Loon Chocolate - Ben's Sugar Shack "Maple Crunch" Milk Chocolate 50% (bar) - Jan. 22, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Loon Chocolate
Ben's Sugar Shack "Maple Crunch" Milk Chocolate 50% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 360 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Warm Spices and Maple Theme Week.

Today's Loon Chocolate Ben's Sugar Shack "Maple Crunch" Milk Chocolate 50% (bar) was manufactured by White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, NH).

Aroma and flavor notes included: maple sugar; pleasing dark milk chocolate; faint warm, sweet spice (cinnamon); and faint spice cookie.

Texture: This bar was a rich, but subtly layered textural blend of tiny crunchy bits (quinoa) and maple sugar atop smooth dark milk chocolate.

This was a satisfyingly sweet and flavorful winter confection. The Dominican Republic cacao used in the 50% cacao chocolate base layer was dark enough (very faintly earthly) that it prevented the dark milk chocolate from being overly bland or sweet. 

The cinnamon and maple sugar from Ben's Sugar Shack (Temple, NH--a town known for its maple sugar) added light spice and warmth. And a tiny pinch of salt rounded things out nicely.

The bar was not too thick (thank you). This slim bar offered a thoughtfully, thin, layered texture and flavor experience with all the elements harmonizing well together. (Warning: This was somewhat addictive.)

I appreciated the makers choice of authentic, local and organic ingredients, the fact that this blend was gluten and soy free, and the company's focus on obtaining ethically sourced single origin cacao(s).

Ingredients: Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cacao, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Milk Powder, Organic Puffed Quinoa, Maple Sugar, Organic Cinnamon Powder, Sea Salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk. Produced In A Facility That Uses Almonds and Milk."

Tavi Chocolates - Golden Mix 72% cacao dark chocolate, turmeric, ginger, pepper & cinnamon (bar) - Jan. 21, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Tavi Chocolates
Good ++ 
Golden Mix 72% cocoa dark chocolate, turmeric, ginger, pepper & cinnamon (bar)
Weight: 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 450 calories in 1 bar (per label)
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate, Warm Spices and Maple Week.

Today's Tavi Golden Mix 72% cocoa dark chocolate, turmeric, ginger, pepper & cinnamon (bar) was manufactured by Vast Company SAS in Bogota, Colombia, and Imported into the U.S. by Tavi Chocolates (Miami, FL). 

The company offers numerous chocolate bars that blend premium Colombian chocolate with a variety of flavor inclusions. 

Today's Indian-inspired bar contained turmeric, ginger, pepper and cinnamon--flavors reminiscent of Golden Milk, aka Haldi Doodh, and golden chai tea drinks). 

This was a perfect bar for me today as I was healing from the flu/bronchitis. (I experienced rapid relief from symptoms after I enjoyed this bar.* 

Aroma notes for this bar included: sweet dark chocolate (ganache, hot cocoa); marshmallow, sweet green and warm spices.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with authentic, finely ground spices (most of the spices were fully incorporated, very little spice grit). 

Flavor notes included: smooth, relatively sweet, dark chocolate with authentic golden berry fruit (aka, Warning, the sweetness in this bar can make it a bit addictive ("more-ish").

The textural blend was well-executed, flavorful and completely conveyed the complexity of these berries. The dark chocolate was smooth tasting and despite being relatively sweet it was also a good match for the fruit.

Ingredients: Bittersweet Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecit(h)in, Vainilla (sic)), Turmeric Powder, Cinnamon Powder, Ginger Powder, Pepper Powder" 

Allergen-related information: (Contains Soy.) "Produced on Equipment That Also Processes Products Containing Milk, Peanuts and Other Tree Nuts."

*Possible contributions to the feeling of relief from flu symptoms and bronchial distress lie in several of the ingredients in this bar.

The Theobromine in dark chocolate (as well as piperine in black pepper and gingerols in ginger) act as vasodilators -- substances that help open/dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure and improve circulation. 

And the turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and black pepper (as well as the polyphenols in cacao) in this bar  have anti-inflammatory properties. 

