Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Strawberry Champagne Truffle 54% (bar) - Oct. 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company
Dark Chocolate Strawberry Champagne Truffle 54% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Andronico's Community Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and France Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week. This is the second of two bars featured today. (See previous post for a short write-up on Valrhona's 70% Guanaja dark chocolate.)

Today's Dark Chocolate Strawberry Champagne Truffle 54% Cocoa (bar) was from Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company (St. Louis, MO).  

Strawberries may not have been native to France; but, like chocolate, strawberries were taken to a new level there. The French and Swiss helped perfect milk chocolate, and the modern strawberry was cultivated in Brittany France (a hybrid two "New World" strawberries from the Americas) in the 1750s. Champagne was the third element in this bar. This sparkling wine is unique to a growing region in northeastern France.

Put chocolate, strawberries and Champagne together and you have the makings of a romantic and/or a special occasion.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's filled bar included: sweet, dark chocolate; slightly fermented red berry (strawberry) and white wine grapes/white raisins.

Texture: soft, almost creamy, smooth dark chocolate, that surrounded a thin layer of sweet, slightly jammy, red strawberry fruit. 

I enjoyed trying this celebratory, upbeat chocolate.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cane Sugar, Chocolate Liquor - Processed with Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin - an Emulsifier, Vanilla Extract), Cane Sugar, Corn Syrup, White Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk, Non-Fat Dry Milk, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin (am Emulsifier) and Natural Vanilla Flavor), Heavy Cream (Cream (milk) and Carageenan), Whey Powder, Natural Flavor, Marc De Champagne, Strawberry Puree, Fruit Juice, Natural Colors from Fruits and Vegetables, Invertase

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Soy" "Products have been manufactured on shared equipment that processes Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Egg, Soy, Dairy and Wheat products. Contains bioengineered ingredients."

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."

Zotter - Strawberry Pistachio 50% Milk Chocolate (bar) - June 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Strawberry Pistachio 50% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++

Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 390 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order

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

Today's Strawberry Pistachio 50% Milk Chocolate filled strawberry marzipan and pistachio almond praline (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma notes for this filled fruit and nut milk chocolate bar included: berry (strawberry fruit leather, strawberry jam and nut cookie); chocolate; and very faint vanilla and spice.

The sweet, soft nougat center had two distinct layers (strawberry marzipan and pistachio-almond praline). I enjoy layered textures and flavors in desserts. Both layers were a pleasant match with the sweet, creamy milk chocolate outer covering. This bar had an upbeat (bright sweet) summer berry flavor and a sweet nutty layer; and the nuts helped balance the sugar(s) a bit.

The sugar level in today's layered bar was high. (I like to taste the chocolate and fruit flavors. And it's harder to do that when sugar is the number one ingredient.) But that didn't stop me from eating the entire fruit and nut milk chocolate confection.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar**, Marzipan* (Almonds*, Sugar*, Invert Sugar Syrup*), Cocoa Butter, Almonds, Cocoa Mass, Dry Whole Milk, Pistachios (5%), Strawberries (4%), Strawberry Concentrate (4%), Dried Strawberries (4%), Dry Skim Milk, Dry Sweet Whey, Butter (Cream), Dark Brown Cane Sugar, Lemon Juice, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Lecithin (Soy), Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder, Lemon Powder (Lemon Juice Concentrate, Corn Starch, Sugar), Rose Petals, Cinnamon.

* = Organic (91% Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Almonds, Milk, Pistachios, Soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, sesame and gluten.

Nibble Chocolate - Strawberry Cream Oat Milk Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 19, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Nibble Chocolate
Strawberry Cream Oat Milk Chocolate (bar) 
Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Berries and Vanilla Theme Week.

Today's Strawberry Oat Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Nibble Chocolate, LLC (San Diego, CA).

Aroma notes for this non-dairy bar included: sweet green, oatmeal/oats, brown sugar, chocolate and faint fruit.

Texture: relatively thick, creamy texture with a slow melt. The oats (oat milk) and berry fruit ingredients were fully incorporated, but there was a slight, fine-grained, "milky" thickness in the mouthfeel.

The diffuse fruit evolved into a brighter, sweet red fruit, to clear strawberry, and back again over the tasting experience, adding some very subtly layered flavor interest.

Ingredients: Organic nibble chocolate (organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic oats, organic strawberries, organic vanilla, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "Processed in shared equipment with products containing nuts." "Vegan, Paleo, Gluten Free, Soy Free"

Läderach - FrischSchoggi Heart Strawberry-Curd - May 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Läderach Chocolatier Suisse
FrischSchoggi Heart Strawberry-Curd 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.167 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total heart
Calories: 192 calories in 1/3 of heart 
Cost: N/A - gift from Läderach
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Läderach

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mother's Day Series that includes two chocolates each day. One sweeter chocolate (this post), and one on the darker side (separate post)--reflecting my Mother's love for sweet confections, and my love for darker chocolates.

