Sted Foods - Lakeside Blend 71% Dark Chocolate (small bar) - July 12, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Sted Foods
Lakeside Blend 71% Dark Chocolate (small bar)
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / This bar was part one flavor in a 3-bar pack
Calories: 78 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $10.00 for 3 mini bars (3 different flavors)
Purchased from: Sted Foods, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week.

Today's Sted Foods Lakeside Blend 71% Dark Chocolate (small bar) was manufactured by TC Foods, LLC (Fergus Falls, MN), and was part of a three-bar, lake-themed collection.

Today's "Lakeside Blend" was part of the company's Lakeside Collection of three small bars that also included "The Bobber" (with cacao nibs) and "Coffee + Cream" chocolates.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 71% dark chocolate included: ultra-dark chocolate with flickers of ultra-dark fudge, and faint fruit (dark red, blue/purple fruits). 

I enjoyed the balanced, earthy and deep, dark flavors of the cacao(s) (Haiti and Dominican Republic)--a boldness that still left room for complex berry and other subtle flavors.

Maker's Tasting notes: "Bright, Intense, Reflective"

Ingredients: "organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that uses sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, coconut, cashews, hazelnuts, and milk"

Raaka - Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Unroasted Dark Chocolate (mix) - Jan. 24, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Unroasted Dark Chocolate (mix)
Good ++
Weight: 3 TB (.918 oz. (26 g.)) / 5 oz. (142 g.) total package
Calories: 113 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $13.99 for 1 package 
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Warm Spices & Maple Theme Week.

Today's Limited Batch Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Unroasted Dark Chocolate (mix) was manufactured by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

Most hot chocolates aren't made with a single origin cacao. This hot chocolate mix was made using unroasted cacao from Zorzal Cacao -- a 1,000-acre private bird sanctuary and organic cacao farm in the Dominican Republic.

Aroma notes included: smooth, authentic hot chocolate; aromatic sweet and sassy gingerbread cookie; and subtle coconut.

Texture: When this finely ground cacao powder, coconut milk powder and warm spice blend was mixed with hot water and stirred for a few minutes it created a relatively smooth hot chocolate (but with a little bit of spice grit). When I make this again, I'll let it sit in hot water for a few more minutes to let the spices diffuse, then blend and/or filter it before drinking. (I probably rushed the process. The Spanish children's song "Bate, Bate Chocolate" came to mind; where patience and process are reinforced by singing a song about chocolate beverage making.)

This warming hot beverage had a touch of the spicy zing of a homemade ginger molasses cookie, with a splash of warm coconut and hot cocoa--all in a satisfying hot beverage. Great for a winter morning.

This quality, base blend could be adorned with more items if desired. Want to add milk, cream, or more coconut milk (or milk of your choice) to this hot chocolate? Marshmallows? Go right ahead. 

The sweetness level was just right for me (not overly sweet). But for those with a sweet tooth, you could try adding a little fresh ginger and molasses syrup (for a real waker-upper); brown sugar; coconut nectar or honey...Customize as you wish.

 

I appreciated the use of organic and gluten free ingredients...and that the company is committed to transparent trade and testing for heavy metals (results can be viewed on their website).

Ingredients: "organic cane sugar, organic cacao powder, organic coconut milk powder, organic cacao butter, organic ginger, organic cinnamon, organic nutmeg"

Allergen-related information: None listed on package. Contains: Coconut. 

*I learned this song in Spanish class in elementary school decades ago. The teacher brought in a hand-carved wooden molinillo from Mexico (a whisk-like device introduced by the Spanish for stirring and "beating"/frothing hot chocolate beverages). The molinillo was rotated/rolled between ones hands and used as a prop during the song. 

Definite Chocolate - Arroz Con Leche with Puffed Rice and Spices (bar) - Dec. 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Definite Chocolate
Arroz Con Leche with Puffed Rice and Spices (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar 
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Rice Theme Week.

Today's Arroz Con Leche with Puffed Rice and Spices - Carnival Edition* (bar) from Definite Chocolate, S.R.L. was made in the Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic).

Variations on rice pudding exist worldwide. A version of rice pudding from North Africa made its way to Spain in the 700s (AD). And, centuries later, the Spanish brought arroz con leche to the New World (Latin America and Caribbean nations). In the Dominican Republic it's a popular dish enjoyed during Christmas, Carnival* (February) and Lenten holidays.

In its most basic form, arroz con leche is a blend of rice, milk, sugar and cinnamon. International variations may include: additional spices (cloves, allspice, ginger); vanilla; coconut; raisins; caramel; rum; and fruits (lime, orange, cherry).

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, dark milk chocolate, subtle spices and faint citrus (lime, orange). The puffed rice mellowed the chocolate without masking the notes I really enjoyed.

I loved the authentic and subtle flavor complexity (warm spices and light lime) in this smooth but dark milk chocolate. I also appreciated the short list of ingredients, and the maker's choice to use single origin (DR) cacao. This chocolate hit squarely in the Goldilocks zone. (Not too this. Not too that...It was just right.)

Ingredients: "Cane sugar, cacao, cacao butter, milk powder, puffed rice, spices, sea salt, lime peel."

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Made in a facility that handles nuts & milk.

*The packaging for today's bar was adorned with images of the colorful masked Lechones de Santiago characters one sees during Carnaval.

Standout Chocolate - Nordic Nature European Blueberry 63% (bar) - Aug. 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate 
Nordic Nature European Blueberry 63% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

Today's Organic Nordic Nature European Blueberry 63% (bar) was from Standout Chocolate (Goteborg, Sweden). The company has been very reliably producing some very tasty single origin bars in recent years (as well as a line of bars with Nordic-inspired flavor inclusions).

The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Oko Caribe, a cacao co-operative located in the Duarte Province of the Dominican Republic.

Aroma and flavor notes included: appealing dark chocolate and complex, tart-sweet blueberry that resulted in a bar with berry flavor with very light, attractive, herbal/savory (barely there umami, smoke) notes.

I enjoyed the opportunity to taste a chocolate bar with bilberries--and the complex, relatively more intense, flavor of these European blueberries. I also liked the very complementary and flavorful blend of single origin DR cacao with these unique wild berries. 

And, last but not least, I appreciated the short list of thoughtfully sourced, organic ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: "Wild Blueberries, Fresh Fruitiness"

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Sugar*, Cacao butter*, Bilberry*. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of Milk. 

Hapa Chocolat - "Cherry on Top" Dominican Republic, Flavors By Design: Chili, Cherry, Raspberry (bar) - May 3, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hapa Chocolat 
"Cherry on Top" Dominican Republic Flavors By Design: Chili, Cherry, Raspberry (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.11 oz. (31.5 g.) / 2.22 oz. (63 g.) in total bar
Calories: 169 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hapa Chocolat, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Warm Spices Theme Week.

Today's "Cherry on Top" Dominican Republic Flavors By Design: Chili, Cherry, Raspberry (bar) (Batch #06) was created by Hapa Chocolat, LLC (Los Gatos, CA)* using cacao grown on a bird sanctuary (El Arroyazo) in the Dominican Republic, plus three flavors that either mirrored or complemented naturally occurring cacao flavors.

Hapa Chocolat produces single origin chocolates that thoughtfully amplify the natural flavors of cacao with flavor inclusions. One learns a lot working with different cacao origins; and if added flavors helps convey the story of all the flavors inherent in different varieties of cacao, in different countries, and resulting from different processing techniques (e.g., fermenting, roasting profiles), I'm all for that.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's "Cherry on Top" DR bar included: relatively bold, earthy -- but also well-managed and balanced -- dark chocolate and tart-sweet cherry and red raspberry. 

The dark, relatively earthy (think deep, dark still forest) unroasted cacao dark chocolate base was integrated with its opposites: bright, sunny, sweet dried Morello cherries and freeze-dried raspberries -- and spiced up with chili heat. It was a bracing and lively combination.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a slight crunchy granularity (finely ground, likely freeze-dried fruit particles) that ended with some tiny, chewy (fruit) bits and some raspberry seed grit.

I enjoyed: the bright, fairly intense cherry (and raspberry) fruit flavors; the well-managed bold dark chocolate; and the short list of organic and authentic-tasting ingredients. 

Maker's notes: "...this is a raw chocolate...without any influence from roasting...earthy notes are exaggerated with a hint of cayenne pepper while dried cherries and raspberries bring out the tart and fruity notes--making this bar well-rounded like a nice glass of merlot."

Ingredients: "Chocolate (organic cacao, cacao butter, organic sugar), Dried Morello Cherries, Freeze Dried Raspberries, Cayenne Pepper"

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

*Note: the company does not have a physical retail store; they sell their chocolates online.

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Black Urfea Chili Dominican Republic 77% Cacao (bar) - July 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Black Urfea Chili Dominican Republic 77% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar (also sold in multi-bar sets/collections)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Black Urfea Chili Dominican Republic 77% Cacao (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). 

