Moonsoon Chocolate - Bachelor's Hall Estate - 55% Caramelized Milk Chocolate (bar) - June 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Moonsoon Chocolate LLC

Bachelor's Hall Estate

55% Caramelized Milk Chocolate (bar)

Good ++

Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar

Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $13.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's Bachelor's Hall Estate 55% Caramelized Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Monsoon Chocolate LLC (Tucson, AZ).

The rich milk chocolate had a creamy, caramel texture with aroma and flavor notes that included: caramel, vanilla, fleeting faint earth, milk chocolate, cream, butter, butterscotch and fleeting, faint diffuse fruit and almost undetectable clean, clear green (tea). 

This bar may be a bit on the sweet side for dark chocolate fans, but it had enjoyable and well-executed complexity.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, organic unrefined cane sugar, organic cocoa powder, organic milk powder 

Allergen-related information: "Contains dairy (milk). Made in a facility that handles tree nuts, wheat, milk, eggs, and peanuts. May not be suitable for people with allergies to these foods."

 

LetterPress Chocolate - Bachelor's Hall Jamaica 100% Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 28, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

LetterPress Chocolate 
Bachelor's Hall Jamaica 100% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's Bachelor's Hall Jamaica 100% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker(s) at LetterPress Chocolate LLC (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma notes for this 100% ultra-dark chocolate included relatively subtle roasted coffee (mocha); gentle, diffuse fruit (nectarine, starfruit, faint sweet red berry/currant jam); and faint, fleeting matcha green tea.

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap at room temperature (68 degrees F., or 20 degrees C.).

The chocolate had skillfully executed, smooth, creamy texture. As is often the case with 100% cacao bars (with no added sugar), tasting involved an initial few seconds of disconnect--a cold water plunge to the taste buds-to-brain neural pathways) after an aroma that held the promise of sweeter things (sugar).

However, rich, enjoyable flavors quickly got my brain/senses re-engaged. Flavor notes included: a well-rounded, creamy, mildly malty, chocolate stout; an espresso-level bitterness that is cushioned a bit by cocoa butter; fairly prominent chocolate cookie (Oreo* sandwich cookie). The finish had a subtle lingering quality and included faint flickers of green tea matcha latte, a faint, malty stout and oatiness, and a very, very faint naturally sweet, fruit sour-bitter in the throat a few minutes later.

This single-ingredient, ultra-dark chocolate's satisfying, luscious unsweetened darkness was bold, but well-balanced. Thank you to the makers for making this 100% version with no sugar, that allowed the underlying cacao notes to shine.

Maker's tasting notes: "Starfruit, mocha, spice"

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Organic unrefined cane sugar

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also processes nuts and dairy" 

*The original Oreo sandwich cookie with a creme filling was introduced in the U.S. by Nabisco (East Hanover, NJ) in 1912. (Nabisco (a contraction of National Biscuit Company),  later became a subsidiary of Mondelez International (Chicago, IL). Oreo, currently a registered trademark of Mondelez International, is now a brand that extends to a variety of cookie-related offerings.)

It should also be noted that the 1912 Oreo Biscuit (renamed Oreo Sandwich cookie later) closely resembled the Hydrox sandwich cookie introduced by the Sunshine (Biscuits) company in Illinois in 1908.) Like most geneology stories, corporate origins can get more complicated/interesting the further back one goes. And this includes the history of cookie bakers.

The origins of cookies date back centuries ago (perhaps to Persia) in the Western world. Their existence required availability of grains and sugars. But, it was only when cacao (in the form of ground cocoa powder) was introduced from the New World that cocoa-flavored cookies started to appear in Europe that would later provide inspiration for chocolate sandwich cookies back home in the Americas.

If one were being picky about chocolate confection origins, my bet is the somewhere in the forests of Central/South America (where cacao originated), centuries ago, someone was making chocolate confections that might have had ground cacao, honey and some kind of ground seed meal or starch. But, I have no proof of that--other than something like that was given to me by Mayan people in the forests of Southern Belize, who were still living on the same temple grounds that their Mayan ancestors lived on a very long time ago. 

Summary: Creating today's chocolate cookies or bars, took the collective collaboration between new world and old, global supply chains, mergers and consolidations as well as new startups, and modern, temperature controlled facilities to get to mass-produced chocolate cookies and chocolate bars--like the one I'm writing about today. Thank you to everyone, worldwide, who made this all possible.

Letterpress Chocolate - Bachelor's Hall Jamaica 85% Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 27, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

LetterPress Chocolate 
Bachelor's Hall Jamaica 85% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 153 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's Bachelor's Hall Jamaica 85% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker(s) at LetterPress Chocolate LLC (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma notes for this 85% ultra-dark chocolate included roasted seeds; green (matcha green tea and assorted botanicals); natural, natural (less processed) sugar(s) (maple); and very faint, diffuse fruit (red berry jam + marshmallow).

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap at room temperature (68 degrees).

The chocolate had skillfully executed, smooth flavor depth. The well-balanced blend of subtle flavors included: flickers of smooth, almost malty chocolate stout and soft, fruity roasted coffee-like bitterness; faint upticks of dark cocoa; as well as very subtle green, botanical, and very fleeting cookie/fruity breakfast cereal notes.

This two-ingredient, ultra-dark chocolate's pleasing complexity held my interest and was bold, without roughness. It was also not too sweet (thank you!)

Maker's tasting notes: "Starfruit, mocha, spice"

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Organic unrefined cane sugar

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also processes nuts and dairy"

SOMA Chocolatemaker - Brown Butter Rum Bar - June 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

SOMA chocolatemaker 
Brown Butter Rum Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Brown Butter Rum Bar was from SOMA chocolatemaker (Toronto, ON, Canada). 

The cacao used to make this bar came from Desmond Judasingh at Bachelor's Hall Estate (farm), located in St. Thomas Parish, Jamaica. The "Dark Waters" rum was a single barrel release by Kinsip (a small distillery in Ontario, Canada). 

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included fleeting floral, butterscotch, butter cream, butter rum, very mild nut (cashew, pili*), and honey-vanilla butterscotch brownie (or butterscotch milk chocolate fudge) notes.

The texture of this sweet milk chocolate was light and very creamy, with an easy, velvety, buttery melt. A friendly, flavorful bar to satisfy a sweet tooth. (Organic cane sugar was the number one ingredient.) 

I'd love to try a slightly less sweet version of this chocolate that allows some of the high-quality flavors to shine through a bit more. But, I am a dark chocolate fan; so this fantasy is to be expected.

Speaking of being creative, the range of SOMA high-quality chocolate flavors and formats over time continues to be impressive; and the company's choice of artwork (pressed into the chocolate bars and on the outside packaging) is always inspired. 

