Thursday, May 25, 2023

NearyNogs - Wild Irish Dulaman Gorse Flower & Irish Seaweed (bar) - May 25, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

NearyNogs
Wild Irish Dulaman Gorse Flower & Irish Seaweed (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .705 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Flowers Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's Wild Irish Dulaman Gorse Flower and Irish Seaweed (bar) was from NearyNogs Chocolate Makers (in their Mourne Coast facility/Newry, Northern Ireland -- with views of the Mourne mountains and the Irish Sea). The company produces a line of small batch, bean-to-bar, stoneground chocolates, some with locally-inspired flavors. 

The two Irish flavor inclusions: 1.) Edible Gorse flowers (Aiteann gallda) seen as small, dried yellow petals) Some species have a faint coconut scent., and 2.) Irish seaweed that added a light salty/umami note. Together, these two unique flavor inclusions were skillfully harmonized with each other-- and with the fruit (red fruit) flavors in the dark chocolate. 

Aroma notes for this well-tempered 70% dark chocolate included: dark chocolate, diffuse red fruit (red grape), evasive floral and very faint salt/savory notes

Flavor and finish notes were subtly complex, with an appealing, smooth but hearty, dark chocolate base (made with single estate cacao from Zorzal, in the Dominican Republic) with natural, balanced ripe fruit sweetness, sweet floral, very faint salt/savory and light caramel tones. 

I enjoyed this bar, with rich, pleasing flavors that included a light touch of endemic Irish floral and marine elements.

Maker's description: "Local foraged Irish channel wrack seaweed, just like the ancients foraged, paired with gorse ("whin") flowers, Irish bean to bar, craft chocolate"

Ingredients: 70% Organic Dominican Republic Chocolate, (70% cacao beans and sugar) seaweed and dried gorse flowers.

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




Standout Chocolate - Saffron 70% (bar) - May 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate
Saffron - 70% Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150.75 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar (yellow dot)
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA  

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Week.

Today's (Seasonal Collection*) Saffron 70% (bar) was handcrafted by Standout Chocolate (Kallered, Sweden).

Cacao origin: OKO Caribe, Dominican Republic 

Oko Caribe (Eco Caribbean)--acts as a co-op, central fermentery and organic certifier, and purchases (wet) cacao beans from more than 150 farmers in the Duarte Province. Fermented and dried cacao beans (from DR and other cocoa growing nations) are sold to chocolate makers around the globe. The cacao has been described as having red fruit and subtle wood notes. 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (very faint diffuse red fruit and wood) and faint earthy herbal (freshly cut grass) and floral (saffron, chysanthemum). 

The 70% dark chocolate base had a smooth, almost creamy texture, and a relatively bold dark flavor (that tasted a bit darker than 70%).

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, herbal (freshly cut sweet green grass, earthy root (dandelion)), floral (saffron), and faint, fleeting slightly bitter earth. The chocolate tasted a bit on the darker, bolder side with a very faint bittersweet sharpness. The faint earth notes may have come from the cacao, the saffron, or both.

This relatively complex dark chocolate with earthy botanical and floral notes was interesting to try. The maker did a good job of navigating and trying to harmonize the raw flavors.

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Cane sugar*, Cacao butter*, Saffron* (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of milk.

*St. Lucia saffron buns are a Christmas holiday tradition in Sweden.




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