Javier Confectionery - Vegan Brittle, Dark Chocolate - Feb. 25, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Javier Confectionery
Vegan Brittle - All Natural Vegan Dark Chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 220 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $7.50 for 1 package
Purchased from: Sweet Shop, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Seed Series.

Today's Vegan Brittle (with) All Natural Vegan Dark Chocolate was from Javier Confectionery (Burlingame, CA). 

Aroma notes for this brittle included seeds, caramel/toffee and subtle dark chocolate.

Flavor notes included sweet sesame brittle, roasted pumpkin seeds, other seed notes (pine nuts), dark chocolate, and very faint earth (clay) and caramel popcorn.

These thin shards were perfect for taking crunchy, very slightly chewy bites of brittle without losing a filling. 

The 63% dark chocolate on the back (and the seeds) helped to balance the sweetness. Popular sesame brittle candy flavor was accented with pumpkin seeds. And the addition of pine nuts was a nice touch; they added a bit of their own faint, but distinctive flavor.

Ingredients: Vegan dark chocolate (63% unsweetened cocoa, sugar, sunflower lecithin, vanilla), pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pine nuts, sesame seeds.

Allergen-related information: Contains sesame. "Made in a facility that also makes products containing milk, soy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat."

Keto Foods - Keto Pint Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream Bars - Feb. 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Keto Foods
Keto Pint Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream Bars
Good ++
Weight: 3 fl. oz. (65 g.) / 12 fl. oz. oz. (356 mL) in total box of 4 bars
Calories: 160 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 box of 4 bars
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Theme Week--a week that has included chocolates with caramel, toffee...and at least one item with real gold (leaf).

Today's Keto Pint Sea Salt Caramel ice cream bars were "manufactured for UpStar Nutrition Inc." (Clackamas, OR)* and are part of a line of Keto Certified low-sugar offerings from Keto Foods (Scottsdale, AZ).*

Keto Pint* took the (thick and gooey sweet) caramel concept in a different direction, offering a Sea Salt Caramel ice cream bar with "no added sugars" (2 G. Net Carbs). Is it possible to create satisfying caramel flavor with erythritol, stevia and monk fruit? 

Aroma notes for this Keto Certified, Kosher ice cream bar included: dark chocolate, vanilla (cookie), faint caramel/butterscotch, and very faint mellow nut and wood. 

A thin, crispy keto dark chocolate shell enclosed a relatively light, flavorful ice cream center. The texture and melt were appealing. Like many chocolate coated ice cream bars, you may want to eat this one over a plate to prevent an errant shard of chocolate from dropping in your lap.

The dark chocolate tasted like real chocolate. And the authentic, creamy center had surprisingly good vanilla and caramel and rich ice cream flavor. (Real cream being the number one ingredient didn't hurt.) 

The flavors were well balanced; and this ice cream bar wasn't too sweet. (Thank you!) I would definitely buy these again in the future. The overall taste was far better than most "diet" or sugar free chocolate items. 

There was no sense of compromise in terms of flavor and texture. And yes it is possible to enjoy caramel flavor without a lot of gooey, sweet caramel (sugar).

Ingredients: Cream, water, chocolate coating (unsweetened chocolate, coconut oil, erythritol, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, MCT oil, steviol glycosides, vanilla extract), egg yolk, erythritol, chicory root fiber, milk protein concentrate, tapioca fiber, natural flavor, vegetable glycerin, sea salt, guar gum, steviol glycosides, annatto extract, monkfruit extract, xanthan gum, gum acacia.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, egg (and coconut (oil)). "This product has been processed on equipment that processes milk, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat."

*The Keto Pint ice cream brand was "created (in 2018) by two brothers with a vision to help accelerate the transition to lower sugar foods." (Keto Pint Ice Cream was formerly known as UpStar Ice Cream.) In 2021 Keto Pint transitioned to Keto Foods. The company's main office is based in Scottsdale, AZ.

Lake Champlain Chocolates - Filled Maple Caramel 57% Cocoa - Dark (bar) - Feb. 23, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Lake Champlain Chocolates
Filled Maple Caramel 57% Cocoa - Dark (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 3.25 oz. (92 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 3 squares of bar
Cost: $6.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Nugget Markets, Tiburon, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Theme Week.

Today's Organic Filled Maple Caramel 57% Cocoa Dark bar was from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT).

Aroma notes for this chocolate included faint caramel and bold, dark chocolate.

The 57% cacao dark chocolate tasted significantly darker than this...more like a 75% Forastero-like (deep, dense) dark with faint green-lemon herb (oxalis) and fleeting (loamy) earth notes. 

Inside the dark chocolate was a soft, flavorful, sweet caramel filling with faint maple sugar notes. The darkness of the cacao/chocolate helped balance the sweetness of the caramel.

