dark" chocolate aroma. (Disclosure: I really enjoy trying well-crafted, savory chocolate blends. People who prefer sweeter, milder chocolates may not be as adventurous.)

Texture: The chocolate had a relatively thick, even melt at room temperature (67 degrees F./19.4 degrees C.) and a slightly crunchy texture (similar to very small pieces of crisped rice--I'm assuming from the seaweed). 

Flavor: A relatively uniform, bold, base 74% cacao chocolate with densely dark and slightly earthy (clay) flavor with micro upticks in salt. There was also a faint fleeting brine-soaked and dried olive note. The salty flavors were balanced (detectable, but not too-heavy handed).

I enjoyed tasting this dark bar with sea-inspired flavors from the California (Pacific Ocean) coast.

TCHO tasting notes/description: "...dark chocolate with locally sourced sea lettuce from Monterey Bay Seaweeds and sea salt from Big Sur Salts."

Ingredients: Organic and fair trade cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic and fair trade cocoa butter, dried seaweed, sea salt, soy lecithin, organic vanilla beans.

Allergen-related information: "May contain milk and tree nuts. Seaweed used in this product may contain shellfish from ocean water."

*"10% of sales (of this bar) benefit the Monterey Bay Aquarium"

**Umami, a Japanese word--sometimes called the fifth sense of taste (in addition to sweet, salty, bitter, sour)--refers to savory, glutamate-rich foods including: fish, bacon, meat broths, seaweeds, certain mushrooms, tomatoes, cheeses, olives and other fermented foods.

Bigger, bolder dark chocolates (made using Forastero, Amelonado and some Trinitario cacao varieties) can pair well with salt, smoked salt, salted nuts/nut butters and seed butters (sesame, tahini), bacon, savory seasonings/herbs, and even marine items (seaweeds, smoked/salted dried fish). 

At the other end of the cacao spectrum would be the delicate fruity/floral heritage cacaos (e.g. Criollo), which I tend not to want to pair with salt/savory items, as I enjoy savoring and being able to detect these lighter, nuanced notes.

Dick Taylor - Single Origin Milk Chocolate Fish with Fleur de Sel - May 19, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Single Origin Milk Chocolate Fish with Fleur de Sel - 55% Brazil Milk Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (12.75 g.) / 1.8 oz. (25.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 142 calories (estimate) in 2 fish
Cost: $10.00 for 1 package of 4 dark chocolate fish
Purchased from: Dick Taylor, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week.

Today's catch: Single Origin Milk Chocolate Fish with Fleur de Sel from Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate were handcrafted in Eureka, California.

Aroma notes for these 55% milk chocolate fish included: bold dark chocolate and faint salty chocolate and vanilla cookie.

The balanced, bold, very slightly earthy, creamy 55% cacao dark chocolate had a thick rich melt--and tasted refreshingly un-sweet for even a darker milk bar. A judicious amount of vanilla bean and a light sprinkle of sea salt (flecks of fleur de sel on the back of the fish) rounded out the cacao flavor(s).

The maker's description of today's sea-inspired chocolate (below) mentions their proximity to the Pacific Ocean in Northern California.

"Using our Single Origin 55% Milk Chocolate made with organic A2/A2 whole milk by Alexandre Family Farm, we have created a delicious Chocolate Fish confection in honor of our coastal home on the Humboldt Bay. Each fish has been delicately topped with a light sprinkling of Fleur de Sel."

Ingredients: Organic cacao (cocoa solids 55% minimum), Organic cane sugar, Organic A2/A2 whole milk powder, Organic cocoa butter, Fleur de Sel, Organic vanilla bean

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

*Dick Taylor's operation in Eureka is close to the Pacific Ocean in northern California.

Dick Taylor - 72% Belize Dark Chocolate Fish with Fleur de Sel - May 18, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
72% Belize Dark Chocolate Fish with Fleur de Sel
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (12.75 g.) / 1.8 oz. (25.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 2 fish
Cost: $10.00 for 1 package of 4 dark chocolate fish
Purchased from: Dick Taylor, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week.

Today's catch: 72% Belize Dark Chocolate with Fleur de Sel fish-shaped chocolates from Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate were handcrafted in Eureka, California.

Aroma notes for these tasty "fish" included: bold dark chocolate, faint molasses/maple syrup, and very faint tart green herb (oxalis, sorrel), salty chocolate cookie, and floral.

Unlike the last (ocean-caught) salmon fish I tasted, these high-end dark chocolate novelty (species unknown) fish broke with a well-tempered snap. 

The taste was a blend of balanced bold chocolate with faint diffuse fruit (citrus), molasses and barely there green botanical notes. The Belize dark chocolate tasted darker than 72% cacao (closer to 76% - 80% cacao) and was refreshingly un-sweet.

A judicious sprinkle of sea salt (flecks of fleur de sel on the back of the fish) rounded out the flavors. 

The maker's description of today's marine-inspired chocolate (below) reveals their close connection to the sea.*

"Our Single Origin Chocolate Fish are made in celebration of our coastal home on the historic Humboldt Bay. 72% Belize chocolate is topped with a light sprinkling of Fleur De Sel sea salt, creating the perfect blend of rich dark chocolate and the subtle sharpness of the salty sea air."

Ingredients: Organic cacao (Cacao solids 72% minimum), Organic cane sugar, sea salt

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

*Dick Taylor's multi-talented founders (Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor) have impressive skills that include boat building and being musicians.

Simply Super Organic Superfoods - Organic Cacao Nibs - May 17, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Simply Super Organic Superfoods
Organic Cacao Nibs
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package 
Calories: 180 calories in 3 Tablespoons (28 g.)
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and the Sea Theme Week. Ahoy! The Research Vessel "Chocolate Banquet" is now underway with some nuts, nibs and galley-assembled cacao treasures.

Today's Simply Super Organic Superfoods, Organic Cacao Nibs were distributed by OMG! Food Company LLC (Rancho Dominguez, CA).

I tried some of these organic cacao nibs, by themselves, first. 

Most, however, were used to make four small dark chocolate sea stars (one with cacao nibs, two with nibs and sea salt, one with nibs and kelp seasoning*), to kick off Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week. These chocolates were floating on a frozen "sea" of Tillamook Salted Caramel Frozen Custard, topped with a trail of roasted nut flotsam and jetsam.

First, the nibs...

These nibs had a complex, intriguing aroma and flavor with sweet tree sap (maple), green (tea), coffee, vaguely fruit-floral (light citrus, orange blossom) and chocolate (brownie) notes. The nibs had a satisfying crunchy texture.

The chocolate sea stars that incorporated these nibs as well as some sea salt (and one with kelp seasoning and sea salt) were enjoyable as well.

Ingredients for Cacao Nibs: Organic cacao nibs

Allergen-related information: (None listed on package.)

*Barnacle Foods Alaskan "Everything" Kelp Seasoning blend ingredients: Onion, garlic,  sesame seed, Alaskan kelp, and Kosher salt, poppy seed. 

Truffettes de France - Keto Bites With Cocoa Nibs - May 16, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Truffettes de France
Keto Bites With Cocoa Nibs
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.58 oz. (45 g.) / 6.35 oz. (180 g.) in total box of 4 bags

Calories: 240 calories for 1 bag (9 pieces)

Cost: $5.99 for 1 box

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week, featuring chocolate items with nuts and/or cocoa nibs.

Today's Truffettes de France Keto Bites With Cocoa Nibs were a product of Canada and were imported by ChocMod USA (Fort Lee, NJ). 

These cocoa-dusted truffles had a true dark chocolate (fudge brownie) aroma.

The texture was a pleasing contrast: a buttercream melt and crunchy cocoa nibs. The smooth, bitter-sweet dark chocolate flavor was refreshingly un-sweet and had a faintly earthy finish.

Ingredients: Unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, vegetable oil (coconut oil, mixed tocopherols), dietary fiber (inulin), erythritol, cocoa nibs, cocoa powder processed with alkali, natural flavor, soy lecithin, stevia leaf extract, milk (less than 1 percent of milk).

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Soy and Milk. May contain: Tree nuts."

Betterland Foods, Inc. - Woo bar - May 15, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Betterland Foods, Inc. 

Woo bar

Good +

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar

Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $ N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Don and Wendy!)

Purchased from: N/A - gift

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's "Woo" bar was manufactured for and distributed by Betterland Foods, Inc. (Napa, CA). The company was founded in 2021 by Lizanne Falsetto (creator of thinkThin bars).

This bar's aroma had slightly sweet, slightly salty, subtle cocoa and caramel candy bar, nut and faint plant protein notes.

This chocolate-covered bar had a caramel-y, light nougat-y and nutty, sweet center with a soft chew. Flavor notes included: light caramel, a maple-like sweetness, vanilla, subtle chocolate and nuts.

The limited edition Woo bar was formulated to have "half the sugar and 2x the protein" (of a more traditional, popular candy bar). The bar had 22 total carbs. (8 grams fiber, 9 grams of sugar(s)). The 8 grams of protein was achieved using peanuts and "cow-free whey protein" (Perfect Day's "animal-free dairy").* 

Normally I prefer chocolates with a shorter ingredient list. But I also appreciated my teeth feeling slightly less sugar-coated after eating this Woo bar than after sampling other candy bar-like confections. Any chocolate (or nuanced cacao flavors) were not distinguishable in this bar, relegating the chocolate to a pleasant background flavor. Although there was added cocoa butter in the filling and the chocolate coating (which is not always the case with candy bars).

The Woo bar was comparable to a candy bar in taste, but had a more appealing nutritional story.

Ingredients: Caramel (inulin, soluble corn fiber, agave syrup, cocoa butter, caramel color, sunflower lecithin, tapioca starch, natural flavors, gum arabic, salt, beta carotene), chocolate (cane sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, vanilla powder), peanuts, cow-free whey protein, agave syrup, rice syrup solids, glycerine, water, agave inulin, cocoa butter, peanut oil, sunflower oil, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, guar gum, natural flavor, vanilla extract.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, peanuts. Manufactured in a facility that also processes other tree nuts, soy, egg, peanuts, milk."

*Perfect Day is a food technology startup, based in Berkeley, CA. The company uses fungi to make protein that is "molecularly identical" to (whey) protein found in cow's milk and is part of a new wave of companies creating lab-grown proteins.

The fermented alternative protein Perfect Day produces has a much lower carbon footprint than whey produced from a traditional dairy farm; and the end product can be used to make "cow-free" dairy products like cheese, yogurt or ice cream. However, while it does not contain lactose (the sugar in dairy milk that can upset stomachs), it may not be suitable for those with a sensitivity to whey protein (one of two types of protein found in cow's milk).

