Eight Treasures - Osmanthus Chocolate 72% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 25, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Eight Treasures 
Osmanthus Chocolate 72% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Oceana Market, Pacifica, CA

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate & Flowers Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate & Tea Theme Week.

Today's Osmanthus Chocolate 72% Dark Chocolate (bar) was manufactured and distributed by Eight Treasures, LLC (San Francisco, CA).

This chocolate contained osmanthus flowers; oolong tea grown and ground in Taiwan; and "toasted quinoa for added crunch."

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet and smooth dark chocolate, sweet tea cookie/candy and faint fruit-floral.

Texture: smooth chocolate, with a slight crunchiness (quinoa).  

I've long been a fan of osmanthus and oolong tea. There is a hedge of osmanthus flowers in my neighborhood with a beautiful apricot scent--especially appreciated in late summer and early fall (when most blooms are gone). So I was very happy to find this osmanthus and tea chocolate--relatively nearby where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I appreciated the sweet floral tea concept, and the crunchy quinoa bits worked well. The gentler, ground oolong tea and the osmanthus flavors lingered in the finish and became clearer after the smooth dark chocolate flavors subsided.

I appreciated the maker's choices of a single origin (Carenero Superior Venezuela) cacao and organic ingredients.

Makers Tasting Notes: Peachy Apricot Flowers

Ingredients: Single-origin Carenero Superior cacao from Venezuela, coconut sugar*, oolong tea*, quinoa*, osmanthus* (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: None listed.

 

Ara Chocolat - Almonds & Roses 70% El Salvador (bar) - Apr. 24, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Ara Chocolat
Almonds & Roses 70% El Salvador (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 174 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $24.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate & Flowers Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate & Tea Theme Week.

Today's Almonds & Roses 70% El Salvador (bar) was from Ara Chocolat (Paris, France).

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractive, single origin bar included: relatively bold but balanced dark chocolate (very faint roasted, earth); and redolent rose. 

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, gently textured rose petals, and softly crunchy almond bits 

I was very happy to taste the rose flower notes in this bar. They often get lost, especially when infused into a bolder dark chocolate or a chocolate with a lot of sugar and cocoa butter. The rose was authentic, very slightly astringent (and reminiscent of heritage rose gardens filled with scents). And that rose, happily, lingered into the finish. 

I enjoyed this with a floral (saffron) tea.

Ingredients: "cocoa nibs, sugar, almonds, cocoa butter, roses"

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. "May contain traces of nuts."

 

The Organic House - Lavender & Maple 70% Cacao (bar) - June 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Lavender & Maple 70% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 198 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Lavender & Maple 70% dark chocolate (bar) was made by The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada). The company produces a variety of bean-to-bar chocolates--including many with flavor inclusions and/or maple sugar from Ontario, Canada.

The Bon Bulak cacao (from Kablon Farms) used to make this bar was from the Philippines.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate; maple; and clean, faintly fragrant lavender.

Texture: broke with a well-tempered snap first thing in the morning (65 degrees F.), and was smooth and creamy when warmed to 70 degrees (F.). All flavor inclusions were completely incorporated into the 70% dark chocolate. There was no maple sugar or floral grit, or any off-putting or astringent components.

Flavor notes included: an elegant blend of dark chocolate with a wonderful, balanced flux of lavender floral, maple and refreshing sweet fruit (purple/red grape).

I really liked the complementary flux of high-quality flavors including the culinary lavender and the subtle petit verdot grape note. I appreciated the short list of quality and organic ingredients; and I enjoyed the maker's tagline: "Let your taste buds travel."

Maker's tasting notes: "Porcini, sage, lilac, petit verdot" (Petit verdot is a purple wine grape.)

