Solstice - 70% Rio Claro Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate
70% Rio Claro Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Solstice Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Virtual Caribbean Cruise Theme Week.

This special, limited edition 70% Rio Claro Dark Chocolate bar (Lot 904), from Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT) was made with cacao grown in Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago are known for their Trinitario variety cacao(s). Trinitario is thought to be a cross between Forastero (usually bolder, denser flavor) and Criollo (usually more delicate, nuanced, heritage flavors) variety cacaos. (The Spanish likely brought cacao to the islands in the 1500s; commercial production began in the 1670s.) 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (dark chocolate ganache), diffuse and faint stone fruit (peach, nectarine); very faint, fleeting sweet molasses; lush green forest; and clean mineral water.

This well-tempered, smooth bar had a uniform texture with a creamy melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache); very faint diffuse fruit (berry pie); and very faint, fleeting earth/sour milk.

Maker's tasting notes: "Berries, Pie Crust, Almonds"

Ingredients: Cacao Bean, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: Gluten, dairy and nut free. "Produced in a tree nut, peanut, gluten, dairy and soybean free facility."

Venice Organics - Cacao Bliss 70 - 70% Chocolate Bar (Dominican Republic) - May 4, 2024

Chocolate of The Day

Venice Organics
Cacao Bliss 70% Chocolate Bar 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 420 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Virtual Caribbean Cruise Theme Week.

Today's "Cacao Bliss 70" - 70% Chocolate Bar was from Venice Organics (Los Angeles, CA).

This bar was made using "award winning" Dominican Republic (single origin and Organic) chocolate.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (bold, dark, aromatic cacao) with subtle earth, diffuse fruit (citrus, berry, date).

Texture: pleasing melt and creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: well-executed, bold and flavorful yet smooth dark chocolate; broad spectrum of flavors included rich chocolate-y, with subtle, well-balanced earth; diffuse fruit (mild, sweet citrus, berry) and fleeting sweet green and floral, and very faint tropical fruit (cacao pulp, mango).

I really enjoyed this Dominican Republic dark bar with a great texture and flavor range; and it did not taste overly sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, *Coconut sugar, *Cocoa butter (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Processed in shared equipment with products containing nuts." (Certified Organic; no gluten or dairy ingredients)