Definite - Passion Fruit 69% Cacao Dominican Republic Bhonacao (bar) - Aug. 4, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Definite Chocolate
Passion Fruit 69% Cacao Dominican Republic Bhonacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Passion Fruit Theme Week. 

Today's Passion Fruit 69% Cacao Dominican Republic Bhonacao (bar) was from Definite Chocolate, S.R.L. (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (DR)).

About the cacao...

The cacao used to make this chocolate bar was grown and processed "in country." Cacao (beans) were transformed into chocolate in the same country where the cacao had been grown. Typically sacks of cacao beans are shipped to the U.S., Europe or elsewhere for the final manufacturing steps in bean-to-bar chocolates. 

And, I could actually taste the nuances in this single origin DR chocolate; the passion fruit added a pleasant tart-sweet flavor and there wasn't too much sugar. (Thank you!) What a difference when a chocolate is made with just three, high-quality ingredients.

About the fruit...

Passion fruit is native to South America, but even within the Americas this fruit is known by several different names. In the Dominican Republic it is called chinola. (On the other side of the large island of Hispaniola (that DR and Haiti share), it's known by its Haitian Creole name, grenadya.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: bold, well-executed dark chocolate (chocolate-y with barely detectable and well-balanced earth) and authentic tart-sweet tropical fruit (chinola aka passion fruit).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate; there were no fruit pulp or seed bits from the passion fruit.

Ingredients: "Cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, freeze-dried passion fruit." 

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles nuts & milk."

*Bhonacao is a cacao processing organization located in Paraiso in the Barahona province of the Dominican Republic.

Vixen Chocolate - salty pearl. 69% dark + pearl + salt (bar) - July 22, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Vixen Chocolate
salty pearl. 69% dark + pearl + salt (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $22.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week(s), and Day #1 of Chocolate and Fire & Passion Theme Week.

Today's salty pearl. 69% dark + pearl + salt (bar) was made by Vixen Chocolate (Portland, OR).

Pearls and sea salt may come from the oceans, but this vibrantly packaged, slightly salty chocolate was also imbued with boldness and passion. (Vixen Chocolate assures us their bean-to-bar, small-batch chocolates are made for BOLD souls.)

Aroma notes included for this bright, iridescently packaged dark bar included: dark milk chocolate with a touch of sweet green, green tea, hibiscus, and very faint salt. (Note: there were no milk, tea or flower ingredients in this bar.)

Texture: thick, creamy and velvety melt and mouthfeel. It was smooth yet substantial--kind of like a pearl.

Flavor notes included: very smooth dark chocolate with sea salt with faint sea and green/floral oolong tea notes. (The sea salt was hand-harvested in Norway.)

I loved the shimmering, black and packaging that was full of bold passion. It was, quite literally, breaking out in rainbows at every turn. The mesmerizing design was eye-catching, and unapologetically bold and beautiful. It reminded me of scuba diving in the ocean, and gazing down at shiny abalone and oyster shells, with pearls winking back at me from the dark sea bottom. 

But, the pearly essence extended beyond the packaging. This chocolate bar also contained 2 grams of actual pearl powder (from Root + Bones (Arcata, CA)).

This was a great chocolate marking the transition from Chocolate & Water Theme Week to Chocolate & Fire Theme Week.

Ingredients: cacao beans, cane sugar*, cacao butter*, Root + Bones Pearl Powder (2 g.), HAVSNO Sea Salt, 852 Hz, LOVE (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: None found.

Seahorse Chocolate - "A.M. Gold" 69% (bar) - Feb. 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day 

Seahorse Chocolate
"A.M. Gold" bar
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 136 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Seahorse Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Unique Chocolates Theme Week, including chocolates with unique origins, flavor inclusions and themes. 

Today's "A.M. Gold" 69% dark chocolate (bar) was created by Seahorse Chocolate (Bend, OR). The bar was made with a blend of cacaos "from The Americas and Pan Asia."

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate (drinking chocolate, balanced forest/earth and fruits (dates and berries, citrus)), subtle brown sugar, and faint toffee with nuts.

I liked the rich, natural sweetness (bright fruit notes) and complexity of flavors in this 69% cacao bar. Flavors were skillfully blended and realized using just two ingredients. 

I also enjoyed the playful maker's notes (below) evoking a time, a place--and music.*

Maker's tasting notes: "Reminds us of: Macrame, Nougat, Listening to Smooth Hits While Riding in The Back Seat of A Minivan On Your Way Home From Practice"

Ingredients: "Cocoa Beans, Organic Sugar"

Allergen-related information: Vegan, Gluten Free

*Years ago I ran a Chocolate and Music Theme Week. And I was even cheeky enough to ask (already very busy) chocolate makers if they'd ever thought of pairing specific chocolates with songs--perhaps one(s) they'd written themselves. 

Chocolate makers have strong creative and technical skills--perfect for making craft chocolate (or specialty/craft coffee, beer, wine, etc.) where multiple skills come into play. I'm grateful for this every time I'm able to enjoy the end products of such multi-talented folk.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week. (Note: this post is likely not appropriate for children. This bar contains alcohol and some adult cocktail references.)

Today's Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, and a slight boozy richness and fullness (think oak barrel, citrus, cherry, whiskey, vermouth -- in other words, something like a Manhattan (cocktail) fully incorporated into a smooth, rich dark chocolate.

Flavor notes took the aroma notes (listed above) one step further--with the dark chocolate (Peru (pangoa) + Colombia (tumaco) taking center stage. There was also a pleasing, lingering, slightly boozy (sweet, layered whiskey cocktail with cherry), buttery and very smooth oak finish. (Note: there was no dairy butter in this bar.)

Disclosure: I do very much enjoy dark chocolate and whiskey pairings. In skilled hands, fine quality dark chocolate + spirits and oak barrel/seasoned wood produces some very appealing results. The vermouth, cherries and bitters were well-balanced and well-integrated, and these ingredients conveyed the whole cocktail concept very nicely. I loved the layered flavors in this bar that harmonized so well together.

What's behind the name "Gay Bar" other than the play on words? The packaging features a large, glittering, red (big apple) disco ball--part of a club scene with happy, diverse patrons (cartoon characters of bear, deer, beaver cartoon). "...a portion of the proceeds from each Gay Bar sold will benefit Hudson Valley organizations working to better the lives of Upstate New York's vibrant LGBTQ+ community."

Ingredients: "cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, rye, vermouth, cherries, bitters"

Allergen-related information: "may contain traces of milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame"

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch 69% (bar) - Sept. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch 69% Cacao (bar)
Good +++ 
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.00 for 1 bar (when bought in a 3-bar Coffee bundle)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Maker's Choice Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch Nicaragua 69% Cacao (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). Both cacao and coffee beans used to make this single origin bar hailed from Nicaragua.

Aroma notes included: very inviting dark chocolate and coffee.

Texture: smooth, fudge-y, creamy dark chocolate with finely ground bits of (very slightly gritty, crunchy) coffee.

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate (dark chocolate fudge, true chocolate-y) infused with just the right amount of coffee (not too much, not too little) so that the chocolate was still the primary focus. The cacao and the coffee were neither too acidic nor too bitter. 

I appreciated the thoughtful execution and moderate sweetness level. (There was enough sugar to please those who don't care for black coffee, but not enough to muffle flavors that ultra-dark fans appreciate.)

Maker's description: "...premium single origin Nicaraguan cacao with finely ground single origin coffee from Nicaragua's El Recreo Estate for this crunchy celebration of Nicaraguan flavor."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Single Origin Coffee

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts." ("Soy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free")

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates - Cocoa Nib Brittle - Sea Salt (bar) - Jan. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
Cocoa Nib Brittle - Sea Salt (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.6 oz. (75 g.) (per label) in total bar
Calories: 403 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs Theme Week. 

Today's Cocoa Nib Brittle (with) Sea Salt (bar) was from Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Inc. (Sacramento, CA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (ultra-dark/roasted brownie) with faint, fleeting black pepper and very faint roasted mocha brownie notes.

Texture: well-tempered chocolate with a well-executed satisfying crunch (well-distributed pieces of nib brittle surrounded by smooth dark chocolate. (Both nibs and dark couverture chocolate were from Valrhona.)

This 69% bar tasted more like a 75% dark chocolate (in part due to the inclusion of the cocoa nibs). This will really please dark fans. The dark chocolate flavors were very appealing, and well integrated. The nib brittle and overall balance were excellent.  

What I liked about this bar: 1.) satisfying, well-executed dark chocolate with nib brittle that wasn't too sweet; 2.) rich, authentic cacao flavor(s) with great texture, accented with just the right amount of brittle (light toffee) and sea salt--making it slightly addicting; 3.) a talented chocolatier who created a great product using high-quality chocolate and nibs.

Ingredients: Bittersweet Chocolate (Cocoa Beans from Madagascar, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soya Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Extract), Cocoa Paste (100% Cocoa Beans from Madagascar), Cane Sugar, Glucose, Roasted Cocoa Beans, Butter, Fleur de Sel Salt, Baking Soda, Vanilla Extract.

Allergen-related information: This product contains milk and soybeans. This product may contain traces of wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts.

Siddha Chocolate - Lucky Lovers 69% Cacao + Cacao Nibs & Pink Salt (bar) - May 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Siddha Chocolate
Lucky Lovers 69% Cacao, Cacao Nibs, Pink Salt (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .8 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 105 calories in 1/2 bar/package
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Lucky Lovers 69% Cacao, Cacao Nibs and Pink Salt (bar) was from Siddha Chocolate (manufactured by Siddha Remedies, Oxnard, CA).

The company invites consumers to "elevate your nature" by enjoying this dark chocolate that contains a blend of 11 "aphrodisiac" herbs and 7 flower essences. (See ingredients list below.)

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: pleasant dark chocolate, and light, almost ethereal herbal and floral notes.

Texture: smooth, dark chocolate was punctuated with crunchy cocoa nibs and sparkles of sea salt.

Flavor notes included: roasted, light cocoa, smooth dark chocolate, a diffuse bouquet of light florals and botanicals, marshmallow, and faint floral spice (vanilla). 

There was a relative (yes, elevated) lightness, smoothness, and natural sweetness to this chocolate. The cocoa nibs provided a complementary, authentic, relatively grounded, bold dark chocolate flavor and crunchy texture. And the pink salt (more present in some bites than others) rounded out this offering nicely.

Overall, this Lucky Lovers chocolate was very well-balanced. The "dark" (chocolate, cocoa nibs) was well integrated with "light" (florals, botanicals). The small quantities of bark, roots, seeds, fungi, and other elements were hard to detect.

The sweetness (coconut sugar, erythritol, yacon) level in this "Keto friendly" bar was enough to be pleasant without being overly sweet. (Happily my teeth felt smooth and un-coated by sugar afterwards.) 

Ingredients: Cocoa Mass*, Cacao Butter*, Coconut Sugar*, Cacao Nibs*, VitaFiberTM* (IMO; Prebiotic Fiber), Erythritol*, Yacon*, Sunflower Lecithin*, KSM-66 Ashwagandha Root, Pink Salt, Catuaba Bark, Vanilla* Cordyceps Mycelia Extract, Horny Goat Weed Aerial Parts, Lemon Peel*, Maca Root, Mucuna Puriens Seed, Muira Puama Root, Shatavari Root, Shilajit Mineral Pitch, Fo-Ti Root, Eurycoma Longifolia Jack Root, Christmas Cactus Flower Essence, Coconut Flower Essence, Desert Rose Flower Essence, Hibiscus Flower Essence, Manzanita Flower Essence, Pegasus Orchid Cactus Flower Essence, Scarlet Pimpernel Flower Essence (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contained coconut (sugar); 96% Organic ingredients. (No other allergen-related information found on packaging.)

