Stone Grindz - Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz
Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Week. Day #3 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week. 

Today's Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar) was from Stone Grindz (Scottsdale, AZ). This small-batch chocolate maker offers a variety of single origin bars and chocolates with flavor inclusions.

The makers at Stone Grindz have been consistently churning out great small batch, bean-to-bar chocolates (bars and confections), including single origin bars and bars with flavor inclusions. The cacao used to make this bar was from northern Madagascar.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, almond butter and very faint fruit (berry, very faint date).

This almond butter bar had a very appealing creamy, almost buttery, melt and texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate fully blended/integrated with nut (almond) butter; the salt was very subtle. The end result was an enjoyable, mellow, creamy and subtly nutty chocolate that seemed rich and well-behaved for an 80% cacao dark chocolate; i.e. it was low in acidic and/or bitter notes.

The barely detectable, diffuse fruit (berry) notes from the Madagascar cacao also complemented the roasted almonds (butter) nicely.

"Maker's tasting notes and description: "Notes of silky almond butter, sea salt"..."An 80% dark chocolate ground with freshly roasted almonds (and) black lava salt. This bar is so silky and smooth you would never know it's an 80% dark!"

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cacao Butter*, Cane Sugar*, Roasted Almonds*, Sea Salt. (*Organically Farmed)

Allergen-related ingredients: (Contains nuts, almonds) "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan"

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Ancient Ecuador 85% (bar) - Dec 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Ancient Ecuador 85% (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Today's Ancient Ecuador 85% (bar) was made from bean to bar by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

This award-winning chocolate was crafted using cacao from Hacienda Victoria (Cerecita, Ecuador). The cacao beans are "ancient heirloom varietal dating back thousands of years, making this bean very rare."

Aroma notes for this ultra-dark chocolate included: deep, dark chocolate and very subtle, smooth earth (very faint loam) and mineral (very faint chalk).

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap in a cool room. The texture was uniform and smooth with a very faint astringency. Stone Grindz chocolate makers selected a "light roast and a heavy conche to give it clarity of flavor unmatched at this percentage." (More gentle roasting can preserve more volatile flavor elements present in complex, heritage cacaos; and longer conche time can create a pleasant creamy texture.)

Flavor notes included: dark fudge brownie; earth (light loam); very faint (barely there) dried fruit (black fig, pomegranate) and cinnamon toast; and roasted nut/seed/malt. Not too sweet, tart or bitter, this 85% ultra-dark bar will interest dark chocolate enthusiasts. 

Eat slowly to enjoy some of the more fleeting flavor notes and to enjoy the unexpected creaminess (dark chocolate buttermilk ice cream) toward the finish, that became more obvious after the first (i.e. subsequent) bite.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Chocolate Ice Cream, Roasted Peanut"

Ingredients: (Ecuadorian) Cacao*, Cacao Butter*, Cane Sugar* (* = Organically Farmed)

Allergen-related information:  "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan"

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Crystallized Ginger Coconut Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar) - Nov. 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Crystallized Ginger Coconut Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 (+ shipping) for 1 bar 

Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Today's Crystallized Ginger Coconut Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar) was made from bean to bar by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ). Chocolate makers Kasey McCaslin and Steven Shipler craft small batch single origin chocolate bars, and several chocolates with flavor inclusions.

The award-winning coconut milk-based chocolate was made using cacao beans grown in Peru.

Aroma notes for this 55% cacao exotic chocolate included: relatively faint but rich, smooth chocolate; ginger; tart green-lemon herb; and very faint coconut milk and vanilla.

The base chocolate had a creamy, almost silky melt and texture. And a generous array of chewy candied ginger pieces added texture as well as flavor.

Flavor notes included: smooth chocolate, sweet spikes of candied ginger, lemongrass (oil) and a barely detectable dash of sea salt. There was a lot going on with this bar, but the flavors were balanced. 

Stone Grindz Makers' Tasting Notes: "Notes of candied ginger, coconut cream, lemongrass"

Ingredients: "Cacao*, Cacao Butter*, Cane Sugar*, Coconut*, Ginger*, Vanilla Bean, Ginger Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Sea Salt (* = Organically Farmed)

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan"

 

Stone Grindz - Spiced Hot Cocoa 55% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 13, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Spiced Hot Cocoa 55% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Vietnam and Day #1 of Chocolate, Pumpkin and Warm Spices Theme Week.

It's October; and as the weather cools warm spices and treats seem more attractive.