Today's FrischSchoggi (Fresh Chocolate) Heart Strawberry-Curd chocolate was distributed by Läderach Chocolatier Suisse ("UK Lmted.") and produced in Switzerland. 

Läderach premium chocolates are made from bean-to-bar in Switzerland, and the company has retail locations in U.S. cities, including a shop in Palo Alto, CA.

Today's attractively packaged confection (individually-wrapped heart in clear wrapper with a pink bow) was one of Läderach's featured heart-shaped items for Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8, 2022 in the U.S.).

The pretty blush-pink heart was topped with tiny red, pink and ivory rose-colored pieces. 

The aroma for this chocolate: subtle sweet chocolate aroma with fruit (tart-sweet/tangy berry, strawberry), and vanilla notes. 

This confection was a blend of satisfying creamy sweet and slightly crunchy (from crisped rice) texture and taste. A touch of cocoa powder added faint chocolate (think milky/creamy hot chocolate) flavor to this fruity and flavorful heart. (Note: This is not gluten-free.*)

Ingredients: (Chocolate with strawberries, "curc" (curd) cheese, rice crispies cocoa 36% min.). Sugar, cocoa powder, whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, dextrose, rice flour 1%, strawberries 1%, curd powder (milk), maltodextrin, citric acid, Natural Flavor, lactic acid, wheat malt flour, soy lecithin, corn flour, wheat flour, modified starch, calcium lactate, Natural Flavors.

*Allergen-related information: (Contained milk, gluten (wheat, malt), soy ingredients.) "May contain egg, other gluten (inclu. wheat), other nuts."

Alec's Ice Cream - Chocolate Organic Ice Cream (+ fruits) - Dec. 8, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Alec's Ice Cream
Chocolate Organic Ice Cream (+ fruits)
Good ++
Weight: 1/2 cup (92 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 cup
Cost: $2.99 for 1 container (pint)
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Weeks.

Today's Chocolate Organic Ice Cream was made by Alec's Ice Cream (Petaluma, CA).

This chocolate ice cream was quite tasty, with a creamy melt and texture, and rich chocolate, cream caramel, and fleeting fudge-y earth, faint salt, nut and dark chocolate cookie aroma and flavor notes. 

I tried this ice cream by itself--and with a banana split, with sliced banana and two other ice cream flavors (strawberry and passion fruit). It was good both ways; but I liked it best a la carte. A great, flavorful chocolate ice cream will not let you down.

Ingredients: *Cream, *skim milk, *cane sugar, *bittersweet chocolate (*cacao beans, *cane sugar, *cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin), *cocoa (processed with alkali), *egg yolks. Less than 2% of: *locust bean gum, *guar gum. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Contains: dairy and eggs." "Manufactured on equipment that also processes tree nuts, peanuts and soy."

Kind - Coffee Hazelnut plant-based frozen dessert + new-o-politan combo - July 9, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Kind

Coffee Hazelnut Coffee Plant Based Creamy Frozen Dessert

Good +

Weight: 1/3 cup (62.5 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container

Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 serving

Cost: $7.99 for 1/2 serving

Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Coffee Hazelnut (with cocoa powder and chocolate flavor) plant-based, frozen dessert was from Kind LLC (NY, NY). 

Made with pear juice, almonds, hazelnut and coconut and other Non-GMO ingredients. The result, from this company that has specialized in fruit and nut snacks, was flavorful and almost surprisingly creamy. 

This frozen dessert was a member of an updated Neopolitan-like ice cream trio...that also included Strawberry Ice Cream from Acme (Petaluma, CA), and Blue Jasmine ice cream from Tin Pot Creamery (San Carlos, CA).

The three scoops were topped with nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds) and single origin dark chocolate shavings.

Kind's Coffee Hazelnut flavor was slightly tart, sweet, with the balanced bitter flavor of coffee + nut (hazelnut). Cocoa (powder, flavoring) and sweet coffee added traces of rich mocha to this smooth, yet relatively bold flavor blend.

Ingredients: Pear juice (from concentrate), water, almonds, sugar dried tapioca syrup, hazelnuts, tapioca syrup, coconut oil, coffee, cocoa powder, gum acacia, sea salt, chocolate natural flavor, soy lecithin, carob bean gum, tara gum, guar gum, pectin, salt, sunflower lecithin. 

