Charles Chocolates - Hella NorCal Bar 2.0 65% Bittersweet Chocolate - Oct. 30, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Charles Chocolates
Hella NorCal Bar 2.0 65% Bittersweet Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 275 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $8.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Hella NorCal Bar 2.0 65% Bittersweet Chocolate was from Charles Chocolates (San Francisco, CA).

Note: This chocolate was, I believe, a special collaboration with Whole Foods in California. (It's not currently on the Charles Chocolates website.)

Aroma notes included: sweet, dark chocolate; coconut nectar/vanilla, sesame candy, and faint fruit (berry).

Texture: thick and smooth dark chocolate, crispy-crunchy sesame seed candy, and small, chewy dried berries.

Flavor notes included: chocolate-y (fudge brownie, cocoa), faint vanilla, sweet sesame brittle, and chewy goji berries.

I really enjoyed this hearty, chocolate-y blend of authentic flavors and textures. It was a geographic tribute to Northern California (where Charles Chocolates and Chocolate Banquet are based). We do like our dark chocolate, fruit and seeds in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ingredients: Bittersweet Chocolate (Cacao Beans, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla Beans), Cane Sugar, Sesame Seeds, Organic Goji Berries, Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains sesame. "Manufactured in a facility that processes products containing peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and soy."

Compartes Chocolatier - Peaches & Cream 44% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 29, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Compartes Chocolatier
Peaches & Cream 44% Cacao (bar)

Good + 

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Crow's Nest Beach Market, Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Peaches & Cream 44% Cacao (bar) was from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA). The company has produced an amazing assortment of bars and confections with different flavor inclusions over the years. 

I love fresh peaches and nectarines when they're in season. The season ended last month; but this chocolate was a chance to enjoy a belated taste of summer peaches.

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet, creamy milk chocolate and peaches.

Texture: smooth, creamy 44% milk chocolate with a very slightly gummy melt; and crunchy pieces of freeze-dried peaches.

I liked the light and crunchy, freeze-dried peaches and the fact this bar was gluten free. Those with a sweet tooth may love the candy-level sweetness in this rich bar. It was a little too sweet for me.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Milk, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla), White Chocolate (Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Whole Milk, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla), Peaches, Cream.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy.