Wild West Chocolate - Cowboy Coffee Dark Chocolate with Ground Espresso 70% Cacao (bar) - May 31, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Wild West Chocolate
Cowboy Coffee - Organic Dark Chocolate with Ground Espresso 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65.2 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories for 2/3 bar

Cost: $21.25 for 3 dark chocolate bars (approx. $7.08 each)
Purchased from: Wild West Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Wild West Theme Week, featuring chocolates with tie-ins to cowboys, outlaws, bears and other wildlife in the Great Outdoors.

Today's Cowboy Coffee - Organic Dark Chocolate with Ground Espresso 70% Cacao (bar) was distributed by Wild West Chocolate, LLC (Missoula, MT).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Cowboy Coffee bar included: balanced, smooth dark chocolate with very faint coffee; campfire marshmallow and vanilla; very light stone fruit/berry; and barely detectable salt/savory and warm spice.

Texture: creamy texture and melt with very little coffee ground grit (thank you).

I enjoyed this bar. It felt hearty and substantial without being acidic or bitter. The well-integrated coffee complemented the dark chocolate and vice versa.

I appreciated the organic and fair trade cocoa and coffee; the use of fruits to sweeten this dark chocolate; and the relatively short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Fruit Blend [Powdered Date+, Powdered Mulberry+, Powdered Peach+, Powdered Mango+], Organic Cocoa Liquor++, Organic Cocoa Butter++, Vanilla Extract+), Organic Coffee++, Cinnamon+. (+ Organic Ingredients; ++ 69% Fair Trade Ingredients, Fair Trade CertifiedTM)

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat and soy."

Rhyme & Reason Chocolate Co. - Coffee Toffee Crunch (bar) - May 30, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Rhyme & Reason Chocolate Co.
Coffee Toffee Crunch Milk Chocolate 42% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Coffee Toffee Crunch Milk Chocolate 42% cacao (bar) was handcrafted in small batches by Rhyme & Reason Chocolate Company LLC (Greensboro, NC).

Aroma notes included: attractive, aromatic mocha and brown sugar and butter toffee

Texture: relatively smooth blend of dark milk chocolate, coffee and almost fully incorporated tiny, buttery toffee bits

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and relatively rich, smooth specialty coffee, accented with authentic buttery toffee bits. This bar had a sweet, politely robust coffee and dark milk chocolate finish.

Many toffee bars teeter on the edge of candy; this one (happily for me, a dark chocolate lover) did not. This had the flavor complexity and depth I dream of in a chocolate toffee offering. 

I appreciated the short list of quality ingredients and lack of additives. And the fact that cocoa beans were the number one ingredient (and not sugar). Thank you to Elizabeth Tully, founder and chief chocolate maker at Rhyme & Reason for a bar that both dark and milk chocolate lovers can appreciate.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Full Cream Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Coffee Beans, Toffee (cane sugar, butter)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Made in a facility which also handles peanuts and tree nuts

 

Compartes Chocolatier - Espresso Martini - Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini 67% Cacao (bar) - May 29, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Compartes Chocolatier
Espresso Martini - Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini 67% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.35 oz. (38 g.) / 2.7 oz. (76 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Espresso Martini - Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini 67% Cacao (bar) was from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma notes included: slightly roasted coffee and dark chocolate; vanilla; faint spirits/alcohol (vodka); and faint marshmallow/whipped cream.

Texture: smooth with an even melt and mouthfeel (no coffee or cacao grit).

I enjoyed the satisfying dark chocolate and light espresso blend. It was a sweet chocolate version of an espresso-mocha martini. The vodka flavor was very subtle, but it was enough to "sell" the martini concept.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Soy Lecithin as An Emulsifier, Vanilla), Coffee, Vodka

Allergen-related information: "Made in a Facility That Handles Dairy, Peanuts, Wheat, Egg, Soy, Tree Nuts." "Vegan, Gluten Free"

Compartes Chocolatier - Pumpkin Spiced Latte 44% Cacao Milk Chocolate (bar) - May 28, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Compartes Chocolatier
Pumpkin Spiced Latte 44% Cacao Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.35 oz. (38 g.) / 2.7 oz. (76 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes, online order 

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Pumpkin Spiced Latte 44% Cacao Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet, pumpkin-spiced mocha latte. This bar had the rich texture and flavor of a chocolate bar, with the sweet and light hot cocoa + pumpkin-spiced latte, and a subtle coffee/mocha finish.

Texture: smooth with a pleasing melt

This was a tasty milk chocolate rendition of a pumpkin spiced latte.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Milk, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla), Coffee, Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy (Lecithin). "Made in a facility that handles dairy, peanuts, wheat, egg, soy, tree nuts." "Gluten Free"

Xocolatl - 60% Dark Chocolate Commuter East Pole Coffee with Coconut Milk (bar) - May 27, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Xocolatl
60% Dark Chocolate Commuter East Pole Coffee with Coconut Milk (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.6 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl, online order 

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's 60% Dark Chocolate Commuter East Pole Coffee with Coconut Milk (bar) was made from bean-to-bar by Xocolatl LLC (Atlanta, GA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and coffee with a balanced coconut milk finish.

Texture: smooth texture, mouthfeel and melt--largely due to the coconut milk.

I liked the flavor and texture smoothing the authentic-tasting coconut milk added, reducing the level of harshness (acidity and bitterness) that might have been present with the cacao and coffee. 

There is a balance with using sugars and milks -- you can enjoy creamier/silkier chocolate texture but you may also experience muffle subtler cacao (and in this case coffee) aroma and flavor notes. There was still a coffee flavor that came through with this bar, but it was more subtle.

I also appreciated the relatively short list of quality and organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Milk*, Cocoa Butter*, Coffee (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that processes soy, wheat, peanuts & tree nuts (almond, hazelnut, pecan).

