Chocolate of the Day
Goodio x Ivana Helsiniki, Paula Suhonen
Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's Market, online order
Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.
Today's Goodio Craft Chocolate Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Oy (Vantaa, Finland).
Aroma and flavor notes for this vegan chocolate included: sweet chocolate; light, nuanced floral; sweet green (coconut sugar, maple), and faint fruit (candied pineapple, gentle green apple+ honey); subtle coconut; and a very faint, fleeting herbal (aromatic, fine peppercorn).
This bar had a relatively smooth, texture, with a slightly stone-ground mouthfeel. (It was not particularly rough or grainy; and it might have had more flavor because the cacao + inclusions were less processed.*)
The tiny fragments of candied chamomile flowers on the back of the bar were charming and sweet, and imparted faint, fleeting and flavorful, candied floral notes.
I enjoyed the blend of sweet, nuanced and balanced Northern European (as well as tropical) flavors, and the fact that this was from (made in) Finland.
The white packaging decorated with enlarged, white-petaled and yellow-centered chamomile flowers showcased these blossoms (likely especially welcome in countries with long winters). The maker's description was poetic: "candies & flowers & hazy summer hours"...It would be fitting to enjoy this in the sunny months; but it would be a cheerful bar in any season.
Was this 49% cacao organic, vegan chocolate sweet? Yes, it was. However, it was supposed to be bright and fresh like summer candy and flowers.
The coconut sugar and maple syrup sweeteners added some flavor depth and warmth--and didn't push me all the way into the sugar buzz zone (thank you).
Ingredients: "Cacao beans*, Coconut palm sugar*, Cacao butter*, Coconut flakes*, Maple syrup*, Chamomile*. (*Organic)."
Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts (cashew). Dairy, gluten and soy free."
*Shorter grinding/conching time(s), can preserve more cacao aroma and flavor notes; but longer processing times may result in a creamier, smoother chocolate. Makers have to weigh these potential trade-offs. They take into account the variety, source/origin, flavor profile and other qualities (or even shortcomings) of cacao when making these and other decisions.
