Fossa Chocolate - Honey Orchid Dancong Oolong 52% dark milk chocolate (bar) - June 20, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
Honey Orchid Dancong Oolong 52% dark milk chocolate (bar) 
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 273 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Tanzania Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Floral Theme Week. 

Happy Summer Solstice. I couldn't imagine a better bar to celebrate this spring-to-summer transition. 

Today's Honey Orchid Dancong Oolong 52% dark milk chocolate (bar) was made by Fossa Chocolate (Singapore). This collaboration with Pekoe & Imp (Singapore company specializing in single origin teas) was part of the Fossa's "Tea Chocolate" series.

Aroma notes for this tea-infused bar included: dark milk chocolate with subtle honey, orchid, faint stone fruit (peach, nectarine), and ripe guava. (It was a perfect sensory match with the bar's name.)

Texture: luxurious and creamy mouthfeel and melt

Flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate with blooming honey, floral, cream, oolong tea and fruit (peach, guava) notes.

I loved the aroma, creamy texture and complex, elegant, botanically authentic flavors that unfolded like a beautifully painted fan. This thoughtfully sourced and well-executed chocolate was fit for royalty.

Tasting Notes: "Floral fragrance layered with notes of guava and cream"

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, tea leaves"

Allergen-related information: "Contains dairy. Produced in a facility that processes nuts."

The Chocolate Conspiracy - Gingerbread Rooibos Chocolate Bar - Apr. 19, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Chocolate Conspiracy
Gingerbread Rooibos Chocolate Bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .8 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Conspiracy, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Tea Week.

Today's Gingerbread Rooibos Chocolate Bar was made (from bean-to-bar) by The Chocolate Conspiracy (Salt Lake City, UT).

This chocolate was "crafted with organic, unroasted, single-origin Peruvian cacao beans and sweetened with raw, unfiltered honey."

Aroma and flavor notes for this herbal tea-infused dark milk bar included: dark chocolate (relatively smooth, subtle herbal (tea), honey; faint, diffuse fruit (very faint pineapple, papaya, mango); and very faint earth and nut (walnut). 

This bar was also fairly low in bitterness, acidity and astringency. 

There were faint, diffuse spice notes; but it was hard to make out any ginger (that may have inspired the "gingerbread" (rooibos) in the product name.

I liked the 1.) smooth, luxe texture; 2.) the subtle, diffuse tropical fruit and floral honey notes; and 3.) the relatively short list of authentic, less-processed, quality ingredients (no emulsifiers or "Natural Flavors").

Ingredients: Raw Organic Cacao Beans, Raw Unfiltered Honey, Raw Organic Cacao Butter, Herbal Tea Blend (Rooibos, Pineapple, Mango, Papaya, Coconut, Walnut, Peanut, Hazelnut), Organic Ginger, Organic Clove. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Nuts. Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, coconut, and pistachios.

 

Fossa Chocolate - Teh Tarik 51% (bar) - Apr. 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
51% Teh Tarik (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 284.5 calories in 1 bar (569 kcals for 100 g.)
Cost: $12.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate & India Theme Week.

Today's 51% Cacao Teh Tarik tea-infused milk chocolate was made by Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore). The company offers a variety of high-quality tea chocolate bars that draw from some of the best single origin tea and cacao traditions.

Teh Tarik ("hand pulled" or "pulled tea" in English) is a popular Malaysian style tea created by pouring hot black tea and condensed milk back and forth, until the two are fully integrated. 

To create a dark milk chocolate version of this beverage, the makers sourced fine cacao (from Hacienda Limon, Ecuador) and Pine Smoked Darjeeling Tea (from Gopaldhara estate in India).

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: complex sweet black tea, condensed milk/Thai iced tea, faint floral, brown sugar, spices and sweet pine resin; and balanced, flavorful milk chocolate.

Texture: creamy and smooth

I loved the Darjeeling tea notes in this rich, luxe milk tea bar. I wondered if the tea notes were somewhat subdued by the milk and sugar.

I reminded myself that the milk and sugar may also have masked some astringency, bitterness or tannins. But that too was unlikely, given that these "bolder" aspects were all but missing in this chocolate,

I also appreciated the short list of high-quality (and single origin) ingredients. 

Ingredients: Cacao butter, cane sugar, cacao, milk powder, tea leaves

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy. 

Fossa Chocolate - 54% Dark Milk Earl Grey Lavender (bar) - Apr. 9, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
54% Dark Milk - Earl Grey Lavender (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 284 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's 54% Dark Milk - Earl Grey Lavender (bar) was made by Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore).

This 54% milk chocolate was made using "((biscuity) Tanzanian cacao from Kokoa Kamili fermentery Semuliki Forest organic cacao"; and the lavender flowers used were from Germany.

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate (drinking chocolate/rich dark creamy cocoa); floral (aromatic lavender); very faint, diffuse tart fruit (apple, citrus); and barely detectable earth, and balanced tea astringency.

Texture: smooth; and creamy. And this chocolate became creamier the longer it was melting my mouth.

