Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups + Hot Cocoa - Feb. 24, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.51 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups offering was distributed and sold by Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA).* 

Aroma notes for these dark chocolate filled cups included: dark chocolate with very faint lemon-green (oxalis, wood sorrel); mellow nut butter (almond); and very faint nut cookie.

Flavor notes included: relatively flavorful, balanced, and sweet dark chocolate (chocolate-y, dark ganache/tort); and subtle, natural almond butter filling. The two layered flavors complemented each other. The roasted almonds and milk helped mellow the chocolate and balance the sweetness.; and the vanilla flavor added a bit of sweet baked cookie warmth. 

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate Processed with Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin [Emulsifier], Natural Vanilla Flavor), Roasted Almonds, White Confectionery Coating (Sugar, Palm Kernel Oil, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Whey Powder, Palm Oil, Soy Lecithin [Emulsifier], Natural Vanilla Flavor), Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Almond. May Contain Traces of Egg, Sesame, Wheat, Peanut, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Coconut, Hazelnut, Macadamia Nut, Pecan, Pine Nut, Pistachio, Walnut. 

*The packaging and some of the ingredients were slightly different, but I tasted a variation on this same product almost five years ago. So I also enjoyed a homemade hot, spiced cocoa with almond and oat milk today.

 

Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds 73% Cacao - Feb. 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds 73% Cacao
Good ++

Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.51 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds 73% Cacao was distributed and sold by Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate; earth (light peat); faint fruit (citrus); and very faint nut (almond). 

Flavor notes for this creamy and crunchy bar included: bold, dark chocolate (chocolate-y, ultra-dark brownie, ganache); subtle earth; and chunks of almond. The almonds helped mellow the acidity and bitterness and made it taste less sweet (which I liked).

The organic, bold 73% dark chocolate tasted more like an ultra-dark (75%-80%+ cacao) chocolate. I enjoyed this aspect; and I'm guessing other dark fans will too. If your preference is for a milder chocolate, maybe not so much.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Cocoa Mass, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Almonds.

Allergen-related information: Contains Almond. May Contain Milk, Soy, Wheat, Peanut, Cashew, Coconut, Hazelnut, Pecan.