Intrigue Chocolate - Rosemary, Blackberry Honey, Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt (bar) - Oct. 31, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Rosemary, Blackberry Honey, Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and the Mint Family Theme Week. Most chocolates with mint contain peppermint oil/flavoring. This week also features bars and confections with mint family members such as  yerba buena, basil, lavender, and rosemary.

Happy Halloween to all those who celebrate this (pumpkin- and chocolate-fueled )holiday. 

Today's Rosemary, Blackberry Honey, Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt (bar) was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache, honey); faint berry (ripe blackberry); and faint rosemary. The salt was very subtle.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate

I enjoyed trying this flavor combination. The rosemary was present without being too strong; it contributed a light, refreshing, pine-y, mint flavor that meshed well with a little salt. Throw in some faint blackberry and honey, and you've captured many flavor memories I have of the Pacific Northwest/Seattle area.

Maker's description: "Rosemary, Blackberry Honey, and Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt is a campfire get-together by the ocean."

Ingredients: "Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural vanilla flavoring), honey, rosemary, smoked salt" 

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility with milk, soy and nuts."   

Verse Chocolate - 90% Mint Dark Chocolate Mint Medallion - Oct. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Verse Chocolate  
90% Mint Dark Chocolate Medallion
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .705 oz. (20 g.) / 4.23 oz. (120 g.) in total package of 12
Calories: 120 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: $11.69 for 1 package of 12 chocolates
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and The Mint Family Theme Week.

Today's 90% Mint Dark Chocolate Mediallion(s) were distributed by Verse Chocolate LLC (Nixa, MO). The company also offers 12-serving boxes of individually-wrapped medallions in other flavors (e.g., plain, salted almond, coffee).

Aroma notes for these medallion-shaped mint dark chocolates included: strong mint (peppermint) that almost eclipsed the dark chocolate.

Texture and shape: relatively dark chocolate with tiny crunchy bits. The size (less than 5 cm across), was just right for a few bites; and slim medallion's slightly-curved shape enabled easy access to textures and flavors in one's mouth.

Flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate tempered with upticks of strong peppermint. There was a  slight astringency toward the finish.

This blend of two very strong flavors--90% dark chocolate and peppermint oil--may be a bit overwhelming for some; but I appreciated that these 90% dark medallions were not overly sweet, and the acidity and bitterness in the chocolate was not excessive (for me at least).

Any more sugar might have bumped up the mint into the mint toothpaste zone for me. Disclaimer: you'll rarely hear me complain about lack of sugar as I enjoy darker chocolates and I don't want sugar to mask the underlying cacao flavors. For this reason (and if you want to reduce sugar/carbohydrate consumption) it's nice to have ultra-dark chocolate options like this.

Maker's notes: "With better cacao, we can use less sugar, giving you more of the inherent benefits within dark chocolate"

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa processed with Alkali*, cocoa butter*, peppermint oil*. 
(* = Organic ingredient)

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of tree nuts and sesame seeds." Certified Organic; U; gluten free.

To'ak Chocolate - Chocolate Alchemy Andean Mints (bar) - Oct. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Chocolate Alchemy - Andean Mints 65% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package 
Calories: 360 calories in 1 package (4 smaller bars)
Cost: $16.00 for 1 package of 4 smaller bars
Purchased from: To'ak Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and the Mint Family Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Alchemy - Andean Mints 65% cacao bar(s) were created by To'ak (Tierra & Arbol S.A.S.) / To'ak International Inc. (Quito, Ecuador).

The heirloom cacao used to make this chocolate (from tree-to-bar) was sourced from Piedra del Plata, Manabi, Ecuador. And the four different mint flavors used grow in the Andes region.

Inside the attractively illustrated package were four, smaller, gold foil-wrapped, square bars. And, pleasant surprise, rather than a mint melange, each bar featured a different mint: Sunfo, Ecuadorian Tipo, Peru Muna and Yerbabuena.

Sunfo
Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and bold but balanced mint (spearmint + sage).

Equadorian Tipo 
Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, mellow mint (mild peppermint + sage + marshmallow and very faint lemon balm), and very faint nut (peanut).

Peruvian Muna
Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate and subtle smoky/savory (lemon) mint + gentle sage. Light astringency. Lovely nuanced mint notes in this one.

Yerbabuena 
Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate and vibrant mint with floral (light geranium, malva), light citrus (lemon) and very faint pepper and tomato notes. Incredible symphony of flavors.

The dark chocolate was good; but the four amazing mints stole the show. I liked the sweetness level; i.e. there was enough sweetness to add brightness, but the sugar didn't eclipse the four unique and authentic Andean mint flavors.

I appreciated the care taken to make this a true, single origin Ecuador dark chocolate, with both heirloom cacao and different mints that grow in the region.

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate (65% heirloom cacao, 35% cane sugar), sunfo/yerba buena/ecuadorian tipo/peruvian muna (each mini bar contains one type of Andean mint), cacao butter" 

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

 

Intrigue Chocolate - Basil Truffle Bar - Oct. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Basil Truffle Bar  
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.7 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 388 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 truffle bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Mint Family Theme Week. The extensive mint family* includes not only peppermint and spearmint, but also rosemary, basil, sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, lemon balm and others. 

Today's Basil Truffle Bar was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). The company offers a variety of chocolates (bars and confections) with interesting flavor inclusions.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's basil-infused chocolate included: dark chocolate (chocolate torte, ganache), subtle and savory basil, and very faint vanilla cookie.

This truffle bar had a smooth, creamy, buttery, truffle-like texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (rich, creamy dark chocolate truffle ganache) and subtle basil (a plant my brain associates more with savory dishes (pasta dishes and pizzas), and that lacks the (sometimes overly) sweet toothpaste-like sparkle that mint confections/candy can have). 

This cocoa-hued truffle bar was about the size of a small stick of butter; it was dusted in cocoa powder and had authentic soft/creamy truffle texture and flavor. 

