Creo Chocolate - Purely Dark 85% Dark Chocolate, Ecuador (bar) - June 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Purely Dark 85% Dark Chocolate, Ecuador (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Purely Dark 85% Dark Chocolate from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR)

Aroma notes for this attractively packaged bar included: dark chocolate (cocoa, dates, very faint tart-sweet green (oxalis)); faint nut butter, seed/nut; and very faint peanut butter and honey sandwich and sweet green (coconut).

Flavor notes included: dark, bittersweet chocolate (rich cocoa), green herb(s), sweet aromatic wood, nut; diffuse fruit (berry, date, and very faint (almost undetectable) floral banana), coconut-leaning fruits (ice apple, coconut mango, soursop); and brown sugar.

The texture was relatively smoother and creaming especially as I was expecting a bit of astringency from the slightly tangy-bitter flavors from the aroma (and because it was 85% cacao).

I really enjoyed the complexity of aromas and flavors in this bar. It had a little something for everyone. Dark chocolate with plenty of rich cocoa flavor. Balanced bitter and sweet; sweet and faintly sour fruit; and nut and green elements. There was even a trace of green floral. 

It must have been enjoyable--and challenging--for the maker(s) to choose roast and conch profiles that would preserve all the subtle/delicate flavors, and develop/manage other flavors in this fine cacao. 

Ingredients: cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on shared equipment with products containing eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts (and) tree nuts"

To'ak Chocolate - 75% Cacao 2019 Tasmanian Whisky Cask Ex-Tawny Aged - June 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
75% Cacao 2019 Tasmanian Whisky Cask Ex-Tawny Aged
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .106 oz. (3 g.) for 1 square / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total bar/package of 18
Calories: 21 calories in 1 square
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

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

Today's 75% (Ecuador) Cacao 2019 Tasmanian Whisky Cask Ex-Tawny individually-wrapped square was part of a six-flavor, tasting square assortment of chocolates--all made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). 

To'ak specializes in Ecuadorian Nacional cacao. This rare cacao variety was almost lost in the 1900s due to disease and other factors.*

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: dark chocolate and slightly boozy: slightly sweet whisky, and complex and attractive white wine grape/raisin, honey, very faint wood; faint nut; and faint, diffuse fruit (cacao pulp, red fruit). 

The texture of this tasting square was well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. There was a very faint astringency (dryness) toward the second half/finish.

What a delicious ride this was! The dark chocolate was flavorful but not so strong that it muted the wonderful barrel aged flavors. In case you want to look this one up on the To'ak website, you'll find that full-sized (whisky and spirits) bars are either sold out and/or are priced at more than $200 USD.

The makers have become skilled at cask-aging cacao, adding complexity and enhancing already nuanced flavors of heirloom cacao. You're enjoying a two-ingredient chocolate, but it tastes like there are other flavor inclusions. Their tagline says it all:

"Made like a vintage wine, aged like a whisky, and packaged like a work of art. We work closely with local farmers and artists to make truly unique and unforgettable chocolate." 

Ingredients: "Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) disfigures plants. (It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s.) 

In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

 

To'ak Chocolate - Palo Santo Aged 75% (2019 Harvest) - June 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Palo Santo Aged 75% (2019 Harvest) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .106 oz. (3 g.) for 1 square / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total bar/package of 18
Calories: 21 calories in 1 square
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

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

Today's "Palo Santo Aged" (2019 Harvest) 75% Ecuador cacao individually-wrapped square was part of a six-flavor, tasting square assortment--made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). To'ak specializes in high-end, Ecuadorian cacao-based chocolates.

The makers use Ecuador's famed "Nacional" cacao variety, an historically prized cacao that was almost lost in the 1900s due to disease and other factors.*

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: subtle dark chocolate; herbal/menthol (green mint), coconut; faint nut/seed; and very faint clean, refreshing mineral(s), citrus and aromatic wood.

The texture of this tasting square was well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. 

This unique 75% dark chocolate was bittersweet (with a lot of natural, almost dried fruit (date) sweetness). It tasted sweeter than 75% cacao chocolate in the beginning, and ended with some bitter and earthy notes in the finish. In between we enjoyed a wonderful, balanced and complex flavor ride. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Coconut, mint, citrusy pine, dates"

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*The disease was Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) that disfigures plants. It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s. 

In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

  

To'ak Chocolate - Kampot Pepper Aged 75% Nacional Ecuador (square) - June 27, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Kampot Pepper chocolate square
Good +++
Weight: .106 oz. (3 g.) for 1 square / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total bar/package of 18
Calories: 21 calories in 1 square
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

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

Today's "Kampot Pepper" (2019 Harvest) Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate small square was part of a six-flavor, tasting square assortment--made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). To'ak specializes in high-end, Ecuadorian cacao-based chocolates.

The makers use Ecuador's famed "Nacional" cacao variety, an historically prized cacao. (In the 1900s, disease diminished cacao harvests for decades. Happily, this rare variety still exists.*) And today's chocolate was blended with Kampot Pepper (a black peppercorn cultivar from Cambodia).

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: subtle dark chocolate; faint spice and aromatic black/green peppercorn; aromatic wood; clean mineral; and very faint nut; and faint, diffuse sweet citrus fruit (orange). The nuanced, aged pepper flavors were fantastic with this chocolate. There was no fiery heat, just lots of wonderful flavor.

The texture of this tasting square was well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. 

Sugar was used judiciously; that is less sugar allowed these truly unique and wonderful aged pepper and cacao flavors to really shine. (Thank you!) 

Maker's tasting notes: "Black pepper, woody, citrus, brown fruits"

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*The disease in this case was Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) that disfigures plants. It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s. 

In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

 

To'ak Chocolate - Rain Harvest Ecuadorian Cacao series (2018, 2019, 2021 Harvests) - June 26, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
1.) Rain Harvest 2018 Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate 74% Cacao (square) - Good ++
2.) Rain Harvest 2019 Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate 75% Cacao (square) - Good ++
3.) Rain Harvest 2021 (18 Hrs.) Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate 75.5% Cacao (square) - Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: .318 oz. (9 g.) for 3 squares / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar/package
Calories: 63 calories in 3 squares
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week. 

Today's series of three "Rain Harvest" Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate small squares were from different cacao harvests (years). All three were made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). The company specializes in high-end, Ecuadorian cacao-based chocolates.

The makers work with Ecuador's famed "Nacional" cacao variety, a popular cacao dating back to the 1800s.* (In the 1900s, disease adversely impacted cacao harvests for decades.**) Today's three chocolates presented a great opportunity for a side-by-side, tiny chocolate tasting flight.

