Amano Artisan Chocolate - Citrus Melange A Trois 63% dark chocolate (bar) - July 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Amano Artisan Chocolate
Citrus Melange A Trois 63% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 205 calories in 1 serving (approximately 1/2 bar)
Cost: $10.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Japan Theme Week. Common flavor inclusions this week include Yuzu citrus, sesame seeds, green tea and other umami flavors.

Today's Citrus Melange A Trois 63% cocoa dark chocolate (bar) was made by Amano Chocolate Company (Orem, UT).

Aroma notes for this bar included: chocolate torte with citrus (orange, tangerine, other tart-sweet orange and citrus fruit); and very faint, fleeting botanicals/spices (green pepper/peppery greens, oxalis, citrus-pine, vanilla).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with citrus flavors and an occasional, tiny trophy bit of citrus.

I really enjoyed the blend of dark chocolate and complex (and complementary) micro-bursts of authentic, tart-sweet citrus--including Yuzu fruit from Japan.*

Note: Amano also offers a Japanese Sea Salt and Cocoa Nibs bar.

Maker's tasting notes: "Haunting flavor notes of Yuzu, tangerine, and grapefruit enrich the deep chocolate flavor. Orange pieces provide a layer of juiciness."

Ingredients: Chocolate: Cocoa Beans, Pure Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Vanilla Beans, Yuzu, Tangerine, and Grapefruit, Orange Pieces: Apple Puree, Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Fiber, Pectin, Paprika.

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Wheat and Milk Products"

*Citrus fruits originated in Asia; but there are a few hybrid citrus varieties, like Yuzu (aka Japanese citron), that are associated with Japan.

Zotter Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut dark chocolate (bar) - Jan. 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut Dark Chocolate 70% (filled bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Guten tag (good day) and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut bar from Zotter (Austria) was made in Austria (from bean-to-bar at their in-house factory) and distributed by Zotter Chocolates USA LLC (Fort Myers, FL). 

The team at Zotter* know how to celebrate chocolate by creatively embracing a parade of flavors that pair well with chocolate. The company offers a wide variety* of intricately layered ("hand-scooped") filled bars that contain two or more layers of festive flavors. (And who doesn't need a bit of citrus fun in January?) Today's bar contained "tangerine jelly," green tea ganache, and coconut praline, and was covered in smooth, 70% dark chocolate.

All the company's bars are adorned with the beautiful graphic illustrations (by artist Andreas H. Gratze) and occasionally (like today's bar) a bit of gold lettering--making Zotter bars make attractive chocolate gifts.

Aroma notes for this filled bar included: coconut macaroon, chocolate (drinking chocolate/hot cocoa) and faint citrus. 

The layering of flavors allowed for full appreciation of each individual filling flavor element, as well as enjoyment of their combined taste. The tart-sweet tangerine and green tea accent flavors were complementary and livened up the coconut and chocolate layers. A dark chocolate exterior helped balance the sweetness.

Helpful tasting tip: Zotter recommends enjoying chocolates at room temperature, as you might with a fine red wine. Dark chocolate at 77 degrees (F.)/25 degrees (C.); milk chocolate at 72 degrees (F.)/22.2 degrees (C.); and white chocolate at 68 degrees (F.)/20 degrees (C.).

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, organic cocoa mass, organic cocoa butter, organic tangerine concentrate, organic glucose syrup, organic toasted coconut, organic rice drink powder (rice, sunflower oil, salt), organic soy powder (organic soybeans, organic maltodextrin, organic corn syrup), organic coconut blossom sugar, organic coconut oil, organic lemon juice concentrate, organic green tea powder, gelling agent: apple pectin, organic vanilla bean powder, salt, organic soy lecithin, organic orange oil, organic star anise, organic cinnamon.

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy." "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, and sesame." "Vegan" "USDA Organic", "Fair Traded 61% (website)"

*Josef Zotter and his daughter Julia Zotter have created literally hundreds of different flavors. They are committed to creating innovative, organic, bean-to-bar and fair trade chocolates.

Honey Mama's - Tahini Tangerine (bar) - Jan. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Honey Mama's
Tahini Tangerine (bar)
(Nectar Foods, Inc.)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Honey Mama's Tahini Tangerine (bar) was from Nectar Foods, Inc. (Portland, OR). Made in Portland, this bar was low in bitterness and acidity and high in flavor(s) and texture.

The aroma notes for this chilled* bar included balanced, authentic citrus (tangerine), nutty, rich chocolate honey cake/cookie.

The aromatic tangerine note was more detectable in the aroma than in the flavor. This is usually (but not always the case) for authentic flavor inclusions, and as the chocolate takes more of a front seat in the taste that follows.

Tasting this bar revealed stronger chocolate notes (honey-sweetened fudge brownie) with wee, crunchy sparkles of sea salt, chewy cocoa nibs, faint undercurrents of nutty sesame (tahini), and citrus (tangerine). All these flavors were well balanced and harmonized nicely.

Ingredients: Organic, raw honey, organic sesame seeds, organic unrefined coconut oil, organic alkalized cocoa powder, organic cacao nibs, Himalayan pink salt, vanilla, tangerine oil.

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts: coconut"..."Do not feed honey to infants under one year of age." "No preservatives"..."Keep it Cool. This nourishing treat melts at 72 degrees F" (Farenheit) / 22.2 degrees C (Celsius). Note: this also contained sesame.

*Due largely to a relatively low melting point (of coconut oil), Honey Mama's series of honey-sweetened bars that I've purchased have all been chilled. I've found them in/near dairy/produce sections (refrigerated shelves) in stores. 

Merry Chocolate Christmas - Chocolate Covered Tangerines, Advent Calendar - Dec. 25, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Nature to Go

Dark Chocolate Covered Tangerines

Good

Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package

Calories: 240 calories in 1/3 package (2 servings)

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

Friedel

Advent Calendar - 24 Milk Chocolate Figurines

Good

Weight: .10 oz. (3.1 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total package

Calories: 15 calories in 1 piece

Cost: $N/A - gift (Thank you Bill!)

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Dark Chocolate Covered Tangerines
As children, we found tangerines in our stockings on Christmas morning. Today's dark chocolate covered tangerine pieces from Nature To Go (distributed by Food Castle Inc. (Vernon, CA)) recalled those childhood memories.

Working with preserved citrus and chocolate can be tricky. The pieces of dried tangerines enrobed in dark chocolate didn't quite match the illustration on the front of the package (they were more compressed in dried form), but were fun to try nonetheless.

Advent Calendar

Chocolate advent calendars were also fun growing up. Although there was the problem of six children remaining patient, and taking turns opening the tiny doors with chocolate items behind them. And it took the wisdom of Solomon to figure out how to split one small treat six ways. (No wonder they were retired after a few years.)

Even though the last Advent Calendar door is traditionally opened on Dec. 24th (Christmas Eve), I waited until Christmas morning to reveal the last of 24 milk chocolate figurines, an image of old St. Nick himself. The tiny Santa milk chocolate tasted better than most chocolate novelty items, and was gone in a flash.

This Friedel Advent Calendar was made in Germany, Produced by Rubezahl Schokoladen GmbH.

Foxy's - Fancy Pash Dark Chocolate Tangerine yogurt - June 21, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Foxy's Frozen Yogurt
Fancy Pash - Dark Chocolate and Tangerine Zest
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (118.25 mL) / 1 Pint (473 mL) total container
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $2.99 (estimate)
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

The 1950s era couple on this Foxy's Frozen Yogurt container looked fun. They looked like they might enjoy a cocktail now and then in addition to their serving of Fancy Pash Dark Chocolate and Tangerine Zest frozen yogurt.

The lack of fat in frozen yogurt (vs. in cream-based ice cream) meant that the flavors were clear and discernible - fresher tasting tangerine citrus flavor and sweet chocolate texture and flavor. I amped this up with a drizzle of Cointreau (orange liqueur) and a few toasted walnuts because I thought the Fancy Pash couple wouldn't mind. Cheers.

Happy Summer Solstice Day and Father's Day to those in the U.S.

ChocolateBet: November 25, 2011

Chocolate of the Day: 

1 oz.
B.T. McElrath Chocolatier
Passion Fruit and Tangerine Bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ Lost info
Purchased from: Lost info


I'm interested in combinations of chocolate and passion fruit. It's hard to make this mixture work. This Passion Fruit and Tangerine bar from B.T. McElrath (Minneapolis, MN) was a good attempt, but swirling white and dark chocolate together confused my taste buds. White chocolate is a good base to let citrus flavors shine through; a heavier solid base of dark chocolate might have wiped out the fruit flavors. However, the two chocolates (and two fruits) might have been one flavor too many.


Change of Subject: Cookies Anyone?
Since today was also Day #1 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Week, I took the rest of this bar and cut it up into chunks -- to mix into a gluten-free cookie mix, and added some tangerine olive oil to boost the citrus/fruit flavor. The result: some interesting tasting cookies, studded with passion fruit-tangerine chocolate chunks. There must be an infinite number of variations on chocolate chip/chunk cookies.

My apologies to purists, but recycling chocolate bars to make cookies and chocolate fondue/sauce is a great way to experiment and prevent chocolate from going to waste.

ChocolateBet: June 4, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz. package
The Oakland Chocolate Company
Candied Tangerine Peel
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.35 g.) package
Calories: 129 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.50
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Company, Oakland, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Mediterranean Theme Week. Morocco seemed like an interesting place to investigate today, and so I made some pomegranate seeds with cinnamon, sugar, and orange flower water, sipped some Moroccan Mint tea, and enjoyed two different kinds of fresh tangerines. Tangerines are rumored to have been so named after the port city of Tangiers. Apparently, this was the point of entry (from China) to Europe for this mandarin orange fruit.

Tangerines have taken root in the citrus growing regions of the U.S., such as California. Today's chocolate was a package of small slivers of candied tangerine peel coated with 70% dark chocolate (from Jamaica) from The Oakland Chocolate Company. 

ChocolateBet: December 28, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
Chuao Chocolatier
Firecracker (bar)
Very Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.97 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Walmart, in American Canyon, CA

What? I can't hear you. There are tiny little explosions going off in my head. It's the chocolate and popping candy. Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Something Different Theme Week. I've been exploring unique chocolate-related flavor combinations and ideas this week.

Chuao Chocolatier's Firecracker 60% cacao dark chocolate bar was flavored with chipotle, salt and popping candy. I had previously enjoyed a bonbon version of this bar. Both were very good.

But, why leave well enough alone? If a little popping candy was good, would flavored popping and/or fizzing candies be even better? I tried lemon, watermelon, orange, clementine (tangerine), and lime flavors. My opinion: tangerine and lime flavors showed the most promise, followed by orange.

It would be interesting to try cola flavored popping candy. Maybe next year.

ChocolateBet: October 28, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
SOMA chocolatemaker
Green Tangerine (dark 66% Trinitario/Criollo; from Madagascar) bar
Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (23.3 grams) / 100 grams total in package
Calories: 155 calories (estimate)
Cost: $? (need to find, check receipt)
Purchased from: SOMA chocolatemaker, in Toronto, ON, Canada

Very nice 66% cacao (Trinitario and Criollo beans from Madagascar) chocolate base. The green tangerine was good and interesting, although I could taste this citrus flavor more in some bites, than others.