Cacao Laboratory - Fire - 100% Ceremonial Grade Cacao, turmeric & black pepper (bar) - July 24, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Cacao Laboratory
Fire - Ceremonial Grade 100% Cacao with turmeric and black pepper (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.176 oz. (33 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Fire & Passion Theme Week.

Today's Fire - 100% Cacao, turmeric and black pepper (bar) was manufactured by Cacao Lab Inc. (Kingston, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was sourced from Manabi, Ecuador.

Aroma notes included: bold, slightly bitter dark chocolate; wood (cedar); pepper; and spices (turmeric)

Texture: relatively smooth, with no objectionable spice (turmeric or black pepper) "grit".

Flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate with woody, earthy and spiced (black pepper, turmeric) bitterness that--while it might be initially off-putting to some--I found oddly appealing. 

The bitterness receded for me with each small nibble, until all I was tasting was a satisfying blend of dark chocolate, turmeric and black pepper at the end. 

I really enjoyed the opportunity to slow down and savor a small quantity of high-quality chocolate with very concentrated flavors in just two small squares. I did not miss the lack of sugar; but, I suspect many people will.* So, be advised; but try a small bite anyway. 

If you love authentic, highly concentrated flavors; you'll love this experience.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Earth, aromatic spice"

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao*, turmeric*, black pepper* (*=organic)

Allergen-related information: (None found on packaging)

*If you've never tried 100% cacao chocolate, your brain may be surprised, i.e. it may be wired to expect sugar when you take a bite of chocolate. The good news, there is no "more-ish" urges to keep eating the whole bar; and it becomes clear those urges are driven by added sugar(s).

Tavi Chocolates - Golden Mix 72% cacao dark chocolate, turmeric, ginger, pepper & cinnamon (bar) - Jan. 21, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Tavi Chocolates
Good ++ 
Golden Mix 72% cocoa dark chocolate, turmeric, ginger, pepper & cinnamon (bar)
Weight: 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 450 calories in 1 bar (per label)
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate, Warm Spices and Maple Week.

Today's Tavi Golden Mix 72% cocoa dark chocolate, turmeric, ginger, pepper & cinnamon (bar) was manufactured by Vast Company SAS in Bogota, Colombia, and Imported into the U.S. by Tavi Chocolates (Miami, FL). 

The company offers numerous chocolate bars that blend premium Colombian chocolate with a variety of flavor inclusions. 

Today's Indian-inspired bar contained turmeric, ginger, pepper and cinnamon--flavors reminiscent of Golden Milk, aka Haldi Doodh, and golden chai tea drinks). 

This was a perfect bar for me today as I was healing from the flu/bronchitis. (I experienced rapid relief from symptoms after I enjoyed this bar.* 

Aroma notes for this bar included: sweet dark chocolate (ganache, hot cocoa); marshmallow, sweet green and warm spices.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with authentic, finely ground spices (most of the spices were fully incorporated, very little spice grit). 

Flavor notes included: smooth, relatively sweet, dark chocolate with authentic golden berry fruit (aka, Warning, the sweetness in this bar can make it a bit addictive ("more-ish").

The textural blend was well-executed, flavorful and completely conveyed the complexity of these berries. The dark chocolate was smooth tasting and despite being relatively sweet it was also a good match for the fruit.

Ingredients: Bittersweet Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecit(h)in, Vainilla (sic)), Turmeric Powder, Cinnamon Powder, Ginger Powder, Pepper Powder" 

Allergen-related information: (Contains Soy.) "Produced on Equipment That Also Processes Products Containing Milk, Peanuts and Other Tree Nuts."

*Possible contributions to the feeling of relief from flu symptoms and bronchial distress lie in several of the ingredients in this bar.

The Theobromine in dark chocolate (as well as piperine in black pepper and gingerols in ginger) act as vasodilators -- substances that help open/dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure and improve circulation. 

And the turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and black pepper (as well as the polyphenols in cacao) in this bar  have anti-inflammatory properties. 

   

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar with Passion Fruit and Black Pepper (bar) - Sept. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar with Passion Fruit & Black Pepper 65% Cacao
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Bar with Passion Fruit & Black Pepper 65% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma."

Maracuyas (aka passion fruits) (Passiflora malformis in today's bar) are from South America. Their tart-sweet flavor puts the punch in fruit punch, and has been used to flavor desserts, chewing gum and filled/chocolate confections. 

