Cru Chocolate - Peppermint Drinking Chocolate - Feb. 28, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Cru Chocolate 

Peppermint Drinking Chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total package

Calories: 360 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces (1 package)

Cost: $8.99 for 1 package  

Purchased from: FarmFresh (add-on to produce delivery service)

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

Today's small box of Peppermint Drinking Chocolate (wheel set of 2) was from Cru Chocolate (Roseville, CA). I enjoyed tasting one (gold foil-wrapped) chocolate "wheel" by itself; and I prepared the second wheel into hot drinking chocolate with whole milk.

Aroma and flavor notes for both pieces included: smooth, but flavorful dark chocolate, with sweet peppermint. 

The second wheel had especially rich, satisfying chocolate (cocoa) notes when prepared with milk to made a 6 oz. mug of hot drinking chocolate. The heat seemed to bring out the cacao nuances. And the milk also helped balance the sweetness of the peppermint candy and sugar.

Texture: The first ("dry") wheel had slightly rough/rugged with sugar crystals/candy bits, but still had a smooth melt. This chocolate was smoother and creamier when blended with (dissolved into) warm milk. 

I appreciated the maker's short list of only three ingredients, and use of organic sugar. While peppermint candy flavors tend to overpower subtle cacao nuances, I could still taste the balanced complexity of the cacao -- chocolate-y; faint and diffuse fermented cacao/tropical fruit; and barely detectable balanced, light earth/clay -- in between sweet ripples of mint.

Maker's Tasting notes:

Intensity: Light. 50% cacao

Style: North American

Body: Smooth & silky

Nose: Fresh mint

Mood: Fresh happy cheer

Suggested liquid: Whole milk

Preparation: Melt and mix 1 wheel into 6 oz. of suggested liquid. Enjoy.

Ingredients: Fermented cacao beans, organic cane sugar, peppermint candy

Allergen-related information: Manufactured on equipment that processes peanuts and milk.

Moonstruck Chocolate - Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 27, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Moonstruck Chocolate
Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45.5 g.) / 3.2 oz. (91 g.) in total bar
Calories: 245 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA 

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

Today's Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by CW Moonstruck LLC (Portland, OR).

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractive seasonal confection of a bar included: dark chocolate (fudge, ganache), peppermint candy and very faint vanilla.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate melded with a field of crunchy, crushed peppermint candy pieces.

This Peppermint Bark bar was a balanced, authentic blend of flavors and textures. 

As with most sweet chocolates or chocolates with candy bits, the additional sugar can make them a bit more addictive (more-ish). For those with a sweet tooth, this may not be a plus and not a problem.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor), Crushed Peppermint (Cane Sugar, Corn Syrup, Peppermint Oil, Red 40).

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Soy. Manufactured on Shared equipment. May contain traces of milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanuts, sesame, and tree nuts."