Aroma and flavor notes for Rain Harvest 2018 (74%) attractively packaged bar included: relatively subtle dark chocolate, very faint molasses, fruit (peach jam and and very, very faint cake/soda cracker); and it was the earthiest of the three. 

The 2019 Rain Harvest (75%) chocolate had similar notes but it also had some nuanced sweet green and mellow nut notes; the stone fruit note was a little less peach and a little more plum; there was a faint, fleeting soda cracker note; and a slight decrease in earth.

Lastly, the 2021 Rain Harvest (75.5%) was a tiny bit less sweet, and had more green (oxalis) and mellow, sweet nut, and slightly less fruit (more sweet green banana and less stone fruit). It also had a faint, clean mineral flavor that was nice/refreshing; and had "18 hours" (of what I assume was conching*** time). I'm not sure how this compared with the times selected for the first two chocolates.

The texture for all three was similar: well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. 

I really enjoyed tasting all three side-by-side. I felt like I could taste the maker's choices as they were making skilled and subtle adjustments with each batch. 

I liked the third (2021 harvest) just a bit better. I tend to like green, floral and fruit flavors, and slightly less earth. I appreciated the complexity and coaxing out of natural cacao flavors; and that the restrained sugar levels that allowed the flavors to really shine. (Thank you!) 

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

** The disease in this case was Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) that disfigures plants. It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s. 

***It should be noted that conching time for cacao being made into chocolate may vary a lot, from a few hours to almost 90 hours. For a very fine-flavored cacao a long conch time might cause loss of volatile (e.g. floral) and prized flavors even though the texture might be very smooth and creamy with longer heating/processing times. On the other hand, a more acidic or less fine cacao may benefit from longer conch times (to lose less desirable flavors). There are often trade-offs to be made between taste and texture.

 

To'ak Chocolates - Utah Gin Cask Aged Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate 75.5% Cacao (bar) - June 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Utah Gin Cask Aged Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate 75.5% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar/package
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week. 

Today's Utah Gin Cask Aged Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate 75.5% Cacao (bar) was made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador, by To'ak Chocolate  (Quito, Ecuador). The company specializes in high-end, Ecuadorian cacao-based chocolates.

The makers work with Ecuador's famed "Nacional" cacao variety, a popular cacao dating back to the 1800s.* In the 1900s, disease (Witches Broom) adversely impacted cacao harvests for decades.** (I feel grateful that when I started Chocolate Banquet almost 18 years ago, many South American cacao farms were on the rebound.)

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractively packaged bar included: relatively subtle dark chocolate, faint molasses, sweet green (botanical, oxalis), and very faint, well-balanced: earth/forest, diffuse tart-sweet fruit (peach, cacao), and then light cream in a gentle, lingering finish.

Texture: well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. (And, as a delightful bonus, there was a crunchy, whole, cacao bean at the center that had a slight charcoal roast flavor to it.)

This was a skillfully and thoughtfully executed dark chocolate -- smooth, sophisticated and subtly complex and flavorful. Well balanced, and it was not too sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: 75.5% Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, 24.5% Organic Cane Sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

** This plant gall disease (caused by fungal and other contributing causes) disfigures plants; and it has also caused the collapse of cacao harvests in Brazil.

Fjak - Hacienda Limon, Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Chocolate  
Hacienda Limon, Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.055 oz. (30 g.) / 2.11 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 167.7 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Limited Edition Hacienda Limon, Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) from Fjak Chocolate AS (Eidfjord (Hardangerfjord), Norway).

This bar was part of Fjak's Limited Edition "Cocoa Explorers'" series--that are made using high-quality, unique and often award-winning single origin/region cacaos. The cacao used to make this bar came from 12 Tree, Hacienda Limon, Quevado Cotopaxi, Ecuador.*

The intriguingly complex aroma notes included: dark chocolate, botanical spice (green pepper); complex and rich floral/honey; aromatic wood; and faint nut, mineral water and molasses.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a very faint astringency ("dryness") toward the finish.

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate with complex green botanicals (including freshly cut greens) and spices (including green bell pepper, green peppercorn); molasses, honey and panela; and very faint aromatic wood, earth and nut (green walnuts in sweet syrup, sweet green hazelnut, pine nuts).

I loved the maker's choice of cacao and their skilled and thoughtful execution that led to this aromatic and flavorful chocolate bar. So much delicious and complex flavor, coaxed from just three ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: Floral Honey, Hazelnut.

*Fjak's description: "...Using the excellent "Heirloom Cacao Preservation' accredited cocoa beans from Samuel von Rutte's Hacienda Limon farm, we have created a classic 70% dark bar..."  

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that handles nuts, dairy and gluten."

Honeymoon Chocolates - 70% Raspberry Dark Chocolate Tanzania with raw honey, Tanzania cacao (bar) - June 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates
70% Raspberry Dark Chocolate with Raw Honey, Tanzania (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 171 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Honeymoon Chocolates, online order

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

Today's 70% Raspberry Dark Chocolate with Raw Honey, Tanzania (bar) was from Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis, MO). 

This dark bar was created using Kokoa Kamili*, Tanzania cacao, Missouri Wildflower and Clover honey and raspberry. This follows a very similar Dark Raspberry bar, featured yesterday, by the same maker, that used Belize cacao. The Belize cacao might have been a bit smoother, but I enjoyed the bolder contrast in today's bar.

Aroma and flavor notes included: tart, sweet, ripe red raspberry and dark chocolate.

Texture: soft, very smooth, buttery, ultra-dark chocolate interspersed with rosy, red raspberry bits (with crunchy seeds) pressed into the back of this bar. 

Flavor notes included: ultra-dark (rich, very slightly earthy, bittersweet) chocolate; and authentically tart-sweet red raspberry bits. The slightly bitter chocolate and the bright, ripe berry were nicely balanced and very complementary. The more delicate sweet, floral honey showed up at the end of the finish, after the more dominant cacao and berry flavors subsided.

I appreciated that this chocolate was made with just four high-quality ingredients, and that it wasn't too sweet (thank you) -- allowing each ingredient to shine on its own.

Maker's Tasting Notes: Molasses, Cheesecake, and Raspberries

Ingredients: Raw Honey, Organic Cacao, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Raspberry

Allergen-related information: Manufactured in a facility that prepares Dairy and Gluten products. 

*Kokoa Kamili is a central (cacao) fermentary and cacao processing facility located in Mbingu Village in Tanzania that works with farmers. They buy "wet" cacao from thousands of small farmers, process and export cacao. This social enterprise was founded in 2013 by Brian LoBue and Simran Bindra.

