Fossa Chocolate - Yuan Yang Chocolate - Coffee Jasmine Creme (bar) - Dec. 31, 2024

Chocolate of The Day  

Fossa Chocolate
Yuan Yang Chocolate*
Coffee Jasmine Creme (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 288 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $15.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week. Happy New Year's Eve to all. Today's chocolate is a great bar to kick-off a new year. It's an elaborate fusion of cultures and history distilled into a deliciously complex chocolate.

In the last decade, I've seen (and tasted) more tea and coffee beverage blends--ranging from "dirty** chais" and "dirty" Earls" (Earl Greys) to raspberry (herbal tea) flavored lattes. While this is a relatively new trend in the U.S., tea and coffee blends have a long history.*

Today's Coffee Jasmine Creme (bar) from Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore) has taken a Yuan Yang*-inspired coffee + tea beverage a step further--by introducing this unique blend to a wider audience outside of Asia, via chocolate. (Thank you Fossa Chocolate.)

To make this bar, the chocolate maker(s) collaborated with "Smitten Coffee Roasters' Ethiopian coffee (and) Drifting Snowflakes Jasmine Green Tea curated by Pekoe & Imp." To make the dark milk chocolate base they used Peruvian cacao from (Puerta Pulache, Piura, Peru).

Aroma notes and flavor notes for this blend were as promised: chocolate, coffee, jasmine and cream -- with notes of rich, coffee toffee candy and floral coffee (and jasmine tea) with cream. The jasmine is particularly fragrant when you first open the packaging.

Texture: very creamy and smooth. If there was any slight tea astringency, it was neutralized by the milk.

I really enjoyed this sophisticated, harmonious blend of high-quality, thoughtfully-selected flavors -- from floral, aromatic start to the creamy, satisfying finish. Note: If you like tea and chocolate, Fossa offers some wonderful bars in this area. (My favorite Fossa Chocolate bars contain nuanced and authentic oolong teas.)

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Warm nutty coffee aroma with delicate notes of jasmine and cream"

Ingredients: "Cacao butter, cane sugar, cacao, milk powder, tea leaves, coffee beans"

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk.) "Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy."

*Yuan Yang is the name for a popular beverage in Hong Kong and Singapore that's a blend of coffee, tea, milk and sugar. (The origin story for this coffee + milk tea blend points to it being first served in Hong Kong as far back as 1952.)

**The term "dirty" here in the U.S. refers to the addition of a shot of coffee or espresso to a tea beverage/latte. 

This name "dirty" likely was inspired by the "dirty martini"-- a drink often credited to a New York bartender in 1901. In this cocktail, olive(s) and juice were/are muddled into a vodka or gin martini, giving the alcohol a slightly cloudy or "dirty" appearance.  

ChocolateSpiel - Earl Grey (bar) - Dec. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

ChocolateSpiel 
Earl Grey (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (27 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Etsy.com, ChocolateSpiel, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Earl Grey (bar) was from ChocolateSpiel (Seattle, WA).

Aroma notes included: chocolate; very faint pepper and spice; and barely detectable sweet orange.

Multi-colored, overlapping splashes of colored cocoa butter "paint" gave this bar an attractive/festive appearance.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy with occasional bites of whole almonds. The almonds added textural interest.

Flavor notes included: chocolate (smooth, dark ganache), subtle bergamot (the flavoring in Earl Grey tea), and lightly salted almond.

The skin-free (possibly marcona) almonds on the back also added some flavor depth. It reminded me of tea cookies/snacks -- small butter cookies with large Marcona almonds in the centers that you might enjoy with tea. And the judicious touch of salt balanced out the sweetness.

I liked the sweet and salty plus floral/bergamot tea notes; they all harmonized well together; and I really enjoyed the lingering earl grey flavor into the finish.

Ingredients: Cocoa, almonds, sugar, cocoa butter, earl grey from Key to Teas, salt, colored cocoa butter (Yellow 3).

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of peanut, gluten, tree nuts."

Intrigue Chocolate - Raspberry + Black Tea + Allspice 60% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Raspberry + Black Tea + Allspice 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Raspberry + Black Tea + Allspice 60% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA), in collaboration with Aluel Cellars (Seattle, WA) - the supplier of Aluel's 2021 "Coat of Arms" flagship Bordeaux-style red wine.

Origin story: The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Uganda (Region: Rwenzururu - Semuliki Forest (Type: "Mostly Trinitario and Amelonado"; Year: 2024). (Batch No.: 000000091024). The tea used to flavor this chocolate was Assam black tea.

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache with ripe red fruit (authentic red raspberry, red grape); slight roast-y black tea and warm spice (fragrant allspice*, very faint red licorice).

Texture: smooth and relatively buttery.

Sweetness level: sixty-percent cacao is normally a bit sweet for me (I'm a dark fan). And the raspberry (and red wine) gave it a rich, sweet, bright red berry/fruit boost, while the black tea and cacao provided a balanced, grounded base. I enjoyed the nuances of flavor. This bar had a slight mulled wine taste to it--making it a pleasing winter warmer (and likely a good Valentines Day bar as well).

I enjoyed Intrigue's similar but a bit bolder cousin--Smoked Tea + Allspice bar (featured yesterday) a smidge better. I tend to like smoke-y, almost umami flavors, and I liked that the Jamaican allspice had a chance to shine a bit more in yesterday's bar. (I'll never enjoy plain old grocery store allspice again after tasting the allspice in that bar.) Both tea bars were very tasty.

Like other chocolates from Intrigue, I appreciated the short list of high-quality ingredients, the lack of emulsifiers or other additives, and the use of raw cane sugar. 

Makers tasting notes/description: "...Aluel's (red wine) has a deep fruity complexity, and plays well with the red berries, sweet earthy tea, and subtle spice in this chocolate bar."

Ingredients: "Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, freeze-dried raspberry juice, Assam black tea, Jamaican allspice."

Allergen-related information: None listed on packaging. 

*Allspice (dried, unripe berries that grow on trees) is native to the Americas (West Indies [Caribbean island nations], Central America and Mexico). The earliest drinking chocolates and confections in the Americas included ground cacao beans, flowers, spices (such as allspice), peppers, honey and/or other local flavor inclusions--but not cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg or ginger--spices brought to the New World by spice traders much later.

Intrigue Chocolate - Smoked Tea + Allspice 60% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Smoked Tea + Allspice 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Smoked Tea + Allspice 60% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA), in collaboration with The Pathfinder - Hemp & Root, a patented distilled non-alcoholic spirit.

Origin story: The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Ecuador (Region: Costa Esmeraldas, Muisne Canton (Type: Ecuadorian Nacional hybrids). (Batch No.: 000000111524). The smoked black tea used to flavor this chocolate was Lapsang Souchong.

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate (roast-y, dark ganache with dark ripe berry/almost dark cherry); slight roast-y/smoke-y black tea and warm spice (allspice, cinnamon). (Note: there was no cinnamon, just high-quality allspice in this bar; but that allspice tasted like a whole spice blend in and of itself--thus the name, all-spice.)*

Texture: relatively smooth--with a subtle tea astringency.

The blend of all the flavors full-bodied, wonderful and especially satisfying on a winter morning. I liked many things about this bar. First, this blend was thoughtfully conceived and well executed. And the very slightly smoke-y, sweet flavors all harmonized very nicely.

If you think you've tasted allspice before (hidden in some tame, grocery store apple pie spice blend maybe?), think again. The Jamaican allspice* in today's bar took things to another level, and added a layer of natural sweetness.

Sweetness level: 60% cacao is normally a bit sweet for me, but the rich, authentic tea and spice flavors balanced the sweetness. The chocolate was sweet, but not too sweet for dark fans.

Like other chocolates from Intrigue, I appreciated the short list of high-quality ingredients, the lack of emulsifiers or other additives, and the use of raw cane sugar.

Makers tasting notes/description: "..."We used the deep aromas of Lapsang Souchong (smoked black tea), balanced by the sweet spice complexity of Jamaican allspice, and the cherry/bourbon notes of this cacao to create the perfect pairing..."

Ingredients: "Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, smoked black tea, allspice."

Allergen-related information: None listed on packaging. 

*Allspice (dried, unripe berries that grow on trees) is native to the Americas (West Indies [Caribbean island nations], Central America and Mexico). The earliest drinking chocolates and confections in the Americas included ground cacao beans, flowers, spices (such as allspice), peppers, honey and/or other local flavor inclusions--but not cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger--spices brought by spice traders much later.

Fossa Chocolate - Mu Zha Tie Guan Yin Pekoe & Imp tea (bar) - Dec. 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate 
Mu Zha Tie Guan Yin - Pekoe & Imp Tea Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 276.5 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week.

If you like oolong teas and dark chocolate, you will love this 62% dark bar--made using "fruity and floral" Peruvian cacao (from Puerta Pulache, Piura).

Aroma and flavor notes included: beautiful, authentic, faintly roast-y, traditional oolong tea and smooth dark chocolate. Oolong tea has elements of both green and black tea, but is in a class by itself.

The tea notes lingered into a pleasing, subtle, clean, astringent, green/floral tea finish that lasted for at least 30 seconds after the last bite of chocolate.

Texture: Very smooth (creamy, fudge-y) with a buttery melt. 