Cacao & Cardamom - Coffee & Cardamom 66% Cacao Single Origin (bar) - May 26, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao & Cardamom
Coffee & Cardamom 66% Cacao Single Origin (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 272 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao & Cardamom, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week. 

Today's Coffee & Cardamom 66% Cacao Single Origin (bar) was made by Cacao & Cardamom (Houston, TX). Their chief chocolatier is Annie Rupani.

The Caraibe single origin cacao used to make this bar refers to a blend of single origin Trinitario cacao from Valrhona (France).*

Aroma and flavor notes for this warm and flavorful dark chocolate included: aromatic cardamom; dark chocolate (relatively sweet 66% cacao chocolate and authentic "100%" cacao nibs and coffee beans); additional warm spices (cinnamon, vanilla); and mild coffee (beans).

Texture: a blend of smooth, relatively creamy dark chocolate and softly crunchy cacao nibs and "Espresso beans" (no coffee grit, thank you).

I loved the blend of cardamom, chocolate and coffee--all relatively aromatic and bold flavors that work very nicely together. The cinnamon and vanilla added more warmth, depth and come hither flavors to the whole blend.

Ingredients: "66% Caraibe Dark Chocolate (Cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla extract), Cardamom, Cinnamon, Espresso Beans"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles tree nuts"

*Valrhona's Caraibe chocolate is crafted from a blend of Trinitario cacao beans from four countries: the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Togo.

Maitre Truffout Grazioso - Milk Chocolate with Cappuccino Flavoured Filling (bars) - May 25, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Maitre Truffout - Grazioso 
Milchschokolade mit einer Fullung mit Cappuccino-Geschmack
Milk chocolate with Cappuccino Flavoured Filling
Good ++
Weight: 1.51 oz. (42.8 g.) in 3 small bars / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package of 7 smaller bars
Calories: 241 calories in 3 small bars
Cost: N/A - gift from friends (Thank you Maddy and Isla)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friends 

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's package of 7 individually-wrapped milk chocolate cappuccino flavored bars were from Maitre Truffout (Austria) and manufactured in Poland.

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet milk chocolate + light coffee and milk confection with nut and vanilla.

Texture: very smooth, light and creamy with an easy, even melt

I appreciated the smooth, creamy, rich flavors; the light (almost whipped) creamy texture--and the choice to use fair trade cocoa. The smaller, gold-foil wrapped bars also  made sharing with others very easy.

Ingredients: Sugar, Vegetable Fats (palm, shea; in varying proportions), whole milk powder, cocoa powder, cocoa mass, skimmed milk powder, sweet whey powder (from milk), milk fat, fat reduced cocoa powder, emulsifiers; E322 (soya), E476; flavorings, hazelnut paste, peanut paste. Milk chocolate contains: cocoa solids 30% minimum, milk solids 18% minimum. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Hazelnut, Peanut. "May contain traces of gluten, other nuts and eggs. Produced in the EU. Cocoa mass, cocoa butter non-EU."

Cacao Sampaka - Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee 86% Cocoa (bar) May 24, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Sampaka
Chocolate Negro con Cafe Arabica 86% (tableta)

Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee 86% Cocoa (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 oz. of bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee 86% Cocoa (bar) was from Cacao Sampaka S.L. (Barcelona, Spain) 

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (fudge-y, chocolate-y, roasted cacao); aromatic, roasted coffee; and very faint vanilla and roasted nut. (There were no nut ingredients.)

Texture: Smooth, rich, ultra-dark bar with cocoa butter (no coffee "grit") (Thank you.)

This bar had an interesting texture--with a relatively slow and almost fatty (cold butter) melt. The melt then became more rapid toward the end. (Note: this bar did contain both added cocoa butter and an emulsifier (soy lecithin) and I was tasting this bar in a cool room.)

I enjoyed the lack of sugar. This 86% chocolate had some very well-mannered bitterness, but had a surprisingly pleasant quality and natural sweetness to it. (Note: I like bitter and dark flavors.) 

I also appreciated the maker's decision to infuse the coffee into the chocolate vs. using ground coffee. (Incorporating intact coffee beans* into a chocolate bar can work, or it can leave you chewing on sharp coffee grounds.)

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, coffee (1.9%), emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Our products may contain traces of nuts, peanuts, lactose, milk and sesame."

*Cocoa beans are (on average) about 50% fat; coffee beans are only around 14% fat. Big difference in terms of texture. Cocoa nibs (minimally ground cacao beans) vs. ground coffee bits. The coffee bean pieces will be drier and more fibrous.

Conexion Chocolate - Mocha Latte Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar) - May 23, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Conexion Chocolate
Mocha Latte - Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Touring Chocolatier, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Conexion Chocolate Mocha Latte - Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar) was from

Aroma notes included: slightly earthy coffee and dark milk chocolate with a very faint (barely detectable) herbal and light vanilla.

Texture: rich, creamy milk chocolate surrounded a very generous helping of crunchy, ground coffee bits. (Chew well before swallowing due to slightly jagged coffee bean bit edges.)

Flavor notes included: creamy sweet milk chocolate blended with unsweetened, lightly roasted ground coffee, and light vanilla. Together the flavors harmonized well together, but the coffee grit was a little distracting.*

I enjoyed the relatively long, authentic mocha finish. 

And I appreciated the use of Arriba Nacional cacao; the fact this bar was made "in country" (in Ecuador where beans are grown); the mocha flavors in this Ecuador bar; and the makers striving to be the connection (conexion) between small Ecuadorian cacao farmers and end customers across the globe. 

Ingredients: Cacao mass, cane sugar, milk powder, cacao butter, coffee, natural vanilla, sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Produced in a facility that also handles dairy and" "Gluten Free" "Soy Free"

Loon Chocolate - Coffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 22, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Loon Chocolate
Coffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Loon Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Loon Chocolate Coffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, NH).

The coffee used to make this bar was from Terra Nova Coffee (Keene, New Hampshire). 

