Fruition Chocolate - Fresh Mint Milk Chocolate 54% (bar) - Mar. 2, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Fresh Mint Milk Chocolate 54% (bar)

Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 166 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Mint Theme Week.

Today's Fresh Mint Milk Chocolate 54% Batch #1 (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was grown in the Semuliki Forest in Uganda. (Sourcing Partner: Latitude Trade Co.) 

Aroma and flavor notes included mint (aromatic, authentic mint/subtle spearmint); dark chocolate (subtler chocolate aroma with stronger flavor notes: dark, fudgy, single origin chocolate/ganache. 

Texture: smooth and relatively creamy, dark milk chocolate.

Mint chocolates often are candy-level sweet. Happily today's bar was balanced, i.e. not overwhelmingly sweet or minty. 

The mint tasted natural--closer to spearmint than vibrant peppermint candy. (The type of mint was not identified on the packaging; but the makers did use both fresh mint and mint oil.)

And the light touch of vanilla (beans) seemed just right.

Maker's description: "Fresh mint is blended into a creamy 54% milk chocolate crafted from intense and fudgy Ugandan cacao."

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter*, Mint, Vanilla Beans, Mint Oil, Salt (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Eggs and Sesame.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Passion Fruit Pop Dark Milk with Elderflower 66% (bar) - Nov. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Passion Fruit Pop Dark Milk with Elderflower 66% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Village Market, S.F. Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Passion Fruit Pop Dark Milk with Elderflower 66% (bar) was crafted at the Fruition Chocolate Works (workshop) in Shokan, New York.

Cacao beans for this bar were from D.R. (Duarte) & Bolivia (Itenez).

Aroma and flavor notes included: relatively subtle/smooth dark chocolate, tart sweet fruit (berry, passion fruit) slightly earthy berry floral.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, subtly punctuated by popping candy. 

The very slight crackle and fizz of the popping candy uplifted the tart sweet passion fruit flavor, added a little pizzazz to the whole bar.

I liked the interplay between the relatively dark 66% cacao dark chocolate; the touch of tart-sweet passion fruit--that made its presence known without dominating the other flavors; and the slightly earthy-berry floral richness of the elderflower liqueur infusion. I appreciated the authentic flavors. And the popping candy made me smile.

Ingredients: "Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Whole Milk Powder, Dried Passion Fruit, Elderflower Liqueur, Popping Candy (Sugar, CO2), Sunflower Lecithin" (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk. May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Soy, Sesame."

 

Fruition Chocolate - Tanzania Latte Dark Milk Kokoa Kamili 61% (bar) - June 16, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate  
Tanzania Latte Dark Milk Kokoa Kamili 61% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

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

Today's Tanzania Latte Dark Milk Kokoa Kamili* 61% (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY). 

The cacao used to make this bar was from the Kilombero Valley in Tanzania. And "..this bar highlights Tanzanian Peaberry coffee, roasted locally by Heavyfeather" (Coffee Roasters) in Mt. Tremper, New York.

Aroma and flavor notes included: appealing, smooth dark milk chocolate and subtle, creamy cafe latte with faint vanilla and very faint, delicate caramel, wood and warm spice.

Texture: very smooth with a luxurious creamy melt.

I enjoyed the rich creaminess and subtle, sophisticated and complex flavors in this Tanzania Latte bar. This balanced chocolate will likely appeal to both milk and dark fans.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Whole Milk Powder, Coffee, Salt, Vanilla. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk. May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Eggs, Soy, Sesame."

*The makers "paid a premium for this special edition Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania Women's Lot of cocoa beans which will help fund scholarships for school girls from their village..."

Fruition Chocolate Works - Zorzal Eco Reserve 73% Dark Chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Candied Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberry & Citrus (bar) - June 2, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Zorzal Eco Reserve 73% Dark Chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Candied Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberry & Citrus (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

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

Today's Zorzal Eco Reserve 73% Dark Chocolate with Puffed Quinoa, Candied Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberry & Citrus (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was grown on a cacao farm in a bird reserve in the Dominican Republic. The certified "Bird Friendly"* cacao farm designated as "forever wild" inspired the makers to create this bird seed bar.

Aroma and flavor included: rich, sweet (slightly fruity) dark chocolate, seed, nut; dried dark berry (blueberry) and very faint citrus. (Note: this bar did not contain nuts.)

Texture: smooth dark chocolate (covered with a dense riot of) softly crunchy sunflower seeds, interspersed with small chewy fruit pieces (blueberries). Tiny rounds of puffed quinoa added additional, subtle texture.

I enjoyed the blend of flavors--an elevated homage to cacao and birds (and very high-quality bird seed).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*), Sunflower Seeds, Wild Blueberries, Puffed Quinoa, Lemon Zest, Sugar, Citric Acid, Citrus Essential Oils (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains sunflower seeds. May contain traces of milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and sesame.

*As designated/certified by the Smithsonian National Zoo and Smithsonian Bird Center. This honor is being bestowed on coffee and cacao growing areas/plantations that meet certain agroforestry and forest conservation criteria.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week. (Note: this post is likely not appropriate for children. This bar contains alcohol and some adult cocktail references.)

Today's Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, and a slight boozy richness and fullness (think oak barrel, citrus, cherry, whiskey, vermouth -- in other words, something like a Manhattan (cocktail) fully incorporated into a smooth, rich dark chocolate.

Flavor notes took the aroma notes (listed above) one step further--with the dark chocolate (Peru (pangoa) + Colombia (tumaco) taking center stage. There was also a pleasing, lingering, slightly boozy (sweet, layered whiskey cocktail with cherry), buttery and very smooth oak finish. (Note: there was no dairy butter in this bar.)

Disclosure: I do very much enjoy dark chocolate and whiskey pairings. In skilled hands, fine quality dark chocolate + spirits and oak barrel/seasoned wood produces some very appealing results. The vermouth, cherries and bitters were well-balanced and well-integrated, and these ingredients conveyed the whole cocktail concept very nicely. I loved the layered flavors in this bar that harmonized so well together.

What's behind the name "Gay Bar" other than the play on words? The packaging features a large, glittering, red (big apple) disco ball--part of a club scene with happy, diverse patrons (cartoon characters of bear, deer, beaver cartoon). "...a portion of the proceeds from each Gay Bar sold will benefit Hudson Valley organizations working to better the lives of Upstate New York's vibrant LGBTQ+ community."

Ingredients: "cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, rye, vermouth, cherries, bitters"

Allergen-related information: "may contain traces of milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame"

Fruition - Bolivia Beniano Dark Tranquilidad 66% (bar) - Nov. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Bolivia Beniano Dark Tranquilidad 66% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Limited Release Bolivia Beniano Dark Tranquilidad 66% (bar) (Batch #1) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, New York).

The company sourced the wild Beniano Bolivian cacao beans used to make this chocolate from Volker Lehmann via Uncommon Cacao. Lehmann operates Hacienda Tranquilidad, in northern Bolivia. And their cacao is designated as a special heritage cacao by the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund.

Aroma notes included: subtle, complex dark chocolate that started with a slightly more intense dark chocolate and ended with a more delicate, almost floral, sweet botanical dark chocolate.

This well-tempered 66% dark chocolate bar broke with a hard snap, and had a smooth, even texture and melt.

Flavor notes included: sweet dark chocolate; very faint coffee; molasses brown bread; honey; and sweet nut(s). This Bolivia Beniano dark chocolate had a gentle, pleasing finish with slight roasted cacao/coffee and faint, fleeting forest notes.

I've tasted and featured several bars from different makers who used Tranquilidad, Bolivia, (Beniano) cacao grown in the Beni Department of northeastern Bolivia. 

While the resulting chocolates vary slightly (based on harvest year, selected roasting and conching/grinding times, etc.) all have had gentle, appealingly complex aroma and/or flavor aspects to them. 

Love live these wonderful islands of heirloom cacao trees and those that protect them. 

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Allergen Warning: Our facility contains tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat, eggs, soy, and sesame. Trace amounts possible."

 

Fruition Chocolate Works - Coquito Spiced White with Candied Nibs 39% (bar) - Oct. 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Coquito Spiced White with Candied Nibs 39% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Pumpkins, and Warm Fall Spices Theme Week.

Today's Coquito Spiced White with Candied Nibs 39% (bar) was made by Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, New York). 

"Coquito" means little coconut in Spanish. It's also the name of a Puerto Rican cocktail made with coconut milk/cream.

Inspired by this cocktail, the makers at Fruition set about to create this "...Spiced white chocolate featuring candied cocoa nibs for fun contrast and texture." This chocolate was designed to be "warm and cozy to make you feel at home for the holidays."

Aroma notes included: sweet rum spiced cookie and/or cake; faint cocoa; vanilla.

Texture: One side of this creamy white chocolate bar was almost completely paved with crunchy cacao nibs. The end result was, as the maker intended, an enjoyable textural and flavor contrast between the creamy, spiced white chocolate and the smooth, barely sweetened crunchy cocoa nibs.

Flavor notes included: cocoa nibs, white chocolate, warm spices. Not only were the cocoa nibs candied, they were rum soaked nibs. And there was a nice warm echo of rum and vanilla in the finish.

Loved the complexity and contrast, and that the sweetness was very nicely balanced; i.e. despite its almost cookie dough-sweet white chocolate base, the cacao nibs ensured it wasn't too sweet. (Thank you!)

Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Non-Fat Milk Powder, Coconut, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Flour, Cocoa Nibs, Black Rum, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Spiced Rum, Vanilla Bean, Salt. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Tree Nuts (Coconut). May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Wheat, Eggs, Soy, Sesame.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Spiced Rum Dark Oko-Caribe 66% (bar) - May 30, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Spiced Rum Oko-Caribe 66% (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Spirits and Savory Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Spiced Rum Oko-Caribe 66% (bar) was created by Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY) at their workshop in the Catskill Mountains.

Maker's description: "This riff on our signature Dominican Republic Oko-Caribe dark chocolate is spiked with local Berkshire Mountain Distillers Ragged Mountain Rum and blended spices." (Cacao origin: Duarte, Dominican Republic; sourcing partner: Uncommon Cacao.)

Aroma notes for this spirited, 66% cacao dark bar included: sweet dark chocolate, caramel, sweet candy wax, warm spices, brown sugar and very faint rum.

This well-tempered chocolate broke with a hard snap. The melt and texture were smooth.

The overall taste was a softly undulating bouquet of balanced sweet, spiced rum punch and dark chocolate flavors that lingered into the finish.

The rum provided a naturally sweet, mellow, aged backdrop, without being boozy; and the subtle but intriguing spice blend infused the 66% chocolate with a warm, spiced rum flavor.

Today's chocolate was enjoyed with a savory snack plate that included: red grapes, Smokey Pepper Fontal Cheese, and savory, roasted almonds

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, rum, cinnamon, vanilla bean, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise, ginger, black pepper, pineapple essential oil. (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, eggs, soy, sesame."

Fruition Chocolate - Cinnamon Maple Bourbon 65% (bar) - Feb. 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate
Cinnamon Maple Bourbon 65% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 172 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Limited Release Cinnamon Maple Bourbon 65% (bar) was made by Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

This tasty bar had rich, layered flavors including rich milk chocolate, caramel and faint echoes of an aged bourbon cask. (Cocoa nibs used to make this bar were aged with cinnamon and "locally distilled" bourbon.)

The choice of (Tree Juice brand) maple sugar made in the Catskill mountains of New York (vs. cane sugar) and cinnamon, added warmth and flavor depth. (And, like many other high-quality dark milk chocolate bars, this one was mildly addictive.)

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, organic maple sugar, whole milk powder, organic cocoa butter, bourbon, cinnamon

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk. May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts and wheat."

Fruition Chocolate - Harney & Sons Tea Bar - Hot Cinnamon Spice (bar) - Sept. 3, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate
Harney and Sons Tea Bar - Hot Cinnamon Spice 46% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 325 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery, San Francisco, CA 

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

Today's Hot Cinnamon Spice 46% Milk Chocolate bar was a collaboration between Harney and Sons Master Tea Blenders (Millerton, NY) and Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY). 

This chocolate possessed a warm cinnamon tea aroma and flavor. (The spiciness implied in the "hot" cinnamon name may have been mellowed a bit by milk powder, cocoa butter and sugar.)

The bar had a satisfying, very creamy milk chocolate melt and texture, and a light lingering sweet cinnamon spice finish. 

The cacao (beans) used to make this bean-to-bar milk chocolate were from Chuno, Nicaragua.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice (tm) tea (black tea, orange peel, natural cinnamon flavor, cinnamon, clove), orange oil, cinnamon.

Fruition Chocolate - Wild Bolivia 74% Dark (bar) - Aug. 31, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate
Wild Bolivia 74% Dark (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 320 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Wild Bolivia 74% Dark (bar), handmade by Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY), had a smooth, creamy melt and texture and offered a dreamy, uniform "Best of Bolivia" tasting experience, best savored slowly.

The bar had true chocolate, light fermented flavor with medium (sweet red fruit, rich red dried cherry and light tangerine) acidity. One bite did have a very faint, fleeting earth note. But, otherwise, the tasting experience was sophisticated, integrated and consistent...from aroma to finish. 

Normally I might prefer a more complex "flavor ride," but this Good Food Awards winner (2016) showed how impressive an excellent implementation can be. And all that with just two ingredients: cacao beans and cane sugar. Deceptively simple. Lovely and elegant.

I was so glad the maker went with a 74% cacao version of this Bolivian wild cacao bar (instead of the usual 70% cacao versions out there). I was wondering how a slightly darker version of this bright bar might taste; and it was great.

Eclat Chocolate + Fruition Chocolate - 80% Noe Peru (bar) - Apr. 20, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fruition Chocolate + Eclat Chocolate 

80% Noe Peru (bar)

Good +++

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar

Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $17.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's 80% Noe Peru (bar) was a collaboration between Eclat Chocolate (West Chester, PA) and Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY). 

This (Batch #1) bar was named for a Peruvian farmer (Noe Vasquez) who produced the Nacional - Criollo variety of cacao used to make this bar. These beans were described as the "perfect cross between Nacional and Criollo varieties" of cacao, yielding a "light, yet sophisticated flavor."

There were just two ingredients: cacao beans and cane sugar; but oh, what flavor and texture. Savor this slowly, or you'll miss the ride.

The aroma and flavor were similar; both with relatively uniform complexity...and creamy, nutty, earthy and muted fruit (cherry) and faint biscuit notes. The texture was creamy. And the ready melt and access to flavor were aided by the relative thinness of the bar.

The subtleties of this well-crafted bar became more apparent with each bite. On the one hand, the bar's flavor didn't seem to change, and left a clean finish that was an extension of the initial flavor range. On the other hand, the full flavor seemed to mysteriously expand and unfold in a way that made it taste better and better. The subtle fruit and balanced sweetness came more to the front and the light earthiness/fermented milk/cream notes seemed to recede. (I am a sucker for balanced layered flavor like this.)

This tasting experience (and perceived unfolding) was due in part to the higher percentage of cocoa solids (80%) in this bar -- and the cocoa itself. Other cacao beans would have tasted much bolder and less nuanced. Less sugar meant the more delicate but rich nuances weren't overwhelmed by sweetness.

Eclat Chocolate's chief chocolatier and pastry chef (Christopher Curtin) brings high product standards, artful packaging and presentation to this collaboration; and Fruition's chocolate maker (Bryan Graham) has mad maker skills. Judging from the results, this was the right combination of talent to bring this fine Peruvian cacao to market.

