Millcreek Cacao Roasters - Espresso 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Millcreek Cacao Roasters 
Espresso - 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Espresso - 70% Dark Chocolate Arriba Nacional Hacienda Limon Farm, Ecuador (bar) was from Millcreek Cacao Roasters (Salt Lake City, UT).

The family-owned company began their journey as "Farm to Bar Chocolate Makers" in 2011. They've focused on direct sourced heirloom cacao(s) from equatorial regions (Ecuador, Nicaragua) and "meticulous processing" of beans in their factory in Salt Lake City to create fine flavored chocolates.

The certified heirloom cacao used in today's Espresso bar was Arriba Nacional cacao from Hacienda Limon Farm in the Guayas Province of Ecuador--a region that contains views of the Pacific Ocean as well as lush forests in the interior.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate base, with a very faint (barely detectable) astringency and very tiny,  crunchy bits of espresso (finely ground coffee beans). The coffee was pleasant, not too harsh.

Aroma and flavor notes were balanced, with subtle complexity, and included: smooth, chocolate-y, dark chocolate; a very faint (agreeable) green botanical mix that included: a barely detectable, fleeting salted potato chip note at the very beginning (when bar was first unwrapped) that then shaded into delicate, authentic lush green forest; and last, but not least, smooth coffee notes. 

There were also very faint/diffuse red fruit (cherry, berry) and very faint roasted (almost nutty) notes--that could have come from the coffee or the cacao. It wasn't clear. I enjoyed them all the same.

This was a very pleasing bar. It was relatively low in acidity and had an agreeable, hearty quality to it. I loved the shy-er, almost-hidden aroma and flavor notes from start-to-finish; it was like following a rabbit through a forest.

Ingredients: "Cacao, Pure Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Roasted Coffee Beans"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of tree nuts and milk"

Intrigue Chocolate Co. - Nutmeg + Chili 60% Cacao (bar) - May 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Nutmeg + Chili 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Warm Spices Week.

Today's Nutmeg + Chili 60% Cacao (bar) (Batch #000000091324) was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).* 

The cacao used to make this bar was from Ecuador (Single Estate: Muisne Canton, Esmeraldas Province; Type: Ecuadorian Nacional hybrids**; Year: 2023)

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, warm spice (nutmeg), and spicy (hot, habanero) chili. There were also some pleasing, very faint and diffuse fruit (berry + stone fruit jam) and nut (almond butter) notes. (Note: there were no jam or almond ingredients in this chocolate.)

Texture: smooth, with a relatively buttery melt. (No spice or chili grit -- thank you!).

I enjoyed the lively flavors as well as the subtle complexities in this relatively sweet (60%) bar; the short list of quality ingredients; and the origin information. The sweetness added a brightness to the spice flavors. The habanero did pack a punch. Those sensitive to hot, spicy flavors may not love the hot pepper heat; but the "burn" receded relatively quickly.

Maker's tasting notes: "Inspired by our chef's first batch of chocolate truffles - the flavor inspiration that started it all back in 2001 - this bar packs a lot of complexity and some sweet heat...Try pairing it with full-bodied wines, beers, coffees, and teas..."

Ingredients:  Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, nutmeg, vanilla bean, habanero chili.

Allergen-related information: (No information on package.)

*Note: the company is planning to relocate to Chisholm, MN.  

**Ecuadorian Nacional hybrids: EET-95, EET-96, EET-103 

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. 

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao, Ecuador (bar) - Mar. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++
2.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (bar) - Good ++
3.) Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++

Weight of 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) for 2 squares / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total 48-piece box
Weight of bar: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 196 calories (estimate) in 1 bar (140 calories) + 2 squares (56 calories (estimate))
Cost: $6.75 (sale) for 1 bar + cost of two squares in a larger $58.50 48-piece assortment box

Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao and Dark Milk Maui Guava (squares and bar) were manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

These chocolates were made in Hawaii using cacao grown in Ecuador* and Hawaiian guava essence. 

Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% (square and bar)

Aroma and flavor notes for the Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao Square included: smooth dark chocolate and fruity, almost floral tropical fruit (red/pink guava and strawberry guava jam). The guava was an extracted fruit essence--completely incorporated into the chocolates (rather than pieces of identifiable guava fruit).

