Intrigue Chocolate - Juniper Berry & Black Lime 68% Dark (bar) - Aug. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Juniper Berry & Black Lime 68% Dark (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 194 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

Today's Juniper Berry & Black Lime 68% Dark (bar) was created by Intrigue Chocolate (Seattle, WA).*

Aroma notes for today's bar included: dark chocolate; herbal berry (smooth, rich juniper, faint blueberry); and just the right amount of bright tart-sweet citrus (lime).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with small flecks of what I presumed was with tiny pieces of finely ground juniper berry or freeze-dried lime particles (or both perhaps).

I liked the balanced, well-executed blend of flavors in this 68% dark chocolate. The juniper berries were just right; adding intriguing herbal/berry flavor -- but not too strong. I could say the same for the authentic-tasting black lime. I wouldn't change anything about it.

Thank you to the makers for this unique and tasty bar.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Pungent juniper berry balanced by soft blueberry and vanilla notes, contrasted with the darkly mysterious aromatic juiciness of black lime."

Maker's description: "The scent of pine all around, packed earth under foot, sky reflected on an alpine lake, and air scrubbed clean by a surprise shower. This moment is too beautiful for trail mix...Juniper Berry and Black Lime is a late summer loop on a high-elevation Cascade trail." (Couldn't have said it better.)

Ingredients: "Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural vanilla flavoring), juniper berry, black lime"

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility with milk, soy and nuts"

*The company, previously based in Seattle, WA recently relocated to Chisholm, MN.

Intrigue Chocolate Co. - Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar) - April 30, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Uganda Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate and Warm Spices Theme Week.

Today's Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar) (Batch #000000110824) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).*  

The cacao used to make this bar was from Uganda (Rwenzururu; Semuliki Forest). Harvest year was 2022. And the cacao variety/ies were: "mostly Trinitario and Amelonado."

The cacao was from Eastern Africa; but this bar also contained ingredients with West African, Caribbean and spice island roots.

Aroma and flavor notes included: balanced, slightly woodsy, chocolate-y dark chocolate with bright citrus, floral (hibiscus) and very faint, bright, sweet pineapple, warm spice (ginger) and herbal/peppercorns.

In addition to the expected bright, tart sweet hibiscus and warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, etc.) there were two more fun, subtle exotic spice flavors: prekese (a member of the pea family, with large woody looking pods, from Ghana that is naturally sweet), and grains of paradise (also from West Africa and that have wonderful peppercorn and spice flavors).

Texture: smooth, with a very faint, fleeting mild trace of astringency (possibly from hibiscus/sorrel/sobolo).

I really enjoyed the thoughtfully created and executed, bright, sweet and tasty bouquet of flavors in this bar. The flavor inclusions conjured up a sweet, exotically-spiced tropical drink on a magical island somewhere that was pleasingly, authentically tart-sweet--without being too tart or too sweet or too spicy. And all these flavors were very complementary with (and were grounded by) the underlying, very slightly earthy/woodsy dark chocolate.

We may not have magical time machines or teleportation devices; but sometimes chocolate can be transporting. This one belongs in the virtual travel category.

Maker's tasting notes: "An Inspired Flavor...There is a staple beverage of West Africa and the Caribbean that has many names: sobolo, zobo drink, bissap, sorrel drink, roselle, wonjo, folere, dabileni, tsobo, agua de Jamaica...All the versions feature hibiscus, with lots of fruit, spices, and ice."

Ingredients:  Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, hibiscus, prekese, freeze-dried pineapple, ginger, grains of paradise, dried lemon juice, dried lime juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, paprika, clove, peppermint leaf.

Allergen-related information: (No information on package.)

*Note: the company is planning to relocate to Chisholm, MN.   

Willie's Cacao - Ginger Lime - Cuban Baracoa 70 Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 23, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Willie's Cacao 

Ginger Lime - Cuban Baracoa 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 265 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $11.99 in total bar
Purchased from: World Wide Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Ginger Lime - Cuban Baracoa 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from / made by Willie's Cacao Ltd (Uffculme, UK and Copenhagen, Denmark). 

This travel inspired, bean-to-bar chocolate was made using cacao from (Baracoa) Cuba. 

Aroma notes for this bar included: lime, chocolate and very faint warm, island spice (ginger).

Texture: pleasantly smooth and fudge-y with tiny slightly crunchy bits of crystallized (I'm presuming) candied ginger and maybe candied lime peel. The overall textural blend was well-balanced, and seemed just right to release the layered flavors in this chocolate. (They all melted down together in a pleasing way.)

Flavor notes included: an upbeat blend of smooth dark chocolate, tangy sweet lime, subtly spicy ginger and faint honey.

I literally felt happy after tasting this chocolate. 

Ingredients: "cocoa mass, raw cane sugar, crystallised ginger 12% (stem ginger, sugar), cocoa butter, essential lime oil 0.1%". (Cacao solids 70%) 

Allergen-related information: "Vegan"

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Milk Chocolate 60% Calamansi (square) - Apr. 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
Dark Milk Chocolate 60% Calamansi (square)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in a total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 60 calories in 2 squares 
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 box of 48 pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Dark Milk Chocolate Calamansi 60% Cacao squares were manufactured in Hawaii by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI). 

Company founder and CEO Gunar Valkirs set up a farm with the intent to share net profits with the community, and they have done so. They offer chocolates (like this one) made using cacao from Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador--and chocolates made with Hawaiian cacao.

Today's individually-wrapped chocolates (squares) were part of a attractive, 48-piece assortment box featuring 1/2 Dark Chocolates and 1/2 Dark Milk Chocolates--almost all with different flavor infusions.

There was also a darker sibling (Dark Chocolate 65% Calamansi) square in this assortment. However, because I'd already featured the dark chocolate 65% version (in a Chocolate and Lime themed week), the Dark Milk 60% version appears by itself today.

Aroma notes for this dark milk chocolate included: subtle dark milk chocolate (cream) and citrus (lime).

Texture: smooth and relatively creamy

Flavor notes included: subtle dark milk chocolate and aromatic, sweet lime + lemon natural flavoring. The latter lingered into a long sweet citrus finish (slightly bittersweet lime + lemon candy/soft drink).

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Milk, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors."  

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.

Century Snacks - Snak Club Tajin Chil & Lime - Peanut & Corn Clusters - Feb. 18, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Century Snacks, LLC
Snak Club - Tajin Chili & Lime - Peanut & Corn Clusters
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (4 pcs) (30 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (1/4 package)
Cost: $4.49 for 1 package
Purchased from: Midtown Safeway, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Lime Week and Day #1 of Chocolate and Peanut Week.

Today's Snak Club - Tajin Chili & Lime - Peanut & Corn Clusters in a chocolate-y coating were from Century Snacks, LLC (Commerce, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: mild chili powder mix, corn chip and chocolate.

Texture: snack-like blend of crunchy (toasted corn and dry roasted peanuts) and creamy (chocolate-y coating) texture.

I liked the fact the subtle (Tajin) chili and lime flavors and that these clusters were sweet and salty -- but not overly so in either direction. 

While I wasn't as fond of the long list of ingredients, and would have loved a little more dark or dark milk chocolate in this snack, it was fun to try.

Description: "Dry roasted peanuts and toasted corn in chocolatey coating and sprinkled with Tajin chili lime seasoning."

Ingredients: Milk Confectionary (Sugar, Vegetable Oil [Palm Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil], Cocoa Powder, Nonfat Dry Milk, Whole Milk Powder, Whey Powder, Soy Lecithin [an emulsifier], Salt, Artificial Flavor), Salt, Artificial Flavor), Peanuts, Corn (Corn, Canola Oil, Sea Salt), Tajin (R) Clasico Seasoning (Chili Peppers, Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Contains 0.5% or Less of Dehydrated Lime Juice, Silicon Dioxide [To Prevent Caking]), Canola Oil.

Allergen-related information: Contains Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Soy, Milk, and Sesame.

Caution: "Natural Products May Contain Pit, Shell, Stem or Other Fragments"

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Maui Calamansi Lime 65% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 17, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Maui Calamansi Lime 65% Cacao (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Aloha and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Lime Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Calamansi Lime 65% Cacao (bar) was from Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

 

The maker(s) used cacao from Costa Esmeraldas Ecuador. (I associate this growing locale with subtly complex fruit notes.)

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, subtle and complex fruit; and very faint, fleeting spice (floral pepper).

The texture was creamy smooth; with a whipped cream-like melt and mouthfeel. (There was no dairy in this bar.) 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate; delicate, fruit-floral citrus (lemon-lime). 