I spent time in the San Francisco Bay marshlands today; and the bedazzled mallard duck (painting/illustration) on today's chocolate bar package was a perfect match for this local duck and shorebird-rich outdoor setting.

Maker's tasting notes: "cashews, butterscotch, honey, oak, fudge"

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, cacao nibs, skim milk powder, cocoa butter, rum, soy lecithin, natural vanilla, sea salt, butter.

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts. Contains dairy and Alcohol. Store in a cool, dry place."

*Pili nuts are popular in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia and South Pacific island nations (e.g. Papua New Guinea). The ivory colored nuts have a very mild, buttery flavor.

 

Pump Street Chocolate - "The Fermentation Project" Tulloch Estates, Jamaica 76% Limited Edition - June 25, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Pump Street Chocolate

"The Fermentation Project" Tulloch Estates, Jamaica Ltd. Ed. (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 197 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Limited Edition 76% "The Fermentation Project" bar--created using cacao beans from Tulloch Estates (farm) in Jamaica--was crafted by the bakers and chocolate makers at Pump Street Chocolate (Suffolk, UK).

This chocolate had a very attractive, complex botanical aroma, with notes that included: tea (iced green tea with maple syrup), very faint, light aromatic (pipe) tobacco, very faint fresh baked bread, very faint wood (and woody nut) notes, and naturally sweet plants, roots and fruits (maple, maca lucuma, sweet carrot/yam, vanilla bean, purple grapes/raisins, mangosteen).

The relatively thick bar had a hearty, smooth texture with a very slight fruit/tea/clean mineral astringency; but this "dryness" or granular/puckery mouthfeel (as you might encounter in pomegranates, persimmons and certain berries) did not interfere with the enjoyment of this unique and special chocolate. 

The 76% dark chocolate also had a trace of light, balanced dark bitterness (think chocolate stouts), which came to forefront more the second day after it had been opened, perhaps after some of the more volatile aroma bouquet notes mentioned earlier had faded.

What makes this chocolate unique? A "sourdough-style starter" was added to newly harvested cacao beans to "kick-start and equilibrate" the fermentation process. (Not surprisingly to hear that the Pump Street chocolate makers (who are bakers and bread makers as well) looked into this.) Given the interesting results, perhaps we'll see more special fermentation projects in the future.

I love botanical flavors and I thank the farmers, fermenters and makers for their attention to detail and for enabling, highlighting and preserving so many subtle chocolate flavors in this bar.  

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, cane sugar and organic cocoa butter (minimum cocoa solids 76%)."

Allergen-related information: "We also handle dairy, gluten, nuts and seeds on the premises."

 

Mutari Chocolate - Jamaica Bachelor's Hall 72% (bar) - June 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari Chocolate

White Label - Jamaica Bachelor's Hall 72% dark chocolate (bar)

Good ++

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

Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA*

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

Today's White Label Jamaica Bachelor's Hall 72% dark chocolate (bar) was from Mutari Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA). 

The small batch bean-to-bar maker worked with Desmond Jadusingh at Bachelor's Hall Estate (a 1,000 acre farm in St. Thomas Parish) to craft today's single estate, single origin Jamaica bar.

This Jamaica bar had a very subtle, and very complex aroma and flavor. Notes included: a natural sweetness (honey), very diffuse fruit (berries), and very faint warm spice and very fleeting black pepper, graham cracker/cookie, and green botanical (nut, seed, fleeting vegetable/wood sorrel) notes. 

Even the true chocolate flavor in the taste (faint fudge brownie batter) seemed relatively subtle--perhaps because I was focused on identifying all the other interesting notes mentioned above that were playing hide-and-seek.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Honey, Waffer (sic), Fudge, Dried Berries"

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter

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

*Mutari Chocolate's Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, location closed in February 2022 (due to a downtown development project). The maker(s) are currently hoping to resume operations later in 2022. Their fans await.

One One Cacao - St. Thomas 71% dark chocolate (bar) - June 23, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

One One Cacao 
St. Thomas 71% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Calories: 54 calories (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Cost: N/A - Part of a six-bar tasting kit (A full-size bar was $11.00.)
Purchased from: Happy Chocolate Experiences, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's sample Clarendon 71% bar from One One Cacao* (Kingston Parish, Jamaica) was one of six sample bars in a tasting (kit) sent to participants in advance before an online discussion/interview and tasting experience.

Tasting these Jamaican chocolates was made possible by Sunita de Tourreil** at Happy Chocolate Experiences. Sunita interviewed founder and chocolate maker Nick Davis and Marta from One One Cacao, which provided some great context for the diversity of flavors found in one island nation.

Aroma notes for today's 71% dark tasting square included fresh, slightly sweet coffee ice cream or custard, very faint fruit (black sapote?), barely there fragrant black tea, and almost invisible warm spice and vegetable notes.

The flavor was full of subtle complex flavors including true chocolate (light brownie batter), dried stone fruits (faint plum/prune), warm plum spice cake pieces in custard topped with a drizzle of caramel and pecan pieces, and complex tea latte with brown sugar notes.

This was a high-end dessert buffet in one small bar. Do savor slowly to pick up all the sweet aroma and flavor nuances.

Maker's description: "This is an Award Winner picking up an Academy of Chocolate Award in 2020. Nutty with complex notes of biscuit and toffee, like a Graham Cracker combined with a Custard Creme. International award winning cacao from Johnson's Mountain, St. Thomas. The cacao in this bar is award winning...I'm not saying it for jokes, it's literally some of the best and most expensive and rare cacao on earth."

Ingredients: (Not listed on small sample bar packet)

Allergen-related information: (Not listed on small sample bar packet)

* The company name was inspired by an old Jamaican proverb: "One one cocoa, full basket" that conveys the notion that little by little, cocoa pods and beans fill baskets, baskets are filled, and goals can be met.

**Sunita previously founded Chocolate Dividends, and was proprietor of (and a wonderful chocolate concierge at) The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA. Happy Chocolate Experiences provides windows into happy cacao--places, makers and destinations--and of course wonderful chocolate.

  

One One Cacao - Portland 71% (bar) - June 22, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

One One Cacao 
Portland 71% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Calories: 54 calories (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Cost: Part of a $53 six-bar tasting kit + tasting experience 
Purchased from: Happy Chocolate Experiences, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Portland 71% sample bar from One One Cacao* (Kingston Parish, Jamaica) was part of a six-bar sample pack + online tasting experience. The chocolate selection (and conversation between the maker and a moderator) allowed tasters to experience a virtual tour of Jamaica through the lens of cacao. The chocolates were made from cacao grown in four different Jamaican parishes. 

Today's virtual stop? The Portland Parish of Jamaica, located north/northeast of Kingston, an area that includes the famed Blue Mountains National Park where coffee and cacao are grown.

