Jangala Cacao & Selva - 70% Lavender Dark Chocolate with Pollen, Fennel (bar) - June 28, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Jangala Cacao & Selva
70% Cacao Lavender Dark Chocolate with Pollen, Fennel (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 98 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Bienvenidos a (Welcome to) Day #9 of Chocolate and Floral Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate & Mexico Theme Week.

Today's  Jangala Cacao & Selva 70% Cacao Lavender Dark Chocolate with Pollen, Fennel (bar) was made by Jangala Frutos De La Tierra S. de R.I. de C.V. (San Cristobol de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico). southern Mexico.

The company specializes in single origin Mexican cacaos with a deep appreciation of--and connection to--the farmers and jungles (selvas) essential to sustainable production. To create chocolate like today's bar, they worked with "fermented native cacaos..."Criollos and Trinitarios from Soconusco."

Aroma and aroma notes included: dark chocolate, lavender, fennel and faint honey (pollen). 

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with finely and carefully ground/dried botanical elements (lavender buds, fennel seeds, bee pollen) pressed into the back of the bar--creating an attractive, enchanted garden/forest pattern and feel.

I enjoyed the well-executed and balanced aroma and flavor elements in this bar; the short list of quality ingredients; and that the floral and herbal inclusions imparted an authentic texture and taste, without being too large or pokey. Right in the Goldilocks zone.*

"Aromatic notes: chocolate, lavender, fennel, floral."

"Organic Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, bee pollen, dehydrated fennel, dehydrated lavender flower."

Allergen-related information: None listed on package.

*To describe something as being in "the Goldilocks zone" means that it's just right. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too hard, not too soft. Not too big, not too small....And these references come from a European folk tale which--in the modern version--features a young girl (Goldilocks) who enters the home of three bears in a forest, while the bears are out on a walk. She then proceeds to try out their porridge, chairs and beds, finding ones (belonging to the youngest bear) that are just right for her.