Ingredients: Organic dark chocolate (organic sugar, organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, organic cocoa powder [processed with alkali], and organic vanilla powder, organic heavy cream, organic Vermont maple syrup, organic rice syrup, water, organic invert sugar, sea salt and organic soybean lecithin.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and soybean. May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat.

Endangered Species - Caramel Spiced Apple Natural Flavor + Dark Chocolate 60% (bar) - Feb. 22, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Endangered Species Chocolate
Caramel Spiced Apple Natural Flavor + Dark Chocolate 60% Cocoa (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar 
Cost: $1.48 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cost Plus World Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Theme Week, including several chocolates with caramel and/or toffee. 

Today's Caramel Spiced Apple Natural Flavor + Dark Chocolate 60% Cocoa (bar) was from Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC (Indianapolis, IN).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (dark chocolate torte), vanilla, light caramel and faint fruit (apple) and warm spice (cinnamon, apple pie spices).

Creamy dark chocolate contained a soft apple-infused caramel filling. 

The dark chocolate tasted darker than 60% (more like 70%) cacao. This richer, darker cacao flavor helped balance the sweetness of the caramel filling. 

Maker's description: "Dark chocolate with organic caramel and spiced apple to evoke a warm fireside."

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate, chocolate liquor, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla, organic caramel, organic tapioca syrup, organic cane sugar, organic nonfat milk, organic heavy cream, organic buttermilk, salt, pectin, sodium citrate, organic vanilla extract, 2 fold organic soy lecithin, Vitamin E mixed tocopherols to preserve freshness, natural apple flavor, cinnamon.

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

Gnaw Handcrafted Chocolate - Bee Happy Milk Chocolate with Honeycomb & Crunchy Caramel (bar) - Feb. 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Gnaw Handcrafted Chocolate
Bee Happy - Milk Chocolate with Honeycomb and Crunchy Caramel (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.725 oz. (49 g.) / 3.45 oz. (98 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift (Thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Cost Plus/World Market store)

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Theme Week.

Today's Bee Happy 34% Milk Chocolate with Honeycomb and Crunchy Caramel (bar) was from Gnaw Handcrafted Chocolate (Norwich, U.K.).

Aroma notes for this bar included: sweet milk chocolate (chocolate candy bar), caramel and faint nuts (faint peanut caramel, very faint toffee almond nougat). Note: there were no peanuts or nut ingredients in this bar.

The texture was a blend of smooth, sweet milk chocolate and softly crunchy caramel (honeycomb toffee) bits and sweet caramelized sugars.

This 34% cacao (candy bar sweet) milk chocolate had prominent caramelized sugar flavors, consistent with the aroma notes mentioned above, including sweet milk chocolate, crunchy and smooth caramel and toffee bit(s) flavor; very faint/implied hints of honey-ed nuts; and very faint sweetened breakfast cereal. (Again there were no nut ingredients listed.)

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa liquor, honeycomb (sugar, glucose syrup, baking soda, rice flour), caramel pieces (glucose syrup, sugar, sweetened condensed milk (milk, sugar), salted butter (milk, water, salt), soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavoring.

Allergen-related information:  Contains dairy/milk (milk powder, butter). (No other printed information found on label.)

Fu Wan Chocolate - Taiwan #3 Ping Tung Black Sugar Chocolate 70% Dark (bar) - Feb. ??, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fu Wan Chocolate
Taiwan #3 Ping Tung Black Sugar Chocolate 70% Dark (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 248 calories in 1 bar 
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Theme Week.

Today's Taiwan #3 Ping Tung Black Sugar Chocolate 70% Dark (bar) was from Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan, R.O.C.).

The cacao (harvested in 2019) used to make this "tree to bar" chocolate was grown in (southern) Taiwan.

The rich aroma notes for this 70% dark chocolate included: flavorful deep dark sugars (molasses), thoroughly toasted marshmallow (well done, slightly beyond golden to charred territory), dark chocolate, subtle sweet, almost marshy green, dried fruit (dates), brown sugar, and faint, freshly baked yeast bread, and very faint, fleeting red wine. and savory Japanese rice cracker.

The texture of this well-tempered bar was pleasing. The melt and mouthfeel were close to being pillowy and velvety, while at the same time having a very low level of light granular astringency.

Flavor notes mirrored the rich variety of aroma notes mentioned above with dark brown sugar, date, and raisin notes. There was something almost sweet and savory about this chocolate (like small, golden brown, sweet and salty, Japanese rice crackers), and almost herbal (dark, sweet black licorice).

I loved the complexity of this chocolate and the dark, almost smoky-sweet "black sugar" flavor. This would make a great ganache, and would pair well with coffee--adding flavor depth as well as sweetness. 

In fact, one can already buy black sugar flavored (boba) teas, black sugar flavored coffee drinks, and frozen desserts with black sugar at Asian markets and other specialty markets/stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. However, these black sugar sweetened items are rarely paired with rich, single origin dark chocolate.

