Askinosie - 62% Dark Milk Chocolate + Fleur de Sel (bar) - Aug. 28, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Askinosie Chocolate 
62% Dark Milk Chocolate + Fleur de Sel (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 320 calories in 2/3 bar
Cost: $10.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & The Philippines Theme Week.

Today's Good Food Awards winner: a 62% Dark Milk Chocolate + Fleur de Sel (bar) was from Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, MO).

This bean-to-bar dark milk chocolate was made using (Trinitario variety) cacao from the Philippines.

Aroma and flavor notes for this well-executed, single origin bar included: satisfying dark milk chocolate with faint caramel (organic cane sugar); very faint (almost undetectable) goat milk; and subtle sea salt. 

Texture: wonderfully smooth, thick and creamy texture with a satisfying, even melt

I enjoyed the lovely texture and the smooth and balanced chocolate-y flavors. And I appreciated Askinosie's long history of highlighting cacao farmers and their stories on their packaging. Today's bar featured an image of cacao farmer Peter Cruz from Davao (in the Philippines).

Ingredients: "Davao, Philippines Cocoa Beans (Trinitario), Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter (Made in our factory with Davao beans--visit askinosie.com for details), Goat's Milk Powder, Sea Salt."

Allergen-related information: Contains Goat's Milk.

MIA - Ghana Gold Fleur de Sel Milk Chocolate 48% Cocoa (bar) - Apr. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

MIA
Ghana Gold - Fleur de Sel Milk Chocolate 48% 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 #5 of Chocolate and Ghana Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

Today's MIA Ghana Gold - Fleur de Sel Milk Chocolate 48% 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 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 Ghana cacao.*

The aroma notes were relatively uniform and included: sweet, milky cocoa and very faint salt dough. The texture was smooth and creamy. And this 48% cocoa bar had a sweet milk chocolate flavor and finish with a blush of caramel.

The salt was very subtle. (It was inherent in the fleeting salted caramel notes I tasted.) This milk chocolate may be most appreciated by those with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cane sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), salt (less than 1%). Minimum cocoa solids: 48%.

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

*MIA is a brand of Kuanza Ltd. (I'm guessing that MIA might stand for Made in Africa, but I could be mistaken.) 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.

Alexander's Patisserie - Fleur de Sel Caramels - Jan. 3, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Alexander's Patisserie
Fleur de Sel Caramels
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .9 oz. (25.47 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $5.00 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Alexander's Patisserie, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Fleur de Sel Caramel filled chocolates from Alexander's Patisserie (Mountain View, CA) looked like newly discovered micro-planets with swirling blue and purple atmospheres, that had come to rest in a fancy black chocolate box.

These colorful, round chocolate shells were filled with authentic, velvety, flowing salt caramel and chocolate. Delicious.

Charles Chocolates - Salty-Sweet Hazelnut bar - Dec. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Charles Chocolates
Salty-Sweet Hazelnut bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .975 oz. (28 g.) / 3.9 oz. (112 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 146 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Calafia Cafe and Market A-Go-Go, Palo Alto, CA

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

Charles Chocolates founder, Chuck (Charles) Siegel, used to have a location in Emeryville, CA, where I visited about four years ago. I remember the filled chocolate butterflies and a great tea-infused chocolate collection. The newer location is in the Mission district of San Francisco. I look forward to trying new chocolates there soon.

In the meantime, I was was able to purchase today's smartphone-sized, Salty-Sweet Hazelnut Bar - 65% Bittersweet Chocolate bar, that was nice and fresh, from a local Cafe and Market, that carries a small, high-turnover inventory of chocolates.

Freshness is very important for all foods, and because chocolate bars can have a long shelf life, some bars with inclusions lose their freshness if they sit too long; or nuts can taste stale. Not true with this bar. Whole hazelnuts were perfectly roasted and covered with a "meringue of Fleur de Sel and sugar," helping to seal in fresh nut taste and crunchy texture, and giving them an extra burst of salty and sweet flavor.

The 65% chocolate base that covered the nuts had a slightly creamy texture and authentic, smooth bittersweet flavor.

Rescue Chocolate - Pick Me! Pepper bar - Feb. 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Rescue Chocolate
Pick Me! Pepper bar
Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 320 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Abe's Market, online order

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

The Pick Me! Pepper bar from Rescue Chocolate (made by Tumbador Chocolate in Brooklyn, NY) was made with flavorful and creamy 66% Organic and Fairly Traded (vegan) dark chocolate, and contained pasilla and mulato chili pepper, spices and fleur de sel.

However, no need to be afraid of the heat, as the savory and spicy notes were well balanced, and the slightly salty flavor seemed just right.

The "Pick Me!" in the title refers to dogs who would be happy to be adopted, sponsored or rescued. 100% of the net proceeds from this line of Rescue Chocolate bars go to animal rescue groups.

Fittingly, I spent today leading a Chocolate Walk in the "Dogpatch" neighborhood of San Francisco, an area with several chocolatiers (as well as craft breweries, wine bars, and great little cafes). Dog images were everywhere (including dog paintings/drawings at Recchiuti's Little Nib and theLab Cafe). It was a beautiful day, and thank you to the great group who participated.

Akesson's Bali 45% fleur de sel bar - Dec. 12, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Akesson's (AO GmbH)
Bali, Sukrama Farms 45% Milk Chocolate with Fleur de Sel and Organic Coconut Blossom Sugar
Very Good
Weight: .69 oz. (20 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) total bar
Calories: 104 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today's Akesson's (AO GmbH, Zug, Switzerland) sea salt bar was assembled from several interesting ingredients. The 45% milk chocolate was made with cacao beans from a single plantation, Sukrama Farms, in Bali. The addition of a bit of fleur de sel (salt) gave the bar a pleasing, rounded caramel taste. However, I'm guessing, what really amped up the caramel flavor in a wonderful way was the addition of organic, coconut blossom sugar.

I've enjoyed several chocolates with coconut palm/blossom sugar over the past several years, and this sweetener does yield a rich, interesting flavor -- where these flavors complement the inherent flavors in cacao beans being used.*

Akesson's founder, Bertil Akesson, owns land or has forged relationships with growers on plantations in Madagascar, Brazil, Bali and elsewhere. (He also sells peppercorns.)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week.

*On the other hand, "pure" cane sugar is a popular choice, where the undiluted flavor arc of certain cacao beans is the desired focus. For three-ingredient bars (cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sugar), especially, every ingredient must be of a high quality and play well with the others to yield optimal, clear as a bell, results. Disclaimer: I love playing with the "browner" richer, natural sweeteners when cooking. A touch of molasses, organic coconut sugar, natural brown sugars, can improve sweet or savory dishes.

Dick Taylor - Fleur de Sel bar - Dec. 8, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Dick Taylor
Fleur de Sel bar
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $9.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week, and the chocolate of the day was a dark chocolate single origin bar with salt, hand-crafted* by bean-to-bar maker Dick Taylor in Humboldt County (Arcata, CA).

This 74% Dominican Republic bar had well-balanced earthy and acid/ripe fruit notes, and just the right, even sprinkling of fleur de sel (sea salt) on the back side of the bar.

With a three ingredient bar like this (organic, fairly traded cacao, organic cane sugar and fleur de sel), there's no where to hide if you want a great bar. Each of these three ingredients needs to be of the highest quality and has to play well with others. There are no texturing or flavor agents to cover up off-tastes or an uneven flavor profile.

Thankfully, the makers and serial craftsmen at Dick Taylor (Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor are also boatbuilders and designers/printers, musicians, and I'm sure I'm leaving a few things out here) take each step of their craft(s) seriously. And, I haven't tasted a bad bar yet.

*Note: When I last checked the Dick Taylor website (Dec. 2013), most of their bars were "Sold Out," so stock up when they're available.

ChocolateBet: July 27, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Gnosis Chocolate
Fleur de Sel (bar)
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate website

This handmade, raw, organic and vegan chocolate Fleur de Sel bar from Gnosis Chocolate (NYC, NY) was flavored with Fleur de Sel and Pink Himalayan Salt, and was also made with agave nectar instead of refined white sugar.

Gnosis Chocolate donates part of their profits to The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (www.ftpt.org).

ChocolateBet: September 15, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Sahagun Chocolates
"Oregon Kiss" - ground hazelnuts and a small amount of fleur de sel
Very Good - nice blend of flavors
Weight: ~.5 oz.
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Sahagun Chocolates/Chocolate Shop, in Portland, OR

ChocolateBet: September 29, 2007

Chocolate of the Day:

Kathryn Taylor Chocolates
(looks to be local to Orcas Island/San Juan Islands in Washington state from label); looks like it might be a family business.
Fleur de Sel Caramels - dark and milk assortment
Good - Very Good
Weight: 2.8 oz. (79 g.) total
Cost: $11.99 for total package
Purchased in Washington State on vacation in San Juan Islands at Orcas Village Store
? pieces ? Calories

Other comments: preservative-free; hand-made from fresh local and organic ingredients; good, but a bit over-priced. Not quite as good as some of the other high-end salt caramels. (Corn syrup: ewww, whyyy?)

It was great to find a local chocolatier to this area (San Juan Islands, WA) while on vacation though. Given the swings in business (between the summer and year-round crowds on islands), it must make business challenging.