The Granola Guru - Cacao Almond Butter - Mar. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

The Granola Guru
Cacao Almond Butter 
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (28 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Outdoors Week--a week that includes granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates, and an outdoor mug of spring egg hot chocolate. 

Growing up and spending a lot of time outdoors, we often made their own granolas--inspired by Muesli-style oat cereals from Europe--and trail mixes.

Today's Cacao Almond Butter granola from The Granola Guru (Oakland, CA) was made with gluten-free oats. Company founder, Ayana K., has created a "dairy free, vegan-friendly...nourishing superfood snack...with no refined sugars."

Rich aroma notes for this outdoor-friendly granola included: authentic cacao; maple and brown/unrefined sugars; grains, oats, and faint malt; and nuts (almonds).

The ebony-hued granola was full of rich, authentic cacao and nut (almond) flavors. And the use of quality ingredients, oils and sweeteners created a better tasting experience. This was a dark chocolate lovers granola!

Ingredients: "Gluten Free Oats, Almonds, Maple Syrup, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Almond Butter, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Coconut, Organic Cacao Nibs, Water, Organic Flaxseed Meal, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, Vanilla Bean"

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almond, Coconut. Manufactured in a facility that also processes: tree nuts, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, and dairy."

Premium Orchard - Chocolate Almond & Cherry Blend - Feb. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Premium Orchard 
Chocolate Almond and Cherry Blend 
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (34 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Almonds Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate Outdoors Theme Week.

Today's Premium Orchard Deluxe Chocolate Almond and Cherry Blend was manufactured by Mixed Nuts, Inc. (Pico Rivera, CA).

Aroma notes for this mix included: a subtle, appealing and rich blend of fruits, nut and chocolate.

Textures and flavors included: generously sized, plump, dried, chewy red fruits (cherries and cranberries); large lightly salted cashews; and smooth, shiny and dark chocolate covered almonds with crunchy nut interiors.

What I liked about this blend: 1.) balanced flavors; not too sweet and not too salty; 2.) hearty, enjoyable and portable snack that could be enjoyed outside, at home or on the go.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds (Semi-Sweet Chocolate [Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor], Roasted Almonds and Confectioner's Glaze), Dried Cranberries (Cranberries, Sugar, and Sunflower Oil), Roasted Cashews (Cashews, Non-GMO Canola Oil and Sea Salt), and Dried Sour Cherries (Cherries, Sugar, and Sunflower Oil).

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almonds, Cashews, Milk and Soy. Manufactured on Equipment That Also Processes Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Wheat and Dairy Products. Contains a bioengineered food ingredient."

Nature's Garden - Oat Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds - Feb. 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Nature's Garden
Oat Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nature's Garden Oak Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds were from Cibo Vita Inc. (Totowa, NJ).

Aroma and layered flavor notes included: subtle chocolate; faint oat/cereal; sweet green, almost fruity/floral, refreshing tea (green tea); and nut (almond). 

There were pleasant, light, lingering almond butter and fruit (jelly/jam) + oatmeal/oat bread sandwich notes in the finish. 

Overall I enjoyed the flavors in these almonds. The chocolate element was subtle, and added some complementary flavor depth to the lighter green/floral and nut notes.

These coated almonds were made in the USA -- using ingredients sourced from Canada, Colombia and the United States.

Ingredients: Oat Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Dried Gluten Free Oat Powder, Cocoa Mass, Dried Rice Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla Extract, Natural Flavor), Roasted Almonds (Almonds, Peanut Oil), Matcha Seasoning (Sugar, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin [Corn], Silicon Dioxide, Gum Arabic, Soybean Oil, Citric Acid), Natural Flavor Green Tea Type Oil, Sugar, Maltodextrin, Dextrin, Color (Spirulina Extract), Color (Turmeric). 

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds) (and peanut oil). "Made in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, wheat, egg & sesame. May contain pits, shell pieces or other naturally occurring objects."