The price ($14 USD) may seem high, but this small but mighty bar was the equivalent of 4-5 large, high-quality truffles; and if you eat the whole bar you may feel quite full.

This bar can easily be sliced into (thin or thick) chocolate truffle slices (with a knife or a butter or cheese slicer) and shared with others as a dessert by itself, or as part of a chocolate tasting, flight or pairing (with wine, spirits or cheese). It contains real cream and refrigeration and timely consumption is encouraged.

Note: I enjoy trying chocolates that are on the savory side, and Intrigue Chocolate also makes a Parmesan (cheese) truffle that would make for an interesting pairing with this basil Truffle bar. (A tomato truffle if you can find or make one might make an interesting trio.) 

I appreciated the authentic basil flavor in today's chocolate, and it wasn't overly sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (basil) 

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. 

*The mint family (Lamiaceae) contains approximately 7,000 species across more than 230 genera.

Loon Chocolate - 70% Heirloom Bolivia (bar) - Oct. 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Loon Chocolate
70% Heirloom Bolivia (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 212.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Loon Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Loon Chocolate 70% Heirloom Bolivia (Batch 924-34) bar was manufactured by White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, NH).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Bolivia bar included: dark chocolate (chocolate-y, dark ganache), fleeting tangy/acidic fruit (dried fruit: cherry, nectarine, raisin), faint earth and very faint oxalis.

I appreciated the short list of (three) ingredients; the maker's choice of organic cane sugar and organic heirloom cacao (that seemed naturally sweet); and fleeting complexity--that included some tangy fruit. 

The makers at Loon Chocolate, like many other small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate makers, work to showcase the range of unique and special, often nuanced, flavors present in cacao. And I feel grateful for their dedication.

Ingredients: "70% Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter"

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

Intrigue Chocolate - 60% Bolivia Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

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

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

Today's 60% Bolivia Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).

Cacao source: 2021 wild harvest HCP Heirloom cacao--from tall trees* in a forest canopy setting--used to make this chocolate were from Tranquilidad Natural Forest Estate in Bolivia.

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate, sweet green (plant stalks, hay, tree syrup, slightly floral honey).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, sweet green (hay, tree syrup) and slightly floral honeycomb.

I really enjoyed the gentle complexity and natural sweetness (even the higher sugar level than yesterday's 78% version of this chocolate). 

The sealed, smaller, tasting bar size, package helped preserve the heirloom flavors. (If I have leftover chocolate, I share with others; but if that opened bar can't be sealed up quickly, the aroma and flavor profile may be less "fresh" or more subdued. The tasting experience may be different.

Makers tasting notes: "Expect full-bodied chocolatiness with notes of molasses and aged balsamic."

Ingredients: "Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter."

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

*Cultivated cacao trees are often shorter (for easier harvesting) and grown in denser rows (to increase yields). More delicate heirloom varieties left to grow wild often yield more nuanced, complex and flavorful cacao. 

Intrigue Chocolate - 78% Bolivia dark chocolate (bar) - Oct. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
78% Bolivia Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 78% Bolivia Dark Chocolate (bar) was made and distributed Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).

The 2021 (wild) harvest certified HCP heirloom cacao used to make this chocolate was from Tranquilidad Natural Forest Estate in the Bolivian Amazon basin. The maker describes these cacao trees as quite "tall and spindly, nestled among the forest giants..." with smaller cacao pods and brands that are nonetheless "packed with flavor."

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (dark ganache, torte), and very faint green floral and light paraffin/beeswax notes. 

Texture: Smooth with a very faint, fleeting astringency in the finish.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache, torte), subtle sweet green, floral honey, and barely detectable wood, nut (coconut, blanched peanut) and cookie. (Note: there were no coconut or peanut ingredients.)

I appreciated the slightly floral notes and the inherent sweetness of the wild Bolivia cacao used to make this bar. The maker's choice of 78% cacao--a slightly higher cacao percentage (and slightly lower percentage of sugar) also made it easier to detect the subtle, attractive aroma and flavor notes that are more likely to be present with heirloom cacao(s).

Makers notes: "...aromas of chocolate sheet cake, clover hay bales, and aged firewood."

Ingredients: Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter.

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

L.A. Burdick - Bolivia 68% Drinking Chocolate - Oct. 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

L.A. Burdick 
Single Source Bolivia (Beni River) 68% drinking chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 12 oz. (?? g.) in total package
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving + water
Cost: $32.00 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: L.A. Burdick, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Bolivia Week.

Today's Single Source Bolivia (Beni River) 68% drinking chocolate was from L.A. Burdick (Walpole, NH). The company offers a variety of chocolates, including chocolate mice, and single origin (bars and drinking) chocolates.

Aroma notes for today's Bolivia drinking chocolate included: dark chocolate with very faint grain, pickled/fermented sweet pepper and black pepper; and (I must have been imagining this) barely detectable grilled cheese on a corn tortilla.

After adding water, microwaving for 30 seconds, and using the whisk that was included, the mix quickly dissolved into a smooth, rich, velvety, warm drinking chocolate. The texture was very pleasing. (I added less water for a thicker drinking chocolate with less diluted flavor.)

Flavor notes included: rich, nuanced drinking chocolate with very faint pepper. It was sweet without being too sweet, and balanced (not too acidic).

I really appreciated the small metal whisk that was included; it created a smoother texture and enhanced the tasting experience. And I enjoyed the relatively smooth, but lightly complex chocolate-y flavor.

Maker's notes: "Grapefruit and floral notes mingle with roasted nuts and give way to a smooth finish."

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate (Cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar, sunflower lecithin, soy lecithin, vanilla bean)"

Allergen-related information: Contains soy. Gluten free (made in a gluten free kitchen). "Our chocolates are crafted in a kitchen where milk, eggs, tree nuts, soy, and sesame are present."

