Tiny House - 55% Cacao Latte & Nibs Milk Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 3, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Tiny House 
55% Cacao Latte & Nibs Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .99 oz. (28 g.) / 1.97 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Elise!)
Purchased from: Mint Muse (store), Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week. 

Today's 55% Cacao Latte & Nibs Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Tiny House Chocolate (Tiny House of Chocolate Artisans, in Santa Cruz, CA).

Aroma notes included: chocolate (relatively mild milk chocolate); caramelized chocolate cookie; and coffee toffee.

Texture: smooth, relatively creamy coconut milk chocolate base with tiny crunchy cacao nibs (pleasing subtle, authentic, Criollo-like cacao with very faint (almost undetectable and not unpleasant) olive.

Flavor notes included: creamy, subtle and sweet coconut caramel; and light milk chocolate with tiny upticks of gentle true cacao nib flavor.

I appreciated the soft, sweet and subtle flavors in this bar, and the high-quality cacao nib flavors; the short list of quality and organic ingredients; and the care taken by the makers to source these ingredients to craft a gluten free and dairy free bar for almost everyone to enjoy.

Maker's Flavor Notes: "Coconut Caffe Latte"

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Milk*, Arabica Coffee* (*Organic ingredient)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Coconut. Made in a Facility That Processes Milk and Nuts.

Monkey Brittle - Coconut, Cacao, Bananas & Sea Salt (pieces) - Aug. 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Huggins Family Farms

Monkey Brittle - Coconut, Cacao, Bananas, Sea Salt 

Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total package 
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 package 
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order 

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

What is a banana + cacao offering doing in a chocolate, berry and cherry themed week? Believe it or not, bananas are, technically, berries.

Today's "Monkey Brittle" with coconut, cacao, bananas and nuts was from Huggins Family Farms (Hood River, OR).

Aroma notes included: fruity (banana bread), nutty and light cocoa and coconut.

Texture: unique and very light-weight, thin crunchy cookie-like brittle. Think banana-bread-nut brownie wafers.

Flavor notes for these wafer-thin brittle pieces included: light cocoa, banana nut bread and subtle coconut.

I was surprised and delighted by the complexity ?? lightness? suitable as a quick meal (breakfast on the go) or a portable snack for a walk/hike... short list of authentic and organic ingredients (with no gums, preservatives or "natural flavors").

Maker's notes? "Coconuts, Cacao, Bananas, Nuts, Raisins, Sea Salt...& Absolutely Nothing Else."

Ingredients: "Organic Bananas, Organic Tree Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts), Organic Raisins, Organic Coconut, Organic Cocoa, Sea Salt"

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts), Coconuts.

Godavari Chocolate - Bon-fiction "The Coconut Covenant" 55% dark chocolate (bar) - Apr. 13, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Godavari Chocolate Inc.
Bon-fiction "The Coconut Covenant" 55% dark mylk chocolate with coconut sugar (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's Market, Palo Alto, CA  

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and India Week.

Today's Bon-fiction "The Coconut Covenant" 55% dark mylk chocolate with coconut sugar (bar) was made from tree-to-bar in India, and imported and distributed by Godavari Chocolate Inc. (Folsom, CA).

The cacao used to make this bar was "hand-picked from farms in the Godavari region of Southern India."

Aroma notes for this coconut mylk bar included: smooth, slightly fruity dark chocolate. The flavor notes were a richer version of these same aroma notes. There was a small, unexpected but tasty, uptick in spicy chili in one or two bites. And there was a pleasing, diffuse and faint tropical fruit (mango, cacao fruit/pulp) note. 

The coconut mylk and sugar flavors were pleasing, authentic; not too strong and not overly sweet (thank you!). (This was not your chain store coconut chocolate bar.)

The texture was very smooth, and fairly creamy/buttery.

I enjoyed the authentic, balanced and smooth cacao and coconut flavors, and the relatively low levels of acids/tannins and bitterness.

Ingredients: "Cocoa Beans, Coconut Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Milk Powder" 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Almond, Cashew, Walnut, Coconut, Hazelnut, Pistachio." 