Aroma and flavor notes for this small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate bar included: aromatic coffee and smooth, relatively sweet dark chocolate. 

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy, with a pleasing melt and mouthfeel. The tiny particles of coffee on the back of the bar provided a bit of textural interest. The finely ground coffee beans bits (and likely infusion of coffee into cocoa butter) yielded fresh coffee flavor(s) without being gritty or tough and fibrous. (Thank you!)

I enjoyed the balanced flavors (dark chocolate, coffee, faint nut and very faint warm spice and roasty notes). This bar had satisfying dark chocolate and coffee flavors without being too harsh or bitter. I also appreciated the short list of quality, organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Coffee

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a Facility That Uses Almonds, Milk and Wheat. Contains Caffeine." "Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan"

Elements - Araku Valley Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 21, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Elements
Araku Valley Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Andronico's market, Los Altos, CA

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

Today's Araku Valley Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Elements (Union City, NJ).

The cacao used to make this bar was from Ecuador.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark cocoa; (hazelnut/almond) honey and nut butter; coffee (roasted, slightly bitter) and faint cardamom. (Note: there were no nut ingredients.)

Texture: smooth, with a pleasing honey-velvet texture and melt

Cocoa butter (#1 ingredient) helped to smooth over rough edges from the coffee/cacao powder/cardamom.

I enjoyed the honey in this bar that had a bright, almost floral, natural sweetness and helped lighten up what otherwise might have been very dark, bitter or heavily roasted elements. The honey also contributed to a lovely, almost silken texture.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao Butter, Raw Honey, Organic Cacao Powder, Coffee, Organic Cardamom

Allergen-related information: "No Dairy, Refined Sugar, Soy, Gluten, Lecithin or Shortcuts"

DAR Chocolate - ART Bar - Caramel Coffee milk chocolate (bar) - May 20, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

DAR Chocolate 
ART BAR Limited Edition - Caramel Coffee milk chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

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

Today's Limited Edition - Caramel Coffee milk chocolate Art Bar was manufactured by DAR Chocolate LLC (Thornton, CO).

Aroma and flavor notes for this very attractively-clad bar included: aromatic dark (fudge-y) milk chocolate with coffee (sweet mocha caramel latte); subtle caramel and very faint vanilla (pipe tobacco).

Texture: relatively smooth and creamy with a barely detectable astringency.

I enjoyed the 60% dark milk chocolate and coffee blend, and the subtle touch of Murray River Salt that helped balance the sweetness. (The salt also made this milk chocolate more addictive.)

Ingredients: cacao beans*, cane sugar*, dried whole milk, coffee beans*, cacao butter*, salt, natural flavors. (* organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Made in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts." 

Cacao Hunters - 53% Tumaco Leche Milk Chocolate Bars - May 19, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Hunters
53% Tumaco Leche Milk Chocolate Bars
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) total box of 2 bars
Calories: 170 calories in 1 of 2 bars
Cost: $6.29 for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week, and Day #7 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week. Colombia is well known for specialty cacao and coffee, thus the considerable overlap of these two themes this month.

Today's Cacao Hunters 53% Tumaco Leche Milk Chocolate Bars (package of 2 bars) were manufactured by Cacao de Colombia (Popayan, Cauca, Colombia). 

Cacao Hunters offers several bean-to-bar chocolate bars that highlight regional Colombian/cacao flavors and the company is committed to ethical sourcing and helping small stakeholder farmers. Today's cacao was from Tumaco (located in southwest Colombia, near the Pacific Ocean).

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 53% milk chocolate Tumaco Colombia bar included: rich and nutty cocoa, caramel, faint fruit (stone fruit (peach, plum) and berry jam) and very faint, sweet green/ herbal (anethole).

Texture: smooth and creamy

This bar was surprisingly and wonderfully aromatic and flavorful for a milk chocolate bar--a great choice for someone who doesn't care for the flat affect and of many commercially available milk chocolates. The combination of flavors + (cane) sugar and milk also made it relatively addictive.

I paired this bar with a honey-sweetened, chocolate coated, coffee ice cream bar. Both the chocolate and coffee ice cream bar were very tasty. (A double-barreled shot of high-quality, milky sweets for the day.)

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, cane sugar, milk powder, cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin)."

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. 

Cacao Hunters - 64% Campesino Dark Chocolate Bars - May 18, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Hunters
64% Campesino Dark Chocolate Bars
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) total box of 2 bars
Calories: 160 calories in 1 of 2 bars
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week, and Day #6 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week. Colombia is well known for specialty cacao and coffee, thus the considerable overlap of these two themes this month.

Today's Cacao Hunters 64% Campesino Dark Chocolate Bars (package of 2 bars) were manufactured by Cacao de Colombia (Popayan, Cauca, Colombia). 

Cacao Hunters offers several bean-to-bar chocolate bars that highlight regional Colombian/cacao flavors and the company is committed to ethical sourcing and helping small stakeholder farmers.

The word campesino in English means a person from the country. Campesinos include small-to-medium sized farmers (that may or may not be landholders, who live in fairly remote, forested regions). These are the people who often grow and harvest the fine flavored cacaos and specialty coffees that we love so much. It's a term that has my respect.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 64% Campesino dark bar included: rich cocoa and warm spices (cloves, cinnamon), brown sugar caramel, and very faint floral (vanilla), wood (very faint cedar) and brown fruit (dried peach).

Texture: smooth 

I loved the pleasing, gently complex and complementary flavors in this chocolate. The warm spice notes were balanced and could even be mistaken for naturally occurring cacao flavors.

I paired this bar with a gently spiced, iced coffee latte.

I also appreciated the short list of quality ingredients.

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, canela brown sugar cane, cocoa butter, cinnamon, clove."

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of milk.

