Coracao - 81% Dark California Almonds & Sea Salt (bar) - July 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Coracao  
81% Dark California Almonds & Sea Salt
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Z. Cioccolato, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Organic 81% Dark California Almonds & Sea Salt (bar) was from Coracao Chocolate (Oakland, CA). The company has been making great-tasting chocolate bars and filled confections (less sweet, with high-quality, authentic flavors) since 2008.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, light floral citrus (subtle lemon), very faint tart green herb (oxalis), very faint graham cracker and coconut sugar, subtle vanilla spice cake, and barely detectable wood and nut.

This high cacao percentage (81%) dark chocolate was nuanced--more mild than wild. I noticed the absence of sugar (not a bad thing for me). What I'd call a soft landing after the first bite (often present with added cocoa butter). What was "missing" was the range of bold, bitter and acidic elements that often accompany ultra-dark chocolates. 

The use of Heritage variety cacao(s)* and coconut sugar as a sweetener (vs. cane sugar) helped to create this gentle, ebony-hued bar. The sea salt was also relatively subtle. (I was unable to detect the smoked salt flavor in the bites I had.)

Whole almonds pressed into the back of the bar gave this chocolate more textural oomph, layered almond and chocolate flavor(s) and moderated/mellowed what natural-tasting sweetness was present. The authentic light touch of vanilla bean also added a trace of background, floral warmth (that my brain frequently associates with baked goods and vanilla ice cream).

This well-executed, Organic and Vegan dark chocolate is perfect for those who enjoy the gentler flavors of Heritage cacao(s)--that offer subtle, attractive complexity. 

Too much sugar and salt would have overwhelmed these wonderful traits. Thank you to the maker for dialing back both sweet and savory levels to achieve a harmonious balance of flavors. For those that prefer the buzz of a bolder, harsher bar, there are plenty of other options out there.

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao, Organic Almonds, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Cacao Butter, Smoked Sea Salt, Himalayan Salt & Organic Vanilla Bean

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes almonds, cashews & other tree nuts"

*The cacao source listed on this packaging made reference to Eco Cacao Collaborative, Esmeraldas, Ecuador. (Esmeraldas is a coastal city in NW Ecuador.) Many of the region's residents make a living from agricultural products, including: banana, tobacco, coffee and cacao.

Coracao - Cacao Nectar 81% Dark Chocolate & Cacao Fruit (bar) - Mar. 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Coracao Chocolate
Cacao Nectar 81% Dark Chocolate and Cacao Fruit (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) total bar
Calories: 320 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Z. Cioccolato, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Cacao Nectar 81% Dark Chocolate and Cacao Fruit (bar) was created by Coracao Chocolate (Richmond, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Organic chocolate bar included: diffuse, mildy tart sweet fruit (cacao fruit, peach, subtle ripe pineapple and soursop), dark chocolate (with faint, fleeting, balanced earth notes), faint caramel and very faint coconut cookie (vanilla) notes.

Sweetened with a judicious amount of coconut sugar, cacao fruit/juice provided satisfying and nuanced natural sweetness. 

Cacao fruit is often described as a blend of several more fruits including a range of melon (e.g. watermelon candy), citrus, and a variety of other tropical fruits (mango, pineapple, banana, soursop, etc.), and sometimes includes more delicate pear, apple and floral notes. (Flavors can vary slightly depending on the cacao fruit variety and processing methods.)

Ingredients: Organic heirloom cacao, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter, evaporated cacao fruit juice, Himalayan salt and organic vanilla bean.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes almonds, cashews & other tree nuts

Coracao - Superberry Bars - Acai, Pomegranate & Raspberry 81% Dark Choc. - Jan. 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Coracao Chocolate 

Superberry Bars - 81% Dark Chocolate

Good ++

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total 

Calories: 240 calories in 2 small bars

Cost: $8.25 for package of 2 small bars

Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Berries and Vanilla Theme Week.

Today's Coracao Chocolate Superberry Bars covered in 81% dark chocolate were created in Oakland, CA. Coracao produces a variety of "healthy, more nourishing" confections, bars and drinking chocolates.

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (deep dark, high percentage cacao, faint tart green herb (oxalis, wood sorrel), brown sugar and warm spice (faint smoky vanilla), and faint fruit (berries).

Inside a smooth 81% ultra dark chocolate coating was a generously jammy fruit center captured the sweet depths of rain forest berries (acai berries), tempered with some bright pomegranate and naturally sweet-tartness of raspberry.

Loved that this confection was not made with ultra-sweet chocolate. (These bars were sweetened with coconut sugar and stevia.) Less sugar meant being able to enjoy bold, balanced and complementary dark chocolate and berry flavors. The bars had authentic flavor depth and complexity. 

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic coconut sugar, organic coconut butter, organic acai, organic pomegranate, organic raspberry, organic lime, Himalayan salt, organic vanilla bean and organic stevia.

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut. Made in a factory processing other tree nuts." 