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) originated in India and can be filled with subtle aroma and flavor notes. 

Aroma and tasting notes included: tart-sweet fruit (fairly intense, real passion fruit), dark chocolate and very faint spice (a few flickers of pepper). The passion fruit stole the show. The smooth dark 65% cacao dark chocolate added depth of flavor.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, with crunchy dark bits (passion fruit seeds). 

I appreciated: the short list of authentic ingredients, the bold cacao, native fruit and spice blends; as well as the company's focus on regenerative agriculture (sourcing ingredients from farms that follow regenerative practices).

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter, passion fruit, black pepper."

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)

ORA Cacao - Vibrant Vitality - Cacao, Maca, Ashwaghanda, Turmeric, Black Pepper (blend) - May 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

ORA Cacao
"Vibrant Vitality" - Cacao, Maca, Ashwaghanda, Turmeric, Black Pepper (blend)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total package
Calories: 170.4 calories in 1 package 
Cost: $ N/A - gift from family member (thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a family member

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

Today's "Vibrant Vitality" 100% Cacao from Family Farms; Red, Black, and Yellow Maca from Peru; with Ashwaghanda; Turmeric; and Black Pepper" blend was from ORA Cacao (Graton, CA). 

The company is committed to sustainably sourced cacao and ingredients and to sharing ceremonial cacao (and practices) with others.

Aroma notes included: mild, authentic cocoa, faint and balanced woodsy mushroom; faint, diffuse herb/spice; and very faint caramel popcorn (likely from maca).

Texture: smooth (not gritty) even when small disc-shaped pieces were tasted before making into a beverage. (These chocolate pieces can also be eaten by themselves if desired. The resealable package (single-serving pouch) would allow this to be a nice, portable snack/gentle energy boost over the course of a day.)

Flavor notes: subtle, balanced cocoa, with faint woodsy (forest), herb and spice notes.

I really liked the short list of quality ingredients, the use of organic ingredients; and the fact that this blend was not sweetened with sugar. The flavors were well-balanced with no "off" or overly strong/sharp herbal or earthy root notes. I also appreciated the inclusion of the following information: "28 mg Caffeine & 100 mg Theobromine per serving"

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Maca Powder*, Ashwaghanda*, Cacao Butter*, Turmeric*, Black Pepper*. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts (Almond, Cashew, Coconut) 

Intrigue Chocolate Co. - Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar) - April 30, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Uganda Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate and Warm Spices Theme Week.

Today's Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar) (Batch #000000110824) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).*  

The cacao used to make this bar was from Uganda (Rwenzururu; Semuliki Forest). Harvest year was 2022. And the cacao variety/ies were: "mostly Trinitario and Amelonado."

The cacao was from Eastern Africa; but this bar also contained ingredients with West African, Caribbean and spice island roots.

Aroma and flavor notes included: balanced, slightly woodsy, chocolate-y dark chocolate with bright citrus, floral (hibiscus) and very faint, bright, sweet pineapple, warm spice (ginger) and herbal/peppercorns.

In addition to the expected bright, tart sweet hibiscus and warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, etc.) there were two more fun, subtle exotic spice flavors: prekese (a member of the pea family, with large woody looking pods, from Ghana that is naturally sweet), and grains of paradise (also from West Africa and that have wonderful peppercorn and spice flavors).

Texture: smooth, with a very faint, fleeting mild trace of astringency (possibly from hibiscus/sorrel/sobolo).

I really enjoyed the thoughtfully created and executed, bright, sweet and tasty bouquet of flavors in this bar. The flavor inclusions conjured up a sweet, exotically-spiced tropical drink on a magical island somewhere that was pleasingly, authentically tart-sweet--without being too tart or too sweet or too spicy. And all these flavors were very complementary with (and were grounded by) the underlying, very slightly earthy/woodsy dark chocolate.

We may not have magical time machines or teleportation devices; but sometimes chocolate can be transporting. This one belongs in the virtual travel category.

Maker's tasting notes: "An Inspired Flavor...There is a staple beverage of West Africa and the Caribbean that has many names: sobolo, zobo drink, bissap, sorrel drink, roselle, wonjo, folere, dabileni, tsobo, agua de Jamaica...All the versions feature hibiscus, with lots of fruit, spices, and ice."

Ingredients:  Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, hibiscus, prekese, freeze-dried pineapple, ginger, grains of paradise, dried lemon juice, dried lime juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, paprika, clove, peppermint leaf.

Allergen-related information: (No information on package.)

*Note: the company is planning to relocate to Chisholm, MN.   

Intrigue Chocolate Co. - Black Pepper + Clove 60% Cacao (bar) - Apr. 29, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Black Pepper + Clove 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Uganda Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Warm Spices Week.

Today's Black Pepper + Clove 60% Cacao (bar) was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).*

Collaboration with Aluel Cellars of Seattle, WA.

The cacao used to make this bar was "mostly Trinitario and Amelonado" (cacao varieties) from Uganda (Region: Rwenzururu; Semuliki Forest; Harvest year: 2022.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark (chocolate-y) chocolate, bright black pepper, citrus, red wine/sangria, and clove. It was a bit on the sweet side for me; but rather than dampen the spices and chocolate too much, it added an uplifting brightness. 

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a buttery melt

I liked the rich, well-balanced complexity, and the long satisfying flavor finish. This chocolate was designed by a chef; and it would make a great after dinner chocolate, dessert pairing, possible red wine pairing**, or a decadent warmer-upper to take on a hike/walk.

**Maker's tasting notes: "Aluel's full-bodied flagship "Coat of Arms" (a Bordeaux-style red wine) can stand toe-to-toe with a little heat, and plays well with the lingering fruitiness and tongue-tingle spiciness in this chocolate bar."

Ingredients:  Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, black peppercorns, clove buds.

Allergen-related information: (No information on package.)

*Note: the company is planning to relocate to Chisholm, MN.  

Goodnow Farms - Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar) - July 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 330 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $17.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Zanzibar Black Pepper Chocolate 77% (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). This dark chocolate bar was made using Nicaragua El Carmen cacao and Burlap & Barrel's Zanzibar Black Peppercorns.

Aroma notes for this Limited Release dark bar included: hearty, deep, dark chocolate and authentic black pepper.

Texture: Very smooth and creamy texture (the makers made (pressed) and used their own single origin cocoa butter). There were no detectable pepper pieces ("ground peppercorn grit")--only flavor(s).

Flavor notes included: relatively bold, smooth chocolate-y dark chocolate with faint, diffuse, acidic fruit (ripe earthy berry, plum, persimmon); faint tart-green lemon (oxalis); very faint nut; and authentic black pepper.

I enjoyed the complex aroma and flavor notes in this bar, and the use of 77% single origin Nicaragua cacao (and single origin cocoa butter) as well as the Zanzibar pepper.

Maker's tasting notes: "...an exotic flavor journey: sharp, lemony-pepper tang, mild heat and smooth, earthy dark chocolate."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Zanzibar Black Pepper

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan"

To'ak Chocolate - Kampot Pepper Aged 75% Nacional Ecuador (square) - June 27, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

To'ak Chocolate
Kampot Pepper chocolate square
Good +++
Weight: .106 oz. (3 g.) for 1 square / 1.9 oz. (54 g.) in total bar/package of 18
Calories: 21 calories in 1 square
Cost: N/A - holiday gift from family
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift from family (thank you Megan and Tony!)

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

Today's "Kampot Pepper" (2019 Harvest) Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate small square was part of a six-flavor, tasting square assortment--made from tree-to-bar in Ecuador by To'ak Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador). To'ak specializes in high-end, Ecuadorian cacao-based chocolates.

The makers use Ecuador's famed "Nacional" cacao variety, an historically prized cacao. (In the 1900s, disease diminished cacao harvests for decades. Happily, this rare variety still exists.*) And today's chocolate was blended with Kampot Pepper (a black peppercorn cultivar from Cambodia).

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 75% dark chocolate included: subtle dark chocolate; faint spice and aromatic black/green peppercorn; aromatic wood; clean mineral; and very faint nut; and faint, diffuse sweet citrus fruit (orange). The nuanced, aged pepper flavors were fantastic with this chocolate. There was no fiery heat, just lots of wonderful flavor.

The texture of this tasting square was well tempered, uniformly smooth, thick (in a cool room) and relatively creamy. 

Sugar was used judiciously; that is less sugar allowed these truly unique and wonderful aged pepper and cacao flavors to really shine. (Thank you!) 

Maker's tasting notes: "Black pepper, woody, citrus, brown fruits"

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy or nuts."

*The disease in this case was Witches Broom, a plant gall disease (caused by fungus and other contributing causes) that disfigures plants. It also significantly affected cacao harvests in Brazil in the 1980s. 

In the maker's words: "As of 2009, pure Nacional cacao was believed to be extinct. Our journey led us to the secluded valley of Piedra de Plata, where we found some of the last surviving trees..."

 

Madhu Chocolate - Idukki Black Pepper 68% Cacao (bar) - Mar. 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Madhu Chocolate
Idukki Black Pepper 68% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) / 2.6 oz. (74 g.) in total bar
Calories: 195 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.29 for 1 bar (part of a larger order - 7 bars for $65.00 USD)
Purchased from: Good Food Awards Marketplace, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Spices and Day #2 of India Theme Week.

Today's Idukki Black Pepper 68% Cacao (bar) was from Madhu Chocolate* (Austin, TX). 

The company offers bean-to-bar chocolates with India-inspired flavors. Several bars include spices or spice blends. Packaging is inspired by Indian textiles. They source cacao from Tumaco, Colombia and the Idukki region of India.

This Good Food Awards 2022 winner was made using Idukki cacao and Aranya single origin black pepper (sourced by Diaspora Co.) from the state of Kerala in southwestern coastal India.

The complex aroma notes for this bar unfolded to reveal: spiced fruit (ginger, cardamom, berry, stone fruit), faint citrus and pepper.

This well-tempered chocolate had a smooth texture and mouthfeel. The black pepper used for this bar was ground and fully incorporated into the chocolate. 

Flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes, and included: complex spiced fruit (diffuse red berry, blackberry, citrus, red apple, red wine grapes) and sweet, rich dark chocolate melded with balanced, complex black pepper flavors (with some pepper heat). The finish had faint, fleeting notes that included: dairy butter, implied umami (grilled black pepper steak) and earth. 

This Idukki Black Pepper 68% cacao chocolate tasted like a satisfying, four-course meal in a bar. It also exemplified just how complex and wonderful high-quality, single origin black pepper and cacao can be. 

The "Malabar Coast" (spice gardens) in SW India (with latitudes that overlap with cacao growing regions in Kerala and Karnataka) have been famous for world-famous Tellicherry pepper and spices for thousands of years, for good reason.)

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, black pepper

Allergen-related information: (Vegan. Gluten free.) "Prepared in a facility that also processes nuts and dairy."

*The word Madhu translates as honey or sweet. It is also the name of co-founder Harshit Gupta's mother. (English "mead" (aka honey wine) may be from the same root.)

  

Earth Echo - Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend - Feb. 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Earth Echo LLC
Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 level scoop (7.88 g.) / 8.34 oz. (236.4 g.) in total package
Calories: 35 calories in 1 level scoop 
Cost: $59.95* for 1 package (less $8.99 discount) + $9.95 shipping = $60.91
Purchased from: (Earth Echo ad - online order)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend was manufactured for Earth Echo LLC (Evergreen, CO).

Marketed online, this organic, dietary supplement powder was designed to be mixed in with cold or hot liquids, including water, alternative milks, and/or hot chocolate or coffee. 

The dry, powdered blend contained "superfoods"** and spices that included cinnamon, black pepper fruit, sea salt and turmeric. (Lucuma and mesquite added mild, mellow sweetness.***)

Aroma notes for this powdered blend (mixed with water) included: chocolate, coconut and faint root/herb.

The texture was smooth and satisfying once thoroughly stirred and incorporated. There were no vegetable gums or other common additives (emulsifiers, stabilizers) often added to similar beverages (thank you!). (Note: If you prepare a cold beverage with this mix, and let it sit for a long period, it's a good idea to re-stir, unless you enjoy more layered flavors.)

Flavor notes included cocoa and salt with faint coconut and subtle root/herb and warm spice. There was a relatively subtle, balanced and fleeting cacao bitterness in the after-taste, but it mellowed quickly. (When I re-tasted this later I also enjoyed a bit more of a mildly spicy, authentic cinnamon flavor.)

This mix was sweetened with coconut sugar and monk fruit extract and it was not too sweet (thank you). This would make a potentially tasty addition to a hot or cold beverage or possible ingredient in homemade cacao treats/confections.****

This blend was made using (raw) "ceremonial grade cacao." This description refers to a "less processed" forms of cacao (e.g. unroasted or lightly roasted cacao, but not heated/fully ground (made into) chocolate). The cacao country of origin was not specified on the package/labeling.

Ingredients: Organic cacao bean powder, organic MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil powder, organic coconut (flower blossom) nectar powder, organic cocoa (bean) powder, organic turmeric root powder, Himalayan sea salt, organic cinnamon bark powder, organic monk fruit extract, organic lucuma fruit powder, organic mesquite pods powder, organic black pepper fruit powder.

Allergen-related information: (Couldn't find on packaging.) "Gluten Free, Non Dairy, USDA Organic, Soy Free, Non GMO"

*The price per ounce/gram for this all-organic product was much higher than most comparable product on the market that I could find; however, it was also made with relatively expensive ingredients.

**Note: I was not able to (nor did I seek to) confirm claims of "superfoods," or claims related to weight loss that accompanied some of the product's testimonials by users.

***Lucuma is a South American tree fruit often used in powdered form in food supplements. Its flavor is often described as sweet, with butterscotch, sweet potato, maple, or tropical fruit/mango notes. 

Mesquite powder is made from ground seed pods of the mesquite plant/tree and is used as a mild sweetener and/or flour.

**** Product disclaimer printed on the back of this package: "Do not use if you are pregnant, nursing, or are under the age of 18. 

Chocolate Tree - Haggis Spice Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 3, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Tree
Haggis Spice Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.)  / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135.5 calories in 1/4  bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Greetings and welcome to the first day of Salt and Savory Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Haggis Spice Dark Chocolate bar hails from Chocolate Tree (Haddington, Scotland).

This bar smelled like a savory stew or porridge, with rosemary, pepper, sea salt and pepper doing their best to convince me this was true. These and other traditional haggis spices* were blended with (gluten free pinhead) oats and organic dark chocolate to create this unique bar.**

The chocolate was a relatively bold, but smooth dark chocolate, which had a relatively smooth melt. However, you'll experience tiny chewy bits of other ingredients embedded in this chocolate, yielding flavor spikes of rosemary and spice, tiny sparkles of sea salt and oats. This blend of salt, savory and sweet was well balanced and fun to try.

*Ingredients: Organic sugar, organic cocoa mass, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla, gluten free pinhead oats (8%). Haggis spice (2%): organic black pepper, organic rosemary, sea salt, organic coriander seed, organic mace and organic thyme.

**You may have heard that haggis also contains sheep's innards. Fear not. There were no animal parts in today's vegetarian chocolate bar. It contained only the spices and salt used to make this traditional Scottish savory dish.

Copyright 2019. Unauthorized use of the text and/or images from this site, www.ChocolateBanquet.com, is a copyright violation.

Elements Truffles - Ginger Black Pepper bar - July 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles
Ginger infused with Black Pepper 70% Cacao bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: ZombieRunner,  Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Ginger infused with Black Pepper 70% Cacao bar was from Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ).

This raw, dairy-free bar was sweetened with raw honey and contained no refined sugar. It had very pleasing authentic ginger flavor with a very subtle hint of black pepper.

The cacao used to make this bar was "ethically sourced" from Ecuador. And added cocoa butter helped give this bar a slightly soft bite and buttery texture.

Amano Cardamom Black Pepper bar - Jan. 5, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Amano Chocolate Company

Cardamom Black Pepper bar
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Purchased from: Amano Chocolate Company

Dos Rios bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 142 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Purchased from: Amano Chocolate Company

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Amano Chocolate Company (Orem, UT) makes two bars that seem to possess remarkable floral flavor notes. They brightened up a dark, dreary winter day outside. (Even today's midday photos were sunlight-starved and in need of a pick me up.)

Both the Dos Rios and Cardamom Black Pepper bars were crafted from cacao beans from Guayas, in the Dominican Republic.

Like many bean-to-bar chocolate makers, Art Pollard at Amano has a relatively close working relationship with farmers that produce their preferred cacao beans. And rather than go with a fair trade certification logo, a note on the packaging states: "Fairly Traded with the Farmer." I'd covet that direct relationship too if it guaranteed me continued access to magic beans like this.

Amano tasting notes for the Dos Rios chocolate mention bergamot orange and lavender. It was so floral, it was hard to believe the base 70% cocoa Dos Rios bar didn't have any added flavors. I remember having the same reaction, when I first tasted the Amano Dos Rios bar a few years ago. Since I love floral flavors, I was delighted.*

The Cardamom and Black Pepper bar takes this same Dos Rios bergamot orange, heady floral-citrus flavor (think Earl Grey tea), and kicks it up a few notches. I also tasted light green fig, cardamom, almond blossom, green tea, and finally got a little lavender after a a few bites. Embedded sugar crystals enhanced the sparkle factor and gave the bar some crunchy texture. The single estate black pepper flavoring captured the pepper's floral notes, and not its heat.