Deux Cranes - Dark Chocolate with Coffee, Cream (bar) - May 17, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Deux Cranes
Dark Chocolate with Coffee, Cream (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 191 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Filoli (gift shop), Woodside, CA

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week, and Day #5 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate with Coffee, Cream (bar) was made by Deux Cranes LLC (Los Gatos, CA).

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate (sweet green botanical) and subtle coffee

Texture: smooth texture, melt

Flavor notes included: balanced dark chocolate (fudge-y, very faint sweet green (anethole*), very slightly floral and barely detectable, balanced earth) and subtle coffee with a gentle complexity. The generous drizzle of white chocolate ("cream") on one side, did give the effect of drinking a rich mocha beverage with cream floating on top.

I enjoyed the balanced flavors and choice of single origin cacao (75% Ecuador) and single origin coffee (Colombia) that yielded subtle, complex flavors and a slightly richer, more layered aroma than many other coffee chocolate bars.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa liquor from the Ecuadorian Amazon, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla extract) White Chocolate (Ecuadorian sugar, Ecuadorian cocoa butter, Ecuadorian whole milk powder, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla extract, Coffee Beans from Colombia, Vanilla Paste (Cane sugar syrup, vanilla concentrate, powdered vanilla bean, exhausted vanilla seeds, cane sugar.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. The product may contain traces of nuts, milk, and gluten. Produced and packaged in the same facility as soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, and milk products.

*Anethole is a naturally occurring, volatile chemical compound in plants (notably anise, fennel and star anise) and can be found in trace amounts in certain varieties of cacao (including certain Forastero varieties in Ecuador, and may be found in cocoa butters). Like cacao mass, anethole is hydro-phobic (does not mix well with water). And if added as a flavoring to chocolate, anethole is typically incorporated into cocoa butter (fat).

Spinnaker Chocolate - 68% Colombia with Coffee Single-Origin Chocolate (bar) - May 16, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Spinnaker Chocolate
68% Colombia with Coffee Single-Origin Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar

Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Spinnaker Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's 68% Colombia with Coffee Single-Origin Chocolate (bar) was from Spinnaker Chocolate, a family owned and operated chocolate maker in Seattle, WA.

This chocolate bar was made "in partnership with Olympia Coffee" (based in Olympia, WA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, naturally sweet/fruity/mild dark chocolate; bright and complex fruit (ripe red dragonfruit, ripe sweet pepper, ripe cherry, citrus, kiwi, coffee cherry, pear), warm spices, black pepper, roasted coffee, and barely detectable tea floral (extremely faint hibiscus/sorrel).

Texture: smooth texture, melt and mouthfeel

I love balanced complex flavors. And I loved the incredibly complex and fruity notes in this single origin bar -- a blend of single origin (Colombia) cacao and single origin (Ethiopian) coffee. Notably, the two areas where these two crops were grown were close to ground zero where they first evolved/were cultivated on Earth.

What a wonderful blend. I hope we don't continue to lose subtle flavors like this as we continue to move from more delicate heritage cacao and coffee varieties (in their original locales) to more sturdy and "productive" varieties.

Ingredients: "Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Ground coffee beans, Roasted"

Allergen-related information: Processed in a facility that uses milk powder and hazelnuts.

Chocolate Tree - Hazelnut Gianduja 40% Bean to Bar (bar) - May 15, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Tree
Hazelnut Gianduja 40% Bean to Bar (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 191 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Bacio di Latte Gelateria
2 flavors: Giandujotto (Hazelnut & Chocolate) + Caffe & Caramellatte (Coffee & Caramel)
Good+ - ++
Weight: Unknown (1 grande cup with 2 flavors)

Calories: Unknown
Cost: $11.95 for 1 grande (large) cup

Purchased from: Bacio di Latte Gelateria

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate & Colombia Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

I celebrated today with two creamy hazelnut items--a bar crafted with Colombian cacao and two scoops of gelato: a gianduja flavor and a coffee + caramel flavor.

Hazelnut Gianduja 40% Bean to Bar (bar)

This Gianduja 40% bar was from Knowes Farm in Scotland. 

The heirloom cacao used to make this bar was from Colombia. "The roasted hazelnuts were stoneground together with rare ancestral cacao from the Arhuaco indigenous community of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Colombia."

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet, soft chocolate with creamy, fully incorporated hazelnuts. 

The texture was indeed creamy and almost velvety soft. But the chocolate was firm enough to maintain a beautiful interlocking bird pattern on one side of the bar (from the chocolate mould (mold) that shaped it).

I loved the appearance of this bar and subtle flavors in this rich, sweet gianduja confection of a bar. I was surprised it did not contain milk, given the ultra-smooth, creamy texture.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Hazelnuts, Toffee, Sesame. Pair with: Prosecco, Fresh Bread."

Ingredients: Organic Hazelnuts (30%), organic cocoa beans, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: Contained Hazelnuts. "Dairy is used in our factory." 

Bacio di Latte Gelateria

And to fulfill the "coffee" portion of the overlapping Colombia and Coffee theme weeks today, I visited a newly opened gelateria in Palo Alto, CA. This was the first location in the San Francisco Bay Area for this Brazilian gelato brand.

I tried two of their flavors: Chocolate Hazelnut -- creamy chocolate and gianduja flavors with whole hazelnuts -- and Coffee and Caramel gelato that had pleasing coffee caramel latte flavor. 

Their gelato was sweet (as expected), smooth and balanced with authentic, Italian flavors. 

Karu - Tintico Dark Chocolate with Specialty Coffee 70% Cacao (bar) - May 14, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Karu 
Tintico Dark Chocolate with Specialty Coffee 70% Cacao (bar)

Good ++
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 3 squares of bar (3/4 bar)
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Karu Tintico Dark Chocolate with Specialty Coffee 70% Cacao (bar) was made in Bogota, Colombia. (Karu chocolates are distributed in the USA and Canada by Tropicalia LLC.)