Allergen-related information: Contains almonds, hazelnuts and soy.

Chamisa Chocolate - Strawberry Basil bar - Jan. 25, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Chamisa Chocolate
Strawberry Basil bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (30 g.) / 2 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chamisa Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Strawberry Basil bar was created by Amanda Hatherly at Chamisa Chocolate (Santa Fe, NM).

Amanda's organic, rich, dark sweet chocolate (65% cacao) bar sparkled with bright, fresh summer flavors: tart-sweet strawberry and authentic fresh basil. (I also caught a barely detectable whiff of very faint roasted coffee in the initial aroma.) The finish was light and lingering with sweet chocolate, red berry and subtle herbal (basil) notes.

This chocolate was the perfect antidote for a blustery, cold day in January.

The scent of basil did create a bit of a brain surprise when I took the first bite of chocolate. My palette/brain was anticipating a savory Mediterranean dish with tomato sauce and cheese, or a savory basil fruit salad...since this herb is rarely used in sweet dishes. A pity really. 

Basil is a member of the mint family. And while it's possible to use sweet* basil to make basil chocolate chip ice cream, lemon and basil sorbet, or sweet basil tea--most of us are so used to peppermint (and more occasionally spearmint) being wedded to sweet items that basil blended with sugar and chocolate may take some getting used to. (Peppermint also has a stronger mint (menthol) punch per bunch, making it a potentially less expensive flavoring in large scale production.)

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic sugar, organic cacao butter, organic strawberries, organic basil.

*There are many types of basil, including Thai, Lemon, Greek and Cinnamon--each with their own flavor nuances--but the most common variety found in U.S. grocery stores is "sweet" basil (Ocimum basilicum) or cultivars of this common basil, such as Genovese basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Genovese'). 

Lindt - Lindor Strawberry Dark Chocolate Truffles - July 3, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lindt and Sprungli

Lindor - Strawberry Dark Chocolate Truffles (Limited Edition)

Good

Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 6 oz. (168 g.) in total package of 14 truffles

Calories: 230 calories in 3 truffles (1 serving)

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Red Fruits Theme Week. 

I'd be remiss if I left out strawberries in the the red fruit line-up. This red berry blends so effortlessly with chocolate, they seem made for each other. Both cacao and strawberries originated in the Americas; however, strawberries were found further from the Equator in North and South America.

Today's Limited Edition Lindor Strawberry Dark Chocolate Truffles were manufactured in the U.S. by Lindt and Sprungli (USA) Inc. (Stratham, MA). Lindt and Sprungli is a large chocolatier based in Switzerland in business since the mid-1800s.

Like other members of Lind't Lindor truffle family, today's strawberry truffles were individually-wrapped orbs swaddled in a decorative jacquard-patterned outer wrappers.

Inside, were relatively soft rounds--sweet and creamy hollow chocolate balls injected with creamy smooth pale pink strawberry flavored fillings. Each chocolate orb yielded a consistent sweet chocolate and strawberry aroma, and had a soft, creamy smooth melt and texture throughout the tasting experience.

The Oakland Chocolate Company - Strawberry Cardamom Caramel - May 20, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

The Oakland Chocolate Company
Strawberry Cardamom Caramel
Good +++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g. ) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Company (online)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Caramel and Toffee Theme Week.

After eating more industrial versions of chocolate and sugar this week, I really appreciated today's flavorful Strawberry Cardamom Caramel from Nancy Nadel, who is the chief chocolate maker at The Oakland Chocolate Company (Oakland, CA).

Nadel was an early player in the artisan chocolate maker movement that lifted off around the turn of the century (2000). She was also one of the first women making chocolates from scratch in California, starting with cocoa beans rather than blocks of pre-made chocolate.

Nadel's tree to bonbon/bar chocolates, have been crafted using cacao grown in specific areas in one country--originally the Parish of St. Mary in Jamaica via the (now defunct) Jamaican Cocoa Industry Board for 13 years. Cacao beans are now from Bachelors Hall (Parish of St. Thomas) in Jamaica. (And she managed this business and its many moving parts for several years while serving on the Oakland City Council. Impressive.)

Over the years, her chocolates have included an array of flavor inclusions that have incorporated exotic blends and tropical fruits and spices, and today's piece was no exception.

Today's Strawberry Cardamom Caramel was a layering of fresh, authentic flavors. The result was a match made in heaven. Sweet, naturally fruit tart caramel with a very soft chew was surrounded by flavorful dark chocolate. A subtle hint of cardamom added an uplifting spice note. And a tiny piece of strawberry on top contributed a natural berry sparkle.

