Fruition Chocolate - Tanzania Latte Dark Milk Kokoa Kamili 61% (bar) - June 16, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate  
Tanzania Latte Dark Milk Kokoa Kamili 61% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week.

Today's Tanzania Latte Dark Milk Kokoa Kamili* 61% (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY). 

The cacao used to make this bar was from the Kilombero Valley in Tanzania. And "..this bar highlights Tanzanian Peaberry coffee, roasted locally by Heavyfeather" (Coffee Roasters) in Mt. Tremper, New York.

Aroma and flavor notes included: appealing, smooth dark milk chocolate and subtle, creamy cafe latte with faint vanilla and very faint, delicate caramel, wood and warm spice.

Texture: very smooth with a luxurious creamy melt.

I enjoyed the rich creaminess and subtle, sophisticated and complex flavors in this Tanzania Latte bar. This balanced chocolate will likely appeal to both milk and dark fans.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Whole Milk Powder, Coffee, Salt, Vanilla. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk. May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Eggs, Soy, Sesame."

*The makers "paid a premium for this special edition Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania Women's Lot of cocoa beans which will help fund scholarships for school girls from their village..."

Fossa Chocolate - Yuzu Sea Salt 54% Dark Milk Tanzania (bar) - June 13, 2025

 Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
Yuzu Sea Salt 54% Dark Milk Tanzania (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Citrus Theme Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week.

Today's Yuzu Sea Salt 54% Dark Milk Tanzania (bar) was made by Fossa Chocolate (Singapore).

Aroma notes included: creamy chocolate, chocolate and citrus cookie and very faint tea and caramel.

Texture: smooth, creamy (almost silky) dark milk chocolate accented by strips of candied yuzu peel.

Flavor notes included: satisfying, sophisticated and balanced dark milk chocolate (with cream, very faint caramel, nut and cookie); tart-sweet fruity and authentic-tasting candied yuzu peel; and tiny pulses of sea salt. 

The slightly stronger elements of the yuzu citrus fruit (peel) were presented in a subtle, sweet and very well-balanced way and complemented the chocolate nicely.

I liked the authentic yuzu citrus fruit flavor and the sprinkle of sea salt -- both of these elements balanced out the rich, buttery sweetness of the milk chocolate.

Maker's tasting notes: "Creamy, biscuity chocolate with refreshing citrusy aroma"

Ingredients: "Cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, yuzu peel (yuzu peel, sugar, vitamin c), sea salt"

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. "Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy."

Kessho - Yuzu Dark Milk 56% Cacao Kokoa Kamili Tanzania (bar) - June 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Kessho 
Yuzu Dark Milk 56% Cacao Kokoa Kamili Tanzania (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Citrus Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week.

Today's Yuzu Dark Milk 56% Cacao Kokoa Kamili Tanzania (bar) from Kessho, LLC was handcrafted in Austin, TX.

Aroma notes included: dark milk chocolate (cream, nuts) and faint citrus. (Note: there were no nut ingredients.)

The texture was smooth and creamy; and the yuzu peel powder was fully integrated into cacao mass.

Flavor notes included: creamy dark milk chocolate (very faint caramel); very faint, diffuse stone fruit; and balanced bitter and tart notes. 

This was a satisfying and balanced dark milk chocolate with very subtle fruit and citrus.

Maker's flavor profile (tasting notes): "Red fruit, berries, plums, citrus"

Ingredients: "Whole cacao beans, sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, yuzu peel powder"

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. Made in a facility that also processes tree nuts, wheat, sesame and eggs.

Spring & Mulberry - Bergamot Date Sweetened Chocolate - 72% Cacao (bar) - June 13, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Spring & Mulberry 
Bergamot Date-Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.75 for 1 bar (includes discount for buying 6 or more bars)

Purchased from: Spring & Mulberry, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Bergamot Date Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) was created and distributed by Spring & Mulberry (Raleigh, NC).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate with diffuse floral and aromatic citrus.

Texture: relatively smooth with a very fine granularity. (The dates were completely incorporated into the chocolate.)

Flavor notes included: similar to the aroma notes above, only with a deeper, fudgier chocolate taste. The cacao and date blend gave the chocolate a dense, relatively hearty and balanced flavor, while still being fairly low in bitterness and acidity.

