Antidote - Nina Naked 84 Dark High on Cacao less sugar (bar) - Oct. 1, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Antidote 
Nina - Naked - 84 Dark High on Cacao less sugar (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Antidote, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week. See previous entry for the "coffee" half of today's entry--that was made with coffee-flavored white chocolate. 

This Nina* Naked 84 Dark High on Cacao less sugar (bar) from Antidote Chocolate represents the cacao half of the chocolate and coffee equation today. (The bar was made in Ecuador.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate with dried fruit (dried plum/prune, sour cherry, apricot) and slightly toasted malt and earth.

Texture: very smooth, pleasant melt and mouthfeel

I appreciated the short list of ingredients in this bar and the complex dark flavors in this bold but balanced bar. It also helped me suppress a coughing fit as I was recovering from a bad cold today.**  

Ingredients: 84% cacao Arriba Nacional cacao beans, whole cane sugar, cacao butter, sunflower lecithin

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that handles milk, soy & nuts.

*Antidote founder Red Thalhammer ("New York/Miami-based with Austrian roots") has invented stories and personas around her chocolate bars. In today's case, "Nina rides a motorbike in leather shorts year round. Brash with a killer stare, she has nothing to lose by baring it all. There is no need for your added spice in her life, not your sweet nothings, she is rock solid and full of flare all on her own. Her art lies in keeping it simple, wearing it well and sinking into the deep, dark flavors of life. Hang with her once and see if you ever recover your previous superficiality."

**Theobromine in ultra-dark chocolate bars can act as a cough suppressant and bronchodilator. I have had this experience before with high-percentage dark bars that helped me breathe and settled down coughs. Doses in bars and individual experiences may vary. Please do consult a physician if you have serious cold or flu symptoms before trying this at home. 

 

Primo Chocolate - Mountain Cardamom 60% Dairy-Free Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - June 21, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Primo Chocolate
Mountain Cardamom 60% Dairy-Free Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 360 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Earth, Mountains, Forests and Gardens Theme Week--part of a month long series on chocolates related to the elements: earth, water and fire.

Today's Mountain Cardamom 60% Dairy-Free Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Primo Chocolate. 

The cardamom in this bar (from Burlap & Barrel in New York) was grown by "farmers in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala." The small cardamom pods grow on a "tropical vine in cloud forests." And the cacao was sourced from Ecuador.

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark, relatively sweet chocolate; lovely aromatic cardamom; and very faint coconut.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy, almost velvety, melt and mouthfeel.

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Organic Panela Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Flour, Sunflower Lecithin, Cardamom

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. "Made in a facility that also processes nuts"

Cacao Laboratory - Earth Ceremonial Grade Cacao 100% Cacao with Moringa & Chipotle (bar) - June 18, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Cacao Laboratory 
Earth - Ceremonial Grade Cacao 100% Cacao with Moringa & Chipotle (bar) 
Good ++ 
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 57 calories in 2 squares 
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Earth Theme Week, featuring several chocolates with ties to mountains, forests, plants and gardens.

Today's Earth - Ceremonial Grade Cacao 100% Cacao with Moringa & Chipotle (bar) was made by Cacao Laboratory Corp. (Kingston, NY).  

Aroma notes included: slightly earthy dark chocolate; and--after first cutting open the inner wrapper--it had a pepper-like sharpness (that made me cough if I inhaled too deeply). Typically a sensation like this decreases if the chocolate airs out for about 10+ minutes after opening. (It did take the feisty edge off this bar.)

Flavor notes included a pleasant green/plant taste; fire-roasted, slightly early (mild) pepper; followed by a steep dive into 100% cacao bitter and deep-chocolate-y, dark chocolate. About an hour later, after something to eat, I wanted a second piece/square; and the second piece seemed mellower and even more enjoyable.

Texture: relatively smooth with a very slight, temporary, micron level graininess, and very faint lingering (and balanced) roasted/gently smoked pepper + cacao finish.