The company handcrafts a variety of single origin chocolate bars--some with unique flavor inclusions  based on collaborations with other fine food providers. (I enjoyed the company's Good Food Award winning Caramelized Onion bar yesterday.) Today's bar contained Urfa chili* from Burlap & Barrel Single Origin Spices.

Aroma notes for this chili spice-infused bar included: dark chocolate, clean mineral, and very faint chili pepper.

The texture was very smooth, with an appealing melt and mouthfeel. (The makers press their own single origin cocoa butter.)

The relatively bold 77% Dominican Republic (Zorzal) cacao chocolate had a very faint, balanced dark earth and slightly bitter flavor that complemented the mild chili taste. 

I enjoyed trying a new (for me) spice blended with chocolate, even though it was a challenge to pin down the subtly complex chili flavors. There was a barely there spicy heat, and very faint, bright (citrus) and clean top notes (a bit similar to grains of paradise, certain peppercorns, cardamom and maybe saffron).

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Black Urfa Chili

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts." "Soy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free"

*Black Urfa chili hails from Turkey. Sun-cured (and fermented) Urfa chili pepper flakes are typically ground together with salt and sunflower or olive oil. This chili has been described as having slight smoky, earthy, sweet and acidic notes as well as chocolate, coffee and pepper notes.

Venice Organics - Cacao Bliss 70 - 70% Chocolate Bar (Dominican Republic) - May 4, 2024

Chocolate of The Day

Venice Organics
Cacao Bliss 70% Chocolate Bar 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 420 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Virtual Caribbean Cruise Theme Week.

Today's "Cacao Bliss 70" - 70% Chocolate Bar was from Venice Organics (Los Angeles, CA).

This bar was made using "award winning" Dominican Republic (single origin and Organic) chocolate.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (bold, dark, aromatic cacao) with subtle earth, diffuse fruit (citrus, berry, date).

Texture: pleasing melt and creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: well-executed, bold and flavorful yet smooth dark chocolate; broad spectrum of flavors included rich chocolate-y, with subtle, well-balanced earth; diffuse fruit (mild, sweet citrus, berry) and fleeting sweet green and floral, and very faint tropical fruit (cacao pulp, mango).

I really enjoyed this Dominican Republic dark bar with a great texture and flavor range; and it did not taste overly sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, *Coconut sugar, *Cocoa butter (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Processed in shared equipment with products containing nuts." (Certified Organic; no gluten or dairy ingredients)

Venice Organics - Brain Boost - Lion's Mane & Cordyceps 70% Chocolate Bar - April 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Venice Organics
Brain Boost - Lion's Mane & Cordyceps 70% Chocolate Bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.325 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.99 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: FarmFresh To You (online order)

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

Today's "Brain Boost" - Lion's Mane & Cordyceps 70% Chocolate Bar was manufactured in California for Venice Organics (Los Angeles, CA). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: hearty dark chocolate (single origin Dominican Republic cacao) with subtle, rich and balanced earth; sweet green (botanicals and coconut sugar). I really enjoyed this bar. It had a lot of bold, very well-balanced flavor.

The umami flavor(s) from the edible mushrooms were very subtle. (I'm not sure I could have identified the two mushrooms in this chocolate in a blind taste test.) Rather, evidence of these umami-rich fungi showed up as a subtle, hearty savory and very complementary background flavor that I found very appealing.

I also loved the choice of high-quality, organic ingredients in this gluten-free, vegan chocolate; as well as the lack of emulsifiers/lecithins and refined sugar.

Maker's tasting notes: "...This 70% organic chocolate is rich and creamy with an earthy, bright finish."

Ingredients: "*Chocolate (*Cocoa, *Coconut Sugar, *Cocoa Butter), *Lion's Mane, *Cordyceps (* = Organic)"

Allergen-related information: "Processed in shared equipment with products containing nuts. Box made with recycled material and lead-free ink."

Srsly Chocolate - Sea Salt + Almond 70% Dark (bar) - Feb. 12, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Srsly Chocolate 
Sea Salt + Almond 70% Dark (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: East West Bookstore, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Sea Salt + Almond 70% Dark (bar) was from Srsly Chocolate (Austin, TX). The makers used cacao from the Dominican Republic to create this chocolate.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with sweet wood, nut/seed and botanical (sweet green, sweet lemon) and fruit (cherry).

This relatively thick, well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap (in a cold, 59 degree F. / 15 degrees C. room). 

The deep dark chocolate had hearty cocoa/drinking chocolate flavor, with medium, balanced acidity--flavor that was welcome on a cold morning. I felt like I was sipping a warm mug of flavorful dark chocolate.

The combined sea salt and smattering of almond bits on the back of the bar added a counterweight to the dark chocolate and fruit flavors and the taste mirrored, and delivered on, the rich, complex aroma notes.

This balanced, well-executed dark chocolate had satisfying, substantial single origin cacao flavor and aroma, depth and breadth.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic almonds, salt.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat"

Standout Chocolate - Nordic Nature Porcini 67% (bar) - Oct. 27, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate
Nordic Nature Porcini 67% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150.75 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Mushroom Theme Week, featuring cacao-based items blended with a range of edible, non-psychoactive fungi, including: chaga, chanterelle, cordyceps, lion's mane, porcini, reishi, shitake, and others.

Today's Nordic Nature Porcini 67% (bar) was made by Standout Chocolate (Kallered, Sweden).

The rich blend of aroma notes for this Swedish craft chocolate dark bar included: dark, sweet chocolate; cream of mushroom soup; faint nut and fruit (dark ripe berry); and almost undetectable roasted red bell pepper notes. The texture (in cool weather) was thick and creamy.

Flavor notes included robust, fruit (berry) forward dark, slightly earthy, chocolate (more like a 75% cacao chocolate than a 67%). Any mushroom notes were relegated to the back seat--other than a very faint, fleeting whisp of nutty cream soup. 

The finish of this flavorful bar was more like a dessert course, with clearer, sweet, dark berry-bright and acidic notes.

Creating this well executed bar, made with cacao produced by Oko Caribe in the Duarte Province of the Dominican Republic, must have involved a balancing act between too sweet and too dark, between showcasing the relatively bold and fruity flavors of the DR cacao and allowing some smooth and satisfying mushroom umami notes to shine through. We enjoyed the end product.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic porcini 

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of milk.

*Porcini mushrooms (Boletus edulis)--"piglets" in Italian--likely due to their plump or chubby appearance--can be found growing in countries across the Northern hemisphere (including Europe, North America), and cooler countries in the Southern Hemisphere (such as New Zealand). They grow at the base of trees in forests and at the edge of forest clearings. 

They are a bit more flavorful than common mushrooms, with a meaty texture and woodsy, earthy and slightly nutty notes; and they're used in a variety of pasta, rice and other savory dishes.

 

Bixby and Co. - 20 Karat Primo Bar - 70% DR Dark Chocolate Spiced Primo Almonds - Mar. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Bixby and Co.

20 Karat Primo Bar
70% Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate Spiced Primo Almonds 
Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar ($46 for 4-bar assortment)
Purchased from: Good Food Awards Marketplace, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's "20 Karat Primo Bar"--70% Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate with Spiced Primo Almonds (bar)--was created by Bixby and Co. (Rockland, ME) to celebrate Rockland neighbor Primo Restaurant's 20th anniversary. 

The aroma for this bar encompassed bold, flavorful dark chocolate, salt/savory snack, roasted nut, and raw sugar notes--and the scent of a potentially addictive, high-end, savory-sweet snack mixes with spices and herbs (rosemary) as well.

 

The flavors did deliver on the promise of a seductive and satisfying, salty-sweet nut mix. This 70% dark chocolate bar was a balanced blend of bold flavors and smooth and crunchy textures. 

The spices (salt, red and black peppers and rosemary) were a great match with (and elevated) the roasted nuts and chocolate. I detected to a very faint tingle of ginger spice; however, there was no mention of ginger in the ingredients list. Probably the pepper and sugar. It was hard to tell if there might have been a warm spice note also in the single origin DR chocolate.

Bixby notes for the spicy almond pieces adhered to the back: "...Primo's iconic recipe for roasted rosemary almonds, a snack that's typically served with drinks and cocktails." The Mediterranean-themed, almond blend helped balance the sweetness and added sassy savory depth.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, almonds, rosemary, crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper.

Allergen-related information: "(Contains) Tree Nuts. Manufactured in a facility that also processes Peanut and Milk products."

Cacaoteca - Dark Chocolate 84% El Arca Dominican Republic (bar) - Jan. 28, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Cacaoteca SRL

Dark Chocolate 84% Al Arca Dominican Republic (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar

Calories: 112.5 calories in 1/2 of bar

Cost: $7.50 (+ shipping) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cacao, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and ABCD Theme Week, an alphabetic showcase of chocolate terms that begin with the letters A, B, C and D, including cacao destinations and origins.

Today's Chocolate Negro (Dark Chocolate) 84% cacao en apoyo a la comunidad (in support of the community of) El Arca* de la Republica Dominica (El Arca, Dominican Republic) was from Cacaoteca SRL, a tree-to-bar chocolate maker from Miches (a northeast coastal town), with a presence in Gascue DN (Santa Domingo), in the Dominican Republic.

This ultra-dark bar had an aroma of dark chocolate with light incense floral, and very faint green spice (saffron) notes. The flavor was beautifully and deliciously approachable for an 80+% cacao chocolate. The dark chocolate flavor arc also included very light, pleasant loamy and subtle umami/savory notes. I adore skillfully preserved floral and umami flavors, and well-balanced bitterness and acidity, so I was happy.

Ingredients: grue de cacao (roasted and ground cacao nibs/cacao mass), azucar de cana (cane sugar)

* El Arca in English translates to "the rainbow." This Santa Domingo "community of peace and hope" that "embraces individuals with mental incapacities." This bar was a collaboration between this community and Cacaoteca.

Cemoi - Dominican Republic 70% Cocoa (bar) - Nov. 5, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Cemoi 
Dominican Republic 70% Cocoa (bar)
Good +
Weight: 4 squares - 1.2 oz. (34 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 serving (4 squares) of bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to the final day of (Day #18 of) Chocolate, Dominican Republic and Haiti Theme Weeks, and Day #2 of Chocolate, Honey and Citrus Theme Week.

Single origin chocolates featured this week with honey and citrus aroma and flavor notes usually don't contain actual honey or citrus fruit ingredients. Rather, like wine, coffee and spirits, chocolates contain complex elements that influence how we smell and taste food and beverages.

Today's Dominican Republic 70% Cocoa (bar) was produced in France and distributed by Cemoi Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA).

The chocolate had fruit (sweet citrus, light lemon and honey), woodsy and faint nut notes with one (fleeting) earth note.

Cemoi tasting notes read: Honey, Prunes, Dried Wood

Ingredients: Dominican Republic unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla extract.

Taza Chocolate - Paleo Dark Chocolate Slab with Almonds - Mar. 31, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Paleo Dark Chocolate Slab with Almonds
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 15 oz. (424.5? g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's paleo dark bar with almonds was from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA).
This generous slab of 65% dark stoneground chocolate, sweetened only with coconut sugar (no cane sugar), contained un-roasted organic almonds, and was made with cacao grown in the Dominican Republic.

The bar had a dark chocolate aroma with balanced wood/green banana and dried fruit and raw nut notes. Un-roasted almonds added some authentic nut texture and flavor.

This chocolate was certified USDA Organic, Direct Trade, Gluten Free and Kosher Pareve, and Non-GMO Project Verified. It was also dairy free, soy free and vegan.

This deluxe bar could feed a large family. Since large social gatherings are curtailed this month due to flu concerns, I can't share with friends. Instead, I will enjoy this bar over time.

Ingredients: organic cacao beans, organic coconut sugar, organic almonds, organic cacao butter

Lake Champlain Chocolates - moka fleck (bar) - Nov. 12, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lake Champlain Chocolates
moka fleck (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 162 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's moka fleck (bar) was from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT). The company, founded in 1983, has been turning out a variety of milk and dark chocolate bars and confections with a variety of flavor inclusions for many years.

The bar was described as "dark-milk chocolate with a jolt of Dominican coffee and cacao nibs" and contained 43% cocoa (solids).

This 43% cocoa milk chocolate bar was sweet, but the included the roasted cacao nibs helped tone down the sugar glow a bit, which dark chocolate fans will appreciate.

This chocolate had smooth, quite sweet mocha latte aroma and flavor, interspersed with "crunchy flecks of house-roasted cocoa nib."*

*I've included Lake Champlain Chocolates' product descriptions (in quotes) in today's write-up because I found them to be accurate, without a lot of marketing fluff. And what I would've written sounded a bit redundant. 

The only language I might change would be the word "jolt" (of Dominican coffee and nibs). I found these flavor elements to be smooth and in-balance. (Milk powder helps mellow the stronger flavors a bit.) But, if you're looking for wake up candy, this chocolate does contain sugar, caffeine (coffee + cacao) and theobromine (the stimulant in cacao).