Moksha - Cordyceps & Lion's Mane 80% Dark Chocolate + Chocolita - Morning Matcha with Lion's Mane White Chocolate (bar) - June 29, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Moksha
Cordyceps & Lion's Mane 80% Dark Chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (15 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 90 calories in 1 package
Cost: $6.00 for 1 package 
Purchased from: Far West Fungi, SF Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Chocolita
Morning Matcha - Raw White Chocolate with Matcha & Herbs 59% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .416 oz. (11.6 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 83.3 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Mushrooms Theme Week.

Moksha Chocolate - Cordyceps & Lion's Mane 80% Dark Vegan Chocolate

Today's main attraction was a Cordyceps & Lion's Mane Functional Mushrooms in 80% Dark Vegan Chocolate (square) manufactured (from cacao bean nib-to-bar) by Moksha Chocolate (Boulder, CO). 

Aroma notes included: smooth, sweet cacao chocolate with warm spices (cinnamon), lucuma (butterscotch, vanilla).

Texture: hearty, yet smooth texture and mouthfeel, with a satisfying melt.

Flavor notes included: intense and chocolate-y (balanced, ultra-dark, fudge brownie); diffuse warm sugar and spices (from the cacao and coconut sugar); and mushroom (very faint earth, wood, umami).

This 80%er was full of authentic, quality flavors, with medium acidity and relatively moderate bitterness for an ultra-dark chocolate.

I appreciated the bold, balanced and well-executed flavors, and the short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Coconut Sugar, Dried Mushrooms (Cordyceps & Lion's Mane)

Allergen-related information: (None found on label of small package.)

Chocolita - Matcha White Chocolate with Lion's Mane (bar)

Today's second mushroom bar--the "Morning Matcha" Raw White Chocolate with Matcha, Herbs (& Lion's Mane) (bar) from Chocolita (Sedona, AZ)--was a mushroom chocolate pairing with Moksha Chocolate's 80%er. 

Both offerings contained lion's mane mushrooms and both companies are focused on plant-based chocolates; but the two bars were, otherwise, quite different. 

Moksha's ultra-dark 80% dark chocolate (above) had a hearty intensity; and this sweeter white chocolate was infused with gentle matcha tea, a touch of vanilla, and other flavor inclusions.

But, instead of a light ivory hue, today's bonus "white" chocolate bar was a rich, dark green-khaki color.

Aroma and flavor notes included: gentle green tea notes, subtle vanilla--and a background blend of herbal (and Lion's Mane) flavor additions. (I could not really taste the mushrooms.)

Texture: relatively smooth; the added tea, herbs, flavorings and mushroom(s) were fully incorporated

I appreciated the use of coconut sugar, that made this sweet bar seem less sweet and "buzzy" (than a white cane sugar version might have been).

Ingredients: *Cacao Paste, *Lucuma, *Coconut Sugar, *Matcha, *Maca, *Cinnamon, *Lion's Mane, Sea Salt, *Vanilla. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. "Made In A Facility That Processes Tree Nuts."

Chocolita - Blueberry Bliss Raw Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) - July 3, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolita 
Blueberry Bliss Raw Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar)

Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Fruits and Flowers Theme Week. We're gearing up for 4th of July weekend celebration in California. And this week I'll be featuring chocolates with red, white and/or blue items (like blueberries) as well.

Today's Blueberry Bliss Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) was from Chocolita (Sedona, AZ).

The aroma of this chocolate had mild dark chocolate, light fruit (dark berry), faint green and botanical notes. The texture was smooth and the chocolate was uniform and satisfying.

The word that kept coming up for me for this bar was "balanced." All the (organic) inclusions (blueberry powder, lucuma, hops, passion flower, vanilla) were fully incorporated were tasted and felt nicely balanced. 

This chocolate was relatively relaxing, with less of a sugar buzz or cocoa lift than many other chocolates have. And even at only 56% cocoa, it was not too sweet. (Thank you!) This might be a good choice for a late afternoon, or early evening treat, if you're worried about chocolate keeping you up at night.*

Ingredients: Organic cacao paste, organic cacao butter, organic coconut sugar, organic lucuma powder, organic blueberry powder, organic hops, organic passion flower, organic vanilla.

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut. Made in a facility that processes tree nuts." 

*I eat my daily chocolate in the morning, and generally refrain from eating chocolate after 3 or 4 p.m. in the afternoon. After almost 15 years of eating chocolate every day, my body is accustomed to cacao. However, stimulants like theobromine and caffeine (both found in chocolate), can affect us for several hours.

Chocolita - Dark and Sweet 80% bar - Nov. 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolita
Dark and Sweet 80% bar
Good
Weight: .625 oz. (17.5 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 80 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Bienvenidos a (welcome to) Day #1 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Dark and Sweet 80% raw dark chocolate bar was handcrafted by Sarah Ann Lesslie and the team at Chocolita (Sedona, AZ).

The maker indicates that the stoneground cacao used to make this bar (Arriba Nacional Ecuadorian Fina de Aroma Cacao) is associated with floral and fruity flavor notes, with hints of nutty and malty flavor. The high percentage of cacao (80%) used in this bar allowed some of the above flavors to come through; however, the overall flavor was fairly mild (as is often the case with unroasted/raw cacao).

This Organic, paleo, gluten free and vegan bar was made with fair trade ingredients. The bar was sweetened with coconut sugar and seasoned with a touch of vanilla and sea salt.

And now a second Chocolita bar; however, this one is an alternative take on white chocolate.


