Holm Made Toffee Co. - Oregon Hazelnut Toffee - Cardamom & Vanilla - Mar. 15, 2024

 Chocolate of the Day

Holm Made Toffee Co.
Oregon Hazelnut Toffee - Cardamom + Vanilla
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 4 oz. (114 g.) in total package
Calories: 620 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order 

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

Today's Hazelnut Toffee was from Holm Made Toffee Co. LLC (Bend, OR).

Aroma notes included: buttery toffee, nuts, and faint chocolate and warm spices (vanilla).

The texture for the toffee was perfect, i.e. in the Goldilocks* zone. It was crunchy toffee that wasn't too hard or too soft. It was just right.

Flavor notes included: rich buttery toffee, smooth dark chocolate, wonderful cardamom and warm vanilla.

I really enjoyed this flavorful confection. The green cardamom, hazelnut and brown sugar toffee flavors were especially good. (I love fresh cardamom.) I felt I was enjoying the best possible blend of authentic warm chai tea with smooth dark chocolate (a touch of rich cocoa) and high-quality hazelnuts. 

Warning: addictive. Don't eat when you're very hungry.

Ingredients: "Butter [cream (milk) & salt], pure cane sugar, Oregon hazelnuts, dark chocolate [unsweetened chocolate, sugar, sunflower lecithin and vanilla], green cardamom, pure vanilla extract"

Allergy-related information: Contains hazelnuts, dairy (cream/milk)

*Goldilocks zone refers to a character in a European fairy tale. In the modern version I grew up with (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) a girl named Goldilocks enters a bear family home and, finding them out, samples their three bowls of porridge, chairs and beds. She finds the porridge(s), in sequence, too hot, then too cold, and finally--just right! (Same sequence with the chairs and beds.) Today the term "Goldilocks zone" pops up in several contexts (including food, ecology and various sciences).

 

Moku Chocolate - Ecuador Camino Verde 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Moku Chocolate
Ecuador Camino Verde 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .8 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.75 (approx.) for 1 bar ($35 for 4 bars)
Purchased from: Good Food Awards Marketplace, online order  

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

Today's Ecuador Camino Verde 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was hand-crafted from bean to bar by Moku Chocolate (Philomath, OR). The maker's description of this chocolate follows:

"Ecuador is home to the heirloom Nacional cacao varietal which is famous for its floral aroma and flavor. The cacao used to make this chocolate comes from Camino Verde, a sustainable farm and fermentary in Ecuador. Camino Verde's expert fermentation techniques help to bring out distinct flavor profiles."

Aroma notes included true chocolate (dark chocolate cake, fudge), light molasses, green floral, and warm floral spice. In the aroma was the implied promise of a pleasing, flavorful dark chocolate experience. 

Flavor notes for this smooth, well-tempered bar included: slightly tart sweet, true chocolate (fudge brownie) and floral. The 70% single origin Ecuador dark chocolate was relatively intense (very faint, well-managed, almost sharp/acidic earth (peat) note) with an appealing complexity.

To have a relatively bold, slightly acidic, chocolate like this with floral notes still intact was a pleasure. The floral notes and a natural, almost honeyed, sweetness were balanced by the boldness of the dark chocolate.

Maker's tasting notes: "Floral, honey, fudge."

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

Allergen-related information: "vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free"

Straw Propeller - Almond Cacao Crunch -- oats, almonds, cacao nibs - Feb. 6, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods, Inc. (distributed by)
Almond Cacao Crunch
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.6 oz. (74 g.) in 1 cup
Calories: 240 calories in 1 cup
Cost: $3.25 for 1 cup
Purchased from: The Store House, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Almond Cacao Crunch was distributed by Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods, Inc. (Redmond, OR).

Made with Organic, gluten free oats, organic coconut sugar, organic almonds, organic cacao nibs and a smidge of sea salt, this oatmeal provided a satisfying warm breakfast.

I really liked that this was not too sweet (thank you!). Cacao nibs added natural essential chocolate flavor—without the added sugar (usually present when dark chocolate is added). And almonds added a bit of nutty flavor and protein.

Straw Propeller offers a variety of oatmeal flavors, including Chocolate Strawberry (look for that to be featured soon); Banana Pancakes; Hemp and Honey; and Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, as well as seasonal flavors like Oh My, Pumpkin Pie. (They company also offers grain-free options.)

Note: Photos are delayed for this month's entries.

Wild Friends Foods - Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter - Sept. 16, 2019

Source: Wild Friends website

Chocolate of the Day:

Wild Friends Foods
Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter
Good
Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) in 1 serving (2 TB)
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (2 TB)
Cost: $2.99 for 1 jar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's jar of Chocolate Protein Peanut Butter was from Wild Friends Foods (Portland, OR).

This Chocolate Protein Nut Butter contained 12 grams of protein, provided primarily by peanuts and whey protein .*

Yes, I realize that peanuts aren't technically nuts, but rather legumes, but they have been included this week nonetheless.

This nutty spread had a fairly natural peanut aroma and taste. Chocolate was a background flavor. The melt and mouthfeel were even and uniform. The texture was a mix of slightly fluffy, creamy and smooth, with a fine graininess as well.

Wild Friends now offers a wide selection of nut butter spreads, and at least a half dozen with chocolate. Unfortunately, today's flavor may no longer be available. (It was not listed on the company's website this week. Although a similar chocolate peanut butter with collagen protein was featured.)

*Ingredients: Roasted peanuts, whey protein isolate, organic dark chocolate (cane sugar, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter), peanut oil, organic vanilla, sea salt

Only Child Chocolate - Ginger and Rosemary Walk into a Bar - Apr. 15, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Only Child Chocolate Co.
Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Plants and Herbs Theme Week.

Today's Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar) was from Only Child Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). Company founder, Yana, grew up as an only child in Moscow. And, via Chicago, eventually made her way to Portland. After pastry-making and bakery experience, she started her own chocolate company.

The title of today's bar was a clever pun. (It's tax day in the U.S., and a bit of humor and a spring hike in the green hills brightened this day.) And how did this milk chocolate bar with rosemary and candied ginger taste?

This thick, sweet milk chocolate bar had a minty, spicy aroma, and smooth, creamy melt.

The two inclusions played nicely together. The balanced, subtle and natural rosemary flavor was fun. And the ginger added warmth and a light spiciness without being overwhelming.

Map Chocolate Co. - "Favorite Flannel Shirt" Pumpkin Babka Caraway Seeds bar - April 21, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Map Chocolate Co.

Favorite Flannel Shirt pumpkin babka with caraway seeds bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 187 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's "Favorite Flannel Shirt" pumpkin babka with caraway seeds bar was from Map Chocolate Co. (Eugene, OR).

The bar's packaging unfolded a bit like a Russian nested doll. Underneath the brown paper outer wrapping was a beautifully illustrated, botanically-themed wrapper. And at the center, was a square chocolate bar, imprinted with an intricate, mandala-like pattern. The flip side was dusted with a tiny riot of pumpkin and caraway seeds, spices, sugar and oat particles.

This bar had a pleasant, faint intriguing aroma that was tough to pin down (dried plum, dessert, light spice with a comfortable top and bass notes). The aroma did have a comforting/comfortable quality, thus the possible connection with "Favorite Flannel Shirt" and "babka" in the name.

A babka typically might contain yeast dough/gluten, but it seemed that organic oats* were used instead to simulate the grain component here.

The base chocolate had relatively bold, dark flavor with a touch of citrus acidity, and bar had a lingering, even finish.

*Ingredients: "cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter, organic pumpkin, organic oats, organic spices, caraway, maple syrup, olive oil, organic brown sugar"

Allergy information: Soy free; may contain nuts and/or dairy due to shared equipment.