The tasting and virtual travel this week was made possible by Sunita de Tourreil** at Happy Chocolate Experiences. As always, her knowledge and interaction with makers, in this case Nick Davis and Marta at One One Cacao, during the online tasting experience was enjoyable and valuable. (Check out her site (link above) for information about a planned chocolate trip to Jamaica later in 2022.)

Portland 71% bar

Aroma notes for today's dark tasting square included: cocoa, very faint spice and faint savory (vegetable and freshly baked potato bread). 

This chocolate had a rich chocolate taste and texture with a background whisper of fruit acidity/astringency. The remaining flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes above.

Re-tasting this Portland 71% bar (after the chocolate had been out of the packet for 5-7 minutes on a relatively warm morning) revealed subtle bittersweet lime flower/floral and balanced dark earth notes--adding enjoyable flavor and complexity. (The initial very faint vegetable/potato bread note I associated with fermentation was gone.)

Occasionally layered flavor shifts happen when you let certain chocolates "breathe" for a few minutes after they're unwrapped from a sealed package--as you might do for certain red wines before serving. Or when you re-taste another piece of the same bar (due to changes in your mouth chemistry as well as in volatile chocolate aroma elements reacting to air/oxygen, heat and/or light).

As with other One One Cacao Jamaica bars this week, the sweetness level for today's 71% bar, felt just right. 

Ingredients: (Not listed on small sample bar packet)

Allergen-related information: (None listed on small sample bar packet)

* The company name One One Cacao was inspired by an old Jamaican proverb: "One one cocoa, full basket" that conveys the notion that little by little, cocoa pods and beans fill baskets, baskets are filled, and goals can be met.

**Sunita previously founded The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA. Happy Chocolate Experiences provides windows into happy cacao--places, makers and destinations--and of course wonderful chocolate.

  

One One Cacao - St. Mary 71% Dark Chocolate bar - June 21, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

One One Cacao 
Saint Mary 71% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Calories: 54 calories (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Cost: One bar in a $53 six sample bar kit + tasting experience 
Purchased from: Happy Chocolate Experiences, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Jamaica Theme Week. 

Today's St. Mary 71% (sample bar) from One One Cacao (Kingston Parish, Jamaica) was the third of six sample bars from One One Cacao.* 

Saint Mary is a small parish in northeast Jamaica, west of the Blue Mountains National Park. Agricultural products from this region include bananas, sugar cane, citrus, cacao, coconuts, coffee and pimento/peppers.

Tasting these One One Cacao Jamaican chocolates was made possible by Sunita de Tourreil** at Happy Chocolate Experiences. (Tasting kits were sent out in advance to participants before a video interview and tasting with the maker.)

The (online/remote) interview + tasting experience with Nick Davis and Marta at One One Cacao yielded some great information on how the company was built, and how the chocolate is made. 

The aroma notes for today's dark tasting square was a pleasing, gentle blend of stone fruit (plum, cherry), subtle bread/biscuit, light cocoa, very light butterscotch brownie/caramel, and a barely there whiff of tart green herb (oxalis). 

The flavor bouquet notes for this smooth, sample square bar included: a very balanced, mild diffuse yellow stone fruit tartness (light peach, nectarine); oxalis (wood sorrel); cocoa (light chocolate and butterscotch brownie); and subtle honey graham cracker/cookie.

The level of sweetness was satisfying, and did not obscure the more delicate cacao flavor notes--that reminded me of a blend of the relatively mild but lush (heritage) criollo and the slight fruit tartness and flavor of trinitario cacao varieties.

Ingredients: (Not listed on small sample bar packet)

Allergen-related information: (Not listed on small sample bar packet)

* The company name was inspired by an old Jamaican proverb: "One one cocoa, full basket" that conveys the notion that little by little, cocoa pods and beans fill baskets, baskets are filled, and goals are met.

**Sunita previously founded The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA. Happy Chocolate Experiences provides windows into happy cacao--places, makers and destinations--and of course wonderful chocolate.

  

One One Cacao - Clarendon 71% Jamaican dark chocolate - June 20, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

One One Cacao 
Clarendon 71% dark chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Calories: 55 calories (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Cost: N/A - Part of a six-bar tasting kit (A full-size bar was $10.00 USD.)
Purchased from: Happy Chocolate Experiences, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's sample Clarendon 71% bar from One One Cacao (Kingston Parish, Jamaica) was the second of six sample bars from One One Cacao* (Kingston Parish, Jamaica). 

Tasting these Jamaican chocolates was made possible by Sunita de Tourreil** at Happy Chocolate Experiences. (Kits with sample bars were sent out in advance to participants, before a video conference and tasting with the makers at One One Cacao.)

Sunita's shared, online tasting experience with Nick Davis and Marta at One One Cacao yielded some great information on how the company was built. Davis, an ex-BBC correspondent, also discussed how he's developed partnerships with farmers in the different growing areas (parishes) of Jamaica, and evolved their own tree-to-bar chocolate making process over time.

One clear take-away: flavors vary among regions within this island nation. This is the case in other cacao-growing countries as well where there are different topographies, micro-climates, soil types, and farming and fermentation methods. As such, collaboration between farmers and makers is often very important.

Clarendon 71% dark chocolate

The cacao used to make this 71% dark bar was from Clarendon Parish, located in south central Jamaica, west of Kingston. 

Today's dark tasting square had subtle, complex and balanced aroma and flavor notes, including of molasses spice, faint dried fruit (rum raisins), gentle wood and naturally sweet fruity roast coffee notes.

The dark chocolate had a slightly dry, granular (faintly astringent) texture/melt. This was a subtle distraction that did little to interfere with the pleasure of tasting the relatively soft, nuanced flavors.

Maker's description: "Working alongside our partners at the Jamaica partners at the Jamaica Cocoa Farmers Association we source these beans in this central Parish of the island. Fermented up the wonderfully named Morgan's Valley area the chocolate has a wonderful summer fruit, cane rum, and all-spice flavour with hits of wood, carob, and coffee; a medium body, finely acidic/slightly tannic."

Ingredients: (Not listed on small sample bar packet)

Allergen-related information: (Not listed on small sample bar packet)

* The company name was inspired by an old Jamaican proverb: "One one cocoa, full basket" that conveys the notion that little by little, cocoa pods and beans fill baskets, baskets are filled, and goals can be met.

**Sunita de Tourreil founded The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA. Happy Chocolate Experiences provides windows into happy cacao--places, makers and (travel) destinations linked to learning about and enjoying wonderful bean-to-bar (sometimes tree-to-bar) chocolates.

