Intrigue Chocolate - Gingerbread 60% Cacao (bar) + Brandy Cherry and Anise Seed Truffles - Jan. 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.

Gingerbread 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Truffle assortment box 

• Brandy Cherry Truffle - Good ++ - Good +++
• Anise Seed Truffle - Good ++

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week(s).

Today's Gingerbread 60% Cacao (bar) made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA) was part of the company's bean-to-bar Origins line. The bar was made using cacao beans from Ghana (Asante Akim region). Community: Three Mountains, Kome blend; Type: "Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario, and more pending identification." Crop Year: 2023.

Aroma notes for this bar included: authentic gingerbread and gingerbread spices, and dark chocolate.

I appreciated the short list of quality ingredients in this well-balanced, judicious and warm seasonal bar. I often find 60% cacao chocolates a little too sweet; but this was not the case today. I could taste both the rich dark chocolate and the spices: the ginger, cinnamon, cloves and a bit of black pepper in this blend. 

(Disclosure I love ginger molasses cookies and gingerbread; and as an adult I also love gingerbread teas and lattes with similar spices.) 

I enjoyed today's Gingerbread bar with two different Intrigue truffles from an assortment box of 13 different, and individually-wrapped, flavors. 

Intrigue's Brandy and Cherry Truffle was a classic. Rich, creamy, dusted in cocoa powder. Very Good. 

A warm cup of Tazo Ginger Jasmine tea + Intrigue's Anise Seed Truffle (also authentic and tasty), provided the "tea" and "herb" components of this week's theme (Chocolate Tea, Herbs and Spices Week). 

Maker's Tasting Notes for Gingerbread bar: "...smells like home and grandma's baking."

Ingredients: Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, ginger, cassia cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, black pepper, sea salt."

Allergy-related information: "No actual bread was harmed in the making of this treat..." (minimizes gluten worries).

Zotter - Cherry Brandy With Marzipan (bar) - Nov. 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Cherry Brandy with Marzipan 
Good ++
Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 380 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Cherry Brandy with Marzipan (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, marzipan, cherry and spirits.

A thin crispy,* dark chocolate shell sheltered a soft, creamy, high-quality marzipan center infused with cherry brandy.

Marzipan can be quite sweet. However, this was a well-balanced and well-executed, flavorful blend. The 70% dark chocolate and authentic cherry flavors balanced out the sweet almond-forward confection layer. And the slightly boozy flavor added flavor depth and richness to this bar that landed squarely in the Goldilocks zone.**

Ingredients: Marzipan+ (25% Almonds+, Sugar+, Invert Sugar Syrup+), Cocoa Mass+*, Cane Sugar+*, Cocoa Butter+*, Glucose Syrup+, Butter (Cream), Cherry Brandy+ (5%), Dry Whole Milk, Sour Cherry Powder+ (2%: Sour Cherry Juice Concentrate+, Corn Starch+), Dry Skim Milk, Skim, Salt, Lecithin (Soy+), Vanilla Bean Powder+*. (+ = Organic; 91% Organic) (* = Fair Traded, Fair Trade Content in Total: 53%)

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Almonds, Soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, gluten and sesame."

*Crispy shell in a cool room (64 degrees F./17.7 degrees C.) 

** Something that is not too much, or not too little; it's just right. The likely origin of this reference: an English fairy tale from the 1800s about a girl named Goldilocks (or old woman, depending on the version of the story) who sampled bowls of porridge (and tried out different chairs and beds) in the home of Three Bears. One bowl of porridge was too hot, one was too cold, and the last was just right.

The Xocolate Bar - Brandy Truffle - Aug. 11, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

The Xocolate Bar
Brandy Truffle (grape cluster)
Good++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 72 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Xocolate Bar, Berkeley, CA

Welcome to Chocolate, Fruit and Botanicals Month on Chocolate Banquet.*

Today's (vegan) Brandy Truffle from The Xocolate Bar (Berkeley, CA) was shaped like a pretty cluster of lustrous, purple grapes. But, the booze-infused chocolate ganache (chocolate filling) had a serious brandy kick to it—great for adult palettes.

*This month, instead of 7+-day theme weeks, I'm featuring several shorter series of chocolates mixed with fruit flavors, such as orange, grapes, goji berries, etc. And in a few weeks, I'm looking forward to a series of chocolates/bars with some herbal botanical inclusions (fennel, anise and absinthe, palo santo, etc.). Chocolate is nothing if not versatile.

flying noir - Applause Apple Brandy chocolate - Nov. 30, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

flying noir
"Applause" Apple Brandy chocolate
Good++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $12.00 - part of a larger 6-piece "spirited" assortment box
Purchased from: flying noir, Fall Chocolate Salon, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to the last day of Holiday Spirits Theme Week, and the first day of ABC Theme Week.

I'll be working my way through the chocolate alphabet, starting with items that begin with A, B, and C. This week ABC stands for the following three fruits: Apple, Baobab and Cranberry.

Today's "Applause" Apple Brandy chocolate was created by flying noir (Oakland, CA). Covered with Kallari dark chocolate, this piece had a nice flavorful center with layered, adult caramelized apple flavor. The Applause filled chocolate was part of flying noir's "spirited" collection.

Bohme - Cherry and Brandy Filled Chocolates - Feb. 11, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Delitzscher Schokoladenfabrik GmbH
Weinbrand Kirschen
Good+
Weight: .353 oz. (10 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 42.5 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $3.90 for 1 box of 15 pieces
Purchased from: Gourmet Haus Staudt (store), Redwood City, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Weeks.

It was cold this evening -- a good opportunity for a hot brandy with Kirsch (cherry brandy), and a German Bohme Weinbrand Kirschen -- a Cherry and Brandy Filled Chocolate.

A simple drink + dessert, with a pleasing flavor combination.

John and Kira's - Chocolate Cherries - Feb. 8, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Chocolate Cherries
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total box of 9
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $29.00
Purchased from: John and Kira's, Philadelphia, PA

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

John and Kira's box of 9 attractive, shiny red Chocolate Cherries were filled with 62% Valrhona dark chocolate ganache with a hint of brandy -- a nice warm combination of flavors for a cool winter's day.

The company has developed relationships with a number of interesting growers, some local, all with a good story. The cherries in today's Chocolate Cherries were from King's Orchards, in Central Lake, IL. 

Cocopotamus - Razzmanian Devil + Yo-Ho-Ho - Dec. 31, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus

1.) Razzmanian Devil
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) for 1 box of 5 pieces
Calories: 78 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $11.95 for 1 box of 5 pieces
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

2.) Yo-Ho-Ho 
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) for 1 box of 5 pieces
Calories: 82 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $12.00 for 1 box of 5 pieces
Purchased from: Cocopotamus (website, online order)

Happy last day of 2013, and a Very Happy New Year's Eve to all. Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Rather than go with champagne and chocolate, I opted for four "fs" -- feisty, fun, fantastic and fudge: Cocopotamus dark chocolate fudge balls, individually wrapped in festive foil, and infused with spirits.

The Cocopotamus Razzmanian Devil dark chocolate fudge balls were bouncing with delicious, sweet black raspberry and raspberry brandy flavor. And the Cocopotamus Yo-Ho-Ho fudge balls were infused with jolly shot of Caribbean rum, lightly frosted with a gold shimmer, and rolled in crunchy, sweet grains of caramel colored Turbinado sugar.

Here's a fifth "f": fearless. I hope you live joyfully and fearlessly in 2014. May all your dreams come true -- chocolate and otherwise.

Cocopotamus - Humpty Eggnog truffles - Dec. 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus
Humpty - Eggnog + Brandy Caramel Fudge Truffles
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) total mesh bag of 5 pieces
Calories: 78 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $12.00 in 1 bag
Purchased from: NYDC Chocolate (online order)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...Well, he wouldn't have survived long, even if the king's men had found him, because he was eaten.

Nursery rhymes can be pretty grim, can't they. But, today's chocolate Humpty was definitely on the sweeter side.

Today's "Humpty" Eggnog + Brandy Caramel Fudge Truffle was part of the Cocopotamus chocolate family from NYDC Chocolate (Albuquerque, NM), the creation of Max and Ally Sinclair. These gluten-free, fudge and caramel filled truffles, with brandy flavoring, were covered with chocolate and decorated with a light golden eggnog colored icing swirl.

Individually wrapped in gold foil, five of these Humpty truffles were nestled inside a shiny mesh bag, tied with a slender white ribbon. As noted on the label, Cocopotamus truffles have also been included in celebrity gift bags at high-profile awards events: "Oscars, Golden Globe, Emmys." Packaged as they were, they made an attractive small gift.

Barlovento - Eggnog truffle - Dec. 26, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Eggnog Brandy truffle
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece (if part of 4-piece box, otherwise $2.75 for 1)
Purchased from: Barlovento Chocolates, California Ave. Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the Day after Christmas, and Day #2 of Holiday Spirits Theme Week. It was nice to still be unwrapping presents, like this dark shimmering Eggnog Brandy truffle from Barlovento Chocolates (Oakland, CA).

The Barlovento chocolates I bought this past week (at the local farmers market) were all made from Venezuelan dark chocolate, including this Eggnog truffle that was infused with very subtle spice and brandy flavors.

The rich, slightly acidic dark chocolate ganache (and dark couverture) dominated this truffle. Dark, bold and beautiful, with no sugary, white fluff.

ChocolateBet: March 30, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 egg
Hotel Chocolat
Apricot Brandy
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) (estimate for 1 egg)
Calories: 112 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - sample

Purchased from: N/A - sample - from Hotel Chocolat

Mention Spring and Easter, and the conversation quickly turns to chocolate chicks, bunnies and eggs here at Chocolate Banquet. The next few days we'll be celebrating the "Your Eggsellency" collection from  Hotel Chocolat (London). On today's menu for brunch: Apricot Brandy, a white chocolate egg with a few yolk-colored decorative dribbles, with an apricot brandy flavored chocolate truffle cream center. Heavenly.

This Apricot Brandy egg was packaged (with four other different eggs) inside a large chocolate half-egg-shell. Two sets of these five eggs were included in one box: one set nestled in a 70% dark chocolate shell, and one set in a 40% milk chocolate shell.

ChocolateBet: April 4, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Poco Dolce - 4 Raspberry Bunnies
Very Good +
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.)/2.7 oz. (76 g.) total package of 6 bunnies (weights are estimates)
Calories: 255 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Poco Dolce, at the Chocolate Salon, held in San Francisco, CA

2.) Coco Delice - 2 Brandied Cherries
Very Good
Weight:1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate); 4 oz. (112 g.) (estimate) for total box of 8 pieces
Calories: 145 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $15.99 for total box of 8 pieces
Purchased from: Andronicos, in Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Both of these chocolates were very good; however, the bunnies won by a nose. This was fitting, as today was Easter Sunday. I combined today's chocolates with a very small glass of Obester Winery Red Wine (blend), in keeping with the fact that today was also Day #3 of Chocolate and Red Wine and Raspberries Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: December 31, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 chocolate cups
Dobla B.V.
Cordial and Toasting Cups
Very Good
Weight:  .32 oz. (9 g.) for 2 cups/1.9 oz. (54 g.) for 12 cups
Calories: 45 calories
Cost: $3.99 for a box of 12 cups
Purchased from: T.J. Maxx, in San Francisco, CA

Happy New Year's Eve to all. And what better way to usher in a new decade than to toast 2010 with some brandy in tiny Dark Belgian Chocolate Cordial and Tasting cups from Dobla (The Netherlands).

ChocolateBet: August 30, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (5 pieces)
Marich Confectionary Co.
Dark Chocolate Brandied Cherries
Very Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) /4.5 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 5 pieces (per package label)
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, in San Jose, CA

These mouth-watering, dark chocolate covered brandied cherries from Marich Confectionery Co. (Hollister, CA) might be nice with a fruit and cheese plate, and a small glass of wine or port.

ChocolateBet: June 13, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bon bon
Gateau et Ganache
Le Caramel
Very Good +
Weight: ~.5 oz. (14.1 g.)/~4 oz. (113.2 g.) total 8-piece box
Calories: ~75 calories for 1 bon bon
Cost: $18.00* for box of 8 bon bons
Purchased from: Piazzas, in Palo Alto, CA

I was taking a 10-minute quiet break to eat this pleasing heart-shaped chocolate, with a nice hint of brandy, when I was interrupted by the meowing of two cats who wanted their dinner. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

ChocolateBet: December 8, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Halloren/G. F. Handel's
Brandy Beans
Very Good
Weight: 33 g./7 oz. (200g) total box
Calories: 140 calories for 4 pieces
Cost: $ 7.99 for total box (24 pcs.)
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

I was in the Dallas, TX, area, traveling on business, and I decided to buy dinner from a supermarket in the area. I went to the Central Market, chain of stores in Texas. It was a large store - sort of a cross between a Whole Foods Market (another chain that originated in Texas) and a deluxe indoor farmers market.

These bittersweet chocolates (made in Germany) were shaped a little like "beans" and were filled with brandy flavoring. These beans made up 1/2 of my dinner back at the hotel. It was wonderfully relaxing.