Antidote - Lemon confit + Licorice 84 dark (bar) - Sept. 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Antidote
Lemon confit + Licorice 84 dark (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Antidote Lemon confit + Licorice 84 dark (bar) was made in Ecuador. 

The company is the creation of Red Thalhammer in the U.S. who is "NY/Miami based with Austrian roots." A former Art Director, who was introduced to European chocolate as a child, she has been creating interesting flavor inclusion chocolate bars (many with different fruits, spices and botanicals) since 2009.

The cacao used to make this bar was listed as "Nacional Complex." Nacional is a relatively rare cacao native to Ecuador (and is also found in Peru), often described as having a fine aroma and complex flavor profile.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate with citrus (lemon marmalade) and very faint sweet herbal/spice.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate interspersed with chewy bits of candied/sweet lemon peel. 

I enjoyed the blend of dark, smooth and balanced chocolate and sweet, tart lemon peel. This chocolate tasted more like a 72% cacao than an 84% cacao bar -- making it a little less intense for those who prefer milder chocolates while not compromising for dark chocolate fans. The licorice was very subtle--adding an authentic, light, naturally sweet herbal flavor that harmonized well with the chocolate and the lemon.

Ingredients: (84% cacao Nacional Complex) cacao beans, whole cane sugar, cacao butter, lemon peel, licorice root, sunflower lecithin. 

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles milk, soy & nuts. Vegan, Gluten Free, Kosher"

Kessho - Black Sesame White Chocolate (bar) + Purple White Tea & TCHO - Dark & Salty 81% Cacao (bar) - Sept. 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Kessho Craft Chocolate
Black Sesame White Chocolate - Lightly Roasted Sesame (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .945 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 169 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: Part of a set ($60 for 4 bars + tea coins)
Purchased from: Kessho, online order 

TCHO
Dark & Salty 81% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight:  1.625 (46 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total pkg. of 3 bars
Calories: 240 calories in 2/3 package
Cost: $5.39 for 1 bar (member discount)
Purchased from: Sports Basement, San Francisco, CA

West China Tea Company
Black Rain Shu P'uer Tea (tea coin)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) in 1 tea coin
Calories: 5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 tea coin (1 mug of tea)
Cost: $60.00 for a larger order (set) of 4 bars + 8 tea coins (may no longer be available)
Purchased from: Kessho, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Tea Week.*

Today's two bars were paired with tea from West China Tea Company (Austin, TX).

The sweetness of today's Black Sesame White Chocolate from Kessho Chocolate was complemented very nicely by an inky dark brown (black) p'uer tea--in the form of an individually-wrapped tea "coin" (that was part of a larger gift set of 4 different Kessho chocolate bars + 4 different West China Tea coins/teas. This set was distributed by Kessho, LLC (Austin, TX).

This collaboration was joined by a Dark & Salty 81% Cacao bar from TCHO (Berkeley, CA).

Kessho - Black Sesame White Chocolate (bar) + tea

The black sesame seeds (sourced from India) were ground together with cocoa butter and salt.

Aroma and flavor notes included: black sesame seeds in a creamy base with faint, buttery umami and salt.

Texture: buttery, and relatively smooth.

The suggested pairing with Black Rain Shu P'ureh tea was great. The rich, inky brown tea was excellent, and surprisingly versatile. It provided rich satisfying flavor; and its slightly tannic, balanced bitterness complemented both the sweet white chocolate sesame seed bar and the TCHO Dark & Salty bar.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Black Sesame, nuts, cream and sea salt"

Ingredients: "Cocoa butter, sugar, whole milk powder, skim milk powder, black sesame seed, salt"

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and sesame seeds...Made in a facility that processes tree nuts, wheat and eggs" 

TCHO - Dark & Salty 81% (bar)

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark, fudge-y chocolate with a very light dose of vanilla and sea salt.

Texture: very smooth; dense and hearty flavor and texture.

I enjoyed this hearty, chocolate-y, dark chocolate with balanced, extra dark flavors. It was an 81% cacao bar that had the rich smoothness of a 72% cacao bar.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans**, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter**, Pink Himalayan Salt, Vanilla Beans* (* Organic; ** Fair Trade Certified)

Allergen-related information: "May contain tree nuts."