Weiser Classic Candy Grizzly Bear Paw & Sjaak's California State Bear Dark (bar) - June 12, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Weiser Classic Candy
Grizzly Paw Soft Caramel 
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) / 5 oz. (141.5 g.) in total package/box
Calories: 387 calories (estimate) in 1/2 serving
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package/large bear paw (+ other bonus items)
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
California State Bear Dark Chocolate Almonds (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Bears Theme Week, featuring two bear-themed chocolates.

Grizzly Paw Soft Caramel with Cashew "Claws"

This chocolate coated Grizzly (bear) paw was from Weiser Classic Candy (Weiser, ID).

Weiser Classic Candy is a family-run store (and deli) serving: fudge, caramel (and chocolate) confections, and ice cream. The small-batch chocolatier also produces chocolate confections that are carried in several other small businesses. (They use local ingredients including sugar from local sugar beets and dairy from local cows.)

This bear paw caramel-filled confection was big enough to share with two other people. It was filled with a soft, gentle sea of caramel. The sweetness of the caramel was vast, but balanced by the impressive claws (whole, salted cashews).

I enjoyed the salty claws (whole, salted, jumbo cashews) on this generously-sized grizzly claw. I also was tickled to find two bonus items...

...Under the chocolate caramel claw were a smattering of chocolate-covered raisins (chocolate bear scat) and a small bell (a reference to bear bells often used to let bears know you may be in their area and/or that you're headed their way).

A short printed bear story included information about bears being reintroduced in Idaho (and suggestions about possible human-bear interactions).

Ingredients: Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Milk, Soya Lecithin, Vanillin (an artificial flavor), natural & artificial flavorings, butter corn syrup, evaporated milk, tenox, sucovert, paramount crystals, cashews

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Nuts (Cashews). "These products are produced in a facility that uses major allergens: peanuts, soy beans, milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, and wheat"

California State Bear Dark Chocolate (bar)

Today's California State Bear Dark Chocolate Almonds bar was from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates.

This bear bar was a marvel. It was six years old, and looked and tasted brand new. The well-tempered dark chocolate (no cacao % listed on the label) was smooth-textured and smooth-flavored with a balanced chocolate-y taste. Tiny almond bits added a bit of texture and authentic nut (almond) flavor.

Sadly, the chocolate maker is no longer in business. (Sjaak's Organic Chocolates was based in Petaluma, in Northern California and closed up shop in November 2023 after an almost 20-year run.)

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (organic cocoa paste), organic sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla), organic almonds. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. "Sjaak's Organic Chocolates is a vegan facility. Equipment shared with peanuts/tree nuts. Ingredients suppliers may share equipment that could result in trace amounts of dairy protein."

Wild West Chocolate - Bear Claws - Huckleberry & Cashew 50% Oatmilk Chocolate Nut Clusters - June 9, 2026

Chocolate of The Day 

Wild West Chocolate
Bear Claws - Huckleberry & Cashew 50% Oatmilk Chocolate Nut Clusters
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) / 2.96 oz. (84 g.) in total bar
Calories: 320 calories in 4 pieces
Cost: $8.99 for 1 package of 6 pieces
Purchased from: Wild West Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Bears Week. 

Today's Bear Claws - Huckleberry & Cashew Organic Oatmilk Chocolate Nut Clusters were from Wild West Chocolate, LLC (Missoula, MT)--and featured an image of an impressive brown bear standing in tall grass with snow-capped mountains in the background.*

Aroma and flavor notes for these individually-wrapped bear claws included: chocolate; dark sweet berries; faint vanilla; and very faint nut and oat. 

Texture: The base chocolate was relatively smooth, with a slight oatmilk-y texture. The cashew chunks added an attractive, soft crunch.

I liked the huckleberry (and blueberry) flavor additions (extracts); the very subtle and authentic fruit blend (date, mulberry, peach and mango powders)--used to sweeten this chocolate instead of sugar; and the small, rich, roasted cashew pieces. The individually-wrapped "claws" made them practical for sharing with others.

One last big plus with all the chocolates from Wild West Chocolate: they're made with Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Oatmilk Chocolate (Organic Fruit Blend [Powdered Date++, Powdered Mulberry+, Powdered Peach+, Powdered Mango+], Organic Cocoa Liquor++, Organic Cocoa Butter++, Oatmilk+, Vanilla Extract+), Roasted Cashews+ (Cashews, Salt), Huckleberry Extract+, Blueberry Extract+. (+ = Organic; ++ = Regenerative Organic Certified; Cocoa Liquor and Cocoa Butter: Fair Trade Certified 39% of Product.)

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

*The photo of this powerful-looking bear made me think: this is not the bear I'd want to meet while hiking or camping in the wilderness; but it sure looks great in nature. One early morning, years ago, a Black Bear (near Yosemite National Park in California) walked into my tent when I was still in my sleeping bag. This nose-to-nose encounter was enough for me. (You know you're too close to a bear when you can smell what it just ate for breakfast.)

Hu - Vanilla Crunch Organic 70% Dark Chocolate (Bar) + Built - Puff Coconut with Dark Chocolaty Coating (protein bar) - Dec. 6, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Hu
Vanilla Crunch - Organic 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Built Brands, LLC 
Puff Coconut with Dark Chocolaty Coating (protein bar) 
Good +
Weight: 3.25 oz. (92 g.) / 1.23 lbs. (560 g.) in total package/box
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $19.99 for a box of 14 bars (2 different flavors)
Purchased from: Costco, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate, Movies and Entertainment Theme Week, featuring two bars--used to re-create a "Charlie Chaplin" chocolate (chocolate, marshmallow, coconut and cashews) made popular in Buffalo, New York, over a century ago. 

Buffalo was a candy hot spot in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Confectioners created promotions around their products, including an event when they invited Charlie Chaplin to open his film "The Adventurer" (1917) there. 

Chaplin was said to like marshmallow, chocolate, coconut and cashews. Buffalo responded with chocolates containing these ingredients for the occasion.

I was born in upstate New York and watched Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films as a child. I felt moved to create a version of this confection with these four flavors. I did. And I enjoyed the results very much while watching Chaplin's "The Adventurer" (1917) and "The Circus" (1928).

Today's two bars were:

• Vanilla Crunch - Organic 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) with coconut sugar from Hu Products LLC (Austin, TX).
• Built Puff Coconut with Dark Chocolaty Coating (protein bar) from Built Brands, LLC (American Fork, UT). 

Hu Vanilla Crunch 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)

This bar provided satisfying dark chocolate flavor (flavorful but smooth). Organic vanilla beans (fully ground into the cacao) provided sunny baked goods warmth--perfect for long, snowy winters in Buffalo--and anywhere else.

This Vanilla Crunch bar was sweetened with just the right amount of organic, unrefined coconut sugar. Tiny crunchy bits of quinoa added a little texture. And the small dose of sea salt was very satisfying. 

I appreciate the makers' thoughtful sourcing and the short list of quality, organic ingredients.

Ingredients: "organic cacao*, organic unrefined coconut sugar*, organic cocoa butter*, organic quinoa*, organic vanilla bean*, sea salt" (* = Certified Fairtrade ingredients)

Allergen-related ingredients: "Contains coconut. May contain almond, cashew, hazelnut, pistachio, & dairy. Allergen cleans made prior to production, but beware that product is produced using equipment that also processes tree nuts, soy, dairy & wheat."

Built Puff Coconut Bar

This protein bar provided the marshmallow-like (and coconut flavored) filling (with a thin dark coating) that paired well with the Hu Vanilla Crunch bar and the roasted cashews in olive oil and sea salt.

The pillowy, chewy "puff" (marshmallow-like) center was infused with a gentle coconut aroma and flavor.  

Texture: fairly light and fluffy, slightly whipped, gelatin with a thin coating of smooth dark chocolate ("chocolatey coating"). 

I appreciated the 17 grams of protein. But, I prefer a bit more dark chocolate and less sweetness. But, as one of three ingredients in the Charlie Chaplin chocolate, this flavored protein bar complemented the Hu dark chocolate bar and the cashews very nicely 

I also appreciated that this bar was gluten free, and despite the fairly long list of ingredients, there were no potentially gut-disrupting vegetable gums, or artificial sweeteners. (Not wild about Natural Flavors or cultured dextrose; but there are trade-offs in life.)

Ingredients: Premium Collagen Protein Blend (Partially Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Collagen), Glycerin, Sugar, Water, Palm and Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Gelatin, Natural Flavors, Cultured Dextrose, Nonfat Milk Powder, Soy Lecithin.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. May Contain: Peanuts and Tree Nuts

Goodio - Coffee 56% Cacao (bar) - Sept. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Goodio
Coffee 56% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .848 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Coffee 56% Cacao (bar) from Goodio Craft Chocolate was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Oy (Vantaa, Finland).

According to the Goodio website, the cacao used to make this bar was from Peru.

Aroma notes for this Finnish coffee + chocolate bar included: chocolate, nut and very faint herbal (mint family), coffee and coconut.

Texture: slightly grainy (stoneground) chocolate that broke with a relatively soft snap, but had a pleasant melt.

Flavor notes included: subtle, sweet (Criollo) chocolate; faint coffee; very faint herbal; and subtle caramelized coconut/brown sugar covered, ground nuts.

I appreciated the relatively short list of thoughtfully sourced organic ingredients and the interesting blend of flavors in this sweet chocolate.

Maker's notes: "Starring sweet, smooth and powerful organic coffee with cashew nuts for creamy taste."

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Coconut palm sugar*, Cacao butter*, Cashew nuts*, Coconut flakes*, Coffee bean*. (*Organic).

Allergen-related Information: "Contains nuts (cashew). Dairy, gluten & soy free"

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." 

Nutsola - DAT Organic Cashew Butter 6?% Cacao (bar) - May 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Nutsola
DAT Organic Chocolate Cashew Butter Dark Chocolate 67% Cacao data sweetened (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 175 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $65.00 for 8-bar variety pack (4 flavors)

Purchased from: Nutsola, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate, Bees and Trees Theme Week.

Today's DAT Organic Chocolate Cashew Butter Dark Chocolate 67% Cacao data sweetened (bar) was distributed by Nutsola LLC (Livingston, NJ).

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate (roasted, balanced cacao), subtle fruit and nut (cashew). 

Texture: mostly smooth, with very faint (barely detectable) graininess--that was likely from dates. The cashew butter filling contributed to a smooth, pleasing melt and mouthfeel.

I liked that this chocolate wasn't too sweet, and that "No Added Sugar" meant no artificial sweeteners. Dates still contain sugars; but it's nice to have this option. (Many "sugar free" chocolates still can contain artificial sweeteners.) 

I also appreciated the flavor and texture of the cashew butter, that complemented the dark chocolate nicely.

Ingredients: "Organic Cacao, Organic Date, Organic Cashew Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt"

Allergen-related information: "Contains Cashews. May contain occasional pits. Shares equipment with products containing Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Milk, Egg, and Wheat."

Theo Chocolate - Organic Salted Cashew 85% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Salted Cashew 85% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Organic Salted Cashew 85% Dark Chocolate (bar) was distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

Aroma notes for this ultra-dark bar included: dark chocolate with very faint fruit, nut and even fainter spice (green floral, vanilla).

Texture: relatively thick (cocoa buttery) texture with a relatively rapid, smooth melt, with soft bits of nut.

Flavor notes included: smooth ultra-dark chocolate (roasted, deep, smooth fudge brownie); sparkles of sea salt; faint, mellow nut; and well-managed bitterness.

I enjoyed the salt in this bar, and the well-balanced, 85% dark chocolate--that wasn't too sweet (thank you!). 

I also appreciated the maker's short list of organic, fair trade (fair for life) ingredients (with no emulsifiers or "natural flavors"). Theo Chocolate was one of the earliest to seek out and offer organic and fair trade chocolates that I can recall in the wave of craft, bean-to-bar chocolate makers that began over two decades ago.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans *+, Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Ground Vanilla Bean*), Cashews*, Sea Salt. (* Organic, + Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Cashews). "Made on equipment that also processes milk, peanuts, and other tree nuts." 

Gather Chocolate - Sour Cherry & Cashew Caramel chocolates - Aug. 13, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Gather Chocolate
1.) Sour Cherry - Good +
2.) Cashew Caramel - Good - Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 9 1/4 oz. (262 g.) in total box of 24 pieces
Calories: 160 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $39.00 for 1 box of 24 pieces
Purchased from: Harbor Sweets, online order

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

Today's two Gather Chocolate confections were part of a larger, 6-flavor assortment box from Harbor Sweets (Salem, MA). The honeycomb (hexagon)-shaped gold and brown box held six different flavors, all containing dark chocolate and "a touch of local honey."

Sour Cherry 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and very faint fruit, and even fainter pie and citrus herb (oxalis*).

A smooth (textured and flavored) dark 70% chocolate shell surrounded a silken, slightly honeyed, ganache filling atop an authentic tasting sour cherry on the bottom.

I liked that the 70% dark chocolate balanced the inherent sweetness of these confections. and the layered flavors. The cherry felt and tasted like a real cherry.

Cashew Caramel 

Aroma notes included: chocolate; nutty, sweet nuanced caramel; and faint caramel and cashew shortbread cookie. 

Dark chocolate covered a dual-layered filling: crunchy cashew pieces on top and a smooth, hearty honeyed caramel layer on the bottom. There was a very faint (tart lemon-green/herbal) oxalis-like note in the otherwise, chocolate-y 70% cacao couverture.

 I also liked the smaller size of the pieces in this assortment. It made it easier to share the chocolates with others.

Note: Ingredients listed below applied to all the chocolates in this 6-flavor assortment box. (There was no separate list of ingredients for individual flavors

Ingredients: Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla), Cream (Cream [Milk], Carrageenan, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 80), Sugar, Honey, Vegetable Glycerin, Butter, Cashews (Cashews, Salt), Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate with Alkali, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Butterfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Coconut Milk (Coconut Milk [Water, Coconut Cream], Calcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D2, Selenium, Zinc Oxide, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12), Dried Coconut Flakes, Contains Less Than 2% of Brown Sugar, Dried Tart Cherries (Cherries, Sugar, Sunflower Oil), Concentrated Pomegranate Juice, Sunflower Kernels (Sunflower Kernels, Salt), Sesame Seeds (Sesame Seeds, Salt), Natural Flavors, Peanuts (Peanuts, Salt), Pureed Dried Coconut, Pomegranate Powder, Salt, Pepitas (Pepitas, Salt), Lemon Juice, Soy Lecithin, Baking Soda.

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk, Peanut, Soy, Coconut, Cashews and Sesame." "This product is prepared in a facility that handles soy, milk, peanuts, wheat, tree nuts and sesame."

*Oxalic acid is present in cacao/dark chocolate (as well as other plants/greens that have a slightly lemony-green tart flavor, like oxalis (sour grass), spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens and rhubarb. You may see these produce items cited as containing high levels of oxalates, which some people (e.g. with kidney issues) may want to avoid. Typically you'd have to worry more about spinach than chocolate in this area, but moderation in all things is often good advice.

 

Grandy Organics - Dark Chocolate Coconola Grain-Free Granola - Mar. 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Grandy Organics
Dark Chocolate Coconola Grain-Free Granola
Good ++ 
Weight: 1/4 cup (30 g.) / 9 oz. (255 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1/4 cup (1 serving)
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week, featuring granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates, and other treats enjoyed outside. 

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate Coconola Grain-Free Granola was made by Grandy Organics (Hiram, ME) and was part of a day full of alternating rain and sun 

Aroma notes for this granola included: coconut, sweet green, subtle seeds and nuts, and chocolate.

This granola had a pleasing, satisfying crunchy, baked texture. Crunchy coconut clusters were balanced by the seeds (pumpkin, sunflower and sesame) and nuts (pecans, cashews); enriched by smooth dark chocolate chips/pieces; and seasoned with maple syrup. 

I liked the texture (crunchy, without being too hard); the addition of the sesame seeds to the seed and nut blend; the fact that it was Organic and grain-free; the dark chocolate; and that it was sweetened with sugars that were relatively lower on the glycemic* index (and more flavorful).

Ingredients: Organic Unsweetened Coconut*, Organic Coconut Nectar, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Dark Chocolate* (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Pecans, Organic Cashews*, and Organic Maple Syrup. (* = Fair Trade Certified (tm) by Fair Trade USA (R); 33.9% Fair Trade Ingredients.)

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Coconut, sesame, pecans, and cashews." "Allergen Advisory: Created in a bakery that uses peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, and sesame."

*The Glycemic Index Scale (0 to 100) measures how much a food raises blood sugar. (Pure glucose is at the top of this scale with a score of 100. Sucrose (sugar) is scored at approximately 68.) Pure honey: 58. Coconut sugar: 50 - 54. Maple syrup: 54.

Puna Chocolate Company - Cashew and Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Puna Chocolate Company
Cashew and Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from Puna Chocolate, online order

Aloha, welcome to Day #22 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week(s). 

Today's Cashew and Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Puna Chocolate Company (Kailua-Kona, HI). The family-owned company uses Hawaiian chocolate and coffee to craft their bars and beverages.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (brownie with balanced, very faint earth, bread/salted cracker, green and oxalis); and gentle sweet nut (cashew).

Texture: hearty dark chocolate and softly crunchy cashew pieces

Flavor notes included: rich chocolate-y flavor (dark brownie) and salted cashew nut pieces. 

What I liked about this bar: 1.) the choice of this particular Hawaiian cacao/dark chocolate; 2.) the delicious, rich (slightly addicting) blend of dark chocolate and salted cashews; and 3.) the fact that this bar was not overly sweet.

Ingredients: Hawaiian Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Roasted Cashews, Alaea Hawaiian Sea Salt

Allergen-related information: Contains cashews. "Manufactured in a Facility That Also Processes Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts"  

MIA - Ghana Gold - Cashew Milk Chocolate 55% (bar) - Mar. 29, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

MIA
Ghana Gold - Creamy Cashew Milk Chocolate 55% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's MIA Ghana Gold - Creamy Cashew Milk Chocolate 55% Cocoa (bar) was a product of Ghana and distributed by Kuanza Ltd. (London, UK).

MIA produces chocolates (bars) made using cacao grown in Africa; and, more significantly, produces finished chocolate in two African countries (Madagascar and Ghana). Only a small percent of chocolate bars are made from bean to bar in Africa.

This chocolate was part of the company's "Ghana Gold" series of bars (announced in 2022) made with single origin Ghana cacao.*

This bar had creamy, smooth very finely ground nut butter texture. And aroma and flavor notes for this included: cocoa (ganache), sweet green (honeydew melon), faint floral, and nut cookie.

The cashew milk helped moderate the sweetness of this 55% cacao chocolate; and the finish was relatively mild.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cane sugar, cashews (12%), cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), salt. Minimum cocoa solids: 55%.

Allergen-related information: (Contained cashews.) "May contain traces of tree nuts, peanuts and milk."

*MIA is a brand of Kuanza Ltd. MIA co-founders, Brett Beach and Sarah Lescrauwaet, lived in Africa for seven years. While Africa produces the bulk (approximately 70%) of the world's cacao, only 1% of finished chocolate is produced in Africa. 

Brett and Sarah saw an opportunity to make finished chocolate "in country" where the farmers and producer communities can benefit from proceeds that normally flow out of Africa and into manufacturing centers in other nations.

MIA Ghana Gold Ginger Cashew Milk Chocolate 55% Cocoa (bar) - Mar. 28, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

MIA
Ghana Gold - Ginger Cashew Milk Chocolate 55% Cocoa (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Ghana Theme Week.

Today's MIA Ghana Gold - Ginger Cashew Milk Chocolate 55% Cocoa (bar) was a product of Ghana and distributed by Kuanza Ltd. (London, UK), and part of the company's "Ghana Gold" series of bars (announced in 2022) made with single origin Ghana cacao.*

MIA produces chocolates (bars) made using cacao grown in Africa; and, more significantly, produces finished chocolate in two African countries (Madagascar and Ghana). Only a small percent of chocolate bars are made from bean to bar in Africa.

Aroma notes for this bar included: chocolate sweet green, graham cracker and faint ginger spice and floral spice (similar to vanilla).

This smooth, creamy 55% cashew milk chocolate had pleasing cocoa, "milk" chocolate, mild nut and ginger flavor, and very faint, fleeting earth notes. (The ginger was in the form of added flavoring/"aroma" rather than pieces of candied ginger.)

This smooth "comfort food" chocolate was made using cacao from Ghana. The ginger warmth and milky cocoa flavor made it a great choice for a cold weather treat.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cane sugar, cashews (12%), cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), ginger aroma (<1%), salt. Minimum cocoa solids: 55%.

Allergen-related information: (Contains cashews.) May contain traces of tree nuts, peanuts and milk.

*MIA is a brand of Kuanza Ltd. MIA co-founders, Brett Beach and Sarah Lescrauwaet, lived in Africa for seven years. While Africa produces the bulk (approximately 70%) of the world's cacao, only 1% of finished chocolate is produced in Africa. 

Most of the time cacao beans are shipped to other countries. Brett and Sarah saw an opportunity to make finished chocolate "in country" where the farmers and producer communities can reap more of the financial benefits--proceeds that normally flow out of Africa and into manufacturing centers in other nations.

Touched by Nature - Cashew Dips, Milk Chocolate Strawberry - Jan. 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Touched by Nature
Cashew Dips - Milk Chocolate Strawberry
(Distributed by Thrive Brands LLC)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package
Calories: 678 calories in 1 package (per label)
Cost: $1.49 (marked down) for 1 package
Purchased from: Ross Stores

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Berries and Vanilla Theme Week.

Today's Cashew Dips were made in Slovenia and distributed by Thrive Brands LLC (Chicago, IL). 

Aroma notes for this chocolate covered cashews included: sweet baked goods (doughnut), very faint potato, chocolate and red berry fruit (candy). 

These roasted nuts had a soft crunch with natural milk chocolate and strawberry flavors as promised. Surprisingly, these were not too sweet--largely due to their construction, and the goal to have "less chocolate, more cashews."

After a thin coating in milk chocolate these cashews were rolled in freeze-dried strawberry powder providing a layer of sweet-bright, concentrated strawberry flavor. Both coating layers were light enough that they didn't overwhelm the cashew nuts. The end result was an authentic-tasting, somewhat addictive snack.

Ingredients: "Cashews, milk chocolate [sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, cocoa liquor, lecithin (from soy), vanilla extract], freeze dry strawberry powder."

Allergen-related information: "Contains, cashews, soy. May contain traces of peanuts, other tree nuts or gluten." 

Essential Living Foods - Beyond Trail Mix (Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Dark Chocolate) - Nov. 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Essential Living Foods

Beyond Trail Mix - Brazil Nuts + Cashews + Dark Chocolate 

Good + 

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package

Calories: 140 calories in 1 (28 g.) serving

Cost: $8.49 for 1 package

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

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week, featuring chocolate made with Brazilian-grown cacao as well as chocolates with Brazil-related flavor inclusions.

Today's Essential Living Foods Organic Beyond Trail Mix (Brazil Nuts + Cashews + Dark Chocolate) was distributed by Terrafertil US, LLC* (Torrance, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes for this trail mix included: authentic nut (brazil nut and cashew), sweet dark chocolate chip, and sweet raisin. 

Normally trail mixes are quite salty and sweet. The lack of salt, and judicious sweetening, let more of the true nut and dried fruit flavors shine through. A mix of crunchy and chewy textures added interest.

Ingredients: Organic Brazil nuts, organic cashews, organic dark chocolate chips (organic chocolate liquor, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier), organic vanilla extract), organic Thompson raisins, organic Sultana raisins.

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (cashews, Brazil nuts). May contain milk and soy. Manufactured in a facility that processes other tree nuts.

*Terrafertil US, LLC became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestle USA in 2018. (The company was originally founded in Ecuador in 2005.)

Marou Bar - Dark Chocolate 64% Tropical Fruits and Roasted Cashews - Sept. 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat
Marou Bar - Dark Chocolate 64% Tropical Fruits and Roasted Cashews 
Good ++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 snack bar
Cost: $3.20 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week. 

Today's Dark Chocolate 64% Tropical Fruits and Roasted Cashews Marou Bar was from Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), and Imported by A Priori Specialty Food (Salt Lake City, UT) into the U.S. 

Founded in 2011, by Samuel Maruta and Vincent Mourou, team Marou (a name that blends the founders' surnames) sources cacao from several provinces in southern Vietnam.

Aroma notes for this "bite-sized adventure," single origin (Vietnam) chocolate bar included: complex, high-end dark chocolate and fruit (citrus, mango, other diffuse tropical fruit, berry and very faint fruity floral).

The textural blend of smooth, rich dark chocolate was interspersed with chewy, flavorful fruits and small chunks of crunchy nutty pieces was satisfying, as were the flavors.

While the well-sealed package looked like a fancy "snack bar" this was truly a high-end single origin craft chocolate bar (dark, smooth, with a faint, fleeting and balanced earth note) with flavor inclusions: roasted nuts (cashews) and dried fruits (mango, faint passion fruit and citrus (kumquat). The latter contributed bursts of tart sweet flavors that complemented the nuts and chocolate very nicely. 

This 64% cacao chocolate was not too sweet (thank you). The dried tropical fruits provided the touch of bright sweet orange sunshine, just as the orange and gold packaging colors suggested might be the case.

Ingredients: Cacao nibs, cane sugar, cashews, cacao butter, dried mango, dried passion fruit,  dried kumquat.

Allergen-related information: Contains cashews. "Manufactured in a facility that also processes milk, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs."

Creative Snacks Co. - Dark Chocolate Cashews - Sept. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Creative Snacks Co.
Dark Chocolate Cashews
Good 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 9.5 oz. (269 g.) in total container
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (5 pieces)
Cost: $5.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Cashews were packed by Creative Snacks Co. (High Point, NC).

The aroma for these dark chocolate covered nuts included: very subtle, sweet, slightly earthy, and dark berry jam notes.

The texture was a blend of a generously thick layer of smooth dark chocolate covering and softly crunchy cashew nut centers.

Flavor notes included: smooth, sweet and relatively mild dark chocolate; fruity (dark berry jam); light vanilla; nut; and faint, fleeting earth.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate coating (sugar, chocolate liquor processed with alkali, cocoa butter, butterfat [milk], soy lecithin, and vanilla), cashews (cashews, canola oil), corn syrup, modified starch (tapioca), confectioner's glaze. 

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts, (cashews), milk and soy. "May contain peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, egg, wheat and sesame seeds."

Bhu Keto - Double Dark Chocolate Cookie Dough Keto Bites - Sept. 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Bhu Keto
Double Dark Chocolate Cookie Dough Keto Bites
Good - Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 5.29 oz. (150 g.) in total package of 6 bites 
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bite/piece
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package of 6 bites
Purchased from: Oceana Market, Pacifica, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week. 

Today's Organic Double Dark Chocolate Cookie Dough Keto Bites were made by Bhu Foods (San Diego, CA).

True to its name, the aroma and flavor notes for these individually-wrapped squares were consistent with a chocolate (chip) cookie dough.

The texture was smooth, rich (buttery) and pillowy while having a very faint powdery mouthfeel--what you might experience with well-beaten butter and a little flour in some short cookie or pastry doughs. (In this case it may have been tapioca and pea protein powder rather than flour.)

The whipped chocolate chip cookie and very mild (cashew) nut butter flavors were relatively pleasant. Chocolate chips and cocoa powder added flavor depth. The fat content and added pea protein extinguished cravings. 

 And, refreshingly, these bites weren't overly sweet (thank you!)--unlike some cookie doughs or artificially sweetened "sugar free" confections can be. The very subtle sweetness came from organic cherries, monk fruit, the relatively "sweet" roasted cashew nuts, and vanilla extract.

Ingredients: Organic roasted cashews, Organic red palm oil (Certified Sustainable), Organic soluble tapioca fiber, Organic chocolate chips [Organic cacao, Organic prebiotic tapioca, Organic "cocao" butter, Organic soluble tapioca fiber, Organic cherries, sunflower lecithin], Organic pea protein, Organic cocoa powder, pure water, Organic baobab, Organic sunflower lecithin, sea salt, Organic monk fruit, Organic vanilla extract.

Allergen-related information: Contains cashews. "May contain an occasional shell fragment. Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, and eggs."

Ritter Sport - Milk Chocolate with Cashew (bar) - May 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Alfred G. Ritter GmbH and Co. KG
Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Cashew (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 274 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Nuts and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Cashew (bar) was produced in Germany by Alfred G. Ritter GmbH and Co. KG (Waldenbuch, Germany).

