Hedh-Escalante Chocolatier - Swedish Chocolate Ball - Sept. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hedh-Escalante Chocolatier
Swedish Chocolate Ball
Good+ - Good ++
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in 1 ball
Calories: 215 calories (estimate) in 1 ball
Cost: $3.50 (35 Swedish Kr.) for 1 ball
Purchased from: In-flight purchase, SAS airline flight to Stockholm, Sweden 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Scandinavian Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Swedish Chocolate Ball was from Hedh Escalante Chocolatier (Malmo, Sweden). Jan Hedth and Maria Escalante have been producing a variety of chocolate confections since 2005, including some specially made for SAS Airlines--which is where I found today's Chocolate Ball.

Aroma notes for this round confection included: chocolate (fudge-cake), butter, and very light coconut.

The texture was soft, almost cake-like chocolate interspersed with chewy coconut shreds on the outside/covering.

Flavor notes for this generously sized ball included: rich chocolate fudge cake, with slightly buttery, nutty, mocha, very faint vanilla--and coconut.

Ingredients: "OATMEAL (Gluten free), Lactose free butter (pasteurized CREAM, lactase enzyme, salt), Sugar, Dark chocolate 70% (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier, lecithin (SOY), vanilla), Syrup, Coconut, Cocoa powder, invert sugar, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate) (E202), Coffee, Vanilla, Salt.

Allergen-related information: (Contains dairy, soy.)

Fjak Sjokolade - 72% Mork (Dark) Guatemala Alta Verapaz, Lachua (bar) - Sept. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade
72% Mork (Dark) Guatemala - Alta Verapaz, Lachua (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .935 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.87 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: 85,00 (Norwegian Kroner) / $7.98 (USD) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hotel Ullensvang (Hardangerfjord), Norway

Welcome to Day #7 of Scandinavian Chocolate Week.

Today's 72% Mork (Dark) Guatemala - Alta Verapaz, Lachua (bar) was from Fjak Sjokolade (Eidfjord, Norway).

The company produces the chocolates in small, single origin batches.

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate (ganache) and balanced botanical (sweet green, floral, nut, seed).

The texture was rich, chocolate-y and smooth with a slight astringency toward the finish.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, and faint caffe latte, dried fruit (peach), and very faint green sweet nut/seed. 

This dark chocolate was relatively low in bitterness, but not in flavor. It had nice, elegantly complex and well-balanced flavor notes that extended into a pleasant finish.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Velvety dark chocolate with apricot and a touch of light roasted coffee notes"

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, Cane Sugar & Cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed.)