   

Juan Choconat - Chocolate Oscuro 70% Cacao Con Cafe Especial (bar) - Jan. 20, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Juan Choconat
Chocolate Oscuro 70% Cacao Con Cafe Especial (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 111 calories in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Elebar Snacks, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week. 

Today's Chocolate Oscuro 70% Cacao Con Cafe Especial (bar) was made by Juan Choconat SAS (Ibague, Tolima, Colombia) and imported by Elebar Snacks LLC (with locations in Illinois and Clearwater, FL).

The packaging featured an illustration of Colombian cacao farmer (Damian Tapiero) next to a scannable code with his story. Damian, after military service, returned to work with his father and is now a leader in the local cacao community. The family supplies cacao beans with pulp (baba) to Juan Choconat and also grows avocados and produces honey from bees on their farm.

This shipment also came with its own backstory. I ordered several Juan Choconat bars online via an importer in Aug. 2025 -- when new U.S. tariffs on many imported goods became effective. The bars arrived, eventually, months later.* (Thankfully, tariffs on cacao were lifted last November; but some chocolate makers and customers and others in the supply chain are still recovering 1-2 months later.)

I was grateful this bar came in a sealed pouch that helped prevent aroma and flavor loss. That said, do try to eat this chocolate quickly after you open it. (If you wait a few days, you'll miss out on lighter, more volatile notes. It will not taste the same.)

Aroma and flavor notes for this 70% cacao + coffee bar included: smooth dark chocolate, aromatic sweet coffee (coffee toffee, caramel mocha, very faint berry and brown sugar), followed by nuanced cacao, then back to (Arabica) coffee notes. The Colombia cacao harmonized very well with the coffee flavors. 

Texture: a slightly blotchy appearance (likely from tariff-related shipping delays back in August*), the flavors were still excellent (a testament to the quality ingredients); although it did have a rustic, stoneground, granular texture.

I appreciated the rich and subtle flavors (that extended into a long and pleasing finish) as well as the short list of only three, high-quality ingredients. Even though the texture might have been affected by unusual conditions in transit, it was still a delicious bar. (I also enjoyed the information and photos of the cacao farm and farmers.)

Ingredients: Cacao nibs, unrefined cane sugar and specialty coffee

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Fruit, Milk or Nuts." 

*At one point I was called by a Federal Express agent who asked me several pages worth of questions related to the tariff and customs paperwork requirements. (I am not an importer so I was a little confused when I got the call.) At this point I'd already been waiting for this shipment (of several different bars) to arrive for several weeks. (I kept hoping the chocolates weren't melting on a loading dock in the sun or being heated and cooled past their limits--which likely did happen.) 

Juan Coconat - Chocolate Oscuro (Dark Chocolate) 70% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 19, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Juan Choconat
Chocolate Oscuro (Dark Chocolate) 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Elebar Snacks, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Oscuro (Dark Chocolate) 70% Cacao  (bar) was made by Juan Choconat SAS (Ibague, Tolima, Colombia) and imported by Elebar Snacks LLC (with locations in Illinois and Clearwater, FL).

The packaging featured an illustration of Colombian cacao farmer (Juvenal Castro) next to a scannable code with his story. 

Aroma and flavor notes for this 70% cacao bar included: an aroma with smooth dark chocolate and maple/brown sugar. Flavors included: muffled green, roasted cacao/wood notes, licorice, chocolate cake, bread. 

Texture: relatively smooth, despite the fact that it had a slightly blotchy-bloomed appearance (likely from temperature volatility related to tariff-related shipping delays back in August) -- and this bar contained no added cocoa butter (impressive).

I was grateful each bar came in a sealed pouch that helped prevent aroma and flavor note degradation/disappearance. That said, do try to eat this chocolate quickly after you open it. (If you wait a few days, you'll miss out on some of the lighter, more volatile notes. It will not taste the same.)

I appreciated the very short list of two, quality ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao nibs and unrefined cane sugar and the complex flavors.

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Fruit, Milk or Nuts."  

*This shipment also came with its own backstory. I ordered several Juan Choconat bars online via an importer in Aug. 2025 -- when new U.S. tariffs on many imported goods became effective. The bars did arrive eventually, but it was months later.