Stone Grindz - Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz
Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Week. Day #3 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week. 

Today's Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar) was from Stone Grindz (Scottsdale, AZ). This small-batch chocolate maker offers a variety of single origin bars and chocolates with flavor inclusions.

The makers at Stone Grindz have been consistently churning out great small batch, bean-to-bar chocolates (bars and confections), including single origin bars and bars with flavor inclusions. The cacao used to make this bar was from northern Madagascar.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, almond butter and very faint fruit (berry, very faint date).

This almond butter bar had a very appealing creamy, almost buttery, melt and texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate fully blended/integrated with nut (almond) butter; the salt was very subtle. The end result was an enjoyable, mellow, creamy and subtly nutty chocolate that seemed rich and well-behaved for an 80% cacao dark chocolate; i.e. it was low in acidic and/or bitter notes.

The barely detectable, diffuse fruit (berry) notes from the Madagascar cacao also complemented the roasted almonds (butter) nicely.

"Maker's tasting notes and description: "Notes of silky almond butter, sea salt"..."An 80% dark chocolate ground with freshly roasted almonds (and) black lava salt. This bar is so silky and smooth you would never know it's an 80% dark!"

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cacao Butter*, Cane Sugar*, Roasted Almonds*, Sea Salt. (*Organically Farmed)

Allergen-related ingredients: (Contains nuts, almonds) "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan"

KiZE - Chocolate Sea Salt (bar) - Feb. 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

KiZE 
Chocolate Sea Salt (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Salt Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Almond Week. 

Today's KiZE Chocolate Sea Salt (bar) was from KiZE Concepts (Oklahoma City, OK).

Aroma notes included: faint chocolate (dark chocolate cookie), faint peanut butter oat cereal/cookie, and very faint peanut butter and honey sandwich.

Texture: I found this bar in the refrigerated section, and wondered if it would have a "hard" chew as a result. Answer: Nope. It had just the right amount of soft, cohesive chew. It wasn't too dry (no protein powder grit), and it wasn't crumbly. Chocolate chips added spikes of dark chocolate flavor and texture.

The flavors (chocolate, peanut butter, honey, subtle date) were pleasing, and landed this bar a spot in the Goldilocks zone. Not too much or too little of anything. It was just right. I enjoyed this bar with a handful of whole, California almonds. The perfect healthy snack duo.

I liked several things about this bar. It was: 1.) a gluten free bar with 7 grams of plant protein with great texture (not dry/gritty or too moist); 2.) well balanced: not too sweet, not too salty--and a well executed blend of chocolate, peanut butter and honey flavors; 3.) chocolate chips added extra pops of dark chocolate texture and dark chocolate flavor; and 4.) made with a relatively short list of quality ingredients.

Ingredients: Peanut Butter, Honey, Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Dates, Chocolate Chips (Cocoa Liquor, 

Allergen-related information: Contains Peanuts, Tree Nuts (Coconut).