I enjoyed the authentic, aromatic floral (faint lavender) and tea-associated citrus (bergamot orange) notes; the satisfying dark chocolate (and the fact the chocolate wasn't overly sweet). 

I also appreciated the short list of high-quality organic ingredients and essential oils. This chocolate would likely pair well with Earl Grey lavender tea (or an unflavored, fine oolong tea).

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Dates*, Cacao Butter*, Bergamot Essential Oil*, Lavender Essential Oil* (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Made in a Facility That Also Handles Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Soy, and Wheat

 

Spring & Mulberry - Blood Orange Date Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) - June 12, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Spring & Mulberry 
Blood Orange Date Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.75 for 1 bar (includes discount for buying 6 or more bars)

Purchased from: Spring & Mulberry, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Blood Orange Date Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) was created and distributed by Spring & Mulberry (Raleigh, NC).

Aroma notes included: chocolate cookie, sweet dried fruit (date), faint tangy citrus, and even fainter fruit floral (orange blossom) and sweet green herbal.

Texture: relatively smooth with a very fine granularity. (The dates were completely incorporated into the chocolate.)

Flavor notes included: similar to the aroma notes above, only with a deeper, fudgier chocolate experience with citrus (orange peel, fruit and very faint orange blossom).

I liked the hearty, balanced chocolate and date flavors coupled with the more delicate, authentic-tasting orange. And I appreciated the short list of organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Dates*, Cacao Butter*, Orange Essential Oil* (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Made in a Facility That Also Handles Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Soy, and Wheat

Elements Truffles - Orange Crunch Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Elements Truffles
Orange Crunch Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar (part of a 4-pk. order)
Purchased from: Amazon, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Orange Crunch Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was from Elements Truffles (Union City, NJ).

The cacao used to make this chocolate was "Fair trade cacao ethically sourced from Ecuador."

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, subtle sweet citrus and slightly savory spice (turmeric) -- e.g. the very faint aroma of pickled peppers/beets and barely detectable earthy, spiced lentils. The chocolate was balanced and smooth in flavor.

Texture: this chocolate was smooth with a creamy (cocoa butter and honey) melt and mouthfeel with occasional softly crunchy/crispy quinoa pieces.

I enjoyed the relatively short list of quality and organic ingredients; the subtlety of the flavors; and the honey (smooth texture and subtle sweetness). Those with a sweet tooth may miss the customary refined sugar; but I was fine without the sugar buzz. 

And I appreciated the addition of turmeric, in the Ayurvedic tradition (for health).* This ground spice imparted a distinct flavor, but wasn't too overwhelming.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao Butter, Raw Honey, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Puffed Quinoa, Organic Turmeric Powder, Orange Essential Oil

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that processes nuts

*Turmeric contains curcumin which is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. (Curcumin can interfere with certain cellular signaling pathways associated with inflammation, and may inhibit certain inflammatory enzymes.)

Dick Taylor Chocolate - Lemon & Bergamot 65% Belize (bar) - June 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor Chocolate
Lemon & Bergamot 65% Belize (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Citrus Week, featuring a series of chocolates with citrus flavor inclusions.

Today's Dick Taylor Lemon & Bergamot 65% Belize (bar) was made by Dick Taylor Chocolate (Eureka, CA)--a company founded by serial creatives and skilled chocolate makers Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor.

The cacao used to make this bar was sourced from Maya Mountain Cacao in southern Belize, a region steeped in cacao cultivation history.

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet citrus (lemon); smooth, very slightly fruity dark chocolate; and faint fruity-floral tea (bergamot) notes.

This chocolate bar broke with a well-tempered snap, and was quite smooth in texture, melt and mouthfeel. Sprinkled across the back of the bar: tiny sparkles of crystallized, lemon-flavored sugar.   

This bright citrus star of a bar would make an excellent dessert bar after a meal, or a high-end snack. It was sweet (without being overly so) and relatively addictive. 

Maker's tasting notes/description: "Tart crystallized lemon and a hint of bergamot oil are mixed into our silky 65% Belize dark chocolate. The blend of bergamot and lemon creates a perfect balance of citrus brightness and floral undertones." 

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Crystallized Lemon (Citric Acid, Lemon Oil, Lemon Juice), Bergamot Oil (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Processed on Equipment with milk, tree nuts, wheat and peanuts.