*Earlier Bay Area chocolate-making pioneers, such as Domingo Ghirardelli (Italy via South America) and Etienne Guittard (France) arrived in the San Francisco area in the 1800s, influenced by the Gold Rush. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (now in San Leandro, CA) is part of Hershey Chocolate Company; and Guittard Chocolate Company is still family-owned as of this writing.

Clio - Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate - Feb. 15, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Clio Snack Company
Strawberry - Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's chilled Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate were made by Clio Snack Company (Roselle, NJ).

The company's line of chocolate covered bars are described as: "greek yogurt (with a cheesecake texture and a sweet and tart flavor) meets chocolate in a bar." Indeed, all this was true, and the strawberry greek yogurt complemented the chocolate quite nicely.

This bar was marketed as containing "billions of probiotics" and 8 grams of protein. It was very tasty, although a bit on the sweet side for me. However, if you're looking for an elevated, gluten free dessert with some extra health benefits sprinkled in, this would be a great choice.

Note: Photos that accompany this entry have been delayed.

World Market - 64% Strawberry Champagne Dark Chocolate square - Aug. 14, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

World Market 

64% Cacao Strawberry and Champagne Dark Chocolate small bar

Good

Weight: .375 oz. (10.6 g.) in total bar

Calories: 49 calories in 1 small bar

Cost: $0.49 for 1 bar

Purchased from: World Market, N. Scottsdale, AZ

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

This individually wrapped square had a sweet dark chocolate and red berry/strawberry flavor.

The 64% cacao chocolate was embedded with tiny red-pink morsels, and it even had a few very tiny authentic strawberry seeds to embellish the tasting experience.

One had only to imagine a tiny crystal goblet of pink bubbly champagne along with it.

Berra Bites - Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites - Dec. 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Berra Bites

Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites

Good

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package

Calories: 190 calories in 1/4 cup (1 serving)

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: The Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites were manufactured for Berra Bites (San Francisco, CA). The company is committed to avoiding use any artificial flavorings or preservatives in their offerings.

These bites were made from pureed mixed apple, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and black currant fruit pieces—creating concentrated berry fruit flavored centers, covered in dark chocolate.

Nibble Chocolate - Blueberry Coffee; Strawberry Chia Seeds Sea Salt - Dec. 16, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Nibble Chocolate

Blueberry Coffee - Super Nibbles
Good ++
Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Nibble Chocolate, Old Town, San Diego, CA

Strawberry Chia Seeds Sea Salt - Super Nibbles
Good - Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Nibble Chocolate, Old Town, San Diego, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Fruit Week.

Today's confections were from Nibble Chocolate (San Diego, CA), and were purchased (as part of an assortment box) recently from Nibble Chocolate's Old Town San Diego location.

These uniquely-shaped, cylindrical confections, diagonally sliced, were full of natural flavor. And the thin sheets of fruit that formed the outside wrappers added a touch of color and the perfect amount of fruit sweetness, without these chocolate Super Nibbles being too sweet. The texture was hearty with a soft chew; and the chocolate filling was made with quality chocolate.

The Blueberry Coffee flavor will please coffee-lovers.

Chocolove - Filled Strawberry in Dark Chocolate bar - Dec. 13, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolove 

Filled Strawberry in Dark Chocolate bar

Good +

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar

Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $2.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere, online order

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

Today's Filled Strawberry in Dark Chocolate bar was from Chocolove (Boulder, CO). 

This semisweet dark chocolate (55% cocoa) bar was filled with pillows of strawberry marmalade.

The chocolatier's description included these words: "The subtle fruity notes of African cocoa beans playfully swirl together with the sweet tart flavors of fresh ripe strawberries."

This week is focused on fruit. However, if this was a chocolate and poetry themed week, then Chocolove bars and confections would certainly be highlighted. The company has included printed verse on the inside of their chocolate wrappers almost as long as they've been in existence (1996).

Today's piece: "Sonnet 49: Against That Time, If Ever That Time Come" by William Shakespeare. Not exactly a joyous ode to strawberry picking and chocolate sampling on a light summer's day. It was more like spotting approaching dark winter* clouds; but it was thought-provoking nonetheless.

*We're bracing for winter here in Northern California. Winter is only 8 days away; but the palm trees outside betrayed no trace of the season's change today. 

KIND - Pressed by Kind - Dark Chocolate Strawberry bar - June 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Kind LLC
Pressed by Kind - Dark Chocolate Strawberry bar
Good
Weight: 1.3 oz. (38 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.67 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Safeway, Dublin, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Cherry and Berries Theme Week.

This Pressed by Kind - Dark Chocolate Strawberry bar was from Kind LLC (New York, NY).