I liked: 1.) the short list of quality ingredients; 2.) the authentic lavender floral taste; 3.) If you like floral flavors, specifically lavender, and chocolate, I recommend giving this bar. 

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, milk powder, Earl Grey tea leaves (tea leaves, bergamot oil), lavender flower

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy."

The Chocolate Conspiracy - Americano Chai with Milk Chocolate Bar - Apr. 8, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Chocolate Conspiracy
Americano Chai with Milk Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Conspiracy, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Tea Week.

Today's Americano Chai with Milk Chocolate Bar was made (from bean-to-bar) by The Chocolate Conspiracy (Salt Lake City, UT).

This chocolate was "crafted with organic, unroasted, single-origin Peruvian cacao beans and sweetened with organic coconut palm sugar."

Aroma and flavor notes for this tea-infused dark milk bar included: dark chocolate (relatively dark, bold but balanced, with very faint earth); and subtle infused spices (star anise, clove, cinnamon, citrus (orange peel tea), and faint herbal/fennel*). 

I liked the 1.) small quantity of milk that contributed to a smoother texture, but didn't muffle the cacao and spices--flavors that were mellowed, not overwhelmed; 2.) choice of coconut palm sugar (that added warmth, helped slow/minimize the sugar buzz); and 3.) short list of authentic, less-processed, quality ingredients (no emulsifiers, "Natural Flavors").

Ingredients: Raw Organic Cacao Beans, Raw Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar, Tea Blend (Black Tea, Orange Peel, Clove, Cinnamon), Milk Powder. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy. Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, coconut, and pistachios.

*Note: there was no fennel (or star anise) in the tea blend listed in the ingredients.

 

Fossa Chocolate - Tea Chocolate Uji Hojicha (bar) - April 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
Tea Chocolate - Uji Hojicha (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 148.5 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Uji Hojicha (bar) was part of the Tea Chocolate collection from Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore).

This 53% milk chocolate was made using Hojicha roasted Japanese green tea from Kyoto and "Ugandan Semuliki Forest organic cacao."

Aroma and flavor notes included: subtle dark milk chocolate, and lovely roasted (almost malty) and floral tea notes.

Texture: well-tempered chocolate with a thick and luxurious creamy melt and mouthfeel.

I really enjoyed the: 1.) sophisticated, complex tea flavor notes, 2.) very smooth, creamy dark milk chocolate, and 3.) well-executed and almost perfectly balanced chocolate--made with a short list of quality ingredients. 

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Nutty and toasty tea aroma with a creamy mouthfeel"

Ingredients: Cacao, cacao butter, cane sugar, milk powder, tea leaves

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy."

 

NeoCocoa - Milk Tea Toffee Brittle - Apr. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

NeoCocoa
Milk Tea Toffee Brittle 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 3.0 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: N/A - not listed on packaging 
Cost: $11.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Toque Blanche, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's Milk Tea Toffee Brittle was from NeoCocoa (Belmont, CA).

NeoCocoa founder and chocolatier, Christine Doerr, has produced a line of very tasty chocolate covered toffees and treats since 2008 (and probably before then). See previous entries on Chocolate Banquet.*

Aroma notes for today's toffee brittle included: subtle dark milk chocolate; tea with milk and sugar; faint botanical (citrus, seed) and floral (bergamot orange blossom, and (imagined) very faint, sweet lavender).

Texture: generously-sized, shards of (crunchy then chewy) toffee brittle were covered in smooth milk chocolate.

Flavor notes: smooth, creamy milk chocolate, authentic buttery toffee (browned sugar, butter, vanilla), and very faint seed and botanical (tea with bergamot). The Earl Grey (bergamot orange) tea flavor became more prominent toward the finish, and continued (in a most pleasing way) into an extended finish. I loved the progression of the tea flavor. 

As with all NeoCocoa toffee brittles, this Milk Tea flavor was addicting. Be forewarned. If you're overly hungry, this toffee in this package will disappear almost immediately.

Ingredients: Dark-milk chocolate (cane sugar, milk, cocoa butter, cacao beans, sunflower lecithin, vanilla beans), brown sugar, butter, black tea, bergamot. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy.

*Other toffee brittle flavors include: black sesame seed; warm ginger root; and toffee (cacao) nib.

Nature's Garden - Oat Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds - Feb. 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Nature's Garden
Oat Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nature's Garden Oak Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds were from Cibo Vita Inc. (Totowa, NJ).

Aroma and layered flavor notes included: subtle chocolate; faint oat/cereal; sweet green, almost fruity/floral, refreshing tea (green tea); and nut (almond). 

There were pleasant, light, lingering almond butter and fruit (jelly/jam) + oatmeal/oat bread sandwich notes in the finish. 

Overall I enjoyed the flavors in these almonds. The chocolate element was subtle, and added some complementary flavor depth to the lighter green/floral and nut notes.

These coated almonds were made in the USA -- using ingredients sourced from Canada, Colombia and the United States.

