Hana Gold - Maui Grown 72% Dark Chocolate with Ginger (bar) - Apr. 20, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hana Gold
Maui Grown 72% Dark Chocolate with Ginger (bar)

Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 233 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hana Gold, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Cardamom and Ginger Theme Week.

Today's Hana Gold Maui Grown 72% Dark Chocolate with Ginger (Batch #247) bar was distributed by Hana Gold Farm (Hana Highway, Maui, HI).

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate with balanced earth (faint peat) and bold chocolate-y notes--interspersed with generously-sized pieces of chewy, authentically spicy ("local") ginger.

I liked that this chocolate was: 1.) made with flavorful cacao and ginger, 2.) crafted with Hawaiian cacao and with just 3 ingredients, 3.) not too sweet, and 4.) bold but not too bitter.

Ingredients: Hana Gold cacao, organic cane sugar, organic ginger

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy.

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao "Grown in Maui" (bar) - Apr. 3, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao "Grown in Maui" (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao "Grown in Maui" (bar) was manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

This dark bar was made using locally grown cacao. from Maui. It's also a rare example of a "made in country" (from tree to bar in the U.S.) chocolate. Hawaii is a special place in many respects; it's also one of the only U.S. states with the optimal climate and soils to support cacao trees.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with sweet green botanical; subtle diffuse tropical fruit (mango) and date), faint floral and barely detectable ripe white wine grapes/cacao pulp.

This 70% chocolate had a rich, balanced and authentic dark chocolate flavor with bright, diffuse tropical fruit (mango, cacao pulp, sweet white wine grapes) notes; and faint, fleeting floral oolong tea and then more fruit in the relatively long finish.

Goldilocks zone achieved. (It was not too strong, bitter or sweet. It was just right.) The chocolate was full of sophisticated, subtle flavors; and it had a pleasing natural fruit sweetness* rather than a sugar-y sweetness (thank you!). 

I really enjoyed the balanced complexity and natural bright fruit sweetness in this Hawaiian dark chocolate--thoughtfully made with just three ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: "Tropical fruits, delicate cocoa, lingering fruit & wine notes."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter

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

*These flavor notes were consistent with the cacao varieties listed. "Cacao varieties: Classic Trinitario, Upper Amazon mix, ancient Criollo, novel hybrids."

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 65% and Dark Milk 60% (squares) - Apr. 2, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate

Dark Chocolate 65% square
Good ++
Weight: .18 oz. (5 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 28.3 calories in 1 square
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 dark and milk assortment box
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Dark Milk Chocolate 60% square
Good ++
Weight: .18 oz. (5 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 30 calories in 1 square
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 dark and milk assortment box
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate 65% and Dark Milk Chocolate 60% squares--manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI)--were part of an attractively-packaged 48-piece dark chocolate and dark milk assortment of individually-wrapped squares.

Dark Chocolate 65% square

Aroma and flavor notes for this smooth-textured 65% dark chocolate included: dark chocolate (dark ganache/torte, cocoa); slightly acidic but balanced fruit (citrus); and barely detectable balanced, bittersweet, cream, clean mineral and fleeting floral/oolong tea notes.

Dark Milk Chocolate 60% square

Aroma and flavor notes for this creamy, smooth-textured dark milk 60% square included: rich, creamy (hot chocolate/drinking chocolate), nuanced (and very slightly milk-buffered) cacao complexity.

What did I like? The genuine robust, well-balanced and gently complex cacao/dark chocolate flavors in the dark chocolate square; and the rich taste and creaminess (with cacao flavor depth) in the dark milk chocolate 60% version. 

Both these chocolates were good. The former was well-executed, flavorful and not too sweet (thank you!); and the latter is a dark milk chocolate that I think will likely please both dark and milk chocolate lovers.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter. The Dark Milk 60% version also contained Milk. 

Allergen-related information: The Dark Milk Chocolate 60% square contained Milk. "Soy, nut and gluten free."

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Milk Chocolate 60% Calamansi (square) - Apr. 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
Dark Milk Chocolate 60% Calamansi (square)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in a total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 60 calories in 2 squares 
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 box of 48 pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dark Milk Chocolate Calamansi 60% Cacao squares were manufactured in Hawaii by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI). 

Company founder and CEO Gunar Valkirs set up a farm with the intent to share net profits with the community, and they have done so. They offer chocolates (like this one) made using cacao from Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador--and chocolates made with Hawaiian cacao.

Today's individually-wrapped chocolates (squares) were part of a attractive, 48-piece assortment box featuring 1/2 Dark Chocolates and 1/2 Dark Milk Chocolates--almost all with different flavor infusions.

There was also a darker sibling (Dark Chocolate 65% Calamansi) square in this assortment. However, because I'd already featured the dark chocolate 65% version (in a Chocolate and Lime themed week), the Dark Milk 60% version appears by itself today.

Aroma notes for this dark milk chocolate included: subtle dark milk chocolate (cream) and citrus (lime).

Texture: smooth and relatively creamy

Flavor notes included: subtle dark milk chocolate and aromatic, sweet lime + lemon natural flavoring. The latter lingered into a long sweet citrus finish (slightly bittersweet lime + lemon candy/soft drink).

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Milk, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors."  

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - 65% Dark and 60% Dark Milk Peppermint (squares) - Mar. 30, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Peppermint 65% (square) - Good +
2.) Dark Milk Peppermint 60% (square) - Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $58.50 for 1 box of 48 pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Peppermint 65% and Dark Milk Chocolate Peppermint 60% (squares) were manufactured in Hawaii by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

The company offers chocolates made with cacao from Ecuador, and cacao grown locally in Hawaii. And they have a retail store and cafe that looks like it would be fun to visit.

These two individually-wrapped chocolates (squares) were part of a large, thoughtfully designed assortment box featuring both Dark Chocolates and Dark Milk Chocolates--most with flavor infusions. 

Dark Chocolate Peppermint 65% (square)

Aroma and flavor notes for this creamy smooth dark chocolate square included: relatively bold but balanced chocolate-y chocolate infused with robust peppermint flavoring.

Dark Milk Peppermint 60% (square) 

Aroma and flavor notes for this dark milk 60% chocolate included satisfying dark milk chocolate with a mint (peppermint) flavoring. The milk added a creamy texture and helped buffer the "natural flavoring" a bit.

Normally I prefer dark chocolate over milk chocolate, but the milk in the Dark Milk Chocolate won out this time.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors. Dark Milk Chocolate also contained Milk.

Allergen-related information: Dark Milk Chocolate contains Milk.  

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - 65% Dark Chocolate Mango & 60% Dark Milk Mango (squares) - Mar. 29, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Mango 65% Cacao (square) - Good + 
Dark Milk Chocolate Mango 60% Cacao (square) - Good +
Weight for 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) in 2 squares/ 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $58.50 for 1 box of 48-pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's individually-wrapped Dark Mango and Dark Milk Mango squares were from Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

Dark Chocolate Mango square

Aroma notes for the smooth-textured, Dark Chocolate 65% cacao square included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate, light cream and faint fruit.

Flavor notes included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate, bright tropical fruit (mango flavoring) with a slight bitterness in the finish. (I'm not sure if the bitterness was caused by the mango "natural flavors" added or whether it was from the cacao. It's not been present with other flavors tried so far in this assortment box.)

Dark Milk Mango square

Aroma and flavor notes included for the 60% Dark Milk Chocolate included: smooth, creamy milk chocolate, tropical fruit (mango) flavoring. The slight bitterness in the finish that was present in the 65% dark version was slightly muted by the milk in this square.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors. (The Dark Milk square also contained Milk.)

