The Xocolate Bar - Organic, Fair Trade 70% Bear Hug (bar) - Aug. 31, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

The Xocolate Bar
Bear Hug Organic, Fair Trade 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Phoenix Gift Shop, Big Sur, CA

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

Today's Bear Hug Organic, Fair Trade 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from The Xocolate Bar (Berkeley, CA). 

The fruit flavor was supplied by a sleuth* of berry-flavored gummy bears--embedded in 70% dark chocolate. The description read: "a tender gift for someone who needs a bear hug."

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and authentic fruit (red raspberry + ripe blackberry + light purple grape) candy or jam. 

The front side of this bar was sober, serious and smooth dark chocolate. The back side was a wild candy party scene--adorned with an abundant field of tiny white sugar sprinkles. Frolicking in this field were the aforementioned berry-hued gummy bears...And the two sides, happily, co-existed harmoniously.

The organic, fair trade 70% dark chocolate kept the sugar in check, so this wasn't overly sweet (thank you!). 

Ingredients: "fair trade dark chocolate*, (cacao,* sugar,*, sunflower lecithin), gummy bears (tapioca syrup,* sugar,* pectin, grape juice,* citric acid, natural color, natural flavor, vitamins C E & A), sprinkles (sugar, cornstarch, carnauba wax) *organic..."

Allergen-related information: "Vegan; organic" 

*A "sleuth" of bears is a term referring to a group of bears observed together in one place.

Utopick Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao Rare Citrus (bar) - July 30, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Utopick Chocolate SL
Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao Rare Citrus (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Bean to Bar Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao Rate Citrus (bar) was from Utopick Chocolate SL (Valencia, Spain). 

Aroma notes included: chocolate with light, fleeting fermentation (alcohol), subtly layered citrus (lemon, orange), very faint warm citrus spice and lemony bittersweet herb.

The flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes above, but with richer chocolate-y notes and a slight, balanced tart (sweet sour) bitterness. The small strips of sweetened citron peel on the back of the bar added upticks of lemony flavor.

I enjoyed this sophisticated blend of two relatively bold flavors: citron peel and chocolate. Citron peel, (usually candied) is used in cooking/baking, beverages, cocktails and desserts. It's a popular citrus fruit flavor accent in Europe, but relatively rare to find in the U.S. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Roasted cocoa, orange juice, grandmarnier and vermouth herbs."

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, cane sugar, pure cocoa butter, citron, glucose and dextrose.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts, egg and milk protein, soya and gluten, due to the presence in our factory."

Astor Chocolate - Chocolate Cliche - Milk Chocolate Key Lime (bar) - July 29, 2023

Chocolate of The Day 

Astor Chocolate 
Chocolate Cliche Zero Flocks Given Milk Chocolate Key Lime (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.12 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cost Plus World Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Cliche Zero Flocks Given Milk Chocolate Key Lime (bar) was from Astor Chocolate (Lakewood, NJ).  The company offers a wide variety of chocolates using "premium Belgian chocolate that is sustainably produced."

Aroma and flavor notes for this milk chocolate bar included: dark milk chocolate, citrus (lemon, lime) and faint vanilla.

The texture of the base milk chocolate was smooth and creamy. Tiny, barely visible, citrus bits emitted tart-sweet lemon/lime sparkles that cooled into a slightly bitter citrus peel in sweet milk chocolate finish. 

Milk chocolate and citrus fans will find this bar an entertaining summer chocolate. (The package features a cartoon flamingo with sunglasses lounging in a pool, with "zero flocks given.") 

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, whole milk powder, soy lecithin (emsulsifier), and natural vanilla extract), dried lemon peels, dried lime powder, citric acid, natural lemon flavor, and natural citrus flavor.

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