Fjak Sjokolade - 60% Mork Sjokolade (Dark Chocolate) and Nine Sisters Gin (bar) - May 9, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade
60% Mork Sjokolade (Dark Chocolate) and Nine Sisters Gin (bar)
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 #2 of Chocolate and Gin Theme Week. Almost all the gin-inspired/flavored chocolates featured this week are from outside the U.S. 

Today's 60% Mork Sjokolade (Dark Chocolate) & Nine Sisters Gin (bar) was created by Fjak Sjokolade (by the Hardangerfjord--Hardanger, Norway).

Aroma notes for this 60% gin-infused bar included: dark chocolate, fresh, authentic green botanicals, gin, and very faint (possibly imagined) crisp cucumber. 

Smooth initial texture and melt with a slight, granular astringency (toward the finish)--that seemed to disappear after warming up/being open for a few hours.

Flavor notes included: rich, dark chocolate (honey, faint diffuse berry, chocolate torte); green botanicals (fennel, other herbs); gin; fleeting cracked pepper; lemon peel; juniper; very faint, fleeting toasted wood (barrel aged cacao); warm spice; and a sweet dark chocolate finish.

The cacao used to make this bean-to-bar chocolate was from Kilombero Valley, Tanzania; and the Nine Sisters Gin was from Feddie Ocean Distillery (Fedje (Island), Norway).

I enjoyed tasting and exploring (with others) this well-executed and thoughtful blend of chocolate and nuanced gin flavors.

Maker's tasting notes: "Aromatic dark chocolate with notes of juniper, pink pepper, liquorice and citrus" "Boozy and bold"

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, juniper*, lemon peel and gin from Feddie Ocean Distillery. (*Organic)

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

Leith Chocolate - Gin & Tonic Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Leith Chocolate
Gin and Tonic Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 219 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.67 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Gin and Tonic Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Leith Chocolate (South Queensferry, Scotland).

The company sources their chocolate from South America. (The cacao origin of today's bar was Colombia.)

Aroma notes for this 61% Cocoa gin-inspired bar included: dark chocolate, lemon-lime candy, warm floral spice (vanilla), fleeting vanilla and lemon biscuit, and botanicals (juniper). 

This chocolate had a smooth texture, and a relatively rapid melt that led to a softer, loftier/lighter, creamy mouthfeel finish.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, sweet citrus (lemon, lime) and light botanical herbs (juniper and faint, fleeting sweet rosemary) and faint vanilla. 

There was also a very faint, well-balanced citrus peel-like, bitter-sweet note that evoked a splash of tonic water that one would taste in a traditional gin and tonic cocktail.

This dark chocolate was an enjoyable confectionery tribute to a classic gin cocktail.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (cocoa liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, Non-GMO soy lecithin, natural vanilla extract), juniper oil, lemon oil, lime oil.

Allergen-related information: Made in a factory that handles dairy, peanuts, soy and tree nuts.