Calamansi limes are known for their relatively tart citrus flavor. But, I found the flavor in this chocolate to be quite mild and pleasing. The Maui-grown limes that were used were from the CEO's home orchard in Kapalua.*

I really enjoyed the subtle fruit-floral complex flavors and the lovely creamy texture. The choice to pair the Ecuador cacao with the Maui calamansi lime in this well-executed chocolate worked well. Normally when I see "natural flavors" in an ingredients list, I brace myself for synthetic, overly strong, or unpleasant flavors; but not this time.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors 

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on chocolate packaging)

*"...He hand-picks the fruit at full ripeness, vacuum-seals it whole, and freezes it for later processing. Thawed fruit is crushed to extract the juice and bruise the skin to release essential oil. The flavor essence of the juice is infused to complement our 65% dark chocolate."

Chocolate Spiel - Strawberry Lime Salt (bar) - Feb. 15, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Spiel
Strawberry Lime Salt (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (27 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) for 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Spiel, online order 

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

Today's Strawberry Lime Salt (bar) was from Chocolate Spiel (Edmonds, WA). 

Aroma notes included: lime chocolate shortbread cookie strawberry filling, limeade, and very faint spice (fleeting licorice).

Texture: creamy, uniform melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: smooth, creamy dark chocolate with fruit (red berry, strawberry) and subtle citrus (subtle, tart-sweet lime), and a satisfying, dash of salt. 

I like the balanced complexity, the sweetness level (not too much, but enough to bring joy)--and the salt.

The painted (colored white chocolate) patterns on this bar created a festive, upbeat visual appearance.

Ingredients: "cocoa, sugar, cocoa butter, strawberry, chipotle lime salt from Aroma Spice Co., lime, colored cocoa butter."

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts and gluten."

Intrigue Chocolate Co. - Chili + Lime + Salt 60% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Chili + Lime + Salt 60% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.)/1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 77.5 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Lime Theme Week, and Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate this day which is about warm hearts and passion.

What better way to celebrate than today's spicy Chili + Lime + Salt 60% Cacao (bar) from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).

Made with cacao from Uganda (Region: Rwenzururu - Semuliki Forest) Type: Mostly Trinitario and Amelonado Year: 2024), this bar was flavored with cayenne chili, lime juice, and sea salt.

Aroma notes included: smooth but rich dark chocolate, fruit (fig cookie), and faint savory spice (chili) and citrus (lime).

Texture: smooth with a very creamy melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: sweet, rich, dark chocolate; fruit (lime and diffuse red fruit (red apple, fig, imaginary mango); and--last, but not least--chili with a spicy kick (more in some bites than others). The chili heat kicked in about 2/3 way through and the sizzle lingered into the finish.

Maker's notes: "This flavor was inspired by those amazing fruit vendors around the world (eg Mexico and Thailand) who sprinkle fresh cut slices with an irresistible mixture of sour, spicy, salty goodness."

Ingredients: Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, cayenne chilis, dehydrated lime juice, sea salt. 

Allergen-related information: (No allergen information on bar packaging.)

 

Zotter - Lime and Passion Fruit Dark Chocolate 70% filled sweet potato, passion fruit, polenta-lime (bar) - Feb. 13, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolate
Lime and Passion Fruit Dark Chocolate 70% filled sweet potato, passion fruit, polenta-lime ganache (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 340 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Lime and Passion Fruit Dark Chocolate 70% filled sweet potato, passion fruit, polenta-lime ganache (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL). 

Aroma notes for this Peruvian-inspired bar included: a sweet, tropical confection/dessert with tart lime and fruit, and subtle dark chocolate.

Texture for this "hand-scooped" (filled) bar was smooth with a few very tiny lime-flavored shreds in the filling, surrounded by a velvety, thin layer of dark chocolate.

Flavor notes included: a very sweet, smooth blend of tart fruits (citrus (limeade, lemon), passion fruit), and a cast of other well blended and complementary flavors--all covered with a thin coating of slightly earthy, silken dark chocolate. 

I could almost taste the polenta in the filling; however, the sweet potato was not detectable. (Sweet potato worked/works surprisingly well with/in chocolate items, as a stealth flavor and/or smooth texture enhancer.)

While this sweet cocktail (it did contain a bit of brandy) of a bar was a bit too sweet (for me), I appreciated the lively lime and fruit tartness, balanced a bit by the dark chocolate; the complex blend of Peruvian inspired flavors; and the sheer inventiveness of the makers at Zotter. (They've produced a staggering array of flavors over the years, and have done so using organic and fairtrade ingredients when/where possible.)

Read the ingredients (below) to appreciate what goes into a bar like this.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar+*, Cocoa Butter+*, Cocoa Mass+*, Glucose Syrup+, Verjuice+ - Juice of Green Grapes, Sweet Potatoes+, Dried Passion Fruits+, Lemon Juice+, Milk, Dry Whole Milk, Dry Skim Milk, Dry Skim Milk Yoghurt, Polenta+, Cane Sugar Brandy+, Lime Concentrate+, Caramelized Milk Powder (Dry Skim Milk, Sugar), Butter (Cream), Almonds+, Passion Fruit Concentrate+, Dry Sweet Whey, Lemon Juice Concentrate+, Dark Brown Cane Sugar+*, Lecithin (Soy)+, Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder+*, Cinnamon+*, Lemon Oil+, Chili ("Bird's Eye")+, Rose Petals+, Lemon Powder+ (Lemon Juice Concentrate+, Corn Starch+, Sugar+).  + = Organic (89% Organic); * = Fair Traded, Fair Trade Content in Total: 67%

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

Mission Chocolate - Brown Sugar & Lime 60% dark chocolate (bar) - Feb. 12, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mission Chocolate
Brown Sugar & Lime 60% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) total bar

Calories: 324 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Lime Week, including different varieties and components of limes blended with chocolate.

Today's Brown Sugar & Lime 60% dark chocolate (bar) was from Mission Chocolate (Sao Paolo, Brazil). 

Aroma notes included: "warm", faintly fruity dark chocolate; light, almost floral citrus (lime blossom + lime juice); faint brown sugar; and (almost undetectable) refreshing, clean mineral water.

Texture: This thin bar (thank you) broke with a well-tempered snap and the texture was relatively smooth, with a tiny bit of fruit/citrus astringency.

The cacao, lime and brown sugar flavors were well-executed and balanced. It was sweet, but not overly so (thank you).

There was a very pleasant lilting quality when the flavors unfolded, then undulated a little over the course of tasting this chocolate; and the finish was long and subtle. 

This gently animated complexity (chocolate magic) was elicited from a short list of four, high-quality ingredients.

Ingredients: "cacao, organic dark brown sugar, cocoa butter, lime."

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Peanut, Coconut, Tree Nuts, And Oats Due to Shared Equipment. Does not contain lactose, gluten or soy."

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."

Lindt - Excellence - Lime Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Lindt 
Excellence - Lime Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving (30 grams)
Cost: $4.89 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Excellence - Lime Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Lindt -- distributed by Lindt and Sprungli (USA) Inc. (Stratham, NH).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and citrus (lime). 

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with tiny (slightly crunchy) freeze-dried lime bits--that hydrated in my mouth and tasted like flecks of pleasant (not bitter) lime fruit and peel.

Flavor notes included: smooth, relatively sweet dark chocolate and small sparkles of authentic (freeze-dried) lime fruit/rind. 

Many chocolates with fruit flavor inclusions start to taste more like candy. They often contain a higher percentage of sugar, and a lower percentage of cacao. 

While this 47% cacao chocolate was sweet (sugar was the first ingredient listed), the dark chocolate and lime both helped balance the sweetness; and the bitterness level was fairly low. The blend was well-balanced and executed.

I also liked that the smooth yet hearty (and less sugar-y tasting) dark chocolate with authentic lime also harmonized with the naturally occurring "fruit" flavors (e.g. "citrus" notes) found in cacao. 

Ingredients: Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Freeze-Dried Lime, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier).

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

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.

 

Marou - Ginger and Lime 69% Ba Ria Vietnamese Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat
Ginger and Lime 69% Ba Ria Single Origin Vietnamese Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Ginger and Lime 69% Ba Ria bar was from /made by Marou Faiseurs de Chocolate (Chocolate Makers) based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Aromas for this Vietnam bar included faint, warm ginger, dark chocolate and faint citrus.

This 69% dark chocolate had gentle swells of warm spice (ginger), dark chocolate and fresh lime citrus flavor notes. The flavor emphasis was on the smooth dark chocolate; and the other accent flavors were balanced, authentic-tasting and complementary.

The makers found all three flavors (cacao, ginger and lime) in Ba Ria, a southeastern, coastal province in southern Vietnam.

Maker's notes: "...the perfect harmony between the bitterness of cacao, the spiciness of ginger and the sweet acidity of lime."

Ingredients: Cacao nibs (65.5%), cane sugar (29.5%). Soy, gluten, nuts, and dairy free.

Allergen-related information: Manufactured in a facility that also processes coconut.

 

Endangered Species Chocolate - Organic 52% Milk Chocolate with Key Lime (bar) - March 7, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Endangered Species Chocolate
Smooth Organic 52% Milk Chocolate with Key Lime (bar)
Good 
Weight: .466 oz. (13.3 g.) / 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 73.3 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and JKLM Theme Week, where I'm featuring chocolate items with flavor inclusions or origins that start with the letters J, K, L and/or M. 

Every few years I've gone on an alphabetic chocolate treasure hunt. This may be my last year to do so, as there are many other interesting chocolate themes to pursue. 

Today's Smooth Organic 52% Milk Chocolate with Key Lime (bar) from Endangered Species Chocolate (Indianapolis, IN) has been waiting for years in my chocolate vault for its turn. What better K + L flavor item than Key Lime?*

Chocolate and citrus pairings typically yield refreshing and delightfully tart-sweet results. And today's smooth, organic dark 52% cocoa milk chocolate suffused with natural key lime flavor was no exception. As billed, the texture was smooth, almost creamy. A hint of vanilla added a bit of floral warmth and paired nicely with the chocolate and the lime.

Ingredients: Organic milk chocolate (organic cane sugar, organic whole milk, organic cocoa butter, organic chocolate liquor, organic soy lecithin (as an emulsifier), and organic vanilla), Key Lime Oil.

*Smaller and more thin-skinned than Tahitian or Persian limes, Key Limes (aka Mexican limes) are often grown in Florida in the U.S. When ripe they can be yellow-green. They are aromatic (almost floral) and tart-sweet, with relatively low bitterness, and make a great flavoring for desserts (Key Lime pie), beverages (cocktails, limeades) and other items, including flavor inclusions in (or part of fillings or ganaches for) chocolate bars and confections.

TCHO - Black Lime + French Thyme 68% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 10, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

TCHO Ventures, Inc.
Maker's Series: Black Lime + French Thyme 68% Cacao (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar (plus shipping)
Purchased from: TCHO.com, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Salt and Savory Theme Week.

Today's Maker's Series: Black Lime + French Thyme 68% Cacao (bar) was created by Chief Chocolate Maker, Brad Kintzer,* at TCHO (Berkeley, CA).

Only 647 of these lime and thyme dark bars were made for sale; and this flavor was Number 12 in TCHO's micro batch Maker's Series. Many of the other flavors in this series have sold out before I've had the opportunity to try them. I felt lucky to obtain one of these bars—that was minted just a few weeks earlier.

Bars in this series were packaged in a luxurious outer dark navy blue box with embossed copper colored logo type, and inside the box was a dark chocolate brown colored lining and a brochure with more information. The design was reminiscent of packaging you might see with fine cigars, jewelry, wine, etc.

The aroma and flavor of this bar was weighted toward fresh thyme, an herb used in many savory dishes. Interspersed with the (dried) thyme notes were crunchy hard micro-bits of black (sun-dried, Persian) lime which yielded balanced micro-bursts of tangy citrus. Lime, like chocolate can go savory or sweet, and did so nicely here.

Your brain will be so busy trying to figure out and enjoy the savory inclusions that the nuances of the smooth dark chocolate may get a bit lost. But, that's a "risk" worth taking in discovering new chocolates.

A wee bit of sea salt further contributed to the savory profile, helping to confuse the brain for a split second. However, a very subtle hint of vanilla added a faint, warming, floral note, which (along with cane sugar) helped nudge the brain ever so gently into chocolate bar recognition territory).

The maker's notes described the inspiration for this bar read, in part, as follows:

"The combination of citrus and herbs might evoke memories of savory feasts and, honestly, that's exactly the bit of inspiration that leads to this micro batch...This may be a chocolate bar, but the pairing of Black Lime and French Thyme still has all the savory feels."

"For our 12th release, we wanted to pay homage to a classic combination with our twist by embracing the zesty "funk" from the black lime and the lighter piney, minty, and peppery French thyme. These unusual flavors layer together with the 68% dark chocolate for an herbal and tangy kick of umami.."

Plus it must be refreshing fun for the makers to do experiment a bit with high-quality limited editions after spending so much time carefully jockeying high-volume, high-quality blends from multiple sources.

*My favorite part of learning about TCHO Chief Chocolate Maker, Brad Kintzer, was hearing about his family roots in chocolate, and that an older relative (grandmother?) was buried with a Hershey's chocolate bar. 

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Sweet55 - Dark Chocolate with Lime - Feb. 26, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sweet55

Dark Chocolate with Lime

Good

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) in total bar

Calories: 145 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: N/A - gift 

Purchased from: N/A - gift 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate Gifts Theme Week. 

Thank you to the team at San Mateo Convention Center and Visitors Bureau for the introduction to Sweet55 (Half Moon Bay, CA).

Today's Dark Chocolate with Lime bar was part of an assortment of Swiss Chocolate Bars with nuts and fruits created by this local coast-side Bay Area company.

The dark, sweet chocolate was interspersed with balanced upticks in natural lime citrus flavor (lime oil).

I look forward to meeting Ursula Schnyder, Sweet55's chief chocolatier in the near future. We look forward to finding out more about the "dessert buffet" mentioned on the company's website.

Dagoba - Organic Ginger Lime Milk Chocolate 37% cacao - April 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dagoba Organic Chocolate 

Ginger Lime milk chocolate 37% cacao bar

Good
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 2.83 oz. (80 g.) in total bar

Calories: 100 calories in 1/4 bar

Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar

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

Dagoba Organic Chocolate
Organic Ginger Lime milk chocolate 37% cacao Cacao Gems
OK ++ - Good
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 4.2 oz. (115 g.) in total package
Calories: 50 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 package of 3 flavors
Purchased from: Target Stores, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's organic, gluten free Ginger Lime Milk Chocolates were from Dagoba Organic Chocolate (Ashland, OR).* One was in bar form and the other in individually-wrapped Cacao Gem form.

Although made with the same list of ingredients and wrapped in similarly themed packaging, the bar version of this Ginger Lime milk chocolate seemed a little tastier, fresher and a little more natural. The tiny pieces of crystallized ginger had a more natural soft chew, vs. crunchy flavored bit texture.

Both 37% cacao chocolates were very sweet (which may be OK if you like chocolate candy). However, like many other 37% chocolates, it was hard to taste the cacao under so much sugar and milk,

The design and packaging were well done. The pattern printed on the bar was especially nice, combining an abstract motif with a small figure, the outline of a cacao pod and a small company logo.

*Manufactured by Dagoba Organic Chocolate, a division of The Artisan Confections Company (owned by The Hershey Company). 

**The cacao (beans and butter) used to make these chocolates was sourced from dual-certified Organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified Farms.

Chuao Chocolatier - Totally Tangy Mango bar - Jan. 30, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chuao Chocolatier

Totally Tangy Mango bar

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar

Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.69 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Totally Tangy Mango dark chocolate bar with mango, lime, sea salt and chili, from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA), was packed with well balanced flavor.

The tasting experience was full of excitement—in a good way. The aroma and initial flavor of smooth, dark chocolate was quickly eclipsed by a short bright burst of mango fruit and lime, followed by a light sparkle of sea salt, and then back to chocolate and fruit. 

The pasilla chili provided some warmth and flavor depth to the chocolate without being too spicy. And a trace of vanilla helped to sweeten and mellow the blend.

The 60% dark chocolate base was made with Fair Trade Certified cacao, sugar and cocoa butter.*

The Totally Tangy Mango bar flavor combination was created by Chuao's Master Chocolatier, Chef Michael Antonarsi, who came to the U.S. from Venezuela with a host of fond food memories—including the dusting of fresh, sweet mango fruit with their own special blend of chamoy (lime, salt, pasilla chili).

*The use of sunflower lecithin instead of soy will please those who can't have soy.

Trader Joe's - Chili Lime, Chili Chocolate Collection - Feb. 15, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Chili Lime
Chili Chocolate Collection
Good++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 5.64 oz. (160 g.) total box of 16 pieces
Calories: 50 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $4.99 for 1 box of 16 pieces
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Alameda, CA

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

Today I'm featuring the last of four different chili-flavored chocolates from Trader Joe's Chili Chocolate Collection.* And the Chili Lime flavor may also have been my favorite.

This Chili Lime round was covered with dark chocolate and had a pleasant aroma with citrus fruit and caramel notes.


The product description read: "Dark chocolate with zesty lime oil play well with indulgent caramel flavored with hot chili."

True enough, although the heat was more pleasing and less searing than some other chili flavors in this assortment box. And I liked the authentic lime + chili + a hint of salt blend. There's nothing like a little zing to pep up an overcast, winter day.

Note: The chocolates in this collection contained glucose and likely a small trace of wheat.