Theo Chocolate - Organic Sweet & Spicy 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Sweet & Spicy 55% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.4 oz. (39.5 g.) / 2.8 oz. (79 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar (~213 cals in 1/2 bar)
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week. 

This bar was not from Mexico; but it did contain the southwest trifecta of chocolate flavor inclusions: chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon* and cayenne pepper. 

Today's Organic Sweet & Spicy 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) was distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). This was a special gift from a friend who lives in Arizona. (Thank you Joy!)

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, sweet dark chocolate (dark chocolate cookie), interspersed with tiny crunchy bits of sweet brittle; and sparkles of warm spice (cinnamon) and occasional, tiny spikes of cayenne pepper heat.

This was, just as advertised, sweet and spicy chocolate with a touch of vanilla and warming spices. I liked the relatively short list of Organic and "Fair for life" (Fair Trade) ingredients, and the addition of a crunchy element (brittle).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans*+, Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Ground Vanilla Bean*), Brittle* (Sugar*, Rice Syrup*, Coconut Oil*, Sea Salt, Baking Soda), Cinnamon*, Cayenne*. 

(*Organic, +Fair Trade - Contains 89% Fair Trade Ingredients)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that also process (sic) milk, peanuts, and tree nuts."

*Cinnamon may not be native to the Americas, but in just a few centuries it became firmly embedded in Mexico and the U.S. culinary (and chocolate) offerings.

Theo Chocolate - Organic Salted Cashew 85% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Salted Cashew 85% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Organic Salted Cashew 85% Dark Chocolate (bar) was distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

Aroma notes for this ultra-dark bar included: dark chocolate with very faint fruit, nut and even fainter spice (green floral, vanilla).

Texture: relatively thick (cocoa buttery) texture with a relatively rapid, smooth melt, with soft bits of nut.

Flavor notes included: smooth ultra-dark chocolate (roasted, deep, smooth fudge brownie); sparkles of sea salt; faint, mellow nut; and well-managed bitterness.

I enjoyed the salt in this bar, and the well-balanced, 85% dark chocolate--that wasn't too sweet (thank you!). 

I also appreciated the maker's short list of organic, fair trade (fair for life) ingredients (with no emulsifiers or "natural flavors"). Theo Chocolate was one of the earliest to seek out and offer organic and fair trade chocolates that I can recall in the wave of craft, bean-to-bar chocolate makers that began over two decades ago.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans *+, Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Ground Vanilla Bean*), Cashews*, Sea Salt. (* Organic, + Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Cashews). "Made on equipment that also processes milk, peanuts, and other tree nuts." 

Theo Chocolate - Organic Pacific Northwest Coffee and Cream 45% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 2, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Pacific Northwest Coffee and Cream 45% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: (Missing information)

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

Today's Organic, Fair Trade Pacific Northwest Coffee and Cream 45% Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The outer wrapper contained cartoon icons (bear, fish jumping out of water, coffee pot, mountains, tent, etc.) of outdoor living and coffee loving in the Northwest U.S.

The company was one of the first chocolate makers to offer organic and fair trade-certified chocolates in the U.S.; and is "Fair For Life" Fair Trade Certified.

Aroma notes included: fresh coffee, coffee toffee, and dark milk chocolate.

This 45% milk chocolate had a pleasant, thick and creamy texture and melt, and barely detectable, finely ground coffee particles.

Flavor notes included: rich and creamy mocha latte--with identifiable dark milk chocolate and roasted coffee constituents, that were also well balanced, blended and complementary.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate* (Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Cocoa Beans*+, Whole Milk Powder*), Ground Coffee Beans*+. (*Organic, +Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Made on equipment that also processes wheat and tree nuts and in a facility that handles peanuts, eggs, and sesame. *Organic +Fair Trade (Contains 80% Fair Trade Ingredients)

Theo Chocolate sources their cacao from several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Theo Chocolate - Peach Blossom and Chai Tea pieces - Apr. 21, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Peach Blossom White Tea Ganache - Good ++ - Good +++
Chai Tea Ganache - Good ++
Weight: .84 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total box of 4 pcs.
Calories: 120 calories in 2 pieces 
Cost: $10.99 for 1 box of 4 chocolates 
Purchased from: FarmFresh to You, online order

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

Today's Peach Blossom Tea and Chai Tea Ganache chocolates, 2 pieces from a 4-piece Spring Tea Ganache Collection, were from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

Peach Blossom White Tea Ganache
The aroma for this confection was an uplifting blend of fruit (dried pear and apricot) and floral (fragrant stone fruit blossoms) notes. 