IQ Bar - Toasted Coconut Chip Plant Protein Bar - Dec. 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

IQBar, Inc.
Toasted Coconut Chip Plant Protein Bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: (Part of a 7-bar sampler pack for $14.99)
Purchased from: IQBar, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Mushrooms Week. 

Today's Toasted Coconut Chip Plant Protein Bar was distributed by IQBar, Inc. (Boston, MA).

Aroma notes included: coconut almond cookie bar with vanilla cereal.

This bar had a protein bar texture (dense, but softer than most protein bars; small coconut shreds were embedded in a cookie dough-like texture); dark chocolate chips supplied a nice accent texture and flavor.

The coconut flavor was authentic and balanced by ground almonds (the number one ingredient), pea protein, chocolate chips and vanilla-like flavoring. The Lion's Mane (mushroom) was all but undetectable.

Ingredients: Almonds, Protein Blend (Pea Protein Crisps [Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch], Pea Protein,  Natural Flavors, Prebiotic Blend (Tapioca Fiber, Vegetable Fiber), Coconut, Coconut Oil, Unsweetened Chocolate, Water, Cocoa, Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt, Lion's Mane, Stevia Plant Extract, Vitamin E. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds, Coconut. (Gluten Free, Vegan.)

 

Zotter Chocolates - Rum Coconut 70% filled bar - Dec. 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolates
Rum Coconut 70% filled bar
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.19 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order 

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Rum Coconut 70% filled with coconut ganache and rum cream (bar) was made in Austria by Zotter Chocolates and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Zotter's filled (or "hand-scooped") bars contain ultra-thin layers or fillings, sometimes two or three. In this case there were authentic coconut and rum layers inside a thin coating of 70% dark chocolate. 

Aroma notes for this slightly boozy*, filled bar included: rum, tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, lemon), dark chocolate and subtle coconut. The smooth, dark chocolate became more prominent when I bit into it, and the fruit notes receded.

Texture: mostly smooth and creamy with a few tiny coconut shreds.

I liked the layering of flavors, the use of organic and fair trade ingredients, and the fact that this was an authentic winter warmer, in almost every respect. The rum clearly raised the temperature in my room. Neat trick. 

Maker's description: "A tropical dream..."Brown rum adds...flavor to a rich dark chocolate ganache...accompanied by a light coconut layer made from almond praline, coconut couverture, coconut milk, and a hint of pineapple juice, and crunchy coconut flakes..." The whole treat is then coated with a layer of 70% dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: Cocoa Mass**, Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Butter**, Rum** (6%), Invert Sugar Syrup*, Toasted Coconut**(4%), Rice Drink Powder (Rice*, Sunflower Oil*, Salt), Coconut Milk* (3%), Coconuts*, Water, Thickener: Guar Gum*), Almonds*, Pineapple Concentrate*, Glucose Syrup*, Coconut Powder* (1%: Coconut Paste*, Coconut Milk*, Coconut Flour*), Dark Brown Cane Sugar**, Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder**, Lemon Powder* (Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Corn Starch*, Sugar*), Emulsifier: Lecithin (Soy)*, Emulsifier: Lecithin (Sunflower)*, Ginger* (* = Organic (100% Organic) (** = Organic and Fair Traded). Fair Trade Content in Total: 83%

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Coconut, Almonds, Soy" "Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Other Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Eggs, Sesame and Gluten." 

*No Chocolate and Spirits Week would be complete without a filled chocolate from Europe that contains a bit of real alcohol. Zotter Chocolates offers organic and fair trade chocolates with a variety of spirits, for those who are looking to upgrade in this category.

Javier Confectionery + Sunridge Farms + Rum = Hawaiian Hot Chocolate - Nov. 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Javier Confectionery
Shaved Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix with Homemade Marshmallows
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / Approx. 15 oz. (weight unknown) total package
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: N/A - gift from a neighbor (Thank you Nallely!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Sunridge Farms
Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 5.5 oz. (156 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 (2-piece) serving
Cost: $5.59 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA 

Aloha, and welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's Hawaiian Hot Chocolate was made with three ingredients (listed below).

The last few days I've recreated a Hawaiian dessert/drink memory with available chocolate items from the chocolate vault. Tomorrow, I'll go back to featuring one (single) chocolate item per day that's either from Hawaii and/or made with cacao grown in Hawaii.