Honeymoon Chocolates - 70% Raspberry Dark Chocolate with Raw Honey, Belize (bar) - June 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates
70% Raspberry Dark Chocolate with Raw Honey, Belize (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 171 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Missing information

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

Today's 70% Raspberry Dark Chocolate with Raw Honey, Belize (bar) was from Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis, MO). The company was "founded in a dorm room in 2016," and, happily for us, has produced a variety of (single origin cacao) chocolates sweetened with honey.

This dark bar was created using bean-to-bar Maya Mountain Belize cacao; Missouri Wildflower and Clover honey; and raspberries.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (deep dark chocolate fudge; berry fruit; very faint, fleeting warm spice, fruit vinegar); raspberry fruit pieces; and very faint floral (honey).

Texture - somewhat soft dark chocolate, with a rich, slow melt; and occasional bits of raspberry and crunchy whole raspberry seeds.

Tasting notes included: pleasing, single origin (Belize) dark chocolate flavor, interspersed with authentic, bright, tart-sweet raspberry fruit bits.

I liked that this chocolate was not too sweet (thank you!) and I appreciated it was made with just four high-quality ingredients--allowing each ingredient to shine.

Ingredients: Cacao, Raw Honey, Cacao Butter, Raspberry

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that prepares Dairy products. "Free of refined sugar, soy, and gluten."

  

Honeymoon Chocolates - Switchgrass Spirits 75% Dark Chocolate Rye Whiskey (bar) - June 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates
Switchgrass Spirits 75% Dark Chocolate Rye Whiskey (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 171 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Honeymoon Chocolates, online order

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

Today's Switchgrass Spirits 75% Dark Chocolate Rye Whiskey (bar) was from Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis, MO).

This dark bar was created using organic Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania cacao, raw Missouri wildflower and clover honey, and (alcohol-removed) Switchgrass Rye whiskey.

The complex bouquet of aroma notes included: dark chocolate (fudge-y, very slightly earthy), sweet green, molasses/brown sugar, and very faint sweet herbal and barely detectable fermented fruit/whiskey.

This bar had a smooth, cocoa buttery, almost creamy texture and melt.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (very slightly earthy, roasted (coffee latte with molasses)); very faint sweet tart green (oxalis); very faint nuanced (floral, herbal) honey-like sweetness and naturally sweet/aged whiskey.

I enjoyed the rich, complex, and balanced aroma and flavor notes in this dark chocolate. And I appreciated that this bar was made with just four high-quality ingredients. (I also liked the hexagon (honeycomb) pattern on the back and the (compostable) packaging design.) A portion of the proceeds from this numbered bar were "automatically donated to support honeybee research."

Ingredients: Cacao, Raw Honey, Cacao Butter, Rye Whiskey 

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that processes Dairy products. "Free of refined sugar, soy, and gluten."

 

Honeymoon Chocolates - Chocolate Covered Raw Honeycomb - June 20, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Covered Raw Honeycomb
Organic Tanzanian Cacao + Raw Honeycomb
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3.0 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $14.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Honeymoon Chocolates, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Covered Raw Honeycomb made with Organic Tanzanian Cacao + Raw Honeycomb was from Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis, MO).

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (balanced earth, fruit) and faintly floral honey.

Special preparation for this especially decadent treat included having water and wet and dry towels on hand, and enjoying this dark chocolate covered thick, chewy, waxy, honeycomb--flowing with liquid honey--leaning over a sink. That helped make cleanup a snap. 

I enjoyed the fact that this substantial confection was made with just two, high-quality ingredients (raw honeycomb and organic Tanzanian cacao)

The bulk of this sweet confection was a honeycomb full of honey and should be enjoyed as such. Thankfully I could still taste the dark Tanzanian cacao/chocolate, which broke into shards around the edges when I cut this piece in half. It was a good counterpoint to all that 'comb.

Ingredients: Honeycomb, Organic Tanzanian Cacao

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

Pacific Resources International - Raspberry Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey - June 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Pacific Resources International (PRI)
Raspberry Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey
Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 5 oz. (141.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: PRI, online order 

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Honey Theme Week.

Today's Raspberry Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey were distributed by Pacific Resources International (Carpinteria, CA).

Aroma notes for these individually-wrapped (in pink foil) patties included: faintly earthy dark chocolate and bright, sweet red berry (raspberry, strawberry), and very faint fig and nut cookie. 

Textures: slightly crunchy (in a cool room) the outer dark chocolate shell had a thick fudge-y, creamy melt and mouthfeel; and a soft, almost velvety honey filling.

I liked the contrast between the 99% cacao ultra-dark chocolate coating and the bright, very sweet, red-berry (raspberry)-infused honey filling. If it weren't for the earth-tethered cacao to ground the honey-fueled, sweet berry filling, it might have lifted off into the candysphere. 

The only downside: the chocolate and raspberry flavors were so commanding that it was harder to taste the floral and other honey notes (as I'd been able to do in PRI's Orange dark chocolate patties, featured yesterday).

Ingredients: "Manuka/Honey, 99% cocoa dark chocolate, natural raspberry flavoring"

Allergen-related information: (None I could find on the packaging.) 

*Manuka honey comes from the nectar of flowers that grow on the Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) shrub-like tree. It is native to New Zealand and parts of (coastal) Australia, but is also cultivated in other areas of the world. 

Pacific Resources International (PRI) - Orange Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey - June 18, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Pacific Resources International (PRI)
Orange Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey
Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 5 oz. (141.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: PRI, online order 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate & Honey Theme Week.

Today's Orange Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey were distributed by Pacific Resources International (Carpinteria, CA). The company imports Manuka honey from New Zealand and Australia--to enjoy a la carte, or as inclusions in chocolates and other offerings.

Aroma notes for these orange foil-wrapped patties included: faintly earthy dark chocolate and slightly spicy orange. 

The 99% cacao dark chocolate shell had a slightly crunchy (in a cool room) texture and a thick, creamy melt and mouthfeel. Inside was a soft, almost velvety honey filling.

I enjoyed the contrast between the ultra-dark, very slightly earthy and roasted flavors of the 99% cacao chocolate coating and the bright, sweet, complex (slightly floral/herbal) orange-infused honey filling. The well-executed and layered flavors (vs. a homogeneous blend found in a bar or ganache) made this more interesting and enjoyable.  

Made with only three ingredients, all three had their turn to shine. The spotlight on center stage belonged to the very slightly spicy orange and complex honey (floral, spice, herbal, etc.) flavors. And that filling was surrounded by 99% cacao dark chocolate around the edges. The more down to earth dark chocolate was the first taste, and then came back again to linger in the finish. 