Ingredients: Oat Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Dried Gluten Free Oat Powder, Cocoa Mass, Dried Rice Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla Extract, Natural Flavor), Roasted Almonds (Almonds, Peanut Oil), Matcha Seasoning (Sugar, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin [Corn], Silicon Dioxide, Gum Arabic, Soybean Oil, Citric Acid), Natural Flavor Green Tea Type Oil, Sugar, Maltodextrin, Dextrin, Color (Spirulina Extract), Color (Turmeric). 

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds) (and peanut oil). "Made in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, wheat, egg & sesame. May contain pits, shell pieces or other naturally occurring objects."

Butlers Chocolates - Drumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Truffles - Sept. 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Butlers Chocolates
Drumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus
Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Chocolate Truffles
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 8 pieces
Calories: 249 calories in 4 pieces (498 kcals in 100 g.)
Cost: 9.00 Euros or $9.00 (estimated USD) for 1 box
Purchased from: The Loop Dublin Airport (shop), Collinstown (Dublin), Ireland

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Ireland Series.

Today's Dumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Chocolate Truffles was from Butlers Chocolates UC (Dublin, Ireland). 

Butlers was founded in 1932 by Marion Bailey-Butler. It subsequently was acquired; and in the 1980s the company name became Butlers Irish Chocolates.

. It subsequently was acquired; and in the 1980s the company name became Butlers Irish Chocolates.

The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus used to animate these chocolates was "slow distilled at The Shed Distillery--located in the village of Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. Founded in 2014 by PJ Rigney, this producer of gin (including Gunpowder Irish Gin), whiskey and vodka was the first distillery in this area in over 100 years. 

Aroma notes for these filled confections included: sweet milk chocolate and faint citrus (lemon, various other citrus) and spirits (gin, botanicals).

The thick, Butlers Chocolates 32% milk chocolate* outer shell was thick, creamy and sweet. But, things got a lot more flavorful inside, after the first bite.

Botanical inclusions in the gin (that flavored the centers) included the traditional juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet, cardamom and star anise. But the flavor notes were even more multi-layered and complex, and included citrus (lemon, lemon peel, sweet grapefruit), botanicals (herbal, floral (meadowsweet), gunpowder tea, and balanced juniper in the finish)...and very faint cedar.

The citrus, tea and herbal notes really helped to counter the inherent sweetness of these milk chocolates. 

Ingredients: Sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, Drumshanbo Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus(R) (6.9%), sweetened condensed milk (milk, sugar), invert sugar syrup, glucose syrup, lemon compound (lemon 47%), sugar, nature flavouring, acidity regulator: sodium citrate, anti-oxidant: ascorbic acid), emulsifier: soya lecithin, glycerol, citric acid, natural flavouring. (Milk chocolate contains: 32% cocoa solids minimum, 20% milk solids minimum. White chocolate contains: 26% cocoa solids minimum, 20% milk solids minimum). Alcohol by volume: 3.15%

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. "This product may contain nut traces."

*The cacao origin listed: "West Africa."

Vosges - Black Raspberry with Fermented Black Tea 93% (bar) - Feb. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Vosges
Black Raspberry with Fermented Black Tea 93% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Today's Black Raspberry with Fermented Black Tea, Raw Honey and Whole Cacao 93% Cacao (bar) was from Vosges IP, LLC (Chicago, IL). 

Vosges offers a range of attractively designed chocolates (bars and confections). This bar was part of the company's "LAB collection" made with no refined sugars and using the "entire cacao pod."

Aroma notes for this bar included: ultra-dark chocolate (deep, dense forest, earth) and very faint fruit (berries).

I enjoyed the texture--a blend of fine-grained crunchy and creamy cocoa elements (including "cacao berry fiber and flour" and cacao fruit puree. 

Flavor notes included: chocolate (deep cacao flavors -- de-fanged Forastero*), faint flickers of bright fruit (raspberry, very faint mango), and very faint, fruity black tea. During a relatively long finish, there were dark chocolate and berry cereal notes.

For a 93% cacao dark chocolate, this was well balanced, and a bit sweeter than expected. Use of raw honey and cacao "fruit, fiber and seed" added sweetness and enjoyable flavor complexity.

Ingredients: Unsweetened chocolate processed with alkali, cocoa butter, raw honey, cacao berry (cacao berry fiber, cacao berry flour), cacao berry flour, blueberry, black raspberry, ceylon black tea, cacao fruit puree. 

Allergen-related information: "Processed on equipment that also processes milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

*The unsweetened chocolate used to make this bar was treated with alkali, a process that smooths out the rough edges and makes the chocolate/cocoa taste less acidic/bitter. The very deep, dense cacao flavor reminded me of Forastero variety cacao beans. The addition of black raspberries and blueberries (dark berries) as well as cacao pulp and black tea, added a friendly amount of balanced fruit and tannic acidity.

 

Fu Wan Chocolate - Taiwan #10 Ping Tung 53% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 31, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fu Wan Chocolate
Taiwan #10 Ping Tung 53% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .795 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Taiwan #10 Ping Tung 53% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was created by Fu Wan Chocolate (Pingtung County, Taiwan, R.O.C.).