L.A. Burdick - Single Source Bolivia (Beni River) 68% (bar) - Oct. 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

L.A. Burdick 
Single Source Bolivia (Beni River) 68% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 238 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: L.A. Burdick, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Bolivia Week.

Today's Single Source Bolivia (Beni River) 68% bar was from L.A. Burdick (Walpole, NH). The first store opened was in New York, and the company now has locations in multiple U.S. cities.

Aroma notes for today's Bolivia bar included: roasted (nuts, cacao), dark chocolate, earth (peat, wood), fruit (cherry, citrus) and dark chocolate tart/cake.

Texture: smooth, cocoa buttery

Flavor notes included: pleasing dark chocolate with some complexity (dark brownie; mellow, roasted;  subtle earth spectrum; and fruit (citrus)).

I liked that this dark chocolate was well-balanced and tasted at least 4 percentage points darker and richer than a 68% cacao chocolate. (It wasn't too sweet.) Also, the fruit/citrus added some brightness without making it too acidic.

Maker's tasting notes: "Grapefruit and floral notes mingle with hints of roasted nuts and give way to a smooth finish."

Ingredients: "cocoa, sugar, cocoa butter. may contain soy lecithin, may contain vanilla."

Allergen-related information: "Our chocolates are produced in a kitchen where nuts are used and where nut traces may be present. Allergens: dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts"

Cacao Space - Bolivia Alto Beni 75% with salted pistachios (bar) - Oct. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Space

Bolivia Alto Beni 75% with salted pistachios (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 2.54 oz. (72 g.) in total bar
Calories: 197 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao Space, online order + local pickup (Los Altos, CA)

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

Today's Bolivia Alto Beni 75% with salted pistachios (bar) was from Cacao Space (Los Altos, CA). The cacao used to make this bar was grown in the Beni River Valley in the Andean foothills, in northern Bolivia.

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (smooth, not too sweet, drinking chocolate); faint nut; and very faint, fleeting freshly toasted bread. At the very end of the finish there was a tiny blip of pleasing floral green tea (that I also tasted in the two other Bolivia bars from this same maker (featured earlier this week).

Texture: well-tempered, uniformly smooth dark chocolate with slight, soft crunch from pistachio nuts.

What I liked about this bar: bold but smooth 75% Bolivia dark chocolate, subtle pistachio accent flavor and texture; a judicious amount of both sugar and salt (thank you!); and that little bit of floral green tea in the finish.*

Ingredients: cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar, salted pistachios

Allergen-related information: (None listed)

*I'm particularly fond of naturally occurring floral and tea notes in chocolates. Floral notes are relatively volatile--easily lost in chocolates that have been heated or processed beyond a certain point. So when I can taste them I really enjoy them.

 

Cacao Space - Bolivia Alto Beni 75% with Mission figs - Oct. 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Space

Bolivia Alto Beni 75% with Mission figs (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 217 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao Space, online order + local pickup (Los Altos, CA)

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

Today's Bolivia Alto Beni 75% dark chocolate with Mission figs (bar) was from Cacao Space (Los Altos, CA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, dried fruit (fig), and very faint (barely detectable) fresh bread/soda cracker.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with chewy pieces of dark fig.

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, faint molasses, dried figs, and very faint fleeting floral green tea.

I enjoyed that this 75% dark chocolate was well-balanced, relatively complex (with hearty flavors that were heavenly and not harsh), and this was not too sweet (thank you).

Ingredients: cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar, Mission figs

Allergen-related information: (None listed)

Cacao Space - Bolivia Alto Beni 75% (bar) - Oct. 20, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Space

Bolivia Alto Beni 75% (bar)
Good + -  Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao Space, online order + local pickup (Los Altos, CA)

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

Today's Bolivia Alto Beni 75% (bar) was from Cacao Space (Los Altos, CA).

Aroma notes included: subtle dark chocolate, and faint floral and green tea.

Texture: smooth, with a faint astringency toward the finish.

Flavor notes included: true chocolate (fudge brownies with light earth/loam, yogurt and fruit (acidity)), very subtle warm brown/coconut sugar, and a return of the pleasing floral, green tea note in the finish.

I liked that this 75% single origin dark chocolate wasn't too sweet; the floral, green tea note(s); and the short list of (just two) ingredients. 

Note: This small-batch chocolate maker seems to have chosen not to add (additional) cocoa butter, which I appreciated. Alto Beni Bolivia beans typically contain a bit more fat (as much as 5% to 10% more cocoa butter). Being able to use the naturally occurring cocoa butter yields more single origin cacao flavor.

Added cocoa butter adds some pleasant "buttery" smooth texture, but it can also mute or dilute (both strong and desirable, mild) flavors--as the cacao butter may be from a different origin or more highly processed.

Ingredients: cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar

Allergen-related information: (None listed)

* As a general rule, cacao beans contain about half cocoa solids and half cocoa butter (fat). Cacao beans with 55% cocoa butter (fat), may require less added fat. Cacao growing in cooler regions, or further away from the Equator (e.g. in Hawaii) may have more fat. Leaner beans grown at the Equator may contain as low as 40% fat.

Cacao & Cardamom - Citrus Almond Mendiants - Oct. 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao & Cardamom 
Citrus Almond Mendiants
Good ++
Weight: 3.71 oz. (100 g.) / 6.67 oz. (189 g.) (estimate) in total bar
Calories: 575 calories (estimate) for 5 pieces
Cost: $15.00 for 1 container + shipping
Purchased from: Cacao & Cardamom, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week; Day #1 of Chocolate and Bolivia Theme Week.

Today's Citrus Almond Mendiants were from Cacao & Cardamom (Houston, TX).  

The cacao in the 68% dark chocolate used to make these attractive, hexagon-shaped and fruit and nut-topped tiles (mendiants) was from Bolivia. 

Aroma and flavor notes included: bittersweet dark chocolate, flavorful and tasty, tart-sweet, candied Iyokan orange citrus peels, and impossibly thin, softly crunchy slivered Marcona almonds.

The Iyokan orange (similar in appearance to a mandarin orange) is a popular variety in Japan. Its appealing, fresh-tasting, sweet tartness made this my favorite item in this classy, three-ingredient confection.

Ingredients: 68% Bolivia Chocolate, Iyokan Citrus, Marcona Almonds

Allergen-related information: Contained nuts (almonds). (No other information was listed on this small container.) 

Bonajuto - Bittersweet Chocolate with Orange Zest (bar) - Oct. 18, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Antica Dolceria Bonajuto S.r.l.
Bittersweet Chocolate with Orange Zest 01 (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Il Parco, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Bittersweet Chocolate with Orange Zest 01 (bar) was from Antica Dolceria Bonajuto S.r.l. (Modica, Italy).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Italian chocolate included: bittersweet dark chocolate; faint herbal spice (licorice); subtle citrus (orange); and honeycomb.

The texture in this relatively smooth chocolate with a stoneground-like texture actually seemed to come more from the sugar. 

The very subtle orange zest was very finely ground--perhaps into glistening, visible sugar crystals and incorporated into the bittersweet dark chocolate.

I liked the flavor blend, the interesting complexity, that it didn't seem too sweet, and that there were just three ingredients (thank you).

Ingredients: "cocoa mass, cane sugar, orange zest"

Allergen-related information: "May contain almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios and milk"

Godavari Chocolate - Bon-fiction "Lost in an Orange Haze" 64% dark chocolate (bar) - Oct. 17, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Godavari Chocolate Inc.
Bon-fiction "Lost in an Orange Haze" 64% dark chocolate, candied orange peel and cinnamon (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's Market, Palo Alto, CA  

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Orange Week.

Today's Bon-fiction "Lost in an Orange Haze" 64% dark chocolate, candied orange peel and cinnamon (bar) was made from tree-to-bar in India, and imported and distributed by Godavari Chocolate Inc. (Folsom, CA).

The cacao used to make this bar was "hand-picked from farms in the Godavari region of Southern India."

Aroma and flavor notes for this single origin bar included: rich chocolate orange spiced cake/cookie. There was also a very faint (barely detectable) slightly savory freshly baked bread with butter aroma note(s) in the very beginning, that faded after taking a bite--when the chocolate and orange took center stage.

The texture was smooth and buttery/creamy. (It did not contain milk.) The finely diced pieces of candied orange peel were well executed and very complementary to the chocolate flavors. I also enjoyed the cinnamon--that added a subtle, warm spice note.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Candied Orange Peels, Cinnamon

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Almond, Cashew, Walnut, Coconut, Hazelnut, Pistachio."

Alter Eco - Truffle Thins Orange Creme Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 16, 2024

Chocolate of the Day 

Alter Eco
Truffle Thins Orange Creme Organic Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g. ) / 2.96 oz. (84 g.) in total bar
Calories: 252 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Truffle Thins Orange Creme Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) from Alter Eco Foods (San Francisco, CA) was made in Switzerland.

I liked this bar more than I thought I would. When I read "truffle bar" I thought it might be too sweet for me. It was sweet; but it was also a very nice, authentic-tasting blend of creamy, smooth dark chocolate filled with a thin, ivory-hued inner, orange-flavored (orange oil) layer. There was a very subtle hint of vanilla that melded well with this chocolate. 

I also appreciated the relatively short list of organic ingredients.

Ingredients: "Organic dark chocolate (*organic cacao beans, *organic raw cane sugar, *organic cocoa butter, *organic vanilla beans), organic orange creme filling (*organic raw cane sugar, organic coconut oil, *organic cocoa butter, organic whole milk, organic orange oil). (* = Fair for Life Fair Trade certified. Contains 85% Fair Trade ingredients)"

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and coconut. May contain hazelnuts, almonds, and soy. Individuals who are allergic to these should not consume this product."

Harbor Sweets - Sweet Shells Dark Chocolate with Orange Crunch - Oct. 15, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Harbor Sweets
"Sweet Shells" - Dark Chocolate with Orange Crunch 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.33 oz. (38 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package of 12 pieces 
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in 4 pieces
Cost: $12.95 (+ shipping) for 1 package of 12 pieces
Purchased from: Harbor Sweets, online order

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

Today's Harbor "Sweet Shells" Dark Chocolate with Orange Crunch (individually wrapped chocolates) were from Harbor Sweets (Salem, MA). The company offers a variety of sea-themed chocolate confections.

Aroma and flavor notes for these gold foil, scallop shell-shaped confections included: sweet dark chocolate, vanilla and orange flavorings; and very faint (barely detectable) oxalis (tart green herb, sour grass).

The dark chocolate tasted smooth. (Alkalized cocoa/chocolate liquor was used.) And the flavors complemented each other nicely.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor processed with Alkali, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Butterfat (Milk), Soy Lecithin, Vanilla), Orange Crunch (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor), Oil of Orange (Natural Flavor).

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Soy. "This product is prepared in a facility that handles soy, milk, peanuts, wheat, tree nuts and sesame."

 

Cacao Sampaka - Bergamot Orange Milk Chocolate (bars) - Oct. 14, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Sampaka
Bergamot Orange Milk Chocolate 50% (bars)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 290 calories in 1 bar (1/2 package)
Cost: $Missing information for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Bergamot Orange 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Cacao Sampaka (Barcelona, Spain). The company has been influenced by the art, architecture, culture and foods of Barcelona -- from the ceramic tiles of Gaudi to the flavorings in their chocolates.*

Aroma notes included: dark milk chocolate and fragrant citrus (orange) with faint vanilla, and very faint and pleasant spiced fruitcake--the kind you'd enjoy with a cup of tea.