Ingredients: "Manuka/Honey, 99% cocoa Dark chocolate, Orange Oil"

Allergen-related information: None listed. (Certified Kosher)

*Manuka honey comes from the nectar of flowers that grow on the Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) shrub-like tree. It is native to New Zealand and parts of (coastal) Australia, but is also cultivated in other areas of the world.

Lindt - Almond with Honey Dark Chocolate 47% (bar) - June 17, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Lindt
Almond with Honey Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 266.6 calories for 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week, including chocolates with honey as well as a few chocolates with honey-like tasting notes.

Today's Almond Honey Dark Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by Lindt & Sprungli USA) Inc. (Stratham, NH). 

Aroma notes for this Swiss-inspired chocolate were true to the description and included: floral honey, dark chocolate and faint nut.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with crunchy bits of almond.

Taste: relatively bold, yet smooth, dark chocolate, honey, very faint floral (mostly in the aroma), and subtle almond.

What I liked: flavorful, honey notes; no off notes; dark, without being too acidic or bitter. 

While it tasted darker than 47% cocoa (more like 60%--which I liked), it was also fairly sweet (sugar was the number one ingredient). The sugar gave this a dark chocolate and honey candy-like flavor.

Ingredients: Sugar, Chocolate, Caramelized Almonds (Almonds, Sugar, Honey, Cocoa Butter), Cocoa Butter, Milk fat, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Flavor.

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds, Milk, Soy. May Contain Other Tree Nuts. 

American Heritage Chocolate - Dark Chocolate with vanilla, orange & cinnamon (bar) - June 16, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

American Heritage Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with a hint of vanilla, orange & cinnamon (bar)
Good: ++
Weight:  1.27 oz. (36 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar (+tax and shipping)
Purchased from: (Online Shop at Colonial Williamsburg, Online order)

Welcome to the last day of Chocolate and Mexico Week.

Today's American Heritage Chocolate Dark Chocolate with a hint of vanilla, orange and cinnamon 57% Cacao (bar) was made in Henderson, Nevada, and distributed by Mars Wrigley Confectionery US, LLC (Hackettstown, NJ). 

I found this historically-inspired chocolate on the Colonial Williamsburg website. Cacao was ground and consumed in the U.S. by newly arrived Europeans as far back as the 1700s. Williamsburg, Virginia, was using recipes that had their roots in Mexico/Central America. 

Chocolate houses (similar to today's coffee houses) were also in vogue in parts of Europe in the 1600s-1700s; and would have been known to some of the early colonists. These early, water-based, chocolate beverages contained exotic spices and were typically sweetened with sugar.

This bar was full of rich aroma and flavors that reminded me a lot of Mexican chocolate (especially drinking chocolates). This chocolate contained a subtle warm cinnamon and spice blend, and a subtle spicy, kick--consistent with chocolate(s) with chili peppers in Mexico--and possibly in some early chocolate recipes/beverages adopted/adapted by Europeans.

The smooth, thick and creamy-textured dark chocolate had prominent cinnamon and spice (red pepper) notes that were rounded out with orange and vanilla. It had a pleasing, warm quality to it.

I enjoyed this chocolate with some (gluten free) Cinnamon Churro chips from Get Mindright Inc. (Beverly Hills, CA). I felt I'd been transported to Mexico/Latin America.

Ingredients: Chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, salt, natural flavors, red pepper.

Allergen-related information: "May contain milk, peanuts, tree nuts, egg and soy."

Oaxacan Chocolate 100% Cacao (pieces) - June 15, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

(Vendor unknown)
Oaxacan chocolate 100% cacao (pieces)
Good ++
Weight: .6 oz. (15 + 2 g.)/ 2.4 oz. (69 g.) total bag of 2 pieces
Calories: 93 calories (estimate) in 1/2 of 1 piece
Cost: N/A - gift from neighbor
Purchased from: N/A - gift from neighbor (Thank you Nallely and Gomez family)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week, featuring two chocolates.

The first chocolate, from Oaxaca, was very special; it was part of a Mexican chocolate gift bag from my neighbors. 

Aroma notes for this single-ingredient, full-strength (100%) cacao included: deep, rich, authentic cacao (beans, nibs), faint olive, dark brownie, and diffuse wine/fermentation and acidity. 

I was expecting a strong taste; but this cacao was very well-behaved for a 100% cacao item (no sugar). This was not a shiny tempered chocolate that broke with a hard snap, but rather it was easy to break off pieces--making it well-suited for making hot chocolate or adding to other dishes/beverages/desserts.

Full of authentic cacao flavors, it created a relatively smooth drinking chocolate; and I enjoyed it sprinkled over nuts and fruit for breakfast. 

It also would be a great addition to a blander, sweeter hot chocolate, to punch up the taste a bit. 

Javier Confectionery
Velvet Dark Drinking Chocolate with marshmallows
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 15.75 oz. (444 g.) in total package
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) in 1 serving 
Cost: N/A - gift from neighbors
Purchased from: N/A - gift from neighbors (Thank you Nallely and Gomez family)

Today's Velvet Dark Drinking Chocolate Mix (with Marshmallows) was from Javier Confectionery* (Burlingame, CA).

This mix had a pleasing drinking chocolate (cocoa) aroma and flavor. Cocoa butter and butter oil gave this mix a creamy flavor and texture. The marshmallows added some sweet and light, lofty texture.

I also tried this chocolate with milk and a pinch of 100% cacao to make this blend slightly richer on the cacao bean side, and to make it taste a little less sweet.

Ingredients: Semi-Sweet Chocolate (chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, butter oil, soya lecithin, emulsifier, pure vanilla). Marshmallow (sugar, corn syrup, invert sugar gelatin).

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Soy. "Made in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, wheat, and soy."

*Javier Confectionery is located in/co-located with the Preston's Candy and Ice Cream store in Burlingame, CA

Chocolate Mayordomo - Drinking Chocolate - June 13, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Mayordomo 
Premium Drinking Chocolate (Tabletas)
Good+++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (part of a larger package)
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. piece
Cost: N/A - gift from neighbor
Purchased from: N/A - gift from neighbor (gracias a Nallely y la familia Gomez)

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

Today's Drinking Chocolate/Hot Chocolate (en tabletas - bar form) was from Chocolate Mayordomo  (Oaxaca, Mexico). This was generously shared with me by my neighbors.*

Mayordomo is known for its mole sauces and "table chocolate" (drinking chocolate in scored tablet form and other chocolates).

Aroma notes included: rich chocolate and cinnamon, and very faint, fleeting stone fruit (ripe peach).

This chocolate was very tasty. It produced the kind of warm beverage that makes you want to sit back and relax and savor each sip with a good friend or a book.

