Fjak Sjokolade - Solbaer Smuldrepai (Blackcurrant Pie) - Sept. 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade
Solbaer Smuldrepai (Blackcurrant Pie) (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .935 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.87 oz. (~53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: 85,00 Norwegian Kroner ($7.98 USD)
Purchased from: Gift shop in Hotel Ullensvang, Hardangerfjord, Norway

Fjak Sjokolade
45% Melk Nibs & Eikerokt Salt (45% Milk Nibs & Oak Smoked Salt) (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .935 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.87 oz. (~53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: 85,00 Norwegian Kroner ($7.98 USD)
Purchased from: Gift shop in Hotel Ullensvang, Hardangerfjord, Norway

Welcome to Day #6 of Scandinavian Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's White Chocolate Blackcurrant Pie and 45% Milk Nibs and Oak Smoked Chocolate bars were created by Fjak Sjokolade (Eidfjord, Norway) on the Hardangerfjord. 

The company produces small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate. They offer a variety of bars, as well as a few confections and drinking chocolate options.

Blackcurrant Pie

Aroma and flavor notes for this pie-inspired, white chocolate bar included: oats, nuts, and bright sweet berry.

The texture was a satisfying blend of creamy (almost buttery), scarlet-hued berry (blackcurrant infused white chocolate) and crunchy oat and nut ("pie crust") bits. It was berry-sweet, but not overly so (thank you!).

This Nordic bar was well-balanced, with a natural, tart-sweetness and authentic-tasting fruit and crust elements. 

Ingredients: Cocoa butter* cane sugar*, milk powder*, blackcurrant*, gluten free oats*, gluten free almonds*, and honey.* (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk.

45% Milk Nibs and Oak Smoked Salt

Aroma notes for this dark milk chocolate included: dark milk chocolate, subtle smoked wood, caramel, and very faint savory, nut/seed.

The texture was a blend of creamy (milk chocolate) and crunchy (cacao nibs).

Flavor notes included: sweet (45%) milk chocolate, tiny bits of crunchy cacao nibs and salt, and very faint smoked spice (salt, black pepper).

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, cane sugar*, milk powder*, cocoa butter*, cacao nibs* and oak smoked salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk.

La Belge Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Lavender Basil Black Currant (bar) - May 23, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Le Belge Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Lavender Basil Black Currant (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mercantile shop at Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA 

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Lavender Basil Black Currant (bar) was from La Belge Chocolatier, a "Napa Valley Chocolate Company" in northern California.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and dark berry (black raspberry, black currant, deep black cherry), and a diffuse, refreshing blend of floral and herbal notes. 

Flavor notes included: smooth, sweet, dark chocolate, with rich black currant flavor, subtle floral (lavender and vanilla) and tiny, crunchy sparkles of herb crystal basil--green-tinged sugar crystals with crushed basil.

This was a very enjoyable bar to eat. The dark chocolate was a bit on the sweet side. However, the harmonious blend of flavor inclusions (that would be tasty in a variety of desserts and beverages) infused this chocolate with an enjoyable, upbeat complexity, and helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin [emulsifier], and natural vanilla extract), herb crystal basil, natural black currant extract, and natural lavender flavor. 

Allergen-related information: Contains soy. May contain milk, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts. Kosher Dairy.

 

Divine Chocolate - Smooth Dark Chocolate with Superfruits 60% Cocoa (bar) - Mar. 30, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Divine Chocolate
Smooth Dark Chocolate with Superfruits 60% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Phoenix Shop, Big Sur, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ghana Theme Week, featuring chocolates made with Ghana-grown cacao.

Today's Smooth Dark Chocolate with Superfruits 60% Cocoa (bar) was made in Germany, using cocoa from the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union in Ghana, and distributed by Divine Chocolate Inc. (Washington, D.C.). Divine is co-owned by Ghana cocoa farmers and maintains close ties to Ghana cacao producer communities. 

The aroma notes for this fruit-brightened, ultra-dark 85% cocoa bar included: rich chocolate (chocolate pudding, torte, ganache) and faint tart-sweet fruit (berries).

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate (smooth, roasted cacao, deep dark brownie) with interspersed with well-balanced bits of dried, tart-sweet red fruit (cranberry), dark berries, and faint nut. (There were no nuts listed in the ingredients.)

Berries are high in antioxidants called polyphenols.* And all three (dried) berries in this chocolate are known to contain high amounts of these polyphenols.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, dried cranberries, dried blackcurrants, dried elderberries, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin). (Cocoa solids 60% minimum.)

Allergen-related information: "May contain: milk, wheat, almonds, hazelnuts, coconut (and) pecans."

*Polyphenols are antioxidants that may relieve cellular oxidative stress in our bodies and lessen inflammation (anti-inflammatory).

