Deux Cranes - Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame + Ginger (bar) - July 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Deux Cranes
Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame + Ginger (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 191 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Deux Cranes, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame + Ginger (bar) was created by Deux Cranes LLC (Los Gatos, CA). The company's handcrafted chocolates are "rooted in Japan and inspired by France." (I previously featured their Miso Almonds chocolate bar.)

Aroma notes included: slightly earthy and fudge-y dark chocolate; faint Umami (sesame); warm spices (maple, caramel, vanilla, ginger); and very faint fresh bread.

Texture: smooth chocolate with crunchy caramelized sesame seeds and candied/crystallized ginger bits.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (ultra-dark fudge brownie); faint sesame and caramel/brown sugar; and warm hints of ginger.

Maker's tasting/flavor notes: "Earthy, Sweet Spices, Balanced Bitterness"

I enjoyed the nicely balanced and complex flavors in this well-executed bar. There was a lot going on; but it worked. Sweet dark chocolate and spices and a little salty and umami. (Disclaimer: I like less sweet and Umami chocolates.)

Ingredients: Caramelized Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa butter, Caramel (skimmed milk, whey (milk), sugar, butter (milk), flavoring), Whole milk powder, Cocoa beans) sunflower lecithin (Emulsifier), Hojicha Ground Tea, Sea Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains: Sesame, Soy. May contain traces of nuts, milk, and gluten. Packaged and processed in the same facility as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and milk products.

Sesame Plus - Dark Chocolate Sesame Plus (bar) - Aug. 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Sesame Plus Inc.
Sesame Plus Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Surprise Theme Week.

Today's Crunchy with Dark Chocolate Sesame Plus bar(s) were made in Greece and imported into the U.S. by Sesame Plus Inc. (Burlingame, CA). 

Aroma notes for these gluten free bars included: subtle sesame seed candy, (faint roasted, sweet, nutty, seedy, malty) and faint chocolate (cocoa).

The package contained two thin corrugated bars ("slices") that had a delicate crunch. After I opened the package, I was surprised to see that the small amount of dark chocolate (about 10% of total content) was not coating the reverse side, but rather was thoroughly incorporated into these sesame seed bars--all but invisible except for a slight golden brown hue (and a very faint chocolate flavor) compared with the plain and honey Sesame Plus bars the company offers.

These thin bars ("slices") tasted light and crunchy. They were also very lightly sweetened with glucose syrup and honey (thank you!)--especially when compared with other, heavily-sweetened, thicker (teeth-grabbing) sesame candies I've tasted in the past.

Ingredients: Sesame seeds, glucose syrup, sugar, 10% dark chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soya lecithin - as emulsifier), honey.

Allergen-related information: "Contains soya. May Contain peanut and other tree nuts." "Non-GMO, Dairy Free, Gluten Free"

Javier Confectionery - Vegan Brittle, Dark Chocolate - Feb. 25, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Javier Confectionery
Vegan Brittle - All Natural Vegan Dark Chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 220 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $7.50 for 1 package
Purchased from: Sweet Shop, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Golden Sugars Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Seed Series.

Today's Vegan Brittle (with) All Natural Vegan Dark Chocolate was from Javier Confectionery (Burlingame, CA). 

Aroma notes for this brittle included seeds, caramel/toffee and subtle dark chocolate.

Flavor notes included sweet sesame brittle, roasted pumpkin seeds, other seed notes (pine nuts), dark chocolate, and very faint earth (clay) and caramel popcorn.

These thin shards were perfect for taking crunchy, very slightly chewy bites of brittle without losing a filling. 

The 63% dark chocolate on the back (and the seeds) helped to balance the sweetness. Popular sesame brittle candy flavor was accented with pumpkin seeds. And the addition of pine nuts was a nice touch; they added a bit of their own faint, but distinctive flavor.