Javier Confectionery - Shaved Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix

The base for this Hawaiian-themed hot chocolate was Shaved Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix With Homemade Marshmallow(s) from Javier Confectionery (Burlingame, CA). 

After adding hot water, and stirring, the dark milk shavings melted into a nice, almost velvety, warm drinking chocolate. Very satisfying--and a good choice for a hot chocolate or as a base for experimentation (if you'd like to add liqueurs, flavorings).

Ingredients: Shaved dark chocolate (that I believe contained some milk) + homemade marshmallows in a separate packet.

Sunridge Farms - Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews

The Dark Chocolate Coconut Chews were manufactured by Sunridge Farms (Royal Oaks, CA). Aroma and flavor notes for these hearty, two-bite sized, dark chocolate covered chews included: dark chocolate, coconut macaroon and very faint vanilla. 

These tasty, chewy, sweet, bite-sized coconut chews would be enjoyable as a sweet snack. Their small size was perfect. I could see these being part of a holiday dessert plate with fruit and other items.

These were like high-end dark chocolate covered coconut macaroon cookies, only with a slightly shorter and healthier list of ingredients.

And two chews mixed into the hot chocolate achieved the rich coconut and chocolate flavor I wanted (in addition to the dark rum) to recreate today's Hawaiian Hot Chocolate memory.

(Note: straining out the small coconut shreds after allowing hot chocolate to sit for a few minutes is optional if hand-stirring ingredients and you're not using a blender.)

Ingredients: Coconut Bar (coconut, brown rice syrup), Dark Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy or sunflower lecithin [emulsifier], vanilla extract, milk). 

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut, Milk, Soy. "Manufactured on shared equipment with peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and sesame."  

Rum

Last, but not least to be stirred in was the rum. I chose Myers's Original Dark Rum as that most closely replicated what was in the Hawaiian Hot Chocolate I had almost 20 years ago in Honolulu. (An updated version might include a small-batch Hawaiian rum.)

Result 
The resulting combination of the three ingredients was very close to the (memory of the) Hawaiian Hot Chocolate I enjoyed years ago while on vacation in Hawaii.

 

Raaka - Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 18, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (Missing information)
Purchased from: (Missing information)

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's while today's Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY) does not come from Hawaii (cacao origin is Uganda, Semuliki Forest), it did spark some fond Hawaii memories.

I enjoyed this Coconut Milk bar by itself, and then with two different Hawaiian coconut milk-based smoothies made with fresh banana, orange, guava and passionfruit. Today's virtual travel to Hawaii via chocolate and island fruits was inspired by the onset of colder, winter weather where I live.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (fudge, cocoa, dark chocolate milk); authentic, aromatic and sweet coconut (milk); and very faint, diffuse fruit (ripe red berry).

The texture was smooth, silken, cream-y. (Most coconut chocolate confections are loaded with sugar-saturated coconut. You won't find dry or over-processed coconut in this bar.) 

Raaka's chocolates tend to be less processed, and feature bars like this one made with unroasted cacao. Why unroasted? The flavor can be milder/smoother as a result. And less processing of high-quality cacao is often associated with preservation of certain desirable flavor characteristics and nutritional properties.

I liked that this chocolate was gluten-free, soy-free, organic, and made with a short list of quality ingredients. For dairy-free and/or vegan chocolate lovers, Raaka offers some good options.

Maker's description: "...silky smooth...with...lush notes of berries and cream."

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic coconut, organic cacao butter

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut.

Aloha - Coconut Chocolate Almond protein bar - Nov. 16, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Aloha 
Coconut Chocolate Almond (plant-based protein bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.98 oz. (56 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Mollie Stone's Markets, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Hawaii Week.

Today's Coconut Chocolate Almond (bar) was manufactured for Aloha (an employee-owned, Certified B Corporation based in Littleton, CO). The company sources ingredients like coffee and macadamia nuts from Hawaii-based farms and partners with other Hawaii-based organizations.

Aroma notes included: chocolate, coconut, nut (almond), and very faint vanilla.