I loved the refreshing, faintly floral tea aroma, flavor and finish, and the short list of (four) ingredients. The Peruvian cacao seemed a perfect match with the oolong tea.

Maker's tasting notes: "Aroma of sweet toasty caramel and floral notes with a warming finish"

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, tea leaves

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy."

IQBar - Almond Butter Chip bar + Matcha Chai bar...and Intrigue Chocolate Pomegranate (bar) - Dec. 26, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day 

IQBar 
Almond Butter Chip (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A part of a $14.99 tasting pack with several flavors
Purchased from: IQBar, online order

Intrigue Chocolate 
Pomegranate 50% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Mushrooms Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate Tea, Herbs and Spices Week. 

I enjoyed two IQBar Inc. protein bars (with mushrooms) and a holiday Pomegranate 50% bar today from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).

IQBar - Almond Butter Chip

IQBar Inc. distributes a number of plant protein-based bars (with Lion's Mane), including the two flavors I enjoyed today: 1.) Almond Butter Chip and 2.) Matcha Chai. These were compressed bars with a cohesive, soft chew (think firm cookie dough). 

Both contained 12 grams of plant protein and only 1 gram of sugar. Only the Almond Butter Chip contained chocolate (chocolate chips). And the chocolate complemented the almond flavors and added some satisfying flavor depth. 

I liked that the protein and mushroom powders were fully incorporated and not too grainy.  

The green tea in the Matcha Chai bar provided the tea element in a theme week featuring blends of teas, herbs and spices.

Ingredients: "Almonds, Protein Blend (Pea Protein Crisps [Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch], Pea Protein), Natural Flavors, Prebiotic Blend (Tapioca Fiber, Vegetable Fiber), Coconut Oil, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa, Water, Cocoa Butter, Cinnamon, Sea Salt, Lion's Mane, Stevia Plant Extract, Vitamin E"

Allergen-related information: Contains: Almonds, Coconut

Intrigue Chocolate Co.

Today's Pomegranate 50% Cacao bar from Intrigue Chocolate tasted relatively sweet at 50% cacao; but, a bit more sugar made sense given the bold, acidic and naturally astringent taste of pomegranate fruit and juice.

Pomegranate is a challenging fruit to tackle in chocolate. The maker here used freeze-dried pomegranate juice. Other than a brief flicker of fruit astringency, this well-executed blend was quite well-behaved and worked very nicely. It was enjoyable to try.

Ingredients: "Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, freeze-dried pomegranate juice."

Loon Chocolate - Lion's Mane Dark Chocolate (bar) & CacaoTeca - Rum Truffles - Dec. 25, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Loon Chocolate
Lion's Mane 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2.25 oz (64 g) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar + shipping 
Purchased from: Loon Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Mushroom Week + a bonus holiday chocolate with rum. And Merry Christmas to all who celebrate this festive, winter holiday.

Lion's Mane 70% Dark bar

Today's Loon Chocolate Lion's Mane 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) (Batch #924-74) was manufactured in small batches by White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, New Hampshire).* 

Lion's Mane mushroom powder was from Dunk Mushroom Products and Foraging LLC (Brentwood, NH)--a farm, processing facility, retail store and education center.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate; ripe berry; faint graham cracker; and barely detectable, pleasant woodsy umami.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Lion's Mane Mushroom Powder

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a Facility That Uses Almonds and Milk. Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan" 

*Lion's Mane mushroom powder was from Dunk Mushroom Products and Foraging LLC (Brentwood, NH)--a farm, processing facility, retail store and education center.

Cacaoteca Rum Chocolates

Cacaoteca
Chocolate Rum Truffles
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .58 oz. (16.6 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 12
Calories: 88 calories (estimate) in 2 truffles
Cost: $21.00 for 1 box of 12
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Today's box of Cacaoteca chocolate rum truffles were made with cacao and rum from the Dominican Republic.

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet (milk-y, chocolate-y, fudge-y) filled chocolate with faint, warm spirits (rum) flavor that wasn't too boozy.

Texture: smooth "rum paste" in the center (4% alcohol) surrounded by relatively sweet, creamy smooth chocolate.

Ingredients: Cacao Mass, Powdered Milk, Cane Sugar, Cacao Butter, Rum 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.

Raaka Chocolate - "Mellow Moon" - Functional Dark Chocolate 64% (bar) - Dec. 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
"Mellow Moon" - Functional Dark Chocolate 64% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. 28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.25 for 1 bar + shipping 
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Mushroom Week.

Today's "Mellow Moon" Functional 64% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

Aroma and flavor notes included: the smells of freshly cut wood stacked by a fireplace, with a winter mulled, warm chocolate and spice beverage in my hand wafting up steam. Amazing how evocative smells and taste can be.

Additional flavor notes included very faint, authentic menthol/peppermint and very faint wood and umami.

Texture: smooth, almost creamy texture--with no detectable mushroom powder/grit. (I've made this comment in most of this week's mushroom chocolate bars. We've come a long way from the very first mushroom chocolate I ever tasted years ago.) 

I enjoyed the diverse blend of ingredients that somehow all harmonized well together, and the base cacao that contributed a smooth yet flavorful base, and the faint, fleeting and unlikely graham cracker (brown sugar?) note in the finish.

Cacao origin: Semuliki Forest, Uganda. 

Maker's description: "Mellow out with this soothing, floral dark chocolate infused with seven adaptogenic herbs and 530 mg of mushrooms, carefully crafted for the after hours."

Ingredients: "organic cacao beans, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter, organic lion's Mane mushroom extract, organic reishi mushrooms, organic peppermint, organic holy basil, organic lemon balm, organic lavender, organic ashwaganda"

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut sugar. "gluten free, vegan" 

Raaka Chocolate - Day Break Functional Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Day Break Functional Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. 28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.25 for 1 bar + shipping 
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Mushroom Week.

Today's Day Break Functional 63% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (rich, chocolate-y, caramel); bright, dark ripe berry/berry syrup; sweet green (noccino); very faint wood and warm spice notes. This was a great morning, winter warmer chocolate.

Texture: smooth, almost creamy texture--with no detectable mushroom powder/grit (thank you!).

This blend was well executed, well balanced and full of appealing flavors. There were no "off" loamy notes, or strong bitter or acidic notes, or anything that tasted like fungi/mushrooms to me.

Cacao origin: Semuliki Forest, Uganda.

Maker's notes: "Focus and Energy"...."infused with seven adaptogenic herbs and 530 mg. of mushrooms, carefully crafted to jump start your day."

Ingredients: "organic cacao beans, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter, organic cordyceps mushrooms, organic chaga mushrooms, organic yerba mate, organic moringa, organic schisandra berry, organic rhodiola, organic cinnamon"

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut sugar. "gluten free, vegan"

Loon Chocolate - Chaga Chai 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Loon Chocolate
Chaga Chai 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.485 oz. (42.24 g.) / 2.25 oz (64 g) in total bar
Calories: 238 calories in 2/3 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar + shipping 
Purchased from: Loon Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Mushroom Week.

Today's Loon Chocolate Chaga Chai 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) (Batch #924-77) was manufactured in small batches by White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, New Hampshire). 

The maker collaborated with Dunk Mushroom Products and Foraging LLC (Brentwood, NH)--the farm, processing facility, retail store and education center that supplied the Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate; woodsy; very faint umami and roast-y (gentle sauna wood, Birch, Cedar) 

Texture: smooth, almost creamy texture--with no mushroom powder/grit (thank you!).

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (chocolate-y, roast-y, dark ganache, dark ripe berry); light wood, nut, and diffuse, balanced umami (mushroom); and very faint chai spices. The overall flavor characteristics: mellow, aged to perfection and well-rounded.

This blend was smooth and flavorful, well executed and well balanced. There were no "off" loamy notes, or strong bitter or acidic notes. The 70% cacao (no origin or blend specified on packaging) was complementary to mushroom and chai.

The large illustration of a skull with mushrooms image on the packaging might lead you to think this treat might be hallucinogenic. Nope. No funny side effects. Just plain, tasty chocolate with a few side (health) benefits. I loved the subtle complexity of the aroma and flavors in this approachable bar. I could share this with dark fans or almost dark fans alike.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Dunk's Mushrooms Chaga Chai Blend (Ginger, Black Tea, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Chaga, Clove, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Fennel, Star Anise)

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a Facility That Uses Almonds and Milk. Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan"

IQ Bar - Toasted Coconut Chip Plant Protein Bar - Dec. 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

IQBar, Inc.
Toasted Coconut Chip Plant Protein Bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: (Part of a 7-bar sampler pack for $14.99)
Purchased from: IQBar, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Mushrooms Week. 

Today's Toasted Coconut Chip Plant Protein Bar was distributed by IQBar, Inc. (Boston, MA).

Aroma notes included: coconut almond cookie bar with vanilla cereal.

This bar had a protein bar texture (dense, but softer than most protein bars; small coconut shreds were embedded in a cookie dough-like texture); dark chocolate chips supplied a nice accent texture and flavor.

The coconut flavor was authentic and balanced by ground almonds (the number one ingredient), pea protein, chocolate chips and vanilla-like flavoring. The Lion's Mane (mushroom) was all but undetectable.

