Cacao Laboratory - "Water" Ceremonial Grade Cacao (bar) - July 13, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Cacao Laboratory 
"Water" - Ceremonial Grade Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.176 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) total bar

Calories: 190 calories for 1/3 bar

Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week--part of a larger, two-month long series of elemental themes (including chocolates inspired by (or with ingredients related to) Earth, Water and Fire).

Today's "Water" - Ceremonial Grade Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Cacao Lab Corp. (Kingston, NY).

Note: This "bar" was intended to be consumed in liquid form -- with water added. I enjoyed it as an eating chocolate.

Aroma notes included: subtle dark chocolate, with very faint spice.

Texture: thick and creamy texture, with some very tiny particles (perhaps ground coriander or maca)

Flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate with, balanced earth, well-managed bitterness, and light coriander (spice), and very faint carrot, sweet potato and butterscotch-vanilla notes.

I appreciated the very balanced, relatively restrained bitterness, and moderate acidic (citric) levels; the bit of authentic sweetness (and no sugar); and the maker's choice of a light roast to preserve delicate flavor(s) and "nutrient abundance."

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Roasted nuts, citrus"

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao*, coriander*, maca*, (*=organic)

Allergen-related information: Processed on equipment that also processes nuts.

Sted Foods - Lakeside Blend 71% Dark Chocolate (small bar) - July 12, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Sted Foods
Lakeside Blend 71% Dark Chocolate (small bar)
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / This bar was part one flavor in a 3-bar pack
Calories: 78 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $10.00 for 3 mini bars (3 different flavors)
Purchased from: Sted Foods, online order

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

Today's Sted Foods Lakeside Blend 71% Dark Chocolate (small bar) was manufactured by TC Foods, LLC (Fergus Falls, MN), and was part of a three-bar, lake-themed collection.

Today's "Lakeside Blend" was part of the company's Lakeside Collection of three small bars that also included "The Bobber" (with cacao nibs) and "Coffee + Cream" chocolates.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 71% dark chocolate included: ultra-dark chocolate with flickers of ultra-dark fudge, and faint fruit (dark red, blue/purple fruits). 

I enjoyed the balanced, earthy and deep, dark flavors of the cacao(s) (Haiti and Dominican Republic)--a boldness that still left room for complex berry and other subtle flavors.

Maker's Tasting notes: "Bright, Intense, Reflective"

Ingredients: "organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that uses sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, coconut, cashews, hazelnuts, and milk"