Chocolita
Pine Pollen and Lemon (raw white chocolate) bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .625 oz. (17.5 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 70 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

This lemon infused "white chocolate" bar was also from Chocolita (Sedona, AZ). This brown sugar-colored bar had a very subtle and harmonious pine accent—and the flavor combination was a refreshing change of pace.

The bar had a slow, relatively smooth melt and, unlike most white chocolate sold, it did not immediately result in a sugar buzz (thank you). It was sweetened with coconut sugar; and it was (and felt) lower on the glycemic index than conventional white chocolate bars made with refined white sugar.

Ingredients: cacao butter, coconut sugar, lucuma, vanilla, lemon essential oil, sea salt, pine pollen

Chocolita - Strawberry Passion 78% raw dark chocolate bar - April 4, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolita

Strawberry Passion 78% Raw Dark Chocolate bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 140 calories (per label) in 1 bar

Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar

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

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

Today's Strawberry Passion 78% Raw Dark Chocolate bar was made by Chocolita (Sedona, AZ). 

The company makes a series of raw, dark chocolate bars with herbs. The herbal ingredients in this Strawberry Passion bar were less off-putting than some can be, making for a more enjoyable tasting experience.

The gluten-free, vegan, fair trade, low-glycemic, chocolate was made with Arriba Nacional Ecuadorian Fino de Aroma Cacao and had a light strawberry fruit note. Attractive bits of strawberry could be found on the back of the bar.

Ingredients: cacao paste*, cacao butter*, coconut palm sugar*, strawberry*, maca*, damiana*, ashwaghanda*, passionflower*, vanilla*, sea salt

Chocolita - Moontime Rose 78% - March 28, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolita 

Moontime Rose 78% raw dark chocolate

Good 

Weight: .625 oz. (17.5 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 80 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar

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

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

Today's Moontime Rose 78% raw dark chocolate was from Chocolita (Sedona, AZ).

The company offers several dark bars that "utilize chocolate as a medium for delivery of herbs."

The blend of ground pink rose petals, chocolate and herbs* in this bar were designed to help balance hormones. Like other Chocolita bars sampled this week, today's raw, dark chocolate bar had a slightly bitter medicinal aroma and flavor.

The rose flavor appeared as a nice aftertaste, but was largely overshadowed in the beginning by chocolate and herbs.

The base dark chocolate was made with organic, fair trade, stoneground, Arriba Nacional Ecuadorian Fino de Aroma Cacao. The gluten-free, vegan bar was sweetened with coconut sugar and also contained a hint of vanilla.

Ingredients: Stone-ground heirloom cacao, coconut sugar, maca, Vitex, valerian, vanilla, cramp bark, sea salt

Chocolita - Lavender Dreamtime 78% - March 27, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolita

Lavender Dreamtime 78% bar

Good +

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

Calories: 140 calories (per label) in 1 bar

Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar

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

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

Today's Lavender Dreamtime 78% raw dark chocolate bar was made by Chocolita (Sedona, AZ). The company specializes in eco-friendly, exotic chocolate products.

This gluten-free, paleo bar was made with heirloom fair trade cacao, and had a slightly bitter medicinal aroma atop a dollop of lavender fragrance. The chocolate had a buttery melt and true lavender and smooth dark chocolate flavor.

Some people find lavender to be both relaxing and invigorating. We're told today that "you'd never know there is also gotu kola and mugwort added to assist is more vivid and memorable dreams. Let lavender carry you towards relaxation and restful slumber."

I did sleep well after eating this bar.

Ingredients: cacao*, coconut palm sugar*, vanilla*, sea salt, lavender*, mugwort*, gotu kola*
*certified organic

Chocolita - Blueberry Lotus 78% bar - March 26, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolita 

Blueberry Lotus 78% bar

Good 

Weight: .625 oz. (17.5 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar

Calories: 70 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar

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

Welcome to Day #4 Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Blueberry Lotus 78% bar was handcrafted by Chocolita (Sedona, AZ). The company, founded by Sarah Ann Lesslie, offers an interesting line of raw chocolate bars, some with exotic, botanical or floral ingredients.

This attractively packaged, gluten free and vegan dark chocolate bar was made with heirloom Arriba Nacional, fair trade cacao from Ecuador and other organic ingredients* including kava and blue lotus essential oil.

Chocolita bars are made with sweeteners, such as coconut sugar, that score lower on the glycemic index than processed, white (cane/beet) sugar. This chocolate had a slight medicinal aroma. However, the thin bar had a relatively pleasant coconut sugar and chocolate flavor. It had a smooth melt, and an almost soft, crunchy chew. (Note: there was some signs of "bloom" on this bar. This is not unusual when a bar is shipped across the U.S. and occasionally goes through different storage and temperature conditions; it did not seem to affect the flavor.)

The pleasant coconut sugar + chocolate flavor lasted most of the tasting experience. (There was a hint of earthy blueberry and a delayed herb/very slightly bitter plant aftertaste that kicked in several seconds after. That is the trade-off with some novelty inclusions. Fortunately, chocolate blends well with most mix-ins.

If you're interested in chocolate history and about the gods and goddesses who were often associated with cacao in the Americas, visit Chocolita's website. Scroll down on Chocolita's "About" page for a nice summary.

Ingredients: cacao paste*, cacao butter*, coconut sugar*, lucuma*, blueberries*, vanilla*, kava*, passionflower*, Himalayan pink salt, Blue Lotus essential oil. (A "*" denotes an organic ingredient.)