Coracao Chocolate - Berkeley Bars and Almond Butter Bars - Aug. 2, 2021

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Coracao Organic Chocolate

Berkeley Bars

Good +

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package of 2 small bars

Calories: 340 calories in 1 small bar

Cost: $5.99 for 1 package of 2 small bars

Purchased from: Flour Craft Bakery/Cafe, Mill Valley, CA

Almond Butter Bars

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package of 2 small bars

Calories: 300 calories in 1 small bar

Cost: $5.99 for 1 package of 2 small bars

Purchased from: Flour Craft Bakery/Cafe, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Almonds Week(s). 

Today I sampled two different small bars from Coracao Organic Chocolate (Berkeley, CA). The company creates healthy chocolates using "certified organic cacao from biodynamic farms" and "farmers are paid Fair Trade wages or above." 

Berkeley Bars

The aroma of this chocolate bar included slight green floral, molasses/brown/maple sugar, tart green (lemon herbs like sorrel, sour grass/oxalis), very faint fruit (red apple, berry), nutty and very faint savory notes. 

There were two layers inside these Berkeley Bars: a soft (lucuma and maca) nougat layer on top and a caramely-crunchy nutty (with lightly salted almond) layer on the bottom pieces. And the entire bar was coated with 81% dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: Organic almonds, organic agave, organic cacao, organic cashew butter, organic coconut sugar, organic lucuma, organic yacon syrup, organic cocoa butter, Himalayan salt, organic maca and organic vanilla bean.

Allergen-related information: Contains almonds and cashews. Made in a factory processing other tree nuts. May contain pit or shell fragments.

Almond Butter Bars

The aroma of this small bar coffee toffee, followed by almond molasses brittle, sweet and slightly savory notes

The rich, ultra-dark (81% cacao) chocolate flavor had very faint earth, balanced light bitter and tart green (lemony herbs like sorrel, sour grass/oxalis) notes. The nutty notes (in the form of smooth substantial almond butter filling) showed up a few chews later.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic stone ground almond butter, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter, organic vanilla bean and Himalayan salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains almonds. Made in a factory processing other tree nuts." (organic, vegan)

Coracao Chocolate - 81% Heirloom Cacao Sea Salt, Almonds bar - Nov. 10, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Coracao Chocolate
81% Heirloom Cacao Sea Salt, Almonds, Dark Chocolate bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Monterey Market, Berkeley, CA

Welcome to Day #20 of South American Chocolate Theme Weeks.

Today's 81% Heirloom Cacao Sea Salt, Almonds and Dark Chocolate bar was made by Coracao Chocolate (Oakland, CA) with a blend of cacao grown in Ecuador and Peru.

The bar's aroma was a sweet blend of aromas (fruit, floral, faint coconut dried fig spice cookie) plus a very faint hint of savory nuttiness.

The flavor was surprisingly dark, not for a 81% cacao ultra-dark bar, but for a bar that smelled quite sweet.

The company's organic chocolate bars are sweetened with coconut sugar, and this bar also contained sea salts (smoked and Himalayan). Organic, California (Kashiwase Farms) almond pieces added some crunchy texture.

The base chocolate had a buttery dark melt, but subtler cacao notes were competing a bit with the salts and almonds. Try the plain Coracao 81% Heirloom bar (profiled yesterday) for an interesting side-by-side comparison.

Coracao Chocolate - 81% Heirloom Cacao dark bar - Nov. 9, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Coracao Chocolate
81% Heirloom Cacao bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Monterey Market, Berkeley, CA

Welcome to Day #19 of South American Chocolate Theme Weeks.

Today we're moving from Ecuador to Peru on our virtual trip through South America. And what better way to do so than with a bar made from a blend of cacao from Ecuador and Peru.

Today's organic, 81% Heirloom Cacao bar was made by Coracao Chocolate* (Oakland, CA) and was sweetened with coconut sugar. The bar had an intoxicating aroma of hot chocolate, light coconut, fig spice cookies and a light, floral green note.

All this from a blend of organic cacao, coconut sugar, cacao butter, vanilla bean and Himalayan salt.

Despite the high 81% cacao percentage, this was a relatively pleasing and sweet chocolate bar, with a buttery melt (added cacao butter) and a smooth, stone-ground consistency.

Over the years, the company has moved to doing more of their own, small-batch stone-grinding in house. Cacao, coconut sugar and salt (and perhaps vanilla bean?) are ground together over a period of days. The result: a smoother blend than many other stoneground bars, with just enough even, balanced texture left-over that you're still in touch with the real ingredients.

This Coracao bar was dairy free and soy free, and was labeled low glycemic (coconut sugar). All the satisfaction of a confection or cookie, but without the sugar buzz.

*The company's name, Coracao, is a fusion between the Portuguese word for heart (coracao) and the name for the cacao plant (Theobroma cacao -- cacao that is "Food of the Gods"). Coracao + Cacao = Coracao. (Coracao Confections and Coracao Chocolate both refer to the same SF Bay Area company located on the border of Oakland, CA and Emeryville, CA.