Ingredients: Vegan dark chocolate (63% unsweetened cocoa, sugar, sunflower lecithin, vanilla), pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pine nuts, sesame seeds.

Allergen-related information: Contains sesame. "Made in a facility that also makes products containing milk, soy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat."

Chocolate Naive - Tahini - Organic 47% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 21, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Naive 
Tahini - Organic 47% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 309.51 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA  

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and RSTU Theme Week. Chocolate items with origins or flavor inclusions that start with the letters R, S, T and/or U (such as sesame seeds and tahini) are featured this week.

Today's Chocolate Naive Tahini - Organic 47% Milk Chocolate (bar) was produced by Mulate UAB (Zietelos, Lithuania).

This rich milk chocolate had a balanced, savory, nutty, roasted seed, aroma.

The base chocolate had a thick, creamy melt and mouthfeel, and rich, (relatively "dark"* but sweet) milk chocolate flavor with a (salt) caramel undertone. A careful smattering of embedded (I think toasted) whole sesame seeds added micro-bursts of crunchy texture and sesame flavor. 

Chief chocolatier, Domantas Uzpalis's inspirations for this bar include Antoine Galland's "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves" (from a collection of tales told in 1001 Arabian Nights, with origins that stretch back centuries in the Arab world). In this story, Ali overheard a thief utter the famous secret password "Open sesame!" (that allowed access to a cave full of treasure). In this Tahini bar, sesame seeds held the key to a treasured, novel chocolate experience.

Ingredients: Organic cacao butter, organic sugar, organic specialty cacao, organic sesame seeds, organic grass-fed milk powder, sea salt. 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts, barley, sunflowers."

*The definition of "dark milk chocolate" is a term I used here to denote more cacao flavor. Generally, it refers to milk chocolate(s) with a higher percentage of cacao (solids) than one would normally expect to find in commercial/bulk milk chocolate. ("Milk chocolate" in the U.S., needs (by law) to contain a minimum of only 10-12% cocoa liquor/solids.)

More cacao in craft chocolate bars usually means higher quality chocolate (or at least less sugar and milk solids).

Some craft/artisan chocolate makers apply the term "dark milk" to chocolate(s) containing at least 50% cacao solids, whereas a few will dip down to 45-49% cacao. Some vendors use 55% or even 60% as their definitional dividing line for their dark milk offerings.

Theo and Philo Chocolate - Milk Chocolate with Turon 44% with Banana (bar) - Jan. 15, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory
Milk Chocolate with Turon 44% with Banana (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 220 ?? calories (per label) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.25 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and the Philippines Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

Today's Milk Chocolate Turon 44% (bar) was from Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates/Chocolate Factory, based in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines.

This milk chocolate Turon* bar was flavored with "banana chips, crispy caramel and sesame seeds."

The initial aroma that arose from the freshly opened copper foil packaging was one of milk chocolate enhanced by a pleasant savory smell--with a very faint and fleeting cheese/fermented note that dissipated quickly, after the bar had been opened for a minute or so.

The milk chocolate was sweeter than the authentic, dried banana pieces with the occasional flourish of caramelized brown sugar. Sesame seeds added a bit of texture and seedy/slightly nutty flavor. Even though I've never had banana lumpia, I feel this bar conveyed the essence of what I know about this dessert.

After tasting and reading ingredients lists on all Theo and Philo Chocolate bars this past week, it confirms my experience that chocolates with authentic, unadulterated, high-quality ingredients really do taste better. The lack of "natural flavors," preservatives, emulsifiers or lab-created extracts almost always goes hand-in-hand with a fuller, more enjoyable tasting experience.

Ingredients: sugar, cacao beans, milk powder, cocoa butter, dried bananas, butter, sesame seeds

*I thought today's "Turon" might be related to popular nougat confections from Southern Europe. Turron (Spain) or Torrone (Italy)--typically made with honey, sugar, egg whites and nuts (often almonds). Both are sweet dishes/confections. 

However, this unique Filipino Turon bar was likely inspired by banana lumpia (lumpiang saging) a dessert one might find in the Philippines--made with thinly sliced, local bananas and brown sugar, and wrapped in a spring roll wrapper, and then fried. 

Thank you Theo and Philo for enabling a virtual culinary trip to the Phillipines this week.

Fossa Chocolate - 70% Dark Shrimp and Bonito (bar) - Sept. 18, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
70% Dark Shrimp and Bonito (bar)
Good 
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 66 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar 
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Surprise Theme Week.

Today's 70% Dark Shrimp and Bonito and (bar) was from Fossa Chocolate (Singapore).

Billed as offering an "umami of the sea" experience, this bar delivered. When you opened this bar, you could see authentic marine life--tiny little dried shrimps nestled amongst the sesame seeds. 

But, the sight of these tiny crustaceans were not the surprise. (I have enjoyed chocolates with smoked salmon as well as dried anchovies and many other umami (savory) flavor inclusions before.) Nor was it the slightly fishy aroma that emanated from the bar--that became much fainter after taking a bite of the chocolate.

Surprise! This bar contained 6 of the 8 major food allergens,* including gluten (wheat flour), although it was not present in visible amount(s). I've been dodging wheat/gluten all my adult life. I like it; it doesn't like me. So, I limited my tasting to a smaller piece of this 70% dark bar, and shared it with others.

The dark chocolate was bold enough that it covered up what might have been a "fishy" flavor. The dried shrimps and bonito fish flecks contributed a bit of chewy texture and a hint of saltiness and no scary fishiness. If blindfolded, it's unlikely I would have been able to identify the specific type of seafood (shrimp, bonito) flavor inclusions.

The bar was not too sweet or too salty (thank you). It was a skillful, balanced, implementation of these unusual flavors. Definitely worth trying if you can get over the fear factor. (Tiny dried shrimps are almost adorable when you become accustomed to them.)

*Ingredients: cacao, cane sugar, dried shrimp, seaweed, sesame, soy sauce, lactose, salt, egg, spices, yeast extract, wheat flour.

*Note: "Contains seafood, sesame, egg, dairy, gluten and soy."

Mindo Chocolate Makers - Special Edition Sea Salt Sesame Garlic 77% Chocolate Bar - July 13, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mindo Chocolate Makers
Special Edition Chocolate Bar
Sea Salt and Sesame Garlic bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.45 oz. (40 g.) / 2.9 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mindo Chocolate Makers, online order

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

Today's Special/Limited Edition Sea Salt and Sesame Garlic 77% Chocolate Bar from Mindo Chocolate Makers (Dexter, MI and Mindo, Ecuador) was one of the most savory flavored bars to date.

The aroma was complex with hints of garlic,* and savory soup-like notes--along with wisps of chocolate and sesame. There are times when it's fun to be confused.

The base 77% heirloom cacao (Ecuador) chocolate had some floral aroma and flavor notes (characteristic of Ecuador cacao). You would think that these more almost light, sweet and delicate floral notes might have been crushed under such strong savory flavor inclusions and a relatively dark (higher % cacao) chocolate. But no. This co-existence was a testament to the makers, who created a nicely balanced, and very unique bar.

I enjoyed the tiny spikes of crunchy sea salt, garlic, sesame seeds, and some unique synergistic flavors created by this blend. About 3/4 way through the tasting process I tasted a fleeting, faint waxy flavor note. It was not necessarily unpleasant; and it may have been a reaction from the garlic and chocolate together.

This special bar may not be for everyone, but I had fun trying it. It should be noted: I'm fond of savory chocolate snacks and chocolate that isn't too sweet.

Ingredients: cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, garlic,* celtic sea salt, toasted sesame seeds

*The garlic used in this bar was from Dyer Family Organic Farm (Ann Arbor, MI).

