The Oakland Chocolate Company - Sorrel Ginger Tea Truffle, Orange Truffle - June 4, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

The Oakland Chocolate Company
Sorrel Ginger Tea Truffle
Good +++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece/truffle
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Company (online order)

Orange Truffle (Vegan)
Good +++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece/truffle
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Company (online order)

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate, Ginger and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Sorrel Ginger Tea Truffle and Orange Truffle were made from bean-to-bonbon (with Jamaican cacao) by Nancy Nadel at The Oakland Chocolate Company, LLC (Oakland, CA).

The Sorrel* Ginger Tea Truffle was covered in smooth dark chocolate and filled with a light, soft, creamy and mild filling (with no chocolate solids). I enjoyed the layers of great, natural flavor. A small piece of candied ginger gave this chocolate some pizazz. Unless you were told what mild leafy vegetable might have been infused into this mix, you'd probably never guess. The sorrel added a very subtle, almost sweet, very light lemon-green/lettuce flavor.

The second chocolate, an Orange Truffle, had a very creamy, satisfying melt and texture. It was also vegan; so the smooth tasting dark chocolate ganache (filling) was not made with traditional cream. It may leave you wondering how was this texture achieved without cream? This dark confection had a natural chocolate and orange aroma and smooth chocolate flavor. A small shred of candied orange peel on top added orange accent flavor. And, this chocolate was not too sweet (thank you!). 

These are my kind of truffles. Hats off to chocolate maker Nancy Nadel for her chocolate making skills and novel, balanced flavor inclusions in her bars and bonbons year after year. (Sorry I missed the Loquat Ginger Jam truffle when I was ordering these truffles online. That would have fit nicely in this week's ginger and citrus line up as well. I am a huge loquat fan.) One can see how living in California, having neighbors with fruit trees and selling chocolates at a Farmer's Market or two over the years can light up a number of fruit and botanical possibilities. But, not every maker would take the next step and actually pursue so many successful flavor blends.

*Sorrel is a leafy vegetable often eaten in salads and used as a cooking herb. Its taste has been likened to green spinach with a hint of lemony, kiwi or wild strawberry tang. The plant's light, sour grass-like tartness is largely from oxalic acid.

Chocolats du CaliBressan - Lotus bonbon - July 22, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolats du CaliBressan
Lotus bonbon
Good+
Weight: .39 oz. (11 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 58.5 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolats du CaliBressan, Santa Barbara, CA

I'm interrupting Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week(s), to feature several chocolates from a recent field trip to Santa Barbara, California.

Last week I visited this beautiful, coastal city where I'd lived for 4 + years earlier in life. Why I ever left is harder to fathom now (the world of work and adventure called). However, why I return there is no mystery. The scenery alone is worth it. And, of course, between the towering blue and beige mountains and the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, there is chocolate.

Chocolats du CaliBressan (Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, CA) has two locations, and is run by a French couple. Jean-Michel Carre calls himself the "French Chocolatier of the American Riviera." The downtown Santa Barbara location is right off State Street, tucked away next to a few other small independent shops, near a fountain with turtles sunning themselves.

Today's Lotus bonbons were attractively displayed in a red lotus bowl in the shop, and this piece was part of an assortment box I purchased. It was filled with a creamy, soft (dark + milk) chocolate ganache infused with lotus stamens and lotus leaf powder; covered in dark chocolate; and adorned with a lotus flower stencil.

The lotus flavor was so subtle that it was difficult to detect, but I enjoyed the thought that I was taking in some part of this flower.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.