So why aren't we tasting more chocolates with more flavorful sugars? White cane sugar's relative blandness is why it is often selected by bean-to-bar chocolate makers--over golden (or black) sugars. More flavorful cooked sugars (or less processed sugars) can alter (or diminish) the inherent fruity, nutty, floral and other flavor present in fine, single origin cacao beans.

With today's Ping Tung Black Sugar chocolate, Fu Wan makers have shown us that some concerns about using darker sugars may have been overblown. That is, when skillfully crafted, chocolates can contain a complementary blend of flavorful sugars and flavorful cacao and can be fully enjoyed without the tastier sugars wiping out/distorting the fine cacao flavors and vice versa.

Maker's tasting notes: "Raisin, Licorice, Milk Tea, Brandy, Coffee"

Ingredients: Cacao bean, black sugar, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts and peanuts."

Woodside Chocolate Company - Caramel chocolate (bar) - Feb. 19, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Woodside Chocolate Company
Caramel chocolate bar (with gold accents)
Good + 
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) (estimate) total bar 
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. (14.1 g.) piece of bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: The Village Bakery, Woodside, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Week, featuring chocolates with caramel, toffee, honeycomb toffee and other forms cooked sugar(s). 

Today's caramel flavored chocolate (bar) from Woodside Chocolate Company (Woodside, CA) was also decorated with edible gold (pieces of gold leaf sheeting used to decorate high-end desserts). 

This elegant-looking chocolate bar was quite sweet and had small, softly crunchy bits (possibly caramel/toffee flecks and/or very thin flecks of almond) incorporated into what tasted like a sweet, dark milk chocolate base.* 

If one took inspiration from the flavor of a Cadbury's Caramello bar from one's childhood...and decided to make the most grown-up, upscale version possible of a caramel chocolate bar, this is what it look and taste like. 

It was a bit too much sugar for this dark fan, but this locally-made bar would make an attractive and impressively gilded chocolate gift for those with a sweet tooth.

*Ingredients: (None listed on package)

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging)

Godiva - Caramel Embrace ice cream - Feb. 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Godiva
Caramel Embrace Ice Cream
Good + 
Weight: 2/3 cup (114 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container
Calories: 280 calories in 1 (2/3 cup) serving 
Cost: $6.49 for 1 container
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Theme Week.

Today's Godiva Caramel Embrace ice cream was distributed by Boardwalk Frozen Treats, LLC (Lafayette, CA).*

Years ago, I wrote about Godiva's Caramel Embrace chocolate(s). This ice cream cousin was ensconced in a cheery golden and white colored container; and it was part of a line of ice creams inspired by Godiva confections.

Aroma notes for this ice cream included faint caramel, vanilla and cocoa. 

A creamy ice cream base with layered caramel, vanilla and chocolate flavors. Tiny chocolate caramel "cups" almost had a soft crunch in frozen form.

As one might expect, this rich ice cream studded with caramel and chocolate caramel confections was quite sweet. Layering of textures and flavors added enough appeal and unfolding differentiation that this Caramel Embrace didn't feel over-sugared.

Ingredients: Milk, cream, sugar, caramel cups (sugar, coconut oil, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk (whole milk, sugar), nonfat dry milk, whole milk powder, alkalized cocoa, heavy cream, butter, soy lecithin, salt, natural flavors), caramel swirl (nonfat milk, sugar, unsalted butter, agar agar, baking soda, potassium sorbate (preservative)), skim milk, corn syrup, water, sweetened condensed skim milk, egg yolks, chocolate, butter (cream, salt), stabilizer (guar gum, tara gum, locust bean gum), natural flavor, carageenan, baking soda. 

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

*Under license from Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. 

TCHO - Toffee Time Creamy Oat Milk Chocolate w/ Plant Based Toffee & Sea Salt - Feb. 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

TCHO
Toffee Time - Creamy Oat Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.65 oz. (46.2 g.) small bar / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) total package of 3 bars
Calories: 260 calories in 2 small bars
Cost: $ N/A - free sample from TCHO
Purchased from: N/A - part of tour and tasting

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Theme Week, including chocolates containing caramel and/or toffee.

Today's Toffee Time Creamy Oat Milk Chocolate With Bits of Plant Based Toffee and Sea Salt (bar) was from TCHO Ventures Inc. (Berkeley, CA). It was part of a set of 3 smaller individually-wrapped bars, nestled inside the company's traditional square package size.

Aroma and flavor notes for this creamy and mildly crunchy, plant-based, bar included: sweet milk chocolate, faint oat cereal, very faint warm spice and "buttery" toffee. 

