Mandela Chocolate - Vanilla Orchid Raw Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 18, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Mandala Chocolate
Vanilla Orchid Raw Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 162 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.80 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Flowers Theme Week. This week includes a variety of floral ingredients, including today's vanilla bar. Vanilla is a spice derived from a pod of a Vanilla orchid flower.

Today's Vanilla Orchid Raw Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Mandala Naturals, LLC (Barnardsville, NC).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Organic, Raw 77% dark chocolate bar included: smooth dark chocolate and warm vanilla bean.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy, dark chocolate with no graininess

I appreciated the warm vanilla (and coconut sugar) flavors in this dark chocolate, as well as Mandala's short list of quality, authentic and organic ingredients used in this bar and their other chocolates.

Ingredients: *Cacao, *Coconut Sugar, *Raw Tahitian Vanilla Bean, Celtic Sea Salt(TM) (* Organic & Raw)

Allergen-related information: (No allergen warnings were found on packaging.)

Jangala Cacao & Selva - Dalia "Women of Cacao" 77% Cacao (bar) - July 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Jangala Cacao & Selva
Dalia "Women of Cacao" 77% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 98 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Mexico Theme Week.

Today's  Jangala Cacao & Selva Dalia "Women of Cacao" 77% Cacao (bar) was made by Jangala Frutos De La Tierra S. de R.I. de C.V. (San Cristobol de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico). southern Mexico.

The company specializes in fermented native cacaos Criollos and Trinitarios from specific cacao-growing regions of Mexico. 

The cacao origin description: "Fermented white Criollo cacao (from Comalcalco, Tabasco) cultivated by the Magana Peralta family. The name "Dahlia" is a reference to the dahlia flower(s) and to a "project of women guardians practicing regenerative agriculture within agroforestry systems..."

An illustration of a Mexican hummingbird (by Mau Jimenez) on the bar's packaging represented "the strength of the women in their relationship with cacao."

Aroma and flavor notes included: gentle Criollo cacao dark chocolate with faint, diffuse stone fruit (dark and sweet plum); and very faint malty and floral. 

There was a very slight, very balanced (well-behaved) bitterness at the beginning but it softened very quickly into a gentle and subtly nuanced cacao experience. 

Texture: smooth with a very faint and well balanced fruit astringency toward the end. 

Heritage criollo cacao chocolates are rare and special.* They can convey a lot in a whisper; and you find yourself leaning way in to listen, to taste, and to be transported. 

Today's Dalia bar felt like a quiet walk through a lush forest (maybe with an occasional hummingbird zipping by); and, it tasted "lighter" -- more like a 67% cacao than a 77% cacao chocolate. All this was conveyed using just two ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: "Aromatic notes: Cacao/Floral/Dried Fruits"

"Organic Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar

Allergen-related information: None listed on package.

*A very small percentage of dark chocolate bars are made with criollo cacaos. They are more delicate, both in flavor and constitution. Yields are typically lower and they may be more prone to certain diseases. (Think heritage roses that typically have subtle, complex scents vs. new roses cultivated for strength, disease resistance and longer shelf life--but with more minimal fragrance.)

 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Mexico Almendra Blanca 77% (bar) - Mar. 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Mexico Almendra Blanca 77% (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bat
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.99 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Caputos, online order

Bienvenidos (welcome) to Day #6 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Mexico Almendra Blanca 77% (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA).

Like yesterday's bar, today's chocolate was made with lighter colored "white almond" cacao beans grown in Mexico.* These beans create a lighter hued finished dark chocolate (an almost auburn, medium brown). Both these bars were skillfully made, well-tempered and they broke with a hard snap (in a cool room). 

The aroma notes for today's Goodnow Farms dark chocolate were relatively subtle.  (Note: I also had a fairly serious cold when I tasted this bar.)

The flavor notes were stronger, and included a bold, balanced, almost peppery tartness: dark chocolate with bright, tangy sweet fruit (citrus, berry); subtle cream; faint (very slightly astringent) nut; subtle, diffuse, green botanical/forest; and a barely there (well balanced, subtle) bitterness toward the finish.

I enjoyed the opportunity to try a single origin dark chocolate Almendra Blanca bar like this with beautifully complex flavors. 

I also continue to appreciate Goodnow Farms makers' short list of quality and organic ingredients; their thoughtful sourcing of cacao and local ingredients; and the fact they press their own single origin cacao butter (vs. buying large blocks of generic, deodorized cocoa butter) when added cocoa butter is desired.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Creamy Citrus & Hazelnut"

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

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

*The Almendra Blanca cacao beans used to make today's chocolate were grown and fermented on farmer Vicente Cacep's Jesus Maria farm outside Villahermosa (in the State of Tabasco), Mexico.

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey 77% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey 77% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $35.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey with Maple Sugar 77% Cacao was made by Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA) in collaboration with Boston Harbor Distillery (Dorchester, MA). The cacao bean origin was Colombia (Boyaca).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (dark cocoa, ganache), and very faint spirits (whiskey) and maple sugar. 

When I bought this bar, I didn't know it contained scorpion pepper, one of the world's hotter peppers. (The name Demon Seed Whiskey should have clued me in.) If you don't detect a chili/pepper smell to this bar, you might be surprised by the bit of heat that kicks in a bit later. So, for the heat-sensitive, I'd advise taking a small bite first.

Texture: relatively smooth (all ingredients were fully incorporated), with a tiny bit of (possibly imagined) astringency toward the end.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (bittersweet chocolate), warm maple sugar, and very faint whiskey, chili spice and earth notes. The whiskey added flavor depth without being obvious.

Given the relatively bold flavor elements, this was a very balanced and well-executed chocolate. There were no pyrotechnics or rushes to grab a glass of water because of the scorpion pepper. Yes, the pepper had some heat, but it wasn't overwhelming (thank you). The ginger was barely detectable, but it likely added some warm spice that melded flavors together nicely.

The 77% cacao (single origin Colombia, Boyaca) seemed relatively smooth for a higher percentage chocolate, and the sweetness level seemed to be just right. The maple and ginger were subtle but added some warmth that makes it appealing for colder/winter days. And this is a fun bar to share with others.

Maker's tasting notes: "...Heat from scorpion peppers dances with ginger and melds with flavors of rich, maple fudge. A warm caramel syrup sensation lingers..."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Maple Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Whiskey, Scorpion Pepper, Ginger

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free"

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - 77% Dark Chocolate Las Palomas Coffee (bar) - Sept. 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
77% Dark Chocolate with Las Palomas Coffee Guatemala (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 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 #4 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Special Reserve 77% Dark Chocolate with Las Palomas Coffee Guatemala (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA) in collaboration with George Howell Coffee.

Aroma notes included: appealing dark chocolate; fruit; and subtle spice and coffee.

Texture: rich, smooth, relatively creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: a compelling blend of true chocolate with fruit (ripe, sweet berry, faint tropical fruits (mango, cacao, other)); slight, diffuse warm spice and coffee.

I really enjoyed the nuanced, sophisticated complexity in this bar. I kept returning to take another bite, to appreciate what I was tasting, and in case I had missed something in the attractive unfolding of notes.

I loved the fruity notes in this well-executed chocolate and coffee blend; the care taken to make a true single origin bar--with a short list of high-quality ingredients; and the balance and harmony between chocolate and coffee.

Maker's description: "...This collaboration bar with George Howell Coffee is a testament to the joys of single origin flavor. The many fruit flavors of their Las Palomas coffee from Huehuetenango, Guatemala combine with our fruity cacao from Coban, Guatemala..."

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")

 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Black Urfea Chili Dominican Republic 77% Cacao (bar) - July 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Black Urfea Chili Dominican Republic 77% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar (also sold in multi-bar sets/collections)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Black Urfea Chili Dominican Republic 77% Cacao (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). 

The company handcrafts a variety of single origin chocolate bars--some with unique flavor inclusions  based on collaborations with other fine food providers. (I enjoyed the company's Good Food Award winning Caramelized Onion bar yesterday.) Today's bar contained Urfa chili* from Burlap & Barrel Single Origin Spices.

Aroma notes for this chili spice-infused bar included: dark chocolate, clean mineral, and very faint chili pepper.

The texture was very smooth, with an appealing melt and mouthfeel. (The makers press their own single origin cocoa butter.)

The relatively bold 77% Dominican Republic (Zorzal) cacao chocolate had a very faint, balanced dark earth and slightly bitter flavor that complemented the mild chili taste. 

I enjoyed trying a new (for me) spice blended with chocolate, even though it was a challenge to pin down the subtly complex chili flavors. There was a barely there spicy heat, and very faint, bright (citrus) and clean top notes (a bit similar to grains of paradise, certain peppercorns, cardamom and maybe saffron).