I appreciated Cacao Lab's short list of (three) organic ingredients, and the idea of achieving better balance in a world of different forces, with assistance from the four elements (earth, air, fire and water). Their Sacred Elements Blends (line of bars) "were created to help you harness the qualities of the four classical elements..."

Indeed, I did feel more grounded within about 10 minutes after sitting and eating today's chocolate. (The physical absence of a sugar buzz helped with that feeling.) Eating a 100% unsweetened chocolate is also a much slower, arguably more deliberate, experience than scarfing down the average, sugar-sweetened ("more-ish") chocolate.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Rich leather, smoke"

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao*, moringa*, chipotle* (*organic)

Allergen-related information: Processed on equipment that also processes nuts

*Notes about the 3 ingredients: 

Cacao: single origin cacao (sourced from Manabi, Ecuador)

Chipotle peppers (native to the Americas) are smoke-dried jalapeno peppers--a process that gives them a mellower, richer flavor. 

Moringa is a nutritious, drought-resistant tree originally from northwestern India. While not native to the Americas, it is now widely grown in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and other countries.

Conexion Chocolate - Mocha Latte Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar) - May 23, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Conexion Chocolate
Mocha Latte - Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Touring Chocolatier, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Conexion Chocolate Mocha Latte - Light Roast Coffee Milk Chocolate 40% Cacao (bar) was from

Aroma notes included: slightly earthy coffee and dark milk chocolate with a very faint (barely detectable) herbal and light vanilla.

Texture: rich, creamy milk chocolate surrounded a very generous helping of crunchy, ground coffee bits. (Chew well before swallowing due to slightly jagged coffee bean bit edges.)

Flavor notes included: creamy sweet milk chocolate blended with unsweetened, lightly roasted ground coffee, and light vanilla. Together the flavors harmonized well together, but the coffee grit was a little distracting.*

I enjoyed the relatively long, authentic mocha finish. 

And I appreciated the use of Arriba Nacional cacao; the fact this bar was made "in country" (in Ecuador where beans are grown); the mocha flavors in this Ecuador bar; and the makers striving to be the connection (conexion) between small Ecuadorian cacao farmers and end customers across the globe. 

Ingredients: Cacao mass, cane sugar, milk powder, cacao butter, coffee, natural vanilla, sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Produced in a facility that also handles dairy and" "Gluten Free" "Soy Free"

Deux Cranes - Dark Chocolate with Coffee, Cream (bar) - May 17, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Deux Cranes
Dark Chocolate with Coffee, Cream (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 191 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Filoli (gift shop), Woodside, CA

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week, and Day #5 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate with Coffee, Cream (bar) was made by Deux Cranes LLC (Los Gatos, CA).

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate (sweet green botanical) and subtle coffee

Texture: smooth texture, melt

Flavor notes included: balanced dark chocolate (fudge-y, very faint sweet green (anethole*), very slightly floral and barely detectable, balanced earth) and subtle coffee with a gentle complexity. The generous drizzle of white chocolate ("cream") on one side, did give the effect of drinking a rich mocha beverage with cream floating on top.

I enjoyed the balanced flavors and choice of single origin cacao (75% Ecuador) and single origin coffee (Colombia) that yielded subtle, complex flavors and a slightly richer, more layered aroma than many other coffee chocolate bars.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa liquor from the Ecuadorian Amazon, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla extract) White Chocolate (Ecuadorian sugar, Ecuadorian cocoa butter, Ecuadorian whole milk powder, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla extract, Coffee Beans from Colombia, Vanilla Paste (Cane sugar syrup, vanilla concentrate, powdered vanilla bean, exhausted vanilla seeds, cane sugar.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. The product may contain traces of nuts, milk, and gluten. Produced and packaged in the same facility as soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, and milk products.

*Anethole is a naturally occurring, volatile chemical compound in plants (notably anise, fennel and star anise) and can be found in trace amounts in certain varieties of cacao (including certain Forastero varieties in Ecuador, and may be found in cocoa butters). Like cacao mass, anethole is hydro-phobic (does not mix well with water). And if added as a flavoring to chocolate, anethole is typically incorporated into cocoa butter (fat).