This balanced, Organic, 53% cacao, sweet toffee oat milk chocolate bar--made with fair trade ingredients--was worth trying. When TCHO surveyed to their customers in recent years, they found that many were requesting plant-based, dairy free and gluten free chocolates; and today's bar  and others were created to respond to these requests.

TCHO description: "Caramely and Perfectly Salty" 

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cocoa butter, coconut sugar, organic gluten free oat flour (organic whole oat flour, natural Vitamin E [added to maintain freshness]), organic cashew butter, organic toffee (organic cane sugar, organic rice syrup, organic coconut oil, baking soda, sea salt, organic sunflower lecithin), organic cane sugar, sea salt, organic sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: (Contains cashews, coconut.) May contain soy, milk and other tree nuts.

Whimsy Chocolates - Toffee (pieces) - Feb. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Whimsy Chocolates
Toffee (pieces)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .416 oz. (11.8 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70.87 g.) in total package
Calories: 72 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $12.50 for 1 package of 6 pieces
Purchased from: Sweet Shop, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Caramel and Golden Sugars Theme Week, featuring chocolate items with caramel, toffee, and other heated or golden-hued/flavored sugars.

Today's chocolate covered Toffee (pieces) were from Whimsy Chocolates (Battle Ground, WA).

These attractive, classic confections were each decorated with a diagonal brush stroke of shiny gold.

Aroma and flavor notes were fairly straight-forward and included: sweet dark chocolate and golden caramel/toffee.

The texture and taste were toffee forward. A relatively thin layer of smooth dark chocolate covered a square of crunchy toffee with fine-grained golden sugars (and butter). 

The buttery crunch of this golden toffee center was well executed. Yes, it was firm and sweet. But not so firm that you feared a broken tooth, nor so sweet that it stuck excessively in teeth. It will please those who like sweets. 

Ingredients: Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin added as an emulsifier, natural vanilla flavor); butter (milk, natural flavor); sugar; corn syrup (light corn syrup, water, high fructose corn syrup, salt, vanilla); titanium dioxide; iron oxide; carmine and mica.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles peanuts and tree nuts..."

Noi Sirius - Milk Chocolate with Caramelized Almonds - Feb. 15?, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Noi Sirius

Milk Chocolate with Caramelized Almonds and Icelandic Sea Salt (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 283.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information (purchased at store in Iceland)

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Almonds Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Caramel and Golden Sugars Week. 

Today's Milk Chocolate with Caramelized Almonds and Icelandic Sea Salt (bar) was produced by Noi Sirius (Reykjavik, Iceland)--a large family-owned chocolate and confection company founded in 1920.

The aroma of this bar was relatively subtle. (I also sampled this in a cold room. Cold chocolates/foods are sometimes less aromatic.)

Aroma and flavor notes included smooth milk chocolate and cream caramel. A generous helping of nut (almond) bits were incorporated into thick, creamy milk chocolate; and the nuts contributed a crispy-crunchy texture.

The sweet-salt balance between sea salt and caramelized sugar was approaching "addictive snack" territory. (Caution: I wouldn't recommend trying this bar if you're overly hungry.) 

One of my favorite things about this bar was the Icelandic milk. The whole milk and skim milk powders and the almonds helped to balance the sweetness in a lower percentage (33%) cacao chocolate, and contributed to a sense of satisfying fullness.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, cocoa mass, emulsifier (soya lecithin), bourbon vanilla; cocoa solids: minimum 33%), caramelized almonds (14%) (almonds, sugar), sea salt (1%).

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk, soy, tree nuts (almonds).) "Produced in a factory which works with milk, soya, tree nuts and wheat."

Vosges - Raw Almond Butter 80% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Vosges
Raw Almond Butter (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges, online order 

Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate this holiday. And welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

Today's Raw Almond Butter (bar) was from Vosges IP, LLC (Chicago, IL). This 80% cacao chocolate was part of the company's LAB VHC collection of bars that contain "whole cacao" constituents including: "cacao berry (cacao berry fiber, cacao berry flour) and cacao fruit puree."

Aroma notes for this bar included: both deep, dark dense, roasted chocolate, as well as a simultaneous aroma of sweeter, more nuanced chocolate (with faint fruit and sweet nut notes), and a barely there hint of vanilla. 

The ebony-hued chocolate had both smooth and crunchy, integrated particulate elements. There were also occasional light-colored flecks of what could have been either lucuma or almond.

The balanced flavors mirrored the aroma notes mentioned above. Subtle, crunchy sparkles of flavor fruit, berry, nut (almond) and vanilla contributed lightness and flavor depth to a deeper, flatter cacao base--a tamed Forastero-like cacao variety that had been roasted and alkalized (to bring down acidity, harshness) but still had bold, roasted flavor.

I enjoyed the playful fine-grained blend of flavors and textures, and the choice to go light on the sweeteners (judicious amounts of coconut sugar, lucuma, cacao fruit), and a trace of salt.