I also found it to be great, all by itself -- to eat out of hand; as a chilled drinking chocolate with milk (or at temperature); and grated over desserts or ice cream. 

If you do taste a square or two of a tablet by itself, the initial texture will seem a bit crumbly/grainy (like the first cut of stone-ground cacao with sugar and cinnamon). This is an opportunity/reminder to savor (this and other) chocolate slowly, as you let it dissolve in your mouth.

This was a less processed, flavorful authentic cacao that was low in bitterness. I found this much more tasty than the alkali-processed cocoa we normally find when we're served hot chocolate here in the U.S.--which is also lower in bitterness, but in flavor as well as it has been processed to remove all potential bitter and sour notes that might be present. This process also takes away some of the better flavors as well.

I loved the authentic cacao flavors, and the short list of ingredients. The warm, spicy-sweet cinnamon flavor was almost intoxicating.

Ingredients: Roasted cacao beans, almonds and cinnamon, sugar

Allergen-related information: None listed on gold foil packaging (part of a larger package).

* I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and the brands of hot chocolate we see from Mexico most often in specialty stores are Ibarra and Abuelita. So this Oaxacan chocolate gift was a real treat. (For those that live in the U.S., you may be able to find Mayordomo chocolate on Etsy.)

 

Gnosis Chocolate - The Golden Brick; and Chocolate Mayordomo - Hot Chocolate/Drinking Chocolate disc - June 14, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Gnosis Chocolate
The Golden Brick (small filled bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.02 oz. (29 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week -- featuring two chocolates.

The first chocolate was: "The Golden Brick" (inside a shiny gold bar box) from Gnosis Chocolate (Astoria, New York). This bar was listed as having a "vanilla turmeric creme filling."

Aroma and flavor notes for this filled bar included: chocolate cookie, and faint sweet botanicals and spices--with a soft, very slightly more substantial light caramel-y, chocolate-y coconut-vanilla spice filling. Both the almost velvety 70% raw chocolate covering and the sweet flavorful filling were very tasty.

The Spanish were looking for gold in the New World. But, arguably, some of the most valuable items found in Mexico were cacao, vanilla and blue agave. This Golden Brick (bar) contained all three--as well lucuma, maca and cashews--also from the Americas (Peru).

Ingredients: "70% raw chocolate (raw cacao beans*, coconut sugar*), raw cashews*, virgin coconut oil*, raw blue agave*, lucuma*, fleur de sel salt, turmeric*, eleuthero*, maca*, burdock*, Love (*organic)"

Allergen-related information: (Contains cashews, coconut)

Chocolate Mayordomo 
Hot Chocolate/Drinking Chocolate (disc)
Good++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (part of a larger package)
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. piece
Cost: N/A - gift from neighbor
Purchased from: N/A - gift from neighbor (Muchas gracias a Nallely y la familia Gomez.)

Today's Drinking Chocolate/Hot Chocolate (disc) was from Chocolate Mayordomo (Oaxaca, Mexico). This was generously shared with me by my neighbors.

Mayordomo is known for its mole sauces and "table chocolate" (drinking chocolate in scored tablet and disc form and other chocolates).

Aroma notes included: rich chocolate and cinnamon, and very faint diffuse fruit (raisin, peach).

This chocolate was very tasty. And like yesterday's tablets from the same company, this chocolate was good for eating (by itself) and grating over desserts and lattes--as well as producing a warm beverage (with either water or milk of choice) that makes you want to sit back and relax and savor each sip with a good friend or a book.

The initial "grainy" texture (think sugar crystals ground with roasted cacao beans and cinnamon) gave way to a rich chocolate-y texture as it dissolves in my mouth. It reminded me to slow down and savor chocolates to enjoy them fully.

This less processed cacao was full of authentic flavors; and it was low in bitterness. I found this much more tasty than the alkali-processed hot cocoa mixes that are the rule in the U.S. The hot cocoa in the U.S is also lower in bitterness (and in natural cacao flavors as well) as it has been processed to remove bitter and acidic/sour elements that might be present. Unfortunately this process neutralizes objectionable as well as prized flavors.

I liked the smaller sized discs and tablets -- making it easier to make 1-2 person servings. And I loved the authentic cacao flavors, and the short list of ingredients.* The warm, spicy-sweet cinnamon flavor was lovely.

Ingredients: Roasted cacao beans, almonds and cinnamon, sugar (*Note this list of ingredients was obtained online and may not be 100% correct.)

Allergen-related information: May contain almonds. I gratefully received these discs without packaging (They were part of a larger package that had this information that I did not see.)

Mamma Chia - Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding - June 12, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Mamma Chia
Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1/3 cup (49 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 1/3 cup (dry serving); approx. 1/3 package
Cost: Missing information (Online prices range from $5.99 to $8.99)
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Mexico Week. 

Today's Dark Chocolate Chia* Pudding from Mamma Chia (Carlsbad, CA) wasn't made in Mexico, although the company is located in the San Diego area, very near the U.S.-Mexico border.

I'm including this chocolate item in a Mexico themed week because chia seeds originated in Mexico (and Guatemala) and have become relatively popular in the U.S.**

Aroma notes for this organic, easy-to-prepare (just add water/milk) chocolate chia pudding included: cocoa powder, coconut, and very faint grain/seed.

The texture was smooth, and relatively creamy (coconut cream), with tiny bits of crunchy chia seeds surrounded by a gel-like substance.

The directions to make this pudding called for adding water, whisking and waiting -- about 90 minutes. (I waited for 2+ hours before eating.) Although letting this pudding sit overnight in the fridge might yield even smoother results.

Flavor notes included: coconut cream, cocoa powder, chia seeds and very faint oats.

Ingredients: Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Oat, Organic Cocoa Powder, Organic Tapioca Maltodextrin, Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Natural Flavor, Organic Guar Gum, Organic Monk Fruit, Sea Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. 

*Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) are part of the mint family. Nutritional properties of note in 1 serving: 6 grams of plant protein; 5 grams of ALA Omega-3 fatty acids; and 10 grams of prebiotic fiber. They are best eaten/digested after being soaked for at least a few hours (or overnight).

**Both Maya and Aztec peoples ate chia seeds. They were/are also sometimes ground into a flour. They started to become more popular in the U.S. in the early 2000s, and today you'll find them in crackers, beverages and desserts. The word "chia" means strength in the Maya language; and these seeds were used for energy and stamina by warriors and those traveling longer distances.