The texture was substantial and chewy (but not overly tough). This bar was both moist (cohesive) and slightly dry (mouthfeel)--for a chocolate bar at least--from protein powder (ground rice, seed), ground almonds and coconut shreds, and fiber. 

Flavor notes included: chocolate (cocoa, coconut brownie), coconut, and nut (almond). 

The chocolate-y flavor came from incorporated (I'm assuming melted/softened) chocolate chips as well as added chocolate liquor, cocoa powder and cocoa butter. 

While it's unfair to compare a bean-to-bar craft chocolate bar with a protein bar, I liked that this thoughtfully produced chocolate plant protein bar was organic, not too sweet, lacked lecithin and vegetable gums, and contained 14 grams of plant protein as well as a tiny amount of salt. 

And if you're launching into a big day--going outside to watch high surf on a King Tide day on San Francisco Bay in this case--it's nice to have some protein + cacao under your belt.

Ingredients: Protein Blend* (Brown Rice Protein*, Pumpkin Seed Protein*), Tapioca Syrup*, Almonds*, Coconut*, Chocolate Chips* (Chocolate*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Vanilla Extract*), Vegetable Glycerin*, Tapioca Fiber*, Chocolate Liquor*, Cocoa Powder*, Cocoa Butter*, Evaporated Coconut Water*, Natural Flavor*, Sea Salt, Vanilla Extract*, Monk Fruit*

Allergen-related information: "Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds and Coconut)" "Manufactured In A Facility That Also Processes Fish, Milk, Peanuts, Sesame, Soy, and Wheat."

Goodio - Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 4, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodio x Ivana Helsiniki, Paula Suhonen
Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's Market, online order

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

Today's Goodio Craft Chocolate Candied Chamomile 49% Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Oy (Vantaa, Finland).

Aroma and flavor notes for this vegan chocolate included: sweet chocolate; light, nuanced floral; sweet green (coconut sugar, maple), and faint fruit (candied pineapple, gentle green apple+ honey); subtle coconut; and a very faint, fleeting herbal (aromatic, fine peppercorn).

This bar had a relatively smooth, texture, with a slightly stone-ground mouthfeel. (It was not particularly rough or grainy; and it might have had more flavor because the cacao + inclusions were less processed.*)

The tiny fragments of candied chamomile flowers on the back of the bar were charming and sweet, and imparted faint, fleeting and flavorful, candied floral notes. 

I enjoyed the blend of sweet, nuanced and balanced Northern European (as well as tropical) flavors, and the fact that this was from (made in) Finland. 

The white packaging decorated with enlarged, white-petaled and yellow-centered chamomile flowers showcased these blossoms (likely especially welcome in countries with long winters). The maker's description was poetic: "candies & flowers & hazy summer hours"...It would be fitting to enjoy this in the sunny months; but it would be a cheerful bar in any season.

Was this 49% cacao organic, vegan chocolate sweet? Yes, it was. However, it was supposed to be bright and fresh like summer candy and flowers. 

The coconut sugar and maple syrup sweeteners added some flavor depth and warmth--and didn't push me all the way into the sugar buzz zone (thank you).

Ingredients: "Cacao beans*, Coconut palm sugar*, Cacao butter*, Coconut flakes*, Maple syrup*, Chamomile*. (*Organic)."

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts (cashew). Dairy, gluten and soy free."

*Shorter grinding/conching time(s), can preserve more cacao aroma and flavor notes; but longer processing times may result in a creamier, smoother chocolate. Makers have to weigh these potential trade-offs. They take into account the variety, source/origin, flavor profile and other qualities (or even shortcomings) of cacao when making these and other decisions.

Cacao & Cardamom - Health Freak Tumaco Colombia 85% Cacao (bar) - Sept. 14, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao & Cardamom
"Health Freak" Single Origin Tumaco Colombia 85% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 546 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao & Cardamom, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week, and one last doff of the hat to Chocolate and Seeds Theme Week. (Find the hidden six seeds in this bar.*)

Today's "Health Freak" Single Origin Tumaco Colombia 85% Cacao (bar) was from Cacao & Cardamom (Houston, TX).

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate, faint fruit, nut and seed; and very faint spice. 

This striking bar was designed with a variable grid-pattern that held rows of seeds (chia, hemp, flax) as well as ruby-toned goji berries, and small pieces of coconut.

