Zotter - Gingerbread - Dark Chocolate with spiced filling (bar) - Feb. 25, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Gingerbread - Dark Chocolate with spiced filling (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Gingerbread - Dark Chocolate with spiced filling (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Cape Coral, FL).

The aroma for this organic bar included slightly boozy, spicy (star anise, gingerbread) and chocolate notes.

A thin, dark chocolate shell gave way to a very flavorful, velvety, jammy center (filling) with some chewy textural elements (that felt like coconut shreds, but in fact were thin tender, citrus peel shreds, and very tiny nut bits).

The concentrated, rich, spice fruitcake layer included fig and orange jam, ginger cake and a whisper of rum.

Yes, this bar was sweet; but the rich dark chocolate (and maybe the touch of alcohol) helped balance the sweetness in this complex spice bar.

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa mass; organic and fair trade cane sugar; gingerbread: 12% (rye flour, sugar, lemon peels, orange peels, corn syrup, eggs, honey, butter, milk, hazelnuts, walnuts, cinnamon, gingerbread spices, raising agent: sodium bicarbonate, pimento, nutmeg); organic and fair trade cocoa butter; milk; organic and fair trade rum; organic marzipan (organic almonds, organic sugar, organic invert sugar syrup); organic hazelnuts; honey; organic glucose syrup; dry whole milk; organic fair trade toasted coconut; dry skim milk; organic gingerbread spice (0.2%); organic cinnamon; salt; organic soy lecithin; organic, fair trade dark brown cane sugar; organic vanilla bean powder; organic cardamom; organic star anise. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains eggs, milk, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, coconut, soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts, peanuts and sesame."

Zotter - Oh Thou Joyful Day - Dark chocolate 70% with Marc de Champagne ganache (bar) - Dec. 23, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Oh Thou Joyful Day - Dark chocolate 70% with Marc de Champagne ganache (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's "Oh Thou Joyful Day" Dark chocolate 70% with Marc de Champagne ganache (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

This bar had the aroma of a dark, sinful chocolate dessert (dark chocolate mousse or souffle with spirits).

The filled bar was covered in a relatively bold but smooth, bittersweet 70% cacao dark chocolate. Inside was a chocolate ganache (filling) infused with Marc de Champagne.*

Chocolate blended with an authentic Champagne flourish made for an elegant, spirited dessert for the holidays.

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cocoa mass; organic, fair traded cane sugar; milk; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic Marc de Champagne; organic glucose syrup; butter (cream); dry whole milk; dry skim milk; salt; organic soy lecithin; organic vanilla bean powder.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, and sesame." 

*Marc de Champagne refers to a grape-based, fermented and distilled beverage (French Eau de Vie)/brandy made using grape pomace, in the Champagne region/province of northeastern France. (This bar contained alcohol.)

Hotel Chocolat - Black Cat Martini - Oct. 26, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hotel Chocolat
"Black Cat Martini"
Good+ - Good++
Weight: 1.015 oz. (28.7 g.) / 4.06 oz. (115 g.) in total box of 16 pieces
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) in 4 pieces
Cost: 10 British Pounds (approx. $15 U.S.)
Purchased from: Hotel Chocolat, UK, online order

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Halloween Cocktails Theme Week.

The "Black Cat Martini" chocolate from Hotel Chocolat (UK) was infused with blackcurrant and "liquorice" and had a fairly strong vodka kick. The flavors were authentic and layered, revealing themselves one at a time, which made this filled Halloween cocktail chocolate more intriguing and fun.

Today's Black Cat Martini was the last (of four) different seasonal cocktail chocolates from a Hotel Chocolat "Choose Your Poison" 16-piece assortment box.

Hotel Chocolat - Corpse Reviver - Oct. 25, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hotel Chocolat
"Corpse Reviver"
Good++
Weight: 1.015 oz. (28.7 g.) / 4.06 oz. (115 g.) in total box of 16 pieces
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) in 4 pieces
Cost: 10 British Pounds (approx. $15 US)
Purchased from: Hotel Chocolat, UK, online order

Enter Day #3 of Chocolate and Halloween Cocktails Theme Week, if you dare.

Today's Halloween cocktail-inspired "Corpse Reviver" chocolates from Hotel Chocolat (UK) were part of a "Choose Your Poison" 16-piece assortment box.

These ivory-colored chocolates contained hints of "gin, triple sec, vermouth and blood orange." Inside each Corpse Reviver was a flavorful gin and citrus-infused, white chocolate ganache center.

These creamy fillings were covered in white chocolate and topped with daubs of orange and brown seasonal color—with just enough dark brown to count as a "real"* chocolate.

If you like boozy chocolates, you'd love this whole assortment box, with 4 different chocolate cocktails. I'm going to be sorry after tomorrow when they're gone.

*Cocoa beans are approximately half fat (cocoa butter) and half dark cocoa mass (aka solids or liquor). I normally do not count 100% white chocolates as a chocolate of the day, unless there is some cocoa liquor/solids present—the part that makes chocolate brown. 