A dark chocolate shell surrounded a soft but substantial (think cold butter), creamy ganache center.

The taste was a celebration of spring flavors, including relatively bold, faintly earthy dark chocolate, with surprisingly un-muted floral (a blend of stone-fruit blossoms and orange blossoms) and tart sweet fruit (apricot, pear, loquat, peach) notes. The relatively small dose of sugar in this confection resulted in clearer, more accessible flavors. 

The delicate white tea was more of a hidden contributor, and seemed the perfect choice and delicate foil for these other flavors.

Chai Tea Ganache

Aroma notes included: chai tea spices (star anise and other warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom and ginger) and chocolate.

The dark chocolate veneer gave way to a velvety soft, ebony-colored dark ganache.

As with the other pieces in this Spring Collection assortment the tea-infused ganache was enrobed in the same smooth, yet bold dark covering with a well-managed earth note. This cacao choice* helped balance out the clear, naturally sweet floral and fruit notes--miraculously, not eclipsing them in the process. 

Big thanks to Theo Chocolate for these skillfully orchestrated, Spring-inspired filled chocolates, with a relatively light touch of sugar. The clarity and access to the authentic floral, tea and fruit flavor inclusions was very satisfying. 

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cacao beans; organic, fair trade cane sugar; peach blossom infused cream (organic cream, organic peach blossom tea (organic white tea, organic quince, natural peach flavor, organic peaches, essential orange oil, essential tangerine oil), and possibly organic whole milk powder, organic butter, organic nonfat milk powder, honey, organic lemon juice). For more detailed/specific information, please contact Theo Chocolate. 

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk.) "Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, and sesame."

*According to information available on the Theo Chocolate website, the cacao was sourced in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the sugar was sourced in Brazil.

 

Theo Chocolate - Hibiscus Herbal Tea Chocolate - Apr. 20, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Hibiscus Herbal Tea Chocolate
Good +
Weight: .42 oz. (12 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total 4-pc. collection 
Calories: 60 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $10.99 for 1 4-pc. collection
Purchased from: FarmFresh to You, online order

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

Today's Hibiscus Herbal Tea Ganache chocolate was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). It was part of a 4-piece Spring Tea Ganache Collection. This small box held a flavorful dark assortment that showcased floral tea flavors, including jasmine, hibiscus and peach blossom.

The rectangular, filled dark chocolate (Democratic Republic of Congo cacao*) was adorned with an attractive, fine line of what may have been powdered (freeze-dried, magenta-colored) hibiscus and sugar. 

Aroma notes included: red fruit, faint floral, very light herbal/root, and chocolate notes.

Texturally, the dark chocolate shell/coating was smooth. And the filling inside was a light, almost whipped, light beige-mauve colored ganache.

Tasting notes for this piece included: subtle red fruit (tart cherry); dark, very slightly earthy, relatively bold dark chocolate (that lingered into a relatively long finish for a confection); root/herbal (faint, delicate root beer), faint, tart sweet red floral (hibiscus), and faint honey. 

I enjoyed the complexity in this balanced and flavorful filled chocolate; bold dark chocolate helped balance the sweetness. And a judicious amount of sugar helped to let more delicate floral tea and other flavors shine through.

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cacao beans; organic, fair trade cane sugar; hibiscus tea infused cream (organic cream, organic hibiscus tea (organic hibiscus flowers)), organic fair trade cocoa butter, and possibly organic whole milk powder, organic butter and organic nonfat milk. (For an exact list of specific ingredients on this Hibiscus chocolate, please contact Theo Chocolate.)

Allergen-related information: (Contains dairy (cream, milk).) "Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, and sesame."

*According to information on the Theo Chocolate website, the cacao used to make the dark chocolate couverture/shells for this Spring Tea 4-piece Ganache Collection was from/sourced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and the sugar was from/sourced in Brazil.

Theo Chocolate - Spring Tea Collection - Jasmine Tea Ganache - Apr. 19, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Jasmine Tea Ganache 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .42 oz. (12 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total box of 4 pieces
Calories: .42 oz. (12 g.) in 1 piece
Cost: $10.99 for 1 box of 4 pieces
Purchased from: FarmFresh to You, online order

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

Today's Jasmine Tea Ganache chocolate confection was part of a 4-piece Spring Tea Collection (assortment) from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). Each of the four flavors were enrobed in dark chocolate and contained a different tea-infused, ganache filling.

The aroma: rich dark chocolate laced with aromatic jasmine, was exactly as promised.

The silky smooth dark chocolate interior (ganache)--a blend of dark and milk* chocolate--was covered in a firmer dark chocolate shell.

This enjoyably complex, dark confection had a lovely jasmine floral tea flavor from start to finish (thank you)--even though it was surrounded by bold dark chocolate (think Forastero variety cacao) that had balanced earth and dark brownie batter notes--mirroring the image of April flowers springing forth from rich, dark soil outside my window.

A judicious amount of sugar allowed the complementary bittersweet (intense cacao and sweet floral) flavors to shine through. This Jasmine chocolate would be a treat for dark chocolate and botanical/floral fans who normally find confections/filled chocolates too sweet.

According to Theo Chocolate's website: Cacao for this collection was sourced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); and sugar for this collection was sourced in Brazil.

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade Cocoa beans; organic, fair trade cane sugar; jasmine tea-infused cream (organic cream, organic jasmine tea (green tea with jasmine))* -- and possibly organic whole milk powder, organic butter, organic nonfat milk powder and honey. (For a complete list of ingredients for each flavor in this collection, contact Theo Chocolate.)

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk.) "Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, and sesame."

*Cream in the filling (ganache) served as a "carrier" for the jasmine tea. Flavors are often infused into cream, and then incorporated into chocolates. Cream is much easier to blend with chocolate than water. (Ground cacao beans have a fairly high fat content and are naturally hydrophobic, i.e., they don't easily mix with or dissolve in water. A vat of melted chocolate can "seize up" when water is added.)

Theo Chocolate - Organic Almond Butter Cups 55% Dark Chocolate - July 26, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate 
Organic Almond Butter Cups 55% Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) in total package of 2 cups
Calories: 230 calories in 2 cups
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package of 2 cups
Purchased from: Farm Fresh To You (CSA delivery box, add-in item)

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

Today's Organic Almond Butter Cups (covered in) 55% Dark Chocolate were distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The company has a long history of supporting fair trade and sourcing organic and fair trade ingredients whenever possible.

Aroma notes for these heart-shaped cups included faint chocolate and almond/cashew nut cookie notes.

The 55% cacao chocolate had smooth, relatively mild dark chocolate flavor and with an almost creamy melt. 

The crunchy-creamy almond butter filling had a genuine, mild nut flavor, un-enhanced by excess amounts of sugar, salt and/or "natural" flavors. Enough so that one was suddenly aware of how much sugar and salt is added to most commercial nut butter chocolate cups. 

The very judicious amount of added sea salt and sugar seemed just right and did not obscure the subtle chocolate and nut flavors. (Good choice as almond butter is milder than peanut butter.) Those who equate sugar and salt with flavor, and caffeine and sugar rush fans, may find these less exciting. To me, they were refreshingly authentic.

Ingredients: Almond butter (roasted almonds)*, cocoa beans*+, cane sugar*+, cocoa butter*+, powdered sugar* (cane sugar*+, cornstarch*), almond flour (roasted almonds)*, sea salt, ground vanilla bean*.

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (almonds). "Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, other tree nuts, milk, eggs and wheat. (*Organic, +fair trade ingredients.) 

Theo Chocolate - Organic Chocolate for Baking 70% Dark (bar) - July 16, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Fair Trade Chocolate for Baking 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 oz. (28 g.) (2 squares) 
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh to You, add-in to CSA delivery box 

Welcome to Day #7 of Dark Chocolate Theme Week, featuring 60%-90% cacao dark blends and/or dark chocolates with unspecified origins.

Today's Organic Fair Trade Chocolate for Baking 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

The balanced bouquet of aroma notes in this bold and flavorful chocolate included dark chocolate; concentrated stone fruit (prune, cherry plum) as well as dried fruit with more subtle tartness (dried ripe persimmon slices); very light floral (cherry blossom) and nut (roasted cashew and roasted pine nut).