Olive and Sinclair - Candied Lemon Chocolate 75% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 5, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Olive and Sinclair
Candied Lemon Chocolate 75% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 410 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Candied Lemon Chocolate 75% Cacao (bar) (Batch No. 012327) was from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co. (Nashville, TN).

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate, faint malt (malty cracker) and lemon cookie/biscuit.

Texture: relatively smooth, stone-ground dark chocolate with bits of candied lemon and occasional tiny sparkles of sea salt. 

Flavor notes included: smooth 75% dark chocolate (Ecuador), faint malt, and multi-dimensional sweetness (brown sugar, candied lemon). I enjoyed the perfect balance of dark chocolate, lemon and sea salt in this bar. This was bittersweet at its very, balanced, best.

Each of the elements harmonized well with each other in this blend of smooth, 75% stoneground cacao, upbeat citrus, subtle brown sugar and (Maldon) sea salt, to create a sophisticated and delicious bar. Not too sweet. Not too dark. Not too bitter. Just right. This bar landed squarely in the Goldilocks* zone for me.

Maker's tasting notes: "Chewy candied lemon brings out the brightness of our 75%...chocolate" 

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Brown Sugar, Candied Lemon, Sea Salt"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts"

*The Goldilocks reference is to "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," a story based on a European/American folktale/fairy tale. In most recent versions of this story, a young girl (Goldilocks) visits the home of three bears (who are out on a walk) and tries their bowls of porridge, chairs and beds belonging to each of the three bears. Goldilocks selects items that were neither too hot nor too cold, and were not too hard or soft. She selects the porridge, chair and bed that were "just right" for her. 

Eventually, the bears come home to find Goldilocks asleep on the baby bear's bed. The girl wakes, and runs out before anything happens to her. One assumes the bears were left scratching their heads, and were not entirely happy about the intruder.

Some astronomers have also used the expression "the Goldilocks zone" to describe planets that may possess the right characteristics (not too cold, not too hot, etc.) to support life.

 

Rhyme and Reason Chocolate - Maracuya Passion White and Dark Ecuador Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 28, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Rhyme and Reason Chocolate
Maracuya Passion Fruit White and Dark Ecuador Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .845 oz. (24 g.) / 1.69 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Fruits Theme Week on Chocolate Banquet. 

Today's Maracuya Passion Fruit White and Dark Ecuador Chocolate (bar) was from Rhyme and Reason Chocolate Company LLC (Greensboro, NC).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, tart-sweet fruit (passion fruit, citrus)

Texture: well-tempered, broke with a snap; two layers that were both smooth in texture, and had a very slight difference in the way they melted. Nicely executed; a unique and pleasing experience.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (chocolate-y, dark fudge brownie, very light and balanced earth and floral) and a white chocolate layer full of bright, sweet and delicious passion fruit. Together, they created a very tasty chocolate bar.

I enjoyed this attractive, layered bar where both dark and white strata contributed high-quality, balanced and authentic flavors. That passion fruit infused white chocolate layer really was like eating real passion fruit; and the dark chocolate tasted like single origin chocolate. And it was (Ecuador cacao).

Thank you to the makers for this deliciously fun tasting experience.

Ingredients: "Cocoa Butter, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Beans, Organic Passion fruit Powder"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility which also handles peanuts and tree nuts"

Mashpi Chocolate - 65% Cacao Chocolate (mini bar) - Oct. 8, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
65% Cacao Chocolate (Mini bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .212 oz. (6 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total pack of 10 Mini bars
Calories: 35 calories in 1 mini bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 pack of 10 Mini bars
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's 65% Cacao Chocolate mini bar was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV). It was part of a larger 10-bar variety assortment.

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma." 

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: rich, smooth dark chocolate with fruit (cacao fruit pulp syrup + very faint brown sugar).

Texture: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate with an attractive melt.

