Compartes Chocolatier: Thailand Sticky Rice with Mango & The Margarita Bar (bars) - Dec. 26, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Compartes Chocolatier
Mango Sticky Rice Chocolate 36% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes, online order

Compartes Chocolatier
The Margarita Bar - Dark Chocolate Margarita Lime 73% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) / 2.6 oz. (74 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes, online order 

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate & Rice Week and Day #2 of Chocolate and Thailand Theme Week, through the lens of a virtual holiday vacation in Thailand.

Today's two bars were from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA). They join the long list of fun flavored and elegantly clad bars from Compartes featured over the years.

The first of the two bars -- The White Lotus - Mango Sticky Rice Chocolate 36% Cacao (bar) -- is a reference to "The White Lotus" (HBO series). Season 3 was filmed in Thailand. 

White chocolates are occasionally enjoyed here on Chocolate Banquet, but without cocoa solids they don't count. So the "Mango Sticky Rice Chocolate" white chocolate bar was paired with "The Margarita Bar" dark chocolate bar from the same chocolatier.

Together, these two bars launched virtual visits to several restaurants and cafes in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, including those with tropical fruits and mango with sticky rice items (K. Panich, Bangkok), and a visit to one bar with a very creative Thai-inspired take on a Margarita-style cocktail, garnished with an edible gold chocolate.

The White Lotus 35% White Chocolate (bar)

Aroma notes for this bar included: tropical fruit (pineapple, mango), sweet rice cereal, vanilla caramel,  and very faint coconut.

Texture: creamy, caramel-hued white chocolate with softly crunchy crisped rice 

Flavor: sweet, fruity, slightly tangy, with rich caramel and vanilla; very faint (barely detectable) coconut

This bar evoked the smells of days at the beach with tropical juice-drinks, caramel candies, and coconut suntan lotion as a child, as well as mango and pineapple fruit salads and popsicles.

Ingredients: White Chocolate (Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Whole Milk, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla), Mango, Rice, Coconut Milk.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. "Made in a facility that handles dairy, peanuts, wheat, egg, soy, tree nuts."

The Margarita Bar 73% Dark Chocolate (bar)

Today's "The Margarita Bar" 73% dark bar was a fitting tribute to a popular cocktail that likely originated in Mexico in the late 1930s.

Are there Margaritas in Thailand? Yes, there are, particularly in larger cities catering to tourists and ex-pats. I was impressed by a talented bartender (Nopadon Thamsongla, aka "Bomb") at the "Margarita Bar" in Bangkok who has mixed up some amazing drinks, including a Margarita-like cocktail garnished with a golden (gilded chocolate) nugget.*

Aroma notes for this Margarita 73% chocolate bar included: dark chocolate, tart-sweet citrus (lime), faint vanilla, and faint spirits (tequila).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a constellation of tiny, crunchy salt crystals.

Flavor: smooth, rich dark chocolate, gentle and authentic lime, sparkles of sea salt and faint spirits.

I enjoyed the authentic dark chocolate and lime flavors--and the use of salt to add flavor, evoke a Margarita and balance the sweetness. The ingredients were well-balanced; the vanilla and tequila were not too overwhelming (thank you); and all the elements harmonized nicely together.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Soy Lecithin as An Emulsifier, Vanilla), Tequila, Lime, Sea Salt 

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free" "Made in a facility that handles Dairy, Peanuts, Wheat, Egg, Soy, Tree Nuts"

*As part of this week's virtual visit to Thailand, I watched (videos of) a very talented bartender in the "Margarita Bar" in Bangkok. One featured a cocktail garnished with a golden (gilded chocolate) nugget.*

The video explained that this golden nugget was filled with a garnet-colored dehydrated concoction of pomelo, soy sauce and agar agar that was coated with chocolate, and then covered in edible gold to accompany what might have been a pomelo Margarita.

Fortunato Chocolate - Milk Chocolate Peanut Clusters - July 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fortunato Chocolate
Milk Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Good ++
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total package
Calories: 650 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Fortunato Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Milk Chocolate Peanut Clusters were from Fortunato Chocolate (Issaquah, WA).

Aroma notes included: milk chocolate, roasted peanuts, and peanut brittle.

Texture: creamy milk chocolate chock full of crunchy roasted peanuts.

Flavor notes included: sweet, creamy milk chocolate and salted, roasted peanuts. These clusters were creamy, crunchy, and had enough sugar and salt to land in the tasty, addictive snack zone. (Caution: do not start eating these if you're overly hungry. It's easy to mow through multiple servings.)

The higher sugar 36+% (and milk 27%) content made it difficult to detect cacao flavor nuances. However, the salt helped balance the sweetness a bit.

Ingredients: Roasted Peanuts, 36% Fortunato Milk Chocolate (Organically grown cacao and cocoa butter 36.2%, whole/skim milk and cream 27.02%, cane sugar 36.69%, soy lecithin 0.07%, vanilla 0.02%), sea salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains peanuts, milk, soy. May contain traces of almonds and hazelnuts.

Laderach - "Milch" Milk Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 18, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Laderach 
Milch - Milk Chocolate (bar)

Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32 g) / 2.3 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.90 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Laderach - Chocolatier Suisse, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of European Chocolate Vacation. 

Today's Milch Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Laderbach (Ennenda, Switzerland). 

Creamy and sweet, this bar was a luscious, thick milk chocolate. A bit too sweet for me, but milk chocolate lovers may appreciate this attractively-packaged, classic Swiss-style "Milch" (milk) offering.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate, Cocoa 36% Min. Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa paste, skimmed milk powder, soy lecithin, Natural Flavor, Natural Flavors.

Allergen-related information: "May contain Egg, Other Gluten (Incl. Wheat), Other Nuts."

Giraudi - Pistacchi Sicilia Latte 36% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Giraudi S.r.l.
Pistacchi Sicilia - Latte 36% E Pistacchi Sicilia Intere Tostate
Sicilian Pistachio Milk Chocolate 36% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.)/ 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 273 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from family (Thank you David)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from family (Andronico's, Los Altos, CA)

Welcome to Day #4 of European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week.

Today's Sicilian Pistachio - Milk Chocolate (36%) and Whole Toasted Sicilian Pistachio (bar) produced by Giraudi S.r.l. (Castellazzo Bormida (AL), Italy) was made in Italy and imported into the U.S. by Manicaretti (Oakland, CA). 

This chocolate was part of a family of Giraudi milk chocolate (36% cocoa) and dark chocolate (61% cocoa) bars with nuts. (Other flavors include hazelnut and almond versions of these bars.) 

Today's thick, sweet and creamy milk chocolate bar was studded with whole, toasted Sicilian pistachio nuts. Rich sweet chocolate flavor was nicely balanced by a healthy serving (20% of bar content) of these softly crunchy green nuts; and an upbeat touch of vanilla added sweet baked goods-style warmth.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, powdered whole milk, cocoa paste. Emulsifier: soy lecithine, natural vanilla flavour. Cocoa min. 36%), Pistachios from Sicily (20%). 

Allergen-related information: Contained: milk, soy (lecithin), tree nuts (pistachios). "It may contain traces of "other fruit with shell," sesame and peanuts." "Senza glutine - Gluten Free"

Giraudi - Mandorle Italia Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate (bar) - Jan. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Giraudi S.r.l.
Mandorle Italia - Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate
Italy Almond - Milk Chocolate 36% with Whole Toasted Italian Almond (bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 577 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from family (Thank you David)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from family (Andronico's, Los Altos, CA)

Welcome to Day #3 of European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week.

Today's Mandorle Italia - Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate (bar) produced by Giraudi S.r.l. (Castellazzo Bormida (AL), Italia) was made in Italy and imported into the U.S. by Manicaretti (Oakland, CA). 

This chocolate was part of a family of Giraudi milk chocolate (36% cocoa) and dark chocolate (61% cocoa) bars with nuts. (There are also hazelnut and pistachio versions of this bar.) I first became acquainted with Giraudi through their gianduja*/gianduia and gianduiotti (creamy and delicious Italian hazelnut chocolate) confections. 

Today's gluten free, thick, sweet and creamy milk chocolate bar embedded with whole crunchy almonds delivered. Rich sweet chocolate flavor was well balanced by a healthy serving (30% of content) of whole, toasted almonds and an upbeat touch of vanilla.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, powdered whole milk, cocoa paste. Emulsifier: soy lecithine, natural vanilla flavour. Cocoa min. 36%), Italian almonds (30%). 

Allergen-related information: Contained: milk, soy (lecithin), tree nuts (almonds). "It may contain traces of other fruit with shell, sesame and peanuts." "Senza glutine - Gluten Free"

*Gianduja is a northern Italian classic that came about in the 1800s as a result of war-time rationing during the reign of Napolean. (Cocoa was in short supply and was blended with hazelnut.) 

This heavenly chocolate and nut blend is now enjoyed in many parts of Europe and beyond. Turkey may be the world's largest producer of hazelnuts, but Italy can lay claim to creating gianduja--and the first versions of Nutella more than 170 years ago.

Nutella is a popular, sweetened (hazelnut, palm oil and skimmed milk) spread that may contain (depending on the country where it's distributed) less than 10% cocoa solids. It was first introduced in the 1960s by Ferrero S.P.A. (Italy). Giraudi offers their version of a chocolate and hazelnut spread.

Giraudi Nocciole Trilobate - Latte 36% E Nocciole Tonde Gentili Trilobate Intere Tostate (bar) - Dec. 14, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Giraudi 
Nocciole Trilobate - Latte 36% E Nocciole Tonde Gentili Trilobate Intere Tostate (bar)

Milk Chocolate 36% with Gently Toasted Hazelnuts (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) total bar

Calories: 292 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $0 - gift from family member (Thank you Dave!)

Purchased from: N/A - gift from family member

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

This Milk Chocolate 36% Cocoa with Gently Toasted Hazelnuts (bar) was from Giraudi S.r.l. (Castellazzo Bormida (AL), Italy)--and imported from Italy into the U.S. by Manicaretti (Oakland, CA).

The aroma of this classic hazelnut milk chocolate bar was one of sweet, rich hot drinking chocolate, redolent with vanilla and hazelnut(s).

Creamy milk chocolate provided a delicious base for (and complement to) a field of whole, crunchy hazelnuts (30% of content) on the back of the bar. 

The milk chocolate alone would have been too sweet, but the nuts cushioned the sugar. The 36% milk chocolate would likely have been too sweet by itself (for my taste), but the nuts cushioned the sugar and added high-quality nut flavor. (In addition to the aforementioned vanilla, there was a very faint, sweet, refreshing fruit/floral oolong tea note as well.) 

Giraudi, located in the Piedmont Region of northern Italy, has offered a variety of tasty chocolate and hazelnut creations over the years. 

The Piedmont Region is known for hazelnuts as well as chocolate hazelnut confections. Nougats, gianduja/gianduia, and spreads--fancy forerunners/relatives of Nutella) have been created here for centuries, following cacao's arrival in Europe. So a Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week without at least one chocolate from Italy would not be complete.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, powdered whole milk, cocoa paste. Emulsifier: soy lecithine, natural vanilla flavour. Cocoa min. 36%), Piedmont Hazelnuts (30%).

Allergen-related information: "It may contain traces of other fruit with shell, sesame and peanuts." (Contains nuts - hazelnuts.) "gluten free"

Fu Wan Chocolate - 36% Rose Lychee Nibs bar - June 4, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fu Wan Chocolate
36% Rose Lychee Nibs bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 238 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's unique 36% Rose Lychee Nibs bar was from Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan). This bar had an aroma with dried fruit, dragonfruit herbal tea and floral notes—and an interesting color and texture.

The flavor was full of lychee (what tasted like smoke-dried lychee fruit pieces, with a soft fruity chew) and subtle rose (Pintung organic roses) notes and crunchy cacao nibs. It was a fun and fresh bar to sample.

The chocolate had a slightly speckled or marbled gray-burgandy hue; and it was similar to other high-end white chocolate (albeit less sweet, thank you!) bars made with cacao butter, milk and, instead of cocoa solids, ground coffee or other finely ground seed or nut substitute (used to replace or add to the darker cacao solids).

Not to say these "white" bars aren't interesting. Some are quite tasty in a novel way.*

Due to its rather unique composition, it had a rapid, almost waxy, but not unpleasant, soft melt. To be clear, it also had real cacao nibs (pieces of cacao bean) sprinkled across the back of the bar, so it did contain cacao solids. (Otherwise it would not be featured here on Chocolate Banquet.)

*We've had bars with cocoa butter and very finely ground coffee beans that were so skillfully executed they could easily have been mistaken for a conventional coffee-flavored dark chocolate bar. We have also tasted other botanically-based white chocolate bars and confections made with a variety of ground seeds and nuts, including: ground Tonka beans (Dipteryx odorata—illegal in the U.S.), Cupuacu seeds (Theobroma grandiflorum), Carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua), Jaquar Cacao or Pataxte (Theobroma bicolor), and even Jackfruit seeds and Kola nuts.

Chocolate Always - 36% Cacao Organic Milk Chocolate Bar - Nov. 3, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Always
36% Cacao Organic Milk Chocolate Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Single Origin Milk Chocolate Theme Week. Most of this week's bar have been dark milk chocolate. Today we'll try something on the lighter side.

Today's 36% Cacao Organic Milk Chocolate Bar was a product of Peru, made for Chocolate Always (Weston, FL).

How low can you go (percentage wise) and still have a bar with fine chocolate flavor?

This well tempered bar was, as expected, very sweet, with caramel/toffee notes in the aroma and taste. While a bit too candy-sweet for my taste, it was still a cut above many other 36% chocolate items.

Also, any chocolate made in the country of origin (Peru in this case), is still worth noting, as it's not the norm; and it's a plus in that, one hopes, more income stays in producing countries (also not the norm).

Philip Marks - Milk Chocolate Walnut and White and Dark bars - Dec. 18, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Philip Marks Chocolates
Milk Chocolate with Whole Walnuts bar(s)
Good +
Weight: .2 oz. (5.6 g.) / 2.9 oz. (82 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 48 calories (estimate) for 1 bite of 1 bar
Cost: $7.49 for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA


Philip Marks Chocolates
White and Dark Marbleized Chocolate bar(s)
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 380 calories for 2 bars
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of this year's Chocolate and Walnut Series.


Today's Milk Chocolate (36 percent "Carmelito") with Whole Walnuts bar created by Philip Marks Chocolates (Burlingame, CA) came in an attractive package that contained two bars. adorned by carefully placed walnut halves.

I also sampled a Philip Marks White and Dark Marbleized Chocolate bar. This stylish bar was a blend of 36 percent "Edelweiss" and 88 percent "Maracaibo" dark chocolate.