Fruition Chocolate Works - Zorzal Eco Reserve 73% Dark Chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Candied Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberry & Citrus (bar) - June 2, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Zorzal Eco Reserve 73% Dark Chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Candied Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberry & Citrus (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

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

Today's Zorzal Eco Reserve 73% Dark Chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Candied Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberry & Citrus (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was grown on a cacao farm in a bird reserve in the Dominican Republic. The certified Bird Friendly cacao farm designated as "forever wild" inspired the makers to create this bird seed bar.

Aroma and flavor included: rich, sweet (slightly fruity) dark chocolate, seed, nut; dried dark berry (blueberry) and very faint citrus. (Note: this bar did not contain nuts.)

Texture: smooth dark chocolate (covered with a dense riot of) softly crunchy sunflower seeds, interspersed with small chewy fruit pieces (blueberries). Tiny rounds of puffed quinoa added additional, subtle texture.

I enjoyed the blend of flavors--an elevated homage to cacao and birds (and very high-quality bird seed).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*), Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberries, Puffed Quinoa, Lemon Zest, Sugar, Citric Acid, Citrus Essential Oils (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains sunflower seeds. May contain traces of milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and sesame.

Antidote - Quinoa Crunch 70 Dark (bar) - June 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Antidote
Quinoa Crunch 70 Dark (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 of 1 bar
Purchased from: Antidote, online order

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

Today's "Queens of Paradise" - Quinoa Crunch 70 Dark (bar) was from Antidote (Brooklyn, NY).

Aroma notes included: pleasing dark chocolate aroma (with sweet green/fruit) plus malted cereal.

Texture: well-tempered, smooth dark chocolate covered with a layer of crunchy popped quinoa.

Flavor notes included: sweet dark chocolate (with faint fruit/citrus); light, toasted cereal; and a slight bitterness--making the taste balanced bitter (bordering on sharp earth) and sweet in toward the finish.

The overall appearance was nice, and the tiny, golden brown puffed quinoa layer was generous, attractive (golden brown) and well-executed. (The quinoa  didn't crumble off in my lap, thank you.) 

I also appreciated the use of Arriba Nacional cacao, which gave it a complexity beyond most bulk/couverture chocolates.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate: 70% cacao Arriba Nacional...cacao beans, whole cane sugar, cacao butter, popped quinoa, sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: (Made in a facility that handles milk, soy & nuts.)