Zotter - Hemp Bonbon (bar) - Feb. 10, 2025 New

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Zotter
Hemp Bonbon Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hemp cream (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.19 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Unique Chocolates Week.

Today's Zotter Hemp Bonbon Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hemp cream (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, botanical (malt, oatstraw, sunflower seed) and vanilla wafer.

Texture: creamy, almost silken dark chocolate coating, with a creamy, layered filling, the thickest layer being slightly green in color (that contained hemp seeds).

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, sweet layered filling with caramelized, very finely ground hemp seeds, praline, and vanilla.

I enjoyed the way that hemp seeds were skillfully used to make this chocolate. The bar may appeal to those who like dark chocolate, to those who favor confections, to those who enjoy novelty chocolates, and even to those who might be curious about hemp -- but don't want any THC. No small feat to satisfy all of these groups. 

Ingredients: Cane Sugar**, Hemp Seeds+, Cocoa Butter**, Cocoa Mass**, Rice Drink Powder+ (Rice+, Sunflower Oil+, Salt), Toasted Coconut**, Sunflower Oil+, Coconut Powder+ (Coconut Milk+, Maltodextrin+), Emulsifier: Lecithin [Soy]+, Salt, Lemon Powder+ (Lemon Juice Concentrate+, Corn Starch+, Sugar+), Vanilla Bean Powder+, Emulsifier: Lecithin (Sunflower)+.

 (+ = Organic; * = Fair Traded; Cocoa: 70% Minimum in the Dark Chocolate; and ** = Organic and Fair Trade) 

Allergen-related information: Contains: Soy, Coconut. Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Other Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Sesame, Eggs, Gluten.

 

Hu - Limited Edition 70% Cacao Organic Almond Butter Bars - Feb. 9, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Hu Products, LLC

Limited Edition Peppermint Mocha + Almond Butter Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 360 calories in 1 bar 
Purchased from: (Missing information)

Limited Edition Very Merry Raspberry + Hazelnut Butter Dark Chocolate Organic 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 380 calories in 1 bar
Purchased from: (Missing information)

Welcome to Day #12 of Unique Chocolates Week, featuring chocolates with unique origins, stories and unique or holiday-related flavor inclusions and stories.

Hu Kitchen was started by two siblings in New York--and has grown into Hu Products, LLC (Austin, TX), with chocolate bars being made in Italy as they've grown. The company's tagline urges us to enjoy foods made with simple ingredients that taste good, and to: "Get Back to Human."

Today's two Limited Edition Hu bars evoked two red-hued, winter holidays (Valentines Day and Christmas). I saved them from falling out of season by eating them. It was the least I could do.

Peppermint Mocha + Almond Butter Dark Chocolate

As promised, this was a hearty blend of smooth dark chocolate, almond butter and peppermint. I appreciated these well-balanced, authentic flavors--that weren't too strong or overly sweet. The peppermint level was just right. (No big candy cane or high-wattage toothpaste level mint. Thank you!)

There was also a slight crunchiness (ground coffee bits) that added a bit of textural interest, without being too gritty or intrusive. 

Ingredients: "organic cacao*, organic unrefined coconut sugar*, organic almond butter, organic cocoa butter*, organic coffee*, organic peppermint oil." (* = Certified Fairtrade ingredients)

Allergen-related information: "Contains almond & coconut. May contain cashew, hazelnut, pistachio, & milk. Allergen cleans made prior to production, but beware that product is produced using equipment that also processes tree nuts, soy, milk, & wheat."

Very Merry Raspberry + Hazelnut Butter Dark Chocolate 

I enjoyed the authentic, refreshing red raspberry, almond butter and smooth dark chocolate flavors--that were balanced well with each other.

I continue to appreciate Hu's use of a relatively short list of organic, high-quality ingredients that are not overly processed (e.g., Organic, fairtrade 70% cacao, no emulsifiers, soy or gluten, no refined sugar) in their chocolate bars.

Ingredients: "organic cacao*, organic unrefined coconut sugar*, organic hazelnut butter, organic cocoa butter*, organic raspberry" (* = Certified Fairtrade ingredients)

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut (sugar) & hazelnut. May contain almonds, cashew, pistachio, & milk. Allergen cleans made prior to production, but beware that product is produced using equipment that also processes tree nuts, soy, milk, & wheat."