The maker behind Karu is Maria Leja Villarreal, who created her company in Dubai. She specializes in Colombian cacao chocolates. (The coffee in this bar was from Libertario Coffee Roasters and was grown in Huila, Colombia.)

Each square of this 4-square bar had a raised image of a walking jaguar*. And a jaguar (head) was featured on the label/packaging as well.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, with faint, slightly earthy, bitter/sour and barely detectable spice (warm spice, peppers) and fruit (slightly roasted golden berry, tomato, red bell pepper, coffee+berry) notes.

Texture: relatively smooth with a very slight botanical astringency, but otherwise nice melt.

Flavor notes included: fairly mellow dark chocolate with balanced, flavorful and complex coffee.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Cane Sugar, Colombian Coffee

Allergen-related information: Produced in facilities processing milk and nuts 

*Jaguars--powerful symbols and ecological icons--are found largely in the Amazon Basin. (They once roamed from Argentina to the Southern United States.) They are native to and can still be found in several South American countries (primarily in the northern part of the continent), including Colombia. 

Chami Cacao - 70% Cafe de Origen Special Coffee (bar) - May 13, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Chami Cacao
70% Cafe de Origen Special Coffee (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 20 g. serving of bar
Cost: $11.80 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Chami Cacao 70% Cafe de Origen Special Coffee (bar) was made in Colombia. 

Chami* Cacao is based in Mill Valley, CA in the U.S. (Their chocolate bars can be found at Farmers Markets in Marin County, California.) The company also has distribution points in other locales (U.S., France). It was great to be able to find their line of authentic Colombia-made bars. (Thank you to Juliana Grajales P., who is behind this woman-owned enterprise.)

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 70% cacao coffee bar included: satisfying balanced, bold coffee and chocolate aroma and flavors.

Texture: stone-ground, slightly crunchy texture from the particles of ground coffee beans that were incorporated into smooth dark chocolate.

I enjoyed savoring small pieces of this bar; it was enjoyable and satisfying. Some may find the rough (ground coffee) texture a little off-putting initially. (It grows on you.) 

I appreciated the short list of just three ingredients as well as a focus on sustainability (starting with a "chemical free" crop and extending to the cassava starch, biodegradable (inner) packaging).

Ingredients: "Cacao beans, Organic raw cane sugar (panela) & ground coffee"

Allergen-related information: No allergens listed. "Vegan, Nut Free, Soy Free, Gluten Free"

*The name Chami pays tribute to the Embera Chami indigenous people in Colombia. ("It also means 'mountain range' in their language.")

 

Origen Cacao - Ceremonial Cacao - May 12, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Origen Cacao
Ceremonial Cacao 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (225 g.) in total package/box
Calories: 180 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $30.00 for 1 package/box
Purchased from: Origen Cacao, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Ceremonial Cacao was from Origen Cacao (San Roque, Antioquia, Colombia).

Ceremonial cacao is a term that became popular in the early 2000s in Central America, associated with "pure" cacao that's closer to that used by traditional cultures -- as opposed to more modern, highly processed and sugared chocolate/cocoa used for drinking.

Ancient Mesoamerican cultures considered cacao a gift from the Gods, and included cacao (typically drinking chocolate) in rituals associated with healing, celebration of life milestones and spiritual communion. But they did not (as far as I know) use the term "ceremonial cacao." 

The Arhuaco people (and other groups in) Colombia still incorporate cacao into celebrations and spiritual practices; e.g. it is often part of ceremonies to honor/connect with Pachamama (Mother Earth). 

Today's cacao was unsweetened. I poured about 4 Tablespoons into about 1/3 cup of hot water and gently stirred the chocolate (shavings/pieces) into the hot liquid until it was completely incorporated.

Aroma notes included: aromatic warm dark chocolate (deep, chocolate-y brownie, very faint spice (pepper, warm spice). 

Texture: smooth, rich drinking chocolate

Flavor notes included: rich, smooth, ultra-dark drinking chocolate that went slightly bitter and sour, but then quickly mellowed into rich, smooth and chocolate-y territory with a plump and satisfying finish.

I enjoyed the rich, chocolate-y aroma, flavors and texture. The small shavings/pieces of dark cacao chocolate melted very readily with hot water and a little stirring, and made for a nice, smooth, rich texture. For a thicker texture add less water, or a thinner, hot cocoa type texture, add a bit more water.

And, yes, you could certainly add the milk and sweetener of your choice. But I suggest sipping it in its basic, unsweetened form first.

Ingredients: (Colombian cacao) 

Allergen-related information: N/A

L'Amourette Chocolatier - 100% Trinitario Cacao Colombia (bar) - May 11, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

L'Amourette Chocolatier 
100% Trinitario Cacao Colombia (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Limited Edition 100% Trinitario Cacao Colombia (bar) was made by L'Amourette Chocolat LLC (San Francisco, CA). 

The cacao used to craft this bar was grown in the Huila department in southwest Colombia.

Aroma notes for this 100%er included: dark chocolate, concentrated cacao fruit (syrup), and sweet green botanical (maple, coconut, anethole (fennel), other plant and tree sugars).*

Texture: Smooth, relatively creamy with a bit of (fruit) astringency.

Flavor notes: Rich, balanced, ultra-dark chocolate with complex notes from start to finish. Ultra-dark brownie and bitters; cacao fruit; Sweet green botanical and nut (Brazil nut)...and graham cracker in the long finish. (Note: there were no nut ingredients in this bar.)

I enjoyed the relatively creamy texture, cacao fruit and "nut" notes; the rich, balanced and complex flavors; and the long lingering finish. 

And I appreciated the maker's care in highlighting and balancing all these lovely flavors in this single origin bar--using just one ingredient. (Just Colombian cacao. That's it.) As with other 100% cacao bars without added sugar, a small piece or two can be very satisfying.

Ingredients: Colombia Cacao Beans

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a Facility That Also Processes Nuts."