This candy sweet, buttery ("30% cacao minimum") milk chocolate (made with Rainforest Alliance Cocoa) was accented with pieces of roasted and lightly salted (and softly crunchy) cashew nut pieces.

Ingredients: Sugar, cashew nuts (22%), cocoa butter, cocoa mass, whole milk powder, lactose, skimmed milk powder, butterfat (milk) (total milk solids 18%), emulsifier ("soya lecithins"), salt. 

Allergen-related information: Contained nuts (cashews), milk (dairy), soy (lecithin). "May contain contain traces of peanuts, other nuts, cereals containing gluten and egg."

 

Chocola - Cashew Nuts Covered in Fine Dark Chocolate - Mar. 27, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Chocola

Semillas de Maranon Cubierta de Chocolate Oscuro Fino

(Cashew Nuts Covered in Fine Dark Chocolate)

Good ++

Weight: 2.03 oz. (57.5 g.) / 4.06 oz. (115 g.) in total package

Calories: 278 calories in 1/2 package 

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Chocola chocolate covered snack offering hailed from Guatemala, and was imported to the U.S. by Global Support, LLC.

Many chocolate covered snacks (including covered fruit bits or nuts) often lack an aroma (due to confectioners glazes and glosses* used in the outer chocolate coating to help maintain shelf life and appearance).* And the chocolate is often smooth but relatively flat in aroma and flavor.

However, today's dark chocolate covered cashews had subtle dark chocolate aroma, including faint, subtle and balanced notes I associate with fine cacao bean fermentation. 

The outer layer of smooth, almost creamy dark flavorful chocolate surrounded a heart of softly crunchy nut centers.

These chocolate and nut snack pieces not only retained an authentic, mild cashew shape but authentic, cacao and cashew nut notes with a darker than 50% cacao flavor profile: a pleasing balanced bitterness (bittersweet, not too much sugar), with a very slight earthiness, and fleeting, very faint sweet floral and warm spice notes from added vanilla.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate 50% (sugar, cocoa butter, cacao liquor, soy lecithin (emulsifier), natural vanilla), cashew nuts, acacia (glazing agent)

Allergen-related information: Contained tree nuts (cashews) and soy (lecithin), and "may contain traces of peanuts."

* At least some confectioners glazes (shellac or purified lac resin; or in today's case: acacia (also known as arabic gum or gum arabic), made from the acacia tree, and waxes (carnauba (palm wax), beeswax, other) are used in many chocolate covered snacks. These can add shine and durability (e.g. preventing chocolates from looking scuffed up as pieces bump against and tumble around each other inside packaging).

Confectioners glazes using shellac (derived from purified insect plant sap secretions) can also be found on other (non-chocolate) shiny candies and fruits. Versions of these same glazes (known as pharmaceutical glazes) are used as coatings for pills/pharmaceuticals and some cosmetics.

Madhu Chocolate - Coconut Milk Cashew 54% Cacao (bar) - Mar. 16, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Madhu Chocolate 
Coconut Milk Cashew 54% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) / 2.6 oz. (74 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.29 (approx.) for 1 bar (part of larger order $65 for 7 bars)
Purchased from: Good Food Awards Marketplace, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and India Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week.

Today's Coconut Milk Cashew 54% Cacao (bar) was from Madhu Chocolate (Austin, TX). The company offers a variety of small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolates, with India-inspired flavors--made using cacao sourced from the Tumaco region of Colombia (and cacao from India).

True to expectations, the aroma notes for this bar included sweet "milk" chocolate, authenric fragrant coconut and nut. Cashew pieces adorned the back of the bar.

This well-tempered bar was a complementary blend of velvety coconut milk chocolate and the soft crunch of cashew nut pieces. The nuts helped balance the sweetness and provided a pleasant textural element.

The well-executed, sweet, creamy bar was an upbeat celebration of coconut and chocolate. While it was difficult to pick out individual cacao flavor nuances, the 54% chocolate provided enough cacao flavor to help ground the sugar. (There was a very faint earth note could have come from cacao or coconut.)

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, cacao mass, organic cocoa butter, coconut milk powder (dehydrated coconut milk, tapioca maltodextrin, acacia gum), cashews

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