NibMor - Organic Dark Chocolate Extreme with cacao nibs - May 12, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

NibMor
Organic Dark Chocolate Extreme with cacao nibs
Good +
Weight: .918 oz. (26 g.) / 3.55 oz. (101 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $4.99 (sale) for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate Extreme (80% cacao) with cacao nibs snack size pieces were manufactured for Nib Mor, Inc. (Kennebunk, ME).

These certified gluten free, organic, "snack size" (small rectangular bar-shaped) pieces were made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao.

These 80% cacao chocolates (tiny, rectangular "bars") had a dark chocolate aroma and flavor (dark chocolate cake, mousse), with a very, very faint mint note. Smooth texture was accented with crunchy cacao nibs (bits of cacao beans). 

Note: These smaller pieces were similar to a large NibMor 80% cacao bar, but these did not contain sea salt.

Ingredients: *Organic chocolate liquor, *organic cane sugar, *organic cacao butter, organic cacao nibs, organic soy lecithin (an emulsifier), organic vanilla.

*Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa, "helping to protect the environment and farm families."

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk (and) soy."

Oodaalolly - Roasted Cacao Nibs (Philippines) - May 13, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Oodaalolly Chocolate
Roasted Cacao Nibs - Philippines
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 8.81 oz. (250 g.) in total package
Calories: 90 calories in 1.5 TB (1/2 serving)
Cost: $14.00 (sale) for 1 package 
Purchased from: Oodaalolly, LLC, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week, featuring items with chocolate and nuts, cacao nibs and/or combinations of these elements.

Today's Oodaalolly Roasted Cacao Nibs were a product of the Philippines, but roasted and packaged by Oodaalolly, LLC (El Cerrito, CA) for sale in the U.S. 

Oodaalolly founder and chocolate maker, Hernan Lauber, also offers a line of chocolates (bars) that feature cacao from the Philippines (and sometimes flavor inclusions from this island nation as well). We paired these nibs with a small bowl of pili nuts, but they also would have worked in oatmeal, ice cream, infused in whiskey, tea or coffee, or in a spice blend/rub.

Today's single origin nibs (pieces of Trinitario* variety of cacao beans) were from Davao (in the southern Philippines).

Aroma and flavor notes for these nibs included: cacao, slightly green (seed, nut), faint earth, roasted nut, roasted coffee, toast, and chocolate cookie notes. (There may have been a very faint, slightly acidic, diffuse fruit in this taste bouquet.)

The nibs had uniform, balanced, roasted cacao flavor(s), while retaining the fairly complex essence of the cacao bean(s). They were well-suited to both sweet and savory applications.

Ingredients: Cacao nibs (Theobroma cacao)

Allergen-related information: "Non-GMO, gluten free, vegan"

*Trinitario variety cacao often has some of the true chocolate-y flavors often associated with bolder (forastero) varieties, but is less subtle than some milder heritage (criollo) varieties. 

Donkey Balls - Tiny Balls - chocolate covered Macnuts - May 12, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Donkey Balls

Tiny Balls - Chocolate Covered Macnuts

Good + 

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226.8 g.) in total package

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving

Cost: $6.99 (estimate) paid for 1 package

Purchased from: (retail shop in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)

Aloha and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Tiny Balls Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts (Macnuts) were packaged by KRM Distributors, LLC (Kailua-Kona, HI). 

The "Keoki's Donkey" retail store on the Big Island of Hawaii offered a variety of packaged coffees, chocolate-covered nuts with risque names, and other items (honey, teas) with local ties. The chocolates featured an image of a cartoon donkey named Keoki wearing a Hawiian shirt.

The aroma for these round balls included chocolate-y, nutty and malty notes. A subtle hint of vanilla in the milk chocolate added a faint, warm hot cocoa note.

At the core of each ball lay a whole, softly crunchy, macadamia nut. The nut center was generously enrobed in a smooth, relatively firm--and what, happily, tasted like a slightly higher percent cacao--milk chocolate coating. 

These were labeled "tiny balls" but were still generously sized. The bigger balls (other Donkey Ball flavors) almost required one to take a bite first, unless you wanted to feel you were taking on a "jawbreaker" (very large, round and hard candy).

This was a fun novelty chocolate from Hawaii, made with a relatively short list of ingredients (without preservatives or artificial ingredients).

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, milk, cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin-an emulsifier, vanilla), Macnuts.

Allergen-related information: Contained milk, nuts (macadamia nuts) and soy (lecithin). (No further information on package.)

Note: These chocolate-covered nuts were expired; but had been stored in a cool, dark place.

SOMA - Spark of Joy Caramel Chocolate with Roasted Quince and cacao nibs (bar) - May 11, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

SOMA chocolatemaker
Spark of Joy Caramel Chocolate with Roasted Quince and cacao nibs (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 400 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $13.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Spark of Joy Caramel Chocolate with Roasted Quince and cacao nibs (bar) was from SOMA chocolatemaker  (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Aroma notes for this relatively complex, sweet, fragrant bar included: warm spice, caramel, lightly spiced fruit (caramel apple, guava, very faint pear).

The smooth, cocoa butter-y base had a caramel, fruit and faint nutty flavor. Cocoa nibs (Ecuador) provided a crunchy textural accent as well as tiny bursts of dark, nutty unsweetened cacao flavor. The finish was very light, faint cocoa nib, and barely there quince notes.