  

One One Cacao - Sorrel 51% bar and Jamaican mocha almond ice cream - June 19, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

One One Cacao 
Sorrel 51% White Chocolate bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Calories: 55 calories (estimate) in 1 sample bar
Cost: N/A - Part of a six-bar tasting kit (A full-size bar was $12.00.)
Purchased from: Happy Chocolate Experiences, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's sample Sorrel 51% bar from One One Cacao (Kingston Parish, Jamaica) was made with Jamaican sorrel (hibiscus*)--the first of six sample bars from Jamaica chocolate maker and One One Cacao founder, Nick Davis. Tasting these bars was made possible by Sunita de Tourreil** at Happy Chocolate Experiences.

This small tasting square was full of rich, balanced aroma notes: sweet as well as botanically tart and slightly savory (green leafy) notes. The scent promised a range of flavors; and the color was intriguing. (It wasn't the typical ivory-hued white chocolate. It was a light cocoa color with a pink hue that shimmered in the sunlight.) 

This chocolate had a true, rich cocoa buttery texture with a smooth, even melt.

The flavor was full and complex, in all the right ways. Bright tart hibiscus (aka Flor de Jamaica, sorrel) notes conveyed the full authentic floral flavor of this Jamaican flower--that brightened up the flavorful Jamaica cacao butter base. This was the best white chocolate I've had in years; and it wasn't too sweet (thank you!). 

Maker's description: "Sorrel adds a wonderful fruity flavour and ruby like colour to this most Jamaican of flavours. It's not called Flor De Jamaica for nothing! We love white chocolate but can kinda be a bit meh for lots of purists, but locally pressed cacao from our trinitario trees have so much flavour, combined with this hibiscus make for a match made in chocolate haven."

Ingredients: Not listed on small sample bar

Allergen-related information: Not listed on small sample bar

For those who remember that I don't "count" white chocolate as a Chocolate of the Day, I did pair this lovely white (mauve-hued) chocolate with a small bowl of homemade Jamaican Jamocha almond fudge ice cream. It had the flavor of an affogato (a shot of espresso over vanilla gelato), only with a shot of Jamaican coffee over coffee ice cream plus 82% Sail Shipped Belize cacao dark chocolate and toasted almonds.

And for you botanical-philes, the color "mauve" is derived from the color of mallow flowers (several are purple-pink). Fittingly, in today's case, the edible members of the mallow (Malvaceae) family also include hibiscus and cacao. 

**Sunita previously founded Chocolate Dividends, and was proprietor of (and a wonderful chocolate concierge at) The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA. Happy Chocolate Experiences provides windows into happy cacao--places, makers and destinations--and of course wonderful chocolate.

 

Shekoh Confections - Lemon Verbena - June 18, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Lemon Verbena
Good ++-Good +++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.40 ($22 for a 5-piece box)
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week. 

Today's Lemon Verbena chocolate was created by Chef Shekoh Moossavi at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

Lemon Verbena is an aromatic, flowering shrub that originated in South America (Argentina, Chile). The leaves (and flowers) are edible; and it is enjoyed as an herbal tea/infusion in many cultures. It is used to flavor sweet desserts as well as savory meat dishes. (I wondered if it wasn't on the list of flowers and spices combined with cacao centuries ago in Central and South America.)

Aroma notes for today's pretty, yellow and spring green (colored/painted) chocolate included: subtle tart green herb (oxalis), faint lemon biscuit (cookie) and faint lemon curd.

The thin dark shell, once bitten into revealed wonderful layered flavors in a creamy, light ganache (filling)--with dark chocolate mousse and authentic lemon verbena notes.

This domed confection had just the right amount of confection sweetness, but not so much sugar that it obscured the wonderful flavors.

Ingredients: (Not listed on small box)

Allergen-related information: (Not listed on small box)

 

Shekoh Confections - Bergamot - June 17, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Bergamot
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece 
Cost: $4.40 ($22 for a 5-piece box)
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Bergamot chocolate was created by Chef Shekoh Moossavi at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

Subtle aroma notes for this chocolate included tart green herb (oxalis) and light citrus perfume. A perfectly thin* dark chocolate shell encased a sweet bergamot infused chocolate ganache (filling) that had a lovely, slow, creamy melt. 

Bergamot is the aromatic citrus fruit (rind) that flavors Earl Grey and Lady Grey (black) teas.

The base (Valrhona) chocolate was rich in layered flavor with true chocolate (dark chocolate mousse, very faint earth and even fainter nut) and subtle caramel notes that extended into the finish.

The sweetness level, and layered flavors and textures were all well balanced and complex--while still harmonizing very nicely as a whole.

Maker's description: Bergamot oil, black loose tea infusion, Valrhona dark chocolate.

Ingredients: (Not listed on small box)

Allergen-related information: (Not listed on small box)

*Shekoh's fresh-made filled chocolate confections that I've tasted have all been very well executed. The bottom of her domed chocolate confections is thick enough to provide weight and stability. The chocolate sides (of dome) are just thin enough to provide a slight cracking sensation when you take a bite, but just strong enough to prevent any punctures/cracks. I really appreciate her skill that extends from layered and well balanced flavors to the structure and taste of the chocolate.

Green and Black's - Organic Milk Chocolate with Almonds bar - June 16, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Green and Black's

Organic Milk Chocolate with Almonds (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.17 oz. (90 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA 

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

Today's Green and Black's Organic Milk Chocolate with Almonds (bar) was made in Italy and distributed by Mondelez Global LLC (East Hanover, NJ).

This bar had true, rich, creamy, sweet milk chocolate aroma and flavor with nutty and caramel notes. (I felt I could really taste the organic milk (24% milk content); and that was a good thing.)

Tea pairing experiments

As for (tea) pairings, it's a bit like mixing paint colors. You can mix two analogous (similar) colors (close to each other on the color wheel), e.g. yellow and orange. Or you can choose opposite colors (e.g. red and green) on the color wheel. Similar colors might be more harmonious. Opposing colors may clash, destroy/dull each other's best attributes, or they might complete each other wonderfully--e.g. adding a bright citrus or fruit note to liven up or add flavor depth to a dark, dense chocolate.

One form of analogous tea pairing might involve mirroring a chocolate's attributes. For example, for this bar: a full-fat, frothy creamy (dairy or almond) milk (black) tea latte with a hint of vanilla. Optional: few drops of authentic almond flavor (extract, liqueur) and splash of hazelnut milk and drizzles of caramelized sugar and chocolate syrups, and whipped cream.

A possible opposite/opposing, yet still somewhat complementary, tea pairing choice: Red Osmanthus Tea with light, bright fruity (apricot, apple) flavor notes. This herbal/Chinese medicinal tea is made with dried, tiny, pale golden, (gui hua) flower blossoms. 