Some animal and human studies on polyphenols have reported benefits in the following areas: neurological (degenerative disease slowing/prevention), cancer, bone health, and blood sugar regulation. 

Shekoh Confections - Blackcurrant - June 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Blackcurrant
Good +++ 
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.40 (estimate) 
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Yuzu chocolate was created by Chef Shekoh Moossavi at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA). Her high-end filled chocolates were/are made with no preservatives, and "fresh to order" for customers.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (faint dark brownie with nut butter); faint diffuse tart sweet fruit (dark berry + light mango jam); and tart green lemon herb (oxalis). 

Biting into this small, domed confection yielded an excellent blend of jammy dark berry (black currant, blueberry preserves) fruit and chocolate--a very satisfying, flavorful layering of a dark chocolate shell and ganache with true dark chocolate (dark chocolate torte, faint nut and very faint tart lemony herb (oxalis)) notes. The rich flavors lingered lightly into the finish.

This was another very well balanced and executed confection, with a restrained sweetness--just enough for enjoyment while still allowing full access to cacao and authentic, sweet-tart blackcurrant fruit flavors.

Shekoh description: "Puree of blackcurrant (and) Valrhona 64% Tainori dark chocolate."

Ingredients: Not listed on small assortment box

Allergen-related information: Not listed on small assortment box

 

Dick Taylor - Microbatch No. 42 - 70% Dark Chocolate Black Currant & Orange (bar) - May 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Microbatch No. 42 - 70% Dark Chocolate Black Currant and Orange
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Dick Taylor, online order 

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

Today's Microbatch No. 42 - 70% Dark Chocolate Black Currant and Orange bar was created by Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (Eureka, CA).

Tasting this bar was a refreshing deep dive into the chocolate flavor pool. The opposite of a bland, chocolate and sugar bar. It began with the aroma. This 70% cacao dark chocolate had a rich aroma of dried fruit (prunes, dark berries with faint citrus) notes.

The dark chocolate (tasted slightly darker than 70% cacao and) had rich fruity dark chocolate, sweet-tart, dried dark berry/currant and (balanced, undulating, authentic, fresh orange) citrus tones. 

These notes were amplified by (or at least harmonized with) the naturally occurring cacao flavors in the Madagascar and Belize cacao blend used to make the chocolate. (Madagascar cacao is known for berry and citrus notes.)

The best chocolate and fruit blends I've tasted use fruits that complement naturally occurring cacao notes, high-quality, often single origin cacao beans, and high-end, specialty fruit. The quality of the "...generous sprinkling of tart, chewy black currants from Washington" (and orange essential oil) included in this four-ingredient bar were exceptional. 

The wake-me-up, tart sweet chocolate flavors lingered a bit into a pleasing finish.

If there is a heaven where we're still allowed to experience earthly pleasures (like great chocolate), I'm hoping today's Dick Taylor bar (and other bars from this maker) will be on the menu. (Note: If you like the bolder fruit flavors in this bar, do try the Dick Taylor Black Fig bar as well.)

Sad to say, this small batch (monthly microbatch flavor) chocolate bar is already sold out. I'm hoping it will return soon.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic black currant, organic orange essential oil.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes milk, wheat, dairy, tree nuts, and peanuts."

Zotter - In-Fusion Blackcurrant in Cacao (bar) - Dec. 3, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter

In-Fusion - Blackcurrant in Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good + 

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar 

Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Weeks.

Today's Zotter In-Fusion Blackcurrant in Cacao (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL). 

This dark chocolate was part of a line of fruit "in-fusion" bars made with fine cacao and flavored with freeze-dried fruits that in many cases mirror naturally occurring fruit notes in cacao--a wonderful concept.

The bar had a subtle aroma with chocolate, diffuse fruit (dark sweet berry), bread and butter, and clean mineral notes.

Flavors included fruity, robust yet smooth, dark chocolate, with authentic dark berry and blackcurrant (pastille, fruit juice), and very faint, fleeting earthy fruit and black raspberry yogurt notes. A balanced, tangy black currant tartness lingered at the end and contrasted with a subtle, slightly earthy dark chocolate in the finish.

While nicely executed and well balanced, the milk powder added to this 70% dark chocolate muted what might have been bolder aroma and flavors.

Adding milk to dark chocolate can even out flavors and give them a mellow, homogeneous continuity; however the sharper and stronger notes (for better or for worse) may be neutralized in the process.

Maker's tasting notes: "...Created, bean to bar, using fine flavor cacao and freeze-dried blackcurrants. A dark chocolate with a refreshing blackcurrant flavor--a sophisticated and very berry indulgence..."

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa mass; organic, fair trade cane sugar; organic, fair trade cocoa butter; organic dried blackcurrants (4%); dry skim milk; organic soy lecithin.

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

Brookside Dark Chocolate Vineyard Inspired Merlot Grape, Black Currant (pieces) - May 23, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Brookside Chocolate
(Distributed by The Hershey Company)
Dark Chocolate Vineyard Inspired Merlot Grape and Black Currant Flavors 
Good 
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (16 pieces)
Cost: missing information
Purchased from: missing information 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and VWXYZ Theme Week, featuring chocolate items that have origins and/or flavor inclusions that start with the letters V, W, X, Y and Z.

Today's Brookside Dark Chocolate Vineyard Inspired Merlot Grape and Black Currant Flavors (pieces) were distributed by The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA).

The grapes in today's wine grape and fruit flavored chocolates were part of a festive, sweet sangria-colored, fruit punch filling, with vineyard roots. (It was great to see wine grapes featured in something other than wine.*) The "velvety" fruit center had a soft gummy chew, and was enveloped in dark chocolate and confectioner's glaze.

The blend of merlot grape and other juice concentrates, plus a hint of vanilla in the dark chocolate, resulted in a tart-sweet brightness, natural fruit colors, and a sugary warmth.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate [sugar; chocolate; cocoa butter; milk fat; cocoa processed with alkali; lecithin (soy); milk; salt; natural vanilla flavor]; sugar; deionized apple juice concentrate; corn syrup; fruit juice concentrate [merlot grape juice concentrate; cranberry juice concentrate; black currant juice concentrate; lemon juice concentrate]; maltodextrin; natural flavor; pectin; malic acid; confectioner's glaze; canola oil; sodium citrate; baking soda; dextrose; citric acid; ascorbic acid.

Allergen-related information: "Gluten free; No artificial flavors; No artificial colors." "Manufactured on the same equipment that processes almonds."

*Wine table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice are almost as rare as cacao fruit/pulp and non-alcoholic cacao juice. However, these fruits can be delicious on their own if you ever have the chance to try them. 

Goodio Craft Chocolate - Marja - Chocolate with Wild Berries and blackcurrant leaves 71% bar - Apr. 22, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodio Craft Chocolate
Marja - Berry - Chocolate Topped with Wild Berries, blackcurrant leaves 71% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .848 oz. (24 g.) / 1.69 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130.8 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (part of a 4-pack of Nordic flavours bar collection)
Purchased from: Goodio Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Plants and Herbs Theme Week.

Today's Marja (Berry) bar - Chocolate Topped with Wild Berries 71% Cacao bar was from Goodio Craft Chocolate (Helsinki, Finland).

The blackcurrant leaves* in this plant-based blend seemed like an interesting new ingredient add to the ("Chocolate and What?") list on ChocolateBanquet.com. And the splay of green leaf bits and colorful orange and scarlet red berry pieces created a beautiful back-of-bar still life.

The chocolate had a dark chocolate and coconut sugar** aroma, and dark, very slightly bitter (but not unpleasant) and herbal flavors—balanced by small bursts of tart-sweet wild berry notes. It was a satisfying bar and not too sweet (thank you!).

*Ingredients: organic cacao beans, organic coconut palm sugar, organic cacao butter, dried blackcurrant leaves, dried wild berries (wild strawberries, sea buckthorne, lingonberries), and organic crushed sea buckthorne. 

**Goodio does not use white sugar in their bars.

Berra Bites - Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites - Dec. 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Berra Bites

Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites

Good

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package

Calories: 190 calories in 1/4 cup (1 serving)

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: The Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites were manufactured for Berra Bites (San Francisco, CA). The company is committed to avoiding use any artificial flavorings or preservatives in their offerings.

These bites were made from pureed mixed apple, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and black currant fruit pieces—creating concentrated berry fruit flavored centers, covered in dark chocolate.

Dick Taylor - Pepperming Drinking Chocolate - Nov. 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dick Taylor 

Peppermint Drinking Chocolate 

Good +

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package

Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 serving

Cost: $19.00 for 1 package

Purchased from: Dick Taylor, online order

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

This morning's Peppermint Drinking Chocolate was created by Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor, the multi-talented duo behind Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (Eureka, CA ). 

This drinking chocolate was made with Dick Taylor 72% cacao Madagascar Sambirano chocolate. What makes that special? First using a high percentage, single origin cacao will likely give drinking chocolate a more distinguished and/or distinguishable flavor profile. 

Cacao grown in Madagascar typically has fruity, slight acidic (tart red berries, citrus) flavor notes. In addition to naturally occurring fruit notes, today's chocolate contained added (powdered)* organic apple, black currant and black carrot in the dry mix. 

The peppermint (supplied by peppermint candy bits and natural peppermint flavor) was relatively low key. The fruit and vegetable inclusions seemed to have mellowed both cacao and peppermint.

*In the past few years, Dick Taylor has offered select/special edition chocolate bars with freeze-dried, fruit inclusions. (The 2018 Valentines Day special Vanilla Raspberry bar with freeze-dried organic raspberry powder featured earlier this year was tasty, well balanced and colorful.)

Chocolate Naive - Berries bar - June 1, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolate Naive
Berries - Organic Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: .646 oz. (18.3 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 97 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Village Market, SF Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Berries Organic Dark Chocolate bar was made by the award-winning bean-to-bar company, Chocolate Naive  fromVilnius, Lithuania.

Chocolate Naive's Porcini mushroom bar was the first bar to catch my eye. That bar was delicious. The company also makes several other bars with unique and well-balanced flavor inclusions.*

Today's smooth dark chocolate bar had a subtle dark, slightly smoky/earthy cocoa + very light berry balsamic aroma. The bar was created using organic fine cocoa 65% (direct trade) with a hint of creamy cocoa butter. Embedded in the chocolate was very smooth, slightly muted, authentic berry flavor—from freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries and black currants. Perfect blend for me. It wasn't too sweet, (not too berry or sugar forward), and had a nutty umami and black currant finish.

The addition of black currant was lovely. (Unfortunately, while black currants are popular in Europe, our exposure to this fruit in the U.S. is often limited to throat lozenges.)

*Speaking of berries and unique flavors, Chocolate Naive also produces a Dark Chocolate with Incan Berries bar. (Incan berries are a South American fruit also known as Peruvian groundcherries, Cape gooseberries, and Physalis).

Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates - Caipirinha, Black Currant - April 18, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts
Caipirinha
Black Currant
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $17.00 + $15.64 (shipping) = $24.35 for a box of 8 chocolates 
Purchased from: Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts, online order

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

Caipirinha is considered the national cocktail of Brazil. The drink is made with Brazilian sugar cane brandy, lime and cane sugar (or sugar cane juice).

So, I was excited to feature a Caipirinha-inspired chocolate as part of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Weeks.

I got close, but unfortunately, Coastal Mist was out of their Caipirinha confection -- filled with a "dark Belgian chocolate ganache mixed with muddled fresh limes and Brazilian cachaca."

Instead I was able to try two other filled Coastal Mist chocolates: a "Black and Gold" (six types of chocolate + nibs) and a "Black Currant." I had the latter today. I enjoyed the creamy milk chocolate ganache that was infused with a subtle black currant flavor.

And, as a consolation, I made my own version of a Caipirinha later in the day, with the ingredients I had on hand. (Rum, brandy, cane sugar, lime, and chocolate bitters.) Saude! (a salute to your health) to all.

Bixby Birdie bar with hazelnuts - March 15, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bixby and Co.
Birdie Chocolate Bar
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.2 g.) / 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 70 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

The Birdie Chocolate Bar from Bixby and Co. (Belfast, ME) was made with 72% dark chocolate (from Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa) and packed with hazelnuts, black currants, and a touch of sea salt.

The sepia-toned wrapper was adorned with an image of a woman in historic sportswoman attire about to putt in a golf ball into a hole for, presumably, a birdie -- a shot that earns the scorer one under par (a good thing).

This small, chunky, gluten-free, No GMO bar was also a good thing. It could be gently cut into slices and shared with friends or golf partners. 

ChocolateBet: February 7, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Knipschildt Chocolatier
Vivianne
Very Good
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 grams) in 2 pieces
Calories: 232 calories (estimate)
Cost: Approx. $4.44 for 2 pieces ($19.99 for total box of 9 pieces)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

It's Valentines Day chocolate season. Even if you're not celebrating the holiday, this time does present opportunities to try new chocolates. Little red packages and ribbons are everywhere.

These dome-shaped chocolates were filled with black currant ganache, and were part of a red assortment box from Knipschildt Chocolatier.

ChocolateBet: March 9, 2007

Chocolate of the Day: 

NewTree
Black Currant/Cassis dark chocolate bar
Very Good
Weight: 1/4 bar (20 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 100 calories (estimate) for 1/4 bar
Cost: $4.95? or $4.29? for 1 bar
Purchased from either Draegers in Los Altos, CA, or World Market in Mountain View, CA.

Today's Black Current/Cassis dark bar from NewTree was made with 73% cocoa "Fine Belgian Dark Chocolate" (Fin Chocolat Noir Belge), and was labeled with the words: Renew, Rejuvenating and Vivifiant. Regardless of the uplifting marketing terms, this chocolate was quite good and hit the spot.

This bar was made in Belgium for NewTree America Inc. (San Anselmo, CA).