The content and images on this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Hotel Chocolat - Green Fairy - Oct. 24, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hotel Chocolat
Green Fairy
Very Good
Weight: 1.015 oz. (28.7 g.) / 4.06 oz. (115 g.) in total box of 16 pieces
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) in 4 pieces
Cost: 10 British Pounds (approx. $15.00 US)
Purchased from: Hotel Chocolat, UK, online order

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Halloween Cocktails Theme Week.

For many years absinthe, an often green concoction of herbs and alcohol, was illegal, primarily due to concerns about one ingredient. Wormwood (or the thejune in wormwood) could cause hallucinations* and other ill effects. Absinthe was also known as the green fairy.

Today's Green Fairy chocolate from Hotel Chocolat (UK) was part of a Halloween cocktail assortment I'm enjoying this week. This dome-shaped filled chocolate, topped with a swirl of yellow and green, contained "a shot of absinthe softened in milk," referring to a creamy milk chocolate, absinthe infused center.

Anise, a key ingredients in absinthe, gave the chocolate a faint hint of licorice. I've never met a green fairy, but I bet she'd like these chocolates.

*The surreal illustration at the right (under four Green Fairy chocolates) is titled "In and Out – Number 5," by digital artist, Earl Einhorn. This artist's work seemed the perfect companion for these chocolates with absinthe. 

The content and images on this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Hotel Chocolat - Zombie - Oct. 23, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Hotel Chocolat
Zombie
Good ++
Weight: 1.015 oz. (28.7 g.) / 4.06 oz. (115 g.) in total box of 16 pieces
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) in 4 pieces
Cost: 10 British Pounds (approximately $15 US)
Purchased from: Hotel Chocolat, UK (online order)

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Halloween Cocktail Theme Week.

I admit it, we're devolving into less and less serious territory by the week here in October. But, it's Halloween.

I ordered a box of "Choose Your Poison" Halloween cocktails with a shot of liquor, from Hotel Chocolat (UK). This spooky assortment of chocolate cocktails included the Black Cat Martini, Corpse Reviver, Green Fairy and the Zombie.

What do I love about this company? Their creative and original chocolates, classy packaging—and the thought that I might one day visit their hotel and plantation on the island of St. Lucia.

Today I had all 4 Zombie* chocolates. And they did indeed taste like tiny boozy zombies—if zombies had creamy centers and were covered in chocolate. Fortunately, I wasn't planning to drive anywhere this morning.

*Hotel Chocolat describes their Zombie chocolates as having "a glug of white rum with orange and passion fruit. 

The content and images on this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Love assortment - Aug. 11, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Imagine Chocolate
(Imagine Flavor, Inc.)
"Love" Gourmet Chocolate Assortment
1.) "Wicked Game" - OK+ - Good
2.) "Love" - OK+ - Good
3.) "Addicted to Love" - OK+ - Good
4.) "Moondance" - Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) for 1/2 of 4 pieces / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) total box of 4 pieces
Calories: 190 calories for 1/2 of 4 pieces
Cost: $5.00 - part of a school music program fund-raiser purchase

Today's 4-piece Imagine Chocolate "Love" box by Imagine Flavor, Inc. (Studio City, CA) was inspired by hit love songs from the late 1900s. The company offered several different assortment boxes that were carefully crafted, cleverly designed and lovingly curated by a music fan(s). "Liner Notes" inside this box gave information about 4 singers/songwriters and their songs, and the corresponding chocolates:

"Wicked Game" (a song by Chris Isaak) in chocolate form was a semi-dark square beauty with a bourbon-infused chocolate pecan center. The bourbon flavor was barely detectable, but added interest. The two nut pieces added some crunchy texture.

The "Love" chocolate (inspired by John Lennon's song of the same title) translated into a semi-dark chocolate with a rum infused center (decorated with red icing). Again, as with the first piece, the alcohol (rum) flavor was very subtle.

Next up was "Addicted to Love" (by Robert Palmer). This chocolate was semi-dark chocolate with a macadamia nut center (topped with white sprinkles).

And last, but not least, was "Moondance" (inspired by Van Morrison's hit). This piece incorporated milk chocolate and almond butter, with an almond center (and thin whisps of yellow icing), and was my favorite chocolate in this assortment. The almond flavoring hit the spot and enhanced the taste of the chocolate.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Music/Audio Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 13, 2009

Chocolate of the Week:
1 small cup
Boomerang (Australian Vodka) & Ghirardelli Chocolate Syrup
Chocolate Martini
Very Good
Weight: ~ 2 oz.
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: ~$1.33 for this sample (1/15 of $20 sample package)
Purchased from: Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival organization

This was Day #4 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week 2009. Today's chocolate (syrup) was shaken, in a cocktail shaker with ice and Australian vodka. (The image above is scanned from a Boomerang Australian Vodka hand-out.)

With apologies to those old Master Card ads, I'll sum up our chocolate adventures today with the following:
Tasting Package for Chocolate Festival at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco: $20.00.
Price of gasoline to drive to San Francisco: ~$10.00.
Parking in high-traffic tourist area of San Francisco: $14.00.
Eating 20 different chocolates in one hour and getting a sugar, chocolate and tiny-martini buzz: priceless.

ChocolateBet: June 17, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small bar
BonBonBar
Single Malt Scotch Candy Bar
Very Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.)/9 oz. (254 g.) in box of 6 bars
Calories: ~ 225 calories (estimate)
Cost: ~$30.00 for a box of six bars (+ shipping for online orders)
Purchased from: Foodzie/BonBonBar, in Los Angeles, CA

Talisker single malt Scotch mixed into an adult candy bar that is topped with just a sprinkle of sea salt? What's not to like here?

ChocolateBet: May 9, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 drink
Wawona Hotel (bar), Yosemite National Park
Truffletini (from Specialty Martini list) - Dark Creme de Cacao, Chambord, Bailey's, and Half and Half (with chocolate syrup and cherry syrup decoration swirls on inside of glass)
Very Good
Weight: ~ 7 oz. (198 grams)
Calories: ~ 400 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.75
Purchased from: Wawona Hotel (bar), in Yosemite National Park, CA

Note: This post was delayed due to a trip to Yosemite National Park, where I was out of Internet range for a few days.

I wish I had taken a photo of this drink. Yes, it was attractive; but I also will remember the setting. I very much enjoyed this Truffletini (which could have also counted as dessert), while sitting out on the porch at the old Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park. I was able to visit the base of four different waterfalls in the park this weekend, and earlier today enjoyed the view of the Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point. It was a great end-of-the-day treat to be sipping this chocolate martini with friends, as the sun was setting behind the pine trees in the distance.

ChocolateBet: January 25, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Old Kentucky Candies, Inc.
Bourbon Cherries
Very Good + - Yum
Wt.: ~.88 oz. (25 g.) for 2 pcs/ 8 oz. (226 grams) for total box
Calories: ~ 133 calories for 2 Bourbon Cherries
Cost: ~ $14.00 (online order + shipping)
Purchased from: Old Kentucky Candies (online order)

You will definitely be able to taste the Jim Beam in these dark-chocolate coated bourbon cherries. Although I'd rather have these than a shot of bourbon. I suppose you could also throw one or two of these into a glass of bourbon too. Or, perhaps more intriguing, I'd like to try stirring a whole 8 oz. box (18 pcs.) of these into a brownie mix. Yum.

ChocolateBet: August 21, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

3/4 bar
Venchi
Absinthium - dark chocolate bar (75% cacao) with Absinthe flavors
Very Good + - nice rich flavor combination and finish (licorice-like taste)
Weight: 1.185 oz. (33.75 grams) for 3/4 bar/ 1.58 oz. (45 g.) for total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate - info not on label)
Cost: $5.75
Purchased from: Cacao Drink Chocolate, in Portland, OR

I enjoyed sharing this dark chocolate absinthe bar (made in Italy) with friends on a summer eve. (Thank you Elise for the great dinner with fresh veggies from your garden.)

About Absinthe/A. Absinthium: (See info copied and pasted from wikipedia.org entry below)

"...Absinthe originated in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. It achieved great popularity as an alcoholic drink in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers. Due in part to its association with bohemian culture, absinthe was opposed by social conservatives and prohibitionists. Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, and Aleister Crowley were all notorious "bad men" of that day who were (or were thought to be) devotees of the Green Fairy. Absinthe was portrayed as a dangerously addictive psychoactive drug.^[2] The chemical thujone, present in small quantities, was blamed for its alleged harmful effects. By 1915, absinthe had been banned in the United States and in most European countries except the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although absinthe was vilified, no evidence has shown it to be any more dangerous than ordinary liquor. Its psychoactive properties, apart from those of alcohol, had been much exaggerated.^[2] A revival of absinthe began in the 1990s, when countries in the European Union began to reauthorize its manufacture and sale..."

ChocolateBet: August 14, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Canada True/Heart Industries
Dark Chocolate Icewine* Cream filled
Very Good
Weight: 50 grams (1.75 oz.)
Calories: 250 calories for 1 bar
Cost: $0 (gift) - Thank you Jasmin!
Purchased from: (? - perhaps somewhere near Niagra Falls? while Jasmin was on vacation)

*Icewine is a dessert wine made from grapes that are left on the vines late enough in the year/season that they may be frozen when they are picked, before they are fermented.

ChocolateBet: June 19, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Haagen-Dazs
Baileys (Original) ice cream
Very Good - Yes, it does taste like Baileys. (This gave me a slight high feeling. I'm not sure if it was the processed cocoa powder or not; I sometimes get the same feeling from certain instant hot cocoa mixes.)
Wt: 1/2 cup (98 grams); 1 pint total
Calories: ~ 260 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.00 (sale)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA