20/20 Chocolates - Chuao 70% Cacao (bar) - June 29, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

20/20 Chocolates
Chuao 70% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.09 oz. (31 g.) / 2.19 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 169 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Bienvenidos (welcome) to Day #8 of Chocolate and Venezuela Theme Week.

Today's 20/20 Chocolates Chuao 70% Cacao (bar) was made, tree-to-bar, from cacao grown at "Hacienda Luna Clara C.A," (Chuao, Aragua) in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Aroma notes for this single origin/estate Venezuelan chocolate included: dark chocolate, fruit (subtle red berry, plum and ripe sweet blackberry) and faint warm spice (similar to a steamed Boston molasses brown bread with raisins + cinnamon), and barely detectable clean mineral water used to make a refreshing oolong tea.

The texture and melt were very smooth (silky and creamy).

The flavor notes included fainter versions of the aroma notes above. The taste was, as it usually is, more chocolate forward (true chocolate, sweet cocoa, smooth dark ganache with faint diffuse berry/fruit and barely detectable earth). There was a, fleeting, barely detectable (oolong tea-like) astringency toward the finish, but it was very mild and well-balanced.

I recommend you savor this chocolate slowly. Take some time to smell first, then taste. The "nose" was delightful--a soft blend of complex fruit and very light mineral, spice and tea--in addition to chocolate. The texture and flavor were silky smooth and sophisticated. (I'm guessing the cacao used was a fine Criollo* variety (gently complex and flavorful), possibly with a few Nacional or Trinitario cacao varietal traits--which can include slightly bolder, more acidic fruit (light citrus, berry) notes.

A wonderful single origin bar like this starts with a very fine cacao, which is then very skillfully executed into a very fine chocolate. (Thank you!) This chocolate showed why people have extolled the virtues of Venezuelan cacao for a very long time.

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging that I could find.)

*Criollo cacao pods are often smaller and more delicate (and sometimes more disease prone). But their lighter hued beans are highly prized for their delicate and complex "heritage" aroma and flavor notes that can include stone fruits, delicate berries, and cream. 

K+M Chocolate - Milk Chocolate Truffle Fries 55% Bean to Bar - June 28, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

K+M Chocolate
Milk Chocolate Truffle Fries 55% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .95 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 148 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sweet Shop, Los Altos, CA 

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

Today's Milk Chocolate Truffle Fries 55% Bean to Bar (bar) was from K+M Chocolate (Napa, CA). The company was formed by Chef Thomas Keller and Armando Manni.

This Truffle Fries bar was inspired by the namesake side (dish) at Chef Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bistro (Yountville, Napa County, CA).

My two favorite foods, potatoes and chocolate, both originated in South America. Today's chocolate was made with cacao grown in Ecuador and Venezuela, and contained bits of potato ("truffle fries") (terroir not known).

Full disclosure: I really enjoy trying chocolates with savory/umami flavor inclusions. Today's bar included flavors that were not only an homage to a chef's signature dish, but were also flavor notes naturally found in cacao (slight vegetable/potato and earth).

Aroma notes for this 55% dark milk included: dark milk chocolate; subtle, savory potato dish; and very faint truffle. 

The melt and mouthfeel were creamy; and the tiny pieces of shoestring potato added a lightly salted, crunchy textural element.

Flavor notes included rich and satisfying dark milk chocolate malt with faint potato and even fainter slightly loamy earth (similar to some cacaos and black or white truffles).

I'd hoped for a fun and delicious tribute to two of my favorite foods. And this well-executed, balanced blend in a chocolate bar delivered.

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, RBST-free whole milk powder (milk), organic cocoa butter, truffle oil (pure olive oil, white truffle aroma), shoestring potato (potato, cottonseed oil, salt), organic sunflower lecithin, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk.)

 

K+M Chocolate - Supplant - Orange Dark Chocolate 70% Venezuela (bar) - June 27, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

K+M Chocolate + Supplant
Orange Dark Chocolate 70% Venezuela (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Orange Dark Chocolate 70% Venezuela (bar) was made by Keller + Manni Chocolate (Napa, CA), with Supplant*, a sweetener (from Supplant, Inc.) described as sugars from upcycled plant fibers in a process that "uses more of the harvest").

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, sweet orange extract (orange soda), faint saline (although there was no salt), and very faint roasted coffee + cacao.

Made with Venezuelan cacao, this 70% dark chocolate had a creamy initial melt and texture.

It had approachable flavors; it was not too bitter or acidic. The smooth dark chocolate texture and flavor were uniform and balanced. 

There was very faint (barely detectable) chalkiness/dryness toward the finish, but it was buffered by cocoa butter and other ingredients and not objectionable. 

And, last but not least, this bar was not too sweet (thank you).

Ingredients: Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Sugars from Fiber (Oligosaccharides, Cellulose), Coconut Sugar, Sunflower Lecithin, Orange Extract. 

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

*This bar was made in Napa at K+M Chocolate for Supplant Inc., Irvine, CA. Supplant is hoping their offering is better for people (fewer calories, prebiotic, fiber, lower glycemic response) and the planet (made from upcycled plant fiber, prevents waste).

K+M Chocolate + Supplant - Dark Chocolate 70% Venezuela (bar) - June 26, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

K+M Chocolate - Supplant
Dark Chocolate 70% Venezuela (bar)
Good +  
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate 70% Venezuela (bar) was made by Keller + Manni Chocolate in Napa, CA for Supplant (Irvine, CA)*.

Supplant is a sweetener made of sugars from "upcycled plant fiber" (that) "uses more of the harvest".

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, faint, well-integrated, sweet, dried fruit, and very faint (barely detectable) mild vegetable (baked potato, sweet greens, avocado).

The melt and texture were relatively smooth and creamy.

Flavor notes included: smooth, uniform dark chocolate followed by earthy cacao notes. 

I really enjoyed that this 70% cacao dark chocolate wasn't overly sweet. The very slightly bitter earth notes (likely from the cacao itself), seemed well-managed/constrained by the maker, but were a bit too much. (It was not strong enough to call this a "dirt bar" but it was detectable. Some people will be fine with this flavor, others not so much.)

Ingredients: Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Sugars from Fiber (Oligosaccharides, Cellulose), Coconut Sugar, Sunflower Lecithin. 

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

*This bar was a collaboration, made in Napa at K+M for Supplant Inc., Irvine, CA.

 

Thomas Keller - K + M Dark Chocolate Carenero Venezuela 68% Cacao (bar) - June 25 , 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Thomas Keller
K+M Dark Chocolate Carenero Venezuela 68% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .95 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 147 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sweet Shop, Los Altos, CA

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

Today's K+M Dark Chocolate Carenero Venezuela 68% Cacao (bar) was from Keller Manni Chocolate (made in Napa, CA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, roasted coffee/latte, wood, faint diffuse red fruit (cherry, berry), and very faint, fleeting sweet green (dried banana), sweet orange, and warm spice.

The texture was creamy smooth with a very slight fruit astringency in the finish.

And flavor notes included: chocolatey (drinking chocolate, cocoa), faint wood and diffuse fruit(s), similar to the aroma notes above.

Because I enjoy less sugar, I sometimes ask myself: Would a higher percentage (e.g. 72% vs. 68% cacao) version of this chocolate have tasted better? Often the answer is maybe, but other elements might become less balanced or too dominant. Maybe that very subtle astringency would have been too high; or, maybe the chocolatey/hot cocoa notes were actually more fun with a bit more sugar. I respect the complex decisions chocolate makers and chocolatiers make. 

This bar highlighted attractively complex aroma and flavor elements from Venezuelan cacao. The aroma and flavor had some mellow (wood) barrel-aged notes in it. Traces of an aromatic, aged whisky cocktail (Manhattan with a cherry and small orange peel--but without the alcohol and more complexity) mixed with sweet, smooth drinking chocolate with warm spice. Not a bad combination.

Maker's notes: "Crafted with sun-dried Carenero cacao from Venezuela's Barlovento region, this delightfully dark bean-to-bar chocolate has an intense cocoa flavor with notes of dried cherry, tobacco, cinnamon and spice."

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic cane sugar, Organic cocoa butter, Organic sunflower lecithin

Allergen-related information: (None found on label.)

La Feverie (Hasnaa Chocolats Grands Crus) - 77% Chuao Aragua Venezuela (bar) - June 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

La Feverie (Hasnaa Chocolats Grands Crus )
77% Chuao Aragua Venezuela (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's 77% Chuao Aragua Venezuela (2017 Harvest) (bar) was from La Feverie (Hasnaa Chocolats Grands Crus) (Bordeaux, France).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, brown/dried fruits (faint fig, faint dried banana), very faint, fleeting rye bread and molasses.

This well-tempered bar broke with a snap and had a slightly coarse texture/mouthfeel, in part due to some tart fruit astringency. 

There was no cocoa butter added to this two-ingredient bar--bucking the trend of this past several years in craft chocolate. So many chocolate makers add cocoa butter that you can miss it when it's not there to "cushion" some stronger flavors and add creamier texture. 

The more pleasant fruit nuances in this Venezuelan cacao were diffuse and subtle; and adding cocoa fat may have silenced what was there. Making bean-to-bar chocolate is not for the faint of heart. 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (cocoa nibs) and brown/dried fruits (faint fig, faint dried banana, citrus (pink grapefruit), trinitario cacao pulp)--with astringent dried fruit kicking in after the first several seconds and lingering into the first part of the finish, along with a very faint, flicker of avocado.

This 77% cacao dark chocolate tasted more like an ultra-dark bar (85%+) because of its bold, frisky brown and citrus-like fruit astringency, and lack of flowery natural sweetness. This rougher chocolate had personality and complexity (which I generally like); but, I felt like the maker may have been working with a challenging batch of cacao. She succeeded. And I felt grateful to be able to taste this chocolate, even if it was a different experience from Chuao bars from years ago.*

Chuao and Porcelana have been legendary Venezuelan cacao-growing regions for a very long time; and they may be so again in the future. In recent years there have been challenges in Venezuela that I'm guessing might have affected the cacao supply chain. 

Maker's notes: "Sweet and sour notes of fresh citrus fruit, and tricky smoked flavours."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans and Organic Cane Sugar

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

*Single origin cacao flavors can also vary from harvest to harvest, season to season, year to year--just like wine.

A. Morin - Venezuela Carenero Noir 70% (bar) - June 23, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

A. Morin
Venezuela Carenero Noir 70% (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194.4 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Venezuela Carenero Noir 70% (bar) was from A. Morin (Donzere, France). 

The cacao origin for this chocolate is Carenero (a small town in the Miranda region) in north, central Venezuela (east of Caracas). 

Aroma notes for this "pure origin" (single origin) cacao chocolate included: fudge-y deep, dark chocolate, dried fruit (plum, fig, apricot/nectarine, dark cherry, cacao pulp), faint citrus, faint sweet green botanical/floral (banana), and very faint graham cracker and clean mineral.

The flavor included a deeper dive into the fudge-y dark chocolate, and a continuation of the intriguingly complex bouquet of fruits mentioned above--with a fleeting whisper of buttered fresh bread and jam. This 70% bar also had a pleasant subtle lingering, clean finish, with barely there fleeting jam and almond butter notes.* 

Great balanced fruit and cacao complexity. Not too sweet; not too acidic or bitter. Smooth texture; relatively low in fruit astringency. This was a well-executed winner in my book.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, nuts and sesame"

*Aroma and flavor notes mentioned in write-ups on Chocolate Banquet reflect what I'm smelling and detecting as I'm tasting a chocolate. Cacao varieties, like wine grape varieties, are naturally complex. If I mention plum jam or almond butter, that doesn't mean the chocolate contains fruits or nuts.

