Casa de Chocolates - Organic Peruvian Espresso (bar) - Dec. 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Casa de Chocolates

Organic Peruvian Espresso (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: $4.25 for 1 bar 

Purchased from: Napa Farms Market at SFO (airport)

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

Today's Organic Peruvian Espresso (bar) was from Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA). The company specializes in high-quality, small batch chocolates--many of them with a Meso-American flavor or twist/connection.

Aroma notes for this small bar included: sweet, almost floral, dark chocolate and coffee.

The texture was creamy, almost velvety, smooth dark chocolate with crunchy bits of finely ground espresso coffee beans.

This bar had a smooth, creamy dark chocolate flavor with bright sweetness and satisfying espresso coffee flavor accent notes, and a very faint touch of vanilla spice.

Ingredients: "Cacao, sugar, cocoa butter, crushed organic Peruvian espresso beans, vanilla, sunflower lecithin..."

Allergen-related information: "Dairy and gluten free"

Note: This entry was posted late due to international travel.

Casa de Chocolates - Organic Cacao Beans, Belize - Nov. 19, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Casa de Chocolates
Organic Cacao Beans - Belize
Good +++
Weight: .12 oz. (3.5 g.) / 12 oz. (339 g.) (estimate) in total package
Calories: 11 calories (estimate) in 3 beans
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 package/box
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates, Berkeley, CA

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

Today's Organic Cacao Beans from Belize were purchased some time ago, at Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA).

A carefully sealed pouch of cacao seeds (beans) has been waiting inside its box, that has been stored inside the Chocolate Vault;* and it was eagerly unwrapped, at last, for today's sampling.

Chocolate is made from the seeds (beans) of the Theobroma cacao fruit that grows on trees in Equatorial regions. Eating cacao seeds (beans) offers an essential pre-chocolate cacao tasting experience.

Each batch of seeds (beans) has a slightly different flavor profile that will influence the flavor of the chocolate made from these beans.

In today's case, these Organic Cacao Seeds from Belize were smooth, mellow and balanced, with a faint hint of fermentation (that diminished after opening), light fruit, a fleeting floral note, earth, wood and nut aroma and and flavor notes. These seeds were quite good, and could be included in many dishes, beverages and desserts if so desired.

To eat a whole cacao seed, open (or break) and remove the thin, papery brown outer husk and eat the cacao seeds (or seed pieces (nibs) after husk removal)—without any sweetener. This is a fine way to enjoy the essence of pure cacao for many dark chocolate lovers.

*This reference is to the Chocolate Banquet Chocolate Vault, a cool, dark place out of the sun, kept at a constant temperature. In this case, a wine refrigerator turned up to 65 degrees F. (18.3 degrees C.) was used.

Casa de Chocolates - Organic Peruvian Espresso bar - May 22, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Casa de Chocolates
Organic Peruvian Espresso bar
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 2.89 oz. (81.7 g.) in total bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. (14.1 g.) of bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Organic Theme Week. Many chocolatiers and chocolate makers are concerned about sustainable farming practices and manufacturing processes, and choosing organic cacao beans and other ingredients may be part of that philosophy. Today's bar was a good example.

This Organic Peruvian Espresso 61% cacao bar was "hecho a mano" (made by hand) by Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA). The company specializes in sustainable chocolates (many are organic) with Latin American inspired themes and flavor inclusions.

Today's vegan and gluten-free bar had the nicely balanced blend of smooth, sweet dark chocolate and coffee (espresso) flavor and texture (the ground coffee bits were not too gritty). 

Mayan Calendar - May 2, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Casa de Chocolates
Mayan Calendar
Good
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.)
Calories: 450 calories (estimate) in 1 calendar
Cost: $10.00
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates, Berkeley, CA

Today's solid chocolate (61% cacao) disc depicting the Mayan calendar was made by Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA). A description of this calendar, on the company's website, reads:

"The Mayan calendar is remarkable and respected as the most accurate calendar to date; it was the center of Maya life and their greatest cultural achievement."

In hauling this venerable chocolate calendar around (to Belize and back) this past week, the 5-inch disc developed a crack -- a bit like the Liberty Bell that I saw many years ago in Philadelphia, PA. In both cases, a crack did nothing to diminish the interesting history of this calendar, or how much I liked the item. This chocolate was a fun one to show people in Belize; some (including cacao farmers) were Maya descendants.

Pepitas bar - April 25, 2013

Photo: Casa de Chocolates 

Chocolate of the Day: 

Casa de Chocolates
Pepitas bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate) for 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1 bar
Cost: $ part of a 3-bar package purchase (3 mini bars for $8)
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates, Berkeley, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Latin America Theme Week.