The maker's suggested pairing: blue cheese. I tried part of this bar with some blue cheese and roasted walnuts. The combination resulted in a great dessert tapas (snack) plate and complement to a meal.

This was a skillfully-executed, tasty "caramel chocolate"--and a creative use of fruit (a thin circular slice of slow-roasted, spiced quince) and cacao nibs. A winter warmer that would be good anytime of day or year.

Ingredients: Cocoa butter, organic cane sugar, milk powder, cacao nibs, quince, natural vanilla, salt, spices

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk. May contain trace amounts of peanuts, tree nuts, (and) soy."

Ritter Sport - Milk Chocolate with Cashew (bar) - May 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Alfred G. Ritter GmbH and Co. KG
Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Cashew (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 274 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, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Cashew (bar) was produced in Germany by Alfred G. Ritter GmbH and Co. KG (Waldenbuch, Germany).

This candy sweet, buttery ("30% cacao minimum") milk chocolate (made with Rainforest Alliance Cocoa) was accented with pieces of roasted and lightly salted (and softly crunchy) cashew nut pieces.

Ingredients: Sugar, cashew nuts (22%), cocoa butter, cocoa mass, whole milk powder, lactose, skimmed milk powder, butterfat (milk) (total milk solids 18%), emulsifier ("soya lecithins"), salt. 

Allergen-related information: Contained nuts (cashews), milk (dairy), soy (lecithin). "May contain contain traces of peanuts, other nuts, cereals containing gluten and egg."

 

Wholly Gluten Free - Fudge Brownies - May 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Wholly Gluten Free
Fudge Brownies
Good ++
Weight: 3.2 oz. (90 g.) / 8 oz. (225 g.) in total package of 5 brownies
Calories: 340 calories in 2 brownies (plus nut and cocoa nibs)
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from:  Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

What goes well with nuts and cocoa nibs? Chocolate fudge, cake, brownies, ice cream, and many other desserts. With that thought in mind, I selected today's Wholly Gluten Free Fudge Brownies, distributed by Run-A-Ton Group, Inc. (Chester, NJ). 

I found these individually-wrapped Fudge Brownies (sold in a box of five) in the freezer section. I enjoyed two (de-frosted) brownies: one by itself, and the second with nuts and nibs. 

I thought that, especially after being frozen and de-frosted, this gluten-free brownie might have a heavier texture. But that was definitely not the case. The light (almost fluffy) rich chocolate cake-style brownies with chocolate chunks and a rich, moist chocolate fudge-cake texture and flavor tasted fresh baked.

The second brownie--paired with pecans and walnuts, cocoa nibs (from Nicaragua) and a dash of Saigon cinnamon--had a lot going on. (Note to those with nut allergies: this brownie did not contain any nuts, before I added some.) 

The added nuts, nibs and warm spice added crunchy texture and flavor(s), and helped balance the sugary sweetness. However, these additions also pulled the focus away from the light, soft fudge-y cake-like brownie underneath all these toppings. 

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, water, sunflower oil, cocoa powder, gluten-free whole oat flour, brown rice flour, chocolate chunks (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, natural vanilla extract, salt), tapioca syrup, potato starch, tapioca starch, chia seeds, garbanzo beans, vanilla, aluminum-free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, corn starch, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), sea salt, guar gum, baking soda.

Allergen-related information: (Contained corn (corn starch).) "Free from wheat dairy, egg, soy, nuts (and) sesame." "Produced in a dedicated gluten free bakehouse."

Mother's Day - Chocolate Parfait dessert with topping - May 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

(Mother's Day gift)
Chocolate parfait in a glass
Good + - Good ++
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown 
Cost: N/A - Mother's Day gift from neighbor

Purchased from: N/A - gift from neighbor (Thank you Sophie!)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week; and Happy Mother's Day to all who celebrate this holiday.

Today's chocolate parfait-style dessert (with layered, airy chocolate mouse) in a glass was a gift from my neighbor (thank you Sophie!) and her daughter.

I enjoyed this smooth, light and creamy dessert--layers of airy chocolate mousse topped with dark chocolate shavings--with a small side of chopped roasted almonds and marinated cocoa nibs.

Ingredients: (no information)

Allergen-related information: (no information)

TCHO - Roasted Cacao Nibs from Ghana and Ecuador - May 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

TCHO

Roasted Cacao Nibs - Ghana
Good ++

Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) total package
Calories: 37 calories (estimate) in 1/4 oz. (7 g.) serving
Cost: $ N/A sample from TCHO
Purchased from: N/A - samples from TCHO

Roasted Cacao Nibs - Ecuador
Good ++

Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) in total package

Calories: 37 calories (estimate) in 1/4 oz. (7 g.) serving

Cost: $ N/A sample from TCHO

Purchased from: N/A - samples from TCHO

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week, featuring items that either either contain nuts or cacao nibs--or both. 

Today's two packages of roasted cacao nibs--one from Ghana cacao and the other from Ecuador cacao--were from TCHO Ventures, Inc. (Berkeley, CA), and provided a great opportunity for a side-by-side tasting.

If you want to experience the essence of cacao, sample some cacao nibs--pieces of relatively cacao seeds (known more commonly as cacao beans) that look like large almonds or very large brown beans. These seeds/beans are packed together and surrounded by a white pulpy fruit, inside colorful cacao pods.

Cacao nibs may taste slightly bitter, chocolate-y, and a bit nut-like. Other aroma and flavor notes in roasted cacao beans and nibs vary widely, and are influenced by growing conditions, origin, variety, roast profile and other factors.

Below are my notes on today's cacao nibs.

Roasted Cacao Nibs - Ghana 

Aroma: deep chocolatey, fudge-y aroma, very slight implied, balanced bitterness, very faint caramel, roasted, and vanilla (brownie/baked goods) notes.

Flavor: true chocolate, malted cereal (almost oaty), very faint dried ("brown") fruit (date) and caramel notes.

(Note: I used raw, unsalted almonds, and water, as a palette cleanser in between the two cacao nib types.)

Roasted Cacao Nibs - Ecuador

Aroma: Relatively subtle/complex chocolate (cocoa, brownie); subtle green; very faint, diffuse, tart-acidic fruit; and ultra-faint floral notes.

Flavor: Complex and subtle flavors that included: chocolate/hot cocoa, very faint, diffuse tart-acidic, fermented fruit (flavors in a bowl of chopped red apple + nuts + yogurt); very faint nut/seed; and very faint roasted, almost malted, coffee/black tea latte. 

Very late in the finish, after eating a mix of nibs: a delicate green-flavored marshmallow with a vanilla-like note. This final, albeit faint. flourish may have come from a mix of beans, but it was fun.

Brownies, Beer, Beverages and More

What do you do with cacao nibs? More than you think.

TCHO has included notes to home brewers about the use of these cacao nibs in imparting gentle flavors to other beverages. (Some bartenders and chefs soak cacao nibs in liqueurs or whiskey, and the include decanted liquid in cocktails and the crunchy nibs in baked goods and desserts.)

Cacao nibs are incredibly versatile. They add rich chocolate flavor to smoothies, oatmeal, energy bars, trail and nut mixes; they are chocolate nut-like flavor treasures in brownies, and can be used in spice blends and rubs for marinades. Nibs can even be used in salads. The list of culinary possibilities is long.

Ingredients: Roasted Cacao Nibs (from Ghana and Ecuador)

Allergen-related information: (None listed on sample packages.)

Jonesbar - Dark Chocolate Almond (bar) - May 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Jonesbar
Dark Chocolate Almond (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.7 oz. (47 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's 5-ingredient Dark Chocolate Almond (bar) was from Jonesbar (Manasquan, NJ). The company offers several date sweetened, compressed fruit and nut bars--some with chocolate.

The aroma: a rich melange of chocolate, nut, dried fruit (date, fig), oat/malt, and seed notes. (Note: there was no oat, malt or fig. These were just aromatic impressions.)

The texture was moist and date-y with a soft chew. 

The flavor was a naturally sweet and complex blend of dates, almonds, dark chocolate and seeds (chia) with a barely there, fleeting earthiness (nothing unpleasant). A scintilla of salt contributed the fifth element.

This sealed, single-serving organic bar fueled a hike today. It was a far cry from yesteryear's industrial energy bars with scads of ingredients (including additives, preservatives, fillers, colors, sugars). Those early bars had capitalized on (and almost replaced, for a while) the home-made fruit, nut and chocolate trail mixes (stored in leaky plastic bags in the bottom of a day pack) that many backpackers, climbers and hikers assembled themselves. Evolution is a good thing.

Ingredients: Organic dates, organic almonds, organic 100% cacao chips, organic chia seeds, Himalayan pink sea salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains almonds. "Handcrafted in a top secret facility that processes peanuts and other nuts. Real foods may contain pit or nutshell pieces."

TCHO - Aww Nuts! - Almond Butter & Sea Salt Filled Dark Chocolate - May 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

TCHO Ventures Inc.
Aww Nuts! - Almond Butter and Sea Salt Filled Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .833 oz. (23.3 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in package of 3 bars
Calories: 120 calories in 1/3 of package (1 small bar)
Cost: $ N/A - gift from a friend - Thank you Toni!
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week. 

Today's Aww Nuts! bar was part of a new line of Organic, 100% plant-based, filled bars (made with fair trade certified cacao) from TCHO Ventures Inc. (Berkeley, CA). 

What's New at TCHO

Today I had the good fortune to visit the TCHO factory. Thank you to Alana for the tour, and to Chief Chocolate Maker, Brad Kintzer. (My last TCHO tour had been a decade ago in their original San Francisco location.) The company has continued to update their chocolate offerings and their company structure.*

TCHO's new packaging looked like the traditional TCHO square-shaped bar from the outside. However, rather than a single bar inside, the package contained three individually-wrapped smaller bars--making it easier to transport a single serving, and/or to share your chocolate with others.

Aww Nuts! filled bar

Aroma notes for today's Aww Nuts! filled bar included: faint green, faint molasses and maple, true chocolate (nut brownie), and shortbread nut cookies. A great start. (Added vanilla beans helped conjure up these seductive baked good notes.)

The outer shell consisted of flavorful, 75% cacao dark chocolate. This Organic filled chocolate was a satisfying blend of smooth, creamy dark chocolate and authentic-tasting almond butter. The chocolate (cacao) taste was similar to the aroma--only the fudge nut brownie flavors were more prominent than the fainter green or other aroma notes mentioned above.