Almonds are related to plums, apricots, peaches and apples. (They're all in the prunus genus.) While osmanthus flowers are in a different family, the aroma/flavor is somewhat similar to these fruits. Note: Brew the dried flower tea for a few minutes with hot water and then decant liquid/tea (discarding the blossoms/tea) soon after the water turns a pale golden color; otherwise the tea will have a slightly bitter taste.

I tried both tea pairing options mentioned above. Either one might work, depending on your taste preferences. 

That said, I would eat some of this chocolate by itself first before pairing it with anything else, as it had deeply satisfying milk chocolate, cream and nutty flavors. Yes, it was quite sweet, but it was also of substantially higher quality than you'll experience than most 37% cacao milk chocolate bars. And the cream and nuts helped balance the sugar.

Maker's description: "rich milk chocolate with whole roasted Mediterranean almonds for a full nutty flavor"

Ingredients: Organic milk chocolate (organic cane sugar, organic milk, organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla extract), organic almonds.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy, almond. May contain: other tree nuts.

Equal Exchange - Organic, Fairly Traded Dark Chocolate Almond & Teas (Brown Sugar Boba, other) - June 15, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Equal Exchange 
Organic and Fairly Traded Dark Chocolate Almond
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (9 pieces/squares) of bar
Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, featuring several chocolate and tea pairings. 

Today I sampled two items: 1.) a 55% Dark Chocolate bar with tea, and 2.) a boba tea ice cream bar (with cocoa powder).

Today's Organic, Fairly Traded Dark Chocolate Almond Toasted Pieces (bar) was produced in Switzerland for Equal Exchange (W. Bridgewater, MA). Since its inception 30 years ago, this co-op owned company has built many "alternative trade" relationships with small farmers in several countries around the world.

The organic cacao used to make this chocolate came from the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru and Togo. The organic sugar was from Paraguay, and the organic vanilla was from Madagascar.

This relatively sweet, 55% cacao dark chocolate bar was embedded with bits of toasted almond. The aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: true chocolate (dark chocolate pudding), faint nut and malt, and very faint tart green herb (oxalis).

I paired this with a warm, organic black tea latte with almond milk. It worked.

Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bar

Shao Mei (Xiao Mei)
Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bar
Good +
Weight: 2.82 fl. oz. (80 g.) / 11.3 fl. oz. (320 g.) in total box of 4 bars
Calories: 146.2 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 4 bars 
Purchased from: Safeway, San Mateo, CA

The second item sampled today was a Shao Mei Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bar (product of Taiwan, (manufactured by Hwa Mei Food Col, Ltd., Changhua County, Taiwan) that contained a small amount of cocoa powder.*

This frozen pop (and other recent boba tea flavor arrivals in the frozen foods aisle at the market) reflected the popularity of boba milk teas--and in particular brown sugar boba (with pearls sweetened with brown sugar/honey)--in California and elsewhere. It was a fun change of pace (frozen dessert) on a hot day.

The milky ice cream frozen bar was veined with a prominent brown sugar marbling. Embedded brown sugar colored boba (aka tapioca/starch pearls, or mini mochi balls) contributed a springy, starchy and chewy textural element. 

The cocoa powder added a wee bit of flavor depth. I thought I imagined a little tea flavor; but I could not find any tea in the rather lengthy ingredients list (see below), unless it was one of the unnamed "flavors" at the end of the list.

Ingredients: Water, mini mochi brown sugar (maltose syrup, acetylated distarch adipate, water, brown sugar, tapioca starch, brown sugar flavor, caramel colors, palm oil, cocoa powder, potato starch), sugar (sugar, caramelizing sugar), maltose, coconut oil, skim milk powder, brown sugar, cream, whey powder, food coloring (caramel (E150a), FDandC Yellow #5 and #6 (E102 and E110)), cornstarch, maltodextrin, emulsifiers (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471), Polysorbate 80), thickeners (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, locust bean gum, carrageenan, guar gum, xanthan gum, sodium alginate), flavors, salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and dairy products. Made in a plant that also processes products containing peanuts, mangos, nuts, soybeans, milk, dairy products, egg products, sesame products, and gluten-containing grains. 

* This bar was different than yesterday's Brown Sugar Boba tea ice cream bar with vanilla ice cream--that did not contain cocoa powder.

 

Equal Exchange - Organic Chocolate 55% Cacao Coconut Milk (bar) - June 14, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Equal Exchange 
Organic Chocolate 55% Cacao Coconut Milk (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 9 pieces (squares) of bar (1 serving)
Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, featuring chocolate and tea pairings.

Today's Organic Chocolate 55% Cacao Coconut Milk with Coconut Palm Sugar (bar) was produced in Switzerland for Equal Exchange Co-op (West Bridgewater, MA).

Equal Exchange, a co-op owned company, has been building alternative supply chain relationships and focusing on fair trade and small farmers for many years. Their offerings include chocolate, coffee, and other packaged foods.

The ingredients used to make this bar were all grown by small farmer co-operatives around the globe. The organic cacao was grown in the Dominican Republic and Peru. The organic sugar was from Paraguay and Costa Rica. The organic vanilla was from Madagascar; and the organic coconut was from Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

This bar had notably thick, coconut (milk) creamy texture with rich, sweet, authentic toasted coconut, chocolate and brown sugar (aroma and) flavors. A hint of vanilla enhanced the sense of sweetness even more. This 55% cacao bar would be great for coconut lovers with a sweet tooth and/or those searching for a sweet diary milk chocolate alternative with a little extra flavor.

Tea Pairings

Pairing chocolate with wine, tea, coffee or milk(s), can be tricky. Ideally, one should not dominate or take the other chocolate or beverage flavor(s) sideways. The best pairings elevate each both items, resulting in delicious blend. 

I tried pairing today's coconut milk chocolate with the following tea-related items:

1.) Frozen Brown Sugar Boba tea and vanilla ice cream bar (from Taiwan)
2.) Chilled Hibiscus kombucha tea
3.) Warm chai tea (oolong tea, chai spices and chai spice-infused honey)
4.) Hot/warm grapefruit leaf tea

Once again, I found that frozen and chilled tea items dulled chocolate (bar) flavors. (Cocoa butter melts at around body temperature, at which point fats and solids start separating and, arguably, the zone where embedded flavors are most easily released and enjoyed.)

Today's coconut chocolate bar was also quite sweet (a bit of a challenge), ruling out many sweetened tea offerings as partners for fear of creating overly sugared blends. 

The pairing winner? Hot/warm fresh grapefruit leaf tea (think light green, lemon, and faint lemongrass notes). This will not come as a complete surprise to those who like Thai warm coconut milk and lemon grass (savory) soups or chilled lemongrass and coconut sugar drinks. The unsweetened, fresh grapefruit leaf tisane/tea added some flavor depth/lift in the form of light acidic fruit and green notes and balanced the inherent sweetness of this bar.

Ingredients: Fairly traded, organic coconut palm sugar; fairly traded, organic chocolate liquor; fairly traded, organic cocoa butter; fairly traded, organic coconut flakes; organic coconut milk powder (fairly traded, organic coconut milk, organic tapioca maltodextrin).

Allergen-related: "Contains coconut. May contain milk, peanuts, hazelnuts and almonds."

Taza Chocolate - Seriously Dark 87% Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 13, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Taza Chocolate

Seriously Dark 87% Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar

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

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, including chocolate items with tea, and chocolate and tea pairings.

Today's "Seriously Dark" 87% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA). The company specializes in minimally processed, stoneground chocolate and offers a variety of bars, discs, barks and chocolate covered nuts.

Taza's Seriously Dark bar was made using direct trade certified cacao; and the aroma had relatively bold dark chocolate, floral and vanilla, diffuse ripe fruit, and tropical forest notes. Taza is known for less processed, flavorful chocolate--flavors preserved in part due to short(er) grinding and conching times in large stainless steel machines.

Today's 87% bar did not contain tea. Instead I searched for three different teas to find the best pairing with this chocolate. 

I knew this bold dark chocolate might not pair easily with teas....But, the perils of pairing be damned; the hunt was on for a match.

Tea partners for Taza: Matcha (ice cream bar), ginger, grapefruit leaf...

I first tried pairing today's Taza Chocolate ultra-dark bar with its apparent opposite: a frozen, creamy, smooth, delicate, grassy Matcha (green tea) Brown Sugar Boba ice cream bar -- inspired by popular boba (tapioca pearl/mini-mochi) tea drinks from Taiwan. The refreshing, matcha tea bar (like green tea ice cream or an iced matcha latte) was perfect for today's hot weather.

However, the pairing of a Matcha ice cream boba bar with the Taza 87% chocolate was a study in contrasts. They each had unique, enjoyable aromas and flavors. Unfortunately, the combined array of vibrant taste and texture (and temperature) sensations failed to mesh harmoniously.

These two offerings were best enjoyed separately. Blind dates don't always work out. However, after a little more tea speed dating, I did find better mates for both the chocolate and Matcha tea bars.

Cool ginger tea did not agree with this ultra-dark bar. Just when I thought this Taza 87% bar was a confirmed singleton, with its rough, almost crunchy texture, unique floral sweetness, and untameable spirit, I tried pairing it with some warm grapefruit leaf tea (made by pouring very hot water over torn grapefruit (or lemon) tree leaves and letting the infusion steep for a few minutes).

The pale, amber-hued grapefruit leaf tea had a lemony citrus flavor. And it was surprisingly harmonious with today's Seriously Dark chocolate. The warmer tea (vs. frozen tea ice cream) also made the chocolate flavors more accessible. (Frozen chocolate quickly loses textural and flavor benefits.)

And, for our Matcha Brown Sugar Boba bar, the best match was: creamy, buttery, dark chocolate truffles dusted in dark cocoa powder.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla beans.

Allergen-related: "Contains traces of almonds, cashews, coconut, hazelnuts and pecans."

Alec's Ice Cream - Matcha Chocolate Chip - June 12, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Alec's Ice Cream

Matcha Chocolate Chip

Good ++

Weight: 2/3 cup (122 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container

Calories: 310 calories in 2/3 cup serving

Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 container

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

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

Today's Matcha Chocolate Chip ice cream from Alec's Ice Cream* (Petaluma, CA) was made with organic cream and milk from pasture-raised cows in Sonoma, CA. 

Alec's chose "ultra-premium Japanese Matcha" for this blend; and the ice cream did indeed have a high-quality, refreshing, matcha green tea latte aroma and flavor. 

The happy cows (mentioned above, from Alexandre Family Farm, the first certified regenerative, organic A2 dairy in the U.S.) contributed to the creamy, rich texture of the base ice cream--that was studded with a generous helping of smooth, dark chocolate chunks. 

The dark chocolate may not have been super bold or complex, but it was well matched and crafted for this ice cream. Made with coconut oil (and organic, alkalized cocoa), the chunks/chips were texturally accessible--easy to bite into and enjoy (unlike chocolate chips that lose flavor and become small, ebony-colored waxy bits when frozen). And the relatively mild flavor profile allowed the the matcha and cream to shine.

The ice cream was sweet, without being overly so (thank you!). This judicious level of sugar helped showcase the green tea and chocolate flavors, mellowed only by the creamy ice cream base. (Yes, we're back to the cream. Visions of happy cows again.) 

Less sugar (and whipped air) means this denser ice cream is firmer when you first take it out of the freezer. I advise leaving it out for a few minutes after taking it out of the fridge, or using a strong scoop/spoon. (I broke a pretty (but apparently weak) spoon trying to drill into this Matcha Chocolate Chip ice cream straight out of the freezer.) It's worth the wait.

Maker's description: "Mellow and earthy meets sweet and sublime..."

Ingredients: Organic cream, Organic skim milk, organic cane sugar, organic chocolate chunks (organic cane sugar, organic coconut oil, organic alkalized cocoa powder (organic cocoa powder, potassium carbonate), organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla extract), organic egg yolk, organic matcha (less than 0.5%), organic carob gum, organic guar gum.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, egg, soy, coconut." "Manufactured on equipment that also processes tree nuts, peanuts and soy."

*Founder and CEO Alec Jaffee and the Alec's Ice Cream team took over the site of the much loved Three Twins Ice Cream in Petaluma, CA. 

Endangered Species - Luscious Blueberries + Dark Chocolate 72% (bar) - June 11, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Endangered Species
Luscious Blueberries + Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Fruit(s) Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, that includes chocolate + tea pairings.

Today's Luscious Blueberries + Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (bar) was from Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC (Indianapolis, IN). 

Aroma notes for this bar included dark chocolate; authentic, smoky floral vanilla bean; and dark berry jam cake.

The 72% cocoa dark chocolate had a thick, creamy texture with a satisfying, relatively slow, even melt. The chocolate flavor was deep, dense and mellow (almost nutty). 

The sweetness level was balanced by dark, rich chocolate and (more subtle) dark berry/blueberry flavors. 

I paired this bar with a black tea flavored with fresh, strained blueberry juice and a lemon slice.

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate (chocolate liquor, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), cane sugar, dried blueberries, sunflower oil. 

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

 

Kuli Kuli - Raspberry Chia Super Bark, Dark Chocolate Snack - June 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Kuli Kuli, Inc.

Raspberry Chia Super Bark

Good +

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 4.2 oz. (119 g.) in total package

Calories: 170 calories in 1/4 package

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

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

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week(s), and Day #1 of Chocolate and Tea Series. 