Allergen-related information: The Dark Milk square contained Milk. "Soy, nut and gluten free"   

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Maui Mokka Coffee (dark, dark milk squares and milk chocolate bar) - Mar. 28, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate

Dark Chocolate 2% Maui Mokka(R) Coffee 63% (square) - Good ++ 
Dark Milk Chocolate 2% Maui Mokka (R) Coffee 58% Cacao (square) - Good ++
Weight for 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) in 2 squares/ 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $58.50 for 1 box of 48-pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Milk Chocolate Maui Mokka Cappuccino 55% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1 bar 
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's two-individually-wrapped chocolate squares: 1.) Dark Chocolate (square) and 2.) dark milk chocolate (square); and one full-sized Milk Chocolate Cappuccino (bar) were from Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

Dark Chocolate Mokka Coffee 63% (square)

Aroma notes for this 63% cacao dark square included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate with warm spice and coffee

Smooth, soft, very slightly gummy chewy that quickly resolved into creamy dark chocolate with relatively low acidity (chocolate and coffee) and bitterness. 

Flavor notes included: sweet, smooth dark chocolate, faint coffee, warm spice, and almost undetectable sweet herbal. There was also some faint sweet coffee/mocha in the finish.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Coffee

Allergen-related information: "Soy, nut and gluten free"  

Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Coffee 58% (square)

This 58% dark milk square with 2% Maui Mokka Coffee square had very similar warm aroma and flavor notes as the Dark chocolate version, but with a creamier (milk) taste and texture.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Milk, Cocoa Butter, Coffee 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk "Soy, nut and gluten free"

Milk Chocolate Maui Coffee 55% (bar)

This 55% Cacao bar had a rich, luxurious milk chocolate aroma, texture and flavor -- with subtle, freshly-made, mocha latte/cappuccino notes.

I enjoyed the gentle complexity and warm flavors in all three of these Maui-made chocolates. 

I liked the higher percentage dark square best because the dark chocolate and flavors were clearer. Milk chocolate lovers will appreciate the luxe, creamy, milky cappuccino-like flavors and textures in the dark milk (square) and the even milkier 55% milk chocolate (bar) featured today.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Milk, Coffee

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.  

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate & Dark Milk Chocolate Lemongrass (squares) - Mar. 27, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Lemongrass 65% (square) - Good ++
2.) Dark Milk Chocolate Lemongrass 60% (square) - Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) in 2 squares / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares 
Cost: $58.50 for Assorted Dark and Dark Milk 48-piece (16 flavor) box
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's individually-wrapped, Dark Chocolate Lemongrass 65% and Dark Milk Lemongrass 60% chocolate (squares) was made in Maui by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao, Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador (bar)

These two lemongrass infused chocolate squares were part of a larger, 48-piece (dark chocolate and dark milk chocolate) assortment box. Each chocolate square was individually-wrapped.

Aroma and flavor notes for the dark chocolate 65% lemongrass-infused squares included: citrus, (herbal lemonade), lemongrass and relatively robust but smooth, almost creamy dark chocolate. 

The 60% dark milk version was creamier and sweeter; and the milk muted some chocolate and lemongrass flavors. (Think rich, creamy gelato.) Milk chocolate fans will enjoy this creamier taste and texture.

I enjoyed the crisper, purer flavors in the darker (65% cacao) version. 

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, (Dark Milk square contained Milk), Natural Flavors.

Allergen-related information: Today's Dark Milk square contained Milk.  

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao, Ecuador (bar) - Mar. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++
2.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (bar) - Good ++
3.) Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++

Weight of 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) for 2 squares / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total 48-piece box
Weight of bar: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 196 calories (estimate) in 1 bar (140 calories) + 2 squares (56 calories (estimate))
Cost: $6.75 (sale) for 1 bar + cost of two squares in a larger $58.50 48-piece assortment box

Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao and Dark Milk Maui Guava (squares and bar) were manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

These chocolates were made in Hawaii using cacao grown in Ecuador* and Hawaiian guava essence. 

Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% (square and bar)

Aroma and flavor notes for the Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao Square included: smooth dark chocolate and fruity, almost floral tropical fruit (red/pink guava and strawberry guava jam). The guava was an extracted fruit essence--completely incorporated into the chocolates (rather than pieces of identifiable guava fruit).

Interestingly, the smaller (individually-wrapped) dark guava 65% square had more guava flavor than the full-sized dark guava 65% bar version. The bar had more pure dark chocolate (less guava); and the smaller, individually-wrapped square had more guava fruit flavors.

Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% (square)

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate, tropical fruit (guava, berries, and guavaberries) with balanced chocolate and tart-sweet fruit flavors (ranging from guava to guavaberry, pineapple and mild herb/spice (faint eucalyptus, warm black pepper, allspice).

Overall, I liked the 1.) authentic and relatively complex guava flavors in the squares best; 2.) smooth, balanced dark flavors that weren't boring or overly sweet. (The very slightly sweeter dark milk 60% version was a true dark milk.) 

I usually don't care for "natural flavors," but today's guava flavors were an exception.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors  (The Dark Milk 60% square contained Milk.)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy (lecithin). "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy.  

*The cacao was grown on a family-owned cacao farm (Costa Esmeraldas) in a northwest coastal province in Ecuador. 

Hana Gold - 72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar) - Mar. 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hana Gold
72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hana Gold, online order

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

Today's 72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar) was distributed by Hana Gold Farm (Hana Highway, Maui, HI).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (faint earth, hops); coffee; and very faint black olive.

Texture: soft, very briefly slightly gummy, then pleasantly creamy once melted. 

Flavor notes included: slightly earthy dark chocolate and coffee (crunchy bits of coffee bean).

The moderately complex flavors were a bit bold and earthy, but also well balanced. I liked the slightly  darker/bolder (yet also smooth) flavors in this three-ingredient bar, as well as the creamy texture that developed over the first few seconds and continued into the finish.

Ingredients: Hana Gold cacao, organic cane sugar, Hana grown coffee.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy."

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Maui Calamansi Lime 65% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 17, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Maui Calamansi Lime 65% Cacao (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Aloha and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Lime Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Calamansi Lime 65% Cacao (bar) was from Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

 

The maker(s) used cacao from Costa Esmeraldas Ecuador. (I associate this growing locale with subtly complex fruit notes.)

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, subtle and complex fruit; and very faint, fleeting spice (floral pepper).

The texture was creamy smooth; with a whipped cream-like melt and mouthfeel. (There was no dairy in this bar.) 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate; delicate, fruit-floral citrus (lemon-lime). 

Calamansi limes are known for their relatively tart citrus flavor. But, I found the flavor in this chocolate to be quite mild and pleasing. The Maui-grown limes that were used were from the CEO's home orchard in Kapalua.*

I really enjoyed the subtle fruit-floral complex flavors and the lovely creamy texture. The choice to pair the Ecuador cacao with the Maui calamansi lime in this well-executed chocolate worked well. Normally when I see "natural flavors" in an ingredients list, I brace myself for synthetic, overly strong, or unpleasant flavors; but not this time.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors 

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on chocolate packaging)

*"...He hand-picks the fruit at full ripeness, vacuum-seals it whole, and freezes it for later processing. Thawed fruit is crushed to extract the juice and bruise the skin to release essential oil. The flavor essence of the juice is infused to complement our 65% dark chocolate."

Valley Isle Chocolate - 70% Oahu North Shore 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 14, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Valley Isle Chocolate 
70% Oahu North Shore 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 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 Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's 70% Oahu North Shore 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Valley Isle Chocolate (Kahului, HI). This family-owned, small batch chocolate maker is located in Maui.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (dark ganache); very faint tropical fruit (pineapple, mango); butter; and honey/honey caramel.

Texture: creamy, cocoa buttery

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache, torte), earth (loam), sweet green (fig, floral vanilla).

The sweetness level was relatively high; the complexity was interesting. 

All four of the Valley Isle chocolates I tried this week had three things in common--most notably a natural/ganache sweetness, creamy/buttery texture, and earth (loam) notes. (All four bars were made with a three-ingredient, 70% cacao chocolate.)

Maker's tasting notes: Raisin, Caramel, Nutty

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar*, Organic Cocoa Butter* 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts"  

Valley Isle Chocolate - Ua Hanai Orchards Hilo Hawaii 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 13, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Valley Isle Chocolate 
Ua Hanai Orchards Hilo Hawaii 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Ua Hanai Orchards Hilo, Hawaii 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Valley Isle Chocolate (Kahului, HI). This small-batch chocolate maker is located in Maui.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (dark ganache; dark, silky fudge), sweet green floral (orchid, vanilla), and very faint cream and soil (loam).

Texture: nice and creamy/cocoa buttery smooth

Maker's tasting notes: Hazelnuts, Cherry and Maple Syrup

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar*, Organic Cocoa Butter* 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts"    

Valley Isle Chocolate - Kona Hawaii 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 12, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Valley Isle Chocolate 
Kona Hawaii 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Kona Hawaii 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Valley Isle Chocolate (Kahului, HI). The company is a bean-to-bar, small-batch chocolate maker located in Maui.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (dark ganache, fudge brownie); faint malt; diffuse, ripe (almost fermenting) fruit (sweet red berry); faint and balanced earth (loam); and a strong sense of natural sweetness--that I sometimes taste with certain less processed (organic) sugars; honey; or other sweet fruit and/or green botanical notes.

Texture: Smooth, with a very, very faint light astringency.

The sweetness for this 70% dark chocolate was relatively (naturally) high, but the organic cane sugar did not diminish the pleasingly subtle and balanced complexity.

Maker's tasting notes: "Raspberry, Malt, Winey"

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar*, Organic Cocoa Butter* 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts"   

Valley Isle Chocolate - Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts & Sea Salt (bar) - Nov. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Valley Isle Chocolate 
Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts and Sea Salt (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Ecuador 70% Dark Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts and Sea Salt was from Valley Isle Chocolate (Kahului, Maui, HI). The cacao was sources from Costa Esmeraldas--a family-owned cacao farm in the Esmeraldas Province of NW Ecuador.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and very nut, faint vanilla, floral, sweet green and tobacco. 

Texture(s) varied from smooth dark chocolate to softly crunchy nut pieces and salt crystals to cocoa buttery melt/mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, sweet green (floral honey, faint green coconut, vanilla).

I enjoyed the subtly complex "green" (botanical) flavors in this single origin, small-batch chocolate bar.

Ingredients: "Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar*, Organic Cocoa Butter*, Macadamia Nuts, Hawaiian Sea Salt" 

Allergen-related information: "Contains Tree Nuts (Macadamia). Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts"

ChocolateBet: February 8, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Maui Specialty Chocolates
Maui Island - Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) total package (estimate)
Calories: 224 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.35 for 1 piece/island
Purchased from: Maui Specialty Chocolates, Kahului, HI

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Hawaii/Islands Theme Week. The island of Maui was featured yesterday, in milk chocolate form; and today's chocolate is the same island (mold), but in dark chocolate.

Molded chocolates are generally formulated for looks (smooth firm surfaces) and staying power, vs. being optimized for maximum taste (which I sometimes associate with softer, more rustic or textured variations on dark bars). That said, this wasn't bad. With this aerial view of Maui, it was easy to imagine coming in for a landing at Kahului airport in Hawaii. Aloha.

ChocolateBet: February 7, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Maui Specialty Chocolates
Milk Chocolate - Island of Maui
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 225 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.35 for 1 island/package
Purchased from: Maui Specialty Chocolates, Kahului, HI

$2.35 is not bad for a whole island -- especially if that island is Maui, one of the Hawaiian islands in the beautiful and vast Pacific Ocean. I'd been hoarding this island in my chocolate vault -- so I could bring it out and enjoy it, in the depths of the California winter. Don't laugh, we really do have winter here.

Biting into his molded, milk chocolate island from Maui Specialty Chocolates (Kahului, HI) yielded a hard snap. The texture was smooth, and not bad for a molded chocolate. Aloha.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Hawaii/Islands Theme Week.