Eclat - Porcini & Thyme (bar) + The Organic House - Salted Onion (bar) - Sept. 3, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day 

Eclat Chocolate
Porcini & Thyme 33%/28% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .55 oz. (15 g.) / 2.2 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 86 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

The Organic House
Salted Cream & Onion 55% Belize - Maya Mountain Belize (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 1.76 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (30 g.) of bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Savory Chocolates Theme Week, featuring two different chocolate bars that contained (collectively) at least three savory ingredients: mushrooms, thyme and onion. The first bar was a polite sweet confection, and the second chocolate was a flavorful, hearty onion-tinged fiesta.

Porcini & Thyme 33%/28% Cacao (bar)

Today's Porcini and Thyme 33%/28% Cacao chocolate was from Eclat Chocolate (West Chester, PA). This bar was part of the company's "Parallel" bar series--that pair classic flavors, offering a light, layered tasting experience.

Aroma and flavor notes in this attractive bar (with alternating, parallel, fields of white and milk chocolate) included: sweet white chocolate and sweet milk chocolate, vanilla, and very faint (barely detectable herb and umami). 

Texture: smooth, with an even melt. (Flavor additions were fully incorporated. I couldn't detect any traces of porcini powder or herb "grit".)

I liked that I could choose squares that were more milk chocolate than white chocolate and vice versa. This elegantly designed and packaged bar would make a nice gift for those with a sweet tooth and who are botanically inclined. 

However, it may be too sweet for dark chocolate lovers. The high sugar content (and low cacao percentages) made it difficult for me to taste any cacao, porcini or thyme flavors--that were lost in a sweet cream and vanilla white chocolate confection.

Ingredients: White chocolate: (min. cocoa mass 28%, sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), milk chocolate (min. cocoa mass 33%, sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), porcini powder, fresh thyme. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. "Produced in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat and soy."

Salted Cream & Onion 55% Cacao Belize (bar)

Today's Salted Cream & Onion 55% Cacao Belize (bar) was from The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate (rich, chocolate-y with faint fruits) and honey-ed onion soup. This was a rich, smooth chocolate with diverse flavors that played together very nicely (in my opinion). The results were: less stuffy traditional orchestra and more New Orleans/Caribbean jazz ensemble. 

The base chocolate was smooth textured. The "cream" (in the salted cream and onion title) was achieved with cashews, not dairy. The onion powder was fully incorporated; and the sea salt balanced the honeyed sweetness, naturally occurring fruit and the subtle balanced earth and acidity in the cacao and onion. 

I really enjoyed the few squares I tried. But, sweet and sassy flavors may not be for everyone.

The single origin Belize (Maya Mountain) cacao was the bold heart and fruity soul of this bar, and the onion, sea salt and coconut flower nectar took it to the next level.

Thank you to the makers at Organic House for producing several chocolate bars with savory and/or umami flavor inclusions; using a short list of single origin, Organic ingredients; and creating chocolates with less processed sweeteners (maple sugar, coconut flower nectar) than refined white cane and beet sugars.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Buttery notes of chocolate, roasted onions, honey, raisins, pineapple, and sea salt"

Ingredients: "Organic coconut flower nectar, Organic cacao beans, Organic cacao butter, Organic cashews, Onion powder, Organic sea salt."

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut, Cashews. Made in a facility that uses tree nuts.

 

Chocolove - Pistachios & Sea Salt in Milk Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 7, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove
Pistachios & Sea Salt in Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from friends
Purchased from: Gift from friends; thank you Evan, Maddy & Isla!

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Pistachios, Hazelnuts & Almonds Week.

Today's Pistachios & Sea Salt in Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Chocolove (Denver, CO).

Aroma and flavor notes for today's bar included: rich milk chocolate, pistachio/butter cookie with nuts, and faint vanilla. 

Texture: smooth and creamy milk chocolate plus soft crunchy pistachio pieces. 

The rich milk chocolate, pistachio, sea salt and butter flavor blend resulted in a sweet and addictive chocolate. (The pistachios and salt help balance the sweetness.)

I appreciated that the company chose to use Rainforest Alliance Certified Cacao even as certain challenges in obtaining cacao from West African countries continue to be tackled. It's been a step in the right direction.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Pistachios, Butter Oil, Sea Salt. (** Rainforest Alliance Certified. For more see ra.org.)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Pistachios, Soy. Made in a Facility That Also Processes Eggs, Peanuts, and Other Tree Nuts.

Eclat Chocolate - Zuta & Orange 54%/33% Cacao (bar) + Embers Chocolate Orange & Bay leaf (bar) - Mar. 1, 2026

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Eclat Chocolate 
Zuta & Orange 54%/33% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (30 g.) / 2.2 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 162 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Embers Chocolate
Chocolate Covered Orange Single Origin 45% Milk Chocolate with Bay (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 71 calories in 1 small bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Mint Theme Week.

Today's two bars both contained milk chocolate, orange and herb flavors.

Zuta & Orange 54%/33% Cacao bar

Aroma and flavor notes for this blended bar from Eclat Chocolate (West Chester, PA) included: dark milk chocolate (smooth, chocolate-y, slightly roasted cacao with faint cream and nut); light citrus and exotic mint (that tasted like light spearmint, with very faint lemon balm and/or Douglas Fir tips).

Texture: creamy, smooth textured milk chocolate blended into smooth dark chocolate.

The slightly exotic zuta (Israeli mint) and the citrus (orange) ingredients were well integrated with the chocolate. I noticed the mint a little more in the aroma than the flavor.

I liked the idea of running two different cacao percent chocolates together in parallel strips in the same bar. The integration of the two cacao percentage levels together was a smooth one, and added a gentle, balanced complexity to the chocolate. 

I also appreciated the choice (and subtlety) of the two flavor inclusions; although I found myself wanting to taste a little bit more of the unique zuta mint (Micromeria fruticosa).

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (min. cocoa mass 54%, sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), milk chocolate (min. cocoa powder 33%, sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, soya lecithin, natural vanilla), fresh zuta, orange. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Produced in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat and soy."

Chocolate Orange Milk Chocolate 45% bar

This diminutive bar was made by Embers Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: creamy, dark milk chocolate, citrus (orange), mint/menthol/laurel with a hint of lemon.

Texture: smooth, thick and creamy dark milk chocolate with chewy bites of candied orange pieces. Tiny green (bay leaf) micro-confetti added a light herbal flavor, but no detectable leaf texture/grit

This was a successful, thoughtful and well-executed blend of flavors. The bay leaf bits added gentle herbal (light laurel/bay flavor), i.e. Turkish Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)--not the much stronger California Bay variety (Umbelluria californica) that I'm used to sampling in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live.

I also appreciated the short list of ingredients and use of organic cacao and sugar.

Maker's tasting notes: "...bright citrus meets silky 45% milk chocolate, with a whisper of bay leaf that pulls out the sweetness and adds a savory, aromatic edge..."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Milk Powder, Candied Orange Peel (Sugar, Water, Malic Acid), Bay Leaf. (* = Organic Ingredient)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Made using shared equipment that may contain traces of milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and sesame.

 

Chocolove - Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar) - Feb. 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove
Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.29 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Peanut Theme Week.

Today's Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar) was from Chocolove ("Made in Boulder, CO with Belgian Chocolate").

Aroma notes included: rich milk chocolate, faint nut (peanut butter) and warm vanilla.

The thick creamy milk chocolate bar contained a creamy peanut butter filling--making for a hearty, substantial bar.

A generous helping of sweetness and a little salt helped tipped this bar into the addictive snack zone; but when it comes to peanut butter chocolate confections I may eat more due to the tie to childhood chocolate candy memories. That happened today.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Peanut Butter (Dry Roasted Blanched Peanuts), Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Organic Butter Oil, Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin. 

** Rainforest Alliance Certified

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts, Milk, Soy. Made in a facility that also processes eggs and tree nuts.

Anarchy Chocolate - 33% Milk Chocolate (bar) - April 7, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Anarchy Chocolate
33% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++  
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 219 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.55 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Anarchy Chocolate, online order 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Thailand Theme Week.

Today's 33% Milk Chocolate (bar) was made by Anarchy Chocolate (at Anarchy (Cocoa) Farm in Trat, Thailand). 

The family-owned, small-batch chocolate maker sells a variety of Thai cacao bean-based offerings (chocolate bars, cacao nibs, cacao husk tea).

Aroma and flavor notes for this bean-to-bar chocolate included: very subtle/gentle dark milk chocolate and very faint, diffuse fruit (subtle tamarind with rice).

I really liked that this 33% milk chocolate wasn't too sweet (thank you!), and that it had a subtle, unique rich flavor. I'm so used to 33% chocolate being ultra-sweet I flinch a little before tasting it; and I expect that the sugar will overwhelm any flavor notes that might have been present. Not this time.

Note: Unfortunately, the package took a few months to arrive from Thailand (likely held up by customs and/or it sat in a mailing room or two). So the chocolate had bloomed (it had a whiteish appearance in all but one spot). Being out of temper* also affected the texture (slightly more crumbly). Thankfully, the aroma and flavor did not seem affected. 

The good news, it arrived yesterday right as I was about to give up and move on to a new chocolate origin (Haiti) theme week. Perfect timing!

Ingredients: (No ingredients label.)

Allergen-related information: Milk I am assuming. (None listed.)

*When chocolate is precisely heated and cooled in a process known as tempering, the chocolate will break with a hard snap. However, if the chocolate is later exposed to excessive heat (warm room, sun) or cold (refrigerated space) it can go "out of temper." The crystalline structure (of the cocoa butter) can change--or recrystallize to a less stable/desirable crystalline structure/form. These exposure(s) can affect the chocolate's appearance (mottled, white look), texture (less snap, more crumble), taste, and shelf-life (shorter shelf life).

Whittaker's - Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in Milk Chocolate 33% - Mar. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's
Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in Milk Chocolate 33%
Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 square
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and New Zealand Week.

Today's Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in 33% Milk Chocolate bar was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand). 

This chocolate was part of NZ Artisan Collection--highlighting ingredients from different regions of New Zealand. The Nelson region is known for sunny beaches, locally grown produce, local seafood, and Manuka Honey.

Aroma notes included: milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and fruit (pear).

Texture: creamy milk chocolate and very small chewy fruit bits.

Flavor notes included: milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and honeyed pear.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate [Sugar, Cocoa Solids 33%* (Pure Cocoa Butter & Cocoa Mass), NZ Milk Powder 30%*, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour, Natural Flavour], Pear & Honey Pieces 10% [Pear Puree 33%, Concentrated Apple Puree, Invert Sugar, Sugar, Humectant (Glycerol), Manuka Honey 2.5%, Wheat Fibre, Gelling Agent (Pectin), Flavour, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid)] *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Wheat. "May be present: Peanuts, Tree Nuts."

Whittaker's - Sea Salt And Caramel Brittle in 33% Milk Chocolate - March 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's 
Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle In Milk Chocolate 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 square
Cost: $ N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and New Zealand Series.

Today's Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle in 33% Milk Chocolate square was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand).

This chocolate was part of the NZ Artisan Collection that highlighted flavor inclusions from different parts of New Zealand. Marlborough (on the northern end of the South Island, and one of 16 different regions/districts in New Zealand) produces wine grapes, sea salt, dairy, honey, and other products.

Aroma flavor notes included: sweet chocolate, vanilla and caramel.

Texture: smooth, creamy milk chocolate with crunchy micro bits of brittle.

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet 33% milk chocolate with vanilla; tiny bursts of crispy, toffee-like, brittle; and a subtle hint of sea salt.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate [Sugar, Cocoa Solids 33%* (Pure Cocoa Butter & Cocoa Mass), NZ Milk Powder 30%*, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour], Salted Caramel Pieces 10% [Sugar, Glucose, Salt, Clarified Butter (From Milk), Water, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Natural Flavour, Natural Color (150A)]. *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. May Be Present: Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Gluten.

Chocolove - "Bites" - Hazelnut Truffle in 33% Milk Chocolate - Mar. 9, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove 
Bites - Hazelnut Truffle in 33% Milk Chocolate 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 7.05 oz. (200 g.) in total package of 20  
Calories: 170 calories in 3 pieces 
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Today's Bites - Hazelnut Truffle(s) in 33% Milk Chocolate were from Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

Aroma notes for these individually-wrapped, tree-shaped, filled bites included: rich milk chocolate, (warm cocoa with faint vanilla), and subtle nut butter (hazelnut).

A thick, creamy milk chocolate "tree" shell surrounded a ground hazelnut (nut butter) center, creating a layered gianduja confection-like tasting experience.

These will appeal to those with a sweet tooth who like milk chocolate and nut butter treats. (Think peanut butter cup offerings -- only with hazelnut butter.)

What I liked: 1.) the blend of chocolate and hazelnuts; 2.) these were made without gluten-containing ingredients and no artificial preservatives; 3.) individually wrapped chocolates that were easy to share with others and enjoy on a hike or other cool weather outdoor activity this month.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Hazelnut Butter, Cocoa Butter**, Organic Butter Oil, Sea Salt, Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols, Sunflower Oil). (** = Rainforest Alliance Certified. Find out more at ra.org.)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Hazelnuts, Milk, Soy. Made in a Facility That Also Processes Eggs, Peanuts, and Other Tree Nuts.

 

Chocolove - Pumpkin Spice in 33% Milk Chocolate Bites - Oct. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove 
Pumpkin Spice in 33% Milk Chocolate Bites
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 7.05 oz. (200 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Pumpkin and Warm Spice Week.

Today's Pumpkin Spice in 33% Milk Chocolate Bites were from Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

Each, individually-wrapped, milk chocolate-covered pumpkin confection was emblazoned with a heart-shaped outline (two "Cs" facing each other), consistent with the Chocolove's love themed chocolates.*

Aroma notes included: chocolate, pumpkin pie/warm spices, and a faint sweet and savory vegetable blend note (pumpkin, sweet potato-tomato sauce).

These individually-wrapped treats had a smooth creamy, easy melt.

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet milk chocolate and authentic pumpkin (with pie spices included). The 33% cacao outer milk chocolate shell was made a bit sweeter by the white chocolate filling. And that bit of extra cocoa (more than you'd find in most holiday/novelty chocolates) helped balance out the sweetness, while still allowing the pumpkin and spices to shine.

This bite was the closest I've ever tasted to real pumpkin pie blended with chocolate. Hats off to Chocolove for using real pumpkin and real spices, and going the extra mile to achieve this.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Organic White Chocolate (Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter**, Organic Milk, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Organic Cream (Milk, Gellan Gum), Pumpkin Puree, Pumpkin Concentrate (Pumpkin, Citric Acid), Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Organic Glycerin, Tapioca Syrup, Organic Butter Oil, Spices (Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves), Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin.

(** Rainforest Alliance Certified. Find out more at ra.org.)

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

*E.g., Chocolove chocolate bars I've purchased have come with a love poem inside the wrapper. 

And printed on the outside of the package of bites was this tagline: "Share it with someone you love."

 

 

Dark Chocolate Honey Cured Pink and Meyer Lemon Slices; Clif Family White Chocolate Lemon & Ginger (bar) - Nov. 7, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Dark Chocolate, Honey Cured Pink and Meyer Lemon Slices

(Homemade)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45.28 g.) for 4 small slices

Calories: 195 calories in 4 small slices

Cost: $ N/A - various

Purchased from: N/A - various (including lemon trees in yard)

Clif Family Napa Valley

White Chocolate Lemon and Ginger (bar)

Good +

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Village Market, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Honey and Citrus Theme Week. 