A. Morin - Venezuela Porcelana Noir 70% (bar) - June 22, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

A. Morin
Venezuela Porcelana Noir 70% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194.4 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Venezuela has historically produced some of the best tasting cacao in the world. It's one of the "cradle" regions where cacao originated* (along with Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and parts of Central America). 

Economic and political changes in Venezuela in the past decade have been challenging at times. Thankfully there are still Venezuelan cacao-based chocolates available; and I still look forward to featuring Venezuela origin weeks, every year or so, or when I find seven new chocolates to feature.

Today's Venezuela Porcelana Noir (Dark) 70% (bar) was from A. Morin (Donzere, France). The company's chocolate making legacy "has been passed from father to son since 1884."

Aroma notes for this well-executed single origin chocolate included: dark chocolate (ganache, fudge brownie) and faint fruit (blackberry).

This bar had a smooth, almost creamy melt. 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (rich, dark, hot drinking chocolate); complex, subtle fruit: dark berry (ripe blackberry) and faint fleeting tropical (passion fruit); and very faint, balanced earth (dark forest loam) toward the finish.

A. Morin (maker's) notes: "This cocoa, with porcelain colored pods, is grown in the Maracaibo** region. A chocolate with roasted aromas before nuts come and complete the vegetal notes, and then ends on a hot chocolate savor."

I enjoyed the subtle complexity and appreciated the treatment of the deep rich, natural flavor notes in this Venezuelan chocolate. 

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, nuts and sesame"

*Cacao trees (Theobroma cacao) trees are believed to have evolved in the Amazon rain forests of northern South America approximately 10 million years ago. Evidence of human cultivation of cacao goes back 5,300 years ago. I can't help but wonder if wild foraging could have started earlier to that.

**The Maracaibo region in NW Venezuela where today's cacao (used to make this chocolate) originated is steeped with fascinating natural phenomena (Catumbo lightning strikes over a large pendant shaped lake) and interesting history (surrounding indigenous peoples, cacao's genetic diversity, pirates, and oil exploration). I'd enjoy a short visit there if it were more feasible. In the meantime, I'll have to be content with reading stories, watching YouTube videos, and tasting chocolate with roots in this region.

Perugina - Dark Chocolate 51% Cacao Premium Chocolate (bar) - June 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Perugina
Dark Chocolate 51% Cacao Premium Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) / 3 oz. (86 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Perugina Dark Chocolate 51% Cacao Premium Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by Nestle Italiana S.p.A., Milano, IT).*

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: smooth, sweet dark chocolate (sweet green floral, vanilla, marshmallow, roasted cocoa, and very faint aromatic smoke/tobacco and malted crisped rice).

The bar had a creamy melt and thick, almost velvety texture.

Flavor notes included: sweet cocoa; chocolate-y (dark chocolate mousse, torte, ganache); sweet vanilla; creamy, sweet hot cocoa/drinking chocolate; and an almost undetectable (very faint, balanced) earth/dense forest (Forastero-like cacao variety) note in the finish.

This chocolate was described on the label as "...a surprisingly gentle and aromatic dark chocolate." 

A gentler flavor and/or smoother texture can be created from a more intense cacao variety in several ways: 1.) alkalize the cacao (neutralizing/reducing natural acidity and bitterness); 2.) conch/grind cacao mass for a longer period of time (reducing particle size and yielding a smoother flavor and texture); 3.) add cocoa butter for natural creaminess and vanilla to mellow/sweeten flavor.

Most small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate makers who source high-quality (and typically more expensive) single origin cacao beans may add cocoa butter (the fat portion of the cacao bean); but they rarely alkalize cacao or add vanilla to their single origin chocolate bars. As with wine, these makers aim to showcase unique and special varietal flavors, not to produce a uniform flavor year over year.

However, if you've ever done a side-by-side tasting of hot chocolates (made with processed (dry) cocoa powders with and without alkalizing) you'll understand why higher-volume manufacturers choose to "smooth out the rough edges" across different cacao batches/harvests/origins. There are more customers who prefer sweet and smooth cocoa (made with "tamed" cacao that was rougher (or occasionally lower quality) to start with) and at a more affordable price point. 

Today's skillfully executed 51% chocolate falls at the high-end of high-volume chocolate.

Ingredients: Sugar, chocolate** (processed with alkali), cocoa butter**, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla flavor. (** Rainforest Alliance Certified)

Allergen-related information: "May contain milk and tree nuts."

*Perugina chocolates date back to 1907. Baci-Perugina was created by Luisa Spagnoli in the early 1900s; and the company was acquired by Nestle S.A. (Vevey, Switzerland) in 1988.

Karuna Chocolate - Raspberries and Dark Chocolate 70% (bar) - June 20, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Karuna Chocolate 
Raspberries and dark chocolate 70% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 151.8 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Raspberries and dark chocolate 70% (bar) was from Karuna Chocolate (Velturno, Belzano/South Tyrol, in northern Italy).  

Aroma notes included: relatively bold, balanced dark chocolate with authentic red berry (red raspberry).

Flavor notes for this vegan chocolate included: bold dark chocolate (very faint roasted cacao/nut), authentic red raspberry--complete with dried raspberry fruit flecks, and tiny upticks in tart-sweet berry flavor.

Dark chocolate fans will appreciate the deep dense cacao flavor (with faint balanced forest/earth notes), and a 70% cacao + fruit chocolate that wasn't too sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, raw cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, freeze dried raspberries* (1%). Cocoa min. 70%. (*certified organic)

Allergen-related information: "It may contain traces of nuts."

Aruntam - Caffe Latte 48% Caffe Napoletano & Latte Italiano (bar) - June 19, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Aruntam Sensory Chocolate
Caffe Latte Dark Milk 48% Caffe Napoletano and Latte Italiano (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Caffe Latte Dark Milk 48% Caffe Napoletano and Latte Italiano (bar) from Aruntam Sensory Chocolate (made at JoyFlor srl in Milano, Italia).