This single origin bar offered a uniquely special and very subtle bouquet of chocolate aroma notes, including: chocolate (subtle milk chocolate), faint fleeting malt, faint clean mineral (clay), faint diffuse fruit (apple, raisin, peach), faint warm floral spice (soft vanilla and very faint cinnamon), very faint nut/seed, and very faint green tea floral.

The texture of this 53% dark milk chocolate was uniformly smooth and relatively creamy.

The flavor notes closely mirrored the aroma notes (above). This dark milk chocolate was filled with a very subtle array of fruit flavors. The milk (powder) softened/muted any strong fruit acidity and possibly other more subtle flavors. The chocolate was very low in bitterness. And it had a very mild, but long finish. In that finish were hidden whispers of nut (very fleeting lightly roasted peanut), and fruit (peach and light osmanthus blossom tea).

I paired this chocolate with small cups of osmanthus* oolong tea and jasmine green tea.

Some 53% cacao dark milk chocolates and confections can be very sweet. This bar was not. (Thank you!) The choice of less sugar (less than is often present here in the U.S.) made it much easier to detect the subtle flavors that were present.

I recommend trying this bar, or including it as part of a chocolate tasting flight. (Try this one first before stronger tasting chocolates, so you can still taste the softly complex notes.)

Maker's tasting notes: Apple, raisin, toffee, nuts, vanilla

Ingredients: Cacao bean, sugar, milk powder, cacao butter, vanilla pod

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk) 

*Osmanthus are aromatic flowering evergreen large shrubs/small trees native to China, Indochina and Japan. 

There are some that grow in a park near my house in California. I walked by a row of tall bushes with small clusters of tiny, fragrant, ivory-colored flowers last November; and I immediately recognized the smell as the flavoring in an Chinese tea I'd enjoyed. 

I've since been able to make my own flower-infused tea from local osmanthus blossoms, since it grows here as well as Taiwan, R.O.C.--where today's chocolate originated; and where osmanthus-infused tea is also popular.

My experience with osmanthus is that is has an apricot/peach scent and light citrus/stone fruit-floral, lightly herby flavor.

 

Patricia's Chocolate - The Tea Collection - 5.) Bumble Blossom Oolong, 6.) Hummingbird Nectar - Jan. 30, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Patricia's Chocolate

The Tea Collection 
5.) Bumble Blossom Oolong chocolate - Good + - Good ++ 

6.) Hummingbird Nectar chocolate - Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total box of 6 pieces
Calories: 156 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $16.50 for 1 box of 6 (different) pieces
Purchased from: Patricia's Chocolate, online order

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

Today I sampled the last two flavors in the Tea Collection (assortment) created by Patricia at Patricia's Chocolate (Grand Haven, Michigan), in collaboration with Michigan blended Light of Day certified organic teas and tisanes.

Bumble Blossom Oolong tea chocolate

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractive, generously-sized, filled chocolate included: chocolate; faint, lightly floral oolong tea; and diffuse, slightly sweet, slightly earthy botanical and faint fruit (stone fruit) notes. (The latter notes were likely from the red top clover, a common cover crop in Michigan, and one that attracts bumblebee pollinators.)

Maker's notes: "The delightful dark chocolate palet is infused with Shui Xiang oolong tea and herbal red top clover yielding a relaxing and lovely subtle peach note."

Hummingbird Nectar tea chocolate

Aroma and flavor notes for this Michigan-inspired tea chocolate (decorated in gold) included an intriguing blend of sweet dark chocolate and gently complex cherry and berry fruit notes (cherry, blueberry, raspberry) infused into a velvety dark chocolate ganache filling. (Note: what I think was bright red raspberry was actually part of a hibiscus flower tea with bright red fruit-floral notes.)

As with the previous members of this Tea Collection, today's two chocolates were well-crafted, thoughtfully-balanced tea chocolates. Each element contributed bouquets of Michigan-inspired flavors. 

The choice of a dark(er) chocolate also helped prevent these two filled confections from being too sweet (thank you).

Maker's notes: "A golden ganache in every sense, this rich dark couverture is created with cream infused with a tisane of hibiscus, Montmorency cherry, blueberry, grape, currant, elderberry, and maple syrup. A luscious and creamy indulgence with an incredible and unique flavor profile."

Patricia makes "...artisan chocolates...handcrafted in the French tradition from the finest non-GMO fair trade couverture cocoas." Made without preservatives, artificial flavorings, or additives. 

Ingredients: (Ingredients listed on box, were for all six (different) chocolates. So it was difficult to determine the exact list for each individual chocolate.)

Allergen-related information: Ganache fillings contain dairy (heavy cream, unsalted butter). Some flavors may contain traces of nuts. Contact Patricia's Chocolates for more detailed information.

 

Leith Chocolate - Earl Grey Tea Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 28, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Leith Chocolate
Earl Grey Tea Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 218 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.67 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cost Plus World Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Earl Grey Tea Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Leith Chocolate (South Queensferry, Scotland, with an EU office in Belfast). 

Virtual Travel via Tea and Chocolate

Like most chocolate bars, this tea chocolate had a multi-layered international supply chain and story to tell. Leith Chocolate is named after Leith, a port in north Edinburgh, in Scotland. 