Texture: creamy and smooth.

Instead of one thick bar, I appreciated this package included two, slimmer bars, back-to-back. (It can be easier to wrap your mouth around the textures and tastes associated with different chocolates when they are thinner.) 

Flavor notes included: satisfying dark milk chocolate with orange, vanilla and bergamot orange. (Bergamot is used to flavor Earl Grey tea.)

Normally, 50% milk chocolate is too sweet for me; but it may have been a more substantial cacao; and the added flavors helped balance out the sweetness. (Warning, this chocolate was slightly addicting.)

Ingredients: "Cocoa butter, sugar, cocoa mass, whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, natural bergamot flavor (0.2%), emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavor."

Allergen-related information: Contained milk, soy. "Our products may contain traces of nuts, peanuts, lactose, milk and sesame."

*Spain is the top producer of oranges in Europe, and bergamot flavored items can be found throughout Europe. Calabria, Italy, is often considered the "home" of bergamot oranges,

Ocelot Chocolate - Blood Orange 70% dark chocolate (bar) - Oct. 13, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ocelot Chocolate
Blood Orange 70% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend 
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Eric)

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

Today's Blood Orange 70% dark chocolate (bar) was from Ocelot Craft Chocolate Limited (Dundee, UK).

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: smooth dark chocolate, authentic orange and very faint vanilla.

Texture: notably creamy/cacao buttery, smooth texture, mouthfeel and melt.

I really enjoyed the texture; the sweetness level seemed well-chosen; and the blood orange oil and subtle vanilla flavors harmonized nicely with the dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: "cacao mass*, raw cane sugar*, cacao butter*, blood orange oil (<1%), vanilla extract*. Cacao solids: 70% minimum.

Allergen-related information: "May contain almonds, hazelnuts and milk. 

   

To'ak - Galapagos Orange & Salt 65% heirloom cacao - Oct. 12, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Alchemy - Galapagos Orange & Salt 65% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package 
Calories: 336 calories in 1 package (4 smaller bars)
Cost: $16.00 for 1 package of 4 smaller bars
Purchased from: To'ak Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Galapagos Orange and Salt 65% heirloom cacao bar(s) were created by To'ak (Tierra & Arbol S.A.S.) / To'ak International Inc. (Quito, Ecuador).

The heirloom cacao used to make this bar was "sourced from small agroforestry farms in coastal Ecuador" where cacao was "harvested from heirloom cacao trees that are cultivars and hybrids of Ecuador's...Nacional variety."

The attractively illustrated package was divided into four, smaller, square bars--each individually swaddled in gold foil.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and buttery citrus (orange).

Texture: creamy with tiny, crunchy particles. I enjoyed the well-executed, well-balanced interplay between the buttery smooth and the crunchy textures.

I liked the flavors, and the sweetness level (not too much, thank you), the salt, and the authentic tasting orange. The peels were finely and evenly chopped, and expertly handled.

I also appreciated the care taken to make this a true, single origin Ecuador dark chocolate, with the orange peels and the salt hailing from the Galapagos off-shore.

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate (65% heirloom cacao, 35% cane sugar), candied Galapagos orange (orange peel, cane sugar), Galapagos sea salt crystals, cacao butter" 

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

  

Ora Cacao - Tantric Rose Blossom Ceremonial Cacao - Oct. 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ora Cacao
Tantric Rose Blossom, Enhanced Ceremonial Cacao
Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total packet
Calories: "140 calories in 25 discs (23 g.)" - One serving
Cost: $N/A - gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - gift from family (Thank you Megan!)

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

Today's "Tantric Blossom Cacao, Enhanced Ceremonial Cacao" was from Ora Cacao (Graton, CA). The maker (Jonas Ketterle, also founder of Firefly Chocolate), has created a variety of, unsweetened, bean-to-bar, drinking/sipping chocolate flavors, including several with floral or spice inclusions.

Aroma notes for this Organic drinking chocolate (prepared with hot water) included: dark chocolate (authentic fermented cacao); subtle fruit (citrus (orange); stone fruit and berry); floral (rose); very faint mellow wood/nut; and herbs (damiana, very faint licorice).

Texture for this prepared blend included a satisfying, thick, warm drinking chocolate with a very slight granularity in my throat, at the very end. (Note: a blender is suggested in the preparatory steps to make this cacao beverage more velvety smooth and slightly frothy.)  

I enjoyed the authentic, relatively subtle, citrus, rose and herbal flavor inclusions, and the authentic and balanced cacao aroma and flavor notes. This cacao had medium acidity and relatively low bitterness. 

It tasted like relatively high-quality cacao, and was not alkalized or over-roasted. (It tasted like it was made with un-roasted or lightly roasted cacao to preserve health benefits and flavors.)

I appreciated that this was unsweetened so I could add honey or other sweetener, or not. (I would suggest tasting this without sweetener first to better detect/enjoy the aroma and flavor nuances.) 

I liked that this was easy to prepare. And the small chocolate discs made it easy to divide into portions. I also liked that Ora included the following information: "33 g. of Caffeine & 196 mg. of Theobromine" on the package.

*Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Pink Rose Petals*, Orange Peel*, Damiana*, Licorice*. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts (Almond, Cashew, Coconut)

Ragged Coast Chocolates - Lavender Blossom - Bittersweet Chocolate (bark) - Oct. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ragged Coast Chocolates 
Lavender Blossom - Bittersweet Chocolate (bark) 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 package and 290 calories in 1 package
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Ragged Coast Chocolates, online order 

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

Today's Lavender Blossom - Bittersweet Chocolate, Lavender & Vanilla-Dusted Sugar Dust (bark) was from Ragged Coast Chocolates (Westbrook, ME).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (with subtle stone fruit, cream, faint ripe floral berry (pomegranate + lilac + lavender), and vanilla.

