Solkiki - Maranon Coconut Dark Milk 60% Whisky Nibs - Aug. 17, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Solkiki
Maranon Coconut Dark Milk 60% Whisky Nibs (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 305 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $15.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Maranon 60% Coconut Dark Milk Whisky Nibs (bar) was from Solkiki Chocolatemaker (Dorset, U.K.). The company's founders (Iris and Bob) were early entrants (in 2008) in the new wave of bean-to-bar craft chocolate makers in the U.K.

The cacao used to make this whisky bar was Fortunato No. 4 Maranon cacao (a prized "Pure Nacional" variety from Peru). 

Starward Whisky (Australia) brought a rich, satisfying flavor (deep red wine, oak) into the cacao nibs and the entire bar.

Aroma and flavor notes included: pleasingly aromatic and warm whisky and dark chocolate. The coconut (fresh coconut + caramel) was very subtle (barely detectable) and the unrefined cane sugar added faint, warm brown sugar flavor depth that complemented the whisky and chocolate very nicely.

Texture: relatively smooth dark chocolate populated with a generous field of tiny crunchy (cacao nib) bits.

Not surprisingly, as someone who enjoys dark chocolate and bold, balanced spirits (whiskey) flavors, I really liked this bar. I found it a little addictive. 

I appreciated the makers' thoughtful, short list of quality and organic ingredients. And I liked that the coconut in this coconut milk chocolate was dialed back a little, serving as a successful background contributor vs. being more prominent.

Ingredients: "Organic Fortunato No.4 cacao beans, organic unrefined cane sugar, organic cold-pressed cacao butter, organic coconut, pink salt, Starward Whisky Fortunato No.4 nibs."

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. "Vegan. May contain traces of soy, nuts, gluten"   

Summerdown Farms - Peppermint Milk Chocolate 37% Cocoa (bar) - Feb. 22, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Summerdown Farms Ltd.
Peppermint Milk Chocolate 37% Cocoa with English Black Mitcham peppermint (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 279.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zombierunner Coffee, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate & Mint Theme Week.

Today's Peppermint Milk Chocolate 37% Cocoa with English Black Mitcham peppermint (bar) was from Summerdown Farms Ltd. (Hampshire, UK).

This "smooth chocolate with a cooling finish" was made using a single origin Colombian cacao; although it was difficult to tell because this was a relatively low cacao percentage (37% cacao) bar. (Cocoa mass was the fourth ingredient.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate and mint.

Texture: smooth, creamy texture with a relatively (cocoa) buttery melt and fatty/buttery mouth feel.

For those with a sweet tooth, this may be an enjoyable chocolate confection. Sadly, this bar was relatively sweet and almost bland for me, despite the vanilla and mint flavourings. It did have a nice, balanced, authentic mint finish and the chocolate was relatively smooth.

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, natural flavouring (vanilla, Black Mitcham peppermint oil), emulsifier (soya lecithin).

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. May contain traces of gluten, nuts and peanuts.

 

Willie's Cacao - Chulucanas Gold Peruvia Dark Chocolate Single 70% Cacao (bar) - Aug. 23, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Willie's Cacao
Chulucanas Gold Peruvian Dark Chocolate Single 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: WoldWide Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Peru Theme Week. 

Today's Chulucanas Gold Peruvian Dark Chocolate Single 70% Cacao (bar) was from Willie's Cacao Ltd (Uffculme, UK). 

Willie's Cacao specializes in bean-to-bar chocolates that "capture the stunningly individual flavours of the world's great, single estate cacaos."

This 70% chocolate was made from native Criollo cacao beans from the "mountains of the Morropon province in Peru."

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, faint, fleeting black licorice; molasses/brown sugar (raw cane sugar), fruit (green/white grape, raisin, green fig); very faint fig and oat/malt cookie.

Flavor notes for this smooth chocolate included: smooth dark chocolate with pleasing, slight fig/raisin cookie with tiny, delicious upticks in white wine/green grape juice (high-end, sweet dessert wine), and at least one little fleeting floral note.

This dark chocolate was pretty friendly/approachable with well-balanced, low-moderate fruit acidity and bitterness and low earth notes.

I really liked the subtle bouquet of grape and sweet green/brown sugar--and even floral--notes; the short list of (three) ingredients; and the thoughtful sourcing and execution involved in this single origin Peru bar.

Maker's tasting notes: "Notes of Raisins and Plums"

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate: Cocoa mass, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed that I could see on label adhered on top of packaging.)

Chocolarder - Gold Frankincense & Myrrh chocolate 72% (bar) - Mar. 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolarder
Gold Frankincense & Myrrh chocolate 72% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.24 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 196 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Gold Frankincense & Myrrh 72% chocolate (bar) was from Chocolarder (Falmouth, Cornwall, U.K.).

This seasonal bar was made from bean-to-bar using Peruvian cacao, tree resins from the province of Kenitra in Morocco, and gold leaf. 

For all its shimmering beauty, gold is an inert element that imparts no flavor that I'm aware of. However, this dark chocolate was dressed for an evening out, with sparkling flecks of gold (very thin gold leaf/foil pieces) carefully placed in a chocolate mold so that on the finished bar, the gold pieces adorned the company name ("Chocolarder") and some cocoa pods.* 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate; faint diffuse fruit (mild citrus (sweet orange or mild tangerine); and pine or herb-like, aromatic resins (frankincense and myrrh). There was also a very faint (barely detectable but pleasing) cherry cola with sweet herbs soda note in the finish.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Warming aromas of orange and pine needle with undertones of red fruit and green apple."

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, unrefined raw sugar, cocoa butter infused with Frankincense and Myrrh, 23ct gold leaf"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a factory that also handles dairy and tree nuts."

*Typically flavor inclusions are sprinkled on the "back" of a bar, and it was impressive to have all these elements present on one side. Extra luxe (and extra time and care too I imagine).

Firetree - Single-Estate Vanuatu Malekula Island 72% Cocoa (thins) - Jan. 24, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Firetree
Single Estate Vanuatu Malekula Island 72% Cocoa (thins)
Good ++
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 5.9 oz. (150 g.) in total box of 25 thins 
Calories: 204 calories in 6 thins
Cost: $35.00 for 1 box of 25 pieces
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Single Estate Vanuatu Malekula Island 72% Cocoa (Rich Volcanic Chocolate Thins) were from Firetree Chocolate Limited (Peterborough, United Kingdom). 

Firetree offers chocolates from a variety of island nations, including the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. And the "Firetree" name is linked to the flame-hued colors of cocoa pods and the fiery volcanic origins of many islands.

Aroma and flavor notes for these smooth-textured, ultra-thin rounds included: rich chocolate (cocoa) with a well-managed roastiness and very faint earth; and faint, diffuse fruit.

Some heavy roast notes can seem overdone (too smoke-y); and some earth notes can taste a bit off (too compost-y). But both these aspects seemed in character with the cacao origins of today's chocolate, i.e. the dark, porous volcanic soils where these cacao beans and trees grew in Vanuatu.

Just as terroir comments show up in wine and coffee tasting notes, the jumbled lava rocks that break down into soils and black sand beaches (seen also in the Big Island of Hawaii in the U.S.) can contribute to detectable flavors in the fermented and roasted cacao seeds (beans) that we enjoy later.

Texture: ultra-thin rounds allowed full access to the flavors and gave one a prolonged opportunity to enjoy the lingering, almost creamy finish that was also present in yesterday's featured 100% Vanuatu bar from Firetree.  

Maker's Tasting Notes: "...Cherry, soft lemon and white grape aromas give an essence of lush fruit."

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, unrefined sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin. 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts, milk and soya."

Firetree - 100% Cacao Single-Estate Vanuatu Malekula Island (bar) - Jan. 23, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Firetree
100% Cocoa Single Estate Vanuatu Malekula Island (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 209.3 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 100% Cocoa Single Estate Vanuatu Malekula Island (bar) was from Firetree Chocolate Limited (Peterborough, United Kingdom). 

This creamy, relatively smooth, ultra-dark chocolate -- made with just one ingredient -- had aroma and flavor notes that included: rich cocoa; smooth mineral; very faint toast and (red) fruit jam sandwich cooked over a campfire; and barely detectable, naturally sweet green (almost mild nut) botanical notes.

Texture: Relatively thick, creamy/cocoa buttery melt and mouthfeel, with a satisfying, extended finish.

This was a polished, well-executed 100% cacao, ultra-dark bar without ultra-rough edges. The bitterness was well balanced and almost enjoyable. I found the lack of sugar to be refreshing. 

Terroir influences flavors (with wine grapes, cacao, coffee and other crops). Firetree's "rich volcanic cocoa" tagline reminded me of the mineral-rich dark sand and soil of other cacao-growing islands (like the Big Island of Hawaii).

Not everyone shares my appreciation for single ingredient (unsweetened) chocolates, much less a whole side-by-side tasting flight of different 100%ers. However, if you're so inclined, today's 100% Vanuatu bar belongs in such a tasting.

Ingredients: 100% Cocoa mass

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of nuts and milk.