Simon Coll - 70% Cacao with Almonds (bar) - July 25, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Simon Coll Xocolaters 

(Chocolates Simon Coll S.A.)

70% Cacao Con Almendras (Almonds) bar

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 298.5 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Nugget Markets, Tiburon, CA

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

Today's "70% Cacao Con Almendras" dark chocolate bar was made in Spain by Chocolates Simon Coll S.A. (Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, Barcelona, Spain). The company's chocolate-making roots stretch back several generations to 1840. (The company also acquired the historic Spanish Chocolate Amatller brand in 1972.)

The aroma and flavor notes in today's dark, gluten-free chocolate bar included: chocolatey notes (chocolate cake, freshly baked brownies with nuts), vanilla, nut (almond, walnut), faint fresh ripe banana and light molasses/brown sugar spice (banana licuado); and a balanced, bittersweet dark chocolate (earthy fudge brownie).

Almonds, vanilla and the addition of cocoa powder (that may or may not have been alkalized*) would have helped mellow the overall chocolate taste (and send one to fresh brownies-right-out-of-the-oven territory). These three additions can also soften bold, bitter or acidic notes. Regardless, today's chocolate had best-of-brownie flavor without being too sweet. (Thank you.)

This chocolate had a hearty, uniform texture and fudgy chocolate flavor, with some satisfying secondary flavors, and a light dark chocolate brownie finish.

Ingredients: "Cocoa mass, sugar, almonds (20%), cocoa butter, fat reduced cocoa powder, emulsifier (soya lecithin) and flavouring (vanilla). Cocoa solids: 70% minimum."

Allergen-related information: Contains almonds, soy. "May contain milk and other nut traces."

*On the 14-point pH scale that measures how acidic or basic (alkaline) substances are, the middle of the scale (7) is considered neutral. 

Cocoa powder often has a pH of around 5 (making it acidic). Alkalized cocoa powder, treated with an alkaline substance, can bring the pH back to a more neutral level (pH of around 7 or 8). The resulting cocoa powder (sometimes also referred to as "dutched" cocoa) is milder and has a slightly darker appearance than non-alkalized cocoa powder. 

Skinny Dipped Almonds - Dark Chocolate Cocoa - Oct. 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Skinny Dipped Almonds

Dark Chocolate Cocoa

Good

Weight: .46 oz. (13 g.) in total small package

Calories: 70 calories in 1 small package

Cost: $ lost information

Purchased from: lost information

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Cocoa Skinny Dipped Almonds were distributed by Wild Things Snacks, Inc. (Seattle, WA). 

Sometimes you really just want a small serving of something on the go. This small, single serving packet was the perfect size for just such an occasion.

These almonds had a mild, pleasant cocoa aroma and a genuine raw, crunchy almond texture and flavor. The chocolate coating had a simpler, less artificial quality than other similar offerings. It lacked the thick, sweet chocolate covering topped off with high gloss confectioners glaze—as well as artificial flavors, colors and/or preservatives. Some will like this more natural approach, others may miss the extra chocolate and sugar.

The Non GMO Project Verified, gluten free and PPO free almonds were covered with "ethically sourced chocolate," topped off with a dark cocoa powder finish, and seasoned with a touch of maple sugar and sea salt. Go forth and be merry dear wild things.

Celebrating 12 Yrs. of Chocolate - O Organics Chocolate French Truffles - Sept. 13, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

O Organics
Organic Chocolate French Truffles
Good ++
Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total box
Calories: 200 calories in 4 pieces
Cost: $3.99 for 1 box
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Celebrating 12 Years of Chocolate Series.

Many chocolate confections are called truffles; but there's nothing like well-made, traditional truffles (called so because of their resemblance to the treasured, roundish, fungus by the same name)—made from a short list of high-quality ingredients (chocolate, butter, cream, cocoa powder).

Today's O Organics* Chocolate French Truffles were relatively close to this concept in appearance, taste and texture. They were made with chocolate and dusted with cocoa powder. However, coconut oil and cocoa butter were used instead of butter and cream; and soy lecithin was part of the mix.**

These truffles had a cocoa aroma and were soft, creamy and chocolatey. They had a very pleasing mouth-feel and melt that was almost velvety.

