Chuao Chocolatier - Golden Goodness Caramelized sugar, cacao nibs (bar) - Oct. 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chuao Chocolatier 
Golden Goodness Caramelized sugar, cacao nibs (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Pumpkins, and Warm Fall Spices.

Today's Golden Goodness Caramelized sugar and 100% cacao nibs in sweet white chocolate (bar) was from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA). 

Aroma notes for this white chocolate and nibs bar included: faint cacao, cookie dough, and faint caramel and vanilla.

Texture: Sweet white chocolate blended with caramelized sugar held an abundant field of crunchy cacao nibs.

Flavor notes included: cocoa nibs, caramel, white chocolate and vanilla. Caramelized sugar added warm flavor depth. And this caramelization, and vanilla, added a feeling of warmth to me. 

Yes, 31% cacao white chocolate is sweet. But the other elements added textural and flavor contrast created appealing complexity. The nibs and a perfect amount of salt helped balance flavors and sweetness level.

I paired this white chocolate bar with a cup of warm spiced tea with cinnamon and vanilla.

Ingredients: "Premium 31% white chocolate (cacao butter, sugar, whole milk powder, lactose, whey powder, nonfat dry milk, caramelized sugar, soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavor, salt), cocoa nibs, pink himalayan salt."

Allergen-related information: Contains: Milk, Soy. No Gluten Ingredients Used.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Coquito Spiced White with Candied Nibs 39% (bar) - Oct. 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Coquito Spiced White with Candied Nibs 39% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Pumpkins, and Warm Fall Spices Theme Week.

Today's Coquito Spiced White with Candied Nibs 39% (bar) was made by Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, New York). 

"Coquito" means little coconut in Spanish. It's also the name of a Puerto Rican cocktail made with coconut milk/cream.

Inspired by this cocktail, the makers at Fruition set about to create this "...Spiced white chocolate featuring candied cocoa nibs for fun contrast and texture." This chocolate was designed to be "warm and cozy to make you feel at home for the holidays."

Aroma notes included: sweet rum spiced cookie and/or cake; faint cocoa; vanilla.

Texture: One side of this creamy white chocolate bar was almost completely paved with crunchy cacao nibs. The end result was, as the maker intended, an enjoyable textural and flavor contrast between the creamy, spiced white chocolate and the smooth, barely sweetened crunchy cocoa nibs.

Flavor notes included: cocoa nibs, white chocolate, warm spices. Not only were the cocoa nibs candied, they were rum soaked nibs. And there was a nice warm echo of rum and vanilla in the finish.

Loved the complexity and contrast, and that the sweetness was very nicely balanced; i.e. despite its almost cookie dough-sweet white chocolate base, the cacao nibs ensured it wasn't too sweet. (Thank you!)

Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Non-Fat Milk Powder, Coconut, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Flour, Cocoa Nibs, Black Rum, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Spiced Rum, Vanilla Bean, Salt. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Tree Nuts (Coconut). May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Wheat, Eggs, Soy, Sesame.