*There is a bouquet of sweet, green botanical notes that I sometimes taste with certain dark chocolate bars. In the past I've made comparisons to green walnuts in sweet syrup, maple syrup, some coconut sugars, anethole (fennel, anise sugars), and even certain cacao fruit syrups. If you've experienced what I'm describing, I hope you also enjoy these sweet green notes. 

Anethole is a compound (C10H120) associated with fennel, anise and star anise, used to flavor sweet licorice and is also used in foods as an aroma and flavor enhancer.

 

Ywawika (Origen Cacao) - Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 50% Coconut Milk (bar) - May 10, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Ywawika (Origen Cacao) 
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta 50% Coconut Milk (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $0 (Part of a $30.00 for a 6-bar variety pack)
Purchased from: Origen Cacao, online

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

Today's Ywawika Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria 50% Coconut Milk (bar) from Origen Cacao (San Roque, Antioquia, Colombia) was made using organic cacao grown in Niwi UmuKin (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, "Birwa zone") in Colombia by the Arhuaco people.

According to legend, Arhuaco (Tayrona) ancestors would use cacao as a sacred beverage to connect with the Creator. Today the Arhuaco people see themselves as guardians of the land at the "heart of the world."

Aroma notes included: rich, sweet chocolate with subtle condensed cacao fruit (syrup), warm spice (and very faint pepper that dissipated after opening).

The texture was very smooth with a silken melt and mouthfeel. (Thank you coconut milk.)

Flavor notes for today's 50% chocolate included: balanced dark coconut milk chocolate, dried cacao fruit, faint warm spice and authentic, sweet coconut milk--all blending into a pleasant finish.

This dark chocolate was sweet and very low in bitterness, and was low in acidity as well.

I enjoyed the rich chocolate, the smooth texture, and the subtle cacao fruit notes. And I appreciated the short list of authentic and organic ingredients in this bar. 

Ingredients: "Organic cane sugar, organic cacao nibs, cocoa butter, organic coconut milk powder"

Allergen-related information: (Contains Coconut.)

Karu - Pure Cacao 100% Cacao Dark Chocolate Single Region Tumaco Colombia (bar) - May 9, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Karu 
Pure Cacao 100% Cacao Dark Chocolate Single Region Tumaco Colombia (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 70 calories in 1 square of bar (1/4 bar)
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Karu Pure Cacao 100% Cacao Dark Chocolate Single Region Tumaco Colombia (bar) was made in Bogota, Colombia and distributed in the USA and Canada by Tropicalia LLC.

The maker behind Karu is Maria Leja Villarreal, who created her company in Dubai. She specializes in Colombian cacao chocolates.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, with faint, slightly fruity/tangy chili peppers (chipotle) and bell pepper.

Texture: relatively smooth with a slight astringency, but relatively creamy melt and mouthfeel

Flavor notes included: bitter then sour then a fainter, creamier bitter + sour and slight chili pepper/savory (mole sauce) that flowed into a balanced, very long, and ultimately clean (and not that bitter) finish. 

I enjoyed the faint, slightly savory chili/bell pepper/mole notes--and could see melting a square of this chocolate into a barbeque or savory chili sauce or marinade. 

When a maker crafts a bar with 100% cacao, there is no sugar or milk or other ingredients to hide behind. So I always respect this choice that allows us to taste the pure original flavor of cacao. No two origins will taste exactly the same. 

Early on in my chocolate journey I tasted some 100% bars with some "off" flavors that might have been covered up if the bar had been 50% sugar. There were no earthy/moldy botanical or other funky notes in this chocolate.

This single-ingredient bar is not for everyone, and you won't be tempted to eat too much. (I felt happy and satisfied with one square.) But I enjoyed the ride, and kept thinking of possible dishes with this chocolate (vegetable, chili beans, chicken) as well as savory-sweet items (chipotle brownies or spiced chocolate ice cream).

I would include this in a 100%er tasting flight to compare with others single ingredient, single origin cacao bars.

Ingredients: Cacao

Allergen-related information: Produced in facilities processing milk and nuts

Chami Cacao - 70% Cardamom Colombia dark chocolate (bar) - May 8, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Chami Cacao
70% Cardamom Colombia - dark chocolate (bar)

Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.80 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week.

Today's 70% Cardamom Colombia dark chocolate (bar) was from Chami Cacao (Pereira, Risaralda, in central west Colombia, with connections in California (Mill Valley, CA) and Tampa, FL). 

Chami Cacao owner and chocolate maker Juliana Grajales P. chose the name Chami for her company as an homage to the Embera Chami indigenous people in Colombia.

Aroma and flavor notes for this 70% Colombia spice bar included: dark chocolate and aromatic, complex spice (ground cardamom).

Texture: stone-ground dark chocolate and cardamom*

I enjoyed the warm, authentic and complex cardamom (bright, warm spice, tropical fruit bubble gum, light earth) spice and relatively smooth 70% dark chocolate flavors that harmonized well together. I was fine with the slightly rough, stone-ground mouthfeel/texture as I felt I was able to enjoy more flavor nuances than if the chocolate had been more highly processed.

And I appreciated the short list of (just 3) ingredients, as well as the biodegradable cassava starch inner wrapper. (It's nice to have some relief from plastic-clad bars.)

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Organic raw cane sugar & cardamom.

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Soy Free, Nut Free, Gluten Free"

*Originally from Southern India, Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) production began to ramp up in Central America over 100 years ago. Guatemala is now the world's leading grower and exporter of cardamom--referred to as "green gold" in that country. Colombia and Costa Rica have experienced increased production in recent years.

Origen Cacao - Vegan White Chocolate with Nibs (bar) - May 7, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Origen Cacao 
Vegan White Chocolate with Nibs (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $30.00 for a 6-bar variety pack
Purchased from: Origen Cacao, online

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week. 

