Fortunato Chocolate - Cacao Nibs and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate 84% Squares - July 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fortunato Chocolate
Cacao Nibs and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate 84% Squares
Good ++
Weight: 2.05 oz. (58 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total package
Calories: 360 calories in 2 servings (squares)
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Fortunato Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Peru Week.

Today's Cacao Nibs and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate 84% Squares were from Fortunato Chocolate (Issaquah, WA). The company became known for their 68% dark chocolate offerings, and later added higher percentage cacao offerings, including today's squares with additional (100%) cacao nibs.

These generously sized squares were made with "Organically Grown Pure Nacional* Cacao."

Subtly complex aroma notes included: dark chocolate, faint savory (salt/brine), very faint diffuse fruit and fermenting fruit, and very faint green, floral and spice.

Each dark chocolate square had a smooth, creamy, almost light/whipped texture. The added Fortunato cacao nibs increased the overall/average cacao percentage and were incorporated into the base chocolate.

The attractively complex and well-balanced flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes listed above, with more chocolate (chocolate-y, dark chocolate torte/ganache) and a judicious hint of sea salt.  

Ingredients: 68% Fortunato dark chocolate (organically grown cacao and cocoa butter 68%, cane sugar 32%), Fortunato cacao nibs (organically grown cacao nibs), sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: May contain traces of hazelnut and almonds." (Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

*Nacional cacao beans were rediscovered in the Peruvian Andes around 2011. (This cacao fell victim to disease in the early 1900s.) The sought-after cacao variety typically has mild and complex flavors, creamy texture and low levels of bitterness.

Ranger Chocolate - Oregon Sea Salt Chocolate Bar - July 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Company
Oregon Sea Salt Chocolate Bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 349 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Oregon Sea Salt Chocolate Bar (Batch 34) was from Ranger Chocolate Company (Portland, OR).

The bean-to-bar makers described this collaboration bar (and series of bars with salt) as follows: "Our sea salt adventure explores salt harvested from the Pacific Ocean. In Oregon, we teamed up with our neighbors at Jacobsen Salt Co.

"We paired their Pure Flake Finishing Salt with our beloved Salitral cacao beans from Peru. Sea salt is turned into the chocolate to add texture and retain its true flavor."

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (chocolate-y, dark chocolate torte), diffuse red fruit (red grape, berry), and savory (barely detectable, salty, fermented fruit and red wine)).

This attractively complex dark chocolate and Oregon salt blend had a smooth, thick creamy texture (at 68 degrees F./20 degrees C.) and melt, smooth, very slightly fruity (berry, red grape) dark chocolate (smooth, rich drinking chocolate) flavor with tiny upticks of sea salt (and, interestingly, black pepper in some bites).

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic sugar, cacao butter, sea salt

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