I loved the complex, bright and almost earthy sweetness (think sweet potato/yam + citrus, melon, mango and maple syrup brownies). Cacao fruit (pulp that surrounds the seeds) flavors vary a lot, depending on the cacao variety, ripeness and origin/where it was grown. It can taste like many other tropical fruits melded together, like watermelon candy; and/or, like today, its very unique self. 

This 65% Masphi dark chocolate would be great in a side-by-side chocolate tasting, if for no other reason to enjoy the range of sweet, cacao fruit notes, and the relatively low level of bitterness.

I appreciated: the short list of (just three) authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)   

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 7, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The Ecuadorian Nacional Cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma" grown in Ecuador.

Aroma and flavor notes for this 80% cacao chocolate included: rich, dark, (chocolate-y) chocolate with  sweet green (botanical, almost floral), diffuse tropical fruit (cacao fruit pulp) and balanced, slightly woody/nutty, toasty cacao nibs. It had a pleasant, clean finish with a very faint, doubly dark chocolate cookie/brownie--made with brown sugar--taste.

Texture: smooth, chocolate-y texture. 

Relatively low in bitterness and acidity, this dark chocolate was full of balanced cacao flavor(s) and gentle complexity. 

I enjoyed tasting both yesterday's Mashpi 80% bar with unroasted cacao (which had more nuanced sweet green, maybe a little clay and less nutty/toasty notes) as well as today's 80% bar made with (roasted) cacao. 

Today's bar had a flavor profile similar to Mashpi's dark chocolate bar with cacao nibs, but with a smoother texture. (The nibs were fully ground/incorporated in this version.) I found this Ecuadorian cacao (and this batch/lot) to be very friendly and tasty.

I appreciated the short list of (just two!) authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's thoughtful commitment to and practice of regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.) 

*The vast majority of the world's chocolates are made with roasted cacao, so you'll rarely see the word "roasted" mentioned on the packaging or list of ingredients (because it's assumed the cacao was roasted). Happily a few makers include information on cacao roast profiles. (Usually said makers have experience roasting coffee, or have customers who appreciate these details).

Mashpi Chocolate - Unroasted Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao - Oct. 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Unroasted Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bar with Unroasted Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma" from Ecuador.

Aroma and flavor notes for this 80% unroasted cacao chocolate after first opening the inner wrapper included: smooth dark chocolate with fruit (tropical fruit - mango, cacao fruit, light date), followed by assorted botanical, green notes; and very light marshmallow/mallow and mild nut/seed. These flavors evolved over time. The sweetness, lighter, fruitier and green notes lessened and the classic dark chocolate flavor came to the forefront.

Texture: smooth textured, with a light (fruit/green) astringency toward the finish. This faint astringency turned slightly less astringent slightly more (balanced) light bitterness over the next few hours.

I expect that most 80% dark chocolates will be more intense (harsh, acidic or bitter) in flavor (than 60-70% cacao percent chocolates). However, certain heritage cacao varieties have a milder profile. Today's bar was not too acidic or bitter and, at least initially, was full of botanical complexity and natural sweetness.

Why unroasted? Some find unroasted cacao milder than roasted cacaos. More delicate floral and other notes may be better preserved. Others like the nutritional benefits: higher levels of anti-oxidants (polyphenols, flavanoids) are conserved with less processing/heating.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to taste this 80% unroasted cacao bar. And I look forward to comparing this bar with the company's 80% (roasted) cacao (bar) tomorrow.

I also appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; and the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Maker's tasting notes: "...many dark chocolates are considered bitter, our 80% Cacao bar is exceptional..."

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)

Mashpi Chocolate - Macambo Chocolate 65% Cacao Mini Bar - Oct. 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Macambo Chocolate 65% Cacao (Mini bar)
Good ++
Weight: .212 oz. (6 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total pack of 10 Mini bars
Calories: 35 calories in 1 mini bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 pack of 10 Mini bars
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order 

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Macambo Chocolate 65% Cacao mini bar was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV). This bar was part of a mini bar assortment (package of 10 different flavors).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma--from Mashpi Shungo, Ecuador.