Today's dark chocolate Raspberry Chia Super Bark was from Kuli Kuli, Inc. (Oakland, CA). Company founder and CEO, Lisa Curtis, developed the idea for the moringa*-based products company after working with moringa in the Peace Corps in West Africa. The company offers a variety of products, including moringa leaf powder and teas.

The aroma for these (gluten free, vegan and keto-friendly) dark chocolate snacks included: dark chocolate, red raspberry, seed/grain (quinoa), and green botanical notes.

There was a lot packed into these snack squares including moringa, baobab fruit** and hibiscus powders. The latter (flower) contributed a faint, red-fruity tartness--as did dried and powdered red raspberry. Chia seeds and puffed quinoa added crunchy texture.

These squares were refreshingly un-sweet, with no refined sugars. (They were sweetened with erythritol, stevia and the above-mentioned fruit powders.)

I paired this with a chilled, iced hibiscus tea. Perfect refresher for a hot day and it meshed well with this snack.

Ingredients: Chocolate liquor, erythritol, inulin (extract of chicory root), cocoa butter, Kuli Kuli proprietary blend (organic black chia seeds, puffed quinoa, organic moringa powder, organic hibiscus flower powder, organic baobab fruit powder), dried raspberry pieces, dried raspberry powder (dried raspberries), Natural Flavor, soy lecithin, sea salt, vanilla, Reb A (extract of stevia).

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

*Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a leafy green plant--from Southeast Asia, India and Africa--that is relatively high in Vitamin C and anti-oxidants. The "green" flavor is often likened to matcha green tea and spirulina. 

**The Baobab (Andansonia) is a tree that is perhaps most closely associated with the African island nation of Madagascar. The brown-skinned baobab fruit has a tart, relatively dry, white fruit interior with a taste some have likened to a lightly grainy, lemony-pear yogurt. 

Baobab trees are also part of the very large malva (mallow) genus/family that includes cacao as well as hibiscus, okra, cotton and durian. Today's treat contained three members of this malva-lous group.

Crunchies - Freeze-Dried Blueberries in Dark Chocolate - June 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Distributed by Crunchies Natural Food Company, LLC

Freeze-Dried Blueberries in Dark Chocolate

Good + - 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 #16 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

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

The company offers a line of crunchy freeze-dried fruits, including some that are chocolate-coated (strawberry, banana and today's blueberry).

Aroma notes for these petite, glossy, dark chocolate orbs included: unmistakable blueberry fruit, ripe, dark berry preserves and subtle dark chocolate notes.

The light, crunchy, freeze-dried blueberries at the center of these chocolate confections were bursting with a range of fresh blueberry fruit flavor notes: sweet, ripe and tangy blueberry fruit, blueberry syrup or jam, slightly floral, slightly earthy blueberry, and ripe blackberry. The entire blueberry flavor rainbow was perfectly captured, then sealed in a dark chocolate time capsule. A testament to the miracle of freeze-drying when done right.

I really enjoyed the pairing of dark berry and dark chocolate. The deeper, richer and more flavorful ingredients balanced the sweetness nicely. A hint of vanilla (and "natural flavor") evoked distant taste memories of freshly baked blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup, and blueberry muffins.

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

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

OMG! Food Company - Immunity - Cacao, Camu Camu Powder - June 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

OMG! Food Company
Immunity Organic Superfood Blend  
Good +
Weight: 1 TB oz. (6.5 g.) / 5.5 oz. (155 g.) in total container
Calories: 20 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $7.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's "Immunity" Organic Superfood Blend--a powdered blend containing cacao, camu camu (fruit) and other powders--was from OMG! Food Company (Rancho Dominguez, CA).

This (vegan) blend was designed to be mixed with a variety of beverages and foods, including smoothies and yogurt. 

The subtle aroma notes (of the dried powder, by itself) included dried fruit (mango, orange, lemon-lime, goji berry), faint cocoa and green tea. 

I mixed today's Immunity powder with plain, non-fat, Greek yogurt and cold water. The water  made it easier to stir and fully incorporate these ingredients. The resulting beverage was relatively thick, smooth and creamy. I expected the yogurt would add a very slight tartness.

However, I wasn't quite prepared for how tart the camu camu fruit powder in this mix would be. The number one ingredient in this blend was cacao powder, but it was overshadowed by the eye-opening sourness of the camu camu fruit powder (the number two ingredient). This small fruit is known for it's high Vitamin C content. 

The South American* berry looks like a cross between a purple grape and a tiny red apple--with the tartness of both these fruits plus citrus fruit. Like many berries, camu camu contains anti-oxidants and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Powdered mushrooms and greens added a bit of umami flavor to this tangy cacao blend. My palette's taste buds were treated to the full range of flavor: sour, bitter, umami, and to a lesser degree: sweet and salty. 

I enjoyed the bracing cacao and fruit boost and the (yogurt) protein this morning without a sugar rush. Like a very tart juice shot with lemon juice and ginger), you'll find that one serving (1 TB of powder) is plenty to wake you up.

Ingredients: Organic cacao powder, organic camu camu powder, organic chaga mushroom powder, organic chlorella powder, organic reishi mushroom powder, organic kale powder.

Allergen-related ingredients: "OMG Foods are free from gluten, dairy, soy, sweeteners, fillers, additives, preservatives, and anything artificial."

*Peru is the largest producer of camu camu berries, but it can be found in many other neighboring countries, including Brazil and Ecuador.

Shekoh Confections - Blackcurrant - June 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Blackcurrant
Good +++ 
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.40 (estimate) 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Yuzu chocolate was created by Chef Shekoh Moossavi at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA). Her high-end filled chocolates were/are made with no preservatives, and "fresh to order" for customers.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (faint dark brownie with nut butter); faint diffuse tart sweet fruit (dark berry + light mango jam); and tart green lemon herb (oxalis). 

Biting into this small, domed confection yielded an excellent blend of jammy dark berry (black currant, blueberry preserves) fruit and chocolate--a very satisfying, flavorful layering of a dark chocolate shell and ganache with true dark chocolate (dark chocolate torte, faint nut and very faint tart lemony herb (oxalis)) notes. The rich flavors lingered lightly into the finish.

This was another very well balanced and executed confection, with a restrained sweetness--just enough for enjoyment while still allowing full access to cacao and authentic, sweet-tart blackcurrant fruit flavors.

Shekoh description: "Puree of blackcurrant (and) Valrhona 64% Tainori dark chocolate."

Ingredients: Not listed on small assortment box

Allergen-related information: Not listed on small assortment box

 

Shekoh Confections - Chambord - June 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Chambord
Good ++ 
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.40 (estimate) 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Chambord chocolate was created by Chef Shekoh Moossavi at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

Subdued aroma notes for this pretty red domed confection included: faint sweet white and dark chocolate; and very diffuse fruit (berry).