Skratch Labs - Skratch Anytime Energy Bar - June 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Skratch Labs
Skratch Anytime Energy Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Cashew Theme Week, and Day #4 of Peru Superfoods Theme Week.

Today's Skratch Anytime Energy Bar with chocolate chips and almonds was from Skratch Labs (Boulder, CO).

This chewy nut and fruit energy bar contained a nut and seed butter blend (cashew butter and tahini (sesame seeds, salt)), chocolate chips and almonds. Dried cranberries added some sweet-tart concentrated fruit flavor.

And, oats, quinoa crisps and sorghum flakes gave the bar some heft and soft crunchy texture.

Quinoa
Quinoa (pronounced keen-whah), a flowering plant related to spinach with edible starchy seeds grows in the the high plains of the Andes, and has become a popular export crop in Peru.

This pseudo-cereal was enjoyed by the Incas and peoples of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador for thousands of years before it became popular in other countries. Some peoples in northern South America who may have been consuming cacao as a beverage may have also been enjoying quinoa seeds as well.

Regardless of what you may think of the term superfood, quinoa is higher in protein and vitamins and minerals than some true grains. It's been a welcome alternative to wheat and other gluten-containing grains for vegetarians and people with gluten sensitivities and allergies. And it's found its way into chocolate bars too.

Off The Farm - Chocolate Fudge - July 17, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Off the Farm
Dark Chocolate Fudge
Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 290 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.35 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market, Pebble Beach, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Fudge bar was from Off the Farm (Palo Cedro, CA), a company created by a group of family and friends interested in producing a line of healthy bars and offerings that would be good for the planet.

This nutrition bar was packed with fruit (dates and apples), nuts (almonds and cashews), and four different kinds of seeds: sesame, pumpkin, sunflower and chia.

The dark chocolate in this gluten free, vegan and Non-GMO bar came from chocolate chunks and cocoa powder; and slightly chewy fudge bar contained 7 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber.

Trader Joe's - Caramelized Sunflower and Sesame Seeds bars - Dec. 13, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Trader Joe's
Caramelized Sunflower and Sesame Seeds bars
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) / 12.72 oz. ( 360 g.) total box of 12
Calories: 340 calories in 2 mini bars
Cost: $9.99 for 1 box of 12 bars
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Alameda, CA

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

These two Caramelized Sunflower and Sesame Seeds bars from Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Portfolio—a box of 12 individually wrapped mini bars (2 each of 6 different flavors).

These were crunchy, flavorful and sweet, without being too sweet. And the caramelized seeds provided some crunchy texture which I really enjoyed.

Wine Country Chocolates - Sesame Ginger Bar - Oct. 23, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wine Country Chocolates
Sesame Ginger Chocolate Bar
Good+
Weight: .78 oz. (22 g.) / 2.35 oz. (66.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 117 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Wine Country Chocolates, Tasting Room, Glen Ellen, CA

Welcome to the last day (Day #4) in this week's Chocolate and Sesame Series, and the first day of Chocolate, Sugar and Spice Theme Week.

Being located in Northern California, it's easy to find local wineries to visit. In the case of Wine Country Chocolates, located near several wineries in Sonoma County, they operate tasting rooms filled not with bottles, but rather chocolate confections, barks and bars.

I found today's Sesame Ginger Bar after after taking a wrong turn while driving in the Sonoma area. Happily, this led to discovering Wine Country Chocolates' Glen Ellen location on a tree-lined, meandering country road.

This Sesame Ginger dark chocolate bar was sprinkled with small pieces of candied ginger and toasted white sesame seeds. Ginger is a great spice and complement to chocolate. And this bar achieved a nice, balanced blend of flavors.

Zayna Dates; Sesame Items - Oct. 22, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Signature Snacks LLC
Zayna Dates (Milk Chocolate)
Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) total package of 10 pieces
Calories: 132 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $1.99 for 1 package of 10 pieces
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of A Series of Sesame Chocolates.

Today's Zayna Dates (Milk Chocolate) were made by Signature Snacks LLC (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), and were one of several dessert tapas arranged on small plates.

Zayna Dates were created, according to the description on the packaging, after "world-renowned Suisse Chocolatiers visited Mediterranean regions" in the 1990s. Long story short, sweet, rich, hand-picked dates were stuffed with a roasted almond and covered in milk chocolate. I have to agree, after tasting today's dates, this is a winning combination.

And, consistent with a Mediterranean dessert tapas theme, other items included sesames seeds, nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios), pieces of sesame rice cakes, and Joyva Sesame Crunch candies, and melted chocolate (fondue).

What chocolate paired best with sesame items? I tried pairing sesame candies and seeds with two very different chocolates: one bright, fruity and complex Venezuelan chocolate, and one deeper, darker, slightly earthier and African chocolate.

The Venezuelan choice was a great chocolate, but was a little too acidic and bright for this pairing. And the latter African chocolate was a little too dark (78 percent cacao) and "dull."

A nuttier 70 percent chocolate that was in between these two extremes, or perhaps a 65 percent dark milk bar with chopped almonds might be a good fit.

Chosen Foods - Chocolate Bites with Chia - Oct. 21, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chosen Foods
Chocolate Bites with Chia!
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in 1 packet
Calories: 190 calories in 1 packet
Cost: $5.99 for 1 box of 12 packets
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of A Series of Sesame Chocolates.

This week people are watching the World Series (baseball play-off) games. However, I'm focused on a series of a different sort: 4-5 chocolate items with sesame seeds.

Today's Chocolate Bites with Chia! were made in Mexico and distributed by Chosen Foods, LLC (San Diego, CA).  The small, crunchy, gluten-free cubes, or bites, inside each packet were made with nuts (pecans and almonds), chia (organic chia seeds), and cacao nibs. However, the first ingredient listed was organic sesame seeds.

These bites were relatively high in protein (5 g.) and fiber (4 g.), and were very lightly sweetened (cane sugar (3 g.) was number five on the ingredient list), making them a relatively healthy snack choice.

Neo Cocoa - Black Sesame Seed Brittle - Oct. 20, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Neo Cocoa
Black Sesame Seed Brittle
Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $8.00 for 1 package of brittle pieces
Purchased from: Neo Cocoa table at Palo Alto Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of A Series of Sesame Chocolates.

Another great blend of flavors and textures from Neo Cocoa.

One of the joys of the modern world is the melding of food items from different continents over time by creative chefs of every kind: cacao from Central and South America, made into chocolate in North America; and flavor inclusions from around the world.

Today's chocolate contained sesame seeds (originally from Asia and East Africa). Rich in flavor and crunchy texture, sesame can go sweet or savory, and can pair nicely with chocolate.

Neo Cocoa Black Sesame Seed Brittle
Beware. Today's Black Sesame Toffee Brittle from Neo Cocoa (Belmont, CA) would be a spookily addictive Halloween treat. It will disappear before your very eyes.

Upon opening the sealed pouch of brittle, I detected a promising light sesame and chocolate aroma.

At the heart of this carefully crafted brittle was a thin* layer of light, crunchy sweet toffee brittle riddled with toasted black sesame seeds. The brittle was covered (on both sides) with a thin* coating of 72 percent dark chocolate and then sprinkled with white sesame seeds. The results: an intoxicating, crunchy sweet and slightly salty treat.

*I'm not sure how they managed such delicately thin layers, but I'm glad I didn't have to attempt making this at home.

Woodblock Chocolate Manufactory - Toasted Sesame bar - April 15, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Woodblock Chocolate Manufactory
Toasted Sesame bar (Batch 17)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 132 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: French Broad Chocolates, Asheville, NC

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

And Happy April 15 -- the big annual tax due date in the U.S. (Canadians have until April 30). May all your financial affairs go smoothly and may you always have some pocket money for good chocolate.