Today's Spiced Hot Cocoa 55% (bar) was made by Stone Grindz (Scottsdale, AZ). The cacao used to make this chocolate came from Ecuador and Peru. 

It was judiciously seasoned with Vietnamese cinnamon* and vanilla from Madagascar. And adorned with small, roasted marshmallows. A truly international bar.

The aroma notes for this 55% chocolate included: chocolate (appealing cocoa, hot chocolate), fragrant cinnamon and warm, authentic and aromatic vanilla. 

This chocolate had a smooth texture with a creamy melt. (No dairy ingredients, but there was some coconut (and added cocoa butter) that felt like creamy hot chocolate.) The marshmallows added a light, puffy chew to the texture--as well as vanilla and lightly-toasted marshmallow flavors.

This was a beautifully layered and faithful rendition of an excellent spiced hot chocolate. The smooth, warm and complex blend of flavors flowed and bloomed, just as they might in a hot beverage. Rich cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla with a small spicy kick (cayenne) in the last half. Very nicely done.

Warning: mildly addictive.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic coconut, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, Dandies vegan marshmallows (tapioca syrup, tapioca starch, soy protein), Madagascar vanilla bean, maldon sea salt

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut, soy.

*Vietnamese cinnamon (also known as Saigon cinnamon or Vietnamese cassia in English) is high in the oils that give cinnamon its characteristic taste. I enjoy its bold, warm, spicy-sweet flavor and aroma. Because of these characteristics, Saigon (and Ceylon) cinnamon(s) are often found in fall and winter warm beverages (hot chocolate, hot spiced cider) and baked goods (apple pie, spice cakes and cookies).

Cinnamon sticks hint at this spice's origin. They're made from the inner bark of cinnamon trees. Further grinding transforms this "bark" into the powdered, reddish-brown spice that we sprinkle on hot chocolate, oatmeal...or maybe on a chocolate bar or dessert.

Stone Grindz - Ba Ria, Vietnam 70% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Ba Ria, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Today's Ba Ria*, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar) was from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (attractive cocoa with very faint, fleeting and well-balanced fermentation notes; chocolate ganache/frosting).

Both the overall texture and melt were smooth and creamy. 

Flavor notes included: chocolate-y--in the best way possible: smooth, creamy, flavorful with gentle complexity. Very light and smooth bittersweet quality; like excellent drinking chocolate with a long, satisfying creamy finish.

This 70% dark chocolate had a fairly high degree of natural sweetness. The well-executed, authentic and rich flavor(s) balanced the sweetness. Mildly addictive and/or more-ish**. 

I also would have loved to have tried a slightly darker (73%-75%) version of this 70% bar. (One can fantasize; but makers have to make tough choices when they're working with a limited batch of cacao beans.

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

Allergen-related information included: (None listed on packaging.)

*Ba Ria is one of several cacao-growing provinces in southern Vietnam. Cacao likely first arrived and was cultivated in Vietnam in the 1800s. High-quality, fine cacao from these provinces in recent decades (and the hard work of dedicated people) has enabled a growing number of excellent, small-batch, craft chocolates. (Sadly, I think this Ba Ria bar (and its Dak Lak Vietnam 79% sibling) are already gone/sold out.)

**More-ish is a slang reference to certain sweets, snacks and other foods that tempt a person to over-consume. After one bite/serving, one still feels compelled to eat more...and more. 

I've never experienced this compulsion after eating a big salad--or other higher fiber/protein foods. I'm also fully satisfied after just a few bites of eating darker (80%+ cacao) chocolates. 

But occasionally I find chocolate flavors so divine that I just want to savor and appreciate them just a little longer. Today's chocolate fell more into that category.

Stone Grindz - Dak Lak, (Origin Project) Vietnam 70% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 9, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Dak Lak, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2. oz. (57 g.) (estim.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dak Lak*, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar) was from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Tucson, AZ). 

Aroma notes for this subtle yet flavorful dark chocolate included: chocolate (very attractive cocoa; very faint and balanced cacao fermentation; "barely there" sour milk/yogurt; and very gentle bitterness).

The texture and melt were creamy and almost silky smooth.

Flavor notes in this well-executed Vietnam chocolate included: very pleasing rich cocoa, and very faint diffuse fruit, spice and botanical that all unfolded beautifully as the chocolate melted in my mouth. 

Loved the subtle complexity and balance; and it wasn't too sweet.

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

Allergen-related information included: (No information listed.)