Homemade honey and lemon dark chocolate slices

I'm drawn to pairing warm, bright flavors with chocolate as the weather cools in November. Fortunately, I live in California and Meyer lemon, sweet pink grapefruit, and other citrus trees are full of fruit now.

For today's first chocolate, I brushed ultra-thin slices of Pink Lemons and Meyer Lemons with honey and later (after a slow curing process) dipped these citrus slices into a melange of melted dark chocolates. I loved the bold bitter dark, and tart lemon flavors together with a subtle honey sweetness.

The second chocolate was a gentler, sweeter implementation of these flavors. 

Clif Family White Chocolate Lemon and Ginger (bar)

The Clif Family * winery and chocolate factory (Saint Helena, CA) are based in the Napa Valley in northern California--a region famous for wine and good food.

Today's White Chocolate Lemon and Ginger 33% Cacao Artisan Chocolate (bar) had authentic ginger flavor and subtle citrus (lemon) notes. (The Clif Family suggests pairing this bar with a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc wine.)

High cacao (butter) percent white chocolates (sans cacao solids) provide a sweet culinary launchpad for subtle herbs, spices and fruits like saffron, pepper(s), citrus (lemon, orange, lime, kumquat, etc.), members of the mint family, honey and many other flavor inclusions. 

Even ginger and stronger mints and fruits--that can hold their own with dark chocolate (high percent cacao solids)--can be intriguing when allowed to take center stage in a white chocolate base.

As long as the white chocolate is pure and not overly sweet, these flavor blends can be delicious. Today's 33% white chocolate was a balanced, warming ginger and lemon confection suffused with a touch of vanilla. 

Ingredients: "33% White Chocolate Tahitian Vanilla (organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic whole milk, organic nonfat milk, organic soy lecithin, whole Tahitian vanilla beans), organic crystallized ginger, organic crystallized lemon peel, citric acid."

*The Clif Family operations in Napa are owned by Clif Bar founders, Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford.

Cowgirl Chocolates - Spicy Milk Chocolate Mint 33% Bar - July 30, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cowgirl Chocolates
Spicy Milk Chocolate Mint 33% Cocoa Chocolate Bar
Good
Weight: .625 oz. (17.5 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 93.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Cowgirl Theme Week.

Today's Spicy Milk Chocolate Mint 33% Cocoa Bar was from Cowgirl Chocolates (Moscow, ID).

This bar was sweet and creamy with natural mint (mint oil) flavor and a hint of spicy cayenne pepper.

Today's bar was sampled near a horse pasture in New Mexico (with a tiny herd of micro cattle on the table in the foreground, for effect). We also enjoyed meeting a real cowgirl, Ellie, who helps care for and train these wild horses in Abiquiu, NM, near the Abiquiu Inn and Georgia O'Keeffe's home. (She also leads trail rides.) Real hat and boots, and the real deal too.

I also realized today that my mother, a real horsewoman and cowgirl in her day, was likely the inspiration for this theme week, and would have loved this view if she were here. Thanks mom!

Baru - Milk Chocolate Honey Almond Hippos - Aug. 8, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Baru
Dreamy Chocolate Hippos
Milk Chocolate Honey Almond
Good
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total package
Calories: 167 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package of 4 pieces
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, San Mateo, CA

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Sometimes people think that eating a new chocolate every day must be like dwelling in the land of milk and honey. More accurately, it involves visits the land of milk chocolate and honey.

Today's Milk Chocolate Honey Almond Chocolates from Baru (Belgium) were molded into small (individually-wrapped) hippo shapes. Cute!

The 33% milk chocolate hippos had a sweet milk chocolate aroma and flavor with a creamy melt.
The almonds were difficult to detect in the honey nougat flavored milk chocolate. A bit of nice honey flavor surfaced in the finish.

*Note to those watching their allergens: While there was no specific wheat ingredients called out, this chocolate contained glucose, a sweetener that can contain/be made from wheat. And the label carried a "may contain traces of wheat/gluten" type advisory.