Ingredients: Cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate (processed with alkali), coconut sugar, organic almond butter, vanilla bean, lucuma powder, Baja Gold salt, cacao berry (cacao berry fiber, cacao berry flour), cacao fruit puree. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almonds, coconut." "Processed on equipment that also processes milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

Blue Diamond Almonds - Oven Roasted Almonds Dark Chocolate - Feb. 13, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Blue Diamond Almonds 
Oven Roasted Almonds - Dark Chocolate

Good + - Good ++ 

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 30 oz. (1 lb., 14 oz.) (851 g.) in total package

Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $11.99 for 1 package

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

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Oven Roasted Almonds were distributed by Blue Diamond Growers (Sacramento, CA). 

Aroma notes for these chocolate coated almonds included: sweet nuts, roasted almonds and sweet dark cocoa/chocolate.

The aroma and flavor focus was on the whole, roasted, California almonds, as it should have been. Blue Diamond Growers (a cooperative formed in 1910) is one of the largest almond processors and marketers of almonds in the world.

The chocolate covering with quite thin (as chocolate coatings go) and added sweetness and mild dark cocoa/chocolate flavor. (Sweetness was supplied by sugar and stevia.)

The roasted aroma and flavor of these thinly coated, whole almonds was seductive. The combined sweet, nutty and barely detectable savory (sea salt) taste gave them a slightly addictive quality.

Ingredients: Almonds, sugar, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), corn maltodextrin, natural flavor (dark chocolate), sea salt and rebiana (stevia extract).

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts (almonds)."

Srsly Chocolate - Sea Salt + Almond 70% Dark (bar) - Feb. 12, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Srsly Chocolate 
Sea Salt + Almond 70% Dark (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: East West Bookstore, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Sea Salt + Almond 70% Dark (bar) was from Srsly Chocolate (Austin, TX). The makers used cacao from the Dominican Republic to create this chocolate.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with sweet wood, nut/seed and botanical (sweet green, sweet lemon) and fruit (cherry).

This relatively thick, well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap (in a cold, 59 degree F. / 15 degrees C. room). 

The deep dark chocolate had hearty cocoa/drinking chocolate flavor, with medium, balanced acidity--flavor that was welcome on a cold morning. I felt like I was sipping a warm mug of flavorful dark chocolate.

The combined sea salt and smattering of almond bits on the back of the bar added a counterweight to the dark chocolate and fruit flavors and the taste mirrored, and delivered on, the rich, complex aroma notes.

This balanced, well-executed dark chocolate had satisfying, substantial single origin cacao flavor and aroma, depth and breadth.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic almonds, salt.

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

Omnom Chocolate - Milk Chocolate with Sea Salted Roasted Almonds (bar) - Feb. 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Omnom Chocolate
Milk Chocolate with Sea Salted Roasted Almonds (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories in 1 bar
Cost: 699 ISK ($4.82 USD) for 1 bar (exchange rate 145 ISK = 1 USD) 
Purchased from: Kr (store) in Vik, Iceland 

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

Today's Milk Chocolate with Sea Salted Roasted Almonds (bar) was from Omnom Chocolate (Reykjavik, Iceland).

Aroma notes for this sweet, creamy chocolate included: milk chocolate, butter cream, nuts (lightly salted almonds).

This 45% milk chocolate was a skillful meld of textural, flavor and geographic-source opposites: 1.) buttery smooth and nut-crunchy; 2.) faintly tart sweet fruit (sweet orange, berry) grounded a bit by richer chocolate; and 3.) sweet and salty. 

Iceland has fine dairy products (skyr (think yogurt), butter, and sheep and cow milk/cream)--often the case for countries located far from the Equatorial belt* where cacao grows. 

The judicious use of sea salt (just enough to be addictive) reminded me of the saltworks in Iceland. And the salt helped balance the sugar content in this 45% cocoa solids (i.e. relatively higher sugar %) chocolate. 

A generous helping of chopped (sea salted) almonds from Mediterranean climate(s) added crunchy texture and helped mellow and tie these elements all together.

This milk chocolate was a bit sweet for me, but this fact (observation) did not stop me from "tasting" a whole bar. Warning: don't eat wonderfully rich, sweet and salty bars like this if you're overly hungry. 

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (Organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, Icelandic whole milk powder, organic cocoa beans from Madagascar, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), almonds, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "Designed and made in Iceland, in a facility that handles nuts, dairy, gluten and sesame seeds..."

*Cacao trees typically grow in warm/temperate rain forest areas (often in coastal areas or great river valleys)--in a geographic "belt" approximately 20 degrees above and/or below the Equator. 

It is possible to grow cacao a few degrees north or south of this limit (e.g. in Hawaii) if you're near the sea/water--that helps moderate temperature extremes. In these cases, the cacao will often adapt with a higher seed (cacao bean) fat (cocoa butter) content, just as we might wear a jacket in cooler weather.

