Mezcla - Peruvian Cocoa Peanut Butter (bar) - July 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Mezcla
Peruvian Cocoa Peanut Butter (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week, and to Day #1 of Chocolate and Peanut Theme Week.

Today's Peruvian Cocoa Peanut Butter Puff-Crispy Bar (TM) was distributed by Eat Mezcla Inc. (New York, NY). The packaging included a lovely illustration of Peruvian wildlife (birds, butterflies)--from Peruvian artist Cesar Caycho.

Aroma notes for this plant protein bar included: peanut and chocolate, faint warm spice (vanilla, cinnamon), and very faint coconut and grain/pea protein.

The texture was crispy, slightly chewy and crunchy. And the peanut, chocolate and protein crisp flavors tasted harmonious and authentic.

Ingredients: Pea Crisps (pea protein, rice starch), Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Powder), Tapioca Syrup, Peanut Butter, Vegetable Glycerin, Pea Protein, Prebiotic Soluble Tapioca Fiber, Tapioca Syrup Solids, Organic Quinoa Crisps (Organic Quinoa), Peanuts, Tapioca Fiber, Coconut Oil, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains Peanut, Tree Nut (Coconut). Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Dairy, Peanut, Sesame, Soy, Tree Nuts, and Egg.

Rozsavolgyi Csokolade - Almond Gianduja (bar) - July 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Rozsavolgyi Csokolade 
Mandula Gianduja
(Almond Gianduja (bar))
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 152 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Almond Gianduja 73% (bar) was from Rozsavolgyi Csokolade (Budapest, Hungary), using Peruvian Nacional cacao.

Notes on appearance...These chocolate makers also have fun with their packaging. "Erik, the Cocoa pod" makes appearances -- and was featured on today's bar enjoying an outdoor wine and bread picnic with an almond. Inside, each of their bars I've tried has been embossed with a beautiful, large swirling, floral-like, traditional Hungarian pattern.*

Aroma notes included: sweet, very slightly acidic/fruity chocolate; and nut/nut butter.

The texture was very pleasing. This chocolate was very smooth, nut buttery and the chocolate and almonds were fully integrated and creamy.

Flavor notes included: smooth, roasted note(s); very slightly bitter/bitter-sweet, dark chocolate; and fully ground nut (almond) butter and dark chocolate. The nuts provided some natural nut mellowness.

I liked that this chocolate wasn't too sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate with Almond Praline. Ingredients: dark chocolate with 73% min. Cocoa content (cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter), almond praline (almond 60%, sugar, vanilla). Almond praline in the chocolate min. 20%.

Allergen-related information: Contains almonds. "Produced in a factory that also handles nuts, sesame seed and milk powder."

*This design, likely inspired by Hungarian folk art, was also very pretty in green -- on the company's matcha green tea, herbs and lemon (white chocolate) bar, sampled recently. I highly recommend trying this flavor if you're fond of higher-end white chocolate, if it is still available.