Patricia's Chocolate - The Tea Collection 2.) Heartwarming Cinnamon, 3.) Peaceful Peninsulas - Jan. 27, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Patricia's Chocolate

The Tea Collection 
2.) Heartwarming Cinnamon tea chocolate - Good + - Good ++

3.) Peaceful Peninsulas tea chocolate - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total box of 6 pieces
Calories: 156 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $16.50 for 1 box of 6 (different) pieces
Purchased from: Patricia's Chocolate, online order

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

Today I sampled two more flavors in the Tea Collection (assortment) created by Patricia at Patricia's Chocolate (Grand Haven, Michigan), in collaboration with Michigan blended Light of Day certified organic teas and tisanes.

Heartwarming Cinnamon tea chocolate

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractive, generously-sized, filled chocolate included: dark chocolate and balanced herbal/botanical spices (cinnamon bark, rooibos (herbal tea), faint star anise and clove).

Peaceful Peninsulas tea chocolate

Aroma and flavor notes for this Michigan-inspired tea chocolate included an intriguing blend of complex fruit (cherry, berry, elderberry, and apple toward the finish), faintly herbal warm spice, faint fluxing floral, and very faint green tea.

This unique and subtle blend conjured up images of sitting in a garden, surrounded by soft scents of ripe lush fruits and flowers. 

Both chocolates were well-crafted, thoughtfully-balanced tea chocolates. Each element contributed satisfying bouquets of aroma and flavor. 

The dark chocolate couverture (outer covering) for these two palet-style pieces was thin, almost softly crispy (in a cold room at 65 degrees F. (18.3 degrees C.)). The chocolate was thick enough to impart flavor, but not thick enough to overpower the more delicate tea, fruit and floral infusions in the smooth, velvety ganache fillings that were creamy and fresh tasting.

The choice of a dark(er) chocolate also helped prevent these two filled confections from being too sweet (thank you).

Maker's notes: "...artisan chocolates...handcrafted in the French tradition from the finest non-GMO fair trade couverture cocoas." Made without preservatives, artificial flavorings, or additives.

Ingredients: (Ingredients listed on box, were for all six (different) chocolates. So it was difficult to determine the exact list for each individual chocolate.)

Allergen-related information: Ganache fillings contain dairy (heavy cream, unsalted butter). Some flavors may contain traces of nuts. Contact Patricia's Chocolates for more detailed information.

 

Patricia's Chocolate - The Tea Collection (assortment box) - 1.) Earl Grey Tea - Jan. 26, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Patricia's Chocolate
Earl Grey Tea chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total box of 6 pieces
Calories: 78 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $16.50 for 1 box of 6 (different) pieces
Purchased from: Patricia's Chocolate, online order

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

Today I sampled the first flavor in a Tea Collection assortment -- an Earl Grey Tea chocolate -- created by Patricia's Chocolate (Grand Haven, Michigan).

Aroma notes for this attractive, generously-sized, filled chocolate included: dark chocolate (balanced cocoa, very faint earth and oxalis (tart lemon-green herb) and very faint tea.

The dark chocolate outer shell was flavorful (bold but well balanced dark cocoa) and had a "just right" thickness (relatively thin, but thick enough to securely contain a creamy, velvety ganache (filling)--with a very pleasing Earl Grey/Lady Grey* tea infused chocolate taste.

This was a well-crafted, well-balanced tea chocolate. Each element contributed great flavor. The dark chocolate was, happily, more complex than the rather bland dark chocolate(s) that are often used for confections. 

And the tea components (which included some very light floral ingredients) still had a chance to shine. There was also a light, lingering Earl Grey tea finish. The more bold/darker chocolate also helped prevent this chocolate from being too sweet.

Maker's notes: "Our original Earl Grey ganache has blossomed into an exquisite confection with cream suffused with black tea, blue cornflowers, lavender, calendula petals, vanilla, and of course, oil of bergamot."

Ingredients: (Ingredients listed on box, were for all six (different) chocolates. So it was difficult to determine the exact list for each individual chocolate.)

Allergen-related information: Allergen-related information: Ganache fillings contain dairy (heavy cream, unsalted butter). Some flavors may contain traces of nuts. Contact Patricia's Chocolates for more detailed information.

*Lady Grey tea (named after Mary Elizabeth Grey, was introduced (and trademarked) by Twinings Tea in England in the early 1990s). This black tea contains the traditional Earl Grey bergamot (oil) flavor (derived from the aromatic bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) citrus peel) as well as other lighter citrus (lemon, orange peel) elements. 

The bergamot citrus fruit is a cross between a bitter orange and a lemon. Other similar bergamot oil infused tea blends may also contain citrus peel(s) as well as calendula (pot marigold) flower petals and lavender buds. 

In 2016, Twinings further extended their bergamot-flavored tea portfolio, and began offering new versions of Earl Grey tea (including one with lavender).