The Organic House - Lavender & Maple 70% Cacao (bar) - June 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Lavender & Maple 70% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 198 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Lavender & Maple 70% dark chocolate (bar) was made by The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada). The company produces a variety of bean-to-bar chocolates--including many with flavor inclusions and/or maple sugar from Ontario, Canada.

The Bon Bulak cacao (from Kablon Farms) used to make this bar was from the Philippines.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate; maple; and clean, faintly fragrant lavender.

Texture: broke with a well-tempered snap first thing in the morning (65 degrees F.), and was smooth and creamy when warmed to 70 degrees (F.). All flavor inclusions were completely incorporated into the 70% dark chocolate. There was no maple sugar or floral grit, or any off-putting or astringent components.

Flavor notes included: an elegant blend of dark chocolate with a wonderful, balanced flux of lavender floral, maple and refreshing sweet fruit (purple/red grape).

I really liked the complementary flux of high-quality flavors including the culinary lavender and the subtle petit verdot grape note. I appreciated the short list of quality and organic ingredients; and I enjoyed the maker's tagline: "Let your taste buds travel."

Maker's tasting notes: "Porcini, sage, lilac, petit verdot" (Petit verdot is a purple wine grape.)

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, Ontario maple sugar, Organic maple sugar, Culinary lavender

Allergen-related information: "May contain: Cashews, Hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios"

Spring & Mulberry - Lavender Rose Date-Sweetend Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) - June 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Spring & Mulberry 
Lavender Rose Date-Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.75 for 1 bar (part of a larger order)
Purchased from: Spring & Mulberry, online order

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

Today's Lavender Rose Date-Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Spring & Mulberry (Raleigh, NC). 

The company produces a variety of date-sweetened chocolates. (All but one of the bars I've tasted so far have also had flavor inclusions in addition to the dates--that some also consider a flavor inclusion.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, sweet green botanical (+ pollen/honey), dried fruit (date), and very faint lavender that increased significantly when I broke off another piece of this bar (with many more lavender buds).

Texture: relatively smooth chocolate texture with a very slight granularity (fruit astringency).

Flavor notes included: rich but smooth dark chocolate, rich date sweetness, and light/fleeting floral (mostly lavender, but that is to be expected as lavender is very aromatic). 

I appreciated the floral (lavender and light bee pollen) flavors; the rich sweet (but not overly sweet) taste of the dates; the visual appeal of the red rose petals; and the short list of quality and organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Dates*, Cacao Butter*, Bee Pollen, Rose Petals, Lavender (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a Facility That Also Handles Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Soy, and Wheat. Bee Pollen May Cause an Allergic Reaction. Not Recommended for Children Under One."