Texture for this relatively thick bark/bar: smooth chocolate with barely detectable vanilla shimmer and tiny, soft lavender buds.

Flavor notes included: rich, nuanced dark chocolate (very faint, diffuse fruit; cream; balanced earth/loam). Floral notes included: vanilla, with occasional tiny bursts of lovely Maine lavender (buds).

I enjoyed the fleeting floral and complex chocolate aroma and flavor notes. The bittersweet dark chocolate tasted more nuanced than most, and this was due in part to the blend of floral (vanilla and lavender) inclusions.

Maker's description: "No one anticipates those first buds of the new season more eagerly than a Mainer. Our lavender bark honors our passion for spring by capturing the subtle, citrus notes of delicate lavender blooms." 

I'm saving a few floral and fruity chocolates to enjoy in December. But our winter is short in the San Francisco Bay Area. Camellias, daffodils and California poppies are back in February; and winter months bring welcome rains and green hills. Our coasts are rugged; but unlike the great northeast, the winters are more welcome here.

*Ingredients: Latin American Bittersweet Chocolate (cocoa liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural vanilla), Maine lavender, organic cane sugar, vanilla beans. 

Allergen-related information: "Allergens: Soy, Nuts, Milk, and Coconut."

Elements Truffles - Almond Crunch Dark Chocolate with saffron (bar) - Oct. 9, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Elements Truffles

Almond Crunch Dark Chocolate with saffron (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.50 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Amazon, online order (4 bars)

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

Today's Almond Crunch Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Elements Truffles (Union City, NJ). 

The company offers attractively packaged chocolates "powered by the 5,000 year old science of Ayurveda..." And today's floral ingredient--saffron (from crocus flowers)--was called out as an "Ayurveda Superfood."

Aroma notes for this bar included: roasted cacao, floral (sweet saffron, chrysanthemum), and faint nut (almond).

Texture: relatively soft texture and melt with small, crunchy almond bits. 

Flavor notes included: mild-tasting dark chocolate, almond, and faint floral (chrysanthemum, saffron). The mild cacao/dark chocolate tasted authentic, and was relatively low in bitterness and acidity.

The sweetness (raw honey) tasted natural, authentic and slightly muted. (I enjoyed the lack of sugar buzz.)

Ingredients: "Organic Raw Cacao Paste, Raw Honey, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Almonds, Saffron"

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

Cacao Sampaka: Dark Chocolate Pistachio 44% (bar) & White Chocolate Roses & Strawberries (bar) - Oct. 8, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Sampaka
Dark Chocolate Pistachio 44% (bar)
Good ++

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) in total bar

Calories: 320 calories in 2 oz. of bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Cacao Sampaka
White Chocolate - Roses and Strawberries (bar)
Good ++

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) in total bar

Calories: 330 calories in 2 oz. of bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's attractively packaged tabletas (bars): Dark Chocolate Pistachio 44% (bar) and a White Chocolate Roses and Strawberries (bar)--were from Cacao Sampaka S.L. (Barcelona, Spain). 

Both packages were adorned with images of colorful ceramic tiles designed by architect (and some would say tile-obsessed) Antoni Gaudi over a century ago.

Dark Chocolate Pistachio

Aroma notes included: pleasing dark chocolate (cocoa) and very faint nut.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with embedded fresh-tasting, softly crunchy pistachio nuts. 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark cocoa with a hint of vanilla, fudge brownie) with perfectly salted (at least for me) green pistachio nuts. The base chocolate was low in acidity and bitterness, and had a pleasing smooth dark chocolate flavor.

I loved the pretty, mostly whole, green pistachios, the added salt, and the 44% dark chocolate that tasted more like a smooth 65% cacao dark chocolate.   

Ingredients: "Sugar, cocoa mass, pistachio (16.5%), cocoa butter, emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavor."

Allergen-related information: Contained pistachios. "Our products may contain traces of nuts, peanuts, lactose, milk and sesame."

White Chocolate Roses and Strawberries

Aroma notes included: aromatic sweet roses, red berry (strawberry) and very faint strawberry and vanilla milkshake/frappe. 

Texture: creamy, luxurious texture (but without being too heavy), interspersed with bits of crunchy, freeze-dried strawberry fruit. 

Flavor notes included: creamy and sweet white chocolate, lovely rose and strawberry.

Surprisingly, I did not find either one of today's chocolates--the 44% dark pistachio bar or this white chocolate bar--too sweet. The high-quality rose and strawberry inclusions helped balance the vanilla-tinged wall of authentic cocoa butter and sugar. Notably, cocoa butter was the number one ingredient and not sugar (thank you!).

Ingredients: "Cocoa butter, sugar, skimmed milk powder, strawberry crispy (12%) (strawberry, sucrose, fructose, acidity regulator (citric acid), reinforced by natural flavors), anhydrous milk fat, rose flavor (0.1%), emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavor, flavor. Cocoa 33% minimum."

Allergen-related information: "Our products may contain traces of nuts, peanuts, lactose, milk and sesame.

Ocelot Chocolate - Violet Milk - 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 7, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ocelot Chocolate
Violet Milk - 50% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 199.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Violet Milk - 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Ocelot Craft Chocolate Limited (Dundee, UK), and Imported by Original Beans BV (Amsterdam, NL).

While not specifically written on the package, I believe the cacao used to make this bar was an Amelonado cacao from a women's cooperative (Femme de Virunga) in Eastern Congo, and that Organic Swiss milk was used.

Aroma notes included: dark milk chocolate, fruit (red raspberry), and candied floral.

Texture: appealing smooth and creamy texture with a very faint astringency/graininess toward the end.

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet, dark (robust but smooth, maybe with some very faint earth) milk chocolate, fruit (red berry, raspberry) with subtle floral. 

This dark milk chocolate was hearty and naturally sweet and floral, with a fun, uplifting red berry note as well.