Ingredients: Almonds, Protein Blend (Pea Protein Crisps [Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch], Pea Protein,  Natural Flavors, Prebiotic Blend (Tapioca Fiber, Vegetable Fiber), Coconut, Coconut Oil, Unsweetened Chocolate, Water, Cocoa, Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt, Lion's Mane, Stevia Plant Extract, Vitamin E. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds, Coconut. (Gluten Free, Vegan.)

 

Intrigue Chocolate - Blackberry Mushroom (bar) - Dec. 20, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Blackberry + Mushrooms 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Mushroom Week.

Today's Blackberry + Mushrooms 60% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). This bar was made in collaboration with Lumen Field (Seattle, WA). 

Origin story: The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Uganda, Rwenzururu - Semuliki Forest (Type: "Mostly Trinitario and Amelonado; Harvest Year: 2022). (Batch No.: 000000083024)

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate; ripe, tart, almost boozy, dark berry (blackberry); slight roast-y, slightly umami bitterness.

Texture: very smooth and buttery--with no mushroom powder/grit or berry seed particles (thank you!).

Flavor notes included: a blend of dark chocolate (chocolate-y, roast-y dark ganache), authentic blackberry notes, and diffuse, balanced umami (mushroom). 

I liked many things about this bar. First, this blend was well executed and well balanced, and the sweetness level was just right for me -- i.e, sweet, but not too sweet. Second, there were no "off" or astringent notes with this potentially challenging flavor blend.

Like other chocolates from Intrigue, I appreciated the thoughtful, short list of quality ingredients, the lack of emulsifiers or other additives, and the use of raw cane sugar.

Makers tasting notes/description: "...first developed...as an exclusive for their (Lumen Field) suites and gifts...The lush dark fruit and the rich deep earth are emblematic of the region's sun-drenched summers and mist-drenched winters."

Ingredients: "Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, freeze-dried blackberries, mushroom blend (wood ear, oyster, cordyceps, turkey tail, lion's mane, shiitake, chaga, maitake, mesima, reishi)." 

Allergen-related information: None listed on packaging.

David Rio - Black Rhino Cocoa Chai (+ mushrooms) - Dec. 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

David Rio
Black Rhino Cocoa Chai 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2 Tbsp. (80 g.) / 16.1 oz. (456 g.) in total container

Calories: 80 calories in 1 serving 
Cost: $14.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Amazon.com, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Mushroom Week.

Today's Black Rhino Chai -- black tea, exotic spices & rich cocoa -- was manufactured for David Rio (San Francisco. CA)

Aroma notes included: sweet cocoa, faint gingerbread spices and very faint spiced tea latte.

Texture: smooth texture after mixed with hot water and milks.

Flavor notes included: pleasant light cocoa, gingerbread and chai tea flavors. (Note: I put in a little extra of this powdered mix into my cocoa to get a bit more chocolate flavor. (Sugar was the number one ingredient.)

While it created an extra step to find my own milk, I also appreciated having the option to choose the milk of one's choice--hazelnut milk. It was fairly light (not thick and creamy), so I felt like I needed a bit more heft -- either whole milk or dark chocolate, to add flavor and make it a little less sugary.

I also tried mushroom jerky-infused milk. The hazelnut milk was OK, but the slightly sweet-salty mushroom jerky-infused milk didn't work as well as I thought it would. (I like savory chocolates; so I had to give it a try.)

I liked that this powdered mix dissolved into warm/hot liquids fairly easily (and completely). I'm a gingerbread fan, so I liked the ginger-forward chai spices. I also liked that the critically endangered Black Rhino got a little extra publicity with this product name. 

Ingredients: "sugar, cocoa (14%), black tea powder (5%), spices, salt."

Allergen-related information: (No information found on container.)

Mandala Chocolate - Appalachian Wild Chai Sugar Free Dark Chocolate with Herbs, Mushrooms, Chai Spices (bar) - Dec. 18, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Mandala Chocolate
Appalachian Wild Chai Sugar Free Dark Chocolate with Herbs, Mushrooms and Chai Spices (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 302 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar (when purchased in a 3-pack)
Purchased from: Amazon.com/Mandala Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Mushrooms Week.

Today's Organic Appalachian Wild Chai Sugar Free Dark Chocolate with Herbs, Mushrooms and Chai Spices (bar) was handcrafted in Asheville, North Carolina, by Mandala Naturals, LLC (Barnardsville, NC), using 70% stoneground cacao--and without added sugar.*

Aroma and flavor notes included: subtle chocolate and warm spices (cinnamon, ginger, very mild clove and nutmeg), very slightly woodsy sweetness (mesquite, licorice root), and very faint citrus (orange).

This 70% cacao bar included a wild chai blend: spices, herbs and "mushrooms unique to the Blue Ridge Mountains." All these flavors harmonized very nicely. The mushroom flavors were very undetectable. (The 70% cacao and range of spices in this bar makes them easy to miss.)

Texture: nice cacao buttery melt, smooth texture (especially given the amount of added spices and mushrooms).

I loved that this chocolate had an appealing, mild, natural sweetness with no added sugar.*

This bar had more nuanced flavors and a milder taste than most 70% chocolate bars, in part due to thoughtful ingredient selection and the lack of cane sugar.* You realize the effects of processed sugar when it's not there. There are other paths to sweetness.

Ingredients: "*Cacao, *Yacon, *Ginger, *Mesquite, *Maca, *Cinnamon, *Vanilla, *Licorice, *Cardamom, **Chaga, *Peppercorn, *Clove, **Reishi, **Spiceberries, *Nutmeg, *Fennel, *Orange Oil, Celtic Sea Salt (* = Organic, and ** = Organic and Wildcrafted)

Allergen-related information: No information listed.

*And I loved that "zero added sugars" actually meant no sugars and no artificial sweeteners. Instead, sweet-tasting herbs and botanicals (like yacon, maca, cinnamon, licorice, vanilla, etc.) supplied the "sweetness".

Verse Chocolate - 90% Original Dark Chocolate Medallion(s) + Chai tea - Dec. 17, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Verse Chocolate 
90% Original Dark Chocolate Medallion
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 4.23 oz. (120 g.) in total box of 12
Calories: 180 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $10.89 for 1 box of 12 medallions
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's 90% Original Dark Chocolate Medallions were from Verse Chocolate LLC (Nixa, MO). 

I enjoyed trying one of these individually-wrapped chocolates; and then paired two pieces of this ultra-dark chocolates with hot, homemade masala chai tea.

Normally, I would have picked a dark milk chocolate for a chai pairing, but at least part of the cocoa used to make these chocolate medallion-shaped pieces had been processed with alkali--a process that can neutralize acidic or bitter elements that might clash with other foods/beverages. 

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 90% cacao medallions were still quite robust, and included: heavy roast, ultra-dark, deep and dense cacao (that I associate with Forastero cacao varieties). 

The medallions were easy to hold on the tongue; and the shape (a relatively thin square with very rounded corners) allowed easy access to flavors. The texture was smooth with some mild graininess. 

I appreciated that this 90% chocolate was organic, had relatively low acidity, wasn't too sweet, and was made with only four ingredients 

However--possibly due to a relatively heavy roast/alkalizing process--there were no glimmers of naturally occurring fruit, floral, green or other notes (that I associate with more complex fine cacaos). I found myself transported to a deep, ultra-dark, very still, jungle, looking for a tiny uptick of other flavors. 

In fairness to today's chocolate, most chai spice or masala chai chocolates are milk chocolates (or dark milk chocolates), because: 1.) we associate chai tea with a creamy/milky taste, 2.) people like sweet teas and milk chocolates, and 3.) ultra-dark 90%+ chocolates don't always play well with strong spices or overwhelm subtler notes in other foods/beverages.

This was true today, even though this robust ultra-dark had been tamed a bit.* (Verse's Salted Almond or 70% Sea Salt Medallions would likely have been a better choice with the chai tea that I made using original robust spices (cardamom pods, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, etc.)

In fairness to Verse, I didn't contact them to ask about ultra-dark pairings. And I felt I should have known the two would fight each other a bit, as the company had clearly printed on the packaging: "This chocolate is not candy." (Love that.)

The company's name (Verse) refers to their efforts to share original chocolate flavor (closer to its source and history) with a chorus of people who might then join others singing a new verse to an ancient song (about cacao). 

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa processed with alkali*, cocoa butter*. (* = Organic ingredient.) Cacao: 90%.

Allergen-related: "May contain traces of tree nuts and sesame seeds."

* Ultra-dark 90%-100% cacao bars sometimes taste less bitter if chocolate makers alkalize the cocoa and add cocoa butter (yes to both today) or salt (or salty items) that can help balance bitterness. 

Pairings that may work: strong spirits like whiskey; salt or savory items like aged cheeses or roasted, salted nuts; dark roast coffee; very dark beers; or grated into/over some desserts (that are layered and/or could benefit from a little pop of flavor depth/contrast).

Kasama Chocolate Winter's Eve (bar) + Big Train Chocolate Chai mix - Dec. 16, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
Winter's Eve (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kasama, online order

Big Train
Chai Latte (mix)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1/3 cup (51 g.) / 3.5 lbs (159 kg.) in total package
Calories: 220 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $29.51 for 1 large package
Purchased from: Amazon.com, online order

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

Kasama - Winter's Eve bar

Today's Winter's Eve bar (Batch #28) was a Seasonal Release made by Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C., Canada). The dark chocolate base was made using single estate cacao beans from Costa Esmeraldas in northern Ecuador.