Thanks to the makers, who tapped the brakes on the sugar and salt, the cacao flavors were able to shine. The almonds (almond butter and almond bits) provided an excellent and complementary pairing with the dark chocolate**--that already had some naturally occurring nutty notes. 

Maisy Jane's in Northern California, a family-founded company that specializes in California-grown/supplied almonds, nut butters and other offerings was a collaboration partner on this almond butter filled bar.

Ingredients: Organic fair trade cacao beans; organic cane sugar; organic fair trade cocoa butter; organic almond butter; organic almond protein; organic diced almonds; sea salt; organic sunflower lecithin; organic vanilla beans

Allergen-related information: Contains nuts (almond butter). "May contain soy, milk, and other tree nuts."

*Originally founded in 2008, TCHO became a B Corporation in 2021. They've shifted to a new line of organic, fair trade cacao chocolate bars. Also of note, San Francisco Bay Area-born TCHO was acquired by Osaka, Japan-based sweets company, Ezaky Glico (maker of Pocky chocolate-dipped cookie sticks), in 2018.

**Note: TCHO has not generally stressed cacao information such as country of origin, variety or even percentage for their bars. Rather they've created chocolates that exemplify/emphasize certain naturally occurring flavors in cacao grown in different countries. They describe flavor profiles that have included nutty, fudge-y and fruity/citrus-y, and work with cacao farmers (in Ghana, Peru, Ecuador and elsewhere) to develop these profiles.

Läderach - Praline Chocolate Assortment - Mother's Day - May 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Läderach Chocolatier Suisse
Praline Assortment 
1.) Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts - Good ++ 
2.) Dark Chocolate round - Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .763 oz. (21.8 g.) / 4.2 oz. (120 g.) in total assortment box
Calories: 120 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: N/A - gift from Läderach ($24.90 USD on website)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Läderach (picked up at Palo Alto, CA store)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Mother's Day Series, featuring one sweet and one darker chocolate (two chocolates) each day--reflecting my mother's preference for sweet confections and my love for darker chocolate. 

Today's chocolate praline assortment was distributed by Läderach Chocolatier Suisse ("UK Lmted.") and was produced in Switzerland. 

Läderach premium chocolates are made from bean-to-bar in Switzerland; and the company has retail shop locations in U.S. cities, including one in Stanford Shopping Center, in Palo Alto, CA.

Today's attractively packaged assortment was one of four heart-shaped Mother's Day items from Läderach featured this week. (Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 8, 2022, in the U.S.)

This ivory and gold gift box was secured with a mauve-pink ribbon (and clear adhesive tabs), and contained 11 praline chocolates. Milk, white and darker chocolates were all represented. Collectively, these praline chocolates had a welcoming sweet, creamy hot cocoa with vanilla aroma.

The first of two chocolates sampled was a sweet, hazelnut milk chocolate praline. Three whole hazelnuts were enrobed in (and sat atop a triangle of) ultra-creamy, sweet milk chocolate. 

The second piece was a darker, round chocolate. A relatively thick, spherical ebony-colored, textured shell contained a creamy chocolate filling with rich, sweet cocoa notes and very faint red/stone fruit (cherry) and floral notes. 

The assortment looked high-end and beautiful; and the range of flavors will likely satisfy a range of chocolate fans. Vanilla warmth, creamy hot chocolate sweetness, well-executed blends of flavors and chocolate types, and buttery smooth fillings made these pralines very approachable.

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa paste, whole milk powder, hazelnuts, almonds, vegetable oils (palm kernel, palm, rapeseed), glucose syrup, cream (milk), butter (milk), walnuts, sorbitol, skimmed milk powder, wheat flour, invert sugar syrup, caramel, soy lecithin, whey, vegetable fats (sunflower, rapeseed), glucose syrup, Natural Flavor, artificial flavors, clarified butter (milk), skim milk, Natural Flavors, salt (fleur de sel), lactose, gum arabic, shellac, sunflower lecithin, salt, milk protein, dextrose, cocoa powder, sodium carbonates, Tocopherol-Rich Extract, barley malt, ground vanilla, invertase, mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids.

Allergen-related information: (Contained milk, nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts), gluten (wheat, barley malt), soy ingredients.) "May contain egg, other gluten (inclu. wheat), other nuts." 

*The word "praline" can indicate a filled chocolate confection, or it can be a chocolate with nuts (e.g. candied hazelnuts or almonds) prepared in a certain style.

Läderach - FrischSchoggi Heart Caramel Almond - May 3, 2022

Chocolate #2 of the Day

Läderach Chocolatier Suisse
FrischSchoggi Heart Caramel Almond 
Good +++
Weight: 1.167 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total heart
Calories: 187.3 calories in 1/3 of heart 
Cost: N/A - gift from Läderach*
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Läderach

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mother's Day Series -- featuring one sweet and light and one deeper and darker chocolate each day--reflecting my mother's love of sweets, and my love for darker chocolate. 

Today's FrischSchoggi (Fresh Chocolate) Caramel Almond Heart chocolate was distributed by Läderach Chocolatier Suisse ("UK Lmted.") and produced in Switzerland. (See earlier post today (May 3, 2022) for a write-up on Läderach's lovely, sweet Strawberry-Curd Heart.)

Läderach premium chocolates are manufactured from bean-to-bar in Switzerland, and the company has retail shop locations in U.S. cities, including one in Palo Alto, CA.

Today's, generously-sized, attractively packaged "heart" was one of four Läderach's heart-shaped chocolate offerings (featured this week) for Mother's Day. 