The Amano Cardamom Black Pepper bar was a relatively recent addition—part of a group of bars with new packaging and with flavor inclusions. Previously the company offered a cardamom and black pepper truffle; this was a bar version of that award-winning confection.

*I readily admit my biases. I like chocolate with all sorts of complex flavors: chocolatey, nutty, citrus, etc. I love floral and umami notes and flavor inclusions. They may not be everyone's cup of tea.

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

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - Black Pepper Cherry Bar - Nov. 17, '14

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Co.
Black Pepper Sweet Cherry Bar
Good ++ - Very Good 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 149 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Co., Oakland, CA

Dried sweet cherries harmonized with dark chocolate, in today's slightly earthy, Black Pepper Sweet Cherry Bar from The Oakland Chocolate Co. (Oakland, CA). A light sprinkle of black pepper and sea salt gave this 70% cacao bar a balanced, complementary flavor zing.

Chocolate maker, Nancy Nadel, sources cacao beans from a single Parish (Saint Mary) in Jamaica to craft her bean-to-bar (or bonbon) chocolate that serves as a base for her offerings.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Jamaica Theme Week.

Salazon - Sea Salt and Pepper Bar - Nov. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Salazon Chocolate Co., LLC
Organic Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and crushed Black Pepper
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: (information lost)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Chocolate and salt have become popular partners. Today's Organic Dark Chocolate bar with sea salt from Salazon Chocolate Co. (Eldersburg, MD) goes one step further by adding a light sprinkle of organic finely ground black pepper (from India).

The company founders have built their product line around single origins dark bars with salt and other inclusions. In addition to today's Dominican Republic Sea Salt and Black Pepper bar, other sea salt bars are paired with caramel, coffee, sugar, almonds, coconut and cayenne, respectively.

I enjoyed reading the origin story printed on the bar's packaging:

Origin Story:
"Sitting around a campfire during a backpacking trip in 2009, we were struck with the idea that a salted-dark chocolate bar would be the perfect energy food. So, after visiting organic cacao farms in the Dominican Republic and perfecting the recipe, we launched Salazon Chocolate Co.

Our single-origin (Dominican Republic) organic chocolate is made using only the famous Hispaniola cacao beans, which have been fermented and sun-dried. Then each bar is hand-sprinkled with natural, solar-evaporated sea salt."

Vosges - Smoky Tellicherry Bar - July 28, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Smoky Tellicherry Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #4 of Smoke and Savory Theme Week.

The Smoky Tellicherry Bar from Vosges Haut-Chocolat (Chicago, IL) had both smoke and savory elements, and a black peppery kick from coarsely ground Tellicherry* peppercorns and bits of uncured peppercorn bacon.

Vosges founder Katrina Markhoff and team have elevated the art of bacon and chocolate over the past decade. The company offers one of the largest "libraries" of bacon bars and products around. The slightly earthy, dark chocolate (72%) bar base eclipsed some of the more subtle savory and bacon flavor nuances in this bar, but overall it was quite good.

At $5.99 this bar was reasonably priced, given the relatively high quality of the flavor additions.

For those who would like to try this particular Vosges bar, you may be in luck if you live in a city with a "The Fresh Market" (a chain of markets with more than 150 locations in the U.S.). This bar was a limited edition made especially for The Fresh Market.

*Charcoal colored and flavorful, dried Tellicherry peppercorns are considered some of the best in the world. According to the packaging, the peppercorns in this bar came from the Malabar Coast of India.

Theo Chocolate - Cinnamon Love Crunch bar - Feb. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Theo Chocolate
Cinnamon Love Crunch bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.95 (estimate) 
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Love Crunch bar from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA) looked bright pink, sassy, and sweet.

This limited edition bar was created for Valentines Day this month. The bar, made with organic ingredients, also packed a complex, spicy flavor punch -- from cinnamon leaf oil, nutmeg and clove oils, cayenne*, and black pepper oil.

The flavorful bits of cinnamon brittle embedded in the smooth dark chocolate offered a refreshingly different take on cinnamon red-hots or more traditional crunchy candy bits.

*Cayenne and the Scoville Scale
What is the Scoville Scale, and what does it have to do with my chocolate? The Scoville Scale measures the level of capsaicin in chili peppers and hot, spicy foods. Bright red Cayenne peppers (named for the city, Cayenne, in French Guiana) rank a 3 out of 5 on the Scoville Scale. 

Equal Exchange - Lemon Pepper bar - Nov. 22, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Equal Exchange
Organic Lemon Ginger chocolate with black pepper bar
Good +
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 serving (9 pieces/squares)
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

I was happy to find a new chocolate + lemon bar for this week. I love lemons for both sweet and savory dishes. Today's bar was sweet; however, the flavor additions (lemons, ginger, black pepper*) also could have been used to spice up a vegetable or chicken dish.

Today's Organic Lemon Ginger Chocolate with black pepper bar from Equal Exchange (W. Bridgewater, MA) was long on title and flavor. The bar contained a well-balanced mix of 55% cacao chocolate; fresh-tasting, sweet lemon (organic sugar and lemon oil); hints of candied ginger; and finely ground (or infused) black pepper and vanilla beans.

*Cacao and black pepper are often grown in the same equatorial regions (up to 20 degrees south and north of the Equator), so I've been surprised there aren't more chocolate items that contain pepper. (Equal Exchange works with small farmer co-operatives in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru and Ecuador for cacao; farmers in Paraguay for sugar; and farmers in Madagascar for vanilla. I'm not sure where they obtained the black pepper. While black pepper is often associated with India's Malabar coast, Vietnam, and Indonesia/Sumatra, black pepper is also grown in Central and Latin America and cacao growing countries as well.)

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week. 

Cotton Tree Chocolate bars - April 29, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Cotton Tree Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with Black Pepper (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 167 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: (May vary according to location)
Purchased from: Cotton Tree Chocolate, Punta Gorda, Belize


While in Punta Gorda (Belize), I enjoyed the free chocolate tour at Cotton Tree Chocolate, where chocolate bars, cocoa mixes and teas, and other cacao-related items can also be purchased.

Trivia question: Why was Cotton Tree Chocolate store manager (Juli Puryear) holding a hair dryer? All the better to winnow (the thin, light, chaff-like skins that come off cocoa beans after roasting).

I enjoyed Cotton Tree's Dark Chocolate (70% cocoa) with Black Pepper, gluten-free bar -- with almost delicate floral, spicy black pepper notes. This bar was made with organic cocoa beans and organic cocoa butter from the Toledo District of southern Belize, an area known for pockets of fine cacao.

And I believe the pepper in today's bar was Malabar (black) pepper from the Spice Farm up the road. (Peppercorns look like strands of tiny green pearls when plucked from the vine.)


I also enjoyed a bite of a Cotton Tree (seasonal) sweet milk chocolate Cocoa Mint Crunch bar with nibs that tasted very refreshing (think high-quality, peppermint ice cream) on a warm day. Sugar was the first ingredient listed; so, the nibs pressed onto the back of the bar imparted the crunchy, earthy cacao flavor that balanced the sweet mint base.

Cotton Trees, Cotton Tree Lodge
The Cotton Tree Lodge (a sister company to Cotton Tree Chocolate) lies further inland, provides lodging, and also offers chocolate related activities. (Maya Mountain Cacao is also located adjacent to the Lodge.)

Both are represented in spirit, by the Ceiba tree, also known as the Cotton Tree. (A silhouette of this tree is shown on the Cotton Tree Chocolate's logo and packaging.)

This large majestic tree is known as the Cotton Tree in part because of the downy fluff it sheds. (Jaguars are said to raise their cubs in the folds of the cotton tree's elaborate root system.)

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Latin America Theme Week.

World Market - Tellicherry Pepper and Salt bar - November 21, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

World Market/Cost Plus
Dark Chocolate Cracked Tellicherry Pepper with Brazilian Coast Sea Salt (bar)
Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) in 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market/Cost Plus, in Reno, NV

Salt and pepper bars can be surprisingly good. Today's World Market (Oakland, CA) dark chocolate bar contained little grenade bursts of flavorful, black Tellicherry peppercorn pieces, that harmonized with an overall Brazilian sea salt palette. Both salt and pepper stood out nicely against the dark chocolate base. The bar was optimally thin to exposure the most flavor while tasting.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.