Aroma notes for this bar included: chocolate (hearty, roasted cacao), black licorice, and subtle chai-masala-like spices.

Maker's notes/description: "The oaky and roasty note of this cacao provide a rich-chocolaty canvas, through which each of the spices weaves its flavour threads, creating a tapestry of tastes..."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Cinnamon*, Cardamom*, Ginger*, Cloves*, Turmeric*, Black Pepper* (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

Big Train - Chocolate Chai Latte mix

Today's Big Train Chocolate Chai mix was distributed by Kerry Inc. (Beloit, WI).

This drink mix (designed to be suitable for cold and hot beverages) had a light, sweet hot cocoa aroma and sweet marshmallow hot chocolate with vanilla and very faint spices flavor. This is the kind of light, pleasant hot cocoa (using alkalized cocoa powder) that I remember sipping when I was young. 

Ingredients: Sugar, Nonfat Dry Milk, Coconut Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Cocoa Processed with Alkali), Instant Black Tea, Honey Granules (Sugar, Honey), Spice Blend (Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom, Anise, Ginger), Sodium Caseinate (A Milk Derivative), Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mono- and Diglycerides, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Silicoaluminate (Anti-Caking Agent), Silicon Dioxide (Anti-Caking Agent), Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Cellulose Gum, Bourbon Vanilla Extract from Madagascar.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.

 

TCHO - Dirty Chai with Cashew Oat Milk & Espresso (bar) - Dec. 15, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

TCHO
46% Cacao Dirty Chai with Cashew Oat Milk & Espresso (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .83 oz. (23 oz.)/ 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $5.49 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's 46% Cacao Dirty Chai with Cashew Oat Milk & Espresso (bar) was from TCHO Ventures Inc. (Berkeley, CA) in collaboration with Equator Coffees 

Aroma notes in this package of three, individually-wrapped bars included: chocolate; chai spices + vanilla; and coffee latte.

Texture: very creamy and buttery with a very, very faint and fleeting astringency/powdery mouthfeel 2/3 way through.

Flavor notes for this small batch collaboration bar included: chocolate; nuts; warm, spiced coffee latte; and faint vanilla and caramel.

I liked the maker's choice of a relatively short list of Organic ingredients (44% fair trade).

Ingredients: Cacao Beans**, Cocoa Butter**, Coconut Sugar*; Gluten Free Oat Flour* (Oat Flour*, Natural Vitamin E, Cashew Butter*, Cane Sugar*, Coffee Beans**, Masala Chai* (Basil Leaf*, Assam Tea*, Cardamom*, Cinnamon*, Ginger*, Cloves*, Black Pepper*), Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin*, Vanilla Beans* (* = Organic; ** = Organic and Fair Trade Certified). 

Allergen-related information: Contained Coconut, Cashew. "May contain other tree nuts." "Certified Kosher Pareve by Earth Kosher."

ChocolateSpiel - Chai Latte (bar) - Dec. 14, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

ChocolateSpiel 
Chai Latte (bar)
Good + - ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (27 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: ChocolateSpiel, online order (Etsy)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Chai Tea Week.

Today's Chai Latte (bar) was from ChocolateSpiel (Seattle, WA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate; ground, warm chai spices (from Aditi Chai); faint coconut milk; and nuts. The coconut milk chocolate tasted slightly acidic/harsh; but the overall bar was otherwise quite nice.

I enjoyed the pleasing creamy texture; the festive and colorful appearance of this bar--created by spatters of different colors of colored cocoa butter; the short list of ingredients; and the smaller size.

Ingredients: Cocoa, sugar, cocoa butter, coconut milk powder, chai spices from Aditi Chai, colored cocoa butter. 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of peanut, gluten, tree nuts."

Public Chocolatory - Masala Chai 55% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 13, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Public Chocolatory
Masala Chai 55% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 168 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week, featuring chocolates with chai spice blends, bars and drinking chocolate.

Today's Masala Chai 55% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) (Batch No. MC240406) was from Public Chocolatory (Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich, dark milk chocolate, chai tea and spices (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and possibly (smaller amounts of) anise/fennel and black pepper.

Texture: This bar had a soft, silken, luxurious fudge-y texture. 

Together, the chai masala tea flavors (that were fully incorporated into the chocolate), the milk -- that contributed to the wonderful creamy, smooth texture conveyed the essence of a cup of warm chai tea -- and the sweetness, all made this chocolate a bit addictive (more-ish).

I also appreciated the thoughtful execution and the short list of quality ingredients.

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Cacao Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Masala Chai Tea"

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. 

Intrigue Chocolate - Chai Latte - Oat Milk Dark 60% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 12, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Chai Latte Oat Milk Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week.

Today's Chai Latte Oat Milk Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). This bar was inspired by the maker's favorite Indian restaurants in Seattle.

Origin story: The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Uganda, Rwenzori, Kisinga microlot (Type: "Mostly Trinitario and Amelonado; Harvest Year: 2022).

Aroma notes included: chocolate and a rich blend of authentic chai tea with warm spices (cloves, star anise, cinnamon, spice cookie and more. (Note: there was no star anise listed in the ingredients.)

Texture: smooth, well-tempered dark chocolate with a pleasing creamy melt, followed by a very slight, fleeting, astringency/fine powder (that could have been very tiny oat milk and/or tea/spice particles. It did not take away from the tasting experience.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (chocolate-y, dark ganache)

I liked many things about this bar. First, I really felt like I was enjoying a great cup of chai tea--with the added flavor(s) of a great dark chocolate. The flavors were well balanced and the sweetness level was just about perfect for a chai tea. 

I also liked the thoughtful, short list of quality ingredients, the lack of emulsifiers or other additives, and the use of raw cane sugar. (I also liked that there was a little black pepper, ginger, fennel pollen and sea salt added--in amounts that were so subtle, you might not be able to identify them...You just know you like the whole blend.)

Makers tasting notes/description: "...sweetened with raw cane sugar, softened by gluten-free oat milk powder, emboldened by Assam black tea, and spiced with some of India's most iconic flavors."

Ingredients: Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, oat milk powder (oats), black tea, green cardamom, cloves, cassia cinnamon, black pepper, ginger fennel pollen, sea salt. (The maker's Batch # for this bar was: 000000052324)

Allergen-related information: Vegan, no dairy, no soy, no gluten. 

    

Ritual - Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) + Intrigue - Fernet Branca Truffle - Dec. 11 , 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $11.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Intrigue Chocolate
Fernet Branca Truffle
Good ++
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) in 1 truffle / for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories for 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week, featuring two chocolates -- a gin-infused bar, and an Italian liqueur-inspired truffle.

Ritual Chocolate

Today's Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was made by Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT), using Barrel Aged Alpine Distilling Gin from Alpine Distilling (Park City, UT). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: authentic, fragrant and floral (lavender) botanical gin (with juniper) and dark chocolate.

The juniper and lavender both contributed fairly strong flavors--as did the sweet-tart acidity (citrus) taste and astringency in this dark chocolate It was interesting to try this very flavorful blend. However, for those who don't care for gin/juniper and/or lavender, you may find the intersection of all these bold flavors a little overwhelming. 

Maker's tasting notes: Juniper, Lavender, Cardamom, Orange Peel

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Juniper Berries, Lavender, Alpine Distilling Gin 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes Wheat, Tree nuts"

Intrigue Chocolate - Fernet Branca* Truffle

Today's Fernet Branca* flavored chocolate truffle was created by Intrigue Chocolate (Seattle, WA). It was part of a larger assortment of different truffles.

This individually-wrapped, square dark chocolate truffle had pleasing, authentic mint and herbal (light liqueur) notes, including a slightly mellow richness--likely due to the practice of aging this liqueur in oak barrels. The creamy soft truffle (with a rich, buttery melt) was dusted with a generous amount of cocoa powder. 

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (as described in the truffle name).

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy, Soy. 

*Fernet Branca is an Italian amaro liqueur made with "27 herbs from 4 continents" that's often served as an after-dinner digestif or before-meal appertif. 

Some ingredients said to be part of this recipe include: aloe, angelica, camomile, cardomom, cinchona, gentian, iris, myrrh, peppermint and rhubarb. (Some sources also say it may contain chocolate.) The base is distilled grape spirits.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week. (Note: this post is likely not appropriate for children. This bar contains alcohol and some adult cocktail references.)

Today's Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, and a slight boozy richness and fullness (think oak barrel, citrus, cherry, whiskey, vermouth -- in other words, something like a Manhattan (cocktail) fully incorporated into a smooth, rich dark chocolate.

Flavor notes took the aroma notes (listed above) one step further--with the dark chocolate (Peru (pangoa) + Colombia (tumaco) taking center stage. There was also a pleasing, lingering, slightly boozy (sweet, layered whiskey cocktail with cherry), buttery and very smooth oak finish. (Note: there was no dairy butter in this bar.)

Disclosure: I do very much enjoy dark chocolate and whiskey pairings. In skilled hands, fine quality dark chocolate + spirits and oak barrel/seasoned wood produces some very appealing results. The vermouth, cherries and bitters were well-balanced and well-integrated, and these ingredients conveyed the whole cocktail concept very nicely. I loved the layered flavors in this bar that harmonized so well together.