A solid field of ebony-colored, 36% cacao chocolate was decorated with small shards of golden caramel/toffee. When broken apart, the thick, well-tempered chocolate pieces revealed a generous helping of embedded, crunchy (I'm assuming roasted), caramelized almond chunks.

The aroma for this chocolate: sweet dark chocolate (fudge nut brownie) with brown sugar/caramel, nut (almond), faint green, very faint lemon herb (oxalis) notes. I applaud the makers for allowing some of the pure cacao notes to shine through. (Over-processed cacao often leads to rather bland chocolate with an absence of flavor complexity.)

Yes, this was relatively sweet dark** chocolate, but it exceeded my expectations. The well-balanced, contrasting/layered flavors and textures resulted in an addictive blend of chocolate (that tasted much darker--more like 50%--than 36% cacao), nut and caramel. 

Vanilla added chocolate baked goods-like warmth and flavor depth. And a light touch of salt meshed nicely with this chocolate, vanilla, caramel and nut blend--adding addictive sweet+salt snack appeal that also helped balance the sweetness. Definitely a great gift for Mother's Day. 

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa paste, almonds (15%), cocoa butter, glucose, butter (milk), soy lecithin, vegetable oils (rapeseed), salt, Natural Flavors, sunflower lecithin. (Chocolate with 36% cocoa min.). 

Allergen-related information: (Contained milk, nuts (almonds), soy ingredients.) "May contain egg, other gluten (inclu. wheat), other nuts." 

* Pricing and availability: Pricing for this dark chocolate Caramel-Almond Heart online was listed as $15.90 (USD) on Läderach's website. Note: This and some other Mother's Day items were already listed as out-of-stock; although retail stores may still have inventory. So, it would be best to act soon if you're interested in these Mother's Day gift chocolates. 

**Chocolates marked as "dark chocolate" in the U.S. generally start at 50-55% cacao (solids) and go all the way up to 100% cacao bars/chocolates. (A 55% cacao chocolate might contain as much as 45% sugar; and 100% cacao items contain just cacao, with no added sugar.)

Läderach - FrischSchoggi Heart Strawberry-Curd - May 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Läderach Chocolatier Suisse
FrischSchoggi Heart Strawberry-Curd 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.167 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total heart
Calories: 192 calories in 1/3 of heart 
Cost: N/A - gift from Läderach
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Läderach

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mother's Day Series that includes two chocolates each day. One sweeter chocolate (this post), and one on the darker side (separate post)--reflecting my Mother's love for sweet confections, and my love for darker chocolates.

Today's FrischSchoggi (Fresh Chocolate) Heart Strawberry-Curd chocolate was distributed by Läderach Chocolatier Suisse ("UK Lmted.") and produced in Switzerland. 

Läderach premium chocolates are made from bean-to-bar in Switzerland, and the company has retail locations in U.S. cities, including a shop in Palo Alto, CA.

Today's attractively packaged confection (individually-wrapped heart in clear wrapper with a pink bow) was one of Läderach's featured heart-shaped items for Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8, 2022 in the U.S.).

The pretty blush-pink heart was topped with tiny red, pink and ivory rose-colored pieces. 

The aroma for this chocolate: subtle sweet chocolate aroma with fruit (tart-sweet/tangy berry, strawberry), and vanilla notes. 

This confection was a blend of satisfying creamy sweet and slightly crunchy (from crisped rice) texture and taste. A touch of cocoa powder added faint chocolate (think milky/creamy hot chocolate) flavor to this fruity and flavorful heart. (Note: This is not gluten-free.*)

Ingredients: (Chocolate with strawberries, "curc" (curd) cheese, rice crispies cocoa 36% min.). Sugar, cocoa powder, whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, dextrose, rice flour 1%, strawberries 1%, curd powder (milk), maltodextrin, citric acid, Natural Flavor, lactic acid, wheat malt flour, soy lecithin, corn flour, wheat flour, modified starch, calcium lactate, Natural Flavors.

*Allergen-related information: (Contained milk, gluten (wheat, malt), soy ingredients.) "May contain egg, other gluten (inclu. wheat), other nuts."

TCHO - 95% deep dark (bar) - May 2, 2022

Chocolate #2 of the Day

TCHO 
95% deep dark (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information 

As part of a Chocolate and Mother's Day Series, I'm featuring two chocolates each day of this 3-day series. One sweet, one dark. This 95% cacao chocolate is the latter.

Today's 95% deep dark (bar) was from TCHO Ventures, Inc. (Berkeley, CA). 

This bar had a deep, dark, slightly bitter aroma with green, brown/maple sugar, true chocolate (very slightly earthy, fudge brownie), very faint black licorice, and very faint diffuse (red) fruit notes.

This ultra-dark bar had a smooth, substantial texture with a very slightly oily-buttery melt.

The bold dark chocolate flavor was consistent with the aroma notes mentioned above with a roasted, ultra-dark brownie taste and a pleasant dark finish. 

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cacao beans; organic fair trade cocoa butter; organic cane sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy, and tree nuts."

Läderach - FrischSchoggi Heart Cherry-Raspberry - May 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Läderach Chocolatier Suisse
FrischSchoggi Heart Cherry-Raspberry
Good +
Weight: 1.167 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total heart
Calories: 187 calories in 1/3 of heart
Cost: N/A - gift from Läderach*
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Läderach, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to a 3-day Chocolate and Mother's Day** series from Läderach Chocolatier Suisse.

Today's FrischSchoggi (Fresh Chocolate) Heart Cherry-Raspberry chocolate was distributed by Läderach ("UK Lmted.") and produced in Switzerland. 

Läderach "premium chocolates are manufactured from bean-to-bar" in Switzerland; and the company has retail shop locations in the U.S., including one in Palo Alto, CA.***

Today's attractively packaged confection was one of Läderach's heart-shaped items featured for Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8, 2022).

The generously-sized heart was attractively designed with a multi-hued upper layer (ivory-pink field topped with red rose and cocoa-colored (covered tiny waffle) pieces) atop a solid, dark chocolate base layer. There was something in this celebratory spring confection for white, milk and dark chocolate fans.

The aroma for this chocolate included subtle sweet chocolate, with faint red fruit (cherry, berry) and faint fruit-floral notes.

Flavor complexity was achieved via contrasting layered flavors and textures. Small pops of sweet-tart cherry and diffuse sweet mixed berry (blackberry, raspberry) added bright fruit notes. The small coated waffle pieces added soft crunchy texture. 

The darker 56% cacao chocolate layer helped balance out the sweetness in the white chocolate. Small quantities of malt and vanilla added subtle, mellow warmth.

Ingredients: (Decorated chocolate with sugar-coated waffle pieces, sour cherry, blackberry and raspberry powder, cocoa: 36% (white) / 56% (dark) min.) Sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa paste, whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, sour cherry (1%), glucose syrup, cherry puree (0.6%), wheat flour, citric acid, raspberries (0.4%), cocoa bean pieces, soy lecithin, vegetable oils (coconut, rapeseed (aka canola)), modified starch, cream powder (milk), artificial flavors (with nuts), sodium alginate, Natural Flavor, Natural Flavors, clarified butter (milk), salt, gum arabic, rapeseed lecithin, barley malt, ground vanilla, red pepper.

Allergen-related information: (Contained gluten (wheat, barley malt), milk, nuts, soy ingredients.) "May contain egg, other gluten (inclu. wheat), other nuts"

* Pricing and availability: Pricing for this Cherry-Raspberry Heart online was listed as $15.90 (USD) on Laderach's website. Note: This and some other Mother's Day items were already listed as out-of-stock; although retail stores may still have inventory. So, best to act soon if you're interested in these Mother's Day gift chocolates.

**Mother's Day is celebrated in May in several countries including: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey and the U.S. Flowers, chocolates and celebratory meals were traditions that were part of our Mother's Day get-togethers.

***Läderach took over leases for approx. 34 former Godiva retail locations in the U.S.

Mutari Chocolate - White Label Chocolate Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar) - May 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari Chocolate

White Label Chocolate - Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 178 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 (estimate) in 1 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar) was part of Mutari Chocolate's White Label bean-to-bar, craft chocolate collection.

This chocolate had a subtle dark chocolate aroma, with faint sweet, slightly tart, red fruit (red wine grape/raisin) notes, and barely there graham cracker and floral notes.

The bar broke with a snap at room temperature (65 degrees F.), and had a relatively smooth melt with a very slight dried fruit astringency.

Flavor notes included true dark chocolate with faint, fleeting earth and fruit yogurt notes. This 77% cacao bar was less intense/bitter than other darker chocolates approaching 80% cacao.

Three Nacional cacao hybrids from Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador, were used to make this bean-to-bar chocolate. The cacao was grown/produced (in a "wet" tropical forest area) on a single farm (Salazar Family Estate). Nacional is considered a fine flavor, heritage cacao associated with fruit, floral and herbal notes.

Maker's tasting notes: Fudge, brown fruit, honey suckle

Ingredients: Cacao bean, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: 

Choquiero Chocolate - Puro Sabor Dark Lover's Bar with Himalayan Salt 80% Cacao - Apr. 30, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Choquiero Chocolate

Puro Sabor Dark Lover's Bar with Himalayan Salt 80% Cacao

Good + - Good ++

Weight: .8 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Country Sun, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Puro Sabor Dark Lover's Bar with Himalayan Salt 80% Cacao (bar) was distributed by Choquiero Chocolate (Nevada City, CA). The company produces a line of chocolates/bars made with directly sourced, organic, fairly traded, unroasted cacao.

The cacao type/variety used to make today's chocolate: Ecuadorian wild arriba criollo. Criollo cacao is prized for its subtle, almost delicate flavors.

The aroma notes for this bar included dark chocolate, lemon herb (oxalis), faint molasses/brown sugar, and vanilla biscuit (shortbread cookie).

The well-tempered bar broke with a snap. The flavor notes mirrored the aroma notes (above)--slightly citrusy, chocolate with brown sugar, and vanilla coconut sandwich cookie.

The subtle touch of salt was a good fit and complemented the relatively mellow natural sweetness of the milder, less bitter, unroasted criollo cacao (and added coconut sugar and vanilla). It was certain less intense/bitter than most other 80% ultra-dark chocolate bars. The end result was a flavorful, balanced, gently complex blend of ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic cacao paste, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter, Himalayan salt, organic vanilla bean

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes tree nuts and seeds." ("Vegan, Paleo, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Non-GMO, Low Glycemic, Kosher, Ethically Sourced - Raw Cacao)