Nature's Heart - Churro Cacao Pecan Crunch - Nov. 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Nature's Heart

Churro Cacao Pecan Crunch

Good +

Weight: 1 oz. (28.28 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package

Calories: 200 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $2.99 for 1 package

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

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate in the U.S. And, welcome to Day #7 of International Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week, and Day #1 of a short Holiday Spice Series.

Today's Nature's Heart Churro Cacao Pecan Crunch was distributed by Terrafertil US, LLC (Torrance, CA). Nature's Heart was started by two brothers in Ecuador, and the company's offerings are inspired by South American flavors.

Aroma and flavor notes for this spiced pecan snack included: fruit (apple), warm spices (cinnamon), faint cacao/cocoa, and nut (pecan), and very light/faint (possibly implied) coconut milk vanilla spiced latte. 

The pumpkin seeds (pepitas), cacao nibs and toasted coconut adhered to the pecans added some soft crunch and textural interest to the blend.

These pecans were pleasant and complex, and not too sweet. Lighter on the chocolate side, they provided a great holiday spiced snack for Thanksgiving--a welcome treat and dessert plate item that was also less sweet and filling than pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and holiday spiced eggnog (rompope) and churro flavored items.

Ingredients: Pecans, Erythritol (natural sweetener), pepitas (pumpkin seeds), toasted coconut chips, roasted cacao nibs, inulin prebiotic fiber, ground flaxseeds, MCT oil, ground cinnamon, cassava powder, sea salt, rosemary extract, stevia extract (rebaudioside A), ground allspice.

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (coconut, pecans). Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, egg and milk products.

Alter Eco - Organic Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Bombs - Nov. 23, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Alter Eco

Organic Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Bombs

Good ++

Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 3.8 oz. (108 g.) in total package

Calories: 240 calories in 3 pieces

Cost: $2.99 for 1 package 

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

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

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Bombs were made in Switzerland and distributed by Alter Eco Foods (San Francisco, CA). 

Aroma notes for these certified gluten free, individually-wrapped bombs included: smooth dark chocolate, very faint lemony green herb (oxalis, wood sorrel, sour grass), and nuts.

The outer chocolate shell was deep, dark and very lightly sweetened--allowing the relatively bold (for couverature) but nicely balanced dark flavor shine through. And the hazelnut butter filling was naturally nutty (not overly salty or sweet) and mild (a bit overshadowed by the dark chocolate).

These chocolates were as noteworthy for what they omitted as what they contained.

I loved the fact that these Hazelnut Butter "bombs" were not too sweet. (Thank you!) They contained a small amount of organic, raw cane sugar (6th ingredient listed). They did not contain sugar alcohols, low-calorie sweeteners or artificial sweeteners. 

At 2 net carbs per bomb/piece, these were labeled as Keto Friendly. A judicious amount of butter (organic butterfat) contributed to a feeling of fat-satisfaction (feeling full and satisfied), unlike many sweet and salty snacks that often trigger a desire for more.

Ingredients: *Organic cacao beans, *organic cacao butter, organic hazelnut butter, organic agave fiber, organic coconut oil, *organic raw cane sugar, organic butterfat, natural flavor, *organic vanilla beans.

*Fair for Life Fair Trade certified. Contains 61% Fair Trade ingredients."

Allergen-related information: "Contains hazelnuts, coconut, and milk. May contain almonds and soy. Individuals who are allergic to these should not consumer this product."