The company describes this "Italian Life Style" milk chocolate this way: "Esteemed Coffee from India with delicate chocolate notes, roasted in Naples, and united with the best Italian milk, creates a chocolate bar that will delight your palette."

Aroma notes for this bean to bar craft chocolate bar included: fresh coffee (cappuccino) blended with subtle sweet, rich cocoa; and very faint salt caramel.

The texture and melt were creamy. There was a very slight dryness (astringency) about 4 seconds in my mouth; otherwise is was quite smooth.

The 48% milk chocolate had smooth cocoa and fudge flavor with very faint nut and earth notes. This well-balanced blend was relatively complex and rich for a lower-percentage (<50%) cacao chocolate, and wasn't overly sweet (thank you!). The coffee and whole milk added authentic flavor and helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: "organic cacao beans, Italian whole milk, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, coffee (4%); Emulsifier: organic sunflower lecithin." (Cacao: 48% min.)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and may contain traces of nuts.

Sabadi srl - Prickly Pear Peels & Marjoram (bar) - June 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Sabadi srl
Prickly Pear Peels and Marjoram (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120.75 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA 

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

Today's Prickly Pear Peels and Marjoram (bar) was from Sabadi srl (Modica, Italy).

The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Ecuador. The prickly pear peels were, I'm guessing, from cactus fruits (Opuntia ficus indica*, aka fico d'india) grown in Catania (Sicily). These fruits are said to symbolize life in Catania (near Mount Etna)--a life that can include adapting to tough conditions and overcoming thorny obstacles, as well as enjoying sweet fruit.

Aroma notes for this "cold-processed organic chocolate" included: smooth dark chocolate and aromatic herbal (marjoram, thyme)** notes.

The base dark chocolate--peppered with crunchy sugar crystals--was relatively sweet (60%) and smooth.

Flavor notes for this 60% cacao chocolate included: smooth dark chocolate infused with authentic marjoram herbal flavor. I couldn't really pick out prickly pear peel flavors (perhaps a mild diffuse fruit sweetness and a few tiny fibrous botanical bits. (The peels did add some fiber, if not distinct flavor.)

I enjoyed the flavors. Marjoram was the most notable flavor inclusion, but all three elements (sweet cocoa, marjoram and prickly pear peels) were blended skillfully together.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass (organic, from fair trade producers, presidio slow food) -- origin: Ecuador -- variety: Nacional Fino de Aroma; cane sugar (organic, slow food), prickly pear peels (organic) (min. 2%), marjoram (organic) (min. 0.7%). Cocoa: 60% minimum.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts, milk and soy"

*Rose-colored when ripe, prickly pear cactus fruits in the Americas are sometimes known as cactus pears (from the nopal cactus) in English, or "tunas" in Spanish. 

**This bar contained marjoram, but no thyme to my knowledge. As always, write-ups on Chocolate Banquet include observations about and descriptions of aroma and flavor notes (like wood, nut, herb, floral). These notes are perceived/tasted, but are not necessarily literal.

Kitchen & Love - 85% Cocoa Extra Dark Chocolate Covered Almond Stuffed Dates - June 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Kitchen and Love
85% Cocoa Extra Dark Chocolate Covered Almond Stuffed Dates
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .89 oz. (26 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 112 calories in 2 piece serving
Cost: $4.49 for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: Crossroads Specialty Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's 85% Cocoa Extra Dark Chocolate Covered Almond Stuffed Dates were from Kitchen and Love Foods ("Cucina et Amore"), and were imported into the U.S. by Cucina and Amore Inc (Novato, CA). They company began with Italian specialty foods and has expanded over time.

Aroma notes for these individually-wrapped treats included: dark chocolate, dried fruit (date) and nut (roasted almond).

The texture was a layered blend of thin dark chocolate shell, moist date, and crunchy almond at the center.

Flavor notes included: bold dark chocolate, date and roasted almond. I enjoyed this flavorful, complementary trio of flavors and textures. The 85% dark chocolate and the almond helped balance the sweet date fruit.

Ingredients: "Dates, Dark Chocolate [Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Powder, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Whole Milk Powder, Natural Vanilla], Almonds, Salt."

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Tree Nuts, Milk and Soy."

Sabadi - Zen, Zenzero Cioccolato Di Modica I.G.P. Biologico (bar) - June 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Sabadi srl
Zen - Zenzero Cioccolato Di Modica I.G.P. Biologico 
(Zen - Organic Modica Chocolate with Ginger (bar))
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 118 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Zen - Zenzero Cioccolato Di Modica I.GP. Biologico (bar) was from Sabadi srl (Modica, Italy), and imported into the U.S. by A. Priori Specialty Food Importing and Distribution (Salt Lake City, UT).

The dark chocolate had a smooth/even flavor, and a crunchy texture--from tiny sugar crystals, giving this bar a stoneground texture, and slightly more layered sweet taste.

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet, dark chocolate; subtle warm ginger; and very faint malt.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cane sugar, ginger (0.6%). Cocoa 60% minimum.

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: nuts, milk and soy"

Karuna Chocolate - Date Sugar Dolcificante Ai Datteri Dark Chocolate 80% (bar) - June 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Karuna Chocolate 
Date Sugar Dolcificante Ai Datteri Dark Chocolate 80% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 154 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Date Sugar Dolcificante Ai Datteri Dark Chocolate 80% (bar) was from Karuna Chocolate (Velturno, Belzano/South Tyrol, in northern Italy).  

The cacao used to make this bold dark chocolate was from Oko Caribe in El Cibao Region, Duarte Province, in north central Dominican Republic.

Aroma notes included: bold dark chocolate and very faint dried fruit (date and very faint caramelized dried, green banana), and very faint brown sugar.

The chocolate had a creamy, thick melt and smooth texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (deep, dark fudge, subtle earth, roasted cacao), faint dried fruit, and very faint sparkles of clean mineral water and barely there dark, bitter stout and dark roasted nuts. Instead of being sweetened with cane sugar, the maker(s) chose to use date powder, giving it a very faint date/brown sugar flavor. 

This made "without added sugar" ultra-dark bar had a balanced bitterness, and a relatively subtle fruit acidity.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, date powder*, cocoa butter*; Cocoa min. 80% (* certified organic)

Allergen-related information:  "It may contain traces of nuts."

Karuna Chocolate - Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate 80% (bar) - June 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Karuna Chocolate 
Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate 80% (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 157 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate 80% (bar) was from Karuna Chocolate (Velturno, BZ/South Tyrol, in northern Italy).  

Aroma notes included: pleasing dark chocolate (dark rich cocoa), subtle dried fruit (plum) and faint brown sugar.

This 80% bar, made with cacao grown in the Dominican Republic, had a creamy smooth melt and texture.

Flavor notes included: deep, rich dark chocolate (cocoa, fudge brownie), balanced stone fruit (plum, nectarine) acidity, very light sweet green, brown sugar, and very faint ale/porter, soft earth and fleeting warm spice, nut, and clean mineral water.

I really enjoyed this satisfyingly complex ultra-dark chocolate. It had very balanced, mild bitterness, and a wonderfully nuanced bouquet of single origin cacao and raw sugar notes.

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans*, raw cane sugar*, cocoa butter* (Cocoa min. 80%) (*certified organic)"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts" 

Rimini - Hazelnut, Sicilian Pistachio & Italian Espresso Chocolates - June 13, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Rimini Chocolate
1.) Hazelnut - Good ++ - Good +++
2.) Sicilian Pistachio - Good ++ 
3.) Italian Espresso - Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 3 pieces out of a total 25-piece box
Calories: (No information; this was a gift)
Cost: $ N/A - gift from family (Thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - Mother's Day gift

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

Today's Hazelnut, Sicilian Pistachio and Italian Espresso chocolates were from Rimini Chocolate (Colorado). 

After spending time in Rimini, Italy, owner and chocolatier Michael Schneider opened two Italian-inspired gelato and chocolate shops in Vail and Beaver Creek (CO) in the U.S.

These attractive, Italian-inspired, filled chocolates were skillfully executed blends of texture and taste. Flavor notes included rich, smooth dark/bittersweet chocolate and delicious soft, flowing caramel ganache flavored centers. 

The Hazelnut chocolate had almost impossibly silky smooth, sweet filling with authentic,  appealing hazalnut/gianduja flavor. The thin, attractively decorated dark chocolate shell had balanced boldness (very faint, fleeting earth) that helped balance the sweetness and natural nut flavor. The layered chocolate and hazelnut flavors were in perfect balance with each other.

Sicilian Pistachio very faint oxalis in aroma. Much like an excellent Italian pistachio gelato, the authentic pistachio flavor bloomed gradually after the first bite. And the texture of the filling was, like the Hazelnut, silky smooth.

 And the Italian Espresso was a faithful rendering of this most satisfying beverage.

Rimini describes their Italian Espresso filled chocolate this way: "...This...Tuscan pick-me-up presents rich caramel infused with fresh roasted Italian style espresso surrounded by dark chocolate." The texture, like almost all the chocolates in this collection was superb: silky smooth, almost whipped, yet very rich. 

This was a caramel, mocha cappuccino to remember. If I lived in Colorado, I would try out their gelato flavors as well. I'm sure they are good.

The centers were flavorful (and just a little bit salty like other ones?? or no). And the flavors were high-end, fresh and authentic.

They were well-executed, what you're more likely to see from a ?? trained chef/chocolatier. The couverture thicknesses were just right (not too thick). Everything was well-balanced--smooth yet flavorful. Not too sweet; and well balanced with salt. And their elegant, hand "painted" appearance made them well-suited for gifts.

Ingredients: (Received as a gift; outside packaging/information had been removed.)

Allergen-related information: (May have contained milk.) (No information.) 

 

Rimini - Tahitian Vanilla, Single Origin Dark, Raspberry, Spiced Orange - June 12, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Rimini Chocolate
1.) Tahitian Vanilla - Good + - Good ++
2.) Single Origin Dark - Good ++
3.) Raspberry Caramel - Good ++ - Good +++
4.) Spiced Orange Caramel - Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 4 pieces out of a total 25-piece box
Calories: (No information; this was a gift)
Cost: $ N/A - gift from family (Thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - Mother's Day gift

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

Today's four filled chocolates: Tahitian Vanilla, Single Origin Dark and Raspberry Caramel, were from Rimini Chocolate (Colorado). 

After spending time in Rimini, Italy, owner and chocolatier Michael Schneider opened two Italian-inspired gelato and chocolate shops in Vail and Beaver Creek (CO) in the U.S.

Filled chocolates tend to have fainter aromas. The notes I could detect for these Italian-inspired, high-end chocolates included: faint chocolate and authentic spice and fruit notes.

These attractive chocolates had skillfully executed blends texture and taste. 

Tahitian Vanilla flavor notes included: rich, flowing sweet caramel filling (balanced with a slightly earthy note in the dark shell, and faint, authentic vanilla bean. Aroma notes also included very faint, sweet tart green (oxalis).

The Single Origin* Dark chocolates were filled with a silky smooth dark ganache. Very pleasing on the palette. The thin dark shell that surrounded the ganache was smooth and flavorful. Aroma notes also included rich cocoa and a very faint fruit.

The Raspberry Caramel chocolate had an exceptionally good silky chocolate caramel ganache with a heavenly texture: light and lofty and almost flowing. All this was heightened by authentic sweet tart red raspberry infused flavor (the best fresh raspberry jam you can imagine, without the seeds). Aroma notes also included subtle, fresh raspberry fruit. This was a favorite.

