Hapa Chocolat - "Cherry on Top" Dominican Republic, Flavors By Design: Chili, Cherry, Raspberry (bar) - May 2, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hapa Chocolat 
"Cherry on Top" Dominican Republic Flavors By Design: Chili, Cherry, Raspberry (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.11 oz. (31.5 g.) / 2.22 oz. (63 g.) in total bar
Calories: 169 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hapa Chocolat, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate & Warm Spices Theme Week.

Today's "Cherry on Top" Dominican Republic Flavors By Design: Chili, Cherry, Raspberry (bar) (Batch #06) was created by Hapa Chocolat, LLC (Los Gatos, CA)* using cacao grown on a bird sanctuary (El Arroyazo) in the Dominican Republic, plus three flavors that either mirrored or complemented naturally occurring cacao flavors.

I like that Hapa Chocolat is producing single origin chocolates that thoughtfully amplify the natural flavors of cacao with flavor inclusions. One learns a lot working with different cacao origins; and if added flavors helps convey the story of all the flavors inherent in different varieties of cacao, in different countries, and resulting from different processing techniques (e.g., fermenting, roasting profiles), I'm all for that.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's "Cherry on Top" DR bar included: relatively bold, earthy -- but also well-managed and balanced -- dark chocolate and tart-sweet cherry and red raspberry. 

The dark, relatively earthy (think deep, dark still forest) unroasted cacao dark chocolate base was integrated with its opposites: bright, sunny, sweet dried Morello cherries and freeze-dried raspberries -- and spiced up with chili heat. It was a bracing and lively combination.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a slight crunchy granularity (finely ground, likely freeze-dried fruit particles) that ended with some tiny, chewy (fruit) bits and some raspberry seed grit.

I enjoyed: the bright cherry and berry flavors, the well-managed bold dark chocolate, and the short list of organic and authentic-tasting ingredients. 

Maker's notes: "...this is a raw chocolate...without any influence from roasting...earthy notes are exaggerated with a hint of cayenne pepper while dried cherries and raspberries bring out the tart and fruity notes--making this bar well-rounded like a nice glass of merlot."

Ingredients: "Chocolate (organic cacao, cacao butter, organic sugar), Dried Morello Cherries, Freeze Dried Raspberries, Cayenne Pepper"

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

*Note: the company does not have a physical retail store; they sell their chocolates online.

Intrigue Chocolate Co. - Cinnamon + Long Pepper 60% Cacao (bar) - May 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Cinnamon + Long Pepper 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Uganda Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Spices Week.

Today's Cinnamon + Long Pepper 60% Cacao (bar) was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).* (This bar was a collaboration with Viscon Cellars (Seattle, WA).

The cacao used to make this bar was "mostly Trinitario and Amelonado" (cacao varieties) from Uganda (Region: Rwenzururu; Semuliki Forest; Harvest year: 2022.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate, (chocolate-y); warm spice (cinnamon); faint, diffuse tropical fruit (light citrus, passion fruit) and stone fruit (very faint plum jam); and spicy pepper. The Long Pepper was slightly spicier than black peppercorns found in the U.S.; and had a very faint warm spice (ginger-like) note.

Texture: smooth, with a relatively buttery melt.

I enjoyed the well-executed, balanced flavors, the short list of ingredients, and the sweetness level--that added a slight brightness to the spice flavors. (It was sweet without being overly so.)

Maker's tasting notes: "This chocolate has a soft but highly-complex woodsy spice that complements the aromas of sweet tobacco and ripe plum of Viscon's 2022 Paradigm (100% Malbec) wine. 

Successful chocolate and red wine pairings require skill. Fortunately, this bar was designed by a chef and chocolate maker who possessed that skill.

Ingredients:  Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa butter, cassia cinnamon, long pepper.

Allergen-related information: (No information on package.)

*Note: the company is planning to relocate to Chisholm, MN.