Markham & Fitz - 75% Dark Chocolate Pisa, Haiti (bar) - Apr. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Markham & Fitz Chocolate Makers
75% Dark Chocolate Pisa, Haiti (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order 

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

Today's 75% Dark Chocolate PISA*, Haiti (bar) was from Markham & Fitz (Bentonville, Arkansas).

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark, chocolate-y; warm spice (cinnamon, five spice blend); and fruit (grape, raisin, citrus).

Texture: smooth, with a very slight astringency.

This relatively flavorful dark chocolate had an authentic, lightly acidic (raisin, citrus and spice), sweetness and complexity to it that I enjoyed tasting.

Maker's tasting notes: "Cinnamon raisin and brownie cover the palate swaying from side to side. Orange peel quickly spins, and dried fig follows up to dip you for a lingering finish."

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also processes dairy and nuts."

*Produits des Iles SA (PISA) works with 100s of cacao farmers in Haiti to produce high-end, fermented and dried cacao (beans) for specialty markets--and smaller-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate makers. Their facilities are centrally located for farmers (between five growing regions) in a relatively mountainous area. 

Honeymoon Chocolates - Coffee Dark Chocolate with Honey and Haiti Cacao (bar) - April 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates
Coffee Dark Chocolate with Honey and Haiti Cacao
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Z. Cioccolato, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Haiti (Caribbean) Theme Week.

Today's Coffee Dark Chocolate bar was from Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis, MO).  sweetened with raw honey.

The company practices ethical sourcing and transparency. This chocolate (Bar #76452) was a blend of ingredients sourced from around the globe, including Haitian Cacao, Raw Honey (Missouri), Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Coffee from Reconstruction Coffee Roasters, and Peruvian Cacao Butter.

Aroma notes included: light, well-balanced cacao, wildflower honey and coffee.

Texture: smooth, relatively light and creamy texture, with an even, unhurried melt.

Flavor notes included: cacao, honey and high-end coffee, with very faint (barely detectable) fruit and floral.

I enjoyed the well-balanced flavors and the use of honey. This bar landed squarely into the Goldilocks zone. It had rich, nuanced flavors, but wasn't overly bold. The smoothness (in part due to raw chocolate) allowed the nuanced semi-floral honey notes to shine through. It had subtle sophisticated and smooth flavors and was gentle and approachable. It had natural honey sweetness, without being too sweet (thank you). In short, it was just right.

Ingredients: "Organic Cacao, Raw Honey, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Coffee" 

Allergen-related information: "Free of Refined Sugar, Soy, Dairy, and Gluten"   

Ethereal Confections - Organic Haiti Single Origin Dark Chocolate 70% (bar) - April 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ethereal Confections 
Organic Haiti Single Origin Dark Chocolate 70% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ethereal Confections, online order 

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

Today's Organic Single Origin Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) from Ethereal Confections (Woodstock, IL) was crafted using cacao from Haiti.

Aroma notes included: subtle, smooth dark chocolate, and very faint brown sugar and spice.

Texture smooth dark chocolate with a very slight astringency toward the finish.

Flavor notes: I enjoyed this well-executed bar with an appealing aroma and smooth dark chocolate flavor with brown sugar and faint raisin toast notes. This would be a good bar to add to a chocolate tasting flight, to show the flavors possible with just two ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: Single origin dark chocolate with..."vanilla, brown sugar and raisins."

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar* (* Organic Ingredient)

Allergen-related information: Made in shared equipment with peanuts and tree nuts. 

Zotter Chocolate - 72% Dark Chocolate Haiti (bar) - April 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolate
72% Dark Chocolate Haiti (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 2 bars 
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar (of 2)
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: zotter, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Haiti Theme Week.

Today's 72% Dark Chocolate Haiti (bar) was from Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL). The cacao used to make this chocolate was from PISA*.

Aroma notes included: balanced, complex, deep dark chocolate with subtle earth followed by fruit (tropical fruits: cacao, mangosteen and very faint passion fruit and mango). 