Cuna de Piedra - 60% Mexican Cacao (Chinantla, Oaxaca) with cinnamon (discs) - June 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cuna de Piedra 
60% Mexican Cacao - Chinantla, Oaxaca with cinnamon
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.10 oz. (60 g.) in total package of 2 discs
Calories: 130 calories in 1 disc
Cost: N/A - gift from neighbor
Purchased from: N/A - gift from neighbor (Thank you Nallely!)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week. 

Today's 60% Cacao Mexican (Chinantla, Oxaca)* chocolate disc(s) were made in Mexico by Cuna de Piedra (Nuevo Leon, Mexico). There were two small discs (individually wrapped in blue foil) in an attractive, compact black package.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with faint floral and gentle earth notes.

The texture was relatively smooth for a drinking chocolate style disc.** The smooth, rich texture made it a great "eating" chocolate as well. (I can't say the same for many other drinking chocolates.)

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate with mild/faint green floral notes, and just a little bit of earthiness in one wedge. I enjoyed the authentic, bean-to-bar chocolate flavors (vs. blends of over-roasted cacaos used in many commercial dark chocolates). It also tasted slightly darker and richer (and less sweet -- thank you!) than most 60% cacao chocolates.

The (Ceylon-style) Mexican cinnamon was very subtle, adding a faint warm, wood/spice note, while still allowing the nuanced cacao notes to shine.

I also enjoyed the smaller size disc -- that was easier to break into wedges -- as I usually make small (espresso cup sized) drinking chocolate servings for just a few people.

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Cane sugar, Mexican cinnamon.

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on Equipment that Processes wheat, milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts and eggs."

*I hope to visit Oaxaca (in Southern Mexico) one day. Sampling and studying food history (corn, squash, mole sauces, drinking chocolates) alone would be worth the flight.

** Drinking chocolate discs like this are usually bigger in size and have a more stoneground (slightly granular) texture. These discs are meant to be dissolved in hot water and often mixed with milk to create a creamier, smoother texture.

 

Chocolove - Chili Mole in Strong Dark Chocolate 70% (bar) - June 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove 
Chili Mole in Strong Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.49 (estimate) for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Chili Mole in Strong Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa (bar) was from Chocolove (Boulder, CO). 

Mole sauces from Mexico and Central America are typically made with ground chilies and may contain ground nuts, cacao, bread or crackers, corn, tomatoes or tomatillos, onion and other spices, and sometimes a touch of sugar or fruit. The chilies are a must; but other ingredients can vary widely.

Today's Chili Mole bar was inspired by mole sauce(s) and it contained ancho and chipotle chilies, cacao, vanilla and cinnamon. Other ingredients in this thoughtfully executed chocolate included: coffee, pistachio nuts and dried apricots.*

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate bar included: dark chocolate, spices: cinnamon, (slightly smokey/roasted) chili, coffee and very faint vanilla; and faint/diffuse fruit and nut.

The smooth dark chocolate yielded rich, sweet flavor notes. The chilis added flavor depth and were relatively mild (more flavor than heat). The vanilla and cinnamon gave the chocolate a natural sweet, upbeat (fresh baked goods) flavor. The coffee and chocolate** grounded this blend. And the ground nut flecks and tiny apricot bits provided mellow nut and subtle tart-sweet fruit notes, respectively.

I enjoyed the choice of flavors in this 70% bar to create a mole sauce like taste. I also liked that this dark chocolate bar was not too sweet (thank you). A very light touch of sea salt, chilies, coffee and dark chocolate helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Liquor, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Pistachios, Dried Apricots (Apricots, Rice Flour), Coffee, Ancho Chilies, Sea Salt, Cinnamon, Chipotle Chilies."

Allergen-related information: "Contains Pistachios, Soy. Made in a Facility That Also Processes Milk, Eggs, Peanuts and Other Tree Nuts."

*Pistachios and apricots originally hail from Central Asia. And coffee had its start in East Africa. However, our food cultures have become very creatively enmeshed.

** Chocolove describes this bar as "Strong Dark Chocolate" 70% Cocoa (Belgian chocolate). But don't let the used of the word"Strong" scare you off. It was quite smooth.

Mezcla - Mexican Hot Chocolate "Puff-Crispy Bar" - June 9, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Mezcla
Mexican Hot Chocolate (bar)
Weight: 1.40 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 bar
Cost: 2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods, Fremont, CA

Hola y bienvenidos a mi blog, Chocolate Banquet. Hello and welcome. Today is Day #1 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

When people think about "Mexican chocolate" they often mention cinnamon and vanilla.*

Today's Mezcla Mexican Hot Chocolate "Puff-Crispy Bar" was distributed by Eat Mezcla Inc. (New York, NY).

Aroma notes included: cinnamon + vanilla cake/cookie; faint chocolate; and very faint cinnamon toast.

I enjoyed the soft, crunchy texture of this bar--made with pea protein crisps and organic, smooth dark chocolate. It reminded me of a Mexican-style hot chocolate with cinnamon, vanilla and a subtle touch of relatively mild chipotle pepper.

The extra protein was satisfying; and despite the slightly sweet aroma and taste, the bar was not overly sugared (Thank you!)

Ingredients: "Pea Crisps (pea protein, rice starch), Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Powder), Tapioca Syrup, Sunflower Seed Butter, Vegetable Glycerine, Pea Protein, Organic Quinoa Crisps (Organic Quinoa), Prebiotic Soluble Tapioca Fiber, Tapioca Syrup Solids, Coconut Oil, Tapioca Fiber, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Powder, Sea Salt, Cinnamon, Natural Flavor, Vanilla Extract, Chipotle Pepper"

Allergen-related information: "Contains Tree Nut (Coconut). Manufactured on Equipment that Processes Dairy, Peanut, Sesame, Soy, Tree Nuts, and Egg"

*Cinnamon, an ancient spice from SE Asia and neighboring areas, likely arrived in the New World at least 500 years ago, in the 1500s--after it was brought to Europe via Arab and African trading routes. (Although there are some individuals who believe that cinnamon might have arrived in the Americas before the Spanish, Spain usually gets the credit for introducing cinnamon.) Regardless, it has become an integral part of most "Mexican chocolate" beverages and desserts here in the U.S.

Vanilla and cacao, on the other hand, originated in Central and South America and were brought to Europe/and other nations.

 

Wildwood Chocolate - Berry Berry 70% Cacao (bar) - June 8, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Wildwood Chocolate
Berry Berry 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Healing Arts Center and Spa at Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week(s). 

Today's Berry Berry 70% Cacao (bar) was from Wildwood Chocolate (Portland, OR). Note: This bar's lovely appearance and the company's name (inspired by a local trail in the Portland area) caused me to have a positive bias--as I love color, nature and trails.