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, slightly crunchy, tiny fields of seeds and fruit. A very subtle touch of vanilla warmed up the 85% dark chocolate and complemented the other elements.

Ingredients: "85% Tumaco Dark Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla extract), Chai (sic) Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Flax Seeds, Goji Berries, Coconut"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan & Gluten Free"

*Answer: cacao beans used to make the chocolate (seeds); vanilla likely used to make the extract (seeds); chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, and coconut (single seed drupe). 

  

Creo Chocolate - Dark Toasted Coconut - 73% Premium Ecuadorian Cacao (bar) - Sept. 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Dark Toasted Coconut - 73% Premium Ecuadorian Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Seeds Theme Week. Coconuts have been labeled as fruits, nuts and...you guessed it...seeds (as in single-seed drupes). Confusing? Yes. Respect for all seeds. Now, let's taste.

Today's Toasted Coconut 73% Premium Ecuadorian Cacao (bar)--made with single-origin Ecuadorian cacao beans--was from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and subtle, authentic toasted coconut.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with a luxe melt; and an attractive layer of coconut (thin ivory strips with golden brown edges) on the back side of the bar.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (smooth, ultra-dark flavor, extra dark ganache/fudge brownie) and coconut.

The dark chocolate was hearty and not too sweet, making it easier to enjoy the subtler cacao flavor nuances and the natural flavor of the coconut--that was also not too sweet (thank you!). 

Too much sugar in chocolates can overwhelm other flavors. Happily, this was not the case for this well-executed chocolate made with single origin Ecuadorian cacao.

Maker's flavor notes/description: "toasted coconut, nuts, fruit..." "...a crunchy piece of paradise"

Ingredients: "cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter, organic coconut" 

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Tree nuts (coconut)" "Manufactured  on shared equipment with products containing eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts & tree nuts"

Gather Chocolate - Caramelized Honey Truffle and Coconut Cluster chocolates - Aug. 12, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Gather Chocolate
1.) Caramelized Honey Truffle - Good - Good +
2.) Coconut Cluster - 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 #5 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).

Caramelized Honey

Aroma notes included: chocolate; soft, pleasing caramel; and faint honey cake and vanilla.

Texture: smooth dark 70% chocolate with flowing, honey-like center.

Flavor: smooth-flavored dark 70% chocolate and relatively complex filling (nuanced honey, caramel, faint sweet floral)

I liked that the 70% dark chocolate balanced the inherent sweetness of these confections.

Coconut Cluster 

Aroma: chocolate, coconut, and faint green coconut and vanilla
Texture: smooth dark chocolate shell; creamy, slightly fudge-y internal truffle center; and chewy coconut shreds.
Flavor: chocolate-y with balanced coconut flavors and a hint of vanilla. As with the first truffle, the 70% dark chocolate nicely balanced the inherent sweetness of this filled chocolate.

I didn't care for the additives, gums, natural flavors in this assortment; but the chocolates tasted good. I also liked the smaller size that made it easier to share the chocolates in this box with others.

Note: The ingredients list (below) contains all the ingredients for 6 different flavors of chocolates in this assortment box. (There were not separate lists for each flavor.)

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."

 

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates - Candied Coconut + Makrut Lime (bar) - May 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
Candied Coconut + Makrut Lime (bar) - 43% Madagascar Couverture
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.6 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 403 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order 

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

Today's Candied Coconut and Makrut Lime (bar) with 43% Madagascar Couverture was from Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Inc. (Sacramento, CA).

Today's lime flavor was from lime leaves and lime oil. The Makrut Lime leaves from Beck Grove Farm in Southern California (Fallbrook, CA).

Aroma notes for this 43% bar included: dark milk chocolate, fruit (lime, very faint sweet melon/cacao fruit), and very faint coconut and vanilla.

Texture: smooth dark milk chocolate and tiny, chewy/crunchy shreds of coconut.

Flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate; lilting, pleasingly complex lime; light vanilla; and very subtle coconut.

Flavors and textures were well-balanced and executed. Warning: the complex, slightly fruity sweet, milky cocoa and caramel notes made this bar slightly addictive, especially if you're hungry.