Flavor notes included layered, refreshing, red raspberry in a smooth, creamy, dark chocolate ganache (infused with a very faint dash of raspberry liqueur). This interior was surrounded by a sweet, white chocolate shell and raspberry red "glaze."

 This was a classic, elegantly sweet (white) and dark chocolate and authentic raspberry dessert under a tiny dome.

Shekoh description: "Valrhona dark chocolate, raspberry puree, and raspberry liqueur." 

Ingredients: Not listed on small assortment box

Allergen-related information: Not listed on small assortment box

 

Shekoh Confections - Yuzu - June 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Yuzu
Good +++ 
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.40 (estimate) 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Yuzu chocolate was created by Chef Shekoh Moossavi at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA). Her line of high-end chocolate confections is made with no preservatives, and "fresh to order".

Subdued aroma notes included: faint dark very slightly earthy (and faintly nutty) dark chocolate; faint diffuse tart sweet citrus fruit; and faint tart green lemon herb (oxalis). 

On biting into this small, domed confection I was met with a hearty uptick of flavor--a very satisfying, flavorful blend of a dark chocolate shell (bold yet smooth, with very slight earthy and green/oxalis notes) and yuzu fruit (juice) infused into this creamy interior. The rich, dark chocolate flavor lingered in the finish.

This was a very well balanced and executed confection, with a restrained sweetness--just enough for enjoyment while still allowing full access to cacao and authentic, tart-sweet fruit flavors.

Shekoh description: "Valrhona milk chocolate and yuzu juice."

Ingredients: Not listed on small assortment box

Allergen-related information: Not listed on small assortment box

Shekoh Confections - Lemon Almond - June 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Lemon Almond 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.40 (estimate) 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Lemon Almond chocolate was created by Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA). Chef Shekoh Moossavi creates a variety of high-end chocolate confections. If you live in the area, consider visiting her shop.

Lemon Almond chocolate

Today's Lemon Almond chocolate had beautiful overall taste and texture(s): natural lemon, crispy almond praline and light (almost mousse-like), creamy milk chocolate ganache, surrounded by a darker chocolate shell. 

This chocolate evoked memories of thin, buttery lemon wafer cookies with crushed almonds, half-dipped in chocolate.* 

Another balanced, layered fresh flavor experience in a small package from Shekoh Confections.

It's become more convenient to order chocolates on-line; but nothing beats being able to buy chocolates in person, and thank a highly trained and skilled chocolate creator face-to-face. In case I didn't get that point across during our meeting wearing a (Covid) mask, thank you Chef Shekoh!

Description: "Valrhona milk chocolate, almond praline, lemon oil."

Ingredients: Not listed on small assortment box

Allergen-related information: Not listed on small assortment box

*Pirouettes, aka barquillos

 

Shekoh Confections - Passion Fruit - June 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Passion Fruit 
Good +++ 
Weight: .42 oz. (11.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.40 (estimate) 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Passion Fruit chocolate was created by Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

Chef Shekoh Moossavi offers a variety of filled confections with no preservatives, made fresh to order--and select pieces of high-end, edible chocolate art. (There were life-sized chocolate high-heeled shoes, and pretty yellow cocoa pods (cacao fruit) in display cases in her shop the day I visited.)

Passion Fruit chocolate

The aroma of today's Passion Fruit chocolate was difficult to detect at first. What this glossy yellow beauty may have lacked in scent, due to the "painted" and sealed dome exterior, it more than made up for with appearance and flavor.

This well-executed filled chocolate confection had a pretty daisy yellow exterior, with a creamy, yellow-tinged white chocolate interior, and a slim, firm and smooth dark chocolate shell in between.

The Passion Fruit piece had perfectly balanced textures and flavors: bittersweet dark chocolate paired very nicely with authentic tart sweet passion fruit (seamlessly integrated into the white chocolate ganache). The sweetness was held in check by the choice of dark chocolate and tart tropical fruit. Flavorful? Mai oui (yes indeed).

As with all great chocolates, eat slowly to best enjoy the high-quality, layered flavors.

Description: "Passion fruit puree and white chocolate shelled in Valrhona dark chocolate."

Ingredients: Not listed on small assortment box

Allergen-related information: Not listed on small assortment box

Elemental Superfood, Inc. - Mulberry Cacao + Spirulina - June 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Elemental Superfood, Inc.

Mulberry Cacao + Spirulina (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) in total bar

Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $3.29 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, featuring a variety of chocolate and fruit blends.

Today's Organic Mulberry Cacao + Spirulina bar was from Elemental Superfood, Inc. (Torrance, CA).

Aroma notes for this bar included: soft, botanical sweetness, subtle fruit (red berry + light fig) and floral (honey), and faint seed, nut and cacao notes.

This very textural bar was multi-seeded, nutty, cacao nib-by and buckwheat bit-ted, woven together with softer bits of dried berry fruit; and, surprisingly it had a relatively light (but substantial), integrated chew.

The taste was a tapestry of plant-based ingredients--diverse roughly-ground, largely intact textures that harmonized. The minimally processed ingredients had more layered flavors than a more processed, highly compressed bar would have. 

Happily, this filling, gluten-free bar also wasn't too sweet (thank you!). The bar contained a judicious amount of "organic, raw honey and no refined sugar."

Ingredients: Organic buckwheat, organic almonds, organic raw honey, organic flaxseeds, organic coconut, organic cacao nibs, organic sunflower seeds, organic pumpkin seeds, organic Brazil nuts, organic mulberries, organic sesame seeds, organic cacao butter, organic spirulina, organic vanilla bean, organic vanilla extract, pink Himalayan salt. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts."

DSD Merchandisers - Milk Chocolate Raisins - June 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

DSD Merchandisers, Inc.

Milk Chocolate Raisins

Good +

Weight: 2 TB oz. (30 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total container

Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $4.99 for 1 container

Purchased from: Farm Fresh to you, online order (add-in item)

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, featuring a variety of chocolate and fruit blends.

Today's Milk Chocolate Raisins were distributed by DSD Merchandisers, Inc. (Livermore, CA).

Aroma notes for these raisins included: milk chocolate, faint fruit, and very faint coffee and salt notes.

Smooth, creamy and sweet milk chocolate blended well with plump moist dried grapes (raisins) that contributed their own tart, authentic fruit sweetness. This was a fruit and chocolate snack designed to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, whole milk powder, soy lecithin: an emulsifier, natural vanilla flavor), raisins, tapioca dextrin, confectioners glaze.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and soy." "Packed on same equipment as products containing milk, eggs, nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy."