American Heritage Chocolate - Dark Chocolate with vanilla, orange & cinnamon (bar) - June 16, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

American Heritage Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with a hint of vanilla, orange & cinnamon (bar)
Good: ++
Weight:  1.27 oz. (36 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar (+tax and shipping)
Purchased from: (Online Shop at Colonial Williamsburg, Online order)

Welcome to the last day of Chocolate and Mexico Week.

Today's American Heritage Chocolate Dark Chocolate with a hint of vanilla, orange and cinnamon 57% Cacao (bar) was made in Henderson, Nevada, and distributed by Mars Wrigley Confectionery US, LLC (Hackettstown, NJ). 

I found this historically-inspired chocolate on the Colonial Williamsburg website. Cacao was ground and consumed in the U.S. by newly arrived Europeans as far back as the 1700s. Williamsburg, Virginia, was using recipes that had their roots in Mexico/Central America. 

Chocolate houses (similar to today's coffee houses) were also in vogue in parts of Europe in the 1600s-1700s; and would have been known to some of the early colonists. These early, water-based, chocolate beverages contained exotic spices and were typically sweetened with sugar.

This bar was full of rich aroma and flavors that reminded me a lot of Mexican chocolate (especially drinking chocolates). This chocolate contained a subtle warm cinnamon and spice blend, and a subtle spicy, kick--consistent with chocolate(s) with chili peppers in Mexico--and possibly in some early chocolate recipes/beverages adopted/adapted by Europeans.

The smooth, thick and creamy-textured dark chocolate had prominent cinnamon and spice (red pepper) notes that were rounded out with orange and vanilla. It had a pleasing, warm quality to it.

I enjoyed this chocolate with some (gluten free) Cinnamon Churro chips from Get Mindright Inc. (Beverly Hills, CA). I felt I'd been transported to Mexico/Latin America.

Ingredients: Chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, salt, natural flavors, red pepper.

Allergen-related information: "May contain milk, peanuts, tree nuts, egg and soy."

Mars - Dove Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter - June 15, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Distributed by Mars chocolate na, llc

Dove Silky Smooth Promises Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter

Good

Weight: .545 oz. (15.5 g.) / 7.61 oz. (215.7 g.) in total package

Calories: 90 calories in 2 pieces

Cost: $4.19 for 1 package of 28 pieces

Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dove Silky Smooth Promises Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter chocolates were from distributed by Mars chocolate na, llc (Hackettstown, NJ).

These individually-wrapped Dove filled chocolates were made from Rainforest Alliance Certified Cacao ("traceable from farms to our (the company's) factory"). They were also "partially produced with genetic engineering." (Not unusual, especially for high-volume chocolate. Appreciate that this information was disclosed.)

The aroma was that of sweet chocolate, and sweetened peanut butter (think Nestle Butterfinger candy bar). The flavor and texture will satisfy a mid-afternoon chocolate and peanut candy bar craving.

And, carrying on in the Dove Promises tradition, you'll also get a sweet message inside each foil wrapper.

"Mars *Real* Chocolate." Interesting descriptive symbol on the label. With this long ingredients list* (see below), one wonders. Real chocolate in our definition typically involves a shorter list of ingredients: cacao beans and sweetener—with a minimum of additives, flavorings, preservatives chemical acronyms and genetic engineering. 

Ingredients: "Sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Chocolate Processed with Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Skim Milk, Lactose, Soy Lecithin, PGPR, Artificial and Natural Flavors); Peanut Butter Creme (Peanut Butter, Peanuts, Palm Oil), Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Sugar, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Salt, Corn Syrup, TBHQ to Maintain Freshness."

Mars - Crunchy Espresso M&Ms - May 19, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mars

Crunchy Espresso MandMs

Good

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (226.8 g.) in total package

Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

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

Just when we thought we'd sampled every flavor in the pantheon of MandM's chocolate candies, along came today's Crunchy Espresso MandMs from Mars (Hackettstown, NJ).

As the name implied the fillings, inside the candy-coated exterior shells, were lighter, crispier and crunchier than those of classic MandM chocolate candies with a solid milk chocolate core.

The coffee flavor was very mild. These candies included artificial flavors and colorings and may contain gluten (barley malt extract).

Mars dark chocolate M and Ms; A. Mathez French chocolate truffles - Jan. 20, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Mars dark chocolate M and Ms
(Blue and White, customized for Junior Museum and Zoo)
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 6 oz. (169.8 g.) (estimate) in total container
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. serving
Cost: $N/A gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Chocolat Mathez SAS
Alaus Mathez Chocolatier
Truffes Fantaisie - Cacao Powdered Truffles
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 17.6 oz. (500 g.) in total container
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (3 truffles)
Cost: $ missing information for 1 container
Purchased from: missing information

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

Custom Colored Thank You Gift
Sometimes surprise gifts just happen to be chocolate, like today's first chocolate item. This glass jar of specially customized M and M chocolate candies had blue and white candy shells, with images of a raccoon and the organization name printed on them. They were gifts to volunteers at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo.

The un-customized/traditional version of Mars dark chocolate M and M chocolate candies appeared years ago on Chocolate Banquet. So the hunt was on for a second chocolate item.

Fortunately, a large canister of truffles that had been hiding in the chocolate vault was discovered, making today a surprise chocolate double header.

Alaus Mathez truffles

These Cacao Powdered Truffles (made in France) were closer to traditional truffles than most filled chocolate confections marketed as truffles.

Summer sun is great for beach weather, but it can ruin chocolate. And these truffles had survived some record heat before being purchased and stored in the vault. The light dusting of cocoa powder had darkened a bit. But, the flavor and texture were surprisingly rich, smooth, satisfying and authentic, i.e. relatively unaffected by the heat.

Hershey's Snack Bites; Mars Crisper bar - Oct. 8, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Mars Chocolate North America, LLC
Snickers Crisper bar
Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.00 for 2 bars
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Hershey's
Snack Bites
Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 6 pieces
Calories: 370 calories in 1 package
Cost: $1.99 for 1 package of 6 pieces
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEK.

Halloween is a big chocolate holiday in the U.S.; and two of the largest chocolate suppliers of Halloween chocolate treats have been Mars Chocolate (Hackettstown, NJ) and The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA)—corporations that continue to dominate the market with brands like Snickers and Reese's, respectively.

And just when you think you've tried every variation on a Snickers bar or a Reese's chocolate and peanut butter offering, new ones materialize on store shelves.

Today's twist on the traditional Snickers bar (called the Crisper bar) contained puffed rice, caramel peanuts and chocolate. The rice added some crispy crunchy texture and bulk to the bar, and it was well balanced and integrated.

Hershey's Snack Bites
Today's chocolate Snack Bites treat from Hershey's consisted of "Snackable Milk Chocolate and Almond Clusters." These roundish, chocolate bites, contained embedded pieces of toasted almond.

These packages were a bit larger than the average snack-sized Halloween bar; but if you want to upsize, there are plenty of traditional treats like this available.

Mars - Dove Whole Blueberries Dipped in Dark Chocolate - Aug. 16, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Mars
Dove Whole Blueberries Dipped in Dark Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) / 6 oz. (170.1 g.) total package
Calories: 400 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Chocolate, Fruit and Botanicals Month. This week I'm featuring another item in a series of blueberry chocolates.

Blueberries and chocolate have become known as good sources of antioxidants; so it's no surprise that companies are creating confections with both of these sweet, flavorful ingredients.

Today's Dove Whole Blueberries Dipped in Dark Chocolate offering from Mars Chocolate North America, LLC (Hackettstown, NJ) was similar to yesterday's Emily's dark chocolate covered, glossy, pearl-shaped blueberries. These were also covered in smooth dark chocolate, but were slightly sweeter. Both tasted relatively authentic and were made with real fruit (thank you).

Although today's Dove blueberries contained lactose, corn syrup and artificial flavors, which I could have done without. And yet, I still managed to enjoy 1/2 package with no trouble whatsoever.

Mars - Goodness Knows - Peach and Cherry Almond Dark Chocolate - June 3, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mars
Goodness Knows - Peach and Cherry Almond Dark Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 package of 4 snack squares
Cost: $0.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Goodness Knows Peach and Cherry Almond Dark Chocolate snack squares were distributed by Mars Chocolate North America, LLC (Hackettstown, NJ).

Recently I sampled two other Goodness Knows snack square (chocolate) flavors.* Today's was my favorite of the three.

While all three had a sweet, malty flavor and crunchy, slightly chewy, nutty texture, the bright bits of peach and cherry offered the best fruit experience of the three. The fruit was mixed with chunks of almonds, peanuts and oats; and that mix sat on a base of dark chocolate.

This product was not labeled (or certified) as gluten free. That is, wheat wasn't in the ingredients list, but the packaging carried (as almost all mass produced products do) a "May Contain" advisory statement. In this case, these snack squares "May Contain Other Tree Nuts, Wheat and Eggs."**

*Other Goodness Knows snack square flavors sampled were: Cranberry Almond Dark Chocolate, and Apple Almond and Peanut Dark Chocolate.

** Oats sometimes come into contact with wheat in shared harvesting, milling and processing facilities. Here's a link to an explanation of how this cross-contact happens from www.gfcf.com 

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Mars - Goodness Knows Apple Almond and Peanut Dark Chocolate bar - May 29, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mars, Incorporated
Goodness Knows - Apple Almond and Peanut Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Fruit and Nut Theme Week.

Today I tried Goodness Knows Apple Almond and Peanut Dark Chocolate snack squares from Mars, Incorporated (Hackettstown, NJ).

These pieces had a similar malty, sweet and crunchy flavor and texture as yesterday's Goodness Knows Cranberry Almond Dark Chocolate flavor.

However, instead of cranberry, these 4 fruit and nut snack squares had a dried apple flavor, and very subtle increase in peanut flavor in the nut, oat and rice crisp mix.

The smooth dark chocolate base provided some color and texture balance, and a hint of chocolate.

*Apologies for poor quality photo. This week I've been transitioning to new systems. And on days like today, I'm really missing my old set-up.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Mars - Goodness Knows Cranberry Almond Dark Chocolate squares - May 28, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mars, Incorporated
Goodness Knows - Cranberry Almond Dark Chocolate
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in 1 package (4 pieces)
Calories: 150 calories in 1 package (4 pieces)
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Fruit and Nut Theme Week.

Today's package of Goodness Knows Cranberry Almond Dark Chocolate (4 small squares) was from Mars (Hackettstown, NJ).

Yes, fooled me, this was not a "bar," but rather the bar-shaped package contained 4 neatly segmented crunchy, malty and sweet "snack squares" that made for easier eating and sharing.

Each attractive piece had tart sweet (mostly the latter) ruby-colored, dried cranberry fruit bits and crispy hunks of golden almonds, peanuts, toasted oats + brown rice crisps, with a dark chocolate bottom layer. The dark chocolate was more of an accent flavor.

While not explicitly gluten-free, there were no wheat ingredients listed.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Mars Snickers Mixed Nuts bar with hazelnuts - Dec. 20, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Mars Chocolate North America, LLC
Snickers Mixed Nuts bar
(with peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts)
Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (49.9 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.09 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bed Bath and Beyond, Mountain View, CA

The Snickers candy bar brand from Mars (Hackettstown, NJ) has expanded to include several variations over the years.

Today's milk chocolate-covered Snickers Mixed Nuts bar contained, as promised, a mix of crunchy peanuts, almonds and hazelnuts—the latter nut being a new addition I believe, as well as the traditional sweet caramel and nougat.

This latest Snickers (Limited Edition bar) came out in November 2015, just in time for Day #7 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Dove - Whole Cranberries Dipped in Dark Chocolate - Dec. 4, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Dove
Whole Cranberries "Dipped in Creamy Dove Dark Chocolate"
Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.)/ 2.83 oz. (80.2 g.) in total package
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 pack
Cost: $2.69 for 1 package
Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and ABC (Apple, Baobab and Cranberry) Theme Week.

When I opened today's package of Whole Cranberries Dipped in Dove Dark Chocolate, from Mars Incorporated (Hackettstown, NJ), I was greeted with a hot cocoa aroma.

The round chocolate pieces came conveniently packaged in a 2-serving bag of individual pieces—dark milk* chocolate around a whole, tangy-sweet cranberry fruit core.

*Note: The dark chocolate coating did have milk in it.

Mars - Dove Unconditional Chocolate Ice Cream - Aug. 16, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Mars
Dove Unconditional Chocolate Ice Cream
Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (72 g.) / 15.1 fl. oz. (447 mL) in total container
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Frozen Desserts Theme Week.

It's August and it's hot. Perfect for a week of "cold" chocolate -- in the form of ice cream and frozen desserts.

Today's Dove brand Unconditional Chocolate Ice Cream (distributed by Mars, Hackettstown, NJ) was loaded with concentrated chocolate flavor -- shards and flecks of chocolate were buried in a chocolate ice cream base.

I ate this chocolate ice cream in the morning. But it was already so hot, that the ice cream started to melt within seconds after I scooped it into a glass to eat. It still tasted refreshingly great.

Dove - Peanut Butter promises - Sept. 19, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dove
Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate promises
Good
Weight: 1.1024 oz. (31.2 g.) / 8.5 oz. (241 g.) in total bag/package
Calories: 176 calories in 4-piece serving
Cost: $2.99 (sale) for 1 bag/package
Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

This week began with three classic peanut-butter themed candy bars. Today I'm moving on to a product brand (Dove) that dates back to the 1950s.

It was a warm day, and when I carefully unwrapped these individually foil-clad Preanut Butter Milk Chocolate "silky smooth promises" from Mars (the company in Hackettstown, NJ, not the planet), they were almost spreadably smooth. Dove milk chocolate was paired with a smooth peanut butter creme strata.

ChocolateBet: April 14, 2012

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

1.) Mars, Incorporated
Dark Chocolate MandM's - Bunny Mix
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 12.6 oz. (357.2 g.) total package
Calories: 69.3 calories
Cost: Alas, this information is lost to history
Purchased from: ...this info bit also remains unfound 

Today's chocolates evoke Spring holidays of yesterweek.

First, unearthed just in time from the chocolate vault, were these Easter-leaning dark chocolate, Bunny MandM's from Mars, festively dressed in pastel-colored shells. Some were decorated with tiny sheep, chicks and rabbits using the famous "m" as part of the motif.

Oops, not quite. Easter was last weekend, and these were from last Easter. But, no matter. This "Bunny Mix" was well preserved. A cautionary note: to those wanting to avoid extra helpings of milk sugar, these dark chocolate MandM's do contain lactose, and milkfat.

And now, a word from the cacao ghost of Passover past. In a word: macaroons.

2.) Manischewitz
Chocolate Almond Macaroons
Good +
Weight: .1 oz. (2.8 g.) / 10 oz. (284 g.) total container
Calories: 12 calories (estimate)
Cost: ?
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

For the second chocolate of the day, I indulged in more big M and Ms -- in the form of Manischewitz Macaroons -- Chocolate Almond (unsulfured coconut) macaroons, to be precise. L'Chaim! (To Life!). Yes! However, please note: this batch of macaroons contained gluten (matzo meal), so I was limited to tasting a very tiny bite. I'm assuming the "almond" flavoring may have been added, since there were no visible pieces of almond in these tiny, chocolate-hued treats.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: April 9, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
11 pieces
MandM's*/Distributed by Mars Chocolate
Milk Chocolate Speck-tacular EGGS!
Good+
Weight: 1.3 oz. (38 g.) / 10.9 oz. (309 g.) total package
Calories: 182 calories
Cost: $2.50 total package
Purchased from: Walgreens, San Pablo, CA

These speckled, egg-shaped milk chocolate MandM's candies came in five colors: white, yellow, pink, purple and turquoise. These would be fine in Easter baskets, or for other spring celebrations.

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Egg Appreciation Week; although an abundance of chocolate eggs of all kinds this spring has transformed the month of April into Chocolate Egg Appreciation Month.


*Note: Lack of support for the ampersand symbol in blogger template required the "MandM's" spelling -- with the word "and" spelled out.

ChocolateBet: October 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

4/5 bar
Dove (Mars)
Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.04 oz. (29.52 g.)/1.3 oz. (36.9 g.) in total bar
Calories: 152 calories in 4/5 bar
Cost: $0 (free - via the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in midtown Palo Alto, CA

Someone at Mars had fun designing this Real Chocolate Relief Act* marketing campaign. In any case, I certainly enjoyed being a participant. And, given the current recession, I'm sure others did as well.

I shared the wealth and gave a piece away to my daughter Megan. As described, this chocolate bar was very smooth. It was a bit sweet, but then my palette has moved distinctly to the darker side over the years. My daughter really liked her piece.

* Logo pictured is a trademark of Mars, Incorporated 2009 

ChocolateBet: August 7, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

2 macarons
Bouchon Bakery
1 Caramel macaron - Yum (fresh)
1 Chocolate macaron (small) - VG+ (pre-packaged as part of an assortment)
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 grams) (estimate)
Calories: 160 calories (guesstimate)
Cost: $4.75 (estimate) for both macarons
Purchased from: Bouchon Bakery, in New York City, New York

The Caramel macaron was excellent, and tasted light and fresh. The Chocolate macaron was also very nice; however, it was part of a pre-packaged assortment of different flavors (and perhaps a few hours older than the fresh Caramel batch). I shouldn't quibble; these really were great, especially after a long day and walk around New York City. I ate these macarons as an appetizer before dinner. Sorry I don't have a picture of them; all I have is the bag they came in (above).

After dinner, we walked down Broadway to Times Square. Adult-oriented businesses from a few decades ago have been replaced by lots of big, splashy video screens and some large candy stores. We visited M and M's World (Mars), which is across the street from the Hershey's store (appropriate given the rivalry between the two companies). And they seemed to inspire each other to new Las-Vegas-strip-style heights, with large product-related decorative pieces inside and out, and lively interiors. M and M's World was stocked with unique flavors and colors of M and M's in long vertical, clear plastic tubes that stretched up into the M and M ether in this three-story World. I bought and tried a few coconut peanut M and M's, making this my second chocolate for the day. See below for information.

5 pieces

M and M's (Mars)

Coconut M and M's

Good + - Very Good

Weight: .25 oz. (7.1 grams) (estimate)

Calories: 37.5 calories (estimate)

Cost: $5.88 total for .40 lb. (includes NYC sales tax)

Purchased from: M and M's World, Times Square, New York City, New York

Last, but not least, thank you to RK Chin, the creator of the New York City Chocolate Guide (Manhattan). This map was very helpful in planning chocolate-related stops for this weekend trip to New York. One or two chocolate stores may have closed since the last version of this guide/map was updated, but it provided a helpful look-at-a-glance for different places that make or sell chocolates.

Note: Because of certain limitations, I was unable to use the ampersand symbol on this site. So, I spelled out the Mar's candy name: M and M's.

ChocolateBet: August 3, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 package
Fling Chocolate
Dark Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.11 oz. (31.5 grams)
Calories: 170 calories for 1 package, 2 pieces
Cost: $0.49 (sale price)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Unfortunately, due to some meltage in warm weather I had to carefully extricate the two chocolate pieces inside. But, with a little effort and some finger licking: mission accomplished.

ChocolateBet: August 2, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 package
Mars, Incorporated - fling chocolate
Fling bar - Milk Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.11 oz. (31.5 grams)
Calories: 170 calories for 1 bar
Cost: $0.49 (sale price)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

ChocolateBet: June 27, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Mars - fling chocolate
Hazelnut
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~1.1 oz. (31.2 grams)/5.5 oz. (156 g.) in total 10-piece package
Calories: 160 calories for 2 pieces
Cost: $?
Purchased from: ?

Nice combination of textures with the light crunchy layer inside.