Aroma notes for this visually stunning dark chocolate bar included: big, bright red berry (authentic red raspberry and strawberry), and dark chocolate.

Texture: A very generous layer of lofty (almost airy) light, dried fruit (strawberries, raspberries) sat atop a smooth/creamy dark chocolate base.

Flavor notes included: tart-sweet strawberries and raspberries that complemented bold (slightly earthy/loamy) and relatively smooth dark chocolate. And a very faint touch of vanilla harmonized well with the berries and chocolate.

I enjoyed this very attractive*, well-executed, flavorful 70% cacao bar. The berries were not sweetened--allowing the true fruit flavors to shine. Thank you to Wildwood for not over-sugaring this fruit-flavored chocolate.

Ingredients: Bittersweet Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), Dried Strawberries, Dried Raspberries.

Allergen-related information: Contains Soy. May contain traces of the following if not listed above due to shared equipment: milk, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat or eggs.

*The Wildwood image of a fern (plant) was embossed on the dark chocolate side; and the red berries provided 100% coverage (and eye candy) on the other side.

That's it Nutrition - Organic Dark Chocolate Fig Truffles 60% Cacao - June 7, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

That's it Nutrition LLC
Organic Dark Chocolate Fig Truffles
Good + -  Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 20 oz. (567 g.) in total bar
Calories: 70 calories in 1 serving (3 truffles)
Cost: $ N/A - gift from neighbor (Thanks Bill!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from neighbor

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week that has expanded into a second week--with a growing list of fruits being represented.*

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate Fig Truffles were from That's it Nutrition LLC (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma notes included: subtle dark chocolate and dried fruit (fig).

Flavor notes included: chocolate and softly chewy and almost earthy, whole dried fruit (fig). The fig was the star of the show; and the 60% dark chocolate covering/shell complemented the fruit well.

I liked that this chocolate covered fruit was authentic tasting (made with a short list of organic ingredients), and was not overly sweet. (Thank you!)

Ingredients: Organic Figs, *Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter).

Allergen-related information: May contain occasional stem, seed or pit fragments. Certified Gluten Free, Certified Organic, Certified Paleo, Fair Trade Certified Cocoa.

In the earlier years of Chocolate Banquet, I ran week-long and month-long chocolate series that included flavor inclusions in alphabetical order (from A-Z). It was fun to hunt for all these different chocolates (Apple, Banana, Cherry, Durian...etc.)  

It also proved that chocolate makers are very creative, chocolate is incredibly versatile--it can be sweet or savory; bitter, sour and/or sweet, and can mix with almost every food and liquid in some form.

Wildwood Chocolate - Orange Confit and Cherries 70% Cacao (bar) - June 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Wildwood Chocolate
Orange Confit and Cherries
Good ++
Weight: 1.58 oz. (45 g.) / 3.17 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Healing Arts Center and Spa at Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week(s). 

Today's Orange Confit and Cherries 70% Cacao (bar) was from Wildwood Chocolate (Portland, OR).

Aroma notes for this bar included: hearty dark chocolate (balanced, relatively heavily roasted* cacao),  and diffuse fruit(s) (stone fruit and citrus).

I enjoyed this blend of smooth, rich, dark bittersweet chocolate; plump and moist dried cherries; and long strips of very softly chewy, candied orange peel. 

Ingredients: Bittersweet Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), Dried Cherries (may contain pits), Orange Confit (orange peel, glucose syrup, sugar).

Allergen-related information: Contains Soy. May contain traces of the following if not listed above due to shared equipment: milk, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat or eggs.

* I used to be a fan of dark roasted items (e.g. espresso roast coffee, barbequed foods with little flecks of char). However, if I now prefer to taste the more nuanced, delicate fresh flavors in foods. And that includes cacao. A heavier roast may mean losing some objectionable flavors; but it will also mean that floral and some fruit, spice and botanical notes will be lost.

Zotter - Strawberry Pistachio 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) - June 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Strawberry Pistachio 50% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++

Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 390 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order

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

Today's Strawberry Pistachio 50% Milk Chocolate filled strawberry marzipan and pistachio almond praline (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma notes for this filled fruit and nut milk chocolate bar included: berry (strawberry fruit leather, strawberry jam and nut cookie); chocolate; and very faint vanilla and spice.

The sweet, soft nougat center had two distinct layers (strawberry marzipan and pistachio-almond praline). I enjoy layered textures and flavors in desserts. Both layers were a pleasant match with the sweet, creamy milk chocolate outer covering. This bar had an upbeat (bright sweet) summer berry flavor and a sweet nutty layer; and the nuts helped balance the sugar(s) a bit.

The sugar level in today's layered bar was high. (I like to taste the chocolate and fruit flavors. And it's harder to do that when sugar is the number one ingredient.) But that didn't stop me from eating the entire fruit and nut milk chocolate confection.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar**, Marzipan* (Almonds*, Sugar*, Invert Sugar Syrup*), Cocoa Butter, Almonds, Cocoa Mass, Dry Whole Milk, Pistachios (5%), Strawberries (4%), Strawberry Concentrate (4%), Dried Strawberries (4%), Dry Skim Milk, Dry Sweet Whey, Butter (Cream), Dark Brown Cane Sugar, Lemon Juice, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Lecithin (Soy), Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder, Lemon Powder (Lemon Juice Concentrate, Corn Starch, Sugar), Rose Petals, Cinnamon.

* = Organic (91% Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Almonds, Milk, Pistachios, Soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, sesame and gluten.

Vine to Bar - Chocolate Covered Almonds with Chardonnay Marc, Himalayan Pink Salt - June 4, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Vine To Bar
Chocolate Covered Almonds with Chardonnay Marc, Himalayan Pink Salt
Good ++ 
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package 
Calories: 340 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, featuring chocolates with several different fruits, including cherry, cranberry, marionberry, blueberry, strawberry, orange, lime, and now...Chardonnay (grape) Marc.*

Today's Chocolate Covered Almonds were manufactured for: Vine to Bar (Healdsburg, CA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and subtle fruit (peach, lemon, white grape and cacao fruit) and nut notes.

Texture and flavor notes included: crunchy almonds surrounded by rich, smooth and sweet (65% cacao) dark chocolate with faint fruit/fruit cookie notes. 

The diffuse fruit notes added subtle flavor depth. The judicious touch of Himalayan Pink Salt was appealing; and it helped balance and complement the sweetness, and also tipped this snack into the addictive chocolate zone.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors), Roasted Almonds, Wellvine (TM) Chardonnay Marc, Himalayan Pink Salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Soy, Almond. May Contain: Tree Nuts, Peanut, Wheat, Milk, and Nut Shell Fragments."

