Weiser Classic Candy Grizzly Bear Paw & Sjaak's California State Bear Dark (bar) - June 12, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Weiser Classic Candy
Grizzly Paw Soft Caramel 
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) / 5 oz. (141.5 g.) in total package/box
Calories: 387 calories (estimate) in 1/2 serving
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package/large bear paw (+ other bonus items)
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
California State Bear Dark Chocolate Almonds (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Bears Theme Week, featuring two bear-themed chocolates.

Grizzly Paw Soft Caramel with Cashew "Claws"

This chocolate coated Grizzly (bear) paw was from Weiser Classic Candy (Weiser, ID).

Weiser Classic Candy is a family-run store (and deli) serving: fudge, caramel (and chocolate) confections, and ice cream. The small-batch chocolatier also produces chocolate confections that are carried in several other small businesses. (They use local ingredients including sugar from local sugar beets and dairy from local cows.)

This bear paw caramel-filled confection was big enough to share with two other people. It was filled with a soft, gentle sea of caramel. The sweetness of the caramel was vast, but balanced by the impressive claws (whole, salted cashews).

I enjoyed the salty claws (whole, salted, jumbo cashews) on this generously-sized grizzly claw. I also was tickled to find two bonus items...

...Under the chocolate caramel claw were a smattering of chocolate-covered raisins (chocolate bear scat) and a small bell (a reference to bear bells often used to let bears know you may be in their area and/or that you're headed their way).

A short printed bear story included information about bears being reintroduced in Idaho (and suggestions about possible human-bear interactions).

Ingredients: Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Milk, Soya Lecithin, Vanillin (an artificial flavor), natural & artificial flavorings, butter corn syrup, evaporated milk, tenox, sucovert, paramount crystals, cashews

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Nuts (Cashews). "These products are produced in a facility that uses major allergens: peanuts, soy beans, milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, and wheat"

California State Bear Dark Chocolate (bar)

Today's California State Bear Dark Chocolate Almonds bar was from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates.

This bear bar was a marvel. It was six years old, and looked and tasted brand new. The well-tempered dark chocolate (no cacao % listed on the label) was smooth-textured and smooth-flavored with a balanced chocolate-y taste. Tiny almond bits added a bit of texture and authentic nut (almond) flavor.

Sadly, the chocolate maker is no longer in business. (Sjaak's Organic Chocolates was based in Petaluma, in Northern California and closed up shop in November 2023 after an almost 20-year run.)

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (organic cocoa paste), organic sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla), organic almonds. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. "Sjaak's Organic Chocolates is a vegan facility. Equipment shared with peanuts/tree nuts. Ingredients suppliers may share equipment that could result in trace amounts of dairy protein."

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates - Puffed Quinoa (bar) - June 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Puffed Quinoa Melk (R) Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 80 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.87 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Puffed Quinoa Melk (R) Chocolate Bar was from Sjaak's Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).*

The company was one of the first producers of organic and alternative milk (rice milk) chocolates that I became aware of two decades ago--when I started Chocolate Banquet.

Aroma notes included: subtle cocoa, faint vanilla and faint nut/seed/rice.  

Texture: creamy and crunchy

I liked the gentle flavors; this rice, almond and quinoa likely softened the cacao flavor. The smaller bar size was nice too. And the sweetness level was about right--it was sweet, but somehow not overly so.

Ingredients: Melk Chocolate* (Cocoa Butter*, Rice Milk Powder*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Liquor*, Almonds*, Vanilla Bean Powder*), Puffed Quinoa*. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Almonds

*Sjaak's chocolate shop origins dates back to 1988 with a fine chocolate shop in Eureka, CA. Although founder-owner Jacques Holten's interest in chocolate extends back much further, to his European roots.

In 2004, Jacques and his daughter founded Sjaak's Organic Chocolates with a focus on vegan and Organic chocolates. Sjaak's closed down in their Petaluma location over a year ago; and this chocolate was expired by the time I tasted it. But it still tasted ok to me.

Sjaak's - 1.) Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar, 2.) Chipotle & Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Bar - Oct. 31, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates

Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 85 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Chipotle & Cinnamon 60% Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 80 calories for 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome and Happy Halloween to all who celebrate. We interrupt Chocolate and Bolivia Theme Week to insert four spooky "bonus" Halloween chocolates on this night of tiny ghosts and goblins. 

This small bar duo: 1.) Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate and Chipotle and 2.) Cinnamon 60% Dark Chocolate Bars were from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA). 

Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar

Aroma notes included: robust dark chocolate aroma with balanced earth (loam, faint peat) and very faint chocolate torte and faint vanilla.

Texture: smooth, uniform dark chocolate with a buttery, easy melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: rich, dark chocolate with balanced earth (faint peat, loam); silky chocolate ganache; and very faint vanilla.

Ingredients: 72% Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Liquor*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Vanilla Bean Powder*) (*=Organic)

Allergen-related information: Produced in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, and coconut.

Chipotle & Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Bar

Aroma notes included: robust dark chocolate (very similar to the 72% dark chocolate above only diluted with a pinch more sugar, and spices); balanced, subtle earth notes (faint peat, loam); and very light warm spices (cinnamon); and faint chili pepper.

Texture: smooth, uniform with a buttery melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes were the same as the aroma notes, only with more dark chocolate-y taste--and heat from the chipotle pepper.

Ingredients: 60% Chocolate* (Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Liquor*, Cocoa Butter*, Ground Vanilla Beans*), Ground Chipotle Pepper*, Cinnamon*. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Produced in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, and coconut.

Sjaak's - Roasted Almond Dark Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates

Roasted Almond Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good + 

Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar

Calories: 320 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $4.25 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Presidio Visitors Center, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Roasted Almond Dark Chocolate 60% cacao (bar) was from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA). 

Aroma notes included: subtle dark chocolate and nuts, and faint honey cookie.

This relatively thick bar had smooth dark chocolate texture with small flecks of almonds.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (brownie), fleeting earth, mild and mellow nutty and faint wood notes.

This bar had bold, yet smooth dense dark flavor (walk through an old-growth forest) mellowed by subtle almond. 

And speaking of forests...today's bar (packaging) was adorned with illustrations of a person near in a redwood tree forest, and was being sold at the Presidio (National Park) in San Francisco. A suitable tribute to an iconic Northern California legacy.

Ingredients: Organic 60% chocolate (organic cane sugar; organic, Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa liquor; Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa butter), organic almonds, organic sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: Contains nuts (almonds). "Vegan, Kosher and Non-GMO"

 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates - Golden Gate Bridge Dark Chocolate (bar) - April 3, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Golden Gate San Francisco Organic Dark Chocolate (bar with) Almonds
Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

Today's Golden Gate San Francisco Organic Dark Chocolate (bar with) Almonds was from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).

The packaging bore the image of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, located about 39 miles from Sjaak's.

This bar had a nice, smooth texture, slightly slow melt and creamy mouthfeel. The dark chocolate flavor was smooth without being boring, with a fleeting hint of upbeat spice (cinnamon) and vanilla.* Almond bits added some nutty texture.

*Note: This bar contained vanilla, but no cinnamon.

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates - California Coast Whales Dark Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 22, 2020

Chocolate of the Day; 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolate
California Coast Whales Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (56 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Dark Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's California Coast Whales Dark Chocolate bar from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) was decorated with an illustration inspired by whales that can be seen off the California coast.

This bar had a true, rich dark chocolate aroma and flavor with a creamy melt.

Sjaak's - Organic Melk Chocolate with Almond Butter bar + raspberry sundae - Dec. 5, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Organic Melk Chocolate with Almond Butter bar
(with raspberry preserves) in vanilla ice cream
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Melk Chocolate with Almond Butter bar was from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).

This sweet, non-dairy "melk" chocolate was made with organic rice milk chocolate and had an organic almond butter filling. It had a soft and creamy texture. It also had a distinct almond extract flavor note to it.

I had intended on pairing this Sjaak's Melk Chocolate Almond Butter bar with Sjaak's Organic Dark Chocolate with Raspberry bar. However, I discovered when checking my spreadsheets that I'd already tasted this bar before. (I've sampled over 4,700 different chocolates in the last 13+ years; so this does happen occasionally.)

So, half of the Almond Butter bar was sampled, then the other half was chopped and used to make a very small almond butter and raspberry ice cream sundae (using vanilla ice cream from Three Twins (Novato, CA) and raspberry sauce.

Fresh raspberries in December are very scarce. (It's cold. Can we see our breath yet?) However, the bright, tart flavor of red raspberries keep the promise of more summers and fresh berries to come alive. This is why I'm featuring a raspberry week during a time when I feel very grateful to find even frozen raspberries in a back of my freezer, and any and all raspberry chocolates, made with fruits from summers past. 

Sjaak's - Dark Chocolate with Raspberry bar - Aug. 22, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Dark Chocolate with Raspberry bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .583 oz. (16.6 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 82.3 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate, Fruit and Botanicals Month.

Today's filled Dark Chocolate with Raspberry bar from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) was organic, vegan and made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cacao.

A thick layer of dark chocolate was topped with what tasted like a soft layer of raspberry jam flavored caramel, and topped with another, slightly thinner top layer of dark chocolate. A nice blend of natural flavors.

Small hazelnut chocolate feast - July 18, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Cloetta AB
Sperlari Grandperle
Fondente con granella  di torrone - Good
Gianduja con granella di cacao - Good
Weight: .94 oz. (26.6 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 141 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $n/a from various sources
Purchased from: from various sources

Sjaak's
Hazelnut Butter Bite
Good + - Good++
Weight: .33 oz. (9.42 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 50 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $0.95 for 1 piece
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

After extending Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week to two weeks, this is the last day of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week(s). It's hard to abandon a great combination like this, but more good things await.