Today's Vegan White Chocolate with Nibs (bar) from Origen Cacao was "handcrafted in small batches" at the company's factory in San Roque, Antioquia (Colombia). 

Most white chocolates are made with cocoa butter (the fat from the cocoa bean), but not the darker hued cocoa solids.* 

Today's white chocolate bar did contain some cocoa solids--in the form of pieces of cacao beans (nibs).*

Aroma and flavor notes for today's white chocolate with cacao nibs bar included: oats, vanilla and faint cacao. This mild white oat milk chocolate was very low in bitterness and acidity. It reminded me of a vanilla oatmeal cookie with cocoa nibs; but it wasn't that sweet. (Thank you!). The flavor was more oatmeal porridge than cookie.

Texture: relatively smooth white oat milk chocolate interspersed with small, softly crunchy cacao nibs. 

I liked the oat flavor more than I expected. I liked that I could taste the oats (in a less processed oat milk form), without any detectable oat straw/roughage. 

I enjoyed trying this balanced, well-executed white chocolate. White craft chocolate bars today are diverse and interesting, and worth trying. They're a far cry from the overly sweet white chocolates of decades ago, some of which may have contained hydrogenated vegetable oils and no cacao at all.

I also appreciated the short list of quality and organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, oat milk, vanilla, sea salt

Allergen-related information: (No information found on packaging)

*A white chocolate (or any chocolate) is only featured on Chocolate Banquet if it contains at least some cocoa solids.

Cocoa butter, the main constituent of white chocolate, has a long history of being used by indigenous peoples Central and South America for culinary, ceremonial, medicinal (e.g. skin balms) purposes. It's used in the U.S. in the manufacturing of chocolates and white chocolates and confections, as well as vegan butters, and skin care products (e.g. in lotions, creams, lip balms).

Origen Cacao 70% San Roque (bar) - May 6, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Origen Cacao 
70% San Roque dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $30.00 for a 6-bar variety pack
Purchased from: Origen Cacao, online

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week. 

Today's 70% San Roque dark chocolate (bar) from Origen Cacao was "handcrafted in small batches" at the company's factory in San Roque, Antioquia (Colombia). 

San Roque is in Antioquia--a relatively mountainous department in northwestern Colombia. Agricultural crops (coffee, plantains, avocados, cacao) play an important economic role in the region.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 70% dark chocolate included: chocolate, dried cacao fruit and faint warm spice. The chocolate + cacao fruit notes extended into a relatively long, pleasant finish.

This dark chocolate was low in bitterness, with medium acidity. 

Texture: well-tempered chocolate with smooth texture

I enjoyed the rich chocolate and hearty (concentrated) cacao fruit notes. And I appreciated the short list of authentic and organic ingredients in this bar. 

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter"

Allergen-related information: (None found on packaging)

Origen Cacao - 80% Putumayo (bar) - May 5, 2026

 Chocolate of the Day

Origen Cacao 
80% Putumayo dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $30.00 for a 6-bar variety pack
Purchased from: Origen Cacao, online

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week. 

Today's 80% Putumayo dark chocolate (bar) from Origen Cacao was "handcrafted in small batches" at the company's factory in San Roque, Antioquia (Colombia). The company name encompasses nested origin stories.

Putumayo is a department (state) in southwestern Colombia that shares borders with Ecuador and Peru. Rich in forests lowlands, this area is sometimes described as where the "Andes mountains meet the Amazon rainforest"--in a region where cultivation of cacao likely began 1,000s of years ago. 

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 80% dark chocolate included: mild chocolate (especially for an 80% cacao bar), with subtle fruit (cacao fruit), and faint warm spice, nut and sweet herb. (These notes were created with just cacao and sugar. There were no nut ingredients.)

This gentle dark chocolate was low in bitterness and acidity.

Texture: well-tempered, this bar broke with a snap and had a smooth melt.

I enjoyed the subtle cacao fruit and other notes in the aroma--and the naturally mild cacao that made it easier to pick out these notes. 

And I appreciated the short list of authentic and organic ingredients in this bar. 

Today's bar reminded me of other chocolates made with gentle, aromatic, heritage cacaos (Criollo variety cacaos from Central and South America).* 

Ingredients: "Organic Cacao, organic cane sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter"

Allergen-related information: None found on packaging.

*While this bar did not have floral notes, this mild, aromatic cacao reminded me of many heritage roses that still possess their beautiful, complex and delicate scents. The same could be said for heritage and heirloom varieties of fruits, coffees, hops and other plants. Modern varieties bred for disease resistance and vigor seem to lose many of these notes.

Origen Cacao - 75% Ywawika dark chocolate (bar) - May 4, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Origen Cacao 
75% Ywawika dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $30.00 for a 6-bar variety pack
Purchased from: Origen Cacao, online

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week. 

Today's 75% Ywawika dark chocolate (bar) from Origen Cacao was "handcrafted in small batches" at the company's factory in San Roque, Antioquia (Colombia). The company name encompasses nested origin stories.

The name of today's bar: Ywawika refers to an indigenous-operated brand that represents the Arhuaco people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta--a mountainous region in northern Colombia that rises steeply from the Caribbean coast. (The Arhuaco were one of at least four indigenous peoples in Colombia prior to the arrival of the Spanish.) Ywawika offers eco-tours and opportunities to see cacao trees in their native habitat.

Cacao cultivation likely began in Colombia further south in the rainforests of the Amazon River basin 1,000s of years ago. However, cacao traveled to many other regions and was traded and treated as a currency. And the coastal regions also have a long history with cacao. 

Aroma and notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: chocolate, fruit (faint cacao fruit/pulp, tropical fruits), nuts, spices (cinnamon, anise). (Note: There were no nut ingredients listed for this bar.)

This relatively mild dark chocolate, low in bitterness and relatively low in acidity.