Ingredients: cacao mass*, raw cane sugar*, cacao butter*, whole milk powder*, natural violet flavour* (<1%). Milk solids: 15% minimum, cacao solids: 50% minimum. (* = Certified organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "May contain almonds and hazelnuts."

To'ak Chocolate - Malva Flowers 65% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Malva Flowers 65% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 168 calories in 1/2 bar -- 336 cals. for 1 whole bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: To'ak Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Alchemy Malva Flowers 65% Cacao (bar) was from To'ak (Tierra & Arbol S.A.S.) / To'ak International Inc. (Quito, Ecuador).

The heirloom cacao used to make this bar was sourced from Piedra de Plata, Manabi, Ecuador. The Malva* olorosa flowers used in this chocolate are native to the Andes mountains in South America. 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate (very slightly earthy, but well-balanced) and aromatic (and flavorful) floral (rose-geranium-like).

Texture: relatively smooth, almost creamy, with occasional micro-tiny, slightly crunchy particles.

The sweetness level of this very floral chocolate was just about right. There was enough sugar to complement, and perhaps enhance a little, the authentically sweet, floral taste--yet not so much that it eclipsed cacao and floral flavors.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (65% heirloom cacao, 35% cane sugar), Malva olorosa, cacao butter

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

*Malva olorosa has been used as a medicinal plant in Andean cultures. The large Malvaceae (or mallow) family includes 4,000 species, spread across the globe. Other mallow plants, bushes and trees include cacao, okra, hibiscus, cotton and durian. (Most have five-petaled flowers.)

 

Goodio - Lavender 49% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodio Craft Chocolate x Ivana Helsiniki, Paula Suhonen
Lavender 49% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's Market, online order

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

Today's Goodio Craft Chocolate Lavender 49% Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Oy (Vantaa, Finland).

Aroma and flavor notes for this vegan chocolate included: sweet chocolate and coconut (coconut fudge), faint floral; and very faint, ripe, diffuse, sweet fruit. 

I could taste the lavender more than I could smell it. (Floral and vanilla inclusions are often more detectable in the aroma.) Lavender can be strong (and soap-ish) for some; but I enjoy flower and herb flavors and I would've liked a little more lavender and less sugar. 

The coconut sugar added some authentic flavor depth and warmth. And small, ultra-thin coconut flakes added coconut flavor and natural sweetness. 

Was it a bit too sweet for me? Yes. But I live in sunny California, and not Scandinavia--where bright and sweet candy and colorful flowers might help extend summer and brighten an overcast day. (And I did end up eating the whole bar.)

Ingredients: "Cacao beans*, Coconut palm sugar*, Cacao butter*, Coconut flakes*, Birch sugar (Xylitol), Lavender*. (*Organic)."

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts (cashew). Dairy, gluten and soy free."

Goodio - Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 4, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodio x Ivana Helsiniki, Paula Suhonen
Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's Market, online order

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

Today's Goodio Craft Chocolate Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Oy (Vantaa, Finland).

Aroma and flavor notes for this vegan chocolate included: sweet chocolate; light, nuanced floral; sweet green (coconut sugar, maple), and faint fruit (candied pineapple, gentle green apple+ honey); subtle coconut; and a very faint, fleeting herbal (aromatic, fine peppercorn).

This bar had a relatively smooth, texture, with a slightly stone-ground mouthfeel. (It was not particularly rough or grainy; and it might have had more flavor because the cacao + inclusions were less processed.*)

The tiny fragments of candied chamomile flowers on the back of the bar were charming and sweet, and imparted faint, fleeting and flavorful, candied floral notes. 

I enjoyed the blend of sweet, nuanced and balanced Northern European (as well as tropical) flavors, and the fact that this was from (made in) Finland. 

The white packaging decorated with enlarged, white-petaled and yellow-centered chamomile flowers showcased these blossoms (likely especially welcome in countries with long winters). The maker's description was poetic: "candies & flowers & hazy summer hours"...It would be fitting to enjoy this in the sunny months; but it would be a cheerful bar in any season.

Was this 49% cacao organic, vegan chocolate sweet? Yes, it was. However, it was supposed to be bright and fresh like summer candy and flowers. 

The coconut sugar and maple syrup sweeteners added some flavor depth and warmth--and didn't push me all the way into the sugar buzz zone (thank you).

Ingredients: "Cacao beans*, Coconut palm sugar*, Cacao butter*, Coconut flakes*, Maple syrup*, Chamomile*. (*Organic)."

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts (cashew). Dairy, gluten and soy free."

*Shorter grinding/conching time(s), can preserve more cacao aroma and flavor notes; but longer processing times may result in a creamier, smoother chocolate. Makers have to weigh these potential trade-offs. They take into account the variety, source/origin, flavor profile and other qualities (or even shortcomings) of cacao when making these and other decisions.

Ethereal Chocolate - Espresso Yourself Organic Coffee 66% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ethereal Chocolate
Espresso Yourself Organic Coffee 66% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .848 oz. (24 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 148 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ethereal Chocolate, online order 

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

Today's Espresso Yourself Organic Coffee 66% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Ethereal Chocolate/Confections (Woodstock, IL).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and roasted coffee, with very faint/diffuse fruit, nut, and very faint green (almost but not quite floral/vanilla) and cookies.

Texture: Smooth, very slightly grainy dark chocolate was accented by a generous helping of crunchy cacao nibs.

Flavor notes included: dark, sweet chocolate and genuine coffee, with medium acidity, and authentic unsweetened cacao nibs. The cacao nibs and coffee balanced the sweetness (sugar).

I liked the aroma; and appreciated that the coffee was present (especially in the aroma), but that I could taste the chocolate (first), and then the coffee. It was well executed from this standpoint. 

In chocolate and coffee blends, these two flavorful beans (seeds) can overpower each other if not balanced. Sometimes I like tasting the coffee first, and sometimes the chocolate. A great maker can anticipate what works best, depending on the types/varieties of cacao and coffee.