*O Organics is an Albertsons/Safeway brand
** Ingredients: organic cocoa mass, organic coconut oil, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic cocoa powder, soy lecithin (emulsifier).

Mole sauce cheese plate - August 25, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chatfield's (PANOS Brands)
All Natural Cocoa Powder
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 Tablespoon (4 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in 1 container
Calories: 20 calories in 1 Tablespoon
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: N/A

I was inspired by a chicken and mole sauce dish last night. So, I made my own savory mole sauce at home this afternoon, using unsweetened (and alkaline free) Chatfield's Cocoa Powder (Manufactured for Panos Brands, Saddle Brook, NJ).

Mole typically is a mix of many flavors. I used, for example, many types of fresh, dehydrated and ground chiles in this sauce (including sweet pepper, ancho, chipotle and red chiles); smoked and garlic salts; a bit of diced onion and roasted garlic; sesame and pumpkin seeds; almonds; a dab of quince paste for sweetness; a dash of fresh tomato salsa; thyme, and other herbs and spices.

This spicy mound of dark sauce was a great accompaniment to small cubes of bbq spiced cheddar, fresh avocado pieces, fresh sweet peppers, carrots, and other cheeses.

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

Chai Cocoa - July 5, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cotton Tree Chocolate
Chai Cocoa
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 7 oz. (198 g.) in total bag
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Cotton Tree Chocolate, Punta Gorda, Belize


This was the last day of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week. I've enjoyed several combinations of cardamom and spiced chai (tea) blended with chocolate this week: truffles, caramels, bars, ice cream, and today -- a glass of cold Chai Cocoa from Cotton Tree Chocolate (Punta Gorda, Belize).

I mixed a few spoonfuls of this rich, slightly earthy, organic cocoa powder from Belize, into a cup of cold, 2% milk. The Chai Cocoa mix had hints of cinnamon, cloves and allspice. This flavorful and refreshing cold cocoa hit the spot on this hot July day.

Cotton Tree Chocolate, located on the Caribbean coastal town of Punta Gorda in Southern Belize, also has a line of bars with farm flavors that highlight endemic foods and spices -- such as Belizean coffee, coconut and black pepper.

ChocolateBet: April 27, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Cocoa Powder - Unsweetened
Good - Good +
Weight: .26 oz. (7.5 g.) in 1.5 Tb. / 9 oz. (255 g.) total container
Calories: 30 calories in 1.5 Tablespoons
Cost: $2.29 total container
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, in Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate Beverage Week. I've been cutting back on sugar lately, so I opted to make a cocoa beverage from Trader Joe's unsweetened cocoa powder.

Provided you are patient and spend the required time stirring and dissolving this powder into your liquid or milk of choice, you should have minimal cocoa "sludge" at the bottom of your cup or mug. This cocoa powder was made from "100 percent Tamaco Cocoa beans," and had a slightly bitter taste; however, a swizzle of agave syrup can help transform this bittersweet beverage, into something just right -- not too sweet, but sweet enough.

The Granada Chocolate Company - Organic Cocoa Powder - May 9, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
The Grenada Chocolate Company
Organic Cocoa Powder
Very Good
Weight: 2 Tb. (11 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) total package
Calories: 32 calories in 2 Tb. serving (+ milk, sugar, spices)
Cost: $9.00 total package
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

The Grenada Chocolate Company's Organic Cocoa Powder was an attractive, reddish shade of brown, and had a slightly bitter taste. Although when I added hot water, milk, sugar, spices, there was only a robust, pleasing chocolate undertaste, and no bitter flavor. Spices added: hand-grated nutmeg; allspice and cinnamon.

For those who have a bit more time: I also tried pouring the cocoa, milk and spice mixture through an unbleached paper drip filter like that used for coffee, to get rid of any grittiness from powder or spices, and that seemed to work well without removing much flavor.

Today was Day #2 of Drinking Chocolate/Chocolate Beverages Theme Week.