Wildwood Chocolate - Ginger Pistachio 70% Cacao (bar) - May 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Wildwood Chocolate
Ginger Pistachio 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.58 oz. (45 g.) / 3.17 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.99 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Warm Spices and Day #4 of Chocolate, Bees and Trees Theme Week--that includes chocolates with honey, maple and other tree flavors or references.

Today's Ginger Pistachio 70% Cacao (bar) was from Wildwood Chocolate (Portland, OR). The company name was likely inspired by the local Wildwood Trail in Forest Park in Portland.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, bittersweet dark chocolate; and authentic, balanced and "fresh" (just the right texture) flavor inclusions: candied ginger and salted roasted pistachio.

I loved the great balance of smooth dark chocolate, sweet and spicy and salty nutty flavors--as well as the well-executed smooth and chewy textures in this bar.

Ingredients: "Bittersweet Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), Roasted Pistachios (pistachio, salt), Candied Ginger (ginger, sugar), Sea Salt."

Allergen-related information: "Contains Soy and Tree Nuts (Pistachio). May contain traces of the following if not listed above due to shared equipment: milk, peanuts, wheat or eggs."

Goodnow Farms - Winter Maple with Spiced Brown Butter (bar) - May 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms
Winter Maple with Spiced Brown Butter (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Warm Spices, and Day #3 of Bees and Trees Theme Week--including several chocolates flavored or sweetened with honey, maple and/or dates.

Today's Winter Maple with Spiced Brown Butter (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA).

Aroma and tasting notes included: warming spices (ginger, cardamom); dark milk chocolate; and maple sugar and butter caramel. (Note: there was no ginger in this chocolate; but there was cardamom.)

Texture: very smooth, buttery texture and melt. The maple sugar and spices were fully incorporated into the bar (no spice grit, thank you!)

I enjoyed the sweet flavors (spices, butter caramel, maple) and texture. It was rich enough to be satisfying after a few bites. I could also see a chef choosing this chocolate to make a very rich, sophisticated chocolate dessert (mousse, tart, truffle).

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Maple Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Butter, Cardamom

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.