La Fermiere - Chocolate Creme Dessert - Oct. 19, 2025

Chocolate of the Day 

La Fermiere 
Chocolate Creme Dessert
Good ++
Weight: 4.4 oz. (125 g.) in one glass container
Calories: 260 calories in 1 serving/container
Cost: $3.79 for 1 container
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's chilled Chocolate Creme Dessert was distributed by La Fermiere* Inc. (Jersey City, NJ). It was made "in the U.S. with U.S. and imported ingredients "-- using a French recipe and single origin 73% chocolate from Vietnam.

Texture: Creamy, almost silken, and substantial. (It was thicker, creamier than a chocolate mousse; and it contained real cream and egg(s).)

Flavor notes included: chocolate pot-de-creme, flavorful milk chocolate, very slightly nutty cocoa.

I liked that this (baked), chilled "naturally French" chocolate dessert was made using a French recipe, using a short list of (gluten free) quality ingredients. I appreciated the use of single origin chocolate and the lack of vegetable oils and gums, emulsifiers and other extra ingredients.

Ingredients: Pasteurized Whole Milk, Pasteurized Cream, Dark Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, natural vanilla flavoring), Pasture-raised Eggs (whole eggs, citric acid), Cane Sugar, Tapioca Starch.

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk, Eggs. Made in a facility that uses coconut and pistachios."

*La Fermiere means the lady farmer. The company was "born in 1952 in Provence" (France). Yogurts and desserts in the U.S. are made in New York.

Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat - Ca Phe Sua Vietnamese Coffee Milk Chocolate 44% - Oct. 18, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat 
Ca Phe Sua Vietnamese Coffee Milk Chocolate 44% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .8 oz. (24 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.17 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

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

Today's Ca Phe Sua Vietnamese Coffee Milk Chocolate 44% (bar) was made by Marou Chocolate in Vietnam. 

What's the French connection? Marou was founded in 2011 by two Frenchmen, Samuel Maruta and Vincent Mourou. Also, a French missionary is credited with having first brought coffee to Vietnam in 1857; and coffee became a significant crop under French colonial rule. (Vietnam still produces 40% of the world's Robusta coffee beans.)

Aroma notes included: fragrant coffee/mocha.

This sweet, milky dark chocolate bar just the right amount of quality coffee (Robusta from Vietnam); very faint warm spice (cardamom, cinnamon); and barely detectable, diffuse, dried fruit (cacao pulp, sweet, mild kumquat + tamarind) notes.

What did I like? The smaller size was great. It was as satisfying as a small cup of espresso and milk. No need for more. I also liked that the coffee was incorporated into the chocolate. (I did not miss the coffee grit.) And I appreciated the short list of quality ingredients.

Ingredients: Cane sugar, cacao butter, whole milk powder, cacao nibs, coffee. Cacao content: 44%.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Eggs, Cashews, Peanuts and Coconut."

*Robusta is one of the two main species of coffee we encounter. (The other is Arabica.) Like the Forastero variety of cacao, Robusta coffee has a reputation for bolder flavor and for being more disease resistant. However the flavor was quite smooth. And perhaps because of the higher level of sugar and the smooth cacao, I found the coffee flavor to be almost delicate.

A. Morin - Vietnam Thanh Long Noir 70% (bar) - Oct. 15, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

A. Morin
Vietnam Thanh Long Noir 70% (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 294 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate & France Theme Week.

Today's Vietnam Thanh Long Noir 70% (bar) was from SAS Chocolaterie A. Morin (Donzere, France). This company has been handed down from father to son since its inception in 1884.

The cacao used to make this bar was from the Ben Tre region of Vietnam, south of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The area is nestled between branches of the mighty Mekong River.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate (chocolate-y hot cocoa); faint nut and even fainter spice and diffuse red fruit (jam).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate

I appreciated the smoothness and fullness of this balanced, chocolate-y bar that had just enough gentle complexity (chocolate-y cocoa, nut and fruit) to make it very satisfying.

Maker's tasting notes: "acidule et epice tres agreable en bouche " Translation into English: "...this cocoa turns into an acidulous and spicy chocolate, very pleasant on the palate."

Ingredients: Cocoa beans from Vietnam, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin. Cocoa: 70% minimum.