Touched by Nature - Almond Dips - Dark Chocolate Raspberry - Feb. 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Touched by Nature
Almond Dips - Dark Chocolate Raspberry 
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (30 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $3.99 for (1) total package (Thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: Ross Dress for Less (store), Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Touched by Nature Dark Chocolate Raspberry Almond Dips were distributed by Thrive Brands LLC (Chicago, IL).

Aroma notes included: authentic, subtle red berry (red raspberry tea); gentle, authentic dark chocolate (chocolate wafer cookie); and mellow nut (almond).

Crunchy, whole roasted almonds were clothed in a thin coat of dark chocolate, and (then rolled in) an even thinner outer layer of raspberry powder, giving them a textured, raspberry red-pink hue.

I love authentic dark chocolate, fruit flavors and nut flavors. However, chocolate covered fruit and nut confections are often loaded with sugar, and/or suffocated by sugar-sweet, glossy chocolate exteriors. 

I felt so grateful today to enjoy the more subtle, natural roasted almond flavor and crunchy almond texture at the heart of these dark chocolate covered nuts. There were no thick, glossy finishes; and the dark chocolate used was smooth and not too sweet. (Thank you!)

For those wanting a more natural chocolate snack, without the sugar buzz, I recommend trying this (or other members of the Touched by Nature line of snacks) for a refreshing change of pace. These raspberry almonds would also make an attractive garnish on a dessert plate.

Ingredients: "Roasted almonds, dark chocolate [cocoa liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, lecithin (from soy), vanilla extract], freeze dried raspberry powder.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: almonds, soy." ("vegan, gluten free")
 

Rawmio - Sprouted Almond & Sea Salt 70% Peruvian Cacao - Feb. 9, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Rawmio
Sprouted Almond and Sea Salt 70% Peruvian Cacao
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Rawmio Sprouted Almond and Sea Salt 70% Peruvian Cacao (bar-shaped "bark") was made by Windy City Organics, LLC  (Northbrook, IL).

Made with Organic 70% Peruvian cacao the maker describes this chocolate as follows: "Stone Ground Raw Chocolate and topped with crunchy sprouted almonds, a sprinkle of Celtic sea salt, and lightly sweetened cacao nibs..."

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar(k) included: smooth, balanced, unroasted cacao and chocolate; faint warm spice; nut (almond); faint, sweet herbal green/botanical; very faint coconut; and barely there sweet wood.

Crunchy almonds and cocoa nibs made a great foil for the smooth dark chocolate base. As is often the case for higher quality unroasted cacao, the chocolate was quite low in bitterness and acidity. The field of whole almonds further neutralized acidity, balanced sweetness and mellowed the flavors. 

Judiciously seasoned, this Organic chocolate was low in sweetness. (It was lightly sweetened with coconut sugar and yacon.) I preferred this over a sugar buzz; and my teeth felt grateful afterwards. It was also low in salt. (I could barely taste the sea salt.) Since I like savory chocolates, I would have been OK with a bit more; although I enjoyed being able to really taste the raw chocolate and cacao nibs.

The end result: an almond studded, vegan and fairly traded, chocolate with pleasant, mellow and authentic flavors that reminded me what roasting cacao does. Roasting can give you more robust flavors (think espresso), and it can cover up off flavors; but with roasting you can also lose gentle, authentic flavors when you roast/process high-quality cacao.

Ingredients: Organic, raw cacao nibs; organic coconut sugar; organic raw sprouted almonds; organic raw cacao butter; organic yacon sweetened cacao nibs; sea salt

Allergen-related information: Contained almonds. "Produced in a raw, vegan, and certified organic facility which processes tree nuts and seeds, but no aflatoxin peanuts, soy, gluten or dairy." 

Vosges - Grateful Dead Raw Honey Smoked Almond (bar) - Feb. 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Vosges
Grateful Dead Raw Honey Smoked Almond (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges, part of a larger online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

Today's Grateful Dead Raw Honey Smoked Almond (bar) was created by master chocolatier, Katrina Markoff, and team, at Vosges IP LLC (Chicago, IL). This bar was inspired by music and memories; or in the words of Katrina, "Crafted with Grateful Dead."

Aroma notes included: chocolate, diffuse fruit (jelly), faint honey, nuts, and almond butter.

And this bar had a satisfying creamy + crunchy melt and mouthfeel.

I could make out that the crunchy bits were almonds and possibly "buttery toffee" bits mentioned on the packaging. But the flavors were fairly homogenized, and more mild than I expected.

This was a "mellow" chocolate. The cocoa used to make this chocolate was treated with alkali (a process that reduces acidity and stronger flavors). 