Ingredients: Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*), Coffee Beans, Cocoa Nibs*. (* Organic Ingredient)

Allergen-related information: "Made on shared equipment with peanuts & tree nuts."

Honey Mama's - Mocha Crunch (bar) + Java Junction Mocha Smoothie - Oct. 2, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Honey Mama's 
Mocha Crunch (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Java Junction
Smooth Express (Espresso) Freeze
Good ++
Weight: 24 fl. oz. (estimate)
Calories: 475 calories (estimate)
Cost: $9.75 for 1 smoothie
Purchased from: Java Junction, Santa Cruz, CA 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Coffee Week.

Today's hot weather led to overindulgence--in the form of three, cold mocha chocolate items. Two of these are included below. (The third item was a cup of ice cream with high-end upgrades to traditional mocha almond fudge and coffee ice creams. Delicious; and will re-taste and write about these at a later date.)

Honey Mama's Mocha Crunch 

The Honey Mama's Mocha Crunch (bar) was "Made in Portland, Oregon, While Dancing to Great Music."

Aroma notes included: mocha coconut nut cookie, date, and faint vanilla.

This (refrigerated*) bar had a cold coconut oil-based, fudge-y, melt-in-your-mouth texture, luxe melt and mouthfeel. Coconut oil and cocoa butter gave this bar a rich, appealing taste and texture.

Flavor notes for this "Truffle Treat" of a bar included: chocolate-y (smooth dark chocolate, low in bitterness and acidity), coconut fudge, faint nuts (almost fully incorporated hazelnuts), authentic vanilla, and sea salt.

I liked the relatively short list of authentic flavors (made with no preservatives, no added natural flavors); the taste of the authentic honey, sea salt, vanilla, and coffee that were pleasing accent flavors to cocoa and coconut. The only ingredient (from what I could tell) that had been slightly altered/further processed was the cocoa powder. It had been alkalized, resulting in a mellower, attractive hot cocoa flavor.

Ingredients: "Organic Raw Honey, Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil, Organic Alkalized Cocoa Powder, Cocoa Butter, Organic Coconut, Hazelnuts, Organic Coconut Flour, Organic Roasted Coffee, Vanilla Extract, Himalayan Pink Salt."

Allergen-related information: Contains: Coconut and Hazelnuts. "Made in a facility that also processes peanuts." "Do not feed honey to infants under one year of age." ("Gluten Free, Free of Refined Sugars, Dairy and Soy Free"

*"This treat melts above 75 degrees (F.)"

Java Junction - Smooth Express (Espresso) Smoothie

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate/mocha; fresh, ripe banana; and coffee. 

This mocha and banana flavored, espresso "freeze" was tasty, refreshing and satisfying. It was enjoyed at the beach in Santa Cruz, CA, where it was a sizzling 88 degrees (F)/ 31.1 degrees (C)...in October. 

I enjoyed the authentic fresh banana and rich, chilled mocha flavors in this smoothie-style drink. And I appreciated that the low sugar level and decaf coffee resulted in no jarring sugar or caffeine buzz (thank you!).

Ingredients: "Espresso, banana, non-fat milk, non-fat frozen yogurt, chocolate (likely Ghirardelli)" 

Allergen-related information: Contained dairy (milk, yogurt)

Kasama Chocolate - 65% Kape Espresso (bar) - Oct. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
65% Kape Espresso (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 162.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kasama Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 65% Kape Espresso (bar) from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, BC, Canada) was made with Kape Philippine Coffee Beans. 

The Tagalog (Filipino) word Kasama (togetherness, friendship, camaraderie, collaboration) aptly describes Kasama and its four founders. The company makes bean-to-bar chocolate and truffles using cacao from the Philippines and flavor inclusions from both the Philippines and the Pacific Northwest.

Aroma notes included: strong coffee (espresso), chocolate, faint dried fruit (date sugar), and even fainter green (botanical) syrup.

Texture: smooth, uniform, with very slight graininess/astringency.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate with bold, balanced, dark roast espresso coffee. The dark chocolate was more apparent in the taste than in the aroma; but the espresso still ruled the roost.

I appreciated tasting this single origin bean-to-bar chocolate, where both cacao beans and coffee beans came from the Philippines.* The sweetness (provided by unrefined cane sugar) tasted natural and balanced the bold espresso flavor.

Maker's notes: "...synthesis of cacao & coffee beans yields notes of dates, roasted chestnuts, & Muscovado sugar."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Kape Philippine Coffee Beans (* Organic)

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

*Maker's coffee origin description: The roasted coffee beans came from "Iona & Paolo at Kape Coffee. This semi-washed coffee is grown in the highlands of Bansalan, by award-winning coffee grower, Ate Marivic, part of a farmer owned co-operative in Davao del Sur."

Public Chocolatory - Nano Batch #01-2 - Coffee 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Public Chocolatory
Nano Batch #01-2 - Coffee 50% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, CA

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

Today's Nano Batch #01-2 - Coffee 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Public Chocolatory (Republic of Korea).  

Aroma and flavor notes included: nuanced dark milk chocolate; subtle, diffuse fruit (mango, ripe berry, peach) and nut (almond, pecan); creamy whole milk and coffee latte.

Texture: creamy and smooth

I really enjoyed this special, well-executed milk chocolate. The nuanced aroma and flavor notes were superb. A milk-subdued yet bright, upbeat sense of fruit, lightly roasted nutty coffee and rich cacao--all gently integrated into a creamy substrate. Both single origin cacao (Madagascar) and coffee (Brazil) were thoughtfully sourced and very nicely balanced. 

This small-batch bar was a cut above most mocha-style chocolates on the market.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, from Akesson's Organic, Madagascar, Organic Cane Sugar, Cacao Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Coffee roasted by Mesh Coffee from Santa Ines, Brazil.

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk.)