Technically, any theme week on ChocolateBanquet.com could be a chocolate and seeds theme week, as chocolate is made from cacao seeds. We call them cacao or cocoa beans, but they're really seeds that, for the most part, are fermented, roasted and processed into chocolate.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to these seeds, the farmers who grow cacao, and all the people who contribute to the making of great chocolate, including smaller craft chocolate makers.

Today's Toasted Sesame bar was crafted by the team at Woodblock Chocolate Manufactory (Portland, OR), a family-run, bean-to-bar chocolate company.

There was a lot of flavor packed into this small, compact bar. The top of this Woodblock bar looked like...well, a wood block, with a stylized woodgrain pattern—a nice, design touch.

The three ingredient (cacao, sugar and sesame seeds) 70% cacao bar had a dark, complex aroma, and a dark, roasted, acidic and almost smoky flavor (think espresso).

The boldness of the flavor made it difficult to detect any lighter fruit, floral or berry notes. And perhaps there were none to speak of to begin with. Different cacao seeds (beans) have different flavor profiles from the start.

The flavor of toasted sesame seeds was very faint, but I'm guessing the seeds did help mellow the dark roasted, acidic flavor profile in some way that I was unable to account for (without having a non-seeded bar as a tasting control group). For all its boldness, it was fairly well balanced. I did not find this bar bitter or astringent.

A very even sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds—which can be surprisingly hard to achieve when sprinkling by hand, so hats off there—were lightly pressed into the underside of this dark bar.

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

Momotombo - Quetzal chocolates - April 2, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Momotombo Chocolate
Quetzal chocolates
Good+
Weight: 4.3 oz. (121.7 g.) in total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 620 calories (estimate) in 15 pieces (1 box)
Cost: $22 for 1 box of 15 pieces
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Nicaragua Theme Week.

It's difficult to find Nicaraguan chocolate in the U.S., so I'm happy live near The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA). They carry a full line of Momotombo chocolates (including some made just for the Garage). I purchased several for this theme week.

Carlos Mann at Momotombo works to honor and preserve fine Nicaraguan cacao, and also provides training to locals who work in the company's small artisan factory.

Momotombo's Quetzal* chocolates, like yesterday's Fiery Jungle Queen chocolates, came packaged 15 bean-shaped, chocolate covered pieces to a box.

I was surprised when I bit into the first piece. Instead of a soft or gooey center like you might find in other confections or filled chocolates, a tiny shower of seeds (chia, sesame, linseed (aka flaxseeds)) and coconut tumbled out. This unique, malty flavored seed mix was very satisfying -- and was refreshingly cereal-like and un-sweet. I found myself eating the whole box for breakfast. Expensive breakfast, but I'd like to think one that a quetzal bird might approve of.

*The Quetzal bird was a sacred symbol to the Aztecs and Maya peoples. The Resplendent Quetzal (one of five species of  Quetzal (part of the Trogon family) in Central America) is said to be one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas. This bird with bright green plumage can be found in the cloud forests (tree canopies) of Nicaragua and neighboring countries.

Nirvana - Dark bar with toffee, sesame seeds - Sept. 9, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nirvana Belgian Chocolates
72% Dark Chocolate with Toffee and Sesame Seeds bar
Good
Weight: .583 oz. (16.8 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 92 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

This Nirvana Chocolates Organic, 72% Dark Chocolate bar is a good example of how cocoa bean origin (cocoa beans/mass grown in the Dominican Republic) and European know-how (chocolate made in Belgium) are more transparently marketed.

While most high-volume chocolate has long been made this way -- i.e. cocoa beans are shipped to more developed countries (Europe/Eastern Europe, the U.S. with advanced equipment and temperature controlled facilities) for manufacturing a finished bar -- there is more recognition now for the country of origin, and what that means for flavor, as well as other attributes of consumer interest, such as organic and fair trade (both present here).

