Fjak - Licorice Root & Sea Salt Milk Chocolate 50% (bar) Nordic Collection - Feb. 4, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak 
Licorice Root & Sea Salt Milk Chocolate 50% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / ~2.11 oz. (~60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 176 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Licorice Root & Sea Salt Milk Chocolate 50% (bar) was from Norwegian maker -- Fjak Chocolate AS -- from their Nordic Collection. 

This bar was made using cacao from Guatemala. Once again, a chocolate with a global story that spans at least three continents (Central/South

Aroma notes included: gentle, but aromatic milk chocolate (authentic cacao, drinking chocolate, fermented berry/wine, almost undetectable black pepper) and faint, herbal (licorice) root.

The licorice root was fully incorporated into a smooth, buttery milk chocolate that had a slow, creamy melt.

Flavor notes included pleasant, light flavors (criollo/white cacao bean; almost white milk chocolate), making this bar initially seem a bit "blander" than most licorice chocolate bars. I highly recommend you savor this chocolate slowly to appreciate the nuances of flavor and aroma that seem to reveal more of themselves over several minutes. 

The licorice root and the sea salt flavor inclusions were quite subtle. And that helped the cacao notes to shine through.

I appreciated the maker's skillful balancing of more subtle flavors; their use of high-quality, organic and gluten-free ingredients, and single origin organic cacao beans from Guatemala.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Milk Powder*, Cocoa Butter*, Liquorice Root*, Sea Salt. Min. 50% cocoa.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Certified Organic. Gluten Free"

Ritual Chocolate - Orange Cranberry Bar 46% Cacao - Feb. 3, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Orange Cranberry Bar 46% Cacao 
Good ++
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 420 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $11.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week.

Today's Orange Cranberry Bar 46% Cacao was from Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT). I paired this chocolate with a hot, spiced cider (with an extra dash of cinnamon).

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich, sweet, milk chocolate; caramel; and fruit (dark red berry/cranberry; subtle, authentic citrus (orange)).

Texture: creamy, smooth, orange extract-infused milk chocolate broke with a light snap. About every third bite contained a whole, plump, dried cranberry--that was moist, softly chewy and satisfying. 

The ruby-hued, dried cranberries were sweetened, but weren't overly sweet (thank you).

This was a sweet, holiday chocolate. (When the cacao content of a chocolate dips into the 40% cacao range (less than 50% cacao), relatively more sugar can mask cacao and other flavors.) But the complementary, balanced and authentic cacao, citrus and cranberry elements in this bar helped balance the sweetness.

I appreciated the thoughtful execution behind this orange milk chocolate with cranberries bar and the choice of organic, authentic-tasting ingredients.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Orange Zest, Cranberry & Light Caramel"

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic A1/A2 Whole Milk Powder, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Cranberries (Organic Dried Cranberries, Organic Sunflower Oil), Orange Extract (Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Orange Oil)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk." "Manufactured in a facility that also processes Milk, Tree Nuts, and Wheat."