Maker's notes: "This custom single origin 43% chocolate from Madagascar is blended to have a higher amount of cocoa than traditional milk chocolate. Candied coconut and Makrut lime pair perfectly with the delicate acidity and soft caramel notes of this beautiful chocolate."

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Cocoa beans from Madagascar, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Dried Skimmed Milk, Vanilla Extract, Soya Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor), Cocoa Paste (100% Cocoa Beans from Madagascar), Organic Coconut, Cane Sugar, Organic Makrut Lime Leaves, Cold Pressed Lime Oil.

Allergen-related information: "This product contains milk, soybeans and coconut. This product may contain traces of wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

The Conscious Bar - 75% Cacao - Toasted Coconut Flakes (bar) - May 13, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

The Conscious Bar
75% Cacao - Toasted Coconut Flakes (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $81.90 for a 7-bar variety pack
Purchased from: online order

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

Today's 75% Cacao Toasted Coconut Flakes (bar) was distributed by The Conscious Bar LLC (Miami, FL).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, light floral (vanilla, coconut), date, and very faint sweet, green nut.

Texture: The dark chocolate base was relatively creamy, and interspersed with authentic, chewy flecks of coconut. The coconut flakes were just about the right size--thin enough to have an almost delicate, authentic melty-chew (i.e. they weren't too dry or tough, or slathered in sugar/syrup -- thank you!).

Flavor notes included: smooth but gently flavorful 75% dark chocolate melded effectively with authentic coconut flakes. The background date sweetness (there was no added sugar other than dates) tasted authentic and did not overwhelm: the dates seemed to be well incorporated into the chocolate, with no trace of date texture/graininess. There was a pleasant faint, sweet nutty note throughout (likely from the coconut) that I liked. 

I enjoyed this nicely balanced and well-executed, gluten-free chocolate, made with a short list of Organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao Beans, Organic Coconut Flakes, Organic Dates, Organic Cacao Butter

Allergen-related information: "Made In A Facility That Handles Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, And Tree Nuts." 

Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Loco for Coco Chocolate Bar - Mar. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Dude, Sweet Chocolate
Loco for Coco Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: .775 oz. (22 g.) / 1.55 oz. (44 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Dude, Sweet Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Flowers and Honey Theme Week.

Today's "Loco for Coco" Chocolate Bar ("toasted coconut, honey crystal made where there are nuts") offering was from Dude, Sweet Chocolate (Dallas, TX).

Aroma notes included: roasted cacao (dark chocolate) with nutty, subtle honey-floral and very faint vanilla notes. 

Texture: This relatively thick bar had a hearty, almost stone-ground yet smooth, rich chocolate texture and mouthfeel, with a generous helping of tiny crunchy flecks.

Flavor notes included: hearty dark chocolate, with alluring, complex flavor inclusions. The light-colored flecks yielded flickers of buttery, coconut, honey, and barely detectable sea salt sparkles. 

I enjoy and appreciate well-executed layered and/or progressively unfolding flavor notes; and almost always find this approach more enjoyable than fully blended (or overly homogenized) flavors. 

If you prefer nutty peanut butter vs. smooth peanut butter; layered cakes or parfaits; complex flavor pairings; or the occasional chocolate with intact cacao nibs, you might like this flavorful bar.

Ingredients: Republica del cacao 68% Nutty chocolate (cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla beans), coconut, honey, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: None listed on package. 

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.

Hawaiian Wildflower Honey Chocolate Dessert Series - #1 - 80% Dark, Coconut, Sweet Lemon, Mangosteen - Jan. 14, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Hawaiian Wildflower Honey Chocolate Dessert #1
80% Dark Chocolate, Sweet Lemon, Mangosteen
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total small dessert
Calories: 245 calories (estimate) for 1 dessert
Cost: N/A - many sources
Purchased from: N/A - multiple sources

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week--into which I'm inserting a series of small (homemade) chocolate desserts floating in Hawaiian Wildflower Honey.*

Today's Hawaii Honey dessert #1: An 80% dark chocolate square with toasted coconut was set in a small pool of Hawaii Honey flavored with sweet lemon (Citrus limetta) rind and mangosteen** fruit (freeze-dried powder).