Macambo (Theobroma bicolor*)--aka bacao, jaguar cacao, white cacao, pataxte, and other common names--is related to cacao (Theobroma cacao). 

This bar contained 65% cacao dark chocolate as well as soft white nut-like (macambo) bits.

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: dark chocolate, diffuse fruit; subtle nut (close to almond + pine nut); and very faint brown sugar and clean green (young, tender green bean). 

Texture: smooth dark chocolate -- with one side of this mini bar covered in tiny bits of light-colored, softly nutty, seeds.

I enjoyed trying this theobroma family bar--with a smooth rich 65% Theobroma cacao chocolate that was the base for the Theobroma bicolor seeds. The macambo seed bits added unique flavor(s) and had a pleasantly chewy texture.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao (and other ingredients) from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, macambo

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)  

*While I've had macambo ("jaguar cacao") bars years ago, I am pretty sure the two bars I tried were also made with some Theobroma cacao (cacao butter or solids). 

While the fermenting process for cacao brings out interesting and appealing flavors, the same is not always the case for its bicolor sibling. Adding bicolor seeds to today's chocolate seemed like a good decision and allowed the macambo's balanced flavors to shine through. 

Thank you to the makers for making this tasting experience possible and helping to educate us about the bounty of plants and fruits in the Ecuadorian rain forest.

Conexion Chocolate - Pineapple & Pink Salt Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Conexion Chocolate
Pineapple & Pink Salt Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar

Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Touring Chocolatier, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Pineapple & Pink Salt Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) from Conexion Chocolate was made in Quito, Ecuador, by Aromasabor Cia. Ltda. 

The cacao used to make this bar was Arriba Nacional Cacao from the Fortaleza del Valle Co-op in Manabi. (Manabi is a western coastal province in Ecuador.)

Aroma flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate (chocolate-y, faint nut butter*); relatively subtle sweet-tart tropical fruit (pineapple); and very faint sea salt.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a pleasing melt and mouthfeel, interspersed with chewy shreds of authentic (not over-sweetened, gently complex and balanced) dried pineapple.

I appreciated the smoothness of the dark chocolate, the subtle complex flavors and textures and the use of Ecuadorian cacao. The company's name: "Conexion" helps describe the key role craft chocolate makers can play. 

The company "strives to be the Conexion (connection) between the world of the small Ecuadorian cacao farmer and yours." Thank you to both Conexion founder/owner Jenny Samaniego (for her work with farmers and making these Ecuadorian chocolates possible), and to Chef Derek Poirier, for creating chocolates that can be enjoyed around the world.

Ingredients: Cacao mass, cane sugar, cacao butter, pineapple, pink salt, sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a facility that also handled dairy and nuts." 

*Nutty, fruity, woodsy, floral and other notes are all naturally occurring flavors you may experience in single origin chocolates that vary by cacao variety, country, region and growing conditions (soil/terroir, climate, seasonal fluctuations, etc.)

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Calamondin 65% Cacao - Oct. 3, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Calamondin 65% Cacao 
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.33 for 1 bar (3 for $25.00)
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bar with Calamondin 65% Cacao was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma." (There was no cacao percentage listed.)

Calamondin (Citrofortunella microcarpa) "is a small citrus fruit with a delicate, soft, aromatic skin." The makers used the skin of this citrus fruit in this bar. And this fruit tasted every bit like a cross between a kumquat (sweet rind) + a mandarin orange/tangerine.

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate with gently aromatic and slightly floral citrus (that had a very pleasant, almost undulating, nuanced tart-sweet taste), and brown sugar notes.

Texture: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate--with only one tiny, tiny dark particle (seed or cacao nib bit?). 

I enjoyed the opportunity to try yet another unique and special bar made with a blend of tropical fruit and cacao supporting a bio-reserve in Ecuador. It had an intriguing, gently complex flavor.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, calamondin"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.) 

