Godavari Chocolate - Bon-fiction - The Cranberry Chilli Chase (bar) - Aug. 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Godavari Chocolate
Bon-fiction - The Cranberry Chilli Chase 64% (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

Today's "tree to bar" chocolate from India--The Cranberry Chilli Chase 64% (bar)--was manufactured by GACS Foods, India and Imported and Distributed by Godavari Chocolate Inc. (Folsom, CA). 

The company has a production facility in Andhra Pradesh, in the Godavari province, in (southeast) India. Cacao is grown on their plantation and the company also works with other farmers in Godavari.

Aroma notes included: rich dark chocolate, fruit (sweet red berry, cranberry) with a rich, decadent sweetness (brown sugar, dates). 

Texture: a hearty blend of dark chocolate and a generous helping of plump, relatively moist, dried cranberries.

Flavor notes included: rich, dark chocolate; high-quality and authentic cranberry textures and flavors; just the right amount of chili warmth and sea salt. For some reason I was reminded of a delicious (dark chocolate) version of pemmican* likely because of the hearty, appealing and satisfying flavors.

The cranberries weren't overly sweetened or too tough and chewy (thank you). The choices and amounts of chili and light dose of sea salt were perfect. The overall flavors harmonized very well. This bar exceeded my expectations. I appreciated the choice of 64% cacao chocolate -- a percentage that often tastes too sweet for me (a dark chocolate fan). It seemed just right in this bar.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Cranberries, Chilli, Sea Salt

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

*Pemmican is/was a staple food item in North America--made with ground jerky (typically dried bison jerky and occasionally dried/smoked salmon), rendered fat, berries (chokecherry, Saskatoon berry, cranberry) and occasionally honey and nuts. It was originally created by indigenous people. Fur traders and colonists consumed versions of this traditional protein/energy bar as well. (You can even find a few modern versions of pemmican with chocolate.)

Premium Orchard - Chocolate Almond & Cherry Blend - Feb. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Premium Orchard 
Chocolate Almond and Cherry Blend 
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (34 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Almonds Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate Outdoors Theme Week.

Today's Premium Orchard Deluxe Chocolate Almond and Cherry Blend was manufactured by Mixed Nuts, Inc. (Pico Rivera, CA).

Aroma notes for this mix included: a subtle, appealing and rich blend of fruits, nut and chocolate.

Textures and flavors included: generously sized, plump, dried, chewy red fruits (cherries and cranberries); large lightly salted cashews; and smooth, shiny and dark chocolate covered almonds with crunchy nut interiors.

What I liked about this blend: 1.) balanced flavors; not too sweet and not too salty; 2.) hearty, enjoyable and portable snack that could be enjoyed outside, at home or on the go.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds (Semi-Sweet Chocolate [Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor], Roasted Almonds and Confectioner's Glaze), Dried Cranberries (Cranberries, Sugar, and Sunflower Oil), Roasted Cashews (Cashews, Non-GMO Canola Oil and Sea Salt), and Dried Sour Cherries (Cherries, Sugar, and Sunflower Oil).

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almonds, Cashews, Milk and Soy. Manufactured on Equipment That Also Processes Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Wheat and Dairy Products. Contains a bioengineered food ingredient."

Srsly Chocolate - Love Bar 70% dark Rose petals & cranberry (bar) - May 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Srsly Chocolate Inc. 
Love Bar 70% dark Rose petals and cranberry (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Srsly, online order

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

Today's Love Bar 70% dark Rose petals and cranberry (bar) was from Srsly Chocolate Inc. (Austin, TX).

Aroma notes included: dark, slightly smokey chocolate (jungle earth/loam, faint peat--that was present after first opening the wrapper, but then dissipated), faint floral (red rose, pollen), and subtle, sweetened red fruit.

The back of the 70% chocolate bar was carefully strewn with attractive ruby and deep pink dried cranberries and red rose petals.

Flavor notes included: rich, deep dark chocolate, fleeting rose, and nuanced, sweet dried cranberry--all of which subtly undulated into the finish.

The flavors were harmonious and well balanced, including the sweetness level.

Ingredients: cacao*, cane sugar*, rose petals*, dried cranberries (cranberries, sugar, sunflower oil) -- *Organic

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that also processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat

Divine Chocolate - Smooth Dark Chocolate with Superfruits 60% Cocoa (bar) - Mar. 30, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Divine Chocolate
Smooth Dark Chocolate with Superfruits 60% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Phoenix Shop, Big Sur, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ghana Theme Week, featuring chocolates made with Ghana-grown cacao.