The Hawaii honey and sweet lemon rind were particularly bright and wonderful flavors, and both complemented the 80% dark chocolate very nicely. The coconut flakes were very subtle, as was the mangosteen powder. (Bits of fresh mangosteen would have been more flavorful, but they're hard to find where I live.)

*In past years I created a series of small, "shot glass" chocolate desserts. Each of them was designed to have memorable, layered flavors and to fit into a (1.5 - 2 oz.) shot glass. 

This week's series highlights small desserts with big flavors, made with Hawaiian Wildflower Honey from Chico Honey (Chico, CA). The company sources honey from their hives in California, Hawaii and Montana. Chocolate and flavor inclusions were layered atop a tiny pool of this delicious Hawaiian honey.

**Mangosteen has been called the "Queen of Fruits." First cultivated in Southeast Asia, this purple hued small fruit with an ivory-colored center tastes like a blend of fruits: lychee, strawberry, peach, mango. Like cacao fruit pulp, it can evoke memories of other tropical fruits while still maintaining its own essence.

Onomea Chocolate - Lime in the Coconut (bar) - Jan. 2, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Onomea Chocolate
Lime in the Coconut (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .93 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.86 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (Part of $45.00 Island Flavors bundle)
Purchased from: Onome/Lonohana websites, online order

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

Today's Onomea Chocolate "Lime in the Coconut" (bar) was made by Lonohana Estate Chocolate, LLC (Honolulu, HI). 

Aroma notes included: lime (essential oil) and chocolate.

Flavor notes included: creamy, smooth and flavorful, relatively sweet dark chocolate (low in bitterness) with fresh squeezed lime and lime oil notes. The roasted coconut (completely incorporated into the chocolate) was almost undetectable; it may have been harmonizing with the lime in the background and contributing to this chocolate's silken texture and melt. 

There were also very, very faint (pleasant) wood (cedar) and very fleeting pepper notes. Not sure if this was from the lime oil, the cacao, or both together. But, I enjoyed these tidbits of tasty complexity.

Thank you to Lonohana founder, chocolate maker and farmer, Seneca Klassen, for sharing great Hawaiian cacao with chocolate lovers around the globe. Onomea is a relatively new(er) chocolate brand/partnership. (Loved the island flavor inclusions and colorful art work(s)* on the packaging.)

Ingredients: "Organic cane sugar, Hawaiian cacao, organic cocoa butter, organic coconut, lime essential oil"

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. "Produced in a peanut-free environment on equipment that also processes milk and tree nuts."

*The front label art for this bar was titled "I'm Going In" by local Hawaiian artist, Kate Wadsworth.

 

Dr. Bronner's - Magic Golden Milk Chai Oat Milk Chocolate 45% Cocoa (bar) - Dec. 19, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Dr. Bronner's
Magic Golden Milk Chai Oat Milk Chocolate 45% Cocoa (bar) 
Good +++
Weight: 1.465 oz. (41.5 g.) / 2.93 oz. (83 g.) in total bar
Calories: 234.4 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - free sample ($5.99 for 1 bar; order online)
Purchased from: N/A - Sample received from Dr. Bronner's

Today's Magic Golden Milk Chai Oat Milk Chocolate 45% Cocoa (bar) was distributed by Dr. Bronner's (Vista, CA). 

The family-run company was founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, a third-generation soapmaker. Later, as they worked with farmers in Ghana to produce regenerative, organic oil for their soap line, the company saw an opportunity to expand into cacao and chocolate as well. The first line of Magic dark chocolate bars were created in 2021. This week I'm sampling three new oat milk bars.

Organic, Fair for Life Fair Trade, Vegan Certified, and gluten free, today's new Magic Golden Milk Chai Oat Milk Chocolate ticks many boxes for thoughtful consumers. It's also one of a growing selection of alternative "milk" chocolate bars in recent years.

Some early oat milk bars I've tried have been overly sweet, bland and mealy. So, I wondered, what would this one taste like? 

Any questions I had vanished with the first look and smell. This Golden Milk bar had the appearance not of a golden-ivory (white) chocolate, but a fine dark chocolate; and it was divinely fragrant.

Aroma notes for this aromatic bar included: coconut cookie, chocolate gingerbread, chai tea, and sweet coconut rice pudding with saffron, spices and turmeric.

The well-tempered chocolate bar broke with a hard snap (in a cool room). And the texture was layered--with a slightly softer, flavorful layer on/inside a more solid, outer chocolate layer(s). There were a few bites with very fine ground oat texture toward the finish, but it was not off-putting. (More like the oat bits you might find in a moist, baked cookie.)

Flavor notes included: chocolate, golden milk chai tea with turmeric, gingerbread oatmeal cookie, and spiced coconut milk flan. (Could I taste the oats? Not really.) I loved all the authentic spices and flavors together in one chocolate.

The sweetness level (supplied by coconut sugar) was in the baked goods and desserts range, and seemed just right for this spiced chocolate. The only reminder I was eating a sweeter (45% cacao) chocolate was I was starting to eat more than I would normally. Fortunately, the coconut sugar seemed to slow down the sugar buzz.*

The chocolate (cacao) tasted quite smooth. The bit of coconut milk helped convey authentic golden milk (chai)** flavor. The cacao and spice levels were well-balanced, satisfying and had some oomph to them. This was far from instant oatmeal-bland. 

These artfully layered flavors made me feel I was enjoying the best of multiple desserts. Harmoniously integrated yet experienced individually as well. Magic indeed. 

Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Coconut Sugar,* Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter,* Fair Trade Organic Coconut, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Beans,* Organic Whole Oat Flour, Fair Trade Organic Coconut Milk Powder, Organic Turmeric, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Sunflower Lecithin, Organic Cardamom, Organic Ginger, Organic Black Pepper, Fair Trade Organic Bourbon Vanilla Bean (* = Regenerative Organic Certified)

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut (coconut, coconut milk, coconut sugar). "Made on equipment that also processes almonds, hazelnuts, milk, coconut and soy." 

* Coconut sugar is a bit lower on the glycemic scale than more processed/white sugar(s), i.e. is less likely to spike blood sugar as much.

** Golden milk is a traditional Ayurvedic warm beverage made with milk (often coconut milk in California) and spices, including turmeric--which gives this drink a golden color.

Kad Kokoa - Andaman Blue (bar) - Nov. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Kad Kokoa 
Andaman Blue (bar)
Good +
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Kad Kokoa - Andaman Blue

Today's Andaman Blue (bar) was from Kad Kokoa (Bangkok, Thailand). This bean-to-bar maker is dedicated to offering chocolates made with local (Thai grown) cacao beans, including some bars with Thai-inspired flavor inclusions.

This blue-gray hued (white) chocolate was a tribute to the beautiful, blue Andaman Sea--located west of Thailand.

Aroma notes for this bar included: sweet white chocolate, seed/grain (rice, very faint sesame*), faint coconut milk, and very faint botanical (green). 

The relatively smooth bar had a slightly grainy texture (finely ground toasted rice).

Flavor notes included: white chocolate, subtle coconut milk, rice (mostly textural), and a very faint green note (perhaps the blue spirulina, used for coloration). Overall it had a relatively gentle, sweet flavor, in part due to the absence of cocoa solids.

Nature's Organic Ice Cream - Chocolate Chocolate Chip 

Later, to ensure I had a daily dose of cocoa solids, I enjoyed a scoop of Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream from Nature's Organic Ice Cream (Fremont, CA), and a small handful of Thai spiced peanuts.

This local northern California, San Francisco Bay Area-based ice cream maker offers a few exotic southeast Asian and floral flavors as well. They offer high-quality ice cream flavors (dairy and non-dairy options) that don't contain extra additives (e.g. gums or carrageenan). (Thank you!) They also use organic ingredients in this chocolate flavor.

Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Coconut Milk Powder, White Sugar, Toasted Rice, Blue Spirulina

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles nuts, dairy, and gluten."

*There was no sesame in this chocolate. Like many tasters (think wine, coffee, craft beer tasting), I may smell or taste things that may activate sense memories, or detect substances that are similar to, but don't reflect exact/literal ingredients. People have different memories and abilities in what they taste, so your experience may differ from mine.