Fruition Chocolate - Hudson Bourbon Dark Milk 61% bar - Aug. 10, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fruition Chocolate
Hudson Bourbon Dark Milk 61% bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chokola, NM

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Hudson Bourbon Dark Milk 61% bar was made by Fruition Chocolate in "their workshop in the Catskill Mountains" (Shokan, NY).

Today's bourbon bar, a Good Food Awards winner, was spirited chocolate at its best: high-quality bean-to-bar chocolate blended with balanced, well-executed flavor inclusion(s).

The chocolate had an aroma with light fruit, chocolate and faint roasted coffee latte notes, and a creamy, even melt and texture. The warm, round, almost buttery flavor, also embraced a very subtle, rich bourbon presence.

The chocolate maker (Bryan Graham's) tasting notes and bar description read as follows: "Roasted nibs, aged with Hudson Baby Bourbon and barrel staves, are crafted into a creamy dark milk chocolate with hint of oak."

Fruition Chocolate - Heirloom Costa Rica Dark 74% bar - Sept. 23, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fruition Chocolate
Heirloom Costa Rica Dark 74% bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Central America Theme Week.

Today's Heirloom Costa Rica bar from Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY) was a well-balanced, well-executed dark bar, made with heirloom-designated cacao beans from the canton of Coto Brus in Puntarenas Province, in southern Costa Rica.

Chocolate maker Bryan Graham performs his magic in the company's workshop in the Catskill Mountains. The chocolate results over the years have been consistently good.

Today's soy free, gluten free 74% bar offered a full, flavorful ride, aroma-to-finish, with dried fruit (cherry and light hints of apricot and raisin), citrus, very light bittersweet earth and umami notes, followed by more cherry and citrus and a very faint touch of coffee in the finish.

Fruition Chocolate - Hispaniola bar - April 18, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fruition Chocolate
Hispaniola Dark 68 percent bar
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ missing information ($10 estimate)
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

This week has been full of so many great bars that it's almost sad to see the week end. Today's Hispaniola* Dark 68 percent bar was made by Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY). It was described on the packaging as: "A lightly roasted dark chocolate, balanced, bright and lingering."

Chocolate maker Bryan Graham and team started with "flavorful, ethically-sourced cocoa beans (from the Dominican Republic)" and brought them to fruition at the company's workshop in the Catskill Mountains in New York.

Today's bar had a rich chocolatey aroma with light hints of green, light earth/smoke, dried fruit and spice; in other words, a full spectrum somewhat similar to other bars made from Dominican Republic cacao featured this week.

The very edible, well-tempered bar had a smooth buttery melt, and satisfying true chocolate, hot cocoa flavor notes, with a mild, lingering and buttery finish.

As with most high-quality, bean-to-bar craft chocolate, the ingredients list** was short. This bar was also awarded First Place for Best Origin Bar at the 2015 Northwest Chocolate Festival.

*The name Hispaniola dates back to 1492 when explorer Christopher Columbus claimed the Caribbean island (comprised of present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) for Spain. He dubbed it: La Isla Española. 

**Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter and organic vanilla beans.

Fruition - Camino Verde Crunch bar - June 10, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fruition Chocolate
Camino Verde Crunch bar
Good +
Weight: 1.055 oz. (30 g.) / 2.11 oz. (60 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 158 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Camino Verde Crunch dark bar from Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY) was crafted with cacao beans from Balao, a city located in the Guayas Province, on the west coast of Ecuador.

The "Crunch" in the Camino Verde Crunch bar came from stone-ground cacao. Particle sizes in this bar were even and smooth and slightly crunchy, with no "grit," making this stone-ground chocolate a delight to eat.

This was a fairly robust dark bar at 75% cacao content. While the bar's packaging suggested I might detect hints of eucalyptus and malt, I didn't really pick up on these flavor notes. 

Brown Butter Caramels - March 5, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fruition Chocolate
Brown Butter Bourbon Caramels
Very Good
Weight: .866 oz. (24.6 g.) in 3 pieces / 2.6 oz. (74 g.) total 9-piece tin
Calories: 129 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $25.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today's wonderfully complex, Brown Butter Bourbon Caramels were crafted by a small-batch, bean-to-bar "workshop" -- Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY).

I used the word "complex," and by that I mean: overlapping layers of slightly smoky, coffee bean and bourbon flavor notes, infused into a rich, brown butter, caramel.

The 66% chocolate couverture was decorated with black and white airbrushed cocoa butter dibbles and dabbles, and contained a wonderful, soft caramel center. The chocolate was thick enough to prevent caramel "leaks" but not so thick as to seem overly candlewax-like (the occasional result if chocolate "walls" are made too thick to contain a precious or gooey center).

Founder Bryan Graham and team start with organic, fair trade cacao beans, that are roasted and stone-ground and eventually made into well executed bars and confections, most often using 66% cacao Peruvian chocolate.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Butter Theme Week. 

Fruition Chocolate - Toasted Almonds with Smoked Salt - December 27, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Fruition Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Coated Toasted Almonds with Smoked Sea Salt
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.2 g.)/ 5 oz. (141 g.) total package
Calories: 148 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. serving
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bag
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

The sun shone, but it was bitterly cold (by California standards) this morning. I warmed up with a cup of rose hot chocolate (more about this in a few weeks) and a small handful of plain, raw almonds that served as a  palette cleanser between chocolate courses. With that, I was ready to taste Fruition Chocolate's Dark Chocolate Coated Toasted Almonds with Smoked Sea Salt.

If you're familiar with hickory smoked almonds, you'll recognize this flavor in today's chocolate. The smokey, applewood sea salt seasoning was the first taste to register, and it was a very pleasant complement to the (66% cacao) smooth dark chocolate (from Peru), and the crunchy toasted almond at the center of each piece.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Fruition Chocolate - Milk Fleur de Sel bar - November 18, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Fruition Chocolate
Dark Milk Chocolate with Fleur de Sel (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.11 oz. (60 g.) total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $6.67 (approximate subscription cost per bar)
Purchased from: Standard Cocoa, New York, NY

Today's chocolate was a Dark Milk Chocolate bar with Fleur de Sel from bean-to-bar maker, Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY). This dark milk (56%) bar, made from Peru cacao, was a good choice for Day #7 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

The fleur de sel (salt), and perhaps the whole milk powder, in this bar seemed to nicely soften out or balance some of the acidity I've tasted in other Fruition chocolate bars.

Acidity is a very general term. Some is needed to make fine chocolate interesting, but a high acid level can overwhelm other natural flavor notes. Like many craft or artisan foods and beverages, especially where fermentation and drying and/or roasting processes have occurred, care must be taken; and many wonderful, and occasionally surprising, results are possible. Combine chocolates with other complex food and drink, and you multiply the possibility of interesting interactions.

Thankfully, Bryan Graham, the force behind the small batch workshop in the Catskill Mountains of New York that is Fruition Chocolate, pays attention to slow roasting and stone grinding of small batches of beans. While other notes may occasionally take a back seat when milk and salt are added, this bar is well balanced.

Fruition Chocolate - 70% dark bar - November 14, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fruition Chocolate
70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: .696 oz. (20 g.) / 2.11 oz. (60 g.) total bar
Calories: 104 calories (estimate) for 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.67 (approximate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Standard Cocoa, New York, NY

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week. You may notice that today's bar was the third chocolate this week from Fruition Chocolate (Shokan, NY).

Fruition Chocolate Works and Confectionery, is a bean-to-bar operation. They roast and stone grind organic and fairly traded cacao beans and make their chocolate from "scratch" vs. buying pre-made chocolate as most chocolatiers do. Founder Bryan Graham has specialized in single origin chocolate from Peru.

This 70% cacao bar was smooth, with a rich acidic bite and array of flavor notes. The tasting notes on the bar's label read:
"A roller coaster of flavors, bright and assertive with a lengthy dark roast finish."

I received this Fruition Chocolate bar (1 of 3) as part of a subscription offered through Standard Cocoa, a company that will send you new craft chocolate bars each month. What's not to like about receiving a box of good chocolate on a regular basis?