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

Maison Vietnam Marou - Happy Holidays with Merry Cacao Dark Milk Chocolate 48% & Rum Raisin (bar) - Oct. 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maison Vietnam Marou
Happy Holidays with Merry Cacao Dark Milk Chocolate 48% & Rum Raisin (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 187 calories in 32 g. serving of bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cacao, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Vietnam Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate & France Theme Week.

Today's Happy Holidays with Merry Cacao Dark Milk Chocolate 48% & Rum Raisin (bar) was from Maison Vietnam Marou (Vietnam); and Imported by A. Priori Specialty Food (Salt Lake City, UT).

I can thank France for today's bar. French colonists are credited with bringing cacao to Vietnam in the 1800s (although the Spanish introduced many new world foods to Asia before then). 

However, there were obstacles to overcome. Crops from Europe and the Americas (notably coffee) experienced greater success than cacao. (Later, the Vietnam War destroyed many cacao trees and other crops.) 

Happily, the global growth of the craft chocolate movement in the early 2000s launched many new global ventures. French chocolate makers/pioneers Samuel Maruta and Vincent Mourou breathed life into single origin Vietnam chocolate production when they founded Marou Chocolate in Vietnam in 2011.

Aroma notes for today's rum raisin chocolate (a blend of New and Old world traditions) included: dark milk chocolate, fruit (currant, raisin) and very faint (likely imagined) warm spices.

Texture: smooth and relatively creamy, with bits of rum-soaked dried fruit (raisins).

Flavor notes included: creamy dark milk chocolate. (It was darker, but smoother than many dark milk chocolates.) The creamy dark milk chocolate with the additional warmth from the bits of rum-soaked raisins made this bar even more appealing in the cooler weather.

Ingredients: Dark milk chocolate 48% (cacao nibs, cane sugar, whole milk powder, cacao butter (90%), rum (5%), raisins (5%)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk. Manufactured in a facility that also processes: wheat, milk, eggs, peanuts, coconut"

 

The Organic House - Brazil Nuts & Date Slats 70% Vietnam dark chocolate with Brazil nuts and dates - Oct. 13, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House 
Brazil Nuts & Date Slats 70% Vietnam dark chocolate with Brazil nuts and dates
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 2 servings (1/2 pkg.)
Cost: $10.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Organic House, online order

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

Today's Brazil Nuts & Date Slats 70% Vietnam dark chocolate with Brazil nuts and dates "slats" were from The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada) -- bean-to-bar (and confection) craft chocolate makers.

The cacao used to make this bar was from Vietnam.

Aroma notes for these substantial chocolate shards included: chocolate; sweet (dried) fruit (date); and very faint (pomegranate) molasses, nut and biscuit.

Texture: thick bites of dark chocolate; softly crunchy Brazil nuts pieces; and softly chewy slices of date.

I enjoyed the hearty flavors and textures. The 70% dark chocolate had a hearty satisfying taste with balanced bitterness. And the rich, sweet dates and classic, very slightly earthy Brazil nut flavors harmonized well with this Vietnam dark chocolate. And, the coconut flower nectar added some brown sugar like warmth.

I appreciated the short list of quality, organic ingredients and single origin (Vietnam) 70% dark chocolate. This was much more flavorful and fun than most chocolate bark with fruit and nut confections (that I find so sweet that I can barely taste any of the ingredients, other than the refined sugar(s)).

Ingredients: "Organic cacao beans, Organic medjool dates, Organic brazil nuts, Organic coconut flower nectar, Organic cacao butter, Organic sea salt"

Allergen-related information: "May contain: Almonds, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios" 

Belvie Chocolate Maker - Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Coffee-Mint-Nibs Trinitario (bar) - Oct. 12, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Belvie Chocolate Maker
(Socala Ca-phe Sua bae ha (bar))
Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Coffee-Mint-Nibs Trinitario (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Coffee-Mint-Nibs Trinitario (bar) was from Belvie Chocolate Maker (Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).

The Trinitario variety cacao beans used to make this chocolate were from Dong Nai province.

Aroma notes included: sweet dark chocolate, coffee and mint candy; with very faint fruit and warm spice/cookie (vanilla).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a satisfying melt with tiny, crunchy bits of coffee. (The coffee bean bits were just the right size, and were not too hard. Thank you!) 

Flavor notes included: smooth, relatively sweet dark chocolate, coffee latte--and chocolate and vanilla mint (cookie-like notes). (Note: there was no vanilla listed in the ingredients; but it did have that pleasant, warm (almost floral) flavor.) 

The milk in this bar was quite subtle; and it added a bit of creamy texture and a little natural, mellow sweetness.

I enjoyed trying this coffee and sweet chocolate dessert; it was like a dessert parfait all in one bar.

Ingredients: "Cacao & Cacao Butter 55%, Milk Powder, Coffee, Mint Extract, Cane Sugar: 45%"

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.

Belvie Chocolate Maker - Kumquat Dark Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Trinitario (bar) - Oct. 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Belvie Chocolate Maker
Kumquat Dark Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Trinitario (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Kumquat Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Trinitario (bar) was from Belvie Chocolate Maker (Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam).

The Trinitario cacao beans used to make this bar were ("purchased directly from planters on an above fair trade price...") from Dong Nai province, "a highly inland area underlaid by volcanic rock, (that) supports cacao plantations on its low-lying slopes as well as its valley..."

Aroma notes included: chocolate (cocoa) slightly floral matcha latte; light fruit (banana, aromatic citrus); and barely detectable marshmallow. 

Texture: relatively smooth, with barely detectable fruit particles (kumquat peel powder). These particles were almost entirely incorporated into the chocolate.

Flavor notes included: smooth-flavored, sweet chocolate with diffuse tropical fruits (gentle, sweet citrus, banana) and very faint matcha latte marshmallow.

I enjoyed tasting this 55% dark milk chocolate--that lacked a heavy milk or cream flavor or texture,  allowing the light, aromatic fruit to shine.

Ingredients: "Cacao & Cacao Butter 55%, Cane Sugar 25%, Milk Powder (20%), Kumquat Peel Powder"

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk." 

Ranger Chocolate - 75% Vietnam Ben Tre (bar) - Oct. 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate

75% Vietnam Ben Tre (bar)
Good ++

Weight: 1.25 oz. (32 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 194 calories for 1 bar

Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ranger Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 75% Vietnam Ben Tre (bar) was from Ranger Chocolate (Batch #13) (Portland, OR).

Aroma and flavor notes included: pleasant, smooth, naturally sweet chocolate with very faint warm spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, root beer, molasses); dried fruits (fig, date); and barely-there vanilla notes.

Texture: This relatively thick bar broke with a well-tempered snap; the smooth, dark chocolate had a relatively creamy texture and melt.

Note: Apologies to the maker. I enjoyed this well-executed bar after the likely expiration date. While it still tasted fine to me, I may have missed out on some notes/qualities that were beyond their best. 

Maker's tasting notes: "dried fig, nutmeg, molasses"

"Two ingredients: organic cacao, organic cane sugar"

Allergen-related information: (labeled as Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free)

The Organic House - Vietnam Dak Lak Cacao Vanilla Bean and Sea Salt 60% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 9, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House 
Vietnam Dak Lak Cacao Vanilla Bean and Sea Salt 60% Cacao (bar) 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 293 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Organic House, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week.

Today's Vietnam Dak Lak Cacao Vanilla Bean and Sea Salt 60% Cacao (bar) by The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada).

The cacao used to make this bar was from Dak Lak--a mountainous province in the Central Highlands of  Vietnam. (Sourced from T-BROS chocolate makers in Vietnam.*)

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: chocolate, light and bright botanical (fruit, banana floral--all infused with vanilla (and to a lesser extent vanilla marshmallow and vanilla coconut flower nectar/sugar).

Texture: This relatively thin dark chocolate bar had an almost velvety smooth melt and mouthfeel, and a fleeting texture from the generous dusting of fleur de sel flakes (if you can detect the delicate salt flakes before they quickly melt and disappear).

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate with an uplifting chorus of sweet, almost floral flavors--buoyed by vanilla and coconut floral nectar. These more angelic notes were tempered with sea salt, faint smoke, and balanced, flavorful dark chocolate with medium (diffuse fruit) acidity and low-medium bitterness.

I enjoyed the texture and the lively mix of aromas and flavors in this bar. (Even though the vanilla and salt almost stole the show.) Almost everyone enjoys a gravity-defying vanilla uplift--especially warming and welcoming as the weather turns cooler.