Texture: soft, smooth, rich, substantial with slow, thick creamy chocolate caramel-like melt.

Flavor notes included: a rich bouquet of well-integrated cacao flavors: true chocolate; with light tropical fruits and dried fruit (date, faint fig); and faint, smooth roasted cacao/coffee.

This well-executed chocolate was smooth, with cacao butter-y richness. I really enjoyed the subtle dark complexity--especially the fruit spectrum in the aroma and flavor.

Ingredients: Cocoa Mass**, Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Butter** (** = Organic (100%, Fair Traded (100%)

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured On Equipment That Processes Other Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Soy and Sesame."

*PISA works with many small cacao growers in Haiti to create high-quality cacao for specialty markets/ smaller-batch chocolate makers--such as Zotter. Almost all the Haiti chocolates featured this week have been made with PISA cacao. 

Taza Chocolate - Organic Chocolate Covered Nuts - April 26, 2024

 Chocolate of the Day

Taza Chocolate 
Organic Chocolate Covered Nuts
Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 16 oz. (453 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $8.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Haiti Theme Week.

Today's Organic Chocolate Covered Nuts were from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA). 

While the cacao origin wasn't explicitly stated on the package, there was an image of a woman cacao farmer in Haiti; and the company sources cacao from the Dominican Republic, Ghana and Haiti (PISA* in the Acul du Nord District).

Aroma notes included: bold chocolate-y chocolate (extra dark brownies); faint roasted nuts; (almonds); very subtle and balanced earth; very faint vanilla; and very faint sweet/tart green-citrus (oxalis) and red fruit.

Texture: smooth, chocolate coating over softly crunchy (whole) nuts.

Flavor notes included: deep, dark bold chocolate (with a very slight, well-balanced earthiness); authentic, whole nut (almond, cashew and hazelnut) centers; and a faint trace of vanilla.

Maker's notes (for Haiti cacao): Dried fig, tart cherry, roasted nuts.

Ingredients:  Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cacao Beans, Organic Almonds, Organic Cashews, Organic Hazelnuts, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Beans, Sea Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds, Cashews and Hazelnuts. May Contain Traces of Other Tree Nuts and Sesame.

*Taza has been working with Produits Des Iles SA, or PISA, since 2015. PISA represents over 1,300 cacao farmers and works with farmers to develop high-quality cacao that can be sold to specialty markets, including bean-to-bar chocolate makers, such as Taza Chocolate. Most of the cacao in this week's Haiti bars come from PISA.

OWYN - Dark Chocolate Non-Dairy Protein Shake - April 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

OWYN
Dark Chocolate Non-Dairy Protein Shake 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 11 oz. (330 mL) in 1 container
Calories: 170 calories in 1 container
Cost: $9.99 for 4 pack (4 containers)
Purchased from: Safeway, Fremont, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Umami Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Protein Shake was distributed by Only What You Need, Inc. (Fairfield, New Jersey). 

This single serving beverage contained a generous helping of plant protein (20 grams of protein per single serving/container.

Aroma notes included: cocoa, chocolate milk, and hard to identify sweet-savory (nut and green vegetable) notes.

Texture: smooth beverage, with a very slightly thickened texture (with a barely there creamy/silky, gel-like mouthfeel). All the ingredients were well incorporated; there was no trace of any protein "grit."

Flavor notes included: cocoa, chocolate milk; faint vanilla and caramel; and very faint (barely detectable) vegetable (green pea, greens), with a slight lingering sweetness.

The sweetness level felt right. (This protein shake drink was sweet right into the finish, but not overly so.) Monk fruit extract helped create sweetness (and minimize any bitterness).

Ingredients: Water, OWYN(TM) Protein Blend (Pea Protein, Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein, Organic Flax Oil), Soluble Fiber, Organic Cane Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Cocoa Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Himalayan Pink Sea Salt, Guar Gum, Greens Blend (Broccoli, Spinach, Kale), Monk Fruit Extract.

Allergen-related information: ("...Independently tested for detection of the top 8 allergens every lot, every time.") For more information, visit the company website: liveowyn.com)