Texture: well-tempered bar that felt relatively light (in weight), and broke with a very slightly brittle snap; smooth, dark chocolate with an even melt and mouthfeel.

I enjoyed the mild, aromatic complexity as well as the relatively mild flavor (with low bitterness and acidity). And I appreciated the short list of authentic and organic ingredients in this bar. The cacao origin story was also interesting.

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter" 

Allergen-related information: None found on packaging. 

Origen Cacao - 55% Brazil Nuts and Sea Salt San Roque (bar) - May 3, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Origen Cacao 
55% Brazil Nuts and Sea Salt San Roque (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 420 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $30.00 for a 6-bar variety pack
Purchased from: Origen Cacao, online

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week. 

Today's 55% Brazil Nuts and Sea Salt San Roque (bar) from Origen Cacao was "handcrafted in small batches" at the company's factory in San Roque, Antioquia (Colombia).

Aroma and flavor notes included: satisfying, smooth and subtle dark chocolate--made with Colombian-grown cacao(s) that were low in acidity and bitterness. (It was almost similar to eating a milk chocolate bar or chocolate made with a milder, heritage/criollo cacao variety.)

Texture: smooth 55% dark chocolate with softly crunchy pieces of Brazil nuts. 

I enjoyed the salt and the nuts--that also helped prevent this chocolate from being overly sweet. 

Warning: addictive, as many salted dark milk chocolate bars (with nuts) can be. But, again, this bar did not contain milk.

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, brazil nuts, sea salt."

Allergen-related information: Contains nuts (Brazil nuts).

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Limited Release Nantucket Fog 65% Cacao (Colombia) Dark Milk Chocolate bar - May 2, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Limited Release Nantucket Fog 65% Cacao (Colombia) Dark Milk Chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $24.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Tea Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Limited Release Nantucket Fog 65% Cacao (Colombia) Dark Milk Chocolate bar was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). 

Aroma notes included: chocolate (cocoa, marshmallow, vanilla) and faint, sweet milky tea.

Texture: relatively smooth texture with a faint tea astringency.

Flavor notes included: smooth, dark milk chocolate; vanilla marshmallow; and sweet tea latte with a faint bergamot flavoring that finally emerged and lingered a bit at the end of the finish.

I appreciated the short list of quality and organic ingredients. And I liked that the makers used both single origin cacao and single origin cocoa butter in this sweet confection of a bar.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "...creamy vanilla and chocolatey notes from our Boyaca (Colombia) beans weave together with milky black tea and floral bergamot citrus. Rich, balanced and slightly sweet..."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Organic Whole Milk Powder, Organic Earl Grey Tea (Organic Black Tea, Bergamot Oil), Vanilla Bean

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. ("Soy Free, Gluten Free")

Deux Cranes - Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger + Matcha Chocolate with Caramelized Sesame (bar)

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Deux Cranes

Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total package
Calories: 125 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Matcha Chocolate With Caramelized Sesame (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 192 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Oceana Market, Pacifica, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Tea Theme Week. I was happy to find several Asian-made and Asian-inspired tea chocolates near where I live (San Francisco Bay Area).

Today's two chocolate items were from Deux Cranes LLC (Los Gatos, CA). The company makes chocolates with flavors "rooted in Japan" (and) "inspired by France." And, I would add, the results are attractive and delicious.

Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger

I really enjoyed these beautifully spicy, candied ginger pieces that were peeking out of envelopes of tasty dark chocolate. There was just enough ginger revealed to make them very attractive.

Texture: Soft and fresh tasting candied ginger, covered in smooth dark chocolate.

Three pieces, savored slowly, were very satisfying. The spicy kick of ginger is a great complement with dark chocolate (with a bit of vanilla). The two relatively bold flavors harmonized well together.

Ingredients: Ginger (Ginger, Sugar, Sodium Metabisulfite), Dark Chocolate (cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, natural vanilla extract), sunflower lecithin (emulsifier)).

Allergen-related information: (No allergen information on small label.)

Matcha Chocolate with Caramelized Sesame Seeds (bar)

I enjoyed the rich, creamy and authentic matcha tea latte-like aroma and flavors in this green-hued, "white" chocolate bar. 

Texture: This bar was thick and creamy smooth with a generous layer of tiny caramelized sesame seeds on the back that had just the right texture. (The seeds were uniformly caramelized/toasted, not too hard, not too soft; they were just right.)

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Earthy, Nutty, Creamy"

Ingredients: White Chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, sunflower lecithin (emulsifier), natural vanilla extract), Candied Sesame Seeds (white sesame, sugar, salt), Matcha Green Tea

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk, Sesame. May contain traces of soy, nuts, milk, and gluten. Produced and packaged in the same facility as soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, and milk products."

Fu Wan Chocolate - 62% Peach Red Oolong Tea (bar) - Apr. 30, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Fun Wan Chocolate
62% Peach Red Oolong Tea (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 203 calories in 1 bar 

Cost: $17.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Oceana Market, Pacifica, CA

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

Today's 62% Peach Red Oolong Tea (bar) was from Fu Wan Chocolate (Ping-Tung County, Taiwan).

Aroma and Flavor notes for this tea chocolate included: fruit (sweet peach); gentle chocolate; subtle floral, oolong tea; and barely detectable warm spice. 

Texture: very smooth dark chocolate with soft, candied peach pieces, and a barely detectable tea astringency in the finish.

I appreciated the relatively short list of quality ingredients and the subtle qualities of this bar. The sweet, honeyed peach bits had the most distinct flavor. The chocolate and tea flavors were quieter. I'd advise eating this chocolate slowly you can enjoy all three flavors.

Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Mass, Cacao Butter, Dried Peach (Taiwan Honey Peach, Sugar, Citric Acid), Red Oolong Tea Powder.

Allergen-related information: "This product is manufactured in a facility that also processes mango, egg, tree nuts, soy, milk, and milk products. Not recommended for individuals with allergies to these ingredients."