Interestingly, the smaller (individually-wrapped) dark guava 65% square had more guava flavor than the full-sized dark guava 65% bar version. The bar had more pure dark chocolate (less guava); and the smaller, individually-wrapped square had more guava fruit flavors.

Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% (square)

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate, tropical fruit (guava, berries, and guavaberries) with balanced chocolate and tart-sweet fruit flavors (ranging from guava to guavaberry, pineapple and mild herb/spice (faint eucalyptus, warm black pepper, allspice).

Overall, I liked the 1.) authentic and relatively complex guava flavors in the squares best; 2.) smooth, balanced dark flavors that weren't boring or overly sweet. (The very slightly sweeter dark milk 60% version was a true dark milk.) 

I usually don't care for "natural flavors," but today's guava flavors were an exception.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors  (The Dark Milk 60% square contained Milk.)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy (lecithin). "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy.  

*The cacao was grown on a family-owned cacao farm (Costa Esmeraldas) in a northwest coastal province in Ecuador. 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Chocolate Banana Split; Ecuador, 59% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 2, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Chocolate Banana Split; Ecuador, 59% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 320 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 (current price) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Unique Chocolates Week.

Today's Chocolate Banana Split; Bean Origin: Ecuador, 59% Cacao (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). 

I loved that the makers took advantage of a cacao with slightly fruity (red fruit/berry) notes and leveraged that in creating today's banana split (ice cream sundae-inspired) chocolate. The vanilla and banana flavors (added to the cacao and berry notes) were subtle; and the final blend was creamy and delicious.

Warning: addictive, especially if you're hungry.

Thank you to the makers at Goodnow Farms for their thoughtful process and creations, short list of quality ingredients, and for using organic ingredients.

Ingredients: "Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Organic Whole Milk Powder, Organic Bananas, Salt, Single Origin Vanilla Beans"

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Soy Free, Gluten Free"

Kasama Chocolate - Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao Barrel Aged (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $19.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao Barrel Aged (bar) was from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C., Canada).  

This Special Release bean-to-bar chocolate was made using cacao beans from Northern Ecuador (Costa Esmeraldas). These roasted cacao beans (broken into pieces, aka nibs) were "aged with Odd Society Distillery's Commodore single malt whisky*. The nibs were then dried and stone ground to create a...rich dark chocolate with oak and whisky notes."

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, dark chocolate; a bouquet of marinated fruits (ripe cherry, sweet/boozy orange, citron and sweet lime); barrel-aged whiskey; very, very faint (fleeting) vegetable (green beans + nopalitos cooked with a little lemon); and very faint herbal (licorice). In the finish: fudge brownie, whiskey, vanilla and cherry tobacco, subtle oak.

Texture: smooth, chocolate-y with a pleasing melt and mouthfeel.

I enjoyed the balanced, rich complexity and unexpected fruitiness in this bar. It was flavorful, not too sweet (thank you!), and satisfying. I liked that the complex cocktail of flavors extended into a relatively long finish with mellow, authentic, barrel-aged whiskey, vanilla and light cherry. 

This would be a great bar to share with friends and family over the holidays, or to provide a little warmth to any winter day/evening.

Ingredients: Commodore Whisky Aged Cacao Nibs, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter* (* = Organic) 

Allergen-related information: None listed, except "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

*The Odd Society Commodore small-batch whisky in this bar tasted closer to Bourbon than Scotch. It was "distilled with 100% BC grown, malted barley, and aged in ex-bourbon barrels, giving it a...peppery-sweetness, along with dark fruit, clove, and toffee notes." 

Valley Isle Chocolate - Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts & Sea Salt (bar) - Nov. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Valley Isle Chocolate 
Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts and Sea Salt (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts and Sea Salt was from Valley Isle Chocolate (Kahului, Maui, HI). The cacao was sources from Costa Esmeraldas--a family-owned cacao farm in the Esmeraldas Province of NW Ecuador.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and very nut, faint vanilla, floral, sweet green and tobacco. 

Texture(s) varied from smooth dark chocolate to softly crunchy nut pieces and salt crystals to cocoa buttery melt/mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, sweet green (floral honey, faint green coconut, vanilla).

I enjoyed the subtly complex "green" (botanical) flavors in this single origin, small-batch chocolate bar.