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Covered Bananas - Oct. 2, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Covered Bananas (package)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 340 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Covered Bananas were made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma."

The "seda" (translation: silk) bananas*--that were covered in Ecuadorean chocolate in today's offering--were an heirloom variety preserved by small producers.

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: dark chocolate; aromatic, softly sweet, banana and subtle brown sugar (panela).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate; the dehydrated banana pieces (slices) were just right with an authentic texture that seemed to preserve the best of the banana. (The fruit was just right: not too mushy, not too tough; i.e., it did not have a hard chew.)

I enjoyed the sweet, mellow flavor and texture of the banana, and the fact that it tasted slightly less acidic than Cavendish bananas we find in stores here in the U.S.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; the well-executed and balanced flavors; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Dehydrated banana, cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.) 

*Bananas originated in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. They arrived in the Americas centuries ago. Commercial banana growers in the Americas were impacted by disease(s); and some cultivars like the popular Gros Michel cultivar survived in smaller pockets after suffering from fungal disease(s), and being declared "commercially extinct" in 1965. Following that period, the more disease-resistant (at that time) cultivar, the Cavendish, became the banana we know and love today in the U.S. But, concerns about fungal diseases continue--with bananas and cacao.

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Cacao Pulp 65% Cacao - Oct. 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Cacao Pulp 65% Cacao
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Bar with Cacao Pulp 65% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma."  

This bar was part of the company's line of bars produced with "Ecuadorean Nacional Cacao, tropical fruits, spices and raw sugar cane coming from 100% agroecological farms."

Aroma and flavor notes for this fruit-filled 65% cacao dark bar included: slightly boozy, sweet fruity chocolate (smooth, sophisticated cocoa note) with pockets of intense (concentrated) cacao fruit flavors: thick, jammy cacao fruit pulp centers -- with a mouthfeel somewhere between a dark, rich apple "butter" and slightly fermented (or trace of high-end fruit vinegar) fruit gel).

The cacao pulp's bright, complex tropical fruit butter flavors--cacao fruit pulp, mangosteen, dried sweet melon, citrus (sweet tangerine), tamarind and dried cherry--stole the show. 

Texture: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate with a smooth, jammy/fruit (thick fruit butter-like) silky-gel paste-like filling.

I loved this sweet-tart, flavorful celebration of cacao fruit and chocolate -- in this form: a dark chocolate bar with segmented squares filled with tasty and authentic cacao fruit paste). Most people never get to taste real cacao fruit pulp-- that lends so much flavor to the cacao fermentation process, while tasting nothing like dark chocolate.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, cacao pulp"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)  

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Lupine Milk (bar) - Sept. 30, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Lupine Milk
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bar with Lupine Milk was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma." (There was no cacao percentage listed.)

Many lupine varieties may have originated in the Mediterranean; but lupine also has a long history in the Andes of South America. The Lupinus mutabilis (aka Andean Lupin(e) or Tarwi) in this bar has been cultivated and processed to be edible--with the end product being a flour and/or milky beverage. Domestication by pre-Incan inhabitants has been traced back 2,600 years. 

Domesticated and/or Sweet lupine milk contains, as the name implies, fewer bitter (and potentially toxic) plant alkaloids.* A cream-colored lupine "milk" is made by crushing/blending lupine plants' seeds (that look like small, flattened circular light beige beans)--that often have been soaked in salty water to reduce bitterness as part of the process.

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate with very subtle diffuse fruit, slightly floral and brown sugar notes -- softened by a light, plant "milk" taste similar to a very slightly floral (and less granular) rice milk.

Texture: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate with only one very tiny, dark lupine/lupine seed particle (that could have been a cacao nib).

I enjoyed the opportunity to try this unique and special bar. It had an intriguing, gently complex flavor.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, pulverized lupine, raw sugar cane, cacao butter"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.) 