Many chocolates have very similar aroma and flavor notes. But single origin chocolates (especially those with certain teas/herbs, coffee, fruits, flowers, spirits and authentic vanilla bean flavor inclusions) often call for additional aroma details. My advice: smell chocolates before eating them, or you may miss something very unique and special. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Vanilla bean and maple with light notes of cherry, lemon, orange, and mocha."

Ingredients: "Vietnam Dak Lak cacao beans, Coconut flower nectar, Ontario maple sugar, Peru cacao butter, Vanilla beans, Sea salt"

Allergen-related information: "May contain: Almonds, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios"

*T-BROS (aka TBROS), a bean-to-bar chocolate company, was founded in 2017 by two friends and classmates, Truong Minh Thang and Nguyen Duy Thong. They direct source cacao from farms/farmers and focus on "meticulous post-harvest cacao processing" -- resulting in award-winning chocolate bars.

Marou - So Co La Den 100% Single Origin Vietnam Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 12, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat
100% Single Origin (Vietnam) Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 100% Single Origin Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Marou Chocolate (Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat), based in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.

It's worth noting up front, this ultra-dark single origin bar was crafted using one single ingredient (cocoa nibs).

Aroma notes included: subtle cocoa, dark chocolate, and very faint botanical (barely detectable floral (orchid); very faint, diffuse fruit; nut)

Flavor notes included: dark, unsweetened chocolate; subtle, unfolding fruit (pomegranate, tangerine, green fig) and fruit (pomegranate-date) molasses; and very faint nut (Brazil). 

When I take a bite of a 100% cacao bar, I brace myself for the probable disconnect between the friendly cocoa aroma--that my brain associates with something sweet--and the bitterness that may follow. There wasn't that kind of jolt this time. 

Yes, this chocolate was bitter (unsweetened), but not too bitter (or sour). It had some natural sweetness to it; and the feel of a high-quality, well-managed chocolate. This was a pleasant dragon, with gently complex cacao flavors.

Ingredients: Cocoa nibs

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Coconut"

SOMA Chocolate maker - Tien Giang, Vietnam dark chocolate 70% (bar) - Oct. 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

SOMA chocolatemaker 
Tien Giang, Vietnam dark chocolate 70% (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week--a week with some excellent single origin bars made from cacao grown in southern Vietnam.

Today's Tien Giang*, Vietnam dark chocolate 70% (bar) was from SOMA chocolatemaker (Toronto, ON, Canada). The cacao beans used for this bar came from Marou Faisseurs de Chocolat in Vietnam.**

Aroma notes for this deliciously dark bar included: rich, deep dark chocolate; faint, earthy molasses and botanicals (maple, warm spices).

The texture was smooth and uniform.

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate with bold cocoa shimmering with subtle dark complexity (faint, balanced earth; faint, fleeting dark, sweet berries; and faint molasses and warm spice). 

Bold and dark, yet also subtle and complex. These adjectives rarely converge in one chocolate. And oh what a beautiful, well orchestrated, convergence it was. The cacao was excellent, and so was the implementation.

This three-ingredient bar embraced the best traits cacao has to offer (across different varieties). The deep almost earthy boldness of a Forastero variety, the flavor and tart-sweet fruit of a Trinitario variety, and the beautiful complexity of a heritage/heirloom (South American) cacao (Criollo, Chuao and perhaps Nacional). 

Even the choice of organic cane sugar seemed just right. The cacao was already, inherently deep and dark. I'm always curious about what darker versions of bars would have tasted like. Not here. Going with a higher cacao percentage in this case--where flavors "darken" with proportionately less sugar--made less sense. And the sugar helped showcase the bright-dark-sweet dark berry/dark cherry fruit flavor notes.

Maker's tasting notes: "cinnamon, wild ginger, cherry jam, Brazil nut."

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts, tree nuts, soy and dairy.

*Tien Giang is one of several cacao-growing provinces in southern Vietnam. The southern part of the country is warmer, and well-suited for cacao trees. Some of the best cacao grows in areas that are close to the coast and the Mekong River delta.

** Marou was founded by Vincent Mourou and Samuel Maruta in Vietnam over a dozen years ago. It's not an exaggeration to say that the Marou team was largely responsible for the Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Weeks on Chocolate Banquet for the past several years. Marou works directly with farmers in at least five provinces in southern Vietnam and makes bean-to-bar chocolates in Vietnam.

The company also has enabled other high-end chocolate makers around the globe to obtain fine Vietnamese cacao for their own single origin Vietnam chocolate offerings--such as today's SOMA chocolatemaker's Tien Giang bar.

Stone Grindz - Ba Ria, Vietnam 70% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Ba Ria, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Today's Ba Ria*, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar) was from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (attractive cocoa with very faint, fleeting and well-balanced fermentation notes; chocolate ganache/frosting).

Both the overall texture and melt were smooth and creamy. 

Flavor notes included: chocolate-y--in the best way possible: smooth, creamy, flavorful with gentle complexity. Very light and smooth bittersweet quality; like excellent drinking chocolate with a long, satisfying creamy finish.

This 70% dark chocolate had a fairly high degree of natural sweetness. The well-executed, authentic and rich flavor(s) balanced the sweetness. Mildly addictive and/or more-ish**. 

I also would have loved to have tried a slightly darker (73%-75%) version of this 70% bar. (One can fantasize; but makers have to make tough choices when they're working with a limited batch of cacao beans.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cocoa butter, organic cane sugar

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

*Ba Ria is one of several cacao-growing provinces in southern Vietnam. Cacao likely first arrived and was cultivated in Vietnam in the 1800s. High-quality, fine cacao from these provinces in recent decades (and the hard work of dedicated people) has enabled a growing number of excellent, small-batch, craft chocolates. (Sadly, I think this Ba Ria bar (and its Dak Lak Vietnam 79% sibling) are already gone/sold out.)

**More-ish is a slang reference to certain sweets, snacks and other foods that tempt a person to over-consume. After one bite/serving, one still feels compelled to eat more...and more. 

I've never experienced this compulsion after eating a big salad--or other higher fiber/protein foods. I'm also fully satisfied after just a few bites of eating darker (80%+ cacao) chocolates. 

But occasionally I find chocolate flavors so divine that I just want to savor and appreciate them just a little longer. Today's chocolate fell more into that category.

Stone Grindz - Dak Lak, (Origin Project) Vietnam 70% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 9, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Dak Lak, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2. oz. (57 g.) (estim.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dak Lak*, Vietnam (The Origin Project) 70% Cacao (bar) was from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Tucson, AZ). 

Aroma notes for this subtle yet flavorful dark chocolate included: chocolate (very attractive cocoa; very faint and balanced cacao fermentation; "barely there" sour milk/yogurt; and very gentle bitterness).

The texture and melt were creamy and almost silky smooth.

Flavor notes in this well-executed Vietnam chocolate included: very pleasing rich cocoa, and very faint diffuse fruit, spice and botanical that all unfolded beautifully as the chocolate melted in my mouth. 

Loved the subtle complexity and balance; and it wasn't too sweet.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cacao butter, organic cane sugar

Allergen-related information included: (No information listed.)

 

Monsoon Chocolate - Ben Tre Vietnam 70% Dark Chocolate - Oct. 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Monsoon Chocolate
Ben Tre Vietnam 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 136 (estim.) calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Monsoon Chocolate, online order 

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

Today's Ben Tre Vietnam 70% Dark Chocolate (Batch #1) was from Monsoon Chocolate (Tucson, AZ).

This chocolate, hand-crafted in the Sonoran desert in the U.S. Southwest, was part of Monsoon's "Origin Series" and was a "...collaboration with the farm workers who grow the (cacao) harvest" in Vietnam. 

The cacao source: Ben Tre Province, in the Mekong River delta--roughly 10.11 degrees Latitude (North of the Equator)--within the geographic Goldilocks zone for cacao trees.*

Aroma notes included: Dark chocolate, light brown/maple sugar, and light, faint sweet green floral.

Texture: Smooth with a very light and balanced, tart-sweet fruit astringency toward the finish.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, very light brown sugar, and a tart-sweet, diffuse blend of ripe fruits (orange, plum, nectarine, pineapple).

The flavors were balanced, and the sweetness had a natural, fruity quality.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (*Certified Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles tree nuts, wheat, milk, eggs and peanuts. May not be suitable for people with allergies to these foods."

*Goldilocks zone refers to an area that is "just right" for certain things to occur. Many factors influence where plants grow (e.g. temperature, weather, soils, altitude, etc.). Cacao trees thrive in temperate rain forests (twenty degrees (latitude) above and twenty degrees below the Equator) around the globe. 

In the U.S., you'll find cacao trees in Hawaii (at the very northern edge of this zone); but, overwhelmingly the bulk of the world's cacao is grown in countries closer to the Equator (e.g. West Africa, Indonesia/SE Asia, and in South and Central America--where cacao trees evolved around 10 million years ago).

 

Little Green Cyclo - Specialty Vietnamese Coffee Plant-Based Mocha beverage - Oct. 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Little Green Cyclo
Specialty Premium Vietnamese Coffee - Plant-based Mocha (beverage)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 3.75 fl. oz. (111 mL) / 7.5 fl. oz. (222 mL) in total container/can
Calories: 45 calories in 1/2 can
Cost: $3.99 for 1 can
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week. 

Today's Mocha plant-based beverage was from Little Green Cyclo (Brisbane, CA). The company, founded in 2010, has built a following around their Vietnamese food in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 2019, the company started gearing up to add new coffee flavors. Happily for us, they weathered the economic changes the Covid-19 pandemic presented and now offer delicious Vietnamese (plant-based) coffees to enjoy.  

Speaking of weather, today was another in a series of 90+ degrees F. (32.2+ C.) days. So this refrigerated coffee/mocha was extra refreshing.

This Mocha coffee beverage was designed to "serve chilled or over ice." Being colder, the aroma notes were a bit more subtle, but still conveyed an attractive rich coffee, cream, and very faint coconut mocha cream scent.

Flavor notes for this mocha beverage included: Rich aromatic coffee (made with robusta and arabica coffee grown in Vietnam), and mocha-light coconut cream.

One can contained a hefty 200 mg of caffeine. Being sensitive to caffeine, I enjoyed a (smaller) 1/2 can portion, even though I would've been delighted to have more.*

Texture: light and creamy (almost fluffy)**. The coconut milk seemed lighter than dairy cream/condensed milk one might usually find. Vegetable gums also contributed to the texture. Shaking the can before opening is recommended. ("Refrigerate after opening. Some coconut milk separation is natural."). I didn't find this to be an issue.

Flavor notes included: rich and satisfying iced coffee + coconut (milk + cream) + chocolate powder (Guittard) with a smidge of vanilla. This drink was made with high-quality ingredients. I enjoyed the highly complementary and subtly complex flavors--and the fact that this mocha wasn't too sweet. 

Ingredients: Filtered Water, Coconut Milk (Coconut Cream, Water), Coffee (Filtered Water, Robusta & Arabica Coffee), Coconut Condensed Milk (Coconut Cream, Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Guar Gum, Sea Salt), Guittard Chocolate Powder (Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Unsweetened Chocolate, Vanilla), Gum Acacia, Gellan Gum, Himalyan Pink Salt, Nitrogen

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. Manufactured in a facility that uses dairy and tree nuts. Vegan, Gluten Free

*Vietnamese coffee is typically made with robusta (or mostly with robusta) coffee, which has more caffeine than arabica coffee. As the name suggests, robusta coffee beans also provide robust and intense flavor. I liked the choice to include a blend of robust and aromatic (arabica) coffee beans from Vietnam.

** This can of coffee contained a small amount of Nitrogen (released with a tiny whisp of aerosol when the can was opened) that can create a smoother (textural) tasting experience. Nitrogen can also help preserve flavors (slow down/prevent oxidation process).

Marou - Coconut Milk Chocolate 53% Popped Rice (bar) - Oct. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat

Coconut Milk Chocolate 53% and Popped Rice (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.20 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Xin chao (hello) and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Coconut Milk Chocolate 53% and Popped Rice (bar) was made by Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat (Ho Chi Minh City), in southern Vietnam.

Aroma notes for this single origin chocolate bar included: authentic coconut (coconut milk), dark chocolate, crisped rice (marshmallow treats) and very faint (likely implied) sweet vanilla wafer/cookie.

This high-end 53% coconut milk chocolate (single serving bar) was wrapped to look like a candy or snack bar (even though the pretty green and gold colors in the packaging signaled something more high-end). But, when I took the first bite, I knew I was on an interesting and lush flavor journey. It was satisfying aggregation of velvety, creamy and crunchy textures.

The flavor notes had more layered depth (and authentic quality) than most coconut and chocolate confections you'll find. These notes included (as advertised/expected) a well-executed, flavorful blend of rich dark chocolate (fudge brownie), sweet coconut (milk) and crispy rice flakes.

Warning: mildly addictive if you like coconut and dark chocolate. Tasted more like a darker chocolate, while at the same time being approachable for milk chocolate fans. 

Ingredients: Cacao nibs, cane sugar, coconut milk powder (coconut milk, glucose syrup), popped rice, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. Manufactured in a facility that also processes milk, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs.

Solstice Chocolate - 70% Dak Nong Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate, Inc.
70% Dak Nong Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Solstice Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Dak Nong Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT). Solstice is a small batch, craft chocolate maker that offers a variety of single origin chocolate bars.

The cacao used to make this 70% dark chocolate was grown in Dak Nong province, located in the central highlands of southern Vietnam.

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate included: dark chocolate (fudge, dark ganache), dried fruit (prune, date), very faint green earth, and fleeting and faint sweet almond marzipan and mocha (very faint roasted coffee). 

This chocolate yielded a smooth, almost silky texture with a relatively rapid, melt.

The flavors were subtle and pleasing, starting with relatively uniform, slightly fruity dark chocolate (fudge brownie) notes that lingered lightly into the finish. There were also very faint, fleeting flickers of subtle green floral, and honey-drizzled fruit (pear, dragon fruit, and white wine grape raisin). 

Thank you to the farmers, fermentery, and of course Solstice chocolate maker(s), for the enjoyable tasting experience, especially the layered and delicate flavor and fruit nuances in this single origin (Vietnam) chocolate. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Prunes, Raisins, Marzipan"

Ingredients: Cacao Bean, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a tree nut, peanut, gluten, dairy and soybean free facility." 

Solstice Chocolate - 70% Ben Tre Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate, Inc.
70% Ben Tre Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Solstice Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Ben Tre Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT).

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate were subtle, very faint and fleeting oxalis (tart lemony green), diffuse, mild poached fruit with light warm spice (cinnamon, very faint licorice), and mocha notes. 

This well-tempered chocolate yielded a smooth, almost silky texture.

The flavor was pleasing and relatively uniform, with slightly fruity dark chocolate (brownie) notes that flowed gently into the finish. There were also very faint, fleeting flickers of balanced earth, yogurt and honey-drizzled pear (in the re-tasting of this bar a few hours later).

Maker's tasting notes: "Pear, Dates, Cinnamon"

Ingredients: Cacao Bean, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a tree nut, peanut, gluten, dairy and soybean free facility."

White Label Chocolate - Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar) - Oct. 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label Chocolate
Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information; part of a large, multi-bar purchase
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA) 

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

Today's Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar) was from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA*).

Ben Tre Province is located in the Mekong River delta area of southern Vietnam, southwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: faint warm spice and molasses, cocoa and dried fruits (date, raisin, prune).

The well-tempered chocolate had a smooth texture and even melt.

Flavor notes were relatively complex and interesting and included: green, molasses, spice (star anise), and dark chocolate (ganache) -- flavors that mellowed and became more integrated in the finish.

Maker's tasting notes: "Brown spice, raisin, molasses"

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter

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

*Note: Mutari Chocolate, the cozy, single story retail store on Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz that served drinking chocolates, confections, and chocolate bars, closed shortly after this Vietnam bar was purchased (Feb. 2022), due to a large multi-story building project in that location. The company is planning to re-open at another location.

Seahorse Chocolate - Vietnam Ben Tre 70% (bar) - Oct. 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Seahorse Chocolate
Vietnam Ben Tre 70% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Seahorse Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Vietnam Ben Tre 70% (bar) was from Seahorse Chocolate (Bend, OR). The company developed their roasting expertise with specialty coffee. They drum roast small batches of cacao and offer a line of bean-to-bar chocolates.

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: sweet, fresh green, green sugars, sweet berry pie, dark chocolate, and very faint vanilla tobacco.

Rich, smooth chocolate flavors included dark chocolate (ganache, torte), brown sugars, very faint molasses, tart-sweet berry jam and very faint fresh berry yogurt.

Maker's tasting notes: Blueberry, graham cracker

Ingredients: Cocoa beans and organic sugar.

Allergen-related information: (Vegan, Gluten-Free)