Goodnow Farms - Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar) - July 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 330 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $17.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). This dark chocolate bar was made using Nicaragua El Carmen cacao and Burlap & Barrel's Zanzibar Black Peppercorns.

Aroma notes for this Limited Release dark bar included: hearty, deep, dark chocolate and authentic black pepper.

Texture: Very smooth and creamy texture (the makers made (pressed) and used their own single origin cocoa butter). There were no detectable pepper pieces ("ground peppercorn grit")--only flavor(s).

Flavor notes included: relatively bold, smooth chocolate-y dark chocolate with faint, diffuse, acidic fruit (ripe earthy berry, plum, persimmon); faint tart-green lemon (oxalis); very faint nut; and authentic black pepper.

I enjoyed the complex aroma and flavor notes in this bar, and the use of 77% single origin Nicaragua cacao (and single origin cocoa butter) as well as the Zanzibar pepper.

Maker's tasting notes: "...an exotic flavor journey: sharp, lemony-pepper tang, mild heat and smooth, earthy dark chocolate."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Zanzibar Black Pepper

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

Chamisa Chocolate - Zanzibar 61% dark blend bar - Sept. 7, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chamisa Chocolate
Zanzibar 61% dark bar with coconut and ginger
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (30 g.) / 2 oz. (60 g.) (per label) for total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chamisa Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chamisa Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Zanzibar 61% dark blend bar with coconut and ginger was made by Chamisa Chocolate (Santa Fe, NM).

Today's exotic-sounding Zanzibar chocolate bar had a cocoa and coconut aroma, and a creamy texture—thanks to added cocoa butter and coconut milk.

Coconut palm sugar (as well as flecks of ginger and pieces of coconut adorning the back of this bar) gave this chocolate a subtle, sweet, tropical island flavor. The cacao used to make this bar was an organic blend (multiple origins).

As with the other bars this week from this company, the bar had an appealing, restrained sweetness.