*Personal note: Stick with commercially produced "sweet" lupine flour and seeds ("beans"). Please do not try to eat wild/any foraged lupine flower seeds--that may be higher in bitter and potentially toxic alkaloids. Also, lupines are legumes; and there may be a chance of a sensitivity if you have an allergy to other legumes (like peanuts). As with trying any new food if you have allergies, research product ingredients and safe sources, then try a small quantity first and wait before eating more.

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Turmeric 65% Cacao - Sept. 29, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Turmeric 65% Cacao
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Bar with Turmeric 65% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma." 

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: dark chocolate; very subtle diffuse fruit; faint, very slightly bitter spice (turmeric); a barely detectable (not unpleasant) flicker of herbs (eucalyptus, bay leaf + dusty ginger); and gentle brown sugar/caramel (panela).

Texture: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate with barely discernible herb/botanical particles (no harsh spice grit).

I liked the complex, natural and balanced flavors in this chocolate (and that it had an interesting addictive quality and harmonious complexity). The relatively sweet (65% vs. 70%+ cacao) and relatively smooth/mild chocolate helped balance the unique, relatively bold taste that turmeric can have.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, turmeric"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.) 

Masphi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Cacao Nibs 70% Cacao - Sept. 28, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Cacao Nibs 70% Cacao
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Bar with Cacao Nibs 70% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma." 

Aroma and flavor notes for this 70% cacao chocolate included: rich, dark, smooth (chocolate-y) chocolate and complex and balanced cacao nibs with sweet, clean and green botanical (faint fruit and floral); slight earth, wood and nut; and subtle brown sugar notes.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a festive field of light, crunchy cacao nibs (pieces of toasted cacao beans). Clean finish.

I liked everything about this bar. I loved this blend of pleasing and balanced dark chocolate: from the aroma to the gently roasted cacao nibs that were unusually light and almost crispy and had well-rounded, mellow, wood/nut notes. 

Relatively low in bitterness and acidity, but not in flavor, this dark chocolate was full of gentle complexity. I kept leaning in to re-taste the chocolate and nibs until, sadly, it was completely gone.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, cacao nibs"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Brunei Cherry 65% Cacao - Sept. 27, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Brunei Cherry 65% Cacao
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Bar with Brunei Cherry 65% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma."

This bar contained Brunei cherries (Garcinia forbesii in this bar). These grow on tropical evergreen trees in South America. They have a cherry-like flavor and frequently go through a light fermentation process.*

Aroma and flavor notes for this 65% cacao chocolate included: rich, slightly fermented fruit (cherry, light cherry wine) and dark, smooth (chocolate-y) chocolate.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a festive field of softly chewy, tiny rosy-colored bits of brunei cherries on the back side of this bar.

I enjoyed the blend of smooth, relatively sweet 65% dark chocolate and the authentic bits of tart cherry-like fruit that livened the entire bar.

I appreciated: the short list of authentic and powerful ingredients; as well as the company's focus on regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, brunei cherry"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)

*Brunei cherries are related to mangosteen fruits originally from Southeast Asia--that are now cultivated in Central America; although there are members of the Garcinia genus that are native to the Americas.)

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Passion Fruit and Black Pepper (bar) - Sept. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Passion Fruit & Black Pepper 65% Cacao
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Bar with Passion Fruit & Black Pepper 65% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma."

Maracuyas (aka passion fruits) (Passiflora malformis in today's bar) are from South America. Their tart-sweet flavor puts the punch in fruit punch, and has been used to flavor desserts, chewing gum and filled/chocolate confections. 

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) originated in India and can be filled with subtle aroma and flavor notes. 

Aroma and tasting notes included: tart-sweet fruit (fairly intense, real passion fruit), dark chocolate and very faint spice (a few flickers of pepper). The passion fruit stole the show. The smooth dark 65% cacao dark chocolate added depth of flavor.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, with crunchy dark bits (passion fruit seeds). 

I appreciated: the short list of authentic ingredients, the bold cacao, native fruit and spice blends; as well as the company's focus on regenerative agriculture (sourcing ingredients from farms that follow regenerative practices).

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, passion fruit, black pepper."

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)