The company sources cacao to make their chocolates from South America. The cacao used to create this bar was from Colombia. 

The black tea in this bar was also grown in a more tropical/equatorial locale. And the bergamot oil used to flavor said tea may have come from a Mediterranean country.*) 

This citrus-floral forward international chocolate also evoked bergamot oil scented tea memories from visits to relatives in Europe and the U.K. And, finally, this bar was shipped to U.S. locations. And I was able to purchase this chocolate in California at a World Market store location. The scent alone was uplifting and transporting.**

Aroma notes for this attractively packaged (a plum colored field covered with pale purple blossoms) dark 61% chocolate included: dark chocolate, aromatic citrus (bergamot, Earl Grey tea) and very faint vanilla.

This well-tempered bar broke with a snap and had a smooth creamy melt and texture.

Flavor notes included: smooth, relatively sweet dark chocolate, bergamot oil flavored Earl Grey tea, and very faint vanilla.

Overall these flavors were appealing and well-balanced. The sweetness (sugar) level for this 61% tea chocolate was a little too high for my taste, but it was quite good otherwise.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (cocoa liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, non-GMO soy lecithin, natural vanilla extract), Earl Grey tea, bergamot oil.

Allergen-related information: Made in a factory that handles dairy, peanuts, soy and tree nuts.

* Bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) is a hybrid citrus fruit (sour orange + lemon) cultivated in southern Italy. (Almost all citrus fruit originated from Asia/SE Asia, but various cultivars and crosses developed elsewhere over time.) Its aromatic rind, and the essential oil extracted from the peel, are what gives Earl Grey black tea its unique flavor. Bergamot is also used in perfumes, fragrances, lotions, and for other uses.

**Yes, it is sobering to think about the carbon emissions/energy involved in international agricultural and packaged goods supply chains; but, fortunately, the virtual travel imaginings and memories this tea chocolate triggered were almost 100% carbon free. 

 

Patricia's Chocolate - The Tea Collection 2.) Heartwarming Cinnamon, 3.) Peaceful Peninsulas - Jan. 27, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Patricia's Chocolate

The Tea Collection 
2.) Heartwarming Cinnamon tea chocolate - Good + - Good ++

3.) Peaceful Peninsulas tea chocolate - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total box of 6 pieces
Calories: 156 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $16.50 for 1 box of 6 (different) pieces
Purchased from: Patricia's Chocolate, online order

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

Today I sampled two more flavors in the Tea Collection (assortment) created by Patricia at Patricia's Chocolate (Grand Haven, Michigan), in collaboration with Michigan blended Light of Day certified organic teas and tisanes.

Heartwarming Cinnamon tea chocolate

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractive, generously-sized, filled chocolate included: dark chocolate and balanced herbal/botanical spices (cinnamon bark, rooibos (herbal tea), faint star anise and clove).

Peaceful Peninsulas tea chocolate

Aroma and flavor notes for this Michigan-inspired tea chocolate included an intriguing blend of complex fruit (cherry, berry, elderberry, and apple toward the finish), faintly herbal warm spice, faint fluxing floral, and very faint green tea.

This unique and subtle blend conjured up images of sitting in a garden, surrounded by soft scents of ripe lush fruits and flowers. 

Both chocolates were well-crafted, thoughtfully-balanced tea chocolates. Each element contributed satisfying bouquets of aroma and flavor. 

The dark chocolate couverture (outer covering) for these two palet-style pieces was thin, almost softly crispy (in a cold room at 65 degrees F. (18.3 degrees C.)). The chocolate was thick enough to impart flavor, but not thick enough to overpower the more delicate tea, fruit and floral infusions in the smooth, velvety ganache fillings that were creamy and fresh tasting.

The choice of a dark(er) chocolate also helped prevent these two filled confections from being too sweet (thank you).

Maker's notes: "...artisan chocolates...handcrafted in the French tradition from the finest non-GMO fair trade couverture cocoas." Made without preservatives, artificial flavorings, or additives.

Ingredients: (Ingredients listed on box, were for all six (different) chocolates. So it was difficult to determine the exact list for each individual chocolate.)

Allergen-related information: Ganache fillings contain dairy (heavy cream, unsalted butter). Some flavors may contain traces of nuts. Contact Patricia's Chocolates for more detailed information.

 

Patricia's Chocolate - The Tea Collection (assortment box) - 1.) Earl Grey Tea - Jan. 26, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Patricia's Chocolate
Earl Grey Tea chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total box of 6 pieces
Calories: 78 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $16.50 for 1 box of 6 (different) pieces
Purchased from: Patricia's Chocolate, online order

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

Today I sampled the first flavor in a Tea Collection assortment -- an Earl Grey Tea chocolate -- created by Patricia's Chocolate (Grand Haven, Michigan).

Aroma notes for this attractive, generously-sized, filled chocolate included: dark chocolate (balanced cocoa, very faint earth and oxalis (tart lemon-green herb) and very faint tea.