What's behind the name "Gay Bar" other than the play on words? The packaging features a large, glittering, red (big apple) disco ball--part of a club scene with happy, diverse patrons (cartoon characters of bear, deer, beaver cartoon). "...a portion of the proceeds from each Gay Bar sold will benefit Hudson Valley organizations working to better the lives of Upstate New York's vibrant LGBTQ+ community."

Ingredients: "cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, rye, vermouth, cherries, bitters"

Allergen-related information: "may contain traces of milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame"

Fjak Chocolate - Vermouth O'Clock 60% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 9, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Chocolate AS
Vermouth O'Clock 60% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.11 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 176 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Vermouth O'Clock 60% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Fjak Chocolate AS (Eidfjord, Hardangerfjord, Norway).

Crafted in Norway, Fjak's small batch chocolates (many with Nordic/European and seasonal flavor inclusions) are always a pleasure to try.

Complex, subtle aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, slight savory (olive, herb); very faint, warm spirits (dry sherry, vermouth); faint tart-sweet fruit (citrus (faint orange), cherry); and barely detectable herb, spice and botanical (sweet straw stalks, fennel sticks, light cinnamon, clove, star anise). (Note: there was no star anise or clove.)

I really liked the well-executed interplay of smooth, sophisticated cocktail flavors. This was a very enjoyable bar to taste, and to share with others. The 60% cacao dark chocolate was relatively sweet and that sweetness was upped a bit with the sweet orange (peel) and warm spice notes, but it seemed comparable to what you might find in a Vermouth cocktail. And the very faint (real) olive balanced things out nicely.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Vermouth, Juniper*, Cinnamon*, Fennel Seeds*, Orange Peel*, Olives, Candied Orange Peel* (Min. 60% cocoa). (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Certified Organic; Vegan; dairy and gluten free. "Processed in a facility that handles nuts, dairy and gluten"

Seattle Chocolate - Sip Sip Hooray (bar) - Dec. 8, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Seattle Chocolate
Sip Sip Hooray (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Pebble Beach Market Market, Pebble Beach, CA

Welcome to Day # of Chocolate and Spirits* Theme Week

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate, tart-sweet raspberry candy, and faint lemon.

Texture: smooth truffle bar texture: creaminess, punctuated by the crunch and fizz of raspberry popping candy.

What did I like? I enjoyed the creamy + crunchy layered flavors and textures (almost velvety dark chocolate coating and white chocolate interior) and the subtle raspberry popping candy. 

This bar had a festive (touch of bubbly and pink champagne bottle like illustrations on label) feel to it. The label was splashed with celebratory golden yellow and pink. Yes this bar was a little bit sweet, but it was also fun. And fun is underrated.

Ingredients: white chocolate (cane sugar, cocoa butter*, milk, soy lecithin, natural vanilla), dark chocolate (cocoa mass, cane sugar, cocoa butter, organic soy lecithin, natural vanilla), popping candy (cane sugar, lactose, corn syrup, carbon dioxide), coconut oil, raspberry powder, citric acid, beet extract (color), organic natural flavor. (* = Rainforest Alliance Certified)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, and Coconut. "This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, and wheat products."

*Vedrenne Creme de Cacao Blanc

To make this day technically compliant with the "Chocolate and Spirits" Theme this week, I paired this bar with a very small glass of Vedrenne Creme de Cacao Blanc liqueur (made with the cacao fruit that surrounds cacao beans/seeds). 

This Creme de Cacao was head and shoulders above most liqueur-style spirits in terms of quality and flavor had a refreshing, lovely, tart-sweet, tropical fruit taste--consistent with cacao fruit pulp I've tried in the past--with subtle, authentic notes of mango, tangerine, very faint pineapple and melon. It also had 1-2 other very faint (barely there) botanical notes I associate with chocolate that I couldn't quite identify.

Zotter Chocolate - Gin & Lemon Dark milk chocolate 60% gin ganache, lemon cream (bar) - Dec. 7, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolate
Gin & Lemon Dark milk chocolate 60% gin ganache, lemon cream (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 360 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter US, online order 

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Gin & Lemon Dark milk chocolate 60% filled with gin ganache, lemon cream (bar) was from Zotter Chocolate US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, spirits (gin) sour-sweet lemon (and almost lime, other citrus), and very faint coconut (there was no coconut) and warm spice.

A thin layer of smooth, 60% dark chocolate surrounded a soft, but substantial, lemony, gin-infused filling that had a range of bright, citrus-like flavors (lemon, tart apple, grapefruit), and very faint vanilla.

The faint juniper note in the gin and the citrus provided an authentic gin cocktail flavor. 

I enjoyed this flavorful, very slightly boozy bar made with 85% Organic ingredients (and several Fairly Traded ingredients as well). It teetered on the edge of too many flavors and spices (star anise, cloves, cardamom), but it worked. 

Those adults I've shared this bar with so far have all given it a thumbs up. (Because of the alcohol in this bar, I only shared this with adults.*)

Ingredients: Cocoa Mass**, Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Butter**, Dry Whole Milk, Gin*(7%), Invert Sugar Syrup*, Dry Skim Milk, Lemon Juice (2%), Glucose Syrup*, Dry Sweet Whey, Lemon Juice Concentrate*(0.5%), Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder**, Grapefruit Concentrate*, Apple Balsamic Vinegar*, Cinnamon**, Star Anise*, Cloves*, Cardamom* (* = Organic (85% Organic) (** Organic and Fair Traded)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Milk. "Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Other Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Eggs, Soy, Gluten and Sesame."

* Children can have remarkably sophisticated palettes when it comes to dark chocolates. And I'm often interested in hearing their opinions if I'm sharing chocolate with a family. 

Years ago I was surprised to see that some under 10 years old even liked darker (>70% cacao) chocolates as well. I would still limit the dose to under 1 oz. (28 g.); but there you go. You can't generalize about people, at any age. Everyone has different tastes and preferences. 

 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey 77% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey 77% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $35.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey with Maple Sugar 77% Cacao was made by Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA) in collaboration with Boston Harbor Distillery (Dorchester, MA). The cacao bean origin was Colombia (Boyaca).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (dark cocoa, ganache), and very faint spirits (whiskey) and maple sugar. 

When I bought this bar, I didn't know it contained scorpion pepper, one of the world's hotter peppers. (The name Demon Seed Whiskey should have clued me in.) If you don't detect a chili/pepper smell to this bar, you might be surprised by the bit of heat that kicks in a bit later. So, for the heat-sensitive, I'd advise taking a small bite first.

Texture: relatively smooth (all ingredients were fully incorporated), with a tiny bit of (possibly imagined) astringency toward the end.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (bittersweet chocolate), warm maple sugar, and very faint whiskey, chili spice and earth notes. The whiskey added flavor depth without being obvious.

Given the relatively bold flavor elements, this was a very balanced and well-executed chocolate. There were no pyrotechnics or rushes to grab a glass of water because of the scorpion pepper. Yes, the pepper had some heat, but it wasn't overwhelming (thank you). The ginger was barely detectable, but it likely added some warm spice that melded flavors together nicely.

The 77% cacao (single origin Colombia, Boyaca) seemed relatively smooth for a higher percentage chocolate, and the sweetness level seemed to be just right. The maple and ginger were subtle but added some warmth that makes it appealing for colder/winter days. And this is a fun bar to share with others.

Maker's tasting notes: "...Heat from scorpion peppers dances with ginger and melds with flavors of rich, maple fudge. A warm caramel syrup sensation lingers..."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Maple Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Whiskey, Scorpion Pepper, Ginger

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free"

Zotter Chocolates - Rum Coconut 70% filled bar - Dec. 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolates
Rum Coconut 70% filled bar
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.19 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order 

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Rum Coconut 70% filled with coconut ganache and rum cream (bar) was made in Austria by Zotter Chocolates and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Zotter's filled (or "hand-scooped") bars contain ultra-thin layers or fillings, sometimes two or three. In this case there were authentic coconut and rum layers inside a thin coating of 70% dark chocolate. 

Aroma notes for this slightly boozy*, filled bar included: rum, tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, lemon), dark chocolate and subtle coconut. The smooth, dark chocolate became more prominent when I bit into it, and the fruit notes receded.

Texture: mostly smooth and creamy with a few tiny coconut shreds.

I liked the layering of flavors, the use of organic and fair trade ingredients, and the fact that this was an authentic winter warmer, in almost every respect. The rum clearly raised the temperature in my room. Neat trick. 

Maker's description: "A tropical dream..."Brown rum adds...flavor to a rich dark chocolate ganache...accompanied by a light coconut layer made from almond praline, coconut couverture, coconut milk, and a hint of pineapple juice, and crunchy coconut flakes..." The whole treat is then coated with a layer of 70% dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: Cocoa Mass**, Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Butter**, Rum** (6%), Invert Sugar Syrup*, Toasted Coconut**(4%), Rice Drink Powder (Rice*, Sunflower Oil*, Salt), Coconut Milk* (3%), Coconuts*, Water, Thickener: Guar Gum*), Almonds*, Pineapple Concentrate*, Glucose Syrup*, Coconut Powder* (1%: Coconut Paste*, Coconut Milk*, Coconut Flour*), Dark Brown Cane Sugar**, Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder**, Lemon Powder* (Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Corn Starch*, Sugar*), Emulsifier: Lecithin (Soy)*, Emulsifier: Lecithin (Sunflower)*, Ginger* (* = Organic (100% Organic) (** = Organic and Fair Traded). Fair Trade Content in Total: 83%

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Coconut, Almonds, Soy" "Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Other Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Eggs, Sesame and Gluten." 

