Leslie's Organics - Coconut Macaroon Bar - Jan. 18, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Leslie's Organics
Coconut Secret
Coconut Macaroon Bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.75 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #18 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks, and I celebrated with another Leslie's Organics (Mill Valley, CA) Coconut Secret bar.

In addition to being organic, gluten-free, dairy free and low-glycemic (sweetened with coconut nectar and crystals* (rather than cane or beet sugar)), the Coconut Macaroon Bar was also kosher.

Unlike the other dark chocolate coated.bars in this Coconut Secret bar family, today's Coconut Macaroon Bar was "topless," meaning that the top and sides were a golden, coconut macaroon color, and only the base was dark chocolate. I like the browned flavor and surface, but a dark chocolate drizzle over the top would have added a little richness and moisture to the coconut, and I would have liked that. I did like that the macaroon bar was not too sugary sweet.

Coconut Palm Sugar Harvesting
*The coconut nectar was harvested from coconut palm trees. If coconut nectar is similar to maple syrup harvested from maple trees, then coconut crystals would be similar to crystals of maple sugar.

I've included photos of the coconut nectar collection process (in Angkor Wat, Cambodia) from this week, shown at right. This man climbed high up into a coconut palm and made small cuts first, then put collection vessel(s) in place to collect the nectar. He'll come back later to collect it.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Coconut Secret - Almond Coconut Bar - Jan. 16, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Leslie's Organics
Almond Coconut Bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 290 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.50 in 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #16 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

The organic, Coconut Secret - Almond Coconut Bar from Leslie's Organics (Mill Valley, CA) was very similar to yesterday's Chocolate of the Day (Coconut Secret Classic Coconut Bar), only with almonds.

Coated with dark chocolate, and filled with a coconut center, this bar was sweet without being cloyingly so, as can be the case with coconut confections. I enjoyed the almonds, which always seem to complement coconut and chocolate nicely.

This Coconut Secret bar was gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Coconut Secret - Classic Coconut Bar - Jan. 15, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Leslie's Organics
Coconut Secret - Classic Coconut Bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 290 calories in 1 bar
Cost:
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #15 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

The Mill Valley, CA-based makers behind Leslie's Organics organic, Coconut Secret - Classic Coconut Bar were inspired to create a line healthy, low-glycemic and gluten-free bars and other products. And, they've succeeded, at least for grateful customers such as myself who can't have gluten and don't want the blood sugar spike sometimes associated with other sugars and sweeteners.

The company uses coconut nectar instead, harvested sustainably from coconut palms in the Philippines.

This bar was marketed as low glycemic, and that has been my experience with coconut palm sugar thus far in other bars. According to the label, this bar contained 17 grams of carbohydrates - lower than other chocolate, or sweetened bars of similar size.

Today's organic dark chocolate-covered coconut bar was also dairy-free and non-GMO.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Coconut Secret - Peruvian Crunch bar - Jan. 5, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Leslie's Organics
Coconut Secret
Peruvian Crunch bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.75 in 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

This Coconut Secret (Leslie's Organics, Mill Valley, CA) Peruvian Crunch, Organic Dark Chocolate (70% cacao) bar was flecked with toasted coconut and sweetened with coconut crystals. The chocolate had a very subtle dark smokey flavor note, which rose above the toasted coconut.

Coconut Secret chocolate and coconut bars use Non-GMO coconut sugar as a sweetener, which can offer a lower-glycemic alternative to processed cane sugar. The plain coconut sugar I've sampled has also tasted great, especially if you favor a faint, warm caramel flavor (similar to what you might find in less processed brown sugars) with your chocolate.

The Coconut Secret website listed helpful background information for those interested in finding out more about how coconut sugar sap is "tapped" from coconut palm trees.

Coconut Secret Ecuadorian Crunch bar - Jan. 4, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coconut Secret
(Leslie's Organics)
Ecuadorian Crunch bar
Good +
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

The Ecuadorian Crunch bar from Coconut Secret (Leslie's Organics) in Mill Valley, CA was made with slightly soft and sweet (40% cacao) organic milk chocolate, that was quite tasty. Shredded, toasted coconut provided good flavor and slightly crispy, almost crunchy, texture to this bar.

The founders of Leslie's Organics/Coconut Secret offer low-glycemic and gluten free foods. Being gluten-free myself, and not wanting a sugar buzz, especially if I eat my chocolate in the evening, I was interested in learning more about the Coconut Secret product line. (I will feature the Coconut Secret Peruvian Crunch Dark Chocolate bar tomorrow.)

The company markets a range of chocolate bars sweetened with coconut and coconut sugar (as well as coconut flour, crystals, nectar, aminos and vinegar). Coconut palm sugar* tends to minimize blood sugar spikes and I enjoyed the slight caramel flavor in this bar -- as I have previously in other chocolates using this sweetener. Coconut sugar may offer a healthy sweetener alternative (to processed cane sugar) for those watching their blood sugar.

*Coconut tree blossoms are tapped for their sweet sap. This sap can be harvested sustainably, and my understanding is that coconut palm trees may be tapped for up to 20 years. Coconut Secret's coconut palm sugar is produced in the Philippines.