Mission Chocolate - Dark Milk, Nibs and Pink Salt 58% (bar) - Nov. 11, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Mission Chocolate 

Dark Milk Nibs + and Sal Rosa 58% (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar

Calories: 168 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Dark Nibs Milk and Salt 58% (bar) was from Mission Chocolate (Sao Paulo,  Brazil). Talented chief chocolate maker, Arcelia Gallardo, honed small-batch chocolate making skills in the U.S. before moving to Brazil in 2015. 

The company offers a range of bean-to-bar premium chocolates, including many Brazil cacao single origin bars, and bars with Brazil flavor inclusions (as varied as cupuacu and goiabada (guava) fruits; baru nuts; and sweet corn white chocolate).

Aroma notes for today's Dark Milk, Nibs and Pink Salt 58% chocolate included: subtle dark chocolate, faint spice (star anise) and very faint herb (mint/sage family)

This well-tempered chocolate broke with a snap and had a smooth creamy melt evenly interspersed with a field of crunchy, sweet and salty cocoa nibs.

The well-executed blend of textures and flavors also included notes of caramel, smooth cacao nibs surrounded by flavorful but smooth milk chocolate, and perfectly balanced sparkles of sea salt. 

In the finish there was a faint, diffuse fruit brightness, a very soft, nicely balanced faint flicker of earth, and also a very faint mint/menthol note.

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, himalayan pink salt."

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. "May contain wheat, oats, milk, almonds, hazelnuts, cashew nut, brazil nut, nuts: macadamia, pecan, pistaches, pinoli (pine), and natural latex. May contain gluten."

Nibble Chocolate - 85% Cocoa Organic Extra Dark Chocolate Brazil Single Origin Trinitario (bar) - Nov. 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Nibble Chocolate
85% Cocoa Organic Extra Dark Chocolate Brazil Single Origin Trinitario (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar (32 tiny squares) (per label)
Cost: $5.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Organic 85% Extra Dark Chocolate Brazil Single Origin Trinitario (bar) was from Nibble Chocolate, LLC (San Diego, CA).

Aroma notes for this bar included: smooth dark chocolate, faint floral, dried fruit (banana), faint graham cracker and very faint sweet green.

Flavor notes included: rich, subtlely layered dark chocolate with a mellow, natural sweetness (maple, coconut sugar), and very faint dried fruit (dates, banana).

This was an attractive (I kept wanting to retaste it) and very approachable (85% cocoa) ultra-dark bar. It was low in bitterness, had no off notes, and had a gentle finish. I may buy this again in a chocolate tasting flight or to share this with friends.

This square Nibble bar was scored into smaller squares (64 tiny squares in all)--a design intended to encourage people to  slow down and savor smaller bites of chocolate. Good idea. This pleasing, single origin Trinitario (cacao variety) chocolate was worth enjoying slowly. Handcrafted with just two ingredients; and it had a lot to offer.

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, organic unrefined cane sugar 

Allergen-related information: USDA Organic, vegan, paleo, gluten free, soy free

 

Taza Chocolate - 70% Dark Chocolate Covered Brazil Nuts - Nov. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Taza Chocolate 

70% Dark Chocolate Covered Brazil Nuts

Good + 

Weight: 1/4 cup (28 g.) / 16 oz. (453 g.) in total package 

Calories: 180 calories in 1 (1 oz.) serving

Cost: $9.99 for 1 package

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

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

Today's Organic, Keto Dark Chocolate Covered Brazil Nuts were from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA).

Aroma notes for this organic, gluten free snack included: cacao nibs, very faint cacao fermentation, very faint brown/maple sugar and very slightly savory (salt). (The faint cacao fermentation note receded after the package had been opened for a few hours.)

Relatively bold, but balanced, 70% dark chocolate surrounded softly crunchy Brazil nuts, yielding faint hints of earthy nut flavor. Not too sweet (thank you) or salty.

Ingredients: Organic Brazil nuts, organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic sunflower lecithin, sea salt. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Brazil nuts. May contain traces of other tree nuts and sesame seeds. 

Essential Living Foods - Beyond Trail Mix (Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Dark Chocolate) - Nov. 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Essential Living Foods

Beyond Trail Mix - Brazil Nuts + Cashews + Dark Chocolate 

Good + 

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package

Calories: 140 calories in 1 (28 g.) serving

Cost: $8.49 for 1 package

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

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week, featuring chocolate made with Brazilian-grown cacao as well as chocolates with Brazil-related flavor inclusions.

Today's Essential Living Foods Organic Beyond Trail Mix (Brazil Nuts + Cashews + Dark Chocolate) was distributed by Terrafertil US, LLC* (Torrance, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes for this trail mix included: authentic nut (brazil nut and cashew), sweet dark chocolate chip, and sweet raisin. 

Normally trail mixes are quite salty and sweet. The lack of salt, and judicious sweetening, let more of the true nut and dried fruit flavors shine through. A mix of crunchy and chewy textures added interest.

Ingredients: Organic Brazil nuts, organic cashews, organic dark chocolate chips (organic chocolate liquor, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier), organic vanilla extract), organic Thompson raisins, organic Sultana raisins.

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (cashews, Brazil nuts). May contain milk and soy. Manufactured in a facility that processes other tree nuts.

*Terrafertil US, LLC became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestle USA in 2018. (The company was originally founded in Ecuador in 2005.)