* Chardonnay Marc is a byproduct (or "co-product") of the Chardonnay juice extraction process in winemaking. The marc, also known as pomace, may include grape skins, seeds and stems--and is often discarded or used as compost. Vine to Bar founders were interested in sustainability and upcycling the marc.

Vine to Bar chocolates contain Wellvine--a substance that incorporates their Chardonnay by-product-with-benefits (including dietary fiber and polyphenols/flavonols). Cacao and dark chocolate contain fairly high levels of beneficial antioxidants; and adding a few more in fruit form might be even better.

The USDA and the University of California at Davis were consulted/ involved in researching this product. UC Davis researchers helped confirm potential bioactive compounds and health benefits.

Scharffen Berger - 70% Dark Chocolate with Cherries + Almonds + Sea Salt (bar) - June 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker 
70% Dark Chocolate with Cherries + Almonds + Sea Salt (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: (Missing information) 
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate with Cherries + Almonds + Sea Salt (bar) was manufactured by Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker (Ashland, OR).

Aroma notes included: hearty, sweet dark chocolate (dark ganache); dark tart-sweet cherry fruit; nut (almond); and faint vanilla.

The blend of textures and flavors included: smooth, rich dark chocolate; crunchy crispy-sea-salty nut bits, and fleeting, chewy, tart-sweet, cherry fruit. The upticks of sea salt and small almond bits helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Cane Sugar, Almonds, Sweetened Tart Cherries (Tart Cherries, Sugar, Sunflower Oil), Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Vanilla Bean." 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. Produced in a Facility That Also Processes Other Tree Nuts and Dairy.

Zotter Chocolate - Blueberry + Hazelnut (bar) - June 2, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolate
Blueberry + Hazelnut (bar) 
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week. Cherries, berries and citrus are heavily represented this week. It's always nice to find a bar with blueberries.

Today's Blueberry + Hazelnut - Blueberry candy bar and hazelnut praline with hazelnut pieces (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Zotter offers an abundant variety of creatively executed and packaged bars -- both filled ("hand-scooped") and single origin ("Labooko" line) chocolate bars.*

Aroma notes for this filled milk chocolate bar included: chocolate; blueberry; and very faint berry cereal milk and vanilla.

Texture: Creamy milk chocolate with a softer milk chocolate filling/center that contained crunchy hazelnut pieces.

Flavor notes included: sweet, slightly tangy blueberry-infused, rich and creamy milk chocolate, and subtle nut (hazelnut). 

The authentic flavors in this high-end, sweet candy bar (including the organic brown sugar) helped make this candy bar more interesting and mildly addicting. I would say that it was too sweet, but I had no trouble eating more than I'd planned. As in other candy bars, nuts helped balance out the sweetness. 

Ingredients: Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Butter** (24%), Hazelnuts** (21%), Cocoa Mass**, Dry Skim Milk, Dried Blueberries* (14%), Dry Whole Milk, Soy Lecithin*, Lemon Powder* (Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Corn Starch*, Sugar*), Dark Brown Cane Sugar**, Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder*, Cardamom*, Star Anise*. 

(* = Organic; ** = Organic and Fair Traded) Fair Trade Content: 87%

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame." 

*Zotter is one of the only chocolate makers offering dark chocolate single origin bars "sweetened" with just milk, and with NO sugars. (No artificial or other sweeteners.) Not sure why more makers haven't done this. Hats off to the maker for this decision.

Zotter - Cranberry - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with cranberry ganache (bar) - June 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolate
Cranberry - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with cranberry ganache
Good ++  
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order

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

Today's Cranberry - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with cranberry ganache (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Zotter offers an abundant variety of bars -- both filled ("hand-scooped") and single origin ("Labooko" line) chocolate bars. Today's organic Cranberry bar was one of the company's first 100% vegan fruit filled bars.

Aroma notes for this 70% filled chocolate bar included: dark chocolate; subtle fruit (red berry); and very faint coconut and vanilla.

Texture: The soft, pink ganache (center) was surrounded by a thin but firm, dark chocolate shell.

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and a uniform, authentic tasting, tart-sweet cranberry filling. 

Ingredients: Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Mass**, Cocoa Butter**, Cranberries*(17%), Rice Drink Powder* (Rice*, Sunflower Oil*, Salt), Cranberry Concentrate*, Apple Juice*, Invert Sugar Syrup*, Dried Cranberries*, Glucose Syrup*, Coconut Powder* (Coconut Paste*, Coconut Milk*, Coconut Flour*), Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Toasted Coconut**, Lecithin (Soy)*, Salt, Emulsifier: Lecithin (Sunflower)*, Lemon Powder* (Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Corn Starch*, Sugar*), Vanilla Bean Powder** 

(* = Organic; ** = Organic and Fair Traded); "Fair Trade Content in Total: 70%"

Allergen-related information: Contains soy (and coconut). "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, gluten and sesame."

Mama Ganache - Spicy Orange 70% Cocoa Chocolate (bar) - May 31, 2024 + Candied Watermelon - May 31, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

1.) Mama Ganache 
Spicy Orange 70% Cocoa Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 95 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Eric!)

2.) Homemade by Megan
Candied Watermelon strips
Good ++
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) (estimate) for 1 serving
Calories: 83 calories (estimate) in 1 serving
Cost: N/A - gift from family (Thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - homemade by Megan

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week. Today's Spicy Orange 70% Cocoa Chocolate (bar) was from Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates (San Luis Obispo, CA). I enjoyed this chocolate with a side of homemade candied watermelon rind strips. (Thank you Megan!)

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and citrus (orange oil, fruit).

Texture: smooth, buttercream-like chocolate with an appealing, creamy melt.

This bar had a bittersweet, smooth dark chocolate flavor, suffused with just the right amount of authentic orange (oil), followed by a spicy (cayenne pepper) uptick that bloomed mid-way through the tasting experience; and the "heat" gradually subsided 10-12 seconds after it peaked.

The sugar/sweetness level was about right; the 70% dark chocolate was very slightly bitter (bittersweet), and that balanced out the sweetness. A small amount of vanilla added a bit of baked goods warmth to the orange and chocolate flavors.

The pale pink candied watermelon rind strips I paired this chocolate with were fruity and chewy with a smooth, refreshing, bright, naturally sweet melon flavor. And they were a perfect complement to today's spicy orange dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: Organic bittersweet chocolate (Organic chocolate liquor*, organic sugar*, organic cocoa butter*, organic cocoa powder*, and organic vanilla*), organic orange oil and organic cayenne. (* = Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, nuts, wheat and dairy"