The Spiced Orange Caramel was just as wonderful as the Raspberry Caramel. The same rich but yet light and fluffy at the same time (an apparent contradiction skillfully achieved). The spice and orange and chocolate flavors were in perfect balance.

The chocolates in this 25-piece assortment box were well-executed in every respect. The couverture thicknesses were just right. The ganaches were silky smooth. The flavors were fresh and authentic. Everything was well-balanced--smooth yet flavorful. They were not over-sugared. And their elegant, hand "painted" appearance(s) made them perfect for a special gift.

Ingredients: (Received as a gift; outside packaging/information had been removed.)

Allergen-related information: (May have contained milk.) (No information.) 

*The cacao origin wasn't listed; it tasted like a high-end, smooth dark chocolate.

 

Ranger Chocolate Co. - Oregon Wine Country Pinot Noir Chocolate Bar - June 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Co.
Oregon Wine Country Pinot Noir Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 174 calories (estim.) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Cheese Theme Week. Wine and cheese pair well. (See below for a suggested cheese pairing with today's bar.)

The Oregon Wine Country Pinot Noir Chocolate Bar from Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR) was part of the company's Oregon Adventure Series.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (faint sweet green, light caramel spice) and balanced, bright fruit (purple grape).

This well-tempered bar broke with a snap and had the taste and feel of a thoughtfully made dark chocolate. (It took "500 hours to make this chocolate..." and it shows.) 

Tasting notes: deep, dark fudge-y chocolate; bright, tart-sweet red/purple wine grape fruit (with faint raisin and fig); and light spice and sweet floral green notes in the finish. There was a very faint, fleeting fruit astringency in the finish; but otherwise it was very smooth.

The dark chocolate was robust but smooth; and the pinot noir added fullness and fruit. The two tasted fully integrated and harmonized very nicely.

I enjoyed this chocolate with a small slice of manchego (Spanish sheep) cheese. I'd recommend this pairing.

Maker's description: "This bar infuses Adelsheim Vineyard's annual Pinot noir harvest directly into our chocolate making process--a wine and chocolate pairing like never before."

Ingredients: "organic cacao, organic sugar, cacao butter, Pinot noir grape, sea salt" 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that uses gluten, egg, milk, tree nuts ingredients." ("Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free")

Fjak Sjokolade - 70% Mork Sjokolade and Alde Sider (bar) - June 10, 2023

 Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade 
70% Mork Sjokolade and Alde Sider
(70% Dark Chocolate and Alde Cider)
Good ++
Weight: .935 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.87 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate Cider (bar) was made by small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker Fjak Sjokolade (Hardanger, Norway).

Founded by two women in 2015, the company offers a variety of single origin bars and chocolates with local Nordic flavors.

Today's chocolate with infused with Norwegian hard cider from Alde (Hardanger, Norway)--a region known for its apples, plums and cherries. The cacao used to make this bar was from Tanzania (Kilombero Valley).

Aroma notes for this Norwegian bar included: dark chocolate, diffuse fruit (apple juice), faint brown sugar, and even fainter sweet green botanical, almost floral.

This well-tempered bar broke with a snap, and had a smooth texture with a very mild tart fruit astringency.

This was a harmonious and well-executed blend of 70% dark chocolate and apple cider, with nuanced flavor notes. The relatively bold dark chocolate balanced the sweetness of the apple and the sugar in the dark chocolate base. The apple cider contributed fruit with gently undulating, pleasant apple flavors and balanced acidity.

I enjoyed the first few bites of this chocolate without any cheese. And then paired it with an aged cheddar cheese. A camembert (commonly paired with hard cider) or similar cheese might have worked too. However, the apple flavors in the cider were delicate and enjoyable enough that I might avoid very strong cheeses.

Maker's description: "bold and boozy"

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, dried apple* and Cider from Alde (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: Processed in a facility that handles nuts, dairy and gluten.

Fjak Sjokolade - 45% Milk & Brown Cheese (bar) - June 9, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade 
45% - Milk and Brown Cheese (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .935 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.87 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 143.3 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 45% Milk and Brown Cheese (from Undredal, Norway) (bar) was from small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker Fjak Sjokolade (Hardanger, Norway). 

Established by two women in 2015, this Norwegian maker offers a variety of single origin chocolates. Some (Nordic Collection) items are also infused local natural flavors--such as Norwegian brown cheese. (Other flavored bars include: apple cider, berries, reindeer moss and lingonberry, and Norwegian gingerbread.)

The cacao used to make today's Norwegian brown goat cheese* milk chocolate bar was from PISA (Haiti).

Aroma notes for this unique cheese bar included flavorful dark milk chocolate, diffuse fruit (sweet red berry) and a slight savory/salt note.

This uniquely Norwegian 45% milk chocolate was, texturally, a blend of smooth and very slightly crunchy (sugar/salt sparkles?)

The creamy dark chocolate with slightly milk-muted flavor tones made for a tasty milk chocolate. It was bold enough to retain smooth dark cocoa, red berry and very faint cedar notes. 

The brown goats cheese was mellow and mild and, along with a touch of sea salt, created a very harmonious blend with the chocolate and a very satisfying tasting experience--especially if you enjoy savory pairings with your chocolate. 

This chocolate was neither too sweet (thank you!) nor too salty.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, milk powder*, brown goats cheese and sea salt (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: (Contains dairy.) Processed in a facility that handles nuts, dairy and gluten.

*Brunost or brown cheese is uniquely Norwegian. It's often eaten in thin slices, with bread or toast. It's made by heating whey (from cheese-making process) and milk, and has a slight caramelized flavor and "brown" hue.

Fjak Sjokolade - Brunost Karameller Med Sjokolade - June 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade
Brunost Karameller Med Sjokolade 
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 8 pieces
Calories: 136 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $26.00 for 1 box of 8 caramels
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Brunost Karameller (Brown Cheese Caramels and Milk Chocolate) confections were made by Fjak Sjokolade (Hardanger, Norway). 

Norwegian brown cheese* already has a bit of caramel flavor, so it seemed like a natural complement to a chocolate caramel in the hands of a skilled maker. (It was.)

These square caramels were a study in artful contradiction. Uniform but layered, harmonious yet complex. These milk chocolate caramels were silky smooth, yet also had a brief, very slightly granular (cheese) phase--that melted and morphed back to satin smooth. A bit of a magic trick.

Flavor notes: Sweet caramel and flavorful 45% milk chocolate. And the maker(s) successfully incorporated a third element: a balanced, very slightly savory note (brown cheese), without the end product being too sweet or salty. There's no need to over-season great, high-quality flavors. (Fjak used single origin cacao, and local dairy/Norwegian brown cheese products.)

These caramels were well executed, fun to try, and tasty. They were great by themselves. One or two of these rich caramels filled me up. They also would be interesting to try on a fruit and cheese plate, and possibly with other sweet and savory (cheese) pairings.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (cocoa beans*, sugar*, dry milk*, cocoa butter*), sugar*, cream*, butter*, brown cheese*, glucose, invert sugar, sea salt*, baking soda (*organic).

Allergen-related information: Allergens: lactose (contains dairy)

*Brown cheese is made by boiling whey (a liquid, cheese by-product) down to thick, sweet caramelized form. It is uniquely Norwegian, and is difficult to find elsewhere. It is often cut off a block, into thin slices, and served on bread/toast. It may be eaten as part of a breakfast sandwich of toast, brown cheese and jam, or as part of a snack.

Vosges - Parmesan Walnut and Fig 67% Cacao (bar) - June 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Vosges IP, LLC
Parmesan Walnut and Fig 67% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges website, online order

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

Today's Parmesan Walnut and Fig 67% Cacao (bar) was created by Vosges IP, LLC (Chicago, IL).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, faint dried fruit, saltines (crackers) and nuts.

As with yesterday's Vosges 45% Cheddar and Apple chocolate bar, today's 67% aged Parmigiano Reggiano, California walnut and Turkish fig chocolate was smooth with a soft crunch. Particles of authentic cheese and dried fruit items were fully incorporated into a chocolate base.

Flavor notes included sweet dark chocolate, parmesan cheese, walnuts and dried fruit (figs). Very subtle spices (salt, pepper, peppercorns) rounded out this savory chocolate blend.

The complexity was enjoyable, flavors were well balanced and this chocolate was not too sweet (thank you!).

Hats off to Vosges for continuing to create new and wonderful flavor combinations, including a line of chocolates blended with cheeses (parmesan, cheddar, manchego, other). Some of these "cheese" bars also have fruits and/or nuts. 

I love sampling savory chocolate flavors, and creating chocolate and cheese pairings. Blends like this are hard to find.

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla bean seeds), chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla bean seeds), walnuts, dried figs, parmesan cheese (raw milk, rennet, salt enzymes), sea salt, pepper, pink peppercorns.

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

 

Vosges - Cheddar and Apple 45% Cacao (bar) - June 6, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Vosges IP, LLC
Cheddar and Apple 45% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges website, online order

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

Today's Cheddar and Apple 45% Cacao (bar) was created by Vosges IP, LLC (Chicago, IL).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, diffuse fruit(s), and subtle savory (cheese).

Flavor notes included: sweet milk chocolate (sweet cocoa), with fine particles of diffuse fruit (dried apple) and authentic (12-month aged Vermont) cheddar cheese. Subtle warm spices included: vanilla, cinnamon (and very faint (imagined) allspice).

Hats off to Vosges for creating chocolates blended with various cheeses (cheddar, manchego, parmesan, other). Some of these bars also have fruits and/or nuts. I love sampling savory chocolate flavors and creating chocolate and cheese pairings. 

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, vanilla bean seeds), Cabot Cloth Bound Cheddar (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, annatto (if colored), dried apples (apples, sulfur dioxide), cinnamon.

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

Kasama Chocolate - Trust Single Cask Madeira Whiskey 75% Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
Trust Single Cask Madeira Whiskey 75% Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 3/4 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Spirits and Savory Snacks Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Cheese Week.

Today's Special Release Trust Single Cask Madeira Whiskey 75% Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Chocolate was created by Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C.) in collaboration with The Liberty Distillery (Granville Island, B.C.) that makes spirits from "grain to glass."

Aroma notes included: faint, sweet boozy (sherry) infused dark chocolate, and brown sugar.

This chocolate had a smooth texture and flavor. And the creamy melt slowly released luxurious layers of warm, aged whiskey flavor notes, and very faint wood/oak and caramel.

The cacao used to make this bean-to-bar 75% cacao dark chocolate was from the Philippines. And, as mentioned above, The Liberty Distillery helped elevate this chocolate with their Trust Single Cask Whiskey that was aged for three years in Madeira barrels.

I highly recommend savoring this dark chocolate slowly, by itself, to fully enjoy the complex and sophisticated flavors (all very skillfully harmonized) in this special release, three-ingredient bar. 

After several bites, this chocolate also paired nicely with a cheese plate (goat cheese, aged blue cheese and manchego).

Ingredients: "Madeira Barrel Aged Cacao Nibs, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*" (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

NearyNogs Chocolate Makers - Old Fashioned (bar) - June 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

NearyNogs Chocolate Makers
Old Fashioned (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Spirits and Savory Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Old Fashioned 70% Dominican Republic (Zorzal) bar was crafted by NearyNogs Chocolate Makers* (Mourne Coast, Ireland), and was part of the company's Irish Collection--itself a nod to traditional Irish "songs and stories, on walks, in homes, pubs and now in a chocolate factory."

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, faint orange and even fainter sweet whiskey.

