TCHO
"Dark & Zesty" - 62% Cacao (bars)
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 3 bars
Calories: 360 calories in 1 package of 3 bars
Cost: N/A - gift from a coworker
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a coworker
"Dark & Zesty" - 62% Cacao (bars)
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 3 bars
Calories: 360 calories in 1 package of 3 bars
Cost: N/A - gift from a coworker
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a coworker
Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Citrus Theme Week.
Today's package of 3 individually-wrapped "Dark & Zesty" 62% Cacao (bars) was from TCHO Ventures Inc. (Berkeley, CA).
This tasty and unapologetically orange chocolate was created as a small-batch chocolate collaboration between TCHO and The Florida Aquarium (Tampa, FL), and was given to me by the head zookeeper at the local Junior Museum & Zoo. (Thank you Sean!)
Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate infused with aromatic, authentic and vibrant orange.
Texture: These individually-wrapped bars had an attractively smooth texture and melt.
Flavor notes included: a blend of smooth, sweet dark chocolate with a zesty blend of 62% cacao dark chocolate and sweet citrus (orange, orange juice, candied orange peel). The orange flavor was authentic and bright and lingered into the chocolate fudge and tart-sweet citrus finish. This was like one of those holiday chocolate oranges -- only better.
I really enjoyed this cheery, citrus-infused chocolate, even if it was on the sweet side. (Think 100% orange juice (frozen) bar covered in dark chocolate.)
This bar was similar to other TCHO citrus flavored chocolates released recently (most notably the "Winter Squeeze" 62% Cacao bars with orange oomph and a hint of grapefruit). I hope today's bar (and the Lemon with Sea Salt and Olive Oil bar) join TCHO's permanent (year-round) collection.
Thank you to the makers at TCHO for using orange powder (rather than just natural flavors or orange essential oils (where taste/quality vary quite a bit)). The orange powder gave this bar a much more full-bodied and authentic citrus flavor; and evoked memories of fresh, backyard oranges in childhood that brightened up winter days.
I appreciated TCHO's use of Organic ingredients, as well as the use of Fair Trade cacao beans and cocoa butter.
Ingredients: Cacao Beans*+, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*+, Orange Powder (Orange Peel and Pulp)*, Sunflower Lecithin*, Citic Acid, Natural Flavors*, Vanilla Beans*
(*Organic; +Fair Trade)
Allergen-related information: May contain tree nuts.
