Thursday, January 6, 2022

Zotter Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut dark chocolate (bar) - Jan. 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut Dark Chocolate 70% (filled bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Guten tag (good day) and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut bar from Zotter (Austria) was made in Austria (from bean-to-bar at their in-house factory) and distributed by Zotter Chocolates USA LLC (Fort Myers, FL). 

The team at Zotter* know how to celebrate chocolate by creatively embracing a parade of flavors that pair well with chocolate. The company offers a wide variety* of intricately layered ("hand-scooped") filled bars that contain two or more layers of festive flavors. (And who doesn't need a bit of citrus fun in January?) Today's bar contained "tangerine jelly," green tea ganache, and coconut praline, and was covered in smooth, 70% dark chocolate.

All the company's bars are adorned with the beautiful graphic illustrations (by artist Andreas H. Gratze) and occasionally (like today's bar) a bit of gold lettering--making Zotter bars make attractive chocolate gifts.

Aroma notes for this filled bar included: coconut macaroon, chocolate (drinking chocolate/hot cocoa) and faint citrus. 

The layering of flavors allowed for full appreciation of each individual filling flavor element, as well as enjoyment of their combined taste. The tart-sweet tangerine and green tea accent flavors were complementary and livened up the coconut and chocolate layers. A dark chocolate exterior helped balance the sweetness.

Helpful tasting tip: Zotter recommends enjoying chocolates at room temperature, as you might with a fine red wine. Dark chocolate at 77 degrees (F.)/25 degrees (C.); milk chocolate at 72 degrees (F.)/22.2 degrees (C.); and white chocolate at 68 degrees (F.)/20 degrees (C.).

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, organic cocoa mass, organic cocoa butter, organic tangerine concentrate, organic glucose syrup, organic toasted coconut, organic rice drink powder (rice, sunflower oil, salt), organic soy powder (organic soybeans, organic maltodextrin, organic corn syrup), organic coconut blossom sugar, organic coconut oil, organic lemon juice concentrate, organic green tea powder, gelling agent: apple pectin, organic vanilla bean powder, salt, organic soy lecithin, organic orange oil, organic star anise, organic cinnamon.

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy." "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, and sesame." "Vegan" "USDA Organic", "Fair Traded 61% (website)"

*Josef Zotter and his daughter Julia Zotter have created literally hundreds of different flavors. They are committed to creating innovative, organic, bean-to-bar and fair trade chocolates.

Honey Mama's - Tahini Tangerine (bar) - Jan. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Honey Mama's
Tahini Tangerine (bar)
(Nectar Foods, Inc.)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Honey Mama's Tahini Tangerine (bar) was from Nectar Foods, Inc. (Portland, OR). Made in Portland, this bar was low in bitterness and acidity and high in flavor(s) and texture.

The aroma notes for this chilled* bar included balanced, authentic citrus (tangerine), nutty, rich chocolate honey cake/cookie.

The aromatic tangerine note was more detectable in the aroma than in the flavor. This is usually (but not always the case) for authentic flavor inclusions, and as the chocolate takes more of a front seat in the taste that follows.

Tasting this bar revealed stronger chocolate notes (honey-sweetened fudge brownie) with wee, crunchy sparkles of sea salt, chewy cocoa nibs, faint undercurrents of nutty sesame (tahini), and citrus (tangerine). All these flavors were well balanced and harmonized nicely.

Ingredients: Organic, raw honey, organic sesame seeds, organic unrefined coconut oil, organic alkalized cocoa powder, organic cacao nibs, Himalayan pink salt, vanilla, tangerine oil.

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts: coconut"..."Do not feed honey to infants under one year of age." "No preservatives"..."Keep it Cool. This nourishing treat melts at 72 degrees F" (Farenheit) / 22.2 degrees C (Celsius). Note: this also contained sesame.

*Due largely to a relatively low melting point (of coconut oil), Honey Mama's series of honey-sweetened bars that I've purchased have all been chilled. I've found them in/near dairy/produce sections (refrigerated shelves) in stores. 

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