Pumpkin seeds (or pepitas) are used in sauces, and in many different Latin dishes. Before hopping a plane to Belize this week, I visited Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA). Their shop carried chocolates with many interesting Mexican and Latin flavors (mango with chili, mole, cajeta, etc.) -- including bars with pepitas.

Today's smaller sized "mini" Pepitas bar from Casa de Chocolates was just right for a single serving. The smooth dark (61% cacao) chocolate bar base had a pleasant, smooth, buttery melt and was topped with an attractive smattering of agave caramelized pepitas -- green, crunchy pumpkin seeds with just a hint of salt. (This bar was vegan and gluten free.)

(Thank you to the Belcampo Lodge chocolate tasters in Belize this week, for tasting help and input. Chocolate is always better when it's shared.)

Note: Posts and photos will be delayed this week due to travel. However, the daily chocolate eating will continue.

Mole bar - April 24, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Casa de Chocolates
Mole bar
Good +
Weight: 1.445 oz. (40.85 g.) / 2.89 oz. (81.7 g.) total bar
Calories: 215 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 for one bar
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates table at the Chocolate Salon, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Latin America Theme Week.

There are many variations on the ground spice blend that is mole. Most people are familiar with mole sauce that is served with chicken and other savory dishes. The deep brown version of this sauce usually contains cocoa, giving it a rich, earthy, spicy flavor.

Today's Mole dark chocolate (61% cacao) bar from Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA) was made with 11 spices and chiles -- and contained almonds and pumpkin seeds. This bar was also vegan and gluten free.

This bar had a sweet, spicy kick to it that intensified toward the end. The chocolate base was smooth and not overly strong or acidic, so the spices occupied center stage with this offering.

Note: posts and photos will be delayed this week due to travel. However, the daily chocolate eating will continue.

Inca Crunch Quinoa bar - April 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Casa de Chocolates
Inca Crunch (Roasted Quinoa) bar
Good +
Weight: 1.445 oz. (40.85 g.) / 2.89 oz. (81.7 g.) total bar
Calories: 215 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates table, at the Chocolate Salon in San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Latin American Theme Week.

I'm here in Belize, close to the birthplace of chocolate. So why did I bring chocolates from the San Francisco Bay Area down here with me? Three reasons.

First, this dark chocolate (61% cacao) Inca Crunch bar with roasted quinoa is from Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA), a shop that specializes in Latin American themed chocolates. Second, even though carrying chocolates down here was a bit like carrying coals to Newcastle, I didn't want to risk going a single day without a new chocolate on hand.

Last, but not least, sometimes I just can't help buying extra chocolate items that catch my fancy. And such was the case when I visited Casa de Chocolates, where I found a dazzling array of Latin flavored bars and truffles right before this trip.

The Inca Crunch bar was vegan and gluten-free, and the quinoa provided a pleasant, grain-like, crunchy texture that balanced the richer, smooth dark chocolate base.

Note: posts and photos will be delayed this week due to travel. However, the chocolate eating will continue.

Maracuya truffle - April 22, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Casa de Chocolates
Maracuya truffle
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .38 oz. (10.75 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle
Calories: 57 calories (estimate) for 1 truffle
Cost: $N/A - part of larger assortment box
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates, Berkeley, CA

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and Latin America Theme Week.

I love chocolate field trips. Today I'm embarking on a big one -- a trip to the Toledo District of Belize (an important cacao growing area in the southern part of the country).

However, as a warm up, yesterday I visited  Casa de Chocolates in Berkeley California, a shop filled with chocolate bars, truffles/filled chocolates, hot chocolate, and other dessert items -- all with a unique Latin twist. (They were also selling some organic cacao beans from Belize.)

I bought a small box of truffles, a disc-shaped Mayan calendar, some Belize beans, and three small bars. The truffles were hard to resist, with flavors like: Maracuya (coconut milk and passion fruit); Mezcal with sal de gusano; Cajeta (made with goat's milk caramel); Tamarindo; and Chipotle Caramel.


Today I'm featuring the Maracuya (passion fruit) truffle, emblazoned with a pink skull wearing a hat. This chocolate was filled with a creamy blend of coconut milk and the tart-sweet passion fruit -- a great combination of flavors. I look forward to trying more of these truffles from Casa de Chocolates next month.

Note: Posts and photos will be delayed this week, due to travel, but the chocolate eating will continue unabated.