The taste encompassed most of the aroma notes mentioned above, although the emphasis was more on the "true" chocolate notes (roasted, bold but balanced fudge brownie with a cup of drinking chocolate/cocoa on the side) with balanced, light loamy forest earthiness and faint red fruit/berry fruit acidity.

A bit of light blueberry/red grape astringency (back of the throat tickle) kicked in about mid-way through--an astringency that lingered in the finish, similar to tannic acid in red wine.

As promised, this chocolate was enjoyable for eating, as well as for baking (for brownies and baked goods, shaved over other desserts, or made into small, fill-able chocolate cups).

The cacao used to make today's chocolate was a blend, from beans grown in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Peru. This combination helps explain the rich blend of flavors.

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa beans; organic, fair trade cane sugar; and organic, fair trade cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that also processes wheat, milk and tree nuts, and in a facility that handles sesame, eggs and peanuts." ("Soy free, Kosher")

 

Theo Chocolate - Organic Salted Almond 45% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 29, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Fair Trade, Organic Salted Almond 45% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh to You, CSA box delivery service, add-on item

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and RSTU Theme Week, featuring chocolates with origins and flavor inclusions that start the letters R, S, T and/or U. It seemed right to end this two-week long, alphabetic exploration with something sweet and salty.

Today's Organic Salted Almond 45% Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The company offers a variety of organic and fair trade chocolate bars (and confections), including this one.

The aroma of this bar sent out seductive snack signals: milk chocolate, roasted nuts (hazelnut,* almond) and savory/salted notes. This smelled like high-end, grown-up candy bar territory (thankfully without the additives or preservatives).

And, sure enough, creamy, sweet milk chocolate was interspersed with crunchy almond bits, and punctuated with sparkles of sea salt--creating a rich, addictive blend of sugar salt, fat (cocoa butter, nuts), and chocolate--with a satisfying textural contrast. 

The milk, nuts and salt--present in perfect snack food proportions (heaven help the weak-willed)--outshone cacao flavor nuances that may have been present. But there were no objectionable notes.

The maker's description for this bar: "Smooth. Creamy. Salty. Crunchy. All together perfect."

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cane sugar; organic, fair trade cocoa butter; organic, fair trade cocoa beans; organic whole milk powder; organic almonds; pink Himalayan salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and tree nuts (almonds). "Made on equipment that also processes wheat and other tree nuts and in a facility that handles peanuts, eggs, and sesame. May contain shell pieces."  

*Despite the aroma, there were no hazelnut ingredients listed.

Theo Chocolate - Organic Coffee Toffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate 

Organic Coffee Toffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Farm Fresh To You CSA box, add-on item 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and R,S,T,U Theme Week, featuring chocolate items with origins and flavor inclusions that start with the letters R, S, T and/or U, e.g. toffee. 

Today's Organic Coffee Toffee 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was created by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

I used to drink coffee. I loved the taste, and especially the aroma. And the aroma of this chocolate evoked that memory. The aroma: ground coffee, cocoa, fruit, and butter, followed by balanced savory/leather, shading into earthy cocoa notes. 

The base dark chocolate was smooth. (The source of the cacao was Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru; and the coffee was grown in Peru.)

Bits of sweet toffee and coffee yielded textural contrast and flavor (including ground coffee flavor without ground coffee grit). The rich, gem-like, softly crunchy bits of sweet toffee sparkled against a backdrop of bold, deep dark chocolate with a balanced earthiness. This rich mix of flavors lingered into the finish.

Theo Chocolate's description of this bar: "Coffee perks up your body. Chocolate perks up your soul. There's nothing better than this blend of crunchy toffee, dark chocolate, and rich coffee made with organic ingredients."

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa beans; organic, fair trade cane sugar; organic toffee (organic, fair trade cane sugar, organic butter, organic dried corn syrup, water, sea salt); organic, fair trade cocoa butter; organic, fair trade ground coffee beans. Contains 95% Fair Trade Ingredients.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. Made in a facility that handles peanuts, eggs and sesame and on equipment that also processes milk, wheat and tree nuts. (No soy, gluten-free, Kosher dairy.)

 

Theo Chocolate - Organic Salted Toffee 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 23, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate 

Organic Salted Toffee 55% Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Farm Fresh To You CSA box, add-on item 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and R,S,T,U Theme Week, featuring chocolate items with origins or flavor inclusions that start with the letters R, S, T and/or U, such as salt and toffee. 