The dark chocolate outer shell was flavorful (bold but well balanced dark cocoa) and had a "just right" thickness (relatively thin, but thick enough to securely contain a creamy, velvety ganache (filling)--with a very pleasing Earl Grey/Lady Grey* tea infused chocolate taste.

This was a well-crafted, well-balanced tea chocolate. Each element contributed great flavor. The dark chocolate was, happily, more complex than the rather bland dark chocolate(s) that are often used for confections. 

And the tea components (which included some very light floral ingredients) still had a chance to shine. There was also a light, lingering Earl Grey tea finish. The more bold/darker chocolate also helped prevent this chocolate from being too sweet.

Maker's notes: "Our original Earl Grey ganache has blossomed into an exquisite confection with cream suffused with black tea, blue cornflowers, lavender, calendula petals, vanilla, and of course, oil of bergamot."

Ingredients: (Ingredients listed on box, were for all six (different) chocolates. So it was difficult to determine the exact list for each individual chocolate.)

Allergen-related information: Allergen-related information: Ganache fillings contain dairy (heavy cream, unsalted butter). Some flavors may contain traces of nuts. Contact Patricia's Chocolates for more detailed information.

*Lady Grey tea (named after Mary Elizabeth Grey, was introduced (and trademarked) by Twinings Tea in England in the early 1990s). This black tea contains the traditional Earl Grey bergamot (oil) flavor (derived from the aromatic bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia) citrus peel) as well as other lighter citrus (lemon, orange peel) elements. 

The bergamot citrus fruit is a cross between a bitter orange and a lemon. Other similar bergamot oil infused tea blends may also contain citrus peel(s) as well as calendula (pot marigold) flower petals and lavender buds. 

In 2016, Twinings further extended their bergamot-flavored tea portfolio, and began offering new versions of Earl Grey tea (including one with lavender).

Fu Wan Chocolate - Taiwan #1 Ping Tung Chocolate 85% (bar) - Jan. 25, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fu Wan Chocolate
Taiwan #1 Ping Tung Chocolate 85% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .795 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $13.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and Tea Week.

Today's Taiwan #1 Ping Tung 85% (bar) was from Fu Wan Chocolate (located in Ping Tung (aka Pingtung) County, in southern Taiwan, R.O.C.).

The company makes a variety of bean-to-bar chocolates featuring local ingredients. These include tree-to-bar chocolates made using local cacao from southern Taiwan. Other chocolates have infused tea or spice flavor inclusions.

Aroma notes in today's single origin (tree-to-bar) chocolate included: chocolate (cocoa, lightly roasted coffee), faint brown sugar/molasses, fruit (goji berry, faint raisin), and green (very light algae) notes. 

This relatively thick 85% bar had smooth, uniform texture and a very light, faint (fruit) astringency. Each bite yielded rich, deep cacao flavor, and notes that mirrored aroma notes mentioned above. There was also a faint, fleeting spice note (star anise). 

This ultra dark bar had interesting, balanced complexity; and a relatively low(er) sugar percentage content enabled more direct, clear access to the natural range of cacao flavors. It was full of subtle aroma and flavor and low in bitterness.

I paired today's chocolate with a small cup of warm "Iron Goddess"* tea, a relatively straight-forward tea blend that was low in bitterness, and had pleasant green tea floral, and very faint grassy and clean mineral notes.

Ingredients: Cacao bean, sugar, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: (No information found on label.)

*Iron Goddess Oolong tea is frequently associated with Fujian province in southeastern China--that borders the China Sea coast (across from Taiwan), where this tea is also grown. Iron Goddess tea is a tea that has typically been oxidized. (Although the degree of oxidation may range from 50 to 25 percent, depending on where it is made.)

Green and Black's - Organic Milk Chocolate with Almonds bar - June 16, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Green and Black's

Organic Milk Chocolate with Almonds (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.17 oz. (90 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA 

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

Today's Green and Black's Organic Milk Chocolate with Almonds (bar) was made in Italy and distributed by Mondelez Global LLC (East Hanover, NJ).

This bar had true, rich, creamy, sweet milk chocolate aroma and flavor with nutty and caramel notes. (I felt I could really taste the organic milk (24% milk content); and that was a good thing.)

Tea pairing experiments

As for (tea) pairings, it's a bit like mixing paint colors. You can mix two analogous (similar) colors (close to each other on the color wheel), e.g. yellow and orange. Or you can choose opposite colors (e.g. red and green) on the color wheel. Similar colors might be more harmonious. Opposing colors may clash, destroy/dull each other's best attributes, or they might complete each other wonderfully--e.g. adding a bright citrus or fruit note to liven up or add flavor depth to a dark, dense chocolate.

One form of analogous tea pairing might involve mirroring a chocolate's attributes. For example, for this bar: a full-fat, frothy creamy (dairy or almond) milk (black) tea latte with a hint of vanilla. Optional: few drops of authentic almond flavor (extract, liqueur) and splash of hazelnut milk and drizzles of caramelized sugar and chocolate syrups, and whipped cream.

A possible opposite/opposing, yet still somewhat complementary, tea pairing choice: Red Osmanthus Tea with light, bright fruity (apricot, apple) flavor notes. This herbal/Chinese medicinal tea is made with dried, tiny, pale golden, (gui hua) flower blossoms. 

