The Tea Room - Organic Milk Chocolate Skull Lollipop - Nov. 1, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Tea Room
Organic Milk Chocolate Skull Lollipop
Good +
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in 1 skull
Calories: 255 calories (estimate) in 1 skull
Cost: $3.19 (estimate) for 1 skull
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Trick or Treat Theme Week. Halloween was yesterday; but I have plenty of treats leftover for the rest of this week.

Skeletons are always in fashion for Halloween. However, today's Organic Milk Chocolate Skull from The Tea Room (San Leandro, CA) might be just as fitting for the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos*.

This celebration of the dead originated in Mexico and spans two days (today and tomorrow). The occasion conjures up images of skeletons and decorated sugar skulls and—increasingly as we've adopted some elements of this traditional holiday in the U.S.—chocolate skulls.

The Tea Room specializes in chocolates flavored with a variety of different teas.

At first bite, this milk chocolate skull on a stick with protruding jelly bean eyes tasted like conventional milk chocolate. However, the initial flavor gradually evolved into one with caramel overtones. This chocolate with infused with the company's "Caramel Blend" with organic honeybush tea and caramel oil which gave it an authentic caramel warmth and flavor.

*The origins of the Dia de Los Muertos celebration dates back to the Aztecs, as far back as 3,000 years ago. The original, longer, celebration took place during the 9th month of the Aztec calendar (closer to August-September) and honored a goddess, the "Lady of the Dead."

Nestle - Butterfinger Peanut Butter Skull - Oct. 30, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Nestle
Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups - Skull
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 190 calories in 1 package
Cost: 2 for $1.00 (sale)/ $0.50 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Trick or Treat Week. On this day before Halloween (and pre-Day of the Dead weekend), what better way to celebrate than a skull-shaped chocolate peanut butter cup. A "Smooth and Crunchy Skull" no less.

Wait, what is that apparition coming out of the candy mist? As it materialized, this spooky Butterfinger Halloween skull from Nestle seemed to say: "Arrgh. Dead men tell no tales." (Well, they don't after you bite off their jaws.) And, how kind this grinning skull was to let me feast on its chocolate bones and peanut butter and crunchy, peanut toffee brains.

The list of ingredients for this skull was long and included some items I'd rather not be haunted by (lactose, palm oil, hydrogenated oils, etc.). However, what a treat to see that Nestle has done away with artificial flavors and colors, and used natural colorings (paprika and annatto).

In February 2015, the company pledged to take this step with some popular candy offerings—including Butterfinger, Crunch and Baby Ruth bars—by the end of 2015.

*The Butterfinger candy bar was developed by the Curtis Candy Company in Chicago in the 1920s, and was eventually sold (in 1990) to Nestle. 

Mama Ganache Dark Chocolate Skull - Oct. 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates
Fair Trade, Organic Dark Chocolate Skull
Good
Weight: .566 oz. (16 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48.11 g.) (estimate) for 1 skull
Calories: 84.9 calories (estimate) for 1/3 skull
Cost: $2.59 for 1 skull
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week -- and, more important, it was Halloween, an important "date" to celebrate -- eating chocolate.

And what better way to celebrate than an Organic, Dark Chocolate Skull from Mama Ganache (San Luis Obispo, CA) that called to mind Halloween as well as the Day of the Dead (El Dia de Los Muertos).

Made from rich, slightly earthy tasting, organic 70% dark chocolate, this skull was decorated with white chocolate eyes, and very straight, white chocolate teeth.

Halloween was also a good day for making spooky faces with bits of dried fruit and nuts. Pin these facial features on pumpkins, if you dare. Dates made great eyeballs, or little, fat "fingers." I enjoyed the date eyeballs today, with dried papaya and chocolate chips (for pupils). Piped cream cheese can also be used for the whites of the "eyes." Nothing fancy, just fun. 

ChocolateBet: October 26, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1 chocolate skull
Christopher Norman Chocolates
"Mr. Skull"
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 255 calories (estimate)
Cost: $10.00
Purchased from: Christopher Norman Chocolates, New York City, NY

Mr. Skull's glowing, red candy sugar eyes and mottled appearance made him look a little spooky. But, he was less intimidating when I bit off his little dark and white chocolate jaw.

I rarely eat red meat these days, but three cheers for chocolate cannibalism. Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Halloween and Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos) Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: October 25, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

2 skulls
Vosges Haut Chocolat
Day of the Dead Caramel Filled Mini Skulls
1.) Tequila Caramel Skull - Good +
2.) Red Fire Caramel Skull - Very Good
Weight: 1.71 oz. (47.5 g) / 2.6 oz. (72 g.) total package of 3 skulls
Calories: 200 calories
Cost: $13.00 for package of 3 skulls (including 1 from yesterday)
Purchased from: Vosges Haut Chocolat, Chicago, IL

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Halloween/Day of the Dead Theme Week.

Both Halloween (when children go door-to-door trick or treating, October 31) and El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead, Nov. 2) are happening this next week and are observed in California. El Día de los Muertos is an occasion to honor the departed with prayers, sweets, gifts and favorite foods.

As I finish this lovely 3-pack of caramel-filled skulls from Vosges, I can confirm that these chocolates fit very nicely into either holiday tradition.

ChocolateBet: October 24, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1 skull
Vosges Haut Chocolat
El Día de Los Muertos package of 3 caramel skulls
Dulce de Leche Caramel Skull
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .86 oz. (24 g.) 2.6 oz. (72 g.) total package of 3 skulls
Calories: 100 calories
Cost: $13.00 total - for set of 3 skulls
Purchased from: Vosges Haut Chocolat, Chicago, IL

Sometimes it's good to be a chocolate cannibal. Eating this Vosges Dulce de Leche caramel filled skull made me feel that way.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Halloween and Day of the Dead Theme Week.