In the past I've really enjoyed smoked almonds with chocolate; but the savory kick I was looking forward to was fairly muted. The hickory smoked almond bits in this chocolate added a very subtle smoked and salt taste, and helped balanced the sweetness. There was also a very faint, sweet brown rice note (likely brown rice syrup) that also may have quieted other flavors a bit. 

Ingredients: "Chocolate processed with alkali, honey, raw, cocoa butter, hickory smoked almonds (almonds, vegetable oil canola, safflower, and/or sunflower oil), salt, corn maltodextrin, torula yeast, sunflower oil, sugar, onion powder, autolyzed yeast, cane molasses, natural smoke flavor (caramel color), sugar, unsalted butter (pasteurized cream, natural flavors), water, brown rice syrup, sea salt, sugar burnt syrup, organic soy lecithin"

Allergen-related information: "Contains: almonds, milk, soy. Processed on equipment that also processes milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

Honeymoon Chocolates - 77% Semuliki Forest Dark Chocolate with honey - Feb. 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates
77% Semuliki Forest Single Origin Dark Chocolate with honey (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 77% Semuliki Forest Single Origin Dark Chocolate (bar)--made with Ugandan cacao, Peruvian cacao butter and raw honey--was from Honeymoon Chocolates (Saint Louis, MO).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (slightly earthy, mild peaty/tannic acid, fermented cacao nibs), and very faint green fruit (banana).

Flavor notes included: chocolate (deep, ultra-dark chocolate, balanced but complex earth, olive fruit); and under these deep jungle notes was a light floral honey sweetness (not as pronounced in sweetness as cane sugar typically is) that managed to cast a few soft rays of honey goodness.

This bar will satisfy ultra-dark chocolate fans and those who like their chocolate less sweet. I enjoyed it. It was relatively high in dark fruit (dried plum)/tannic acidity, and had a balanced bitterness to it. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Chocolate mousse, melon, white peach, and plum"

Ingredients: Organic cacao (Uganda), raw honey, organic cacao butter (Peru)

Allergen-related information: "Free of refined sugar, soy, dairy, and gluten"

Shekoh Confections - Teddy Bear Honey Marshmallow chocolate - Feb. 6, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Teddy Bear Honey Marshmallow chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .6 oz. (16.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece/bear
Calories: 88 calories (estimate) for 1 bear
Cost: $4.50 for 1 bear 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Teddy Bear Honey Marshmallow chocolate was created by Chef and chief chocolatier, Shekoh Moossavi, at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

This cute Teddy had appealing dark chocolate aroma and flavor notes. A thin, well crafted and flavorful chocolate shell contained a soft, light spongy honey marshmallow interior. 

It was an elegant, endearing chocolate novelty bear. Enjoyable by itself, I can also see this as a sweet addition to a birthday or dessert plate as well.

No information on ingredients or allergen-related information accompanied this "to go" item purchased in the Shekoh Confections retail shop. (Weight information and calorie amounts are only my estimates.)

  

Shekoh Confections - Lavender Honey chocolate - Feb. 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Lavender Honey chocolate
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .78 oz. (22 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 122 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $8.90 for 2 pieces (part of a 5-piece box)
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Lavender Honey chocolates were from Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, floral (authentic lavender buds) and very faint tart (lemon) green herb (oxalis).

A perfectly thin, softly crunchy, flavorful dark shell gave way to a creamy, velvety chocolate ganache (filling) with light caramel notes. The honey flavor was very subtle. 

If you like lavender and floral flavors, you'll enjoy this filled chocolate. 

No information on ingredients or allergen-related information for this "to go" item purchased in the Shekoh Confections retail shop. 

 

Shekoh Confections - Hot Chocolate with Honey Marshmallows - Feb. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Hot Chocolate with Honey Marshmallows
Good +++
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown
Cost: $8.50 for 1 cup
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Hot Chocolate with Honey Marshmallows from Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA) was not your usual hot chocolate.

Ooh la la, this hot chocolate beverage was luxuriously thick, creamy and velvety. I found myself eating/drinking this with a spoon.

It tasted like there might be a healthy dose of real cream in this drinking chocolate. I experienced the same pleasure as eating chocolate ice cream. (Hot ice cream?) I also enjoyed the rich chocolate flavor.

Was it sweet with the honey marshmallow? Yes, it was. If given the choice, I'd probably have opted for a little less sugar; but this very special hot chocolate delivered a great tasting (and memorable textural) experience.

No information on ingredients or allergen-related information for this "to go" item purchased in the Shekoh Confections retail shop. I am assuming this hot chocolate contained dairy (milk/cream).

Bee Grateful Farm - Chocolate Honey Caramels - Feb. 3, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Bee Grateful Farm
Chocolate Honey Caramels
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .77 oz. (22 g.) / 4 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: $9.69 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Honey Caramels were handcrafted at Bee Grateful Farm (Steamboat Springs, CO).*

Aroma notes included sweet cream and caramel, and mild sweet chocolate.

These velvety and chewy ebony-colored caramels had a sweet chocolate-y, and buttery flavor with underlying honeyed caramel notes.

Gluten free, these balanced sweets had complex, authentic milk (cream) and honey taste. Yes, they were quite sweet, but they were more "honey" sweet than "white sugar" sweet. 

The package claimed these 100% honey-sweetened treats wouldn't stick to my teeth like sugary caramels would, and that was true.

Maker's notes: "...golden sweetness honey meets the rich creaminess of organic grass-fed cream and butter..."

Ingredients: Wildflower and alfalfa honey, organic cream, chocolate extract, organic butter, organic cocoa powder, Utah salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: milk"; gluten free

*Bee Grateful Co. is based in Phippsburg, CO.

Hogarth - Manuka Honey & Cacao Nibs 66% Cacao - Feb. 2, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hogarth Chocolate Makers 

Manuka Honey and Cacao Nibs 66% Cacao (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++

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

Calories: 194.1 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Manuka Honey and Cacao Nibs 66% Cacao (bar) was created by Hogarth Chocolate Makers (Nelson, New Zealand). 

The company offers a variety of chocolate bars (single origin and with flavor inclusions) made with fairly traded and organic ingredients. 

Today's bar--made with Peruvian cacao--was a collaboration with "You're a Honey"-- a New Zealand supplier whose bees have created prized Manuka honey from manuka* tree flower nectar.

Aroma notes for this bar included: honey butter, dark chocolate, and faint green maple. The relatively thick bar had a hearty smooth texture punctuated by softly crunchy cacao nibs.

The flavor was remarkable for its undulating honey and flower pollen notes, and smooth, but flavorable, dark chocolate that had subtle red/berry fruit notes. Cacao nib pieces balanced the richly sweet honey tones and added extra unsweetened, pure cacao flavor depth (with mellow wood, nut/seed and earth notes). 

Normally, 66% dark chocolates taste too sweet for me; but I loved the layers of authentic floral honey flavor in this bar. 

Maker's tasting notes: "...a chocolate with full honey flavour and a little fruit, balancing out the sweetness with bitter, crunchy cacao nibs."

Ingredients: Cocoa solids 66% (Organic, fairtrade cocoa beans; organic, fairtrade cocoa butter); organic, fairtrade sugar; Manuka honey (5%).

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk and nuts." "Gluten free; Soy free"

*Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) is a flowering plant/tree in the myrtle family, native to New Zealand and southeast Australia. It's also known as manuka myrtle and New Zealand tea tree. Manuka flowers in Nelson (NZ) are said to have a high pollen content and the flavor imparted (into what is often a thicker honey) was appealing and unique.

The most poetic description of manuka honey I found was a frequently quoted passage said to come from the Honey Traveler website: "aromatic with damp earth and heather notes and a cool menthol (or eucalyptus) taste and rich flavour of mineral, barley sugar and herbs."

Vosges - Black Raspberry with Fermented Black Tea 93% (bar) - Feb. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Vosges
Black Raspberry with Fermented Black Tea 93% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Today's Black Raspberry with Fermented Black Tea, Raw Honey and Whole Cacao 93% Cacao (bar) was from Vosges IP, LLC (Chicago, IL). 

Vosges offers a range of attractively designed chocolates (bars and confections). This bar was part of the company's "LAB collection" made with no refined sugars and using the "entire cacao pod."

Aroma notes for this bar included: ultra-dark chocolate (deep, dense forest, earth) and very faint fruit (berries).

I enjoyed the texture--a blend of fine-grained crunchy and creamy cocoa elements (including "cacao berry fiber and flour" and cacao fruit puree. 

Flavor notes included: chocolate (deep cacao flavors -- de-fanged Forastero*), faint flickers of bright fruit (raspberry, very faint mango), and very faint, fruity black tea. During a relatively long finish, there were dark chocolate and berry cereal notes.

For a 93% cacao dark chocolate, this was well balanced, and a bit sweeter than expected. Use of raw honey and cacao "fruit, fiber and seed" added sweetness and enjoyable flavor complexity.

Ingredients: Unsweetened chocolate processed with alkali, cocoa butter, raw honey, cacao berry (cacao berry fiber, cacao berry flour), cacao berry flour, blueberry, black raspberry, ceylon black tea, cacao fruit puree. 

Allergen-related information: "Processed on equipment that also processes milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

*The unsweetened chocolate used to make this bar was treated with alkali, a process that smooths out the rough edges and makes the chocolate/cocoa taste less acidic/bitter. The very deep, dense cacao flavor reminded me of Forastero variety cacao beans. The addition of black raspberries and blueberries (dark berries) as well as cacao pulp and black tea, added a friendly amount of balanced fruit and tannic acidity.