Preston's Candy By Javier - Black Sesame & Pinenut Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 29, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Preston's Candy By Javier
Black Sesame & Pinenut All Natural Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's Market, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #1 of Unique Chocolates Week, including chocolates with harder to find or unique origins, formulations and flavor inclusions.

Today's Black Sesame & Pinenut All Natural Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Preston's Candy By Javier (Burlingame, CA). This local (San Francisco Bay Area) shop has been selling confections and bars since 1946. 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth (well-roasted/tamed) bittersweet dark chocolate, subtle toffee, sesame, and faint vanilla.

This thick dark chocolate was interspersed with generous and very tasty embedded pieces of chewy-crunchy black sesame toffee brittle. I enjoyed the dark sesame brittle quite a bit; and appreciated that the dark chocolate base was not overly sweet (thank you).

Ingredients: 63% Bittersweet chocolate (cacao beans, pure cane sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, vanilla beans), Pine Nuts, Black Sesame Seeds.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also makes products containing milk, soy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat."

Antidote - "Mermaid" Seaweed + Toasted Black Sesame Milk Chocolate 56% cacao (bar) - Sept. 4, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Antidote
Mermaid - Seaweed + Toasted Black Sesame Milk Chocolate 56% cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Antidote Chocolate, online order 

Ahoy, and welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Seeds Theme Week.

Today's Antidote Mermaid - Seaweed + Toasted Black Sesame Milk Chocolate 56% cacao (bar) was made in Ecuador. Antidote Creative Director, CEO, and self-described chocolate dreamer, Ms. Red Thalhammer, is Austrian and is based in the U.S.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark milk chocolate; fruit (sweet, diffuse, dried fig, citrus, berry); and faint umami (sesame, seaweed) and muted fresh wood shavings (cedar). Arriba Nacional (variety) cacao was used to make this 56% cacao milk chocolate.

This smooth (light/fluffy and creamy) dark milk chocolate yielded to a generous field of tiny, crunchy black sesame seeds. 

Flavor notes included: sweet-ish, dark milk chocolate with nutty/seedy (sesame), and faint, fleeting umami, seaweed (think very lightly salted nori), and barely detectable, pleasant wood. These flavors politely lingered into the finish, with an occasional very tiny pops of authentic sesame or seaweed flavor breaking through. 

I always enjoy trying chocolate and umami flavor blends. I was expecting more salt (which often accompanies umami/savory flavors) in today's bar. There was very little. This milk chocolate was neither ultra sweet nor too salty--or heavy in any way. The flavors were complex but almost delicate. These flavors and the salt were made much more low-key by the milk.

Maker's description: "...brings...all the flavor--without all the sugar."..."In just one bite you'll encounter what we like to call "an experiential escape."

Ingredients: "cacao beans, cacao butter, milk powder, whole cane sugar, black sesame seeds, nori seaweed, sunflower lecithin."

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, sesame. "Made in a facility that handles soy and nuts."

Creo Chocolate - Black Sesame Seed Brittle - July 2, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Black Sesame Seed Brittle 
Good +++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 233 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $12.75 for 1 package
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Japan Week.

Sesame seeds (goma) may be native to Africa/Indus Valley/India; but the seeds, oil and flavoring have been used in classical Japanese entrees, rice dishes, desserts and snacks for centuries.

Today's Black Sesame Seed Brittle was from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR).

Aroma notes for this Good Food Awards winning brittle included: sweet sesame and nut* butter; clean sweet green; faint toffee/caramel; faint dark chocolate; and barely there umami.

Complex texture notes for this impossibly thin (how did they do it?) toffee brittle included: two levels of crunch and chew: the toffee and the sesame seeds. Each piece was fully coated with dark chocolate--providing a thin, smooth and creamy dark layer that complemented the crunchy seed garnish and the brittle interior.

Flavor notes for this addictive, buttery, creamy and crunchy chocolate included: toffee; faint sesame and nut*; dark chocolate; faint sea salt, and umami. And there was a satisfying, subtle seed butter + dairy butter note in the finish. 

This scored well on my preferences for sweetness level (it was not overly sweet); complexity (well-executed, layered flavors; and balance (well-balanced). Extra points for a bit of sesame umami. (Disclaimer: I like savory chocolates.)

Ingredients: Chocolate (Cacao, Organic Sugar, Cocoa Butter), Organic Butter, Organic Cane Sugar, Black and White Sesame Seeds, Sea Salt. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk and Sesame Seeds...Processed in a Facility that Processes Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Sesame Seeds, and Wheat."

*Nut-like "notes" were detected/experienced while tasting; but there were no nut ingredients.

Theo and Philo Chocolate - Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame and Nuts bar - Jan. 11, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory
Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame and Nuts bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories (per label) in 1 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and the Philippines Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame and Nuts bar was from Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory (Manila, Philippines).

The relatively soft, sweet dark 65% cacao chocolate provided a great foil for the crunchy fiesta of black sesame seed praline, cashew and glazed pili* nut bits embedded throughout the bar. This satisfying blend yielded layered roasted nut and seed and true smooth chocolate flavors, with a very faint malt note in the finish.

Ingredients: "Cacao beans, sugar, glazed pili nuts (pili, sugar, oil), cashew, cocoa butter, black sesame"

*Today's bar was made using a blend of ingredients from the Philippines; although many of these ingredients likely originated from different parts of the world centuries ago. Cacao originated in Central and South America and was spread primarily by the Spanish (and other Europeans) to overseas colonies with similar tropical climates.

Pili nuts (Canarium ovatum) grow on trees that are native to Northern Australia and nearby islands (Papua New Guinea and "maritime" Southeast Asia). They've also been cultivated in the Philippines for some time. Technically a seed, these nuts can also be found in many Pacific island nations. Their shape is somewhere between an almond and a sheathed pine cone seed that is more pointed at one end. 

Pili nuts are surrounded by a tough shell, probably similar to Macadamia nuts. (Many years ago, I remember seeing tourists driving their car over Mac nuts in Hawaii to crack them--an incident that helped explain their inherent toughness, and high cost.)

Black sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) are native to Asia and have been cultivated for thousands of years. Like cacao seeds (aka cacao "beans"), sesame seeds grow in a fruit pod. 

Cashews (cashew apples) are native to NE Brazil and can be found growing in Central and South America--as well as other tropical climates, including the Philippines. (Nigeria, Vietnam and India are currently the largest producers of cashews.)

Every day I feel fortunate to be able to savor the results of all this botanical migration, in the form of single origin chocolates and/or chocolates with creative flavor inclusions. Chocolate is almost a "universal" food. It's one of those foods (like lemon, breads, certain herbs, nuts) that can successfully be part of sweet or savory offerings, or both at the same time.

 

Charm School Chocolate - 2 Coconut Milk bars - Dec. 8, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Charm School Chocolate

Dark Coconut Milk Ecuador with Cocoa Nibs bar
(Limited Release)
Good+++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Black Sesame Bar with Sour Cherries
Very Good
Weight; 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today is a chocolate transition day—between a Chocolate and Coconut Series and Chocolate and Seeds Series.

And I can't think of a better chocolate maker to feature on this day than Charm School Chocolate (Reisterstown, MD). They make vegan chocolate bars using coconut milk; but you won't necessarily know that by tasting their bars.

The first of today's two Charm School bars, a Dark Coconut Milk (64% cacao) Ecuador (bar) with Cocoa Nibs, was created as a Limited Release, for The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA). It had a complex aroma with hints of dried fruit, spice and sweet cocoa. The flavor changed slightly as I re-tasted this bar over a period of several hours, but it was always good, and the flavors and textures (smooth dark chocolate and a generous smattering of crunchy nibs) were always very nicely balanced.

Fortunately, the Garage is across town from me and I was able to pick up both this bar, and a Charm School Black Sesame Bar with Sour Cherries.

The black sesame seeds and cherries bar had a pleasing slightly smoky sesame and fruit aroma, a creamy buttery melt and texture, and a unique and pleasing flavor with the concentrated tart sweet chewiness of dried Montmorency cherries.

While not technically a traditional chocolate bar (it contained cocoa butter but no cocoa solids), this second bar was a tasty example of a non-dairy (vegan) 40% cacao white chocolate bar, that (due to the color imparted by dark seeds) could fool people.

Chantal Guillon - 3 more macarons - Oct. 10, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chantal Guillon
1.) Dark Chocolate macaron - Good - Good+
2.) Earl Grey macaron - Good+
3.) Black Sesame macaron - Good - Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25.47 g.) (estimate) for 3 macarons; 1.8 oz. (51 g.) (estimate) for box of 6
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) for 3 macarons
Cost: $5.50 for (3 macarons)/ $11.00 for total box of 6 macarons
Purchased from: Chantal Guillon (shop), in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

I finished a box of 6 macarons from Chantal Guillon (San Francisco and Palo Alto, CA) with today's trio of Dark Chocolate, Earl Grey and Black Sesame macarons.

When it comes to macarons, savory and floral flavors (ingredients that help balance out the sugar) tend to be my favorites. The Dark Chocolate, also slightly less sweet, did not disappoint. The Earl Grey macaron had a wonderful orange bergamot, slightly citrus flavor. This paired nicely with the dark chocolate macaron. I also enjoyed the black sesame flavor.

ChocolateBet: April 22, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

To celebrate Earth Day today (April 22), I created a special Chocolate Banquet brunch menu, with 8 chocolates, to honor the eight planets (used to be nine, sorry Pluto).

Seven of these chocolates forming this imaginary chocolate solar system were from Vosges, based in Chicago, Illinois. Vosges not only has a global feel to the company and chocolates, but also has adopted earth-friendly practices, such as using recycled materials, and donating to good causes in this vein. Fortunately, I happened to be in Las Vegas last week, where there is a Vosges satellite shop in the Western U.S.

Deluxe Chocolate Brunch "Menu"

The first course on today's brunch menu is bacon and eggs - a la Vosges...

1.) Vosges - Bacon and Eggs - 1 egg
(A dark chocolate egg with caramel and bacon inside)
Very Good

After this first course, and some fresh orange slices and mint tea,  I tried most of the chocolates in a 9-piece box I had picked up at Vosges. (This box, with the addition of the earth chocolate in the center that was not from Vosges, is pictured at right.)

2.) Vosges - Buddha's Leaf - 1 truffle (top row, center)
(Dark chocolate truffle flavored with Malaysian Pandan leaf - from Vosges Green Collection)
Very Good + - Yum

3.) Vosges - Ambrosia - 1 truffle (bottom row, center)
(Cointreau, white chocolate, macadamia nut pieces)
Very Good

4.) Vosges - Black Pearl  - 1 truffle (not pictured)
(Black sesame seeds, ginger, wasabi)
Very Good - Very Good +

5.) Vosges - Naga - 1 truffle (bottom row, right)
(Milk chocolate truffle with sweet Indian curry powder)
Very Good

6.) Vosges - Woolloomooloo - 1 truffle (bottom row, left)
(Milk chocolate, macadamia nuts, coconut)
Good + - Very Good

7.) Vosges - Rose - 1 truffle (top row, right)
(Dark chocolate, topped with a rose petal)
Very Good - Very Good +

8.) (Vendor unknown) - 1 piece (pictured above, right, beginning of today's post)
A foil-wrapped chocsimile of planet Earth (from Country Sun Natural Foods)
Good +

For those interested, below is more information on today's Earth Day Chocolate Brunch Banquet.
Total Weight (chocolates only): 4.1 oz. (121 g.)
Total Calories: 750 calories in total brunch (chocolates, fresh fruit, dab of peanut butter, tea)
Total Cost: $35.00 (thank you very much to Vosges, for the additional free samples to try)
Purchases from: Vosges, Forum Shops in Caesar's Palace, in Las Vegas, NV; and Country Sun Natural Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was also Day #5 of Chocolate and Seed/Nut Butter and Fruit Theme Week, and I believe I've included chocolate combined with seeds, nuts, nut butter, and fruit in today's brunch.

ChocolateBet: December 13, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (4 pcs.)
Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier
Chocolate Covered Black Sesame Crunch
Very Good +
Weight: 29 grams/5 oz. (142 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories for 29 g., 4-pc. serving
Cost: $6.49 for total package
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

These dark chocolate covered Black Sesame Crunch pieces (filled with a nice blend of almonds and sesame seeds) from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) were very satisfying. Even better: no wheat, and no artificial colors or flavors.

ChocolateBet: December 10, 2006

Chocolate of the Day:

Today I ate almost half of a Black Pearl bar. What is a Black Pearl you might ask? It is a great Asian-flavored dark chocolate (55% cacao) bar from Vosges Haut-Chocolat (Chicago, IL) - with hints of ginger, wasabi, and black sesame seeds. It was very good, and particularly relevant given that we will be traveling around Tokyo this week.

I had fun sharing this bar with Jennifer, Mark and Bill.

After meetings today and this evening, I plan to go up to my hotel room and read Haruki Murakami's book "Kafka on the Shore" before going to sleep. This author has a great imagination; animals often speak to him. I wonder if Mr. Murakami likes chocolate? Maybe a talking chocolate cat?