Raaka - Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate 
Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 137 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). 

The company offers a bounty of bean-to-bar chocolates using unroasted (single origin) cacao. Today's bar was made using cacao from Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania.

This Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed chocolate had pleasant, sweet, slightly fruity (berry) cake/muffin aroma notes; and it was uniform and smooth in texture. 

The flavors did indeed mirror a blueberry lemon poppy seed scone or muffin. And the ingredients* list was plain and simple. Flavors were subtle and authentic, and not too sweet (thank you!).

Tasting notes: "We grind wild blueberries into Tanzanian cacao, then swirl in a lemon, vanilla, and poppy seed strewn vegan white chocolate. An ode the lemon poppy seed scone."

*Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic blueberries, organic coconut, organic lemon, organic poppy seeds, organic sunflower lecithin, organic vanilla bean"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free"

Endangered Species - Dark Lemon Poppy Seed bar - Dec. 9, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Endangered Species
Dark Chocolate with Lemon Poppy Seed bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $missing information
Purchased from: Whole Foods, Cupertino, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of the Chocolate and Seeds Series.

Today's bar was a Dark Chocolate with Lemon Poppy Seed bar from Endangered Species (Indianapolis, IN).

This 60% Cocoa bar was flavored with lemon zest, organic poppy seeds and "natural flavors." The lemon flavor kicked in a few seconds after the first bite. And the bittersweet chocolate seemed to get progressively sweeter during the tasting experience.

The finish was accompanied by a very subtle crunch from the tiny poppy seeds and some acidity.

Dick Taylor - Los Bagels Slug Slime bar - Apr. 24, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Humboldt State University - Special Edition Bar
Los Bagels Slug Slime (with sesame and poppy seeds)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar (plus any applicable shipping)
Purchased from: Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (online order)

Welcome to the last day (Day #10) of Chocolate and Seeds Theme Week.

Today's Humboldt State University Special Edition Bar - Los Bagels Slug Slime 72% Belize bar was crafted by the founders and team at Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (Eureka, CA).


Los Bagels Co. (Arcata, CA) is a popular bagel bakery and cafe in Humboldt County, founded by an owner with Jewish and Latino roots who opened the business in 1984. With locations in Arcata and Eureka—and a third location at Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA)—the company's Slug Slime, La Granola, and other bagels and baked goods have developed a local following.

The Los Bagels Slug* Slime is available as an a la carte Roasted Seasoning Blend that can be sprinkled on bagels or other baked goods (...or, today, a chocolate bar). I'm assuming this "Slime" seasoning mix includes the same ingredients in today's Dick Taylor bar: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, garlic and salt.

From its description alone, this Dick Taylor Slug Slime bar would make my list of interesting chocolate breakfast candidates.

And an experimental collaboration like this bar says something about bean-to-bar makers and Dick Taylor founders (Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor)—i.e., their skill and confidence to take on a daring blend of fine dark chocolate with onion and garlic. (The sesame and poppy seeds and salt are a snap compared to onion and garlic.)

While the Los Bagels bar will likely charm the students and citizens surrounding Humboldt State**, did this combination of sweet and savory flavors work?

The Slug Slime bar, swathed carefully in shiny gold foil, had a mild sweet chocolate and savory aroma.

The first bite delivered a hearty, yet surprisingly balanced blend of slightly salty bagel fairy dust and chocolate. And, within seconds, rather than being overwhelmed by the savory spices, the acidic, rich 72% Belize dark chocolate flavor bloomed and refused to be dominated by garlic or onion. Ole.

Alas, when I checked the Dick Taylor website this morning, this bar was already sold out.

*Slug slime is a reference to banana slugs and other slugs that live in the moist Redwood Forests of Northern California. (Also there are a variety of sea slugs who reside in the nearby Pacific Ocean.) At least one other institution of higher learning in Northern California claims the banana slug as a school and/or team mascot: the University of California at Santa Cruz, south of San Francisco.

**A portion of the proceeds from sales of this bar go to Humboldt State University.

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

ChocolateBet: March 6, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
2 cookies
Lemon Poppy Seed Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten free, homemade)
Very Good
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 2 cookies

1.) General Mills - Betty Crocker Yellow Gluten-Free Cake Mix
Very Good
Weight: 15 oz. (425 g.) total package
Cost: $4.79 total box of Cake Mix
Purchased from: Draeger's in San Mateo, CA

2.) Safeway - Real Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Very Good
Weight: 12 oz. (340 g.) total package
Cost: $2.99 in total package (sale price)
Purchased from: Safeway The Market, in downtown San Jose, CA

Today (Sunday, and also Day #6 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week), I improvised a recipe for some gluten-free Lemon/Limoncello Poppy Seed Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I started with General Mills Betty Crocker Yellow Gluten Free Cake Mix. Instead of eggs*, I added lemon curd, Limoncello, poppy seeds, Safeway semi-sweet chocolate chips, and lemon infused olive oil. After experimenting with four different batches, I found a thin, crisp, browned version that worked. Not too dark, and not too light. (I'm no fool; I'm not showing you the quasi-burned ones.) It was hard to take a close-up shot of a fresh, hot cookie on a spatula without fogging up the camera lens; my best cookie cam shot is pictured at right.

I like lemon mixed with dark chocolate. So, I added three lemon-y ingredients to these cookies. However, much of the lemon flavor dissipated in the cooking process. I'll try adding finely ground lemon peel next time.

*General Mills also makes a Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie mix. No egg improv necessary.