Ingredients: "Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar*, Organic Cocoa Butter*, Macadamia Nuts, Hawaiian Sea Salt" 

Allergen-related information: "Contains Tree Nuts (Macadamia). Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts"

To'ak Chocolate - Chocolate Alchemy Andean Mints (bar) - Oct. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Chocolate Alchemy - Andean Mints 65% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package 
Calories: 360 calories in 1 package (4 smaller bars)
Cost: $16.00 for 1 package of 4 smaller bars
Purchased from: To'ak Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and the Mint Family Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Alchemy - Andean Mints 65% cacao bar(s) were created by To'ak (Tierra & Arbol S.A.S.) / To'ak International Inc. (Quito, Ecuador).

The heirloom cacao used to make this chocolate (from tree-to-bar) was sourced from Piedra del Plata, Manabi, Ecuador. And the four different mint flavors used grow in the Andes region.

Inside the attractively illustrated package were four, smaller, gold foil-wrapped, square bars. And, pleasant surprise, rather than a mint melange, each bar featured a different mint: Sunfo, Ecuadorian Tipo, Peru Muna and Yerbabuena.

Sunfo
Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and bold but balanced mint (spearmint + sage).

Equadorian Tipo 
Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, mellow mint (mild peppermint + sage + marshmallow and very faint lemon balm), and very faint nut (peanut).

Peruvian Muna
Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate and subtle smoky/savory (lemon) mint + gentle sage. Light astringency. Lovely nuanced mint notes in this one.

Yerbabuena 
Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate and vibrant mint with floral (light geranium, malva), light citrus (lemon) and very faint pepper and tomato notes. Incredible symphony of flavors.

The dark chocolate was good; but the four amazing mints stole the show. I liked the sweetness level; i.e. there was enough sweetness to add brightness, but the sugar didn't eclipse the four unique and authentic Andean mint flavors.

I appreciated the care taken to make this a true, single origin Ecuador dark chocolate, with both heirloom cacao and different mints that grow in the region.

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate (65% heirloom cacao, 35% cane sugar), sunfo/yerba buena/ecuadorian tipo/peruvian muna (each mini bar contains one type of Andean mint), cacao butter" 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy, or nuts."

 

To'ak - Galapagos Orange & Salt 65% heirloom cacao - Oct. 12, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Alchemy - Galapagos Orange & Salt 65% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package 
Calories: 336 calories in 1 package (4 smaller bars)
Cost: $16.00 for 1 package of 4 smaller bars
Purchased from: To'ak Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Galapagos Orange and Salt 65% heirloom cacao bar(s) were created by To'ak (Tierra & Arbol S.A.S.) / To'ak International Inc. (Quito, Ecuador).

The heirloom cacao used to make this bar was "sourced from small agroforestry farms in coastal Ecuador" where cacao was "harvested from heirloom cacao trees that are cultivars and hybrids of Ecuador's...Nacional variety."

The attractively illustrated package was divided into four, smaller, square bars--each individually swaddled in gold foil.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and buttery citrus (orange).

Texture: creamy with tiny, crunchy particles. I enjoyed the well-executed, well-balanced interplay between the buttery smooth and the crunchy textures.

I liked the flavors, and the sweetness level (not too much, thank you), the salt, and the authentic tasting orange. The peels were finely and evenly chopped, and expertly handled.

I also appreciated the care taken to make this a true, single origin Ecuador dark chocolate, with the orange peels and the salt hailing from the Galapagos off-shore.

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate (65% heirloom cacao, 35% cane sugar), candied Galapagos orange (orange peel, cane sugar), Galapagos sea salt crystals, cacao butter" 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy, or nuts."

  

To'ak Chocolate - Malva Flowers 65% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Malva Flowers 65% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 168 calories in 1/2 bar -- 336 cals. for 1 whole bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: To'ak Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Alchemy Malva Flowers 65% Cacao (bar) was from To'ak (Tierra & Arbol S.A.S.) / To'ak International Inc. (Quito, Ecuador).

The heirloom cacao used to make this bar was sourced from Piedra de Plata, Manabi, Ecuador. The Malva* olorosa flowers used in this chocolate are native to the Andes mountains in South America. 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate (very slightly earthy, but well-balanced) and aromatic (and flavorful) floral (rose-geranium-like).

Texture: relatively smooth, almost creamy, with occasional micro-tiny, slightly crunchy particles.

The sweetness level of this very floral chocolate was just about right. There was enough sugar to complement, and perhaps enhance a little, the authentically sweet, floral taste--yet not so much that it eclipsed cacao and floral flavors.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (65% heirloom cacao, 35% cane sugar), Malva olorosa, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy, or nuts."

*Malva olorosa has been used as a medicinal plant in Andean cultures. The large Malvaceae (or mallow) family includes 4,000 species, spread across the globe. Other mallow plants, bushes and trees include cacao, okra, hibiscus, cotton and durian. (Most have five-petaled flowers.)

 

Creo Chocolate - Dark Toasted Coconut - 73% Premium Ecuadorian Cacao (bar) - Sept. 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Dark Toasted Coconut - 73% Premium Ecuadorian Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Seeds Theme Week. Coconuts have been labeled as fruits, nuts and...you guessed it...seeds (as in single-seed drupes). Confusing? Yes. Respect for all seeds. Now, let's taste.

Today's Toasted Coconut 73% Premium Ecuadorian Cacao (bar)--made with single-origin Ecuadorian cacao beans--was from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and subtle, authentic toasted coconut.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a luxe melt; and an attractive layer of coconut (thin ivory strips with golden brown edges) on the back side of the bar.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (smooth, ultra-dark flavor, extra dark ganache/fudge brownie) and coconut.

The dark chocolate was hearty and not too sweet, making it easier to enjoy the subtler cacao flavor nuances and the natural flavor of the coconut--that was also not too sweet (thank you!). 

Too much sugar in chocolates can overwhelm other flavors. Happily, this was not the case for this well-executed chocolate made with single origin Ecuadorian cacao.

Maker's flavor notes/description: "toasted coconut, nuts, fruit..." "...a crunchy piece of paradise"

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

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Tree nuts (coconut)" "Manufactured  on shared equipment with products containing eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts & tree nuts"

NearyNogs Chocolate - "Salt Water Days" - Irish sea salt, cacao nibs & gold dust 60% Ecuador (bar) - Sept. 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

NearyNogs Chocolate
"Salt Water Days" - Irish sea salt, cacao nibs & gold dust 60% Ecuador (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 166 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week.

Today's "Salt Water Days" - Irish sea salt, cacao nibs & gold dust 60% Ecuador (bar) (Batch 2604) was from NearyNogs Chocolate (Mourne Coast, Ireland). 

This small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker is "nestled between the Mourne Mountains and the Irish Sea." And today's bar is their "ode to sunny beach days." (include parts of their description) the golden sheen off the water. 

The cacao used for this 60% dark chocolate was made using cacao from Hacienda Limon in Ecuador.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (ganache), very faint tart-sweet fruit (citrus, berry, dried fig), and faint roasted and caramel notes found in mocha lattes.

There were two different flavor zones in this bar: 1.) the base dark chocolate (ultra-dark, bittersweet chocolate-y tart made with non-alkalized cocoa powder); very faint diffuse fruit (citrus, berry); roasted marshmallow/toffee; and a very slightly earthy, bittersweet tang; and 2.) the bites that also included the crunchy cocoa nibs and sea salt. The latter bites tasted mellower, nuttier, and a bit more well balanced to me. 

Note: salt tends to cut bitterness a little. I liked the bites with salt and nibs a bit better. It was nice to have a wee bit of contrast though. I'm a huge fan of well-executed complexity and layered flavors. 

Someone asked me: Did the gold have a flavor? Not that I could taste. Pure gold is considered an inert substance, and doesn't spark taste sensations per se; but it can (and did today) create pretty visual effects. And appearance is part of the whole tasting experience.

Having walked on the coastal trail near Dublin, the subtle glow of the gold sheen on this bar did indeed bring back happy memories of late afternoon light on the Irish sea when I was there. Thank you to NearyNogs for the temporal transportation today and for being who they are (solar-powered chocolate factory, soulful family stories, thoughtfulness, and nature-inspired, beautiful, compostable packaging).