Today's two individually-wrapped chocolate and hazelnut sweets from Cloetta AB's (Kista, Sweden) Sperlari Granperle (from Italy) brand, and Sjaak's (Petaluma, CA) flower-shaped Hazelnut Butter Bite wrapped in light blue foil, were creamy, crunchy and sweet. All good for a post-lunch snack plate today.

The round Fondente con granella di torrone contained a torrone nougat with almond and hazelnut, covered in dark chocolate. (I'd had this chocolate before, but re-tasted with its Gianduja sibling.)

Underneath the sweet chocolate shell of the Gianduja con granella di cacao was a creamy chocolate center with crunchy bits of cacao (nibs I'm presuming). It was a relatively sweet confection, but it was a nice blend of creamy and crunchy. And nibs sometimes tend to balance sweetness.

I'd also sampled Sjaak's Hazelnut Butter Bite before, but it was also re-tasting. It was one luscious, creamy hazelnut butter chocolate. While one could finish this flower-shaped chocolate in one bite, I recommend savoring it and taking at least two.

Tomorrow we transition from hazelnut week to Chocolate Brownie week...with a hazelnut brownie.

Sjaak's - Organic, Extra Dark Chocolate Bite (flower) - June 13, 2016

Source: Sjaak's Organic Chocolates

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Organic, Extra Dark Chocolate Bite
Good+
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) for 1 chocolate
Calories: 73 calories (estimate) for 1 chocolate
Cost: $0.75 (estimate) for 1 chocolate
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

Flowers tend to inspire. Today's Extra Dark Chocolate Bite from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) was literally a flower—molded into a sunny, upbeat daisy shape. This chocolate contained no floral ingredients; it was solid, smooth dark chocolate through and through.

The individually-wrapped, two bite (three bite if you take time to savor) flower-shaped chocolate was made from organic, 70% dark chocolate. (They also can be bought by the piece in several great retail locations locally, or in bulk from the company's website.)

Sjaak's specializes in organic, Fair Trade, and vegan chocolates (bites, bars and other confections).

Sjaak's - Raspberry Chocolate - Feb. 7, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Raspberry chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $ 0.95 for 1 piece
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week.

This red-foil wrapped Raspberry chocolate was from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates, based in Northern California.

This flower-shaped chocolate with a natural raspberry flavored center was one of several colorful bite-sized Sjaak's chocolate offerings at SweetE Organic (Mill Valley, CA). This "flower" alternated between smooth chocolate and soft, bright red berry fruit textures and flavors.

SweetE Organic specializes in organic, as well as a variety of gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, sugar-free and other sweet treats and gifts for all.

Sjaak's - Hazelnut Butter Bite - March 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Hazelnut Butter Bite
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $N/A - gift from friend
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

These individually wrapped, flower-shaped organic (and vegan) milk chocolates with hazelnut filling were created by Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).

The filling was smooth but slightly less sweet than many other gianduja ganaches. It contained both ground hazelnuts and almonds; and retained some of the more substantial (and less sweet) texture of a freshly ground nut butter. 

Sjaak's - Hearts of Cherry - Feb. 7, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Hearts of Cherry
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $0.95 for 1 piece
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week.

This "Hearts of Cherry" chocolate wrapped in bright fuschia-colored foil from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) was filled with a smooth blend of cherry and nut butter ganache, an interesting variation on the traditional artificially sweetened and preserved cherry.

Sjaak's - Caramel Bite - Dec. 3, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates

Caramel Bite

Good

Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece

Calories: 74 calories (estimate) in 1 piece

Cost: $0.65 (estimate) for 1 piece

Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today's Caramel Bite -- a bite-sized, flower-shaped chocolate from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) -- came individually wrapped in festive red foil. 

This chocolate covered Caramel Bite (one of several different flavors of Bites from Sjaak's) had, as advertised, a soft caramel center, and was just the right size for a small snack, or tiny gift.

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

Sjaak's Almond and Peanut Butter Bites - Nov. 28, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
1.) Almond Butter Bites - Good - Good +
2.) Peanut Butter Bites - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 2 pieces
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $1.71 for 2 pieces (with discount)
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the U.S.!

I'm now completely stuffed. The Thanksgiving feasting started with breakfast, and a small bag of chocolates.

Breakfast consisted of a tiny gluten-free pumpkin pie from Natural Decadence (Eureka, CA), topped with a mini-scoop of homemade saffron vanilla ice cream with freshly grated nutmet; toasted almonds and walnuts; and two flower-shaped Almond Butter (silver foil) and Peanut Butter (gold foil) chocolate "bites" from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).

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