This dark chocolate bar was relatively glossy and broke with a hard snap (well tempered). The bar,  "with natural toffee flavor," had a relatively even, smooth dark flavor with the exception of a slight soapy note (like what one may find in ginger, although, to my knowledge, there was no ginger in this bar). Tiny crunchy bits (sesame seeds) added textural interest. 

Michel Cluizel - Orange Toasted Sesame bar - May 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Michel Cluizel
Orange Toasted Sesame bar
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 375 calories (estimate)
Cost: $8.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, San Mateo, CA

Today is Day #3 of Chocolate and Fruit Salad Theme Week; and I'm letting a chocolate bar inspire a similar salad.

I enjoyed an Orange Toasted Sesame bar from Michel Cluizel (Michel Cluizel USA is based in West Berlin, NJ). It was made with 55% cocoa and lovely, jewel-like, chewy candied orange bits. A touch of vanilla, and a sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds finished the bar nicely. The chocolate had a smooth, almost silky texture and mouth-feel.

This flavorful bar inspired me to make a sweet and savory orange sesame fruit salad, with a sweet citrus and ginger sesame dressing.

I also paired this orange sesame salad, and bar, with crunchy ginger peanut squarelettes from keen-wah, LLC (Chicago, IL).

All these items were creative takes on Asian-inspired cuisine. I've been told that oranges came from Asia originally. And, chocolate originated in the Americas many hundreds of years ago. It's wonderful to live in an age -- and place like the San Francisco Bay Area -- where so many fusions of cultures and foods can be found.

Louks - Dark Chocolate Sesame Snaps - January 12, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Loucks
Dark Chocolate Sesame Snaps
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 package (3 pieces)
Calories: 206 calories in 1 package
Cost: $N/A - holiday gift
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Seeds and Berries Theme Week.

Made in Poland, and imported by BC Imports (Puyallup, WA), these sweet, chewy sesame thins were frosted with diagonal stripes of dark chocolate, and the pressed bar format was a great way to enjoy a concentrated burst of the almost nut-like flavor of these seeds.

These Dark Chocolate Sesame Snaps made for a great international snack, especially when paired with some fresh, organic, red raspberries, grown near the central coast of California.

Recchiuti - Sesame Nougatine bar - January 9, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Recchiuti Confections
Sesame Nougatine bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (45 g.) / 3 oz. (90 g.) total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Paradise Foods, Corte Madera

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate, Seeds and Berries Theme Week.

I'm from California, and am proud to live in the "land of fruit and nuts." I lived elsewhere for a time. However, I was never so happy as when I returned home and had access to fresh produce again, from  trees in yards, nearby markets, or the occasional road stand.

Even better, has been the access to so many items -- such as seeds and berries -- that grow in the Golden State that combine so nicely with chocolate.

Sesame seeds grow in the Middle East, Asia, and elsewhere, and can be used for either sweet or savory foods. They appear in desserts and dishes from many different cultures in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Today I tried a dark milk chocolate, Sesame Nougatine bar, from Recchiuti Confections (San Francisco, CA)*, a variation on Recchiuti's Sesame Nougatine Truffle.

Bursts of toasted sesame seed clusters, cooked with cane sugar and sea salt (fleur de sel), poked out of this bar. The chocolate was fairly smooth -- no strong or acidic notes; however, the initial flavor (bites of chocolate without sesame seeds) was not quite what I expected. It could have been the vanilla extract I was tasting.

I enjoyed the slightly crunchy areas of sesame nougatine. The sweet and salty flavors were subtle and well balanced.

The fresh raspberries and blackberries that I paired with this bar seemed to improve the overall taste of the chocolate.

*Note: Michael Recchiuti and crew operate a "Chocolate Lab" in San Francisco. Watch for a future write-up or on this Lab location and tasting space.