Monsoon Chocolate - Ginger Covered in Dark Chocolate - Mar. 26, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Monsoon Chocolate
Ginger Covered in Dark Chocolate 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) / 6.18 oz. (175 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 2 oz. serving
Cost: $10.00 for 1 package (plus shipping)
Purchased from: Monsoon Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Ginger Covered in Dark Chocolate pieces were from Monsoon Chocolate (Tucson, AZ)--a chocolate maker and confectioner that "sources cacao from around the globe and draws  inspiration for flavor inclusions from local ingredients."

Aroma notes for these round, pebble-shaped pieces included: dark chocolate (rich cocoa, faint diffuse fruit and fermented cacao, dark chocolate ganache/mousse) and spicy ginger.

Monsoon's generously-sized, round confections were like eating high-quality versions of giant spicy, ginger jellybeans--coated with a thin layer of 69% cacao dark chocolate and an outer-most dusting of (Ecuador) cocoa powder. The sweet ginger firm jelly-like centers packed an authentic, ginger root heat. Kapow. My eyes were almost watering; but I still wanted more.

Ginger lovers will rejoice. The only downside: all that ginger made it more difficult to taste flavor nuances in the chocolate. But, these were still fun to eat.

Ingredients: Organic crystallized ginger, dark chocolate (cocoa beans, organic unrefined cane sugar, organic cocoa butter), organic natural cocoa powder

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that handles tree nuts, wheat, milk, eggs and peanuts. May not be suitable for people with allergies to these foods.

 

Manoa Chocolate - Goat Milk 69% Dark Milk Chocolate - Aug. 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
Goat Milk 69% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order

Aloha, and welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Goat Milk 69% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI). 

The initial (just-opened) aroma for this bar was relatively strong with some goat (lightly gamey, waxy, milky) and dark milk chocolate notes. 

For more sensitive palettes, I recommend letting this creamy, buttery chocolate "breathe" a little after unsealing the inner wrapper. (The aroma settled down, mellowing very nicely after about 30 minutes.) 

The texture was luxurious and lovely, and the chocolate flavor had some depth with fun, fleeting fruit notes (some berry, some yellow stone fruit, some tropical), lush true chocolate (brownie, dark ganache) and very faint earth.

What a fun and special bar to try. It was a whisker under 70% cacao, but not too sweet. Thank you Manoa!

Manoa maker's description: "This bar has a unique flavor that reminds us of a dark chocolate cheesecake. With only 20% sugar and 11% goat milk powder, it has both the characteristics of a bold dark chocolate and the rich creaminess of a milk chocolate."

Manoa suggested beverage pairings: Wine: Sauvignon Blanc; Beer: Nitro Stout; Liquor: Rye Whiskey.

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter and goat milk powder.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. "Made in a facility that processes milk powder and nuts."

Crow and Moss - Vanilla Smoke Chocolate 69% (bar) - Mar. 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Crow and Moss

Vanilla Smoke Chocolate 69% (bar)

Good +++

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $9.25 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Vanilla Smoke Chocolate 69% small batch (bar) was from Crow and Moss (Petoskey, MI).

This dark chocolate bar had a prominent vanilla aroma, and true to it's name, it had a balanced, subtle smokey fragrance and faint green floral notes.*

This well-tempered, bean-to-bar chocolate had smooth texture, an thick buttery melt, and a complex flavor bouquet that included dark chocolate, green, floral (white flowers), spice and faint, very slightly astringent tropical fruit and green notes (persimmon and green mango meet jasmine and orchid). 

Re-tasting this bar yielded even more subtley complex green notes (green tea, green-lemon herb (sorrel) and very faint and fleeting vegetable (Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) + baked potato). 

The faint (or perhaps implied) fruit note was difficult to nail down. Can a flavor come to life and refuse to be captured and fully analyzed? I was happy to chase this white (vanilla) rabbit through the hickory forest. 

I applaud the skills that went into melding the hickory-smoked cacao and vanilla bean together. Both these flavors stood proud and tall on their own; and the lovely nuances of each were highlighted and celebrated. There was also a barely detectable quantity of salt in this bar, that seemed just right.

Together, this pied piper of a partnership seemed to take flight. A sense of motion--an elegant flavor flux--created a highly satisfying ride, and kept me coming back for just one more piece. Nicely balanced, not too sweet. Highly complementary chocolate and vanilla flavors sparked a winter fire, while invisible grains of salt nodded in grounded approval, and floral notes looked at cherry trees blooming and whispered that spring is here.*

Maker's tasting notes: "We've taken whole vanilla beans and paired them with a hint of hickory smoked cacao and salt to create a fruity, floral twist with a nostalgic campfire finish."

Ingredients: "Cacao blend, organic cane sugar, vanilla beans, salt, hickory smoke."

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also handles nuts and dairy"

*I like floral, balanced umami and subtlely smokey and savory flavors in single origin chocolate. It's hard to find these flavors, and even harder to discover all these skillfully blended in one bar. Hats off that Cross and Moss makers for even attempting this bar when there are some critics who view umami, smokey (and, surprisingly, even floral) notes as possible "flaws" in cacao processing. Apologies: Happiness over this bar did lead to some wordy poetic celebration.

Godiva - Bittersweet Chocolate Premium Baking Chips (brownies) - June 17, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Godiva 
Bittersweet Chocolate Premium Baking Chips 69% Cacao
Good +
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total package
Calories: 280 calories in 4 servings (4 TB)  
Cost: missing information
Purchased from: missing information 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Today's Bittersweet Chocolate Premium Baking Chips were from Godiva (Belgium).*

I used these 69% cacao Godiva bittersweet chocolate chips to make a last batch of homemade brownies this brownie-themed week (with butter, egg, molasses, a small amount of gluten-free flour, ginger, cinnamon and toasted almonds). 

I was glad to see these higher-percentage (69 percent) cacao Godiva chocolate chips. They had a uniform, smooth dark flavor. And, for my taste, there was enough sugar in this chocolate for the chocolate chips to serve as the primary sweetener. (I also added a teaspoon or two of molasses.)

This particular recipe yielded a dark fudge, soft cookie-like texture that made them easier to transport and share than softer, gooey-er style brownies. The recipe could easily be adapted to achieve more of the latter qualities (more chocolate chips, less gluten-free flour, use of a deeper glass pan and possibly slightly shorter cooking time).

I enjoyed the very subtle molasses and warm spice flavor and aroma note(s) of this particular recipe. However, it's hard to beat the classic, plain chocolate brownie studded with dark chocolate chips.

Ingredients: Godiva Bittersweet Chocolate Chips: Chocolate (processed with alkali), sugar, cocoa powder, soy lecithin (emulsifier).

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy. May contain milk."

*Distributed by International Gourmet Specialties LLC (Pittsburgh, PA).

Firetree Chocolate - Solomon Islands Guadalcanal 69% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 31, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Firetree Chocolate
Solomon Islands Guadalcanal 69% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 kcals (calories) in 1 bar
Cost: $4.00 for 1 mini bar 
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and South Pacific Islands.

Today's Guadalcanal 69% (bar) was from Firetree Chocolate (Peterborough, U.K.). The company produces "rich volcanic chocolate" (bars) made from cacao grown on Pacific islands.

The volcanic theme (carried over into Firetree's striking black and lava-like colors in their packaging) refers not only to the islands' geological origins, but also to the rich, volcanic soil where the cacao trees grow. 

Today's Single Estate 69% Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) bar had a relatively subdued, but still rich aroma, with notes of dark chocolate (bold, medium acidity) and fruit (plum). 

The texture of this chocolate was smooth and even.

The flavor was true to the aroma with similar flavor notes: bold but well balanced, roasted cacao with medium-acidity (often identified as "citrus"), fruit with plum and red fruit (pomegranate, red apple) and very faint flickers of spice (cinnamon).

The maker's "taste notes" read as follows: "red fruit, citrus, plum" -- signified with red, yellow and purple color icons, respectively, on the packaging.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, unrefined sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin. (Those with food sensitivities may be happy to read that this bar was dairy free and made in a nut-free factory.)

Michel Cluizel - Plantation El Jardin 69% Colombie bar - May 4, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Michel Cluizel
Plantation El Jardin Chocolat Noir 69% Colombie (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 400.6 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

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

Today's El Jardin Plantation 69% Dark Chocolate Colombie (Colombia) bar was from Michel Cluizel (Damville, Normany, France).

This bar was made from cacao grown in El Jardin Plantation in central Colombia and had a fairly creamy melt and texture with a balanced rich complexity of flavors that evolved from bite to bite.

The dark chocolate had a balanced, rich sweetness with faint roasted malt and fermented milk, fruit (cherry, red berry), light vanilla notes and occasional nutty, earth, black raspberry, tart peppery red berry, and umami (salt/leather) notes. And, as a last surprise, the finish in one bite had almost a mint cookie or very light menthol note to it. This chocolate was certainly not boring.

I'd advise eating (and re-tasting) this chocolate in small bites, very slowly, or you'll miss all these flavor notes. And to think this was only a four-ingredient bar.*

Almost all segments on a chocolate tasting wheel were represented. There were no "off," bitter or astringent flavors...just a lot going on in one bar.

Maker's notes: notes of red berries, honey, caramel

*Ingredients: cocoa, sugar, cocoa butter, Bourbon vanilla pod

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - 69% El Carmen Nicaragua Coffee Dark bar - June 10, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
69% Cacao El Carmen Nicaragua Coffee Premium Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's 69% Cacao El Carmen Nicaragua Coffee Premium Dark Chocolate bar with Coffee was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA).

The company offers a variety single origin bars—a few with inclusions from the same origin,* like today's coffee bar.

This bar had the same luscious thick creamy melt and texture as yesterday's 77 percent El Carmen bar (by the same maker); although the coarsely-ground, lightly roasted coffee beans* contributed some fine, well incorporated, grit to the texture.

The coffee also imparted some rich flavor and helped balance out the sugar**, making the chocolate seem bolder, richer (and less sweet) than many 69 percent bars (a good thing if you're a dark chocolate fan).

*According to their website, Goodnow Farms Chocolate sources their coffee beans for their 69% Nicaragua coffee bar "from Recreo Coffee and Roasterie in West Roxbury (Mass.), where husband and wife team Hector and Miriam Morales import beans directly from their family farm in Jinotega, Nicaragua."

**Ingredients: Cacao beans, Organic sugar, cocoa butter, coffee

Goodio Craft Chocolate - Kukka - Chocolate with Flower Petals, Rose Crystals 69% bar - May 26, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodio Craft Chocolate
Kukka - Chocolate topped with flower petals, rose crystals 69% (bar)
Good +
Weight: .848 oz. (24 g.) / 1.696 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 129.8 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: (one of a 4-bar Nordic Flavors box)
Purchased from: Goodio Chocolate (online order)

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

Today's "Kukka" - Chocolate topped with flower petals, rose crystals 69% (bar) was made from scratch by Goodio Craft Chocolate (Helsinki, Finland).

This bar, part of a 4-bar Nordic flavors assortment pack was inspired by experiences and flavors in nature.* The back of the bar—arranged with edible flower petals with a hint of birch sugar—was a work of natural and culinary art.

The sweet, stoneground dark chocolate gave way to slight upticks in floral flavor. (Make sure you have a bite with a rose crystal in it.)

*Inside the packaging was printed a very endearing love letter to nature and childhood memories having to do with selecting a flower and playing the game: she loves me, she loves me not... The end of this note indicates that this bar has incorporated "only 'loves you' petals." Sweet.