*No Chocolate and Spirits Week would be complete without a filled chocolate from Europe that contains a bit of real alcohol. Zotter Chocolates offers organic and fair trade chocolates with a variety of spirits, for those who are looking to upgrade in this category.

Creo Chocolate - Whiskey Milk 65% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 4, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Whiskey Milk 65% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Whiskey Milk - 65% Milk Chocolate Infused with Westward Whiskey (bar) was from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR).

The single origin cacao used to make this bar was from Ecuador, which contributed to the smooth rich chocolate-y flavor.

Aroma notes included: dark milk chocolate; very faint, sweet spirits (whiskey); and subtle rich caramel.

Texture: creamy, smooth chocolate.

Flavor notes included: smooth, dark milk chocolate; subtle sweet spirits (whiskey) and rich caramel and light cream; and an unexpected (but wonderful) sparkling of salt. But, not just any salt -- mesquite sea salt. 

Disclaimer: I like savory/smokey chocolates. Chocolates with a judicious dose of sea salt that also was smoked. Yes, that is just fine. I find that salt and/or a savory element balances out higher levels of sugars, even natural and authentic-tasting sweetness. I can't be sure; but the 65% cacao might have been too sweet for me. But the maker's choices of salt, milk and whiskey all blended very nicely in this case.

Maker's tasting notes: "Flavor notes: barrel-aged whiskey, malt, smoked sea salt -- creamy and sophisticated"

Ingredients: cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic whole milk powder, mesquite smoked salt, malt whiskey. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk" "Manufactured on shared equipment with products containing eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts & tree nuts"

 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Limited Release Dark Chocolate Unfiltered Hard Cider 70% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate 
Limited Release Dark Chocolate Unfiltered Hard Cider 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $19.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Limited Release Dark Chocolate Unfiltered Hard Cider 70% Cacao (bar) was made by Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and crisp, relatively tart fruit (apple) and sweetness.

Texture: smooth, almost creamy dark chocolate 

Flavor notes included: deep, relatively robust (but smooth) dark chocolate with very slight earth and faint apple/cider; and a fleeting warm spice (apple cinnamon) in the finish. 

* Maker's description: "...Dominican Republic Zorzal Communitario cacao nibs are soaked in 23 gallons of Downeast's locally crafted 8% hard cider. This infusion process creates a perfect balance of tart apples and rich dark chocolate. Our take on fall in New England!"

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Nibs, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Hard Cider (Hard Cider, Fresh Pressed Apple Cider, Water, Sugar, Malic Acid, Sulfites to Preserve Flavor)

Allergen-related information: Soy Free; Vegan. 

Kasama Chocolate - Tanduay Rum 75% Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 2, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
Tanduay Rum 75% Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 166.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $19.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Tanduay Rum 75% Cacao Barrel Aged Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C., Canada).  

This Special Release bean-to-bar chocolate was made using cacao beans and rum from the Philippines.

These roasted cacao beans (broken into pieces, aka nibs) were aged with Tanduay Gold Philippine Rum*. The nibs were then "dried and stone ground to create a rich, dark chocolate with tropical notes of coconut, caramel cream and hints of spice and sandalwood..."

I didn't pick up all these notes, but it was still a very enjoyable tasting experience. Aroma and flavor notes I experienced included: smooth dark chocolate and subtle, sweet spirits (rum) and subtle green/botanical/floral (orchid) and very faint cookie (brown sugar, rum).

Texture: smooth, creamy chocolate-y with a pleasing melt and mouthfeel.

I enjoyed the subtle, smooth flavor and natural sweetness in this chocolate. The choice of 75% cacao dark chocolate seemed perfect. (A 70% cacao version might have tasted too sweet, and might have made the already subtle flavor notes too subtle--for a bar where I want to enjoy the taste imparted by the spirits.) 

Like yesterday's Kasama Single Malt Canadian Whisky bar (with bolder flavors), today's rum bar might be a great bar to share with friends and family over the holidays, and would be a nice winter warmer. (Both could be part of a chocolate and spirits (side-by-side) tasting flight.)

Ingredients: Tanduay Gold Rum Aged Cacao Nibs, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter* (* = Organic)  

Allergen-related information: None listed, except "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

*"In 1854, a distillery was built on Isla De Tanduay, a small piece of land bordering the Quiapo & San Miguel districts in Manila." (It became most well known for its rum.)

Kasama Chocolate - Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao Barrel Aged (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $19.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week. 

Today's Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao Barrel Aged (bar) was from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C., Canada).  

This Special Release bean-to-bar chocolate was made using cacao beans from Northern Ecuador (Costa Esmeraldas). These roasted cacao beans (broken into pieces, aka nibs) were "aged with Odd Society Distillery's Commodore single malt whisky*. The nibs were then dried and stone ground to create a...rich dark chocolate with oak and whisky notes."

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, dark chocolate; a bouquet of marinated fruits (ripe cherry, sweet/boozy orange, citron and sweet lime); barrel-aged whiskey; very, very faint (fleeting) vegetable (green beans + nopalitos cooked with a little lemon); and very faint herbal (licorice). In the finish: fudge brownie, whiskey, vanilla and cherry tobacco, subtle oak.

Texture: smooth, chocolate-y with a pleasing melt and mouthfeel.

I enjoyed the balanced, rich complexity and unexpected fruitiness in this bar. It was flavorful, not too sweet (thank you!), and satisfying. I liked that the complex cocktail of flavors extended into a relatively long finish with mellow, authentic, barrel-aged whiskey, vanilla and light cherry. 

This would be a great bar to share with friends and family over the holidays, or to provide a little warmth to any winter day/evening.

Ingredients: Commodore Whisky Aged Cacao Nibs, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter* (* = Organic) 

Allergen-related information: None listed, except "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

*The Odd Society Commodore small-batch whisky in this bar tasted closer to Bourbon than Scotch. It was "distilled with 100% BC grown, malted barley, and aged in ex-bourbon barrels, giving it a...peppery-sweetness, along with dark fruit, clove, and toffee notes." 

Intrigue Chocolate - Bourbon & Vanilla Bean Truffle - Nov. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Bourbon & Vanilla Bean Truffle
Good ++
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) / 4.09 oz. (116 g.) (estimate) in total box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Bourbon & Vanilla Bean Truffle was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). It was part of a baker's dozen of different flavors. Each truffle was labeled with its flavor name and individually-wrapped.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth but rich dark chocolate, spirits (Bourbon) and vanilla, with a pleasing, light lingering (very slightly boozy) finish.

Texture: soft, creamy/buttery, very slightly fudgey, with a generous coating of cocoa powder.

I enjoyed this well-balanced, thoughtfully created adult truffle confection. This small truffle was full of flavor, not too sweet (thank you!), and very satisfying. 

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (as described in the truffle name).

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy, Soy. 

Intrigue Chocolate - Scotch Whiskey Truffle - Nov. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Scotch Whiskey Truffle
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) / 4.09 oz. (116 g.) (estimate) in total box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) different truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Scotch Whiskey Truffle was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).

Intrigue Chocolate's Chef Aaron has created an estimated 400 different chocolate flavors in the past few decades. (A person after my own chocolate-marinated heart.) I found 13 of those flavors (including some with spirits) in this baker's dozen truffle assortment box--as well as several flavors in bar form (ordered online) that I'm looking forward to trying soon.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's, precision-cut, very slightly boozy square truffle included: rich, true dark chocolate and spirits (Scotch whiskey).

Texture: buttery, soft, creamy (yet firm enough not to melt in your hand immediately) with a generous dusting of cocoa powder.

This satisfying, small chocolate was one to savor. It landed squarely in the Goldilocks zone for me: not too sweet or acidic, subtle and authentic flavors. If you like dark chocolate and you like whiskey, especially Scotch Whiskey, try this one.

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (as described in the truffle name).

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy, Soy.

Intrigue Chocolate - Jamaican Hot Chocolate Truffle - Nov. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Jamaican Hot Chocolate Truffle 
Good ++ 
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) / 4.09 oz. (116 g.) (estimate) in total box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

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

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate this holiday. Chocolate turkeys were handed a pardon this year. Instead, today's holiday chocolate treat was a small, square, spiked chocolate truffle.

Today's Jamaican Hot Chocolate Truffle was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). 

Aroma and flavor notes for this dark rum infused truffle included: subtle, sophisticated, warm, dark chocolate with very subtle rum and warm spices (nutmeg, vanilla). An additional bit of heat came from (what was for me just the right amount of) habanero chili, mid-way through.

Texture: creamy ganache, with a generous coating of cocoa powder.

Bittersweet, and not too sugary, this blend of flavors was a perfect chocolate warmer for a cold day. Enjoyed as a small bite of joy on a Thanksgiving dessert plate, it evoked sunny, subtle Caribbean island warmth and spiced rum flavor you might hope for in a dark truffle.