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Black Urfa Chili

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

*Black Urfa chili hails from Turkey. Sun-cured (and fermented) Urfa chili pepper flakes are typically ground together with salt and sunflower or olive oil. This chili has been described as having slight smoky, earthy, sweet and acidic notes as well as chocolate, coffee and pepper notes.

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Caramelized Onion Nicaragua 77% Cacao (bar) - July 18, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Caramelized Onion 77% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar -- also available in multi-bar collections (bundles)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Caramelized Onion 77% Cacao (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). 

Extra credit to Goodnow Farms for successfully pulling off an onion flavored chocolate. It takes talent, technical skills and care to successfully blend flavors like this. After enjoying several Goodnow Farms bars, I'm happy to try new flavors from these thoughtful bean-to-bar chocolate makers (who even squeeze their own single origin cocoa butter).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, and fresh green, onion.

Texture: smooth and creamy with a very pleasing melt.

Flavor notes included: slightly bitter-sweet 77% dark chocolate and balanced onion (fresh green onion, onion rings). I kept anticipating tasting some salt, but there was none.* 

The "bitter" chocolate (and the fact the onions had been caramelized) made the onion taste relatively sweeter.

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Safrane Globe Onion (Dried)

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free"

*Warning, possible science digression: This fill-in the blank phenomenon, influenced by past food memories is fascinating. Another example: the first time I tried a 100% cacao chocolate (with no sugars of any kind). My brain/senses were temporarily stunned--and stumped as to why there was no sugar. Clearly my body was anticipating sugar. I imagined an immediate neuronal re-wiring.

Perhaps unexpected flavors cause our brains to double-check whether there are any suspicious"off" flavors (a possible warning to make sure we avoid potentially rotten or contaminated foods).

In today's case, virtually all onion dishes contain salt; so no wonder I was feeling the absence of salt. (I resisted the urge to add some; and I was happy I did.) I enjoyed the sweeter onion nuances and the clear(er) contrast with the bitter chocolate.

Goodnow Farms - Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar) - July 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 330 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $17.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). This dark chocolate bar was made using Nicaragua El Carmen cacao and Burlap & Barrel's Zanzibar Black Peppercorns.

Aroma notes for this Limited Release dark bar included: hearty, deep, dark chocolate and authentic black pepper.

Texture: Very smooth and creamy texture (the makers made (pressed) and used their own single origin cocoa butter). There were no detectable pepper pieces ("ground peppercorn grit")--only flavor(s).

Flavor notes included: relatively bold, smooth chocolate-y dark chocolate with faint, diffuse, acidic fruit (ripe earthy berry, plum, persimmon); faint tart-green lemon (oxalis); very faint nut; and authentic black pepper.

I enjoyed the complex aroma and flavor notes in this bar, and the use of 77% single origin Nicaragua cacao (and single origin cocoa butter) as well as the Zanzibar pepper.

Maker's tasting notes: "...an exotic flavor journey: sharp, lemony-pepper tang, mild heat and smooth, earthy dark chocolate."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Zanzibar Black Pepper

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan"

Antidote Chocolate - Ginger bits and Grains of Paradise 77% Dark (bar) - July 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Antidote Chocolate 
Ginger bits + Grains of Paradise 77% Dark (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 380 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ Missing information 
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Ginger bits + Grains of Paradise 77% Dark (bar) from Antidote Chocolate (Antidote, FL) was made in Ecuador with Arriba Nacional cacao. 

The creative presence behind Antidote has been Red Thalhammer (who has Austrian roots); this  brand chief, creative designer--and now chocolatier--spends time in both New York and Miami. 

Aroma notes for this bar included: spicy-sweet ginger and dark chocolate.

Tiny bursts of aromatic ginger and grains of paradise were integrated with smooth dark chocolate.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, small pieces of candied ginger and a sweet bright cardamom-like spice (Grains of Paradise) that reminded me of fruit punch bubble gum, sweet resin and cotton candy when it surfaced from underneath the two stronger flavors -- rich, 77% dark chocolate and candied ginger. Bravo for breaking through these two fairly dominant flavors, and adding sophisticated and complex spice flavors.

I really enjoyed this complex and well-balanced bar bursting with satisfying taste. If you like ginger and warm and exotic spice flavors, I recommend giving this bar a try.

Ingredients: cacao beans, whole cane sugar, cacao butter, ginger, grains or paradise, sunflower lecithin. 

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that handles milk, soy (and) nuts. 

Lonohana Estate Chocolate - Lucky 7 77% Dark (bar) - Jan. 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Lonohana Estate Chocolate
Lucky 7 77% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $20 (+ shipping)
Purchased from: Lonohana website, online order

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

Today's Lucky 7 77% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC (Honolulu, HI) was made in Hawaii from Hawaii-grown cacao.

Aroma notes included: aromatic dark chocolate; molasses; faint fermented cacao fruit and sugar cane (sweet beer and sweet green cane/green fig cookie notes).

This well-tempered 77% dark bar broke with a satisfying hard snap in a cool room, and had a smooth texture.

My favorite chocolates offer a form of magical transportation. They're made with just one or two ingredients, and they have well-executed and complex flavor nuances. They transport me back to cacao growing regions, where cacao is being harvested, fermented and painstakingly converted into chocolate. They, dare I say it, restoreth my soul. Today's chocolate was one of those chocolates.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate fudge brownie, sweet green, and very faint molasses and fermentated cacao fruit. These fresh and authentic flavors were well balanced, very compatible and delicious to me.

Ingredients: "Estate cacao and organic cane sugar"

Allergen-related information: "Soy and gluten free." "Made in a peanut-free environment by Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC..."

La Feverie (Hasnaa Chocolats Grands Crus) - 77% Chuao Aragua Venezuela (bar) - June 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

La Feverie (Hasnaa Chocolats Grands Crus )
77% Chuao Aragua Venezuela (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's 77% Chuao Aragua Venezuela (2017 Harvest) (bar) was from La Feverie (Hasnaa Chocolats Grands Crus) (Bordeaux, France).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, brown/dried fruits (faint fig, faint dried banana), very faint, fleeting rye bread and molasses.

This well-tempered bar broke with a snap and had a slightly coarse texture/mouthfeel, in part due to some tart fruit astringency. 

There was no cocoa butter added to this two-ingredient bar--bucking the trend of this past several years in craft chocolate. So many chocolate makers add cocoa butter that you can miss it when it's not there to "cushion" some stronger flavors and add creamier texture. 

The more pleasant fruit nuances in this Venezuelan cacao were diffuse and subtle; and adding cocoa fat may have silenced what was there. Making bean-to-bar chocolate is not for the faint of heart. 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (cocoa nibs) and brown/dried fruits (faint fig, faint dried banana, citrus (pink grapefruit), trinitario cacao pulp)--with astringent dried fruit kicking in after the first several seconds and lingering into the first part of the finish, along with a very faint, flicker of avocado.

This 77% cacao dark chocolate tasted more like an ultra-dark bar (85%+) because of its bold, frisky brown and citrus-like fruit astringency, and lack of flowery natural sweetness. This rougher chocolate had personality and complexity (which I generally like); but, I felt like the maker may have been working with a challenging batch of cacao. She succeeded. And I felt grateful to be able to taste this chocolate, even if it was a different experience from Chuao bars from years ago.*

Chuao and Porcelana have been legendary Venezuelan cacao-growing regions for a very long time; and they may be so again in the future. In recent years there have been challenges in Venezuela that I'm guessing might have affected the cacao supply chain. 

Maker's notes: "Sweet and sour notes of fresh citrus fruit, and tricky smoked flavours."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans and Organic Cane Sugar

Allergen-related information: (None listed on label.)

*Single origin cacao flavors can also vary from harvest to harvest, season to season, year to year--just like wine.

Honeymoon Chocolates - 77% Semuliki Forest Dark Chocolate with honey - Feb. 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates
77% Semuliki Forest Single Origin Dark Chocolate with honey (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 77% Semuliki Forest Single Origin Dark Chocolate (bar)--made with Ugandan cacao, Peruvian cacao butter and raw honey--was from Honeymoon Chocolates (Saint Louis, MO).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (slightly earthy, mild peaty/tannic acid, fermented cacao nibs), and very faint green fruit (banana).

Flavor notes included: chocolate (deep, ultra-dark chocolate, balanced but complex earth, olive fruit); and under these deep jungle notes was a light floral honey sweetness (not as pronounced in sweetness as cane sugar typically is) that managed to cast a few soft rays of honey goodness.

This bar will satisfy ultra-dark chocolate fans and those who like their chocolate less sweet. I enjoyed it. It was relatively high in dark fruit (dried plum)/tannic acidity, and had a balanced bitterness to it. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Chocolate mousse, melon, white peach, and plum"

Ingredients: Organic cacao (Uganda), raw honey, organic cacao butter (Peru)

Allergen-related information: "Free of refined sugar, soy, dairy, and gluten"

Monsoon Chocolate - Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania 77% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Monsoon Chocolate
Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania 77% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 136 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Monsoon Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Kokoa Kamili Tanzania 77% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Monsoon Chocolate (Tucson, AZ) and is part of the company's Origin Series--made possible by direct collaborations with (and purchases from) farmers and fermenteries in cacao-growing countries.

Aroma notes included sweet-tart red fruit (red berry) and dark chocolate. Other, much more subtle notes included: fleeting, barely detectable, balanced fermentation notes (faint raisin, fruit vinegar, salts) and green (mildly tart-bright succulents, wood sorrel) notes. 

This chocolate had a creamy melt and texture.

Flavor notes for this well-crafted, very balanced 77% Tanzania cacao bar included the aforementioned tart-sweet red berry--that shaded into bittersweet, ripe red cherry and lingered lightly in the finish along with smooth dark chocolate (not quite as chocolate-y as soft dark fudge but getting there).

There were no off flavors; just smooth dark chocolate goodness with just enough complexity to be interesting. It was fruity without being too jammy-sweet or too acidic. (Thank you to the makers for not adding too much sugar. The selection of 77% cacao (and "only" 23% sugar) seemed like a great choice for these beans and this bar.)

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

Allergen-related information: "There is no gluten or animal product added to this bar, however it is processed in a facility that also processes wheat, dairy, nuts and soy."

Mutari Chocolate - White Label Chocolate Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar) - May 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari Chocolate

White Label Chocolate - Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 178 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 (estimate) in 1 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar) was part of Mutari Chocolate's White Label bean-to-bar, craft chocolate collection.

This chocolate had a subtle dark chocolate aroma, with faint sweet, slightly tart, red fruit (red wine grape/raisin) notes, and barely there graham cracker and floral notes.

The bar broke with a snap at room temperature (65 degrees F.), and had a relatively smooth melt with a very slight dried fruit astringency.

Flavor notes included true dark chocolate with faint, fleeting earth and fruit yogurt notes. This 77% cacao bar was less intense/bitter than other darker chocolates approaching 80% cacao.

Three Nacional cacao hybrids from Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador, were used to make this bean-to-bar chocolate. The cacao was grown/produced (in a "wet" tropical forest area) on a single farm (Salazar Family Estate). Nacional is considered a fine flavor, heritage cacao associated with fruit, floral and herbal notes.

Maker's tasting notes: Fudge, brown fruit, honey suckle

Ingredients: Cacao bean, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Guatemala Asochivite 77% (bar) - Oct. 14, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate

Guatemala Asochivite 77% (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar

Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Central America Week, featuring chocolates made with cacao from Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Today's Guatemala Asochivite 77% (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). 

The single origin chocolate makers discovered this "surprisingly bright bean" when they traveled to the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala. The cacao was "grown and harvested by Q'eqchi Maya farmers."

Aroma notes included: subtle, tart sweet fruit (ripe persimmon, apple) and very faint (almost inferred)* warm spice.

The bar had a creamy melt and texture.

Flavor notes included: sustained, balanced tart sweet fruit, acidic fruit (peach, apple, mango). Sweet and fruit notes were well balanced, like a good cider. Low in bitterness.

This bright fruit session was followed by a gentle wall of more opaque creamy, soft dark chocolate and a fade at the finish--conjuring the image of an autumn fog descending softly onto an apple orchard.

The makers press their own single origin cocoa butter to match it with the cocoa beans from the same origin to help reinforce the aroma and flavor notes of the particular region.

Maker's tasting notes: "green banana and mango"

Ingredients: Single origin cacao beans, organic cane sugar, single origin cacao butter

Allergen related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts." "Soy free, vegan, gluten free."

*What do I mean by "almost inferred"? When I detect a "warm spice" note on the heels of a fruit or brown sugar/molasses note, my palette may be triggered into thinking of baked goods, baked apples or warm fruit compote with warm spices (like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger). It's hard to be sure if this warm spice note is truly inherent in the item I'm tasting, or whether my brain is filling in the blanks, and recalling an association with a related flavor memory.

Askinosie Chocolate - 77% Davao Philippines Dark Chocolate Bar - Jan. 16, 2021

Chocolate of the Day 

Askinosie Chocolate
77% Davao Philippines Dark Chocolate Bar
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Askinosie Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Philippines Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

The first single origin (Philippine) chocolate bar I remember tasting was back in 2009. It was a Davao (Philippines) milk chocolate bar from Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, MO). So, it was only fitting that we hoisted our chocolate wrappers in praise of Askinosie Chocolate today as we sampled another, darker, Davao bar from this same company, started by Shawn Askinosie in 2005.

The star was the Davao Philippines 77% Dark Chocolate Bar made with cacao grown in Davao (on Mindanao island) in the southern Philippines--where most cacao trees used to make chocolate are under cultivation. The banana was just along for the ride.*

This bar had a dark bittersweet aroma with faint hints of earth and acidity, a lovely creamy melt and texture. The flavor was earthy with a bit of acidity, but it was balanced and relatively uniform (no spiky or off flavors). Reasons to like this Davao origin chocolate included its deep, dense cacao flavor, and the fact that it wasn't too sweet (thank you).

The maker's notes included the following: "This earthy chocolate is Certified Kosher D.E., vegan and gluten free."

Ingredients: Davao, Philippines cocoa beans (76% cocoa liquor), organic cane sugar (23%), cocoa butter (1%)--pressed in the Askinosie factory from Davao cocoa beans.

Note: I ordered this bar from the Askinosie Chocolate website. When I double-checked yesterday (Jan. 15, 2021) this bar was listed as sold out.

*If one lives in the Philippines, there are several varieties of banana to choose from. Here in the U.S., most stores carry the Cavendish variety of banana. That's what I used today to make an a la carte banana flambe. Ole. The pairing of dark chocolate with flaming fruit via a wee bit of alcohol, was enjoyed only after the chocolate was carefully tasted and studiously reviewed. We try to be serious professionals here.

Auro Chocolate - 77% Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 9, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Auro Chocolate
77% Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and the Philippines Theme Week.

Today's 77% Dark Chocolate Filipino Origin bar was produced by Auro Chocolate (Calamba, Laguna, Philippines). The rapidly growing company was founded in 2015. Auro Chocolate branded offerings include finished bean-to-bar chocolate, single origin (Filipino) bars, as well as chocolate ingredients (cacao beans, cocoa butter) from farming partners in Mindanao.*

This relatively thick, square bar had a smooth, velvety melt and texture. It had true, uniform, bold chocolate flavor with balanced bitterness and acidity, a very faint vanilla note, and a polite finish. This chocolate was a very approachable ultra-dark bar.

Ingredients: Cacao mass, cane sugar, soy lecithin (emulsifier), natural vanilla extract.

*The Republic of the Philippines is made of more than 7,000 islands; however, the island nation is perhaps best known for the largest (and most populous) islands of Luzon (in the north) and Mindanao (in the south). The latter (home to more than 25 million people) is a geologically "younger" mountainous island with fertile, volcanic soils--ideally suited for growing cacao, coffee and many other crops. 

Southern Mindanao (especially the Davao region in SE Mindanao) is known for cacao. Cacao grows best in areas close to the Equator. And Davao City is located at an ideal 7.2 degrees latitude (just north of the Equator). 
 

Cacao Crudo - Siracusa Lemon PGI Zest 77% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 8, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo S.r.l.
Cioccolato Fondente Bio - Scorze di "Limone di Siracusa IGP" (barretta)
Dark Organic Chocolate "Siracusa Lemon PGI" Zests (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 149 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample from Cacao Crudo
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Cacao Crudo

Benvenuta! Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Honey and Citrus Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate "Siracusa Lemon PGI" Zests (bar) delivered bold flavors with just three ingredients: Peruvian cacao, coconut flower sap and Italian lemon zest. 

The makers at Cacao Crudo S.r.l. crafted this unroasted, Criollo chocolate (in their laboratory in Rome, Italy). The company offers raw chocolates made with fine cacao that are quite wonderful.

This bar had a lush green, sweet lemon tree scent. The 77% dark chocolate provided relatively intense and smooth dark flavor with faint green notes, and the lemon zest added a balanced bitter "bite." 

Not only has Cacao Crudo delivered on the promise of raw cacao, but also on potential existing with the marriage of high-quality cacao and high-quality lemon. (The few chocolate and lemon confections are almost always too sweet or made with lower quality ingredients.)

For those who also prefer less sugar,in your chocolate experience, the company's use of coconut flower sap sweetener and choice of a subtler sweetness level is also close to perfection in my opinion.

Chocolate Pairings

This bar was also a great chocolate to add to tasting plate/menu. I paired this intense 77% dark chocolate and lemon zest bar with the following beverages and foods: a hot coffee cocktail (with whiskey, honey and Frangelico liqueur); 3 varieties of tea (green, Fujian Oolong and smokey black teas); 3 varieties of honeys, cheeses; and warmed nuts today. 

The clean, almost green notes of the Fujian Oolong tea won out by a slim margin on the beverage pairing front.

The pairing with warm hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts (very lightly salted with sea salt and rosemary and drizzled with EVOO) was especially popular on this cold, windy day. But the pairing of this bar with cheeses was surprisingly successful as well.

*Ingredients: Unroasted, Organic Criollo cacao beans paste, Organic concentrated coconut flower sap, dried, Organic "Siracusa Lemon PGI" zests (3%).

PGI (in Italian IGP) is a special designation for Italian grown produce (grapes, hazelnuts, lemons, etc.) and foodstuffs tied to a specified region.

Mindo Chocolate Makers - Pure 77% Chocolate with Panela (bar) - Aug. 2, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mindo Chocolate Makers
Pure 77% Chocolate with Panela (bar)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 116 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mindo Chocolate Makers, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Pure 77% Chocolate with Panela (bar) was from Mindo Chocolate Makers (Dexter, MI) and was made in-country (in Mindo, Ecuador)--using organic, shade-grown Nacional cocoa beans grown near the production facility. This is rare, as most chocolate is manufactured in cities thousands of miles away from where the cacao originated.

This bar had a dark chocolate and brown sugar aroma and a smooth melt and texture (and it got creamier as it warmed up more than 20 degrees during the tasting process--from the first bite to the last).

The relatively deep, dark chocolate had a well-executed , even flavor profile (well-tempered, no off flavors or odd spikes) with hints of brown and maple sugar. (The bar did not contain any actual maple sugar.)

Surprisingly, for a bar with "panela" (raw sugar*) in its title, it wasn't that sweet (thank you). The relatively high cacao content (77 percent) allowed the even, solid dark chocolate flavor to run the show and take a bow into a pleasant finish without being too strong or bitter.

Ingredients: cocoa beans, raw sugar (panela)

*The compostable packaging (paper) was made from sugar cane pulp.

Mindo Chocolate Makers - Special Edition Sea Salt Sesame Garlic 77% Chocolate Bar - July 13, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mindo Chocolate Makers
Special Edition Chocolate Bar
Sea Salt and Sesame Garlic bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.45 oz. (40 g.) / 2.9 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mindo Chocolate Makers, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Savory Theme Week.

Today's Special/Limited Edition Sea Salt and Sesame Garlic 77% Chocolate Bar from Mindo Chocolate Makers (Dexter, MI and Mindo, Ecuador) was one of the most savory flavored bars to date.

The aroma was complex with hints of garlic,* and savory soup-like notes--along with wisps of chocolate and sesame. There are times when it's fun to be confused.

The base 77% heirloom cacao (Ecuador) chocolate had some floral aroma and flavor notes (characteristic of Ecuador cacao). You would think that these more almost light, sweet and delicate floral notes might have been crushed under such strong savory flavor inclusions and a relatively dark (higher % cacao) chocolate. But no. This co-existence was a testament to the makers, who created a nicely balanced, and very unique bar.

I enjoyed the tiny spikes of crunchy sea salt, garlic, sesame seeds, and some unique synergistic flavors created by this blend. About 3/4 way through the tasting process I tasted a fleeting, faint waxy flavor note. It was not necessarily unpleasant; and it may have been a reaction from the garlic and chocolate together.

This special bar may not be for everyone, but I had fun trying it. It should be noted: I'm fond of savory chocolate snacks and chocolate that isn't too sweet.

Ingredients: cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, garlic,* celtic sea salt, toasted sesame seeds

*The garlic used in this bar was from Dyer Family Organic Farm (Ann Arbor, MI).