Today's Organic Salted Toffee 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The company offers a wide variety of bars and confections made with organic and fair trade chocolate.

This bar had an earthy dark chocolate and salted toffee aroma and flavor. Smooth dark chocolate enveloped crunchy toffee bits with tiny sea salt sparkles. The earthiness helped keep the sweetness in check and paired well with the salt. 

The deep, dark flavored cacao used to make this 55% bar will likely please dark chocolate lovers as the resulting chocolate tasted more like a 70% cacao bar. 

The finish: a mellowing deep, dark chocolate finish with faint hints of butter toffee.

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa beans; organic, fair trade cane sugar; organic, fair trade cocoa butter; organic toffee (organic, fair trade cane sugar, organic butter, organic dried corn syrup, water, sea salt); sea salt; organic ground vanilla bean. Contains 95% Fair Trade ingredients.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. Made on equipment that also processes wheat and tree nuts and in a facility that handles peanuts, eggs, and sesame. (No soy, Kosher dairy.)

Theo Chocolate - Organic, Fair Trade Raspberry Cocoa Nib 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 17, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate

Organic, Fair Trade Raspberry Cocoa Nib 55% Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar 

Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Missing information 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and RSTU Theme Week, featuring items with origins and flavor inclusions that start with the letters R, S, T and/or U.

Today's Organic, Fair Trade Raspberry Cocoa Nib 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The company was an early advocate (and provider) of fair trade chocolate. (This bar bore the "fair for life"* symbol.)

This was a flavorful bar, but I had to lean in to catch the full aroma. A nose-to-bar inhalation revealed deep, dark chocolate and authentic red raspberry notes. 

Cacao nibs and raspberry bits gave this chocolate a hearty, crunchy texture and a blend of rich, robust cacao and bright red berry flavors that lingered into the finish. Ground vanilla bean added a bit of upbeat, floral warmth.

The maker's notes read as follows: "...fruity, bright and crunchy."

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa beans; organic, fair trade cane sugar; organic, fair trade cocoa butter; organic freeze-dried raspberries; organic ground vanilla bean.

Allergen-related information: USDA Organic, fair for life, no soy, kosher dairy; "Made on equipment that also processes milk, wheat, and tree nuts and in a facility that handles peanuts, eggs and sesame. 

*Fair trade standards and programs have helped highlight the need for fair/better pay and conditions for cacao (and other) farmers, who are often being paid very little. And better pay and infrastructure (e.g. access to local cacao fermenteries, agro experts, water, etc.) not only help farmers, but also can help preserve and enable production of fine cacao (and great chocolate).

More information specifically on Fair for Life can be found on their website: https://fairforlife.org.

Theo Chocolate - Honey Bee Confection Collection, part 2 - Apr. 10, 2021

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Honey Bee Confection Collection
1.) Honey Saffron Caramel - Good +
2.) Orange Blossom Nougat - Good +
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 7 pieces
Calories: 226 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $13.99 for 1 box of 7 pieces
Purchased from: Farm Fresh to You, CSA box delivery service, add-in item

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Trees and Bees Theme Week. Bees create honey; and we are reaping the rewards of the bees' hard work again today.

Today's 7-piece, "Honey Bee Confection Collection" was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The company offers a wide variety of fairly traded chocolate bars and confections. 

I tasted two different chocolates (out of four) from Theo's Honey Bee assortment today. (The other two were featured yesterday.) 

The first piece was a Honey Saffron Caramel: A fragrant nucleus of "Organic Moroccon saffron* infused honey in buttery sweet caramel," was enrobed in smooth dark chocolate, and dusted with bee pollen sugar. Yes, this soft caramel was sweet. But there was no stinting on the ingredients. The saffron's aroma and flavor were authentic and wonderful. 

The last piece was the generously-sized, "Orange Blossom Nougat." This confection was filled with a soft honey nougat infused with a delicious amount of authentic orange blossom (think neroli), covered in a generous coating of flavorful dark chocolate (that helped balanced the sweetness), and garnished with a micro strip of candied citrus peel. 

Bees and other pollinators make our culinary lives much richer. Theo Chocolate's packaging reminded us to "give a buzz" about bees, and suggested checking out two bee-related organizations: pollinator.org (San Francisco, CA) and survivorbee.com (Seattle, WA). The latter is dedicated to improving the health of bees through local community education.

Ingredients (listed for all four confections): Organic, fair trade cane sugar; organic, fair trade cocoa beans; organic cream; honey; organic cashews; organic, fair trade cocoa butter; organic corn syrup; glucose; organic milk powder; organic orange zest; water; organic butter; organic egg whites; orange blossom water (distilled water, orange blossom); baking soda; salt; bee pollen; gelatin; saffron.

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts (cashews), milk, and eggs. Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, other tree nuts, wheat and sesame."

*I am biased here. I do love this spice, made of the orange-yellow stamens of the purple, saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). Saffron infused honey over vanilla ice cream, topped with lavender buds, used to be one of my favorite desserts. Happiness in a bowl.

Theo Chocolate - Honey Bee Confection Collection - part 1 - Apr. 9, 2021

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Honey Bee Confection Collection
1.) Honeycomb Chocolate - Good - Good +
2.) Honey Cashew Praline - Good +
Weight: 1.51 oz. (42.8 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 7 pieces
Calories: 226 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $13.99 for 1 box of 7 pieces
Purchased from: Farm Fresh to You, CSA box delivery service, add-in item

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Trees and Bees Theme Week. Bees create honey, and that is a good thing.

Today's 7-piece, "Honey Bee Confection Collection" was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The company offers a wide variety of fairly traded chocolate bars and confections. 

Confections can be very sweet. Nuts, salt and savory items, and unsweetened chocolate can help balance pure sugar sweetness. Happily, Theo and many other chocolatiers understand this.

I tasted two chocolates (of four) from Theo's Honey Bee assortment today. (The other two will be featured tomorrow.) 

The first "Honeycomb Chocolate" piece was a long rectangle of sweet, crunchy honeycomb candy, blanketed in a thick layer of rich, flavorful dark chocolate--darker and more flavorful than most candy-quality chocolate. This darker, velvety chocolate saved me from sugar overload. Thank you Theo Chocolate meisters.

The second piece was a "Honey Cashew Praline," molded in a honeycomb shape. Multiple steps in the making process insured a tasty treat. "Cashews (were) candied in honey, whipped into decadent praline, (and) enrobed in creamy milk chocolate." Nuts and milk, and likely a little salt, helped balance this second tasty sweet.

Bees and other pollinators offer many benefits to all of us. Theo Chocolate's packaging reminded us to "give a buzz" about bees, and suggested checking out two bee-related organizations: pollinator.org (San Francisco, CA) and survivorbee.com (Seattle, WA). The latter is dedicated to improving the health of bees through local community education.

Ingredients (listed for all four confections): Organic, fair trade cane sugar; organic, fair trade cocoa beans; organic cream; honey; organic cashews; organic, fair trade cocoa butter; organic corn syrup; glucose; organic milk powder; organic orange zest; water; organic butter; organic egg whites; orange blossom water (distilled water, orange blossom); baking soda; salt; bee pollen; gelatin; saffron.

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts (cashews), milk, and eggs. Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, other tree nuts, wheat and sesame."

Theo Chocolate - Ghost Chili dark chocolate mini bar - Dec. 16, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate

Ghost Chili dark chocolate mini bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ unknown (gift from a friend)

Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Toni!)

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

A spices-themed week wouldn't be complete without a little hot chili pepper (hybrid Capsicum from Asia). Today's Ghost Chili dark chocolate mini bar was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA) and was adorned with an image of a floating ghost.

Years ago, I sampled Theo Chocolate's caramel-filled dark chocolate confections with a trace of ghost chili; and as I recall they packed quite a concentrated spicy punch. 

Today's 70% dark chocolate bar had a lovely, appealing, rich dark aroma with a roasted almost savory, almost nutty notes, with a faint whiff of dried tomato/chili. (This bar contained a mix of Ancho and Ghost chili powders*).

The first five seconds of the first bite was all about the smooth, but flavorful dark chocolate, and it did not disappoint. Then the Ghost chili flames kicked in. And that fire dominated the tasting experience for most of the rest of the tasting curve. However, if you savored this chocolate slowly, the chili faded and the dark chocolate returned with slightly altered chocolate notes. The finish lingered with a balanced, post-chili cacao bitterness. A fun ride.

Thank you to my ever-traveling friend, Toni, who visited Theo's Phinney Ave. flagship store housed in a lovely, historic brick building, and brought back chocolates.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, ancho chili powder, ghost chili powder.

*What a great, complementary mix of Ancho and Ghost chili powders in this dark chocolate bar. Ancho chili starts life as Poblano peppers (Capsicum annuum) that hail from Mexico. And once dried, Poblano peppers are referred to as "Ancho" chili (meaning "wide, broad and/or deep" in English). Ancho chili often anchors chili dishes and savory stews adding richness and depth. 

Ghost chili peppers (Capsicum chinense x Capsicum frutescens) are one of the rock stars of the fiery chili world. They are a hybrid variety from Asia, with a score of 1 million + Scoville Heat Units (SHUs) on the Scoville scale (used to measure chili heat).

Theo Chocolate - Peanut Butter and Jelly 55% dark chocolate cups - June 29, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate

Peanut Butter and Jelly (raspberry) 55% dark chocolate cups

Good ++

Weight: 1.3 oz. (36 g.) in total package

Calories: 200 calories in 1 package of 2 cups

Cost: $2.39 for 1 package

Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Markets, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Red Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Organic Peanut Butter and Jelly (raspberry) 55% dark chocolate cups were from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

Theo Chocolate was one of the first chocolate makers to offer certified fair trade, organic chocolate bars and other chocolate offerings in North America. 

Today's heart-shaped, gluten and soy free, dark chocolate "cups" had a rich dark chocolate and home-ground roasted peanut butter aroma.

Inside, well-balanced strata of creamy peanut butter above, and bright red fruit raspberry jelly (with a seed or two, if I'm not mistaken, for authenticity) below. This was a perfect layering of high-quality flavors. All this without being ultra sweet (thank you!).

By looking at the Theo website, I was able to easily see that the Fair Trade for Life cocoa used to make this chocolate came from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and that the peanut butter came from the U.S.

Theo Origin Story -- meshes with growing desires for more product transparency

Founded in 2005, Theo Chocolate produced their first organic chocolate in early 2006--six months before I started Chocolate Banquet. There weren't that many high-quality, organic options back then in California or elsewhere then. And fair trade was a new concept that consumers were trying to understand. 

Improved vendor transparency though--about ingredients, source and supply chains--was quickly becoming a product differentiator. After all, to "sell" people on paying a premium for bean-to-bar, craft chocolate, you need to talk about and celebrate your great ingredients.

I remember being happy to find Theo chocolates at a few leading edge small chocolate shops.* Theo has also continued to offer new and tasty flavor combinations. Happily there are more organic and fair trade options today, and Theo is still among them!

*Sunita de Tourreil, founder of The Chocolate Garage (now closed) (Palo Alto, CA) and Elana Turchon, owner, SweetE Organics (Mill Valley, CA) were a few of the innovative retailers in the San Francisco Bay Area who helped introduce people to Theo and other organic and other craft chocolate options. (It's difficult to name them all, but Chocolate Covered, Fog City News, Bi-Rite Market, Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco and a few shops in the East Bay and South Bay that are no longer open, also were and/or continue to be instrumental.) High-end grocery stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Markets, etc. joined in as well.

Theo Chocolate - Root Beer Barrel 55% Dark Chocolate bar - April 9, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate, Inc.

Root Beer Barrel 55% Dark Chocolate bar

Good - Good +

Weight: .95 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (53 g.) in total bar

Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: World Market, North Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Spice Theme Week.

Today's Organic Root Beer Barrel 55% Dark Chocolate bar was from Theo Chocolate, Inc. (Seattle, WA).

Fifty-five percent cacao fair trade chocolate was full of tiny bits of root beer flavored brittle (flavored with a "Root Beer Oil Blend"*).

The brittle created authentic sparkles of root beer flavor. Yes, this bar was sweet; but positive memories of drinking root beer floats as a child helped uplift this tasting experience.

Ground vanilla bean helped provide extra flavor and warmth to this blend.

Spices can come from seeds, pods, roots and other plant parts. Root beer became an almost uniquely American flavor. (Beverages made from dandelion and burdock in the U.K. were the closest we could find across the pond. We're sure there are others in the world that date back to ancient times.)

*Old-fashioned root beer recipes in North America date back at least to the 1800s. Root beer beverages were flavored primarily with sassafras, and other herbs, roots and bark (e.g. birch oil). Sassafras is a deciduous tree native to North America. The roots of this tree apparently have a sweet, spicy flavor to them. Roots and bark from this tree were used to make "tea" and beverages.

Subsequent concerns about a substance (safrole) found in sassafras led to restrictions on its use. Most root beer beverages today use the root of/extracts from the sarsaparilla vine and other flavorings (wintergreen, cloves, anise, etc.) instead.

Theo Chocolate - Grapefruit Ginger bar - April 8, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate, Inc.
Grapefruit Ginger 55% Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .95 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, North Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Spice Theme Week.

Today's Organic Grapefruit Ginger 55% Dark Chocolate bar was made by Theo Chocolate, Inc. (Seattle, WA).

It had a candied citrus and spice (ginger) aroma.

This sweet chocolate bar had a smooth melt punctuated with tiny specks of almost crunchy crystallized ginger. Grapefruit oil lent a subtle, balanced citrus touch. The ginger finish lingered slightly.

Today's bar was certified fair for life, Kosher Dairy, and did not list gluten- or soy-containing ingredients.

Theo Chocolate - Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar - Mar. 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate, Inc.
Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .95 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Cinnamon Horchata* 45% Milk Chocolate bar was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The cinnamon elevated the flavor of this sweet milk chocolate bar.

And, instead of rice milk, which I associate with American horchata beverages, the "rice" came from crispy brown rice embedded in this bar, giving is some crunchy texture as well.

*Horchata is a light-colored, opaque, grain or rice-based beverage, flavored with cinnamon from Latin America. 

Horchata's origins stretch back to North Africa (when the beverage was often made from soaked tiger nuts) and Spain, and the idea was likely brought to Mexico and Central America). 

Horchata (origin likely from a word for barley) refers to a larger class of plant- and grain-based beverages from the Mediterranean. Ingredients for these beverages may include ground almonds, rice, barley, sesame or tiger nuts.

**Ingredients: Organic, Fair Trade Cane Sugar; Organic, Trade Cocoa Beans; Organic, Fair Trade Cocoa Butter; Organic Milk Powder; Organic Crisped Brown Rice; Organic, Fair Trade Crisped Quinoa; Organic, Fair Trade Cinnamon; Organic Ground Vanilla Bean.

Theo Chocolate - peanut butter and jelly chocolate clusters - Feb. 5, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate 

peanut butter and jelly chocolate clusters

Good +

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total package

Calories: 220 calories in 1 serving (5 pieces)

Cost: $3.93 for 1 package

Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

Today's peanut butter and jelly chocolate clusters were distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

These gluten-free* clusters contained a jumble of ingredients besides elements of the aforementioned peanut butter (peanuts and peanut flour) and jelly (freeze-dried raspberries), including coconut, dates and sweet potatoes. (Yes, sweet potatoes.)

These Organic, mini hay-stack shaped chocolate clusters had a chocolate and coconut aroma. They provided a hearty and sweet blend of coconut, nutty and berry-fruit textures and flavors, with an occasional tiny sparkle of pink salt.

Marketed as an "Excellent source of iron" with 200 mg** of cocoa flavanols per serving, these Non GMO and Kosher Dairy snacks would transport reasonably well during a hike or adventure. Just keep them away from direct sun and high temperatures, as you would any chocolate.

*For those watching allergens, these chocolate clusters did contain peanuts and coconut. They were free of ingredients containing soy, wheat or gluten, but were manufactured on shared equipment with products containing soy, milk, eggs, wheat and other tree nuts.

**Flavanols are phytonutrients found in cocoa beans. And flavanol levels in chocolate can vary due to many factors. According to USDA database figures, unsweetened baking chocolate has about 206 milligrams (mg) of flavanols per 100 grams of chocolate. As sugar is added and cacao percentages drop, the flavanol levels tend to drop as well. Some dark chocolates may contain only half this 206 mg amount. Commercial milk chocolate may contain less than 20 mg of flavanols per 100 grams of chocolate. 

By this standard, the 200 milligram number for a single 40 gram serving of today's chocolate clusters is fairly high. And it's not clear why this dark chocolate might have been higher than average. Cacao origin, processing and other factors can play a role. (The 200 mg number is also tied to European Union (EU) threshold requirements about advertising around what constitutes"healthy chocolate" and claims of circulatory and heart benefits. To make these claims a chocolate must contain at least 200 mg. of flavanols.)