Maker's Tasting Notes: Caramel, Butter, Toffee, Salt

Ingredients: "60% cacao beans, unrefined cane sugar, Irish sea salt, edible gold dust. (cocoa solids 60% minimum)."

Allergen-related information: None listed on packaging.

*Edible gold has no taste; and it is "inert" so it doesn't react with anything?? and passes through the digestive system.

To'ak - Alchemy Salprieta Peanuts 65% (bar) - July 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak 
Alchemy Salprieta Peanuts (bar)
Good++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package of 4 smaller bars
Calories: 336 calories in 1 package
Cost: $16.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: To'ak, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Peanut Theme Week--a week that includes a variety of chocolate and peanut/peanut butter offerings--ranging from ultra-high end bean-to-bar chocolates to casual snacks.

Today's Alchemy Salprieta* Peanuts (bars) were made by To'ak (Tierra & Arbol S.A.S.; Quito, Ecuador). The company started "from a rainforest conservation project in Ecuador and has become"...a global pioneer in the world of "luxury dark chocolate."

Aroma notes included: roasted nuts (peanuts), chili pepper and warm spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander/cilantro), and a very faint, fleeting menthol note that disappeared after re-tasting.

Texture: The flavor inclusions were almost all fully incorporated, leaving just tiny bursts of welcome flavor(s); although there were a few very hard, very tiny light-colored bits. (Corn perhaps?)

Flavor notes included: complex, almost sparkling flavors (like light streaming through a forest) that revealed themselves a bit at a time. Tiny salt crystals, tiny grains of nut, tiny atoms of spice, and dark chocolate nuances that included chocolate and tropical fruit. (The heirloom cacao used to make this bar was from Piedra de Plata, Manabi, Ecuador.)

What a beautiful ride. I loved the intriguing range of complex and subtle flavors in this bar. And, like all great rides, it was over too soon.

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate (65% heirloom cacao, 35% cane sugar), peanuts, salprieta (peanuts, achiote, cilantro, sea salt, and ground heirloom corn), achiote paste (achiote, sea salt), cilantro, cacao butter"

Allergen-related information: (Contains Peanuts.) "May contain traces of milk, soy, or nuts."

*Salprieta is a mix of ground (usually toasted) peanuts, corn and spices. It is used as a condiment in Ecuador. 

Creo Chocolate - Spicy Dark - Dark Chocolate 73% Premium Ecuadorian Cacao (bar) - July 13, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Spicy Dark - Dark Chocolate 73% Ecuadorian Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Spicy Dark Chocolate 73% Ecuadorian Cacao (bar) was from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR).

Aroma and flavor notes detected in this smooth dark chocolate included: dark chocolate, warm spices (cinnamon, ginger, allspice); very faint chili powder (hot peppers, faint paprika and chipotle); and very faint mellow nut.

Chili(s) gave this bar a a bit of spicy heat; but the overall warmth was from a blend of gingerbread/pumpkin-pie type spices. I enjoyed the flavors in this balanced, well-executed bar; and the fact that it wasn't too sweet. (The warm spices--and the smooth variety of Ecuadorian cacao chosen--seemed to make this flavorful bar a little sweeter than 73% cacao chocolate.)

Ingredients: "cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter, chilies, and our blend of Creo spices"

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on shared equipment with products containing eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts & tree nuts" 

Dandelion Chocolate - Hojicha Hot Chocolate Mix - July 9, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Dandelion Chocolate
Hojicha Hot Chocolate Mix 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 5.6 oz. (160 g.) in total glass container
Calories: 217 calories (estimate) in 1 serving (1/4 container)  

Cost: $18.00 for 1 container
Purchased from: Dandelion Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Japan Theme Week, with a few chocolates featuring Japanese green teas. Hojicha is a roasted green tea from Japan.

Today's Hojicha Hot Chocolate Mix* was from San Francisco-based Dandelion Chocolate. (The company also has a location in Tokyo, Japan).

Dandelion is most well-known for their bean-to-bar chocolate (bars). This Japanese-inspired, hot beverage blend was made with single origin 70% Camino Verde, Ecuador cacao/chocolate and was attractively packaged in a smoke-colored glass container with a cork stopper. Was this 4-serving container expensive? At $4.50 per serving, yes. But, I felt I was paying for the whole experience (being in Japan without the plane flight--or having to find parking in the Mission District of San Francisco). And I'll definitely use the glass container for other things.**

Aroma notes (after removing the stopper) included: dark chocolate (oxalis, tannic botanicals, very faint diffuse fruit (persimmon and brown sugar)), roasted and slightly acidic tea. After taking out a few spoonfuls, there were more fragrant, almost floral green tea notes below the surface.

As I prepared this into hot chocolate, the tiny granules of chocolate-y, single origin dark chocolate dissolved into a fragrant, crisp green tea background. (Tip: Try to heat this blend and whisk just enough to melt the chocolate, but not so much that you lose the more delicate (volatile) green tea notes.)

The green tea flavor was very refreshing, especially when I drank this beverage cold. (We're having a heat wave in California.) I enjoyed the opportunity to try this blend of bold and delicate, nuanced flavors; and the fact that it was very lightly sweetened (thank you!). Other tasting notes included: faint roasted, balanced earth and very slight astringency (likely from the tea).

Maker's notes: "Japanese green tea + 70% fudge-y Ecuador chocolate...that whisks up rich and creamy, drinks with subtle smoky notes and a smooth finish..." 

Ingredients: 70% Camino Verde, Ecuador chocolate (cocoa beans, organic cane sugar), light brown sugar, roasted green tea

Allergen-related information: "Packed in a facility that also processes peanuts, milk, tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, and coconuts), sesame, wheat, and soy."

*Other hot chocolate mixes currently offered by the company: a classic House Hot Chocolate, a spicy Mission Hot Chocolate, and a House Mocha blend.

**2023-2024 will go down as a period when chocolate prices rose significantly. And, due to inflation and climate changes (e.g. hotter weather, stronger storms, failed crops), prices will likely stay high.  

Cacao Space - Ecuador Hacienda Victoria 75% (bar) - July 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Space
Ecuador Hacienda Victoria 75% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.18 oz. (33.5 g.) / 2.37 oz. (67 g.) in total bar
Calories: 183 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao Space, online order (with local pick-up)

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

Today's Ecuador Hacienda Victoria 75% (bar) was from Cacao Space (Los Altos (pick-up location), CA). Chocolate maker, Ksenia Arapova, specializes in a variety of single origin cacao-based bars, including some with flavor inclusions.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, spice(s); very faint sweet-tart green; faint roasted/wood; black licorice; and very faint, fleeting coconut biscuit/cookie.

Texture: thick, buttery, smooth.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark cocoa, dark fudge), botanicals (roasted greens/wood/nut); black licorice; and faint coconut cookie.

I enjoyed the complexity (rich and unique aroma and flavor notes) in this chocolate bar.

Ingredients: cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar

Maker's notes: "Handcrafted, stone ground, refined sugar free, plant based"

Allergen-related information: None listed.  

Creo Chocolate - Purely Dark 85% Dark Chocolate, Ecuador (bar) - June 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Purely Dark 85% Dark Chocolate, Ecuador (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Purely Dark 85% Dark Chocolate from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR)

Aroma notes for this attractively packaged bar included: dark chocolate (cocoa, dates, very faint tart-sweet green (oxalis)); faint nut butter, seed/nut; and very faint peanut butter and honey sandwich and sweet green (coconut).

Flavor notes included: dark, bittersweet chocolate (rich cocoa), green herb(s), sweet aromatic wood, nut; diffuse fruit (berry, date, and very faint (almost undetectable) floral banana), coconut-leaning fruits (ice apple, coconut mango, soursop); and brown sugar.

The texture was relatively smoother and creaming especially as I was expecting a bit of astringency from the slightly tangy-bitter flavors from the aroma (and because it was 85% cacao).

I really enjoyed the complexity of aromas and flavors in this bar. It had a little something for everyone. Dark chocolate with plenty of rich cocoa flavor. Balanced bitter and sweet; sweet and faintly sour fruit; and nut and green elements. There was even a trace of green floral. 

It must have been enjoyable--and challenging--for the maker(s) to choose roast and conch profiles that would preserve all the subtle/delicate flavors, and develop/manage other flavors in this fine cacao. 

Ingredients: cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on shared equipment with products containing eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts (and) tree nuts"

To'ak Chocolate - 75% Cacao 2019 Tasmanian Whisky Cask Ex-Tawny Aged - June 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
75% Cacao 2019 Tasmanian Whisky Cask Ex-Tawny Aged
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .106 oz. (3 g.) for 1 square / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total bar/package of 18
Calories: 21 calories in 1 square
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

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

Today's 75% (Ecuador) Cacao 2019 Tasmanian Whisky Cask Ex-Tawny individually-wrapped square was part of a six-flavor, tasting square assortment of chocolates--all made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). 

To'ak specializes in Ecuadorian Nacional cacao. This rare cacao variety was almost lost in the 1900s due to disease and other factors.*

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: dark chocolate and slightly boozy: slightly sweet whisky, and complex and attractive white wine grape/raisin, honey, very faint wood; faint nut; and faint, diffuse fruit (cacao pulp, red fruit). 

The texture of this tasting square was well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. There was a very faint astringency (dryness) toward the second half/finish.

What a delicious ride this was! The dark chocolate was flavorful but not so strong that it muted the wonderful barrel aged flavors. In case you want to look this one up on the To'ak website, you'll find that full-sized (whisky and spirits) bars are either sold out and/or are priced at more than $200 USD.

The makers have become skilled at cask-aging cacao, adding complexity and enhancing already nuanced flavors of heirloom cacao. You're enjoying a two-ingredient chocolate, but it tastes like there are other flavor inclusions. Their tagline says it all:

"Made like a vintage wine, aged like a whisky, and packaged like a work of art. We work closely with local farmers and artists to make truly unique and unforgettable chocolate." 

Ingredients: "Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) disfigures plants. (It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s.) 

In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

 

To'ak Chocolate - Palo Santo Aged 75% (2019 Harvest) - June 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Palo Santo Aged 75% (2019 Harvest) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .106 oz. (3 g.) for 1 square / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total bar/package of 18
Calories: 21 calories in 1 square
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

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

Today's "Palo Santo Aged" (2019 Harvest) 75% Ecuador cacao individually-wrapped square was part of a six-flavor, tasting square assortment--made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). To'ak specializes in high-end, Ecuadorian cacao-based chocolates.

The makers use Ecuador's famed "Nacional" cacao variety, an historically prized cacao that was almost lost in the 1900s due to disease and other factors.*

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: subtle dark chocolate; herbal/menthol (green mint), coconut; faint nut/seed; and very faint clean, refreshing mineral(s), citrus and aromatic wood.

The texture of this tasting square was well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. 

This unique 75% dark chocolate was bittersweet (with a lot of natural, almost dried fruit (date) sweetness). It tasted sweeter than 75% cacao chocolate in the beginning, and ended with some bitter and earthy notes in the finish. In between we enjoyed a wonderful, balanced and complex flavor ride. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Coconut, mint, citrusy pine, dates"

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*The disease was Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) that disfigures plants. It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s. 

In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

  

To'ak Chocolate - Kampot Pepper Aged 75% Nacional Ecuador (square) - June 27, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Kampot Pepper chocolate square
Good +++
Weight: .106 oz. (3 g.) for 1 square / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total bar/package of 18
Calories: 21 calories in 1 square
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

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

Today's "Kampot Pepper" (2019 Harvest) Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate small square was part of a six-flavor, tasting square assortment--made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). To'ak specializes in high-end, Ecuadorian cacao-based chocolates.

The makers use Ecuador's famed "Nacional" cacao variety, an historically prized cacao. (In the 1900s, disease diminished cacao harvests for decades. Happily, this rare variety still exists.*) And today's chocolate was blended with Kampot Pepper (a black peppercorn cultivar from Cambodia).

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: subtle dark chocolate; faint spice and aromatic black/green peppercorn; aromatic wood; clean mineral; and very faint nut; and faint, diffuse sweet citrus fruit (orange). The nuanced, aged pepper flavors were fantastic with this chocolate. There was no fiery heat, just lots of wonderful flavor.

The texture of this tasting square was well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. 

Sugar was used judiciously; that is less sugar allowed these truly unique and wonderful aged pepper and cacao flavors to really shine. (Thank you!) 

Maker's tasting notes: "Black pepper, woody, citrus, brown fruits"

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*The disease in this case was Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) that disfigures plants. It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s. 

In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."