Today's Smooth Dark Chocolate with Superfruits 60% Cocoa (bar) was made in Germany, using cocoa from the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union in Ghana, and distributed by Divine Chocolate Inc. (Washington, D.C.). Divine is co-owned by Ghana cocoa farmers and maintains close ties to Ghana cacao producer communities. 

The aroma notes for this fruit-brightened, ultra-dark 85% cocoa bar included: rich chocolate (chocolate pudding, torte, ganache) and faint tart-sweet fruit (berries).

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate (smooth, roasted cacao, deep dark brownie) with interspersed with well-balanced bits of dried, tart-sweet red fruit (cranberry), dark berries, and faint nut. (There were no nuts listed in the ingredients.)

Berries are high in antioxidants called polyphenols.* And all three (dried) berries in this chocolate are known to contain high amounts of these polyphenols.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, dried cranberries, dried blackcurrants, dried elderberries, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin). (Cocoa solids 60% minimum.)

Allergen-related information: "May contain: milk, wheat, almonds, hazelnuts, coconut (and) pecans."

*Polyphenols are antioxidants that may relieve cellular oxidative stress in our bodies and lessen inflammation (anti-inflammatory).

Some animal and human studies on polyphenols have reported benefits in the following areas: neurological (degenerative disease slowing/prevention), cancer, bone health, and blood sugar regulation. 

Momotombo - Milk Chocolate, Cranberries, Almonds, Coconut (bar) - Oct. 13, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Momotombo
(Momotombo Chocolate Factory)
Milk Chocolate, Cranberries, Almonds, Coconut (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 315 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Milk Chocolate, Cranberries, Almonds, Coconut (bar) was from Chocolate Momotombo (Managua, Nicaragua). The company offers a variety of bean-to-bar chocolates and confections using Nicaragua-grown cacao.

Aroma notes for this bar included: chocolate (slightly earthy, buttery fudge brownie), very faint red fruit (berry) and very, very faint green (lemon-mint green tea and chocolate cookie).

This well-executed bar had a creamy, fudgey texture interspersed with tiny crunchy/crispy nut bits (almonds, coconut) and small pieces of chewy dried tart red fruit (cranberry). 

The smooth, creamy dark milk chocolate was flavorful and not overly sweet (thank you!). It contained just the right amount of nut and fruit inclusions. (The coconut was very subtle.) The results: a balanced blend of elegant, high-quality ingredients with nuanced flavor depth and pleasant (slightly addicting) complexity. 

The cranberry and faint warm spice notes (faint cinnamon and cardamom, very faint ginger) made me think of a fall/winter holiday spiced latte.

Ingredients: Cacao, powdered milk, sugar, cranberries, coconut, almonds.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, nuts (almonds), coconut.

Raven Rising - Cranberry (filled chocolate) - Nov. 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raven Rising 

Cranberry - (filled chocolate)

Good ++

Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 6 oz. (168 g.) (estimate, per label) in total box of 12 pieces

Calories: 43.4 calories (estimate, per label) in 1 piece

Cost: $37.50 for 1 box of 12 chocolates (4 different flavors) (+ shipping)

Purchased from: Raven Rising, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Weeks. 

Today's Cranberry dark chocolate was made using Cacao Barry's relatively new Evocao "WholeFruit" chocolate made with cacao fruit.* This chocolate was part of a 4-flavor assortment box from Raven Rising (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada).

Edible berries including cranberries** have a long history in the Americas; and a Cranberry chocolate seemed an appropriate to mark Thanksgiving Day tomorrow (Thursday) in the U.S., as well as Native American Heritage Day, a holiday since 2008, that falls on the Friday that follows Thanksgiving here.***

Raven Rising offers "Global Indigenous Chocolates" that include local/native ingredients (flavor inclusions) and ingredients sourced from Indigenous people and businesses where possible. Pastry Chef and Chief Chocolatier, Tammy Maki, produces a variety of well-executed and interesting bars and confections. She uses chocolate from Barry Callebaut Group** (Zurich, Switzerland) for her creations. Maki is a "proud Saulteaux Ojibwe Kwe from White Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan" (Canada).

Aroma

This dark chocolate confection and had a meaty, dark chocolate aroma with dark red fruit (cranberry) notes.

Flavor

I enjoyed this thoroughly dark (couverture and ganache filling) chocolate that had pemmican, tart authentic bittersweet red fruit (cranberry) and caramel notes with balanced bitter earth and citrus acidity. It's hard to find flavorful confections like this that aren't too sweet. (Thank you!)