Almonds are related to plums, apricots, peaches and apples. (They're all in the prunus genus.) While osmanthus flowers are in a different family, the aroma/flavor is somewhat similar to these fruits. Note: Brew the dried flower tea for a few minutes with hot water and then decant liquid/tea (discarding the blossoms/tea) soon after the water turns a pale golden color; otherwise the tea will have a slightly bitter taste.

I tried both tea pairing options mentioned above. Either one might work, depending on your taste preferences. 

That said, I would eat some of this chocolate by itself first before pairing it with anything else, as it had deeply satisfying milk chocolate, cream and nutty flavors. Yes, it was quite sweet, but it was also of substantially higher quality than you'll experience than most 37% cacao milk chocolate bars. And the cream and nuts helped balance the sugar.

Maker's description: "rich milk chocolate with whole roasted Mediterranean almonds for a full nutty flavor"

Ingredients: Organic milk chocolate (organic cane sugar, organic milk, organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, organic soy lecithin, organic vanilla extract), organic almonds.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy, almond. May contain: other tree nuts.

Equal Exchange - Organic, Fairly Traded Dark Chocolate Almond & Teas (Brown Sugar Boba, other) - June 15, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Equal Exchange 
Organic and Fairly Traded Dark Chocolate Almond
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (9 pieces/squares) of bar
Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, featuring several chocolate and tea pairings. 

Today I sampled two items: 1.) a 55% Dark Chocolate bar with tea, and 2.) a boba tea ice cream bar (with cocoa powder).

Today's Organic, Fairly Traded Dark Chocolate Almond Toasted Pieces (bar) was produced in Switzerland for Equal Exchange (W. Bridgewater, MA). Since its inception 30 years ago, this co-op owned company has built many "alternative trade" relationships with small farmers in several countries around the world.

The organic cacao used to make this chocolate came from the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru and Togo. The organic sugar was from Paraguay, and the organic vanilla was from Madagascar.

This relatively sweet, 55% cacao dark chocolate bar was embedded with bits of toasted almond. The aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: true chocolate (dark chocolate pudding), faint nut and malt, and very faint tart green herb (oxalis).

I paired this with a warm, organic black tea latte with almond milk. It worked.

Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bar

Shao Mei (Xiao Mei)
Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bar
Good +
Weight: 2.82 fl. oz. (80 g.) / 11.3 fl. oz. (320 g.) in total box of 4 bars
Calories: 146.2 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 4 bars 
Purchased from: Safeway, San Mateo, CA

The second item sampled today was a Shao Mei Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bar (product of Taiwan, (manufactured by Hwa Mei Food Col, Ltd., Changhua County, Taiwan) that contained a small amount of cocoa powder.*

This frozen pop (and other recent boba tea flavor arrivals in the frozen foods aisle at the market) reflected the popularity of boba milk teas--and in particular brown sugar boba (with pearls sweetened with brown sugar/honey)--in California and elsewhere. It was a fun change of pace (frozen dessert) on a hot day.

The milky ice cream frozen bar was veined with a prominent brown sugar marbling. Embedded brown sugar colored boba (aka tapioca/starch pearls, or mini mochi balls) contributed a springy, starchy and chewy textural element. 

The cocoa powder added a wee bit of flavor depth. I thought I imagined a little tea flavor; but I could not find any tea in the rather lengthy ingredients list (see below), unless it was one of the unnamed "flavors" at the end of the list.

Ingredients: Water, mini mochi brown sugar (maltose syrup, acetylated distarch adipate, water, brown sugar, tapioca starch, brown sugar flavor, caramel colors, palm oil, cocoa powder, potato starch), sugar (sugar, caramelizing sugar), maltose, coconut oil, skim milk powder, brown sugar, cream, whey powder, food coloring (caramel (E150a), FDandC Yellow #5 and #6 (E102 and E110)), cornstarch, maltodextrin, emulsifiers (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471), Polysorbate 80), thickeners (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, locust bean gum, carrageenan, guar gum, xanthan gum, sodium alginate), flavors, salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and dairy products. Made in a plant that also processes products containing peanuts, mangos, nuts, soybeans, milk, dairy products, egg products, sesame products, and gluten-containing grains. 

* This bar was different than yesterday's Brown Sugar Boba tea ice cream bar with vanilla ice cream--that did not contain cocoa powder.

 

Equal Exchange - Organic Chocolate 55% Cacao Coconut Milk (bar) - June 14, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Equal Exchange 
Organic Chocolate 55% Cacao Coconut Milk (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 9 pieces (squares) of bar (1 serving)
Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, featuring chocolate and tea pairings.

Today's Organic Chocolate 55% Cacao Coconut Milk with Coconut Palm Sugar (bar) was produced in Switzerland for Equal Exchange Co-op (West Bridgewater, MA).

Equal Exchange, a co-op owned company, has been building alternative supply chain relationships and focusing on fair trade and small farmers for many years. Their offerings include chocolate, coffee, and other packaged foods.