 

Stonegrindz - Ucayali River, Peru 70% Cacao (bar) - July 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stonegrindz
Ucayali River, Peru 70% Cacao (bar) 
Good++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (27 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stonegrindz, online order

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

Today's Ucayali River, Peru 70% Cacao (bar) was crafted by the makers (Kasey McCaslin and Steven Shipler), and team, at Stonegrindz Small-Batch Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

Aroma notes for this award-winning* single origin bar included: dark chocolate, and very faint fruit and spice.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy texture with a light fruit astringency (dryness) in the finish.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (ganache, sweet earthy mocha-chocolate-y tart), moderate tart-sweet fruit acidity (citrus, pomegranate, red cherry plum); very faint warm spice; and fleeting, soft earth and sweet green herbal.

There were additional flickers of fruit and botanicals (very faint sweet green herb - barely detectable mint, licorice) in the finish. The fruit notes--somewhere between peach, mango, pineapple, cherry and something else I couldn't quite grasp (possibly cacao fruit pulp)--were fun, and elusive/difficult to pin down.

I enjoyed the subtle complexity of this chocolate. Savor slowly to find the "hidden treasures" in this Peruvian cacao.

Maker's tasting notes: Notes of mocha, cedar, dark cherry, anise

Ingredients: Cacao*, cacao butter*, cane sugar* (*Organically farmed)

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free"

*Gold 2019 - International Chocolate Awards (Tasters) in Italy

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Cappuccino Coconut Milk 55% Cacao (bar) - Apr. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Cappuccino Coconut Milk 55% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Cappuccino Coconut Milk 55% (bar) was from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ). 

This coconut milk chocolate was made using cacao from Peru, and was "ground with Blue Bottle Espresso." 

Aroma notes included: coffee candy, caffe latte/cappuccino with spice (vanilla, cinnamon and caramel) and chocolate (dark coconut milk ganache, very faint earth and red berry).

The 55% chocolate had a seductive creamy melt and smooth texture. You'll be forgiven if you think this bar contained dairy milk or cream. This well-executed, award-winning, dairy-free bar fooled me.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate and sweet and flavorful coffee with cappuccino and light caramel notes. It was sweet (and addictive); but the sugar was well-balanced with the flavorful espresso coffee and chocolate--and well-integrated with the harmonious and nuanced rich mocha fiesta this bar conjured.

Maker's tasting notes: "Notes of espresso, caramel macchiato, chocolate frosting"

Ingredients: Cacao*, cacao butter*, cane sugar*, coconut*, coffee, vanilla bean*, sea salt. (*Organically farmed)

Allergen-related information: Soy free, gluten free, dairy free, vegan. (Contained coconut.)

Stone Grindz - Coffee and Coconut Milk 55% bar - May 18, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Coffee and Coconut Milk 55% bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Coffee and Coconut Milk 55% bar from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

A smooth dark coconut "milk" chocolate base (cacao beans, cane sugar*, cacao butter*) was suffused a slight textural and flavor oomph from ground coffee.

The coconut milk alternative appeals to vegans and others who might like a very subtle rich hint of flavor from coconut. (Some who I shared this with did not taste any coconut, so fear not coconut non-likers.)

Stone Grindz is a small batch chocolate maker. (This bar was labeled "Batch #280" along with an "enjoy by" date.)
beans shipped to the makers workshop in Scottsdale, AZ

*An asterisk denotes an organic ingredient here.

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Oh So Cookie Dough - March 8, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Chocolate

Oh So Cookie Dough raw energy bars

Good

Weight: unknown

Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 1 piece

Cost: $5.95 for 1 container

Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Today's container of Oh So Cookie Dough raw energy bars were made by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

The company sells these bars (and other energy bars) through their secret store menu on their website.

These soft bars were pleasantly and naturally sweet; and they did, in fact, taste a little like cookie dough. Cacao nibs gave these energy bars a little crunchy texture and cocoa flavor.

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Cinnamon Cayenne 70% Cacao bar - Dec. 24, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Cinnamon Cayenne 70% Cacao bar
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Holiday Spice and Maple Theme Week.

It's a cold December evening, and you're craving a hot drinking chocolate with a kick. What do you do?

Well, you could wrap your mittened hands around today's Cinnamon Cayenne 70% Cacao bar from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

This bar's balanced aroma and flavor captured the steamy essence of spiced drinking chocolate: warming cinnamon with a slightly delayed hot sparkle of cayenne pepper, in a quality, 70% cacao, bean-to-bar chocolate base.

The Cinnamon Cayenne bar also had a pleasing texture, with a relatively creamy/buttery, even melt.

Happy Christmas Eve to all who celebrate. May all your holiday dreams come true.

Stone Grindz - Ecuador 84% Cacao bar - Nov. 2, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Small Batch Chocolate
Ecuador 84% Cacao bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #12 of South American Chocolate Weeks.

The Ecuador 84% Cacao bar from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ) was a darker version of yesterday's Ecuador 70% Cacao bar from the same maker.

Today's 84% bar had a more acidic, slightly bitter, earthy aroma than yesterday's 70% bar, and lots of uniformly bold dark flavor with minimal sweetness and fruit (pink grapefruit). A few squares will satisfy.

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Ecuador 70% Cacao bar - Nov. 1, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Small Batch Chocolate
Ecuador 70% Cacao bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #11 of South American Chocolate Weeks.

Today's Ecuador 70% Cacao bar from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ) had smooth, true dark chocolate flavor with balanced fruit.

Other aroma and flavor micro-notes were very faint and fleeting and not unpleasant, bitter or sharp: slight green, floral, marshmallow, roasted coffee, jungle.

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Almonds & Sea Salt 60% Cacao bar - Aug. 5, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Almonds and Sea Salt 60% Cacao bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .66 oz. (18.8 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 99 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Almonds and Sea Salt 60% Cacao bar (Batch #234) was made by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ), a company that produces organic, bean-to-bar, small batch chocolate in their workshop in the Phoenix, Arizona area.

The smooth, rich chocolate was embedded with small crunchy pieces of roasted almonds that added a bit of texture and very subtle nut flavor. The light touch of sea salt was balanced and relatively even.

This dark bar contained nuts (almonds), but no gluten, soy or dairy.

Stone Grindz Chocolate Mint Cashew 60% bar; Torn Ranch Cashews Cranberries & Chocolate - June 19, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Mint and Cashew 60% Cacao bar
Good +
Weight: .66 oz. (18.8 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 100 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar (part of a larger order)
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, Scottsdale, AZ


Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Cashew Theme Week, where we have two entries today:

Today's chocolate was a Mint and Cashew 60% Cacao bar from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ) was the first. This was re-sampled (to focus on the cashew part) this time.

Cashew and Mint is a relatively unique combination. How did they taste together in one bar?

The chocolate had a pleasing aroma with a hint of mint and some very subtle cashew nut flavor and texture. The chocolate was relatively smooth for a bar with nuts.

Torn Ranch
Cashews, Cranberries and Chocolate
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 190 calories in 1 package
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

The second chocolate item was similar to a high-end trail mix, and was composed of small, coin-sized round discs of dark chocolate, dried cranberries and cashews.

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Raspberry bar - May 29, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Red Raspberry bar
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .66 oz. (18.86 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 99 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Red Raspberry bar was carefully made from scratch, from bean to bar, by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

Seventy percent dark chocolate was blended with real berries. And the result was a medium bodied dark bar with a very pleasing, authentic, luscious red raspberry jam flavor.

Stone Grindz Chocolate makes small batch, high-quality organic chocolate in their workshop in one of the hottest metro areas of the U.S. Triple digit temperatures are a regular occurrence in the warm months. Air conditioning is a must have. (Either that or one might explore solar power to run the operation.)

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Wild Bolivia 70% bar - April 20, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Wild Bolivia 70 percent Cacao bar
Good+++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, Scottsdale, AZ (online order)

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

Today's Wild Bolivia 70 percent Cacao dark chocolate bar from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ) was crafted from cacao beans from the Amazon River Basin in Bolivia.

This three-ingredient* bar had pure chocolate aroma and flavor and a pleasant chocolate aftertaste, with a very occasional (very faint) slightly bitter earth blip late in the tasting experience. The 70 percent bar with a bit of added cocoa butter also had a nice, buttery melt and texture.

You'd think it might be difficult to make and distribute chocolate in Arizona, where temperatures soar in the summer, but there are a growing number of fine chocolate providers in the state. And Stone Grindz sells their chocolates at a few local, Phoenix-area farmers markets as well.

The packaging for the Wild Bolivia 70 percent Cacao bar (Batch 235) included a brief tasting description: "notes of malt and cashew."

 *Three ingredients: Cacao beans, Organic Cane Sugar and Organic Cacao Butter