Ingredients: (included: Cacao Berry WholeFruit Evocao dark chocolate, cranberries)

Allergen-related information: (None listed/found; possible of traces of soy, dairy)

*Barry Callebaut was created in 1996 after a merger between Belgian chocolate maker Callebaut and French chocolate producer Cacao Barry. Following the acquisition of the cocoa business from Petra Foods in 2013, Barry Callebaut became one of the largest producers of chocolate and cocoa products and suppliers to confectioners, chocolatiers and chefs worldwide.

In 2021, the company began shipping 72% dark chocolate Evocao(tm) WholeFruit (Chocolat Toutfruit) for chefs, bakers, chocolatiers and other food professionals--as the first offering in a WholeFruit chocolate line-up. This dark chocolate contains 31% cocoa mass, 41% cocoa butter, as well as "upcycled" cacao/fruit pulp/juice/sugars/"peel"--detectable by tart-sweet, citric acid-like flavor (although there was no palpable fruit pulp texture). It is also supposed to be lower in sugar (probably less cane sugar if natural fruit is being used).

**American cranberries are endemic to boggy/swampy areas in northeast North America. Growing areas extend as far south as Georgia and north into Canada. 

Tammy Maki at Raven Rising notes that the "...Tart, tangy cranberry has been a staple of Indigenous peoples and had been used as a food and medicine. Cranberries were an integral part of pemmican (somewhat similar to jerky, made from tallow, meat and cranberries/berries) and (cranberries) helped preserve the meat. The dye from cranberries was used for blankets and rugs."

***Indigenous Peoples days are celebrated in October in the U.S. and in June in Canada.

Manufaktura Czekolady (Chocolate Story) - Dominican Republic 70% cocoa + cranberries (bar) - Nov. 13, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Manufaktura Czekolady
(Chocolate Story)
Dominican Republic 70% cocoa + cranberries (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 316.25 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Hispaniola Theme Weeks, with a focus in the first week on cacao from the Dominican Republic.

Today's Dominican Republic 70% cocoa + dried cranberries (bar) was from Manufaktura Czekolady aka Chocolate Story (Lomianki, Poland).

This dark bar had an aroma with slightly tart-sweet dried fruit (Concord grape/raisin, cranberry) in a sea of true chocolate (brownie) notes. 

The base 70% cacao chocolate was thick, soft and fairy creamy. Soft chewy dried cranberries added texture and sweet-tart flavor that complemented the chocolate nicely.

During the tasting, the chocolate (rich brownie) notes were more pronounced (than in the aroma). The chocolate was well-rounded with barely there nut and fruit notes--the latter was amplified a bit by the dried cranberries.

The finish was fairly clean with a faint lingering red berry (strawberry, cranberry) note.

Hats off to the bean-to-bar makers (Krzysiek Stypulkowski and Tomek Sienkiewicz) who produced this complementary melding of fine cacao flavors and the tart-sweet cranberries. 

I enjoy cranberry and orange together and it seemed there might have been a trace of citrus (very faint sweet orange?) in the cacao that created a nice pairing. Faint nut and/or savory or earth notes would also have helped create what felt/tasted like a well-rounded blend. 

It's more difficult to detect the underlying cacao notes when there is a flavor inclusion (fruit, nut, spice or other) item added to chocolate; but I can guess what might be there.

Ingredients: Roasted cocoa beans from Dominican Republic (70%), sugar, dried cranberry 9% (cranberry, cane sugar, sunflower oil). Chocolate: cocoa solids 70% min.

Allergen-related information: "May contain milk, nuts."

Goodio Chocolate - Cranmary - 62% cranberries, rosemary, coconut and gin bar - Aug. 15, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodio Chocolate
Cranmary - cranberries, rosemary, coconut and gin bar
Good ++
Weight: .848 oz. (24 g.) / 1.69 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Cranmary - cranberries, rosemary, coconut and gin bar was handcrafted in Helsinki, Finland, by Goodio Chocolate.

The maker's description for this bar read: "Chocolate like Nordic summer night meadow, flavoured with tangy cranberries and herbal rosemary."

The aroma of this raw, vegan bar had fruit, herb, chocolate and light coconut notes. The texture was relatively creamy (cacao butter) for stoneground chocolate. The dominant layered flavors were an interplay of cranberries (tiny bits and powder) and rosemary, with a hint of coconut (coconut palm sugar, coconut flakes). The gin contributed a very subtle layer of herbal/botanical flavor.

