Lonohana Estate Chocolate - Lucky 7 77% Dark (bar) - Jan. 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Lonohana Estate Chocolate
Lucky 7 77% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $20 (+ shipping)
Purchased from: Lonohana website, online order

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

Today's Lucky 7 77% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC (Honolulu, HI) was made in Hawaii from Hawaii-grown cacao.

Aroma notes included: aromatic dark chocolate; molasses; faint fermented cacao fruit and sugar cane (sweet beer and sweet green cane/green fig cookie notes).

This well-tempered 77% dark bar broke with a satisfying hard snap in a cool room, and had a smooth texture.

My favorite chocolates offer a form of magical transportation. They're made with just one or two ingredients, and they have well-executed and complex flavor nuances. They transport me back to cacao growing regions, where cacao is being harvested, fermented and painstakingly converted into chocolate. They, dare I say it, restoreth my soul. Today's chocolate was one of those chocolates.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate fudge brownie, sweet green, and very faint molasses and fermentated cacao fruit. These fresh and authentic flavors were well balanced, very compatible and delicious to me.

Ingredients: "Estate cacao and organic cane sugar"

Allergen-related information: "Soy and gluten free." "Made in a peanut-free environment by Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC..."

Lonahana Estate Chocolate - Hibiscus Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 4, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Lonohana Estate Chocolate
Hibiscus Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (Part of 4-bar $45.00 Island Flavors bundle)
Purchased from: Lonohana website, online order

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

Today's Hibiscus Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was made by Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC (Honolulu, HI) from Hawaii-grown cacao and hibiscus.

Aroma notes included: dark milk chocolate and very light red fruit and floral (hibiscus).

This sweet, well-tempered 50% dark milk bar broke with a hard snap in a cool room. (Tempering can be harder to do with milk chocolate, so hats off to the maker); and it had a very creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: subtle, tart sweet hibiscus floral. The milk muted the hibiscus flavor a bit, but it was a pleasing addition and the soft tartness helped balance the sugar.

Lonohana founder, chocolate maker and farmer, Seneca Klassen, has continued to grow and source Hawaiian cacao and to bring both single Hawaii origin chocolate (and chocolate with Hawaiian flavors) to chocolate lovers around the globe. Today's bar was an homage to Hawaii-grown cacao and beautifully showy hibiscus* flowers.

Ingredients: "Hawaii-grown cacao, organic cane sugar, organic whole milk powder, organic cocoa butter and dried organic Hawaii-grown hibiscus flower"

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. "Produced in a peanut-free environment on equipment that also processes milk and tree nuts."

*The Hawaii-grown cacao and hibiscus in this dark milk chocolate are both part of the mallow (Malvaceae) plant family. 

Origins: The hibiscus (Hawaii's State Flower) may have spread from Asia to Pacific islands via birds, weather (wind) or ocean currents (flotsam), even before people arrived. Some were brought to Hawaii and elsewhere later by people. Five species of hibiscus are considered native to Hawaii. Cacao was from the Americas. Happily for those who enjoyed today's bar, both now reside in Hawaii.

Speaking of flowers: Both cacao and hibiscus have five-petaled flowers (see Lonohana logo for this bar). (Edible cacao flowers (aka Madre de Cacao) are tiny, ivory-to-pink colored blossoms that begat large fruits (cacao pods); and hibiscus flowers are large, showy and, in many cases, edible as well.) 

Some hibiscus sub-species and/or varieties are more edible than others: e.g. the Roselle hibiscus used in today's bar, is also used in drinks (agua de Jamaica/Jamaica agua fresca) and Hibiscus sabdariffa and Hibiscus acetosella are also used to make teas in the Caribbean and Latin America. (Some varieties are also enjoyed in salads.) 

Onomea Chocolate - Passion Orange Guava (bar) - Jan. 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Onomea Chocolate
Passion Orange Guava (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .93 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.86 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (Part of $45.00 Island Flavors bundle)
Purchased from: Onomea/Lonohana website, online order

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

Today's Onomea Chocolate "Passion Orange Guava" (bar) was made by Lonohana Estate Chocolate (Honolulu, HI).

Aroma notes included: dark milk chocolate and subtle tropical fruits (passion fruit, citrus (orange), guava, and very faint and (probably imagined) mangosteen and pineapple).

Flavor notes included: flavorful, relatively sweet dark milk chocolate (low in bitterness) with tropical authentic fruit notes (passion fruit, warm sweet citrus (orange), guava). Dried fruits (and orange oil) were ground/incorporated into the chocolate, leaving a very fine fruit graininess in the texture, but leaving the pleasing fruit flavors relatively intact. Organic milk powder added a little creamy richness and also softened the tart sweetness (acidity) of the fruits.

Today's bar was an homage to POG (passion fruit, orange and guava). I have fond memories of this popular Hawaiian juice, enjoyed during vacations there.

Lonohana founder, chocolate maker and farmer, Seneca Klassen, continues to create and bring great Hawaiian cacao, single origin chocolate--and chocolate with Hawaiian flavors--to chocolate lovers around the globe. 

Onomea is a relatively new(er) chocolate brand/partnership. (Loved the island flavor inclusions and colorful art work(s)* on the packaging.)

Ingredients: "Organic cane sugar, Hawaiian cacao, organic cocoa butter, organic whole milk powder, dried guava, dried lilikoi (passion fruit), Hawaiian vanilla, orange essential oil"

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. "Produced in a peanut-free environment on equipment that also processes milk and tree nuts."

*The front label art for this bar was titled "Kamokuna" by local Hawaiian artist, Kate Wadsworth.