Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Loco for Coco Chocolate Bar - Mar. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Dude, Sweet Chocolate
Loco for Coco Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: .775 oz. (22 g.) / 1.55 oz. (44 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Dude, Sweet Chocolate, online order

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

Today's "Loco for Coco" Chocolate Bar ("toasted coconut, honey crystal made where there are nuts") offering was from Dude, Sweet Chocolate (Dallas, TX).

Aroma notes included: roasted cacao (dark chocolate) with nutty, subtle honey-floral and very faint vanilla notes. 

Texture: This relatively thick bar had a hearty, almost stone-ground yet smooth, rich chocolate texture and mouthfeel, with a generous helping of tiny crunchy flecks.

Flavor notes included: hearty dark chocolate, with alluring, complex flavor inclusions. The light-colored flecks yielded flickers of buttery, coconut, honey, and barely detectable sea salt sparkles. 

I enjoy and appreciate well-executed layered and/or progressively unfolding flavor notes; and almost always find this approach more enjoyable than fully blended (or overly homogenized) flavors. 

If you prefer nutty peanut butter vs. smooth peanut butter; layered cakes or parfaits; complex flavor pairings; or the occasional chocolate with intact cacao nibs, you might like this flavorful bar.

Ingredients: Republica del cacao 68% Nutty chocolate (cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla beans), coconut, honey, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: None listed on package. 

Gnosis Chocolate - "Immunity" chocolate heart + Persian Love Cake - March 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Gnosis Chocolate 
"Immunity" chocolate heart 
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in total piece/heart
Calories: 77 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: N/A - included with larger shipment
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Flowers and Honey.

Today's "Immunity" (solid chocolate) heart was from Gnosis Chocolate (Astoria, NY).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, warm spice, and very faint herbs and mushroom.

This heart-shaped (individually-wrapped) chocolate had a pleasing aroma, flavor and texture/melt.

Flavor notes included: chocolate, warm spices (cinnamon, ginger, clove), and very faint herbs and mushroom. The warm spices extended into the finish.

Persian Love Cake
I paired this chocolate with a slice of gluten free, Persian Love Cake--made with almond flour, warm spices (cinnamon, cardamom) and rose water, and beautifully adorned with rose petals and chopped, green pistachio nuts.

Jcoco - 61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate - Mar. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Jcoco
61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $3.49 (estimate) for 1 small bar
Purchased from: jcoco/Seattle Chocolate, online order 

Welcome to Day #3 of a Chocolate and Floral Series, including bars and confections with floral/flower-related ingredients.

Today's jcoco 61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate (bar) was made in Seattle, WA. (The jcoco brand is part of Seattle Chocolate Company, Seattle, WA.)

Aroma notes included: chocolate, orange blossom and ground coffee.

Texture: smooth chocolate with a very slight coffee grit.

Flavor notes included: relatively sweet, smooth dark chocolate (ganache); floral (orange blossom), warm spice, and coffee. 

This small bar was colorfully wrapped and is also available in a 3-bar pack.

Ingredients: 61% cacao dark chocolate (cracked cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin), coconut oil, decaffeinated espresso, orange oil, black tea powder, cloves, sea salt."

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut. This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg and wheat products." (Vegan, Gluten free, Kosher dairy)