The ingredients used to make this bar were all grown by small farmer co-operatives around the globe. The organic cacao was grown in the Dominican Republic and Peru. The organic sugar was from Paraguay and Costa Rica. The organic vanilla was from Madagascar; and the organic coconut was from Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

This bar had notably thick, coconut (milk) creamy texture with rich, sweet, authentic toasted coconut, chocolate and brown sugar (aroma and) flavors. A hint of vanilla enhanced the sense of sweetness even more. This 55% cacao bar would be great for coconut lovers with a sweet tooth and/or those searching for a sweet diary milk chocolate alternative with a little extra flavor.

Tea Pairings

Pairing chocolate with wine, tea, coffee or milk(s), can be tricky. Ideally, one should not dominate or take the other chocolate or beverage flavor(s) sideways. The best pairings elevate each both items, resulting in delicious blend. 

I tried pairing today's coconut milk chocolate with the following tea-related items:

1.) Frozen Brown Sugar Boba tea and vanilla ice cream bar (from Taiwan)
2.) Chilled Hibiscus kombucha tea
3.) Warm chai tea (oolong tea, chai spices and chai spice-infused honey)
4.) Hot/warm grapefruit leaf tea

Once again, I found that frozen and chilled tea items dulled chocolate (bar) flavors. (Cocoa butter melts at around body temperature, at which point fats and solids start separating and, arguably, the zone where embedded flavors are most easily released and enjoyed.)

Today's coconut chocolate bar was also quite sweet (a bit of a challenge), ruling out many sweetened tea offerings as partners for fear of creating overly sugared blends. 

The pairing winner? Hot/warm fresh grapefruit leaf tea (think light green, lemon, and faint lemongrass notes). This will not come as a complete surprise to those who like Thai warm coconut milk and lemon grass (savory) soups or chilled lemongrass and coconut sugar drinks. The unsweetened, fresh grapefruit leaf tisane/tea added some flavor depth/lift in the form of light acidic fruit and green notes and balanced the inherent sweetness of this bar.

Ingredients: Fairly traded, organic coconut palm sugar; fairly traded, organic chocolate liquor; fairly traded, organic cocoa butter; fairly traded, organic coconut flakes; organic coconut milk powder (fairly traded, organic coconut milk, organic tapioca maltodextrin).

Allergen-related: "Contains coconut. May contain milk, peanuts, hazelnuts and almonds."

Taza Chocolate - Seriously Dark 87% Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 13, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Taza Chocolate

Seriously Dark 87% Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, including chocolate items with tea, and chocolate and tea pairings.

Today's "Seriously Dark" 87% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA). The company specializes in minimally processed, stoneground chocolate and offers a variety of bars, discs, barks and chocolate covered nuts.

Taza's Seriously Dark bar was made using direct trade certified cacao; and the aroma had relatively bold dark chocolate, floral and vanilla, diffuse ripe fruit, and tropical forest notes. Taza is known for less processed, flavorful chocolate--flavors preserved in part due to short(er) grinding and conching times in large stainless steel machines.

Today's 87% bar did not contain tea. Instead I searched for three different teas to find the best pairing with this chocolate. 

I knew this bold dark chocolate might not pair easily with teas....But, the perils of pairing be damned; the hunt was on for a match.

Tea partners for Taza: Matcha (ice cream bar), ginger, grapefruit leaf...

I first tried pairing today's Taza Chocolate ultra-dark bar with its apparent opposite: a frozen, creamy, smooth, delicate, grassy Matcha (green tea) Brown Sugar Boba ice cream bar -- inspired by popular boba (tapioca pearl/mini-mochi) tea drinks from Taiwan. The refreshing, matcha tea bar (like green tea ice cream or an iced matcha latte) was perfect for today's hot weather.

However, the pairing of a Matcha ice cream boba bar with the Taza 87% chocolate was a study in contrasts. They each had unique, enjoyable aromas and flavors. Unfortunately, the combined array of vibrant taste and texture (and temperature) sensations failed to mesh harmoniously.

These two offerings were best enjoyed separately. Blind dates don't always work out. However, after a little more tea speed dating, I did find better mates for both the chocolate and Matcha tea bars.

Cool ginger tea did not agree with this ultra-dark bar. Just when I thought this Taza 87% bar was a confirmed singleton, with its rough, almost crunchy texture, unique floral sweetness, and untameable spirit, I tried pairing it with some warm grapefruit leaf tea (made by pouring very hot water over torn grapefruit (or lemon) tree leaves and letting the infusion steep for a few minutes).

The pale, amber-hued grapefruit leaf tea had a lemony citrus flavor. And it was surprisingly harmonious with today's Seriously Dark chocolate. The warmer tea (vs. frozen tea ice cream) also made the chocolate flavors more accessible. (Frozen chocolate quickly loses textural and flavor benefits.)

And, for our Matcha Brown Sugar Boba bar, the best match was: creamy, buttery, dark chocolate truffles dusted in dark cocoa powder.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla beans.

Allergen-related: "Contains traces of almonds, cashews, coconut, hazelnuts and pecans."