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (as described in the truffle name).

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy, Soy.

Honoka'a Chocolate - 55% Cacao Drunken Goat Milk Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honoka'a Chocolate
55% Cacao Drunken Goat Milk Chocolate (bar)  
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Honoka'a Chocolate, online order

Aloha and welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's 55% Cacao Drunken Goat Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Honoka'a Chocolate (Honoka'a, HI). Honoka'a is a small town on the green, lush Hamakua coast on the northeast side of the Big Island of Hawaii.

This bar was made with "Kahlua infused Ecuadorian (Camino Verde Fermentary) cacao with a hint of organic cane sugar and goat milk." To make this barrel-aged bar, cacao nibs and Kahlua were "aged in oak barrels for 4 to 5 months before processing into chocolate."

Aroma notes included: rich milk chocolate (mild, with a refreshing clean edge to it). 

Texture: thick and creamy, with a luxuriously thick mouthfeel and clean melt. Very faint, fleeting (barely there) astringency in the finish.

Flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate with very faint caramel. I did sense a super faint plant stalks and muffled wood from the barrel aging process; but these notes were so subtle as to be undetectable. There were no strong acid or bitter notes.

For a 55% chocolate, this was not too sweet (thank you). The relative lack of sugar meant it was easier to taste the subtle nuances of flavor in the chocolate and the milk.

I appreciated the creamy texture; the clean taste of the goat milk; the delicate caramel; the short list of ingredients; and a wee bit of intriguing complexity. 

It felt like taking a quiet walk outside in the fog, with clean, recently rain-washed air. There was no strong weather here; but it was a refreshing, interesting walk well worth taking.

I recommend adding this bar to a dark milk tasting flight (side-by-side tasting with other dark milk chocolate bars). This bar might help show tasters that the type and quality of the milk used in a chocolate bar does matter. And that dark milks don't always have to be very sweet to be enjoyable.

Ingredients: Ecuadorian cacao (Camino Verde Fermentary), organic turbinado cane sugar, organic goat milk.

Allergen-related information: Contains: Dairy

Honoka'a Chocolate - 70% Cacao Barrel Aged Bourbon Bar - Nov. 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honoka'a Chocolate
70% Cacao Barrel Aged Bourbon Bar 
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 (estimate) (1 of 3 bar trio for $48.00)
Purchased from: Honoka'a Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #20 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's 70% Barrel Aged Bourbon Bar (bar) was from Honoka'a Chocolate (Honoka'a, HI). Honoka'a is a small town on the scenic (and green) Hamakua coast on the northeast side of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Aroma notes included: subtle dark chocolate; faint sweet green (tree/maple syrup, very faint banana, citrus (orange), and barely detectable (possibly imagined) Mediterranean green walnuts in sweet green syrup/honey); faint, fleeting herbal (sweet, not quite licorice/fennel--but close); and barely detectable warm spice (vanilla).

Texture: very smooth, with a well-executed melt and mouthfeel. 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (very tasty dark chocolate ganache with faint caramel/brown sugar, bourbon, and subtle, smooth wood (oak)), and citrus (orange).

I really liked the luxurious, silken texture and the subtle and intriguing complexity. The aging/soaking of cacao nibs in spirits and/or oak barrels (that have held spirits) can result in some truly beautiful, rich flavors. And each spirit (in this case bourbon) has its own unique flavor to impart. This bar--and yesterday's Kuleana Barrel Aged Rum Bar from the same maker--were both great examples of what's possible using these techniques.

I also really appreciated the very short list of (two) high-quality ingredients, and the use of Hawai'i grown cacao in all the Honoka'a bars I've tried this week.

Ingredients: "100% Hawai'i island cacao, organic turbinado cane sugar. Cacao nibs and bourbon are aged in oak barrels for 4-5 months before processing into chocolate."

Allergen-related information: ("Gluten Free, Fair Trade, Non GMO, Vegan, Dairy Free")  

Honoka'a Chocolate - 70% Kuleana Barrel Aged Rum Bar - Nov. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honoka'a Chocolate
70% Cacao Kuleana Barrel Aged Rum Bar 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 (estimate) (1 of 3 bar trio for $48.00)
Purchased from: Honoka'a Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #19 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's 70% Kuleana Barrel Aged Rum Bar (bar) was from Honoka'a Chocolate (Honoka'a, HI). Honoka'a is a small town on the Hamakua coast on the northeast side of Hawai'i. Kuleana Rum Works is also located on the Big Island.

Aroma notes included: subtle dark chocolate; faint sweet green (tree/maple syrup, very faint banana, and even fainter Mediterranean green walnuts in sweet syrup/honey); faint, fleeting herbal (almost, but not quite licorice/fennel) and warm spirits (high-quality rum; maybe a little rum baba without all the sugar) and a little oak.

Texture: silky smooth, with a luxurious, buttery (almost dairy milk/cream) mouthfeel and melt. (Note: there were no milk/dairy ingredients listed.)

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (attractive and tasty dark chocolate ganache with faint sweet green), with flavorful hints of faint rum, caramel and oak.

I really liked the luxurious, silken texture and the subtle and intriguing complexity. 

The aging/soaking of cacao nibs in spirits and in oak barrels often results in some very attractive, full-bodied flavors. Today's Barrel Aged Rum Bar was a great example of how well these techniques can work. 

I also really appreciated the very short list of (in case case, two) high-quality ingredients, and the use of Hawai'i grown cacao, in all the Honoaka'a bars I tried this week.

Ingredients: "100% Hawai'i island cacao, organic turbinado cane sugar. Cacao nibs and rum are aged in oak barrels for 4-5 months before processing into chocolate."

Allergen-related information: ("Gluten Free, Fair Trade, Non GMO, Vegan, Dairy Free") 

Honoka'a Chocolate - 85% Cacao Hawaiian Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honoka'a Chocolate
85% Cacao Hawaiian Dark Chocolate (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 (estimate) (3rd of 3-bar trio for $45.00)
Purchased from: Honoka'a Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's 85% Cacao Hawaiian Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Honoka'a Chocolate (Honoka'a, HI).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache, dark cocoa); very faint and fleeting milk/cream, marshmallow, brown sugar, and sweet green herb; and very and faint diffuse sweet green nut and floral--the latter disappeared fairly quickly after exposure to air for several minutes.

Texture: silky smooth, with a luxuriously thick mouthfeel and melt--like other bars from Honoka'a. I'm guessing the cacao(s) were naturally high in cocoa butter. (Often the case in Hawaii, located farther than 20 degrees Latitude (from the Equator).*

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate; very faint, diffuse and fleeting fruit (tropical fruit, very faint and buttery avocado); and barely detectable yogurt/earth (faint loam). Overall the flavor was very smooth for an 85%er. I was really leaning in to try to pick up the more subtle notes--not typical for most high-percentage bars with stronger, more intense flavors.

The sweetness level was relatively moderate-high and the bitterness and astringency levels were relatively low for a high-percentage cacao bar like this.

Oddly, there was less earthy flavor in this 85% cacao bar than the 65% and 70% Hawaiian cacao-based bars from this same maker, featured in the past few days. 

The turbinado cane sugar added a bit of brown sugar flavor and possibly a slightly tangy note. (It was hard to tell if this was from the sugar or the cacao.) I plan to share this 85% bar with a few dark milk chocolate fans who are uncomfortable with high-intensity dark chocolates. 

I enjoyed the subtle, natural complexity; the remarkable buttery texture; the use of Hawaiian cacao; and the short list of only two ingredients. 

Ingredients: "100% Hawai'i island cacao, organic turbinado cane sugar."

Allergen-related information: ("dairy free")  

*Hawaii is sometimes referred to as the North Pole for growing cacao. Almost all of the world's cacao is grown closer to (less than 20 degrees from) the Equator. And most of that (probably at least 70-75%) comes from less than 10 degrees from the Equator. 

Honoka'a Chocolate - 70% Cacao Hawaiian Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honoka'a Chocolate
70% Cacao Hawaiian Dark Chocolate (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 (estimate) (2nd of 3 bar trio for $45.00)
Purchased from: Honoka'a Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's 70% Cacao Hawaiian Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Honoka'a Chocolate (Honoka'a, HI). Honoka'a is a small town on the Hamakua coast on the northeast side of the Big Island of Hawaii.

The relatively light and fresh aroma notes included: mellow dark chocolate, very light green fig flavored marshmallow, and barely detectable light herbal (licorice/fennel). Note: most of the lighter, and floral-leaning "green" notes were gone after the inner wrapper had been open for a few hours.

Texture: silky smooth, with a luxuriously thick mouthfeel and melt.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark chocolate ganache with very faint milky caramel/brown sugar; earthy dark chocolate milk); very faint milk (Greek yogurt); and barely detectable earth (loam). (Note: the "dairy" notes were very subtle; and there were no milk/dairy ingredients listed on the packaging.)

I liked the luxe--silken, with an almost chewy caramel-like--texture; the very short list of ingredients: just cacao and sugar; and that there was a bit of intriguing complexity.

The very slightly earthy cacao helped balance out the sweetness, and vice versa. Also, the turbinado sugar used was a little less processed than some white sugars, resulting in a slightly more rich (brown sugar) flavor and less sugar buzz.

Ingredients: 100% Hawai'i island cacao, organic turbinado cane sugar. 

Allergen-related information: ("Gluten Free, Fair Trade, Non GMO, Vegan, Dairy Free")

Honoka'a Chocolate - 65% Cacao Hawaiian Chocolate with Coconut Milk (bar) - Nov. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honoka'a Chocolate
65% Cacao Hawaiian Chocolate with Coconut Milk (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 (estimate) (1 of 3 bar trio for $45.00)
Purchased from: Honoka'a Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's 65% Hawaiian Chocolate with Coconut Milk (bar) was from Honoka'a Chocolate (Honoka'a, HI).

Aroma notes included: rich, authentic coconut milk and sweet chocolate.

The texture was velvety smooth. (Frequently you get this lovely silky/creamy texture with coconut milk + cocoa butter.)

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, authentic coconut milk and yogurt/earth (faint loam).

I liked the short list of only three ingredients and the authentic flavors. This was almost too sweet for me but the slightly earthy cacao helped balance out the sweetness, and vice versa. Also, the turbinado sugar used was a little less processed than some sugars, resulting in more flavor and less sugar buzz--which I appreciated.

Ingredients: 100% Hawai'i Island cacao, organic coconut milk, organic turbinado cane sugar. 

Allergen-related information: ("dairy free") 

Javier Confectionery + Sunridge Farms + Rum = Hawaiian Hot Chocolate - Nov. 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Javier Confectionery
Shaved Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix with Homemade Marshmallows
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / Approx. 15 oz. (weight unknown) total package
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: N/A - gift from a neighbor (Thank you Nallely!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Sunridge Farms
Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 5.5 oz. (156 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 (2-piece) serving
Cost: $5.59 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA 

Aloha, and welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's Hawaiian Hot Chocolate was made with three ingredients (listed below).

The last few days I've recreated a Hawaiian dessert/drink memory with available chocolate items from the chocolate vault. Tomorrow, I'll go back to featuring one (single) chocolate item per day that's either from Hawaii and/or made with cacao grown in Hawaii.

Javier Confectionery - Shaved Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

The base for this Hawaiian-themed hot chocolate was Shaved Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix With Homemade Marshmallow(s) from Javier Confectionery (Burlingame, CA). 

After adding hot water, and stirring, the dark milk shavings melted into a nice, almost velvety, warm drinking chocolate. Very satisfying--and a good choice for a hot chocolate or as a base for experimentation (if you'd like to add liqueurs, flavorings).

Ingredients: Shaved dark chocolate (that I believe contained some milk) + homemade marshmallows in a separate packet.

Sunridge Farms - Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews

The Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews were manufactured by Sunridge Farms (Royal Oaks, CA). Aroma and flavor notes for these hearty, two-bite sized, dark chocolate covered chews included: dark chocolate, coconut macaroon and very faint vanilla. 

These tasty, chewy, sweet, bite-sized coconut chews would be enjoyable as a sweet snack. Their small size was perfect. I could see these being part of a holiday dessert plate with fruit and other items.

These were like high-end dark chocolate covered coconut macaroon cookies, only with a slightly shorter and healthier list of ingredients.

And two chews mixed into the hot chocolate achieved the rich coconut and chocolate flavor I wanted (in addition to the dark rum) to recreate today's Hawaiian Hot Chocolate memory.

(Note: straining out the small coconut shreds after allowing hot chocolate to sit for a few minutes is optional if hand-stirring ingredients and you're not using a blender.)

Ingredients: Coconut Bar (coconut, brown rice syrup), Dark Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy or sunflower lecithin [emulsifier], vanilla extract, milk). 

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut, Milk, Soy. "Manufactured on shared equipment with peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and sesame."  

Rum

Last, but not least to be stirred in was the rum. I chose Myers's Original Dark Rum as that most closely replicated what was in the Hawaiian Hot Chocolate I had almost 20 years ago in Honolulu. (An updated version might include a small-batch Hawaiian rum.)

Result 
The resulting combination of the three ingredients was very close to the (memory of the) Hawaiian Hot Chocolate I enjoyed years ago while on vacation in Hawaii.

 

King Arthur - Chocolate Macadamia Cookies with Hawaiian Nibs and Sea Salt - Nov. 20, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

King Arthur Baking Company, Inc.
Gluten Free Ultimate Fudge Chocolate Brownie Mix
(Chocolate Macadamia Cookies with Hawaiian Nibs and Sea Salt)
Good + - Good ++ (See below)
Weight: 1. oz. (45 g.) mix used / 17 oz. (1 Lb., 1 Oz.) total box of mix
Calories: 165 calories for dry mix only)/ 400 calories (estimate) for 2 cookies
Cost: N/A - multiple ingredients
Purchased from: N/A - multiple ingredients, locations

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Hawaii. 

Today's tiny (two cookie) batch of Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies with Guava Smoked Hawaiian Sea Salt were made using (a) Gluten Free Ultimate Fudge Chocolate Brownie Mix from King Arthur Baking Company, Inc. (Norwich, VT).

I added the following ingredients to this mix:

1.) Olive Oil + (Coconut) MCT Oil
2.) Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts (chopped)
3.) Cacao Nibs from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, Oahu, HI)
4.) 1 tiny banana (mashed)
5.) Cold Brew Coffee and Cream Liqueur
6.) Hawaiian guava smoked sea salt

I liked the combination of flavors. But the texture (when microwaved -- not recommended) was a little off. Following a standard cookie recipe and using a conventional oven (later) yielded better results.

The cocoa used in this mix was made more alkaline (less acidic and bitter) so it was sweet and agreeable. (Think Swiss Miss Cocoa in the U.S.) Happily, the Hawaiian cacao nibs helped restore some fine cacao flavor.

Notes: I used a gluten free brownie mix to make cookies. This King Arthur mix was optimized for brownies; and, if you're vegan (or not), the package specifically discouraged trying to make these brownies without using egg. (I'm not good at following recipes.) The end result: the last half of this micro-batch was folded into a great vanilla ice cream. That worked!

Brownie Mix Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Tapioca Starch, Rice Flour, Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Salt, Natural Vanilla Flavor. 

Allergen-related information: This mix was certified gluten-free by GFCO (GFCO.org) and was "Non-Dairy." "For information on allergens and cross-contact program, visit: KingArthurBaking.com/Allergen-Program"

Ocho Candy - Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Minis - Nov. 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ocho Candy

Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Minis
Good ++

Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package of 8 minis

Calories: 280 calories in minis
Cost: $ Missing information 
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

This post is about good memories.

Today's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Minis were from Ocho Candy, Inc. (Oakland, CA). Ocho closed down earlier this year after 14 years in business. (Fortunately, these were in my chocolate vault.)

Ocho Candy's founders were committed to making higher-quality chocolate candy bars--before many companies had even considered Organic and Fair Trade, or gluten-free, chocolate bars, or dropping artificial colors and ingredients. They made some great small candy bars.

And speaking of memories, I chose today's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter mini bars because they reminded me of a chocolate, peanut butter and fresh banana milk shake I fell in love with--at a poolside bar in Maui, many years ago. I made a delicious fresh banana milkshake at home and enjoyed these Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Minis with the shake, and pretended I was back in Hawaii. 

The two-bite bars had a smooth dark chocolate outer layer and a both creamy and very slightly crunchy peanut butter interior. The sugar and salt levels in the peanut butter filling were perfect for my taste. 

These individually-wrapped treats were easy to share and transport; but a smaller bar size didn't help with portion control. I'll just have one more...I thought, three times.

Ingredients: *Dark Chocolate, (*+Cacao Beans, *Evaporated Cane Sugar, *+Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin), *Peanut Butter (*Peanuts), *Cane Sugar, *+Cocoa Butter, *Peanut Flour, *Sugar (*Cane Sugar, *Tapioca Starch) and Sea Salt. (* = Organic; + = Fair Trade Certified by Fair Trade USA)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts. Made on Shared Equipment That Processes Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Milk, Eggs, and Wheat.

 

Raaka - Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 18, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (Missing information)
Purchased from: (Missing information)

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's while today's Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY) does not come from Hawaii (cacao origin is Uganda, Semuliki Forest), it did spark some fond Hawaii memories.

I enjoyed this Coconut Milk bar by itself, and then with two different Hawaiian coconut milk-based smoothies made with fresh banana, orange, guava and passionfruit. Today's virtual travel to Hawaii via chocolate and island fruits was inspired by the onset of colder, winter weather where I live.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (fudge, cocoa, dark chocolate milk); authentic, aromatic and sweet coconut (milk); and very faint, diffuse fruit (ripe red berry).

The texture was smooth, silken, cream-y. (Most coconut chocolate confections are loaded with sugar-saturated coconut. You won't find dry or over-processed coconut in this bar.) 

Raaka's chocolates tend to be less processed, and feature bars like this one made with unroasted cacao. Why unroasted? The flavor can be milder/smoother as a result. And less processing of high-quality cacao is often associated with preservation of certain desirable flavor characteristics and nutritional properties.

I liked that this chocolate was gluten-free, soy-free, organic, and made with a short list of quality ingredients. For dairy-free and/or vegan chocolate lovers, Raaka offers some good options.

Maker's description: "...silky smooth...with...lush notes of berries and cream."

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic coconut, organic cacao butter

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut.