Compartes Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Fruits - Pomegranate, Golden Raisins, Blueberries, Orange Slice & Pear - Nov. 8, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Compartes Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Fruit Assortment
Weight: Unknown. Total box estimate: (>1.57 lbs. (715.3 g.)
Calories: 380 calories (estimate) in 5 pieces
Cost: $74.00 for 1 box of 16+ pieces
Purchased from: Compartes, online order

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week.

Today's eye-catching matte black box of jewel-colored dark chocolate covered/dipped fruits were from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA). The company produces a wide variety of chocolate bars with different flavor inclusions, confections and chocolate gifts.

Three of today's five chocolate + fruit confections were composed of fruit pieces atop dark chocolate cups: 1.) Pomegranate, 2.) Golden Raisins and 3.) Blueberries. 

The last two were larger fruit pieces dipped in dark chocolate: 4.) a chocolate dipped Orange Slice and 5.) a dark chocolate dipped pear "spear." 

These five flavors were part of a larger "medium" sized dark chocolate + fruits assortment box. 

Aroma notes included: smooth, chocolate-y dark chocolate with very faint fruit (red berry). The orange piece had a citrus fragrance. The pear piece was very subtle.

Texture: varied by fruit item. The chocolate cup bases on the first three items were fairly substantial. These smooth, thick dark chocolate cups were topped with authentic, ruby-hued fresh pomegranate seeds, with little white pips at the centers; moist, chewy golden raisins and softly chewy blueberries. 

The orange slice and the pear spear were made of larger pieces of fruit. The fruits were sweet; but authentic. The little bursts of fruit flavor from the pomegranate seeds was pure bright-tart red berry/pomegranate. 

My favorite (and most fruit-flavorful) piece was the dark chocolate dipped orange slice. (Although I did not taste the dark chocolate dipped apricot piece, I'll bet that one was very tasty and tart-sweet too.)

This stylish, mixed dark assortment of chocolate dipped and covered fruit pieces was attractively presented in the black box; the contrast with the black box (and dark chocolate) really made the bright, authentic fruit colors pop and shine--wow factor for a gift box.

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla)... May Contain Apricot, Orange, Pear, Pineapple, Peach, Raisin, Ginger, Mango, Kiwi, Goji Berries, Cherries, Cranberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Acai, Papaya, Cocoanut, Lemon, Dates, Apple, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sulphur Dioxide.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles Milk, Wheat, Peanuts, Egg, Soy, Tree Nuts, and Sesame."  

Standout Chocolate - Nordic Nature European Blueberry 63% (bar) - Aug. 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate 
Nordic Nature European Blueberry 63% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

Today's Organic Nordic Nature European Blueberry 63% (bar) was from Standout Chocolate (Goteborg, Sweden). The company has been very reliably producing some very tasty single origin bars in recent years (as well as a line of bars with Nordic-inspired flavor inclusions).

The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Oko Caribe, a cacao co-operative located in the Duarte Province of the Dominican Republic.

Aroma and flavor notes included: appealing dark chocolate and complex, tart-sweet blueberry that resulted in a bar with berry flavor with very light, attractive, herbal/savory (barely there umami, smoke) notes.

I enjoyed the opportunity to taste a chocolate bar with bilberries--and the complex, relatively more intense, flavor of these European blueberries. I also liked the very complementary and flavorful blend of single origin DR cacao with these unique wild berries. 

And, last but not least, I appreciated the short list of thoughtfully sourced, organic ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: "Wild Blueberries, Fresh Fruitiness"

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Sugar*, Cacao butter*, Bilberry*. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of Milk. 

The Chocolate Therapist - Rx - Blue Suede 'Shews - 72% Dark with Blueberries & Cashews (bar) - July 28, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Chocolate Therapist 
Rx - Blue Suede "Shews" - 72% Dark with Blueberries & Cashews (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 332 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.00 for 1 bar ($12 for 3 bars)
Purchased from: The Chocolate Therapist, online order 

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate, Berries and Cherries Week.

Today's Blue Suede 'Shews -  72% Dark Chocolate Blueberries & Cashews (bar) was from The Chocolate Therapist  (Littleton, CO). The company's bars are designed by Julie Nygard, "a long time chocolate enthusiast" with a passion for nutrition.

Aroma and flavor notes included: very slightly earthy but relatively smooth dark chocolate; faint, lightly salted cashew pieces; and the occasional authentic-tasting dried (but still flavorful and moist) blueberry.

I liked that this bar was balanced and not too sweet; and that the blueberries tasted like real blueberries. Both blueberries and cashews complemented the dark chocolate nicely.

Ingredients: "72% Dark Chocolate (Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Blueberries (Blueberries, Sucrose, Sunflower Oil), Roasted Cashews, Salt."

Allergen-related information: "Contains Cashews. Produced on Equipment That Also Processes Milk Products, Tree Nuts, Peanuts and Soy and May Contain Traces of These Products." 

Tru Fru - Dark Chocolate Nature's Blueberries (frozen) - Mar. 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Tru Fru
Dark Chocolate Nature's Blueberries (frozen)
Good +
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.7 g.) / 5 oz. (141.5 g.) in total container
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 container
Cost: $2.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Nature's Blueberries were from Tru Fru (Salt Lake City, UT). The company specializes in chilled and dried "fresh fruit in chocolate" snacks.

These frozen blueberries were immersed in both white and dark chocolate. As with most frozen items, the aroma was subtle. The blueberry centers had authentic frozen berry texture and the outer chocolate layers were smooth, with a nice melt.

Flavor notes included: slightly earthy bold dark chocolate (dark chocolate frosting, ganache) as well as sweet white chocolate surrounding a frozen blueberry fruit center, with a faint, earthy finish.

These chocolate covered blueberries were flavorful and felt less filling than heavier chocolate and fruit confections.

Ingredients: Blueberries, dark chocolate (cane sugar, chocolate liquor (processed with alkali), cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin (an emulsifier), vanilla), white chocolate (cane sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, soy lecithin (an emulsifier), natural vanilla flavor).

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and soy.

Fjak Sjokolade - Nordic Collection 50% Milk Blueberry (bar) - Jan. 22, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade
Nordic Collection 50% Milk Blueberry (bar)
Good +
Weight: .935 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.87 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Berries and Vanilla Theme Week. 

Today's Nordic Collection 50% Milk Blueberry (bar) was from Fjak Sjokolade (a bean-to-bar chocolate maker located in Hardangerfjord, Norway). 

This 100% Organic chocolate was made using cacao from Akessons Bejofo Estate (located in the Sambirano Valley, Madagascar).

Aroma notes for this bar included: chocolate (cocoa, soft oxalis (tart, almost lemony green herb; e.g., sour grass, wood sorrel), faint dark berry, and vanilla.

The texture was a uniform blend of smooth dark milk chocolate and a very slight graininess and faint fruit astringency (from the blueberries). 

Flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate, vanilla, and tart-sweet dark berry (Nordic blueberry*).

I enjoyed being able to taste both elements of the cacao and the blueberry; and this dark milk chocolate was not too sweet (thank you).

Maker's description: "Creamy milk chocolate with Nordic blueberry and a hint of vanilla"

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic milk powder, organic cocoa butter, organic blueberries and organic vanilla.

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that handles nuts, diary (dairy) and gluten"

*Nordic wild blueberries (Vaccinium martillus) are also known as bilberries. They are relatively small(er) in size, slightly darker in color, and have (in my experience) a slightly more intense, tart blueberry flavor.

They are also typically higher in antioxidants than most (larger, slightly sweeter) American (and cultivated) blueberries (e.g., Vaccinium corymbosum). There are many varieties of highbush and lowbush blueberries one can grow in the northern/northeast U.S.; most that we buy/taste in the U.S. are the larger, highbush variety.

 

Zotter - Wild Berries with Vanilla (filled bar) - Jan. 15, 2023

Zotter
Wild Berries with Vanilla (filled) bar
Good +
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.99 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: zotter.com, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Berries and Vanilla Theme Week.

Today's Wild Berries with Vanilla (filled) bar was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

The company offers a wide variety of filled bar (with a range of layered flavors) as well as bean-to-bar, single origin bars (their "Labooko" line), using organic, fair trade ingredients.

Aroma notes for today's sweet, winter warmer filled bar included: sweet red berry (red currant, strawberry) jam, vanilla and chocolate.

A thin chocolate coating enveloped two (fruit and vanilla) soft, internal layers. 

Relatively thin, layered, flavors like this can have an advantage over chocolates where distinct flavors everything thoroughly blended. Each complementary berry fruit flavor was able shine.

The overall flavor was rich in berry jam notes (strawberry, red raspberry and tart currant, and faint blueberry). Rich cocoa (dark milk chocolate) and warm vanilla notes made me feel like I was eating a sweet, complexly sophisticated dessert. 

Speaking of dessert, yes, this bar was very sweet. (Organic, fair traded sugar was the number one ingredient; and it also contained honey and glucose syrup.) A few confection-sized bites made for a fun treat. 

I plan to share the rest of this attractively layered bar with a few people and/or cut it up and display the pieces on a dessert/fruit plate.

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cane sugar; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic, fair traded cocoa mass; dry whole milk; milk; dry skim milk; honey; organic glucose syrup; organic strawberries; organic blue berries; organic dried raspberries; organic almonds; organic cranberry concentrate; organic redcurrant concentrate; organic dried strawberries; organic dried blackcurrants; organic dried blueberries; dry sweet whey; organic dark brown cane sugar; organic soy lecithin; organic vanilla bean powder; salt; organic lemon powder (organic lemon juice concentrate, organic corn starch, organic sugar); organic cinnamon; organic rose petals; (78% organic)

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

Endangered Species - Luscious Blueberries + Dark Chocolate 72% (bar) - June 11, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Endangered Species
Luscious Blueberries + Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Fruit(s) Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week, that includes chocolate + tea pairings.

Today's Luscious Blueberries + Dark Chocolate 72% Cocoa (bar) was from Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC (Indianapolis, IN). 

Aroma notes for this bar included dark chocolate; authentic, smoky floral vanilla bean; and dark berry jam cake.

The 72% cocoa dark chocolate had a thick, creamy texture with a satisfying, relatively slow, even melt. The chocolate flavor was deep, dense and mellow (almost nutty). 

The sweetness level was balanced by dark, rich chocolate and (more subtle) dark berry/blueberry flavors. 

I paired this bar with a black tea flavored with fresh, strained blueberry juice and a lemon slice.

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate (chocolate liquor, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), cane sugar, dried blueberries, sunflower oil. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Soy." "Produced on equipment that also processes products containing milk, peanuts and tree nuts."

 

Crunchies - Freeze-Dried Blueberries in Dark Chocolate - June 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Distributed by Crunchies Natural Food Company, LLC

Freeze-Dried Blueberries in Dark Chocolate

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) in total package

Calories: 280 calories in 2 servings

Cost: $3.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Freeze-Dried Blueberries in Dark Chocolate were distributed by Crunchies Natural Food Company, LLC (Calabasas, CA).

The company offers a line of crunchy freeze-dried fruits, including some that are chocolate-coated (strawberry, banana and today's blueberry).

Aroma notes for these petite, glossy, dark chocolate orbs included: unmistakable blueberry fruit, ripe, dark berry preserves and subtle dark chocolate notes.

The light, crunchy, freeze-dried blueberries at the center of these chocolate confections were bursting with a range of fresh blueberry fruit flavor notes: sweet, ripe and tangy blueberry fruit, blueberry syrup or jam, slightly floral, slightly earthy blueberry, and ripe blackberry. The entire blueberry flavor rainbow was perfectly captured, then sealed in a dark chocolate time capsule. A testament to the miracle of freeze-drying when done right.

I really enjoyed the pairing of dark berry and dark chocolate. The deeper, richer and more flavorful ingredients balanced the sweetness nicely. A hint of vanilla (and "natural flavor") evoked distant taste memories of freshly baked blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup, and blueberry muffins.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), whole milk powder, natural vanilla extract), freeze-dried blueberries, confectioners glaze, gum arabic, natural flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy" "May contain eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat" 

Next by Nature - Dark Chocolate Blueberries - May 31, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Next by Nature 

Dark Chocolate Blueberries 

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package

Calories: 380 calories in 1 package

Cost: $5.10 for 1 package ($6.00 less member discount)

Purchased from: Land's End Gift Shop, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week, featuring a variety of chocolate and fruit flavor blends.

Today's Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Blueberries were produced by Tropical Valley Foods (Plattsburgh, NY).

These ebony-colored pearls had a dark milk chocolate, hot cocoa, and faint/diffuse fruit aroma. I enjoyed the darker 58% dark chocolate and slightly "darker" berry (blueberry) flavor choices with this offering. The pieces may still have been sweet--by single origin dark bar standards--but had richer, deeper flavors than many chocolate covered items.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (unsweetened cocoa liquor processed with alkali; sugar; cocoa butter; cocoa powder; milk fat; non-GMO soy lecithin (an emulsifier); vanilla extract), dried blueberries (cultivated blueberries, cane sugar, sunflower oil), dextrin (non-GMO), confectioners glaze (regular lac resin)

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy."

Chocolita - Blueberry Bliss Raw Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) - July 3, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolita 
Blueberry Bliss Raw Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar)

Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Fruits and Flowers Theme Week. We're gearing up for 4th of July weekend celebration in California. And this week I'll be featuring chocolates with red, white and/or blue items (like blueberries) as well.

Today's Blueberry Bliss Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) was from Chocolita (Sedona, AZ).

The aroma of this chocolate had mild dark chocolate, light fruit (dark berry), faint green and botanical notes. The texture was smooth and the chocolate was uniform and satisfying.

The word that kept coming up for me for this bar was "balanced." All the (organic) inclusions (blueberry powder, lucuma, hops, passion flower, vanilla) were fully incorporated were tasted and felt nicely balanced. 

This chocolate was relatively relaxing, with less of a sugar buzz or cocoa lift than many other chocolates have. And even at only 56% cocoa, it was not too sweet. (Thank you!) This might be a good choice for a late afternoon, or early evening treat, if you're worried about chocolate keeping you up at night.*

Ingredients: Organic cacao paste, organic cacao butter, organic coconut sugar, organic lucuma powder, organic blueberry powder, organic hops, organic passion flower, organic vanilla.

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut. Made in a facility that processes tree nuts." 

*I eat my daily chocolate in the morning, and generally refrain from eating chocolate after 3 or 4 p.m. in the afternoon. After almost 15 years of eating chocolate every day, my body is accustomed to cacao. However, stimulants like theobromine and caffeine (both found in chocolate), can affect us for several hours.

Fazer Confectionery - Nordi Blueberry Spicy Cardamom Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 14, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Fazer Confectionery

Nordi Blueberry and Spicy Cardamom Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 151 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nordi Blueberry and Spicy Cardamom Naturally Flavored Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Fazer Confectionery (Ventaa, Finland). 

The "spice" in this bar was (I'm guessing black) cardamom. There are two main varieties of cardamom: green and black. Most of the Scandinavian bars with cardamom I've tasted seem to use black cardamom.*

This "naturally flavored" bar had an aroma with blueberry, light earthy spice, faint menthol and chocolate notes. "Natural flavors" tend not to be as authentic as the real thing, but can offer reasonable facsimiles. 

Ingredients and flavors like apple, birch, vanilla and plum added a sense of "warmth in the winter" to this dark chocolate bar (The bar's outer packaging was adorned with an aerial shot of someone making a snow angel in a field of white.) 

It's been a bit of a grim December this year (2020) with Covid-19 cases peaking worldwide. And it's good to think back on memories of playing in the snow, while being warm inside. 

You may have noticed that most of the chocolate and spice items featured so far this week have been from northern Europe. They know a thing or two about getting through (and brightening up) a rough winter. Hope you all are enjoying some relaxing time by a cozy fire/heater and maybe enjoying a hot spiced chocolate or a bite or two of chocolate. Simple pleasures.

Ingredients:  Dark Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, reduced fat cocoa powder, natural vanilla flavor), Blueberry Flavored Pieces (concentrated apple puree, blueberry puree, concentrated plum puree, apple juice concentrate, sugar, glycerol, citrus fiber, pectin (citrus), natural blueberry flavor), Natural Cardamom Flavor.

*Re: black and green cardamom varieties: Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) pods, also known as Bengal cardamom, tend to be grown in Nepal, southern Bhutan, Darjeeling, to be slightly larger in size, to be harvested later, and to have a more down to earth flavor. Black cardamom tends to be a little darker, smokier, earthier, and some say it has a light camphor note. 

By contrast, green or "true" cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is native to southern India (think Kerala) and can be found growing wild there. It is also cultivated in Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Indochina, Indonesia/Malayasia and Tanzania. It has green-colored pods, and is more fragrant, with a "sweeter," brighter spice flavor that has an "upbeat feel" -- similar to the aroma/flavor effects of saffron, nutmeg and vanilla. When I think of chai masala tea available in the U.S., I think of green cardamom.

Helsinki Heaven - ChocOat - Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar - Feb. 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

ChocOat - Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar
(manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY)
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 137 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Oats Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Finland Theme Week.

Today's ChocOat Wild Blueberry Oat Milk Chocolate bar was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven OY (Helsinki, Finland).

The bar had a fruity blueberry and roasted chocolate aroma and even, authentic flavors and texture.  

Moka Origins - Blueberry Brazil 72% Cacao bar - Oct. 20, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Moka Origins
Blueberry Brazil Cacao 72% bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) / 2.4 oz. (68 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Blueberry Theme Week.

Blueberries add a touch of rich, dark berry fruit and a light earthiness to chocolate. Some chocolates would seem more well-suited to this partnership than others. For example, cacaos with natural nutty, fudgey, berry or citrus flavor notes may complement this fruit nicely, or not. We'll see.

Today's Blueberry Brazil Cacao 72% bar was crafted by small batch bean-to-bar maker(s) from Moka Origins (Honesdale, PA) and was Certified USDA Organic and Non-GMO. The company also has roots in coffee, and grows crops on a plantation in Cameroon. Their connections with farmers, community and partners help enable good product and ethical sourcing. (Sadly their Cameroon bar was sold out this week, but they offer several other single origin bars.)

This thick, soft fudgey and relatively mild* dark chocolate (made with organic Brazilian cacao) had small bursts of moist, dark berry flavor from organic dried blueberries, and the pairing was sweet, rich and harmonious.

The fact that blueberries + chocolate offerings are numerous (it was easy to find several bars for this theme week) speaks to cacao's natural pairing with fruits and berries, as well as the reputed health properties and antioxidant content found in cacao and blueberries.**

*The blueberry fruit may have masked some of the other finer chocolate flavor nuances, but it seemed like good, high-quality, balanced dark chocolate.

ORAC Scores - Blueberries and Cacao

**Blueberries have been shown to contain high levels of antioxidants.

Polyphenols found in berries (and other whole fruits and vegetables) have been proven to be beneficial for human health in several studies. Polyphenols are antioxidants believed to reduce the oxidative stress that takes place naturally over time in humans and other animals. 

In the 1990s, certain fruits (and vegetables) started being evaluated on their ability to reduce oxygen free radicals (and by inference their damage) using the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale. 

Cultivated blueberries scored very high (prunes and raisins scored even higher) on this scale. Wild fruits have performed well, if not better. (Wild blueberries scored close to 9,000 according to one report). And these inky purple-blue berries have been the subject of many health studies in the past 20 years. Results reported have included, e.g., positive effects on memory, mobility and heart health in older individuals. 

No disrespect to blueberries, but reports of ORAC score for 100 grams (about 3.5 oz.) of cacao nibs went as high as 62,100; and the score for (processed) cocoa powder was 26,000 in the results I could find online. (Scores for cacao varied quite a bit, in part due to the degree of processing that had occurred.)

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Ethereal - 66% Dark Chocolate Blueberries, Lavender, Almonds bar - May 25, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ethereal Bean-to-Bar Craft Chocolate
66% Dark Chocolate Topped with Blueberries, Lavender, Almonds bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 234 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

Combining chocolate with edible flowers and floral flavors is one of our favorite pastimes, so we were looking forward to this week for months.

Today's 66% Dark Chocolate Topped with Blueberries, Lavender and Almonds bar was created by Ethereal Confections (Woodstock, IL).

The chocolate had a deeper, darker, slightly fruit-acidic chocolate aroma and flavor than other 66% cacao bars, and less sugar sweetness than expected (thank you!). Whether there was actually less sugar or not, we're not sure, but this would have helped explain why the authentic chocolate, blueberries, lavender and almond flavors seemed to shine through.

Freeze-dried blueberries provided some down to earthy fruit-acid flavor and finely sliced almonds provided some balance and slightly nutty texture/soft crunch. Lavender flower buds contributed a distinctive, calming, floral flavor that lingered in the finish.

NibMor - Dark Chocolate bites with real wild Maine blueberries - Jan. 26, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

NibMor Inc.
Dark Chocolate bites with real wild Maine blueberries
Good +
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) / 5.4 oz. (153 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $5.69 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate bites with real wild Maine blueberries were from NibMor Inc. (Kennebunk, ME).

These two-bite sized rectangles were dark (52% cocoa) and sweet, and full of natural blueberry flavor.

Tiny, whole, dried wild blueberries were visible on the underside, and were well balanced with a medium % dark chocolate.

These NibMor chocolate bites were gluten free, vegan, non-GMO project verified, and made with
Rainforest Alliance Certified Cacao.

Dilettante Chocolates - Chocolate Covered Blueberries - June 2, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dilettante Chocolates
Chocolate Covered Blueberries
Good
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 100 calories in 1/2 serving
Cost: $1.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Greetings and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today we're returning to blueberries—Chocolate Covered Blueberries from Dilettante Chocolates (Kent, WA). The company has a long family history in chocolate, and has continued to create new chocolates in the last few decades.

These milk chocolate covered berries used dried blueberries from the Pacific Northwest. The finished shiny round pieces were fairly sweet with a hint of earthy blueberry flavor.

For those with food sensitivities, these berry confections contained no wheat/gluten ingredients (that I could see). They contained milk and soy, and artificial food coloring.

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).

Brookside - Summer Berry Crisp Dark Chocolate bar - Aug. 20, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

The Hershey Company
Brookside Summer Berry Crisp dark chocolate bar
OK
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.17 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 132 calories (per label) for 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate, Fruit and Botanicals Month.

For a dark chocolate bar, this was very sweet—a good example of how dark chocolate can technically be made just as sweet (or moreso) than a milk chocolate bar.

This bar was made with "natural" berry flavors, that tasted a little off, but still conveyed the essence of highly sweetened berries. The attractively packaged dark bar also had a slightly crunchy texture due to the addition of "grain crisps." This bar was not labeled as gluten free, but the grains seemed include brown rice flour, brown sugar and perhaps some corn, and did not seem to include wheat or barley.

Hershey - Brookside Blueberry chocolates - Aug. 18, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

The Hershey Company

1.) Brookside - Blueberry Almond with Acai Flavor bar
OK + - Good
Weight: .79 oz. (22.5 g.) / 3.17 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $3.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Brookside - Whole Blueberries in Smooth Dark Chocolate
OK + - Good
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) / 1.8 oz. (51 g.)
Calories: 80 calories in 1/3 package
Cost: $2.19 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate, Fruit and Botanicals Month.

These two dark chocolate and blueberry offerings were from The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA). The Brookside brand seemed designed to appeal to higher end buyers who might be more partial to dark chocolate.

Both the Brookside Blueberry Almond with Acai flavor bar and the Whole Blueberries in Dark Chocolate were too sweet for me; but they might appeal to those with a sweet tooth. The dark chocolate was even, and it was made with cocoa that had been alkalinized (a process that cuts acidity and smooths flavor).

The bar was attractively packaged, and I found myself looking around for a food pairing that might cut the sugar level a bit. This sounds terrible, but we dipped a small piece of the bar into some great salsa at lunch, and the salt and chilis (and perhaps the touch of acidity) seemed to improve the flavor and tone down the sweetness.

Living Intentions - Gone Nuts! Cacao Clusters with Almonds, Blueberries - Aug. 10, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Living Intentions
Gone Nuts!
(Clusters of Cacao - Almonds, Raisins, Blueberries and Coconut)
Good
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 400 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $5.95 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, American Canyon, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Fruits and Nuts Theme Week, and today's snack (with all three of these components) was Gone Nuts! Clusters of Cacao with Almonds, Raisins, Blueberries and Coconut from Living Intentions (Point Richmond, CA).

My favorite thing about this raw food snack was that it was not too sweet. Crunchy raw almonds were covered with a light coating of cacao, and a bit of coconut, raisin and blueberry.