This bar had a smooth and satisfying texture and melt. The tiny crystals of burnt sugar embedded in the 70% dark chocolate were a fun and tasty touch.**

The flavors were thoughtfully balanced. The orange bitters (dried orange, bitters) and Irish Whiskey flavors were quite subtle, and seamlessly integrated with a smooth, but flavorful, (70%) dark chocolate base (that had true chocolate notes: dark fudge brownie with ground, roasted nibs). 

I suggest savoring this bar first, by itself, to appreciate the more subtle flavor nuances. Savory snacks (Irish cheddar, blue cheese, chips and savory nuts) followed today's chocolate.

Ingredients: "70% Organic Dominican Republic Chocolate (70% Organic Dominican Republic Chocolate (70% cacao beans and sugar), burnt sugar, dried orange, bitters, irish whiskey, cacao nibs"

Allergen-related information: None listed on packaging. (No common allergens listed in ingredients list.)

*"Neary" comes from a family name and "Nogs" is from Gaelic roots; and roughly translates into English as "the land of the youth, or the eternal land."

**"The old fashioned is a cocktail made by muddling sugar with bitters, adding whiskey and garnishing with a twist of orange rind. It is traditionally served in an old fashioned glass, which predated the cocktail."

Charbonnel et Walker - Dark Sea Salt Caramel Truffles - June 3, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Charbonnel et Walker 
Dark Sea Salt Caramel Truffles
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.26 oz. (26 g.) in total box of three truffles
Calories: 195 calories (estimate) in 3 chocolates/truffles
Cost: $10.95 for 1 box of 3 truffles
Purchased from: Charbonnel et Walker, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Spirits and Savory Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Dark Sea Salt Caramel Truffles were from Charbonnel et Walker (London). Previously, truffles sampled from this historic chocolatier included four spirit-infused flavors: champagne, gin, rum and whisky. (No spirits today; but I did enjoy these with wine and cheese.) 

Aroma notes included: chocolate (cocoa).

The relatively thick outer dark chocolate shell was crunchy, the inner filling was creamy, and the entire truffle was chocolate-y (hot chocolate, drinking chocolate, chocolate mousse). The ganache (filling) also had a subtle salt caramel flavor.

These creamy, crunchy and chocolate-y truffles went well with wine and cheese(s); but would also have been good with savory nuts, sliced fruit, and a sip of salted mocha latte spiked with Amaretto.

Maker's description: " A beautiful mini-heart with three of our delicious Dark Chocolate Truffles with a Sea Salt Caramel center."

Note: There was also an ordering option to add a gift card with a personalized message.

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa fat, soy lecithin), salted caramel (glucose syrup, sweetened condensed nonfat milk, palm kernel oil and palm oil (from a sustainable source), mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, sea salt), cocoa powder (cocoa powder, potassium carbonate).

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and soy. May contain tree nuts and wheat.

  

Rimini - Banana-Rum and Salt Caramel chocolates - June 2, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Rimini
1.) Banana Rum - Good ++
2.) Maple-Bourbon - Good ++
3.) Salted Caramel - Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 3 pieces out of a total 25-piece box
Calories: (No information; was a gift)
Cost: $ N/A - gift from family (Thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - Mother's Day gift

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Spirits and Savory Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Banana-Rum, Maple-Bourbon and Salted Caramel chocolates were from Rimini Chocolate (Colorado). 

After spending time in Rimini, Italy, owner and chocolatier Michael Schneider opened two Italian-inspired gelato and chocolate shops in Vail and Beaver Creek (CO) in the U.S.

Aroma notes for these chocolates included: faint chocolate, warm spice, salt caramel, and very faint spirits.

These attractive filled chocolates were skillfully executed with great blends of texture and taste. Flavor notes included rich, smooth dark/bittersweet chocolate and delicious soft, flowing salt caramel/ganache flavored centers. 

The Banana-Rum chocolate had subtle tropical fruit (banana) and faint salted butter rum flavoring. The Maple-Bourbon filled chocolate had faint, authentic maple and bourbon flavor notes. 

The centers were flavorful (and just a little bit salty). And the flavors were high-end, fresh and authentic.

Last, but not least was the Salted Caramel piece. I paired all of today's chocolates with a savory snack plate (homemade salted potato with cheeses, artichoke, savory almonds); but even so, the salt level in the Salted Caramel was very satisfying even on its own. A dark chocolate shell surrounded a beautifully silky salt caramel center. 

These were my kind of filled chocolates. They were well-executed, likely by a trained chef/chocolatier. The couverture thicknesses were just right (not too thick). Everything was well-balanced--smooth yet flavorful. Not too sweet; and well balanced with salt. And their elegant, hand "painted" appearance made them well-suited for gifts.

Ingredients: (Received as a gift; outside packaging/information had been removed.)

Allergen-related information: (May have contained milk.) (No information.) 

Charbonnel et Walker - Whisky Truffles - June 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Charbonnel et Walker 
Whisky Truffles
Good ++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) / 4.58 oz. (130 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 2 chocolates/truffles
Cost: $29.95 for 1 box of 8 truffles
Purchased from: Charbonnel et Walker, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Spirits and Savory Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Whisky Truffles were from Charbonnel et Walker (London). The company was originally established in 1875, and has supplied chocolates to British royalty ("By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen").

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate, whisky and butter. All three harmonized quite nicely.

These dark chocolate whisky truffles had a buttery smooth and creamy texture, particularly the spirit-infused ganache (filling) centers.

Today's Whisky Truffles were enjoyed with savory snacks (chicken chips and salted nuts).

Maker's description: "Dark chocolate truffles with a dark chocolate, butter and Scotch whisky centre, lightly dusted in cocoa powder."

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa fat, soy lecithin), salted butter (milk), blended Scotch Whisky, cocoa powder alkalised, natural flavoring, soy lecithin. Bittersweet chocolate contains cocoa solids 70% minimum.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and soy. May contain tree nuts and wheat.