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, Ontario maple sugar, Organic maple sugar, Culinary lavender

Allergen-related information: "May contain: Cashews, Hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios"

Cacao Sampaka: Dark Chocolate Pistachio 44% (bar) & White Chocolate Roses & Strawberries (bar) - Oct. 8, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Sampaka
Dark Chocolate Pistachio 44% (bar)
Good ++

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) in total bar

Calories: 320 calories in 2 oz. of bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Cacao Sampaka
White Chocolate - Roses and Strawberries (bar)
Good ++

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) in total bar

Calories: 330 calories in 2 oz. of bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's attractively packaged tabletas (bars): Dark Chocolate Pistachio 44% (bar) and a White Chocolate Roses and Strawberries (bar)--were from Cacao Sampaka S.L. (Barcelona, Spain). 

Both packages were adorned with images of colorful ceramic tiles designed by architect (and some would say tile-obsessed) Antoni Gaudi over a century ago.

Dark Chocolate Pistachio

Aroma notes included: pleasing dark chocolate (cocoa) and very faint nut.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with embedded fresh-tasting, softly crunchy pistachio nuts. 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark cocoa with a hint of vanilla, fudge brownie) with perfectly salted (at least for me) green pistachio nuts. The base chocolate was low in acidity and bitterness, and had a pleasing smooth dark chocolate flavor.

I loved the pretty, mostly whole, green pistachios, the added salt, and the 44% dark chocolate that tasted more like a smooth 65% cacao dark chocolate.   

Ingredients: "Sugar, cocoa mass, pistachio (16.5%), cocoa butter, emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavor."

Allergen-related information: Contained pistachios. "Our products may contain traces of nuts, peanuts, lactose, milk and sesame."

White Chocolate Roses and Strawberries

Aroma notes included: aromatic sweet roses, red berry (strawberry) and very faint strawberry and vanilla milkshake/frappe. 

Texture: creamy, luxurious texture (but without being too heavy), interspersed with bits of crunchy, freeze-dried strawberry fruit. 

Flavor notes included: creamy and sweet white chocolate, lovely rose and strawberry.

Surprisingly, I did not find either one of today's chocolates--the 44% dark pistachio bar or this white chocolate bar--too sweet. The high-quality rose and strawberry inclusions helped balance the vanilla-tinged wall of authentic cocoa butter and sugar. Notably, cocoa butter was the number one ingredient and not sugar (thank you!).

Ingredients: "Cocoa butter, sugar, skimmed milk powder, strawberry crispy (12%) (strawberry, sucrose, fructose, acidity regulator (citric acid), reinforced by natural flavors), anhydrous milk fat, rose flavor (0.1%), emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavor, flavor. Cocoa 33% minimum."

Allergen-related information: "Our products may contain traces of nuts, peanuts, lactose, milk and sesame.

Moonstruck - Cardamom and Rose Petals bar - June 15, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.
Cardamom and Rose Petals bar
Good++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.88 oz. (110 g.) in total bar
Calories: 143 calories (per label) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Moonstruck, Portland, OR

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and India-inspired Theme Week.

Today we're getting closer to India-inspired flavors with this Cardamom and Rose Petals milk chocolate bar from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). Thank you to the wonderful woman in the company's small downtown shop who helped me pick out this bar.

A base of cardamom infused milk chocolate was adorned with festive bits of crystallized rose petals, candied orange (and) pistachio pieces.

Pretty and exotic, this India-inspired bar had a light candied fruit and floral aroma that mingled with sweet milk chocolate. The chocolate was a bit too sweet for me, but the overall flavor blend and appearance was beautiful. The cardamom spice was very subtle and added brightness.

Smooth and creamy blended with chewy crunch from the generous helping of candied pink petal and orange, and green pistachio nut bits.

Heart of Shasta - Rose Himalayan Salt bar - June 14, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Heart of Shasta
Rose with Himalayan Crystal Salt Organic Raw Chocolate Bar
Good
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31.1 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Flowers Week, and Day #1 Chocolate and India Theme Week.

The use of roses and other edible flowers has a long tradition. They were crystallized in the Victorian era when granulated sugar became more widely available. These candied flowers sat atop Victorian sponge cakes and other delicacies.

The use of flowers in the U.S. declined about the time industrial food manufacturing processes started to offer quicker, cheaper, mass produced options and flavorings. However, a resurgence in interest in all things natural starting in the later 1900s, accelerated in the 2000s.

So, happily, edible flowers are back in style. If you have access to unsprayed roses, violets, pansies, lavender, borage, etc., and time to hand-craft something with them, you're in luck. (Rose petals are great dipped a bit of chocolate as well.)

Today's Rose with Himalayan Crystal Salt Organic Raw Chocolate Bar from Heart of Shasta (Mt. Shasta, CA) was soft and fudgey in texture. This raw, organic bar was lightly sweetened with honey and contained a mild hint of rose (rose oil); and the sea salt was well incorporated and very subtle.

This bar was dairy, soy and gluten free.

India and flowers

India has a long tradition of using flowers (such as marigolds, roses and rose water, kevda (iris), kewra (pandanus), saffron, lotus) to flavor foods.

While the closest connections to this bar and India might be the notion of rose flavoring and Himalayan salt, I'm looking forward to the coming week of chocolate blended with India-inspired spices and other ingredients. While chocolate isn't extremely popular in Indian desserts, the potential for fusions of Indian flavors, chocolate and gluten free sweets is undeniable. 

Moonstruck - Edible Flowers and Cherries bar - June 9, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.
Edible Flowers and Cherries bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3.67 oz. (104 g.) in total bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 serving of bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Moonstruck Chocolate Co., Portland, OR

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Flowers Week.

Today's bar, the Edible Flowers and Cherries bar (Recipe No. 011) from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR), marked a transition between cherries and flowers.

It was a very attractive, eye-catching bar, with "crystallized pansies on dark chocolate accented with Bing cherry pieces and rose and violet petals."

A bit too sweet for me, I couldn't taste any of the rose or violet flower notes. However, sugar preserved the flowers, and sugared bits of sweet and very slightly tart cherry were fruity and chewy.

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

Blanxart - Dark Chocolate with Rose Petals - Jan. 2, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Blanxart
Dark Chocolate with Rose Petals bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 172 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $5.56 (sale)
Purchased from: Chocosphere, online order


Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week. It's winter and I love seeing a few flowers pop up even during the cold, gray days.

Today's indulgent Dark Chocolate with Rose Petals bar from Blanxart (Barcelona, Spain) was a reminder of spring, when rose bushes come into full bloom again.


This Spanish dark chocolate bar, with attractive pink-red, rose (flower) petals pressed into one side, was made with relatively creamy and mild dark 60% cacao chocolate. The rose petals imparted a faint, authentic rose flavor and a very slight chewy texture.

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

Libby Patterson Organics - Love Tea - May 30, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Libby Patterson Organics
Love Tea
Very Good
Weight: .25 oz. (7.075 g.) in one large serving
Calories: 5 calories (guesstimate) for 1 serving
Cost: $18.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: SLOWCOAST.org, (Airstream trailer), Davenport, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate Tea and Beverage Theme Weeks.

I fell in love with the look, smell and taste of this "Love Tea" from LPO: Libby Patterson Organics (Davenport, CA). This complex, well-balanced herbal tisane contained many of my favorite ingredients: rose petals (favorite flower), nutmeg (a favorite spice), raw cacao (goes without saying), and possibly a new favorite, damiana*.

No surprise about the intoxicating aroma, given that Libby Patterson is a Master Perfumer.

How did it taste? Like the aroma, the tea possessed complex and interesting layers of flavors. I would add nothing to this tea. Enjoy it just as it is.

I bought this tea from SLOWCOAST.org, or more specifically, at/inside their Airstream trailer that was parked at Swanton Berry Farm in Davenport, CA, off the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), in between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, CA.

*Damiana is a shrub native to Mexico, Central America and parts of the Southwest U.S. that has been used as a medicinal plant and aphrodisiac. 

Bovetti - Dark Rose Petals bar - Dec. 1, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bovetti Chocolats
Dark Chocolate with Rose Flower Petals bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) bar
Cost: $9.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Rose and Strawberry Theme Week.

The attractively packaged Dark Chocolate with Rose Flower Petals bar from Bovetti Chocolats (Terrasson, France) was made from 73% cocoa and covered with a generous and beautiful sprinkle of pink rose bits.

Bovetti offers dozens of different chocolate bars with inclusions, including spices, fruits, seeds and ones with flower petals: rose, lavender, jasmine or violet.

Dark, rich and smooth chocolate texture and flavor paired well with sweet, crunchy petal bits.

This classy dark bar inspired me to fix high tea and little sandwiches. And I enjoyed this bar with rosehip tea and strawberry preserves on toast, alongside cucumber and cheese sandwiches. Pip pip, cheerio. Pinkies out and all that.

Alprose - Rose sundae - April 13, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Alprose
Milk Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 114 calories (estimate) in 1/5 bar
Cost: $2.50 (sale)
Purchased from: Safeway, Menlo Park, CA


This afternoon I made a rosewater infused vanilla ice cream sundae, with chopped almonds and milk chocolate (30% cacao) chips from an Alprose (Caslano-Lugano, Switzerland) Milk Chocolate (Chocolat au Lait) bar. Top sundae with an edible, organic rose, and you're done.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Cocopotamus - Rosie Posy Rose Fudge Truffle - Nov. 27, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus
Rosie Posy Rose Fudge Truffle
Very Good
Weight: .56 oz. (16 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) total package of 5
Calories: 56 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $10.75
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

The bright flowers adorning the package caught my eye. And the name Cocopotamus made me smile. But, what sent me to the moon was the taste of a Cocopotamus Rosie Posy Fudge Truffle, from NYDC Chocolate (Albuquerque, NM).

Individually wrapped in pink foil, each Mediterranean rose water infused truffle had a creamy chocolate center. However, instead of being encased in a hard chocolate shell, the center was surrounded by a mantle of pliable chocolate fudge, and rolled in pink sugar -- creating a multi-layered texture and taste experience. The raspberry rose-colored sugar finish provided a sugar sparkle, without the whole truffle being overly sweet.

Max and Ally Sinclair have created an updated* spin on an American tradition (fudge). The personality of the Rosie Posy Fudge truffle is described as: "the most exotic charmer in our chocolate harem." If you like floral flavors, think Roses, with a capital "r," in 3D, on a chocolate rocket, coming at you, right now.

*No preservatives; gluten and corn syrup free; slightly dialed back sweetness

ChocolateBet: August 17, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Rose Caramel
Recchiuti Confections
Very Good
Weight: .3 oz. (8.5 g.)
Calories: 45 calories (estimate)

Cost: $1.80
Purchased from: Recchiuti Confections (store), Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week -- one of many theme weeks I am happy to extend by a few days to fit in more excellent chocolates in this category.

This unique-looking, elongated, triangular piece from Recchiuti Confections (based in San Francisco, CA) was a classy mix of 3 looks: white chocolate on the top, darker chocolate on the base, and rich caramel-colored -- well, soft, flowing caramel -- in the middle.

There was just enough rose flavor in the caramel to make it intriguing -- intriguingly frustrating that is. Recchiuti does make fine chocolate confections; however, their flavors are a bit more muted than I'd like sometimes. The chocolate is taking center stage and not the flavors -- in their truffles and filled chocolate case at least. Just roll me in the most fragrant rose petals available and I'd be a happy gal.

ChocolateBet: August 16, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/4 bar
Rococo Chocolates
Rose Otto bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .62 oz. (17.5 g.)/ 2.47 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 93 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.00 total bar
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

This Rose Otto bar, from Rococo Chocolates (London) -- made with smooth, Organic milk chocolate -- was redolent with natural rose flavor. While it might be too floral for some, I really appreciated being able to actually smell and taste the roses today, and would happily buy this bar again in the future.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week; however, I'll be extending this theme week for a few days, as I really enjoy floral flavors. And, thankfully, there are many different chocolates available in this category to try.

ChocolateBet: August 14, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Maison Bouche
Rose - Lait
Very Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) (estimate)/ 3 oz. (84.9 g.) (guess) for total package of 12 tiny bars
Calories: 37 calories (estimate)
Cost: $18.00 for package of 12 pieces
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Today was a lazy summer Sunday, one of the few I've had in recent days. So, it was great to stop and smell the roses, literally. Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week. This very small milk (lait) chocolate Rose bar from Maison Bouche (Oakland, CA) was imbued with a wonderful, natural rose floral taste.

ChocolateBet: August 12, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:


Mink Chocolates


1.) Mermaid's Choice bar - 1/4 bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 50 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

2.) ...By Any Other Name bar - 1/4 bar
Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 70 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

Salt caramel and chocolate together make for a robust flavor combination, and any flower flavors, e.g. lavender or rose, need to be amped up, if they are to be noticed. I was wanting to add extra flower flavorings to salt caramel + flower bars earlier this week. (Flower catsup?).

Today, I decided to go back to two different bars, both from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) -- one salt caramel bar with rosemary, and a separate (white) chocolate bar with rose. Mink offers numerous bars with different fillings and flavor combinations.

What's with the mermaid you ask? The rosemary in the first "Mermaid's Choice" bar was lovely, and strong enough to stand up to the burnt caramel filling, fleur de sel, and the dark (70% cacao) chocolate bar base/coating. These flavors were all very well balanced.

The second Mink Chocolates bar that I tried was a white chocolate bar called "...By Any Other Name"and was embedded with pretty, organic rose petals. I don't normally eat white chocolate, and could taste the higher fat content in this bar. Unfortunately, I couldn't taste the rose, which, had it been stronger, would have balanced this "fat" taste out. This bar is of high enough quality that it could certainly be repurposed. I will try to make a hot beverage or mousse from this bar later. And, I will likely add rosewater. I do like my flavors/additions.

ChocolateBet: June 6, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Bites of different chocolate cakes
King Arthur Flour (brand)
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
Very Good
Weight: Mix: 22 oz. (1 lb., 6 oz.) (624 g.) total box
Calories: 400 calories (estimate)
Cost: $various ingredients, flavorings, liqueurs - $28 (estimate)
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Los Altos, CA

This chocolate cake was used to make several small cakes, including:
1.) Chocolate Orange, Rose and Pomegranate cake
2.) Chocolate Absinthe cake
3.) Chocolate Fernet Branca cake

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Mediterranean Theme Week, and I feel like I'm just getting started. I may have to extend this theme week. Today, I focused on Mediterranean-inspired liquid flavorings -- some non-alcoholic, and some not -- to flavor several different, single-serving sized chocolate cakes that I made from King Arthur Flour's Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix.

Since there are so many countries that share a piece of the Mediterranean coast, I have included ingredients and ideas from France, Greece, Turkey, Italy, and a few other countries today.

I like floral flavors, so the main act in this three-ring cake circus was the moist, chocolate cake flavored with orange flower water, rosewater, rose preserves, and orange preserves, and a smidge of pomegranate syrup. I ate this cake with some Greek pomegranate yogurt and seeds, and a little orange peel. Lovely flavors. This evening I was up too late trying to make some matching orange rose frosting, but time ran out. I'll have to add a picture later if my guesstimate-based recipe works.

I also made small chocolate cupcake sized cakes flavored with the infamous green Absinthe from France (the version without much Wormwood); and also a Fermet versions of the cakes, a "bitter" mixer/drink with lively herbal flavors; and will try these later. (A small chocolate Amaretto and almond paste cakelet, and an Ouzo chocolate banana fruit cake, will be featured later this week.)