Naturally fruity and sweet, this gluten free, chewy, pressed bar tasted more like dried apples than strawberry or chocolate. And, as it turns out, "apples" was the first ingredient listed.*

*Ingredients: Apples, strawberries, cherries, chia seeds, palm kernel oil, sugar, chicory root fiber, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder, soy lecithin, natural flavor, sea salt, cocoa butter

Chloe's - Chocolate Soft Serve Fruit Pops - April 8, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Chloe's Soft Serve Fruit Co.
Chocolate Soft Serve Fruit Pops
Good
Weight: 2.5 fl. oz. (74 mL) / 10 fl. oz. (296 mL) in total box of 4 pops
Calories: 60 calories in 1 pop
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 4 pops
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Milpitas, CA

Surprise. This is a second, bonus chocolate entry for today (April 8, 2018).

Occasionally, there are too many chocolate items to fit in one day; or a planned chocolate may not have turn out exactly as planned. Either way, sampling and featuring another chocolate is the solution.

This evening's Chloe's Soft Fruit Pops (New York, NY) were made with just a few ingredients: fruit (bananas), cocoa and organic cane sugar. The Chocolate pop had an authentic cocoa flavor, and was smoother than one would expect given the lack (hurray) of vegetable gums or dairy.

These Chloe's pops were a great way to enjoy chocolate on a warm day—at only 60 calories per pop.

And, joining the Chocolate flavor, were two more Chloe's flavors: Strawberry and Tangerine (with orange). The fruit flavors were light, authentically flavored and delicious.

These Soft Serve Fruit Pops also served as a bridge between Day #7 of Chocolate and Strawberry Theme Week and Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. And they provided a refreshing end-of-day snack after a hike in the hills.

Godiva - Milk Chocolate Strawberry bar - April 8, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Godiva Chocolatier, Inc.

Milk Chocolate Strawberry bar

Good

Weight: .375 oz. (10.75 g.) / 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in total bar

Calories: 52.5 calories in 1/4 bar

Cost $2.96 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Kohl's, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Strawberry Theme Week.

This very sweet* Milk Chocolate Strawberry Flavored with Other Natural Flavors bar was from Godiva Chocolatier, Inc.** (New York, NY). 

Scored into four squares (with each square stamped with a "G" for Godiva), the milk chocolate contained a creamy strawberry flavored filling. This bar may appeal to those who like chocolate candy and sweet fruit flavors.

A note about this week's outdoor photos of chocolates...Green spring grass lasts but a few months in the arid west, and it makes a good backdrop for early morning photographs of chocolate when the sun hasn't found its way inside yet.

*This bar contained sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and invertase (an enzyme produced by yeast that helps break down sugar) commonly used in the candy industry with liquid fillings, to help prevent crystallization. An unintentional situation that seemed to prove this point: this Godiva bar we bought had obviously been exposed to heat and was covered with white patchy "bloom" spots as a result; however, it still had a flawless, unified flowing strawberry cream center. 

**Godiva was founded in Belgium in 1926; and the Godiva brand has been owned by a few different large companies in recent decades (including Campbell Soup and Turkish Yildiz Holding—owner of the Ulker Group).

Larabar - Limited Edition Strawberry Chocolate Chip bar - April 7, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Small Planet Foods, Inc.
Limited Edition Larabar Strawberry Chocolate Chip bar
Good+
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total box of 5 bars
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 5 bars
Purchased from: Target Stores, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Larabar Limited Edition Strawberry Chocolate Chip bar from Small Planet Foods, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) was constructed with a relatively short list of ingredients: Dates, Almonds, Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Strawberries, Apples, Cocoa Powder and Sea Salt.

The original Larabar fruit and nut bar line was launched in May 2000 by founder Lara Merriken.

Natural tasting, not too sweet and very satisfying, this gluten-free, dairy-free, Non-GMO and vegan bar had balanced, rich dried fruit, cocoa and strawberry flavor.

Bissinger's - Strawberry Caramel with Peanuts bar - April 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bissinger's 

Strawberry Caramel with Peanuts bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Strawberry Caramel and Peanuts bar from Bissinger's (St. Louis, MO) was a balanced, sweet confection of a bar with a smooth dark chocolate base. The bar was made using cocoa and cocoa butter from Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa farms.

The 60 percent dark chocolate encased a thin layer of flowing caramel that was infused with a light strawberry (puree) flavor. A sprinkle of roasted peanut pieces adorned the back of the bar and added a slight nutty flavor and crunchy texture accent.

The bar contained milk, peanuts and soy (lecithin), but no gluten-containing ingredients.