And speaking of gin, this 62% dark chocolate bar was developed in collaboration with Kyro Distillery Company (Finland). The distillery produces single malt rye whisky and a Napue rye-based gin...with botanicals that include "meadowsweet, sea-buckthorn and cranberries"...with a slight "spicy pepper note."

Tru Fru - Whole Cranberries in dark chocolate - Dec. 22, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tru Fru, LLC
Whole Cranberries freeze-dried fresh and immersed in dark chocolate
Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.2 oz. (91 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1/3 cup
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Whole Cranberries in dark chocolate were from Tru Fru, LLC (South Jordan, UT). Festively colorful, naturally tart sweet, freeze-dried fresh cranberries were at the core of today's glossy ebony-colored rounds. Perfect for the holidays.

These fruit-filled confections had a dark chocolate aroma with a faint hint of coconut,* and like most chocolate-covered pieces, were finished with confectioners glaze.

*There was no coconut listed in ingredients list, which read: Dark chocolate (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin - an emulsifier, natural vanilla flavor), cranberries, tapioca dextrin, confectioners glaze. 

JoJo's Chocolate - Chocolate Bark 70% Dark Chocolate Pistachios, Dried Cranberries, Almonds - Dec. 20, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

JoJo's Chocolate LLC 

Chocolate Bark 70% Dark Chocolate Pistachios, Dried Cranberries, Almonds

Good +

Weight: 2.4 oz. (68 g.) / 8.4 oz. (238 g.) in total package of 7 bars

Calories: 320 calories in 2 bars

Cost: $10.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bark 70% Dark Chocolate Pistachios, Dried Cranberries, Almonds from JoJo's Chocolate LLC (Orem, UT).

JoJo's Chocolate was created by Jodie Jones (JoJo) after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. The desire to eat and snack healthier led to experimenting with batches of chocolate barks and other treats with less sugar than conventional chocolates. 

These rectangular 70% dark bars had a pleasing dark chocolate aroma with a hint of fruit. Pressed on the back of each one were dried cranberries, pistachio and almond pieces. These bars were smooth yet flavorful. And, best of all, they weren't too sweet (thank you)!

NeoCocoa - Tart Cranberry truffles - Dec. 19, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

NeoCocoa
Tart Cranberry
Good+ - Good ++
Weight: .8 oz. (23 g.) / 2.4 oz. (69 g.) total box of 6 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $13.00 for 1 box of 6 pieces
Purchased from: La Cocina, San Francisco Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Fruit and Nuts Theme Week.

How does one blend the delicious, slightly tart flavor of cranberry and orange during the holidays into chocolate? This combination can be found in relish, sauce, salads, energy bars and confections, but is harder to find in chocolates.

Fortunately, the busy elves at local San Francisco Bay Area chocolate company, NeoCocoa, made Tart Cranberry flavored truffles this season. These had well-balanced cranberry and bittersweet chocolate flavor with a hint of orange. The company's cube-shaped "hearts of truffles" were velvety soft truffle insides without the usual hard, glossy outer chocolate shells.

These chocolates shared a holiday snack plate with two festively-flavored snack fruit and nut bars: a Sahale Snacks Cranberry Almond with Black Pepper and Orange Zest bar, and a Sahale Tangerine Cashew with Vanilla and Mango bar. The black pepper added a little extra holiday accent sparkle.

Tahoe Bar - Peanut Butter Plus High Energy Bar - Aug. 24, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

King Bars LLC
Tahoe Trail Bar - Peanut Butter Plus High Energy Bar
Good
Weight: 2.61 oz. (74 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 310 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.69 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

What does the phrase the Wild West conjure up for you? Freedom to roam in wide open spaces? Tall mountains, granite boulders and mountain lakes? Cowboys and Native Americans? Exploring new trails, territory and parks that still haven't been fully developed on foot, bike or by horse? There is a mystique to the Western U.S. that still lingers.

Today's Peanut Butter Plus High Energy Tahoe Trail Bar* (South Lake Tahoe, CA) contained peanut butter, chocolate chunks, raisins, cranberries and coconut. This peanut, chocolate and berry combo looked capable of powering** a hike or a western-themed adventure or two. And it did. It was created in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and found its way to the Badlands of South Dakota today.

This gluten-free and vegan energy bar was made with gluten-free oats. It was slightly chewy, substantial and not too sweet (thank you). Dried cranberry bits and coconut offered hints of flavor sparkle. Chocolate chunks were present, but were more of an accent flavor.

* The Tahoe Trail Bar was born in the Hot Gossip coffee shop on the shores of Lake Tahoe in 1995.
**The marketing tagline for this bar read: "fuel for the journey"

Sargento - Sweet Balance Breaks - Dark Chocolate Cranberries - Aug. 21, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sargento Foods Inc.
Sweet Balance Breaks
Monterey Jack Cheese with Dried Cranberries and Dark Chocolate Covered Peanuts
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in 1 snack/container
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in 1 container
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 package of three containers
Purchased from: Safeway, San Jose, CA

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

Chocolate, cheese and berries are great summer snack foods to enjoy together.

Today's Monterey Jack Natural Cheese with Dried Cranberries and Dark Chocolate Covered Peanuts snack item was part of a line of "Sweet Balance Breaks" snacks (sold in 3-container packs) from Sargento Foods Inc. (Plymouth, WI)—a large producer and marketer of cheeses and now protein snacks.

The cranberries had just the right amount of tart sweet berry flavor and paired nicely with the dark chocolate covered peanuts. And the cheese helped balance out the sweetness and provided some savory protein/umami flavor.

Dagoba - Superberry 74% Cacao dark bar - Aug. 20, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Dagoba Organic Chocolate
Superberry 74% Cacao dark chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) total bar
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Hello and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Superberry dark* chocolate bar from Dagoba Organic Chocolate (Ashland, OR; part of The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA) contained blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and acai**.

Today's 74% Cacao Dagoba bar was a blend of bold dark chocolate and bright, slightly tart-sweet berry flavors. The chocolate had a slight bittersweet (almost coffee) finish.

Where are the flowers you ask? While this Superberry bar was all about berries, I used part of a Dagoba Lavender Blueberry bar (featured yesterday) and lavender flowers to amp up a chocolate lavender cake. Mmm. Lavender.

For those who love lavender, this chocolate lavender (gluten free) cake, topped with a dose of aromatic lavender flower buds, couldn't be better.

For those who are reminded of aromatic soaps and oils when they smell lavender, you may have mixed feelings about this edible flower (and cake). Even if you're on the fence, I hope you'll try lavender chocolate edibles some day.

*Note: This 74% cacao dark bar also contained milk.
**Acai berries originated in the rainforests of South America.

Brownie Brittle - Sheila G's Thindulgent Organic Dark Chocolate Bark with almonds - Aug. 3, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Brownie Brittle, LLC
Sheila G's - Thindulgent Dark Chocolate Bark
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total package
Calories: 230 calories in 1 serving (1/11th pkg.)
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Sheila G's Thindulgent Dark Chocolate Bark was from Brownie Brittle, LLC (West Palm Beach, FL)—a company founded by Sheila G. Mains.

This Organic dark bark had a rich, slightly earthy, fruity chocolate aroma. It contained bits of almond, dried cranberries, quinoa, and a hint of vanilla and sea salt. A generous scattering of pumpkin seeds added color and texture.

Organic, high-end trail mix enveloped in thin sheets of fair trade dark chocolate brittle. Not a bad idea for a snack.

The generously-sized, large package held enough bark pieces to satisfy more than a dozen people.

Note: This flavor may not currently be available, or may have been discontinued; it was not listed on the company website this week.

World Market - Bark Dark Chocolate with Everything - June 16, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cost Plus, Inc.
World Market Bark - Dark Chocolate with Everything... (bar)
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146.6 calories (per label) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: World Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's "Bark - Dark Chocolate with Everything..." bar was distributed by Cost Plus, Inc. (Oakland, CA).

The "everything" in the title here I'm guessing is derived from the expression "everything but the kitchen sink."

The Belgian dark chocolate bark came in rectangular bar form and was adorned with five flavor inclusions: pieces of coconut, cashews, bits of dried cranberries and apricots, and a pinch of chipotle chili powder that gave the chocolate a few bursts of spicy flavor.

It was a bit of a jumble, but it was interesting to try.

Theo Chocolate - Cranberry Orange 55% bar - Feb. 6, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate
Cranberry Orange bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Orange Series.

Today's item was a festive Cranberry Orange bar, from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA) that was bought at the tail-end of the Christmas holidays. Its seasonal sparkle brought cheer into a dark, rainy day.

This 55% dark chocolate bar had an appealing balance of tart, fruity (freeze-dried cranberries, orange oil) flavor and slightly chewy texture.

Most dark chocolates below 70% cacao solids tend to taste too sweet to me. but the tart cranberries helped balance the sweetness.

The base chocolate was made with USDA Organic, Fair for Life and Non-GMO Project Certified cacao. In fact, all of the ingredients in this bar were organic, and 98% were fair trade certified.

Theo Chocolate was an early proponent, and adopter, of ingredients that were compliant with organic and fair trade standards—particularly for items obtained from outside the U.S. where labor and environmental standards may be more variable.

While the case can be made that individual farmers in some countries find it tough to pay for annual certifications, co-ops (or situations where costs might be shared) seem to be able to supply much of the demand for certified ingredients.

Post-Thanksgiving Dark Chocolate Cranberry Feast - Nov. 25, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Fruits in Chocolate
(Manufactured by Chocolate Printing Company, Inc.)
Cranberry in Dark Chocolate
Good
Weight: 1.3 oz. (36 g.) / 6 oz. (169.8 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 2 packets/pieces
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Ross Stores, Mountain View, CA

Surrounds
(Manufactured by BiscoAmerica Corp.)
Dark Chocolate Cranberries
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 9 pieces
Cost: $3.29 for 1 package
Purchased from: Ross Stores, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to the Post-Thanksgiving Day, when many people enjoying left-over turkey, potatoes, green beans and cranberries. I'm doing the same, only some of the cranberries are covered in dark chocolate.

Fruits in Chocolate
Fruits in Chocolate (made by Chocolate Printing Co.) offer a line of two-bite sized chocolates filled with flavorful dried fruits, that are sealed in convenient, individual serving sized packets. And the company's Cranberry in Dark Chocolate captured the tart-sweet flavor of dried cranberries, just in time for the holiday season.

Surrounds
BiscoAmerica Corp. (Rialto, CA) makes a broad array of cookies and confections, including the Surrounds line. Think small, glossy dark chocolate, round pieces, with sweetened, dried cranberries inside. These were similar in flavor and spirit to the today's first offering, although I thought I caught a hint of cinnamon somewhere. (It was my imagination.)

Tomorrow, we'll be exploring blends of chocolate and nuts—almonds and hazelnuts to be exact.

Among Friends - phil 'em up, cj's double chocolate cookie mixes - Jan. 21, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Among Friends, LLC
Phil 'em up Chocolate Cranberry Cookie Mix
Good +
Weight: 2.26 oz. (64 g.) in 3 prepared cookies/ 14 oz. (397 g.) in 1 package of dry mix
Calories: 280 calories (estimate) in 3 prepared cookies
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package of mix
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Among Friends, LLC
CJ's Double Chocolate Cookie Mix
Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in 3 prepared cookies/ 12.4 oz. (352 g.) in 1 package of dry mix
Calories: 220 calories (estimate) in 3 prepared cookies
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package of mix
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

I'm kicking off this week with two gluten-free cookie mixes from Among Friends, LLC (Ann Arbor, MI). Nothing smells better than freshly baked goods coming out of an oven.

Among Friends is the creation of two friends: Suzie Miller and Lizann Anderson. These two moms (who had six kids and seven pets between them) had a common vision: "Happy healthy whole grain."

The founders named each cookie or cake mix after someone they knew; Phil and CJ are friends.

The phil 'em up, gluten-free oatmeal cookies were studded chocolate chips and whole dried cranberries, and had a slight, sweet coconut flavor. Oat flour and rolled oats gave these cookies a satisfying, slightly chewy, hearty texture.

cj's double chocolate cookies had an earthy, brownie chocolate flavor, and were lighter in texture and sugar than one would expect. (This second mix also contained two eggs vs. one egg in the oatmeal cookies.)

Finding cookies that aren't overly sweet (made with high-quality ingredients you want to taste) is always a win in my book.

Both these mixes were made with certified gluten free and non-GMO verified ingredients.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Dove - Whole Cranberries Dipped in Dark Chocolate - Dec. 4, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Dove
Whole Cranberries "Dipped in Creamy Dove Dark Chocolate"
Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.)/ 2.83 oz. (80.2 g.) in total package
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 pack
Cost: $2.69 for 1 package
Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and ABC (Apple, Baobab and Cranberry) Theme Week.

When I opened today's package of Whole Cranberries Dipped in Dove Dark Chocolate, from Mars Incorporated (Hackettstown, NJ), I was greeted with a hot cocoa aroma.

The round chocolate pieces came conveniently packaged in a 2-serving bag of individual pieces—dark milk* chocolate around a whole, tangy-sweet cranberry fruit core.

*Note: The dark chocolate coating did have milk in it.