Zotter - Labooko Maya Cacao 100% dark chocolate (bar) - Feb. 14, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Labooko Maya Cacao 100% dark chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.145 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar 
Cost: $8.25 (estimate) for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of 100% Cacao Theme Week, and Day #6 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week. (And Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate.)

Today's Labooko Maya Cacao 100% dark chocolate (bar) was made in Austria (where Zotter is based) and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Cape Coral, FL). 

This ultra-dark chocolate was made with cacao from Central America (Belize, Guatemala) and "cocoa beans from Peru" according to the back label. These areas combined are at the heart of the cacao epicenter, where humans and animals first tasted and enjoyed cacao fruit and the beans (seeds) inside the fruit that grew on cacao trees thousands of years ago.

Aroma notes for this bar included: subtle dark chocolate, green citrus (oxalis, sorrel), diffuse fruit (cherry and apple compote with warm spice, and light tropical fruit (pineapple guava, cherimoya), and very faint, fleeting earthy root (potato).

This chocolate had a smooth, buttery texture. The pleasant aroma was followed by a much more intense flavor--that mellowed and became more approachable after about 20 seconds.

Initial bitterness evolved into acidity/sour (tannins, grapefruit/lemon) flavor, that mellowed into bold, roasted cacao (passing through a faintly earthy dark espresso roast coffee with cacao notes phase), followed by a very brief, faint red berries/fruit note, that then tailed off into a lingering ultra-dark, balanced bitter, chocolate finish. 

Once I recovered from the initial ride, I found I rather liked it. This 100%er was a great morning wake up chocolate. It felt like I'd experienced a satisfying sip of fragrant and full-bodied espresso. 

When I re-tasted this bar a minute or two later, I also picked up pleasing ultra dark chocolate torte and nutty, woody (cocoa bean) notes that rounded out/further mellowed this ultra-dark chocolate. Despite its initial intensity, I found this bar complex, interesting and oddly addictive.

Maker's tasting notes: "Fragrance notes: berries, cherries, mildly tropical accents. Taste notes: spicy-nutty. An initial acidity, with notes of red fruit, spice and nuts, with a sub-finish of tannins similar to black tea."

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cocoa mass 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, sesame and soy."

Nuance Chocolate - Ginger (vegan) truffle, Grand Marnier truffle - June 5, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Nuance Chocolate
Candied Ginger (vegan) truffle
Good +++
Weight: .44 oz. (12.45 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle
Calories: 66 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $3.80 for 1 truffle
Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate, online order

Grand Marnier Orange Truffle
Good +++
Weight: .44 oz. (12.45 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle
Calories: 66 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $3.80 for 1 truffle
Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate, online order

Toasted Almond and Apricot Truffle

Good +++

Weight: .44 oz. (12.45 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle

Calories: 66 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle

Cost: $3.80 for 1 truffle

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Ginger and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's truffle trio: Candied Ginger (vegan/dairy free), Grand Marnier Orange, and Toasted Almond and Apricot truffles were all made by Nuance Chocolate (Fort Collins, CO).

Candied Ginger (dairy free) Truffle
Ginger and dark chocolate pair well together. Both are strong flavors and balance is key to be able to enjoy both. Truffles are often too sweet, with sugar squashing any flavor nuances of chocolate and inclusion items.

These concerns were put at ease when I bit into today's plump Candied Ginger (vegan/dairy free) truffle with rich dark chocolate truffle flavor depth and texture I could sink my teeth into. Nutty, roasted coffee and true chocolate notes were followed by just the right amount of natural ginger flavor. Balanced rich flavors that lingered into the finish. 

Nuance Chocolate makes bean to bar chocolate and also offers single origin truffles (currently, Ghana and Nigeria truffles). And this comes through in the flavor depth of their confections. No bland mass-produced chocolate here.

Grand Marnier Orange Truffle

I found the same rich, deep chocolate flavor profile (rich, well balanced with slightly tart orange Grand Marnier liqueur) when I tasted Nuance Chocolate's Grand Marnier truffle. Again, it was a confection, but it wasn't too sweet; thank you!). Its strength was in the powerful and perfectly balanced flavors. 

Toasted Almond and Apricot Truffle

Last, but not least, I also enjoyed a flavorful Toasted Almond and Apricot truffle with visible bits of bright orange fruit. (I grew up in California surrounded by apricot orchards, ate chocolate covered apricots as a child, and I appreciate this sassy, tart fruit.) An apricot may have more fruit pulp pectin,* but it's only one small flavor jump away from a tangerine; and it may be the closest a stone fruit gets to being citrus. (Both apricots and citrus fruit originated in Asia/China, and it's thought that apricots were brought to Persia later. They arrived even later in California via Spanish missionaries.) 

* Pectin is a naturally-occurring gel-like substance and form of soluble fiber, that is found in some fruits (apples, apricots and some others) and citrus peels. Harnessed properly it puts the "gel" in jelly and jam. Fruits high in pectin also tend to make great fruit leathers.

Cocoa Parlor - Royal Dark 88 Peruvian Single Origin bar - Oct. 7, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cocoa Parlor
Royal Dark 88 Peruvian Single Origin bar
Good ++
Weight: .705 oz. (20 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 106 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $4.99 in 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA


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

High-percentage (greater than 80% cacao) dark chocolates offer a unique, concentrated taste experience. Today's 88% cacao bar contained just two-ingredients—organic cocoa mass from Peru and organic raw cane sugar.

The "Royal Dark 88 Peruvian Single Origin" bar from Cocoa Parlor (Laguna Niguel, CA) had an intriguing, sweet aroma with hints of "green" mango, fig and marshmallow, and subtle floral notes.

The aroma was so sweet that I forgot there would be very little sugar when I took a bite. That's not a bad thing. In fact, I think this chocolate would make an interesting addition to any side-by-side, "ultra-dark" tasting plate. Speaking of sugar, the raw sugar in this bar might have imparted a bit more flavor (than processed/white cane sugar), but it was hard to tell.

After taking a bite, I enjoyed this bar's almost buttery melt. The creamy smoothness was followed by a slight bitterness. (Again, I had to remember, this was an 88% cacao bar.) There was a very light graininess and astringency toward the end (I could feel those polyphenols in the back of my throat). However, the interesting aroma and flavor up front—combined with the that fact that this chocolate wasn't ultra bitter—won me over.

This Cocoa Parlor Royal Dark 88 Peru bar was organic, vegan, gluten free and made with non-GMO ingredients. Many of the company's bars and other chocolate items contain organic Peruvian chocolate as well.

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

Santosha - Rhodiola and Hawaiian Red Salt bar - Sept. 1, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Santosha Chocolate
Rhodiola and Hawiian Red Salt bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (29 g.) (per label) in 1 bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the final day of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week.

There are many different types of edible salts. I'm closing this week with a Santosha Chocolate Rhodiola and Hawaiian Red Salt bar (produced by Raw Shakti Chocolate LLC in Asheville, NC) that contained a special salt from Hawaii.

Hawaii is known for its Red and/or Alaea salt, black lava salt, and pink salts. The cacao in today's bar came from South America, but the salt in this Rhodiola and Hawaiian Red Salt bar was all Hawaii.

Hawaiian Red Salt contains dozens of minerals and has been used by Hawaiians for years in ceremonies, and as an edible salt. The red color (iron oxide) and high mineral content comes from local red alaea volcanic clay, that is sometimes "baked" into salt.

What is Rhodiola?

The organic rhodiola root in today's raw, vegan and organic bar is sometimes referred to as "nature's anti-depressant," and some believe it supports adrenal function, improve energy and even sexual vitality.* I don't know about all that, but it's always fun to try something new paired with chocolate.

Today's certified Organic bar contained raw coconut which has a fairly distinctive flavor. Not having tasted rhodiola root before it was difficult to tell where the root flavor begun and the raw coconut left off.

The bar was free of nuts, soy, dairy and gluten, and GMO free; and it contained no emulsifiers, fillers and cane sugar. Organic coconut palm sugar was used instead of cane or beet sugar.

The stoneground raw chocolate base (plus flavor additions) had a slightly different melt and texture, but that didn't bother me that much. The chocolate was made from fairtrade, organic, raw heirloom variety beans from Peru.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Hu Kitchen - Crunchy Fig Chocolate Bar - Aug. 6, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hu Kitchen
Crunchy Fig Chocolate Bar
Good +
Weight: 1.05 oz. (29.7 g.) 2.1 oz. (59.43 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Lost info.
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate, Fruits and Nuts Theme Week.

This Crunchy Fig Chocolate Bar from Hu Kitchen (Brooklyn, NY) was a tasty blend of crunchy (almonds), chewy (organic figs), and rich, smooth, slightly earthy dark chocolate (72% cacao).

Hu Kitchen's motto is to use plain, simple fresh ingredients -- to "get back to the way humans ate before industry ruined food." Strong words, but appealing to people seeking less processed, and healthier and tastier food options.

Designed to be paleo and vegan diet-friendly, this dark fig and nut bar was not overly sweet (no refined or cane sugar, just organic coconut sugar and figs) -- which I liked. And it was made without gluten, soy (lecithin) or other emulsifiers.

Charm School Chocolate - 70% Dark Belize bar - April 29, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Charm School Chocolate
70% Dark Belize bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 157 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Belize Theme Week -- an extension of the past few weeks with a focus on chocolate and (other) Central American countries.

The 70% Dark Belize bar from Charm School Chocolate (Reisterstown, MD) was made with just a few ingredients: organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar and organic cocoa butter. The cacao came from Maya Mountain Cacao (MMC) in southern Belize, an organization that sources cacao beans from farmers in the region.

The tasting notes on package read: "reminiscent of plump raisins and chocolate sandwich cookies." I wasn't that excited about this description. Or, I should say I'm not sure this description does the bar justice. But, darn, I could really taste the raisins and chocolate cookies in this smooth dark bar, so it was accurate. I liked the complexity, the fruit/acid (raisins) and the chocolatey elements.

Today's Belize bar was part of a line of dairy free and vegan, single origin chocolate bars from Charm School Chocolate. (Other bars include a very tasty coconut milk chocolate bar.)

Amazing Grass - Sweet and Savory Almond Bar - Jan. 24, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Amazing Grass
Sweet and Savory Almond
Whole Food Energy Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA


Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week, the chocolate of the day was this Sweet and Savory Almond energy bar from Amazing Grass (Newport Beach, CA).

Gluten and Soy Free, Organic and Vegan, this Green Superfood Almond Whole Food Energy Bar was also "cold processed." I'm assuming keeping temperatures down helps preserve nutritional value.

Rather than a chocolate coating, organic chocolate chips were incorporated into the bar, along with a long list of other ingredients. Normally, a long list means additives, preservatives, emulsifiers and such, but not here.

The bar contained a blend of greens, fruits and vegetables, and an Amazing Grass Green Superfood blend found in the company's other bars as well. The green blend included grasses, alfalfa, spirulina, spinach, and broccoli.

As indicated by the term "whole food," generous layers of whole almonds, peanuts, and cashew pieces were visible in this energy bar.

Supah Stah - Mulberry bar - May 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Supah Stah
Mulberry bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Fruit Salad Theme Week.

This Supah Stah Mulberry Dark Chocolate Superfood Bar was made from 100% Organic ingredients, and was vegan, grain free and gluten free, with no refined sugars.

A tiny riot of coconut flakes and bits of mulberries adorned the back of this smooth, dark bar, that was sweetened with coconut palm sugar. I've found that coconut palm sugar gives chocolate (and other desserts) a flavorful sweet taste (think caramelized or maple sugar), without the jangly buzz of white sugar.

The chocolate was very smooth and buttery, partly due to added cocoa butter, with some added chewiness from the coconut flakes and mulberry bits.

Mulberries are a wonderful earthy golden color. Inspired by this fruit, I paired this Mulberry bar with a golden fruit and vegetable salad - with yellow and orange carrots, fresh orange, nectarine, caraway seeds, raisins, a very small pinch of salt, and arugula.

Supah Stah - Goji Berry bar - May 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Supah Stah
Goji Berry bar
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/ 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.50 in 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Fruit Salad Theme Week.

Supah Stah is a new brand on the block. Creator, Erika Wright, has designed two new (Organic, Vegan and Gluten Free) Dark Superfood Bars.

I'm featuring the Supah Stah Goji Berry bar today, and the Mulberry bar tomorrow. These two bars are both made with unroasted cacao, coconut flakes, berries, hemp and chia seeds, maca root, cacao butter, vanilla, sea salt and cinnamon -- and are sweetened with coconut palm sugar. However this description doesn't quite do these bars justice.

From the minute you unfold the purple foil inner wrapper, you are treated to a visual feast. A sea of coconut flakes with islands of scarlet goji berries rest on the back of this bar. The dark chocolate base was very smooth, with a buttery taste and melt. The sweeteners (primarily coconut palm sugar) gave the bar a more gentle, yet more flavorful taste than ordinary white cane sugar, with slight maple sugar flavor note.

I paired the Supah Stah Goji Berry bar with a berry and apple-pear salad that was sprinkled with a few seeds and other seasonings.

Tonic Scene - Wild Cherry bar - Feb. 9, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tonic Scene Company
Wild Cherry bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 181 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Cherry Theme Weeks. (There are so many chocolate + cherry items that I'll be extending this theme week to two weeks.)

Tonic Scene Company (Dana Point, CA) is a relatively new company that makes organic, soy free and gluten free chocolate bars.

Today's "Wild Cherry" bar was composed of organic, raw, dark chocolate (70% cacao), and dried cherries. The bar was sweetened with coconut nectar.

Granola Cacao bar - Jan. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Love Force LLC
Granola Cacao bar
Good
Weight: 3 oz. (84 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 441 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #21 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Today's Gluten-Free, Rawganic Vegan Energy Bar from Love Force LLC (Cincinnati, OH) contained raw organic walnuts, coconut and cacao (beans). It was sealed in plastic, was fresh-tasting, and had just the right amount of moist, chewiness to it. Raw, organic raisins and dates added sweetness, and sunflower and flax seeds added a bit of texture and heft.

"Raw" was defined (on the bar's label) as ingredients not being heated beyond 110 degrees Farenheit.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Hail Merry - Chocolate and Coconut Tarts - Jan. 10, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hail Merry LLC
Miracle Tart - Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84 g.) in 1 tart
Calories: 380 calories in 1 tart
Cost: $3.99 for 1 tart
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

It's important to have balance in life. The visual yin and yang of chocolate desserts is no exception. Today I balanced a creamy, dark Chocolate Miracle Tart with a Coconut Vanilla Creme tart -- both from Hail Merry LLC (Dallas, TX).

These (refrigerated) vegan, gluten-free tarts were made with raw* oils (organic extra virgin coconut oil) were quite good. The fillings were nestled inside thin, tasty crusts, created using raw almond flour and a touch of sea salt.

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

*Ingredients not heated above 110 degrees Farenheit

Chocolate of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate, LLC
Cocopotamus - Vegan Mary - Vegan Salted Dark Caramel Fudge Truffles
Good +
Weight: .46 oz. (13 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) (estimate) for total package of 5 truffles
Calories: 69 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bag of 5 truffles
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Caramel Theme Week.

Winter weather makes me want to spend time inside, reading a book, or watching a movie. It's 2013 Academy Award season here in the movie-watching United States. Movies released in November and December will most likely be fresh on Academy voters' minds; and when award winners are unveiled to the public in early 2014.

I plan to celebrate the winners with a little chocolate. And, I'll also be focusing on 2013 Chocolate Banquet award nominees.

Today's Cocopotamus -Vegan Mary caramel fudge truffles from NYDC Chocolate (Albuquerque, NM) would be a good, vegan movie snack to accompany your popcorn and beverage of choice. According to the company, Cocopotamus truffles have also been enjoying red carpet status as "celebrity chocolate" at the Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys.

I might nominate these fudge-inspired truffles (packaged in a sheer drawstring bag) to attend movie screenings in my living room -- along with other Cocopotamus "un-caramel"* truffles, and the company's Rosie Posy Mediterranean Rose Water flavored truffles reviewed last month.

*No gooey caramel in the traditional sense, they're not your dear grandma's fudge; nor are they your grandpa's caramels.

P.S. Did I mention these were vegan and gluten-free?

NibMor Almond bar - July 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

NibMor Group Inc.
Organic Dark Chocolate with Almonds (bar)
Good
Weight: .366 oz. (10.3 g.) in 1/6 bar / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 43.3 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $5.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Nibmor Group Inc. (Huntington, NY) makes organic chocolate bars that are notable for what they contain and what they don't.

Today's NibMor Almond bar contained no refined sugar. It was, instead, sweetened with organic agave nectar. Also absent: "dairy, gluten or GMO." This dark chocolate (65% cacao) bar was vegan and kosher, and was "crafted at low temperatures to minimize the loss of valuable nutrients and flavanols."

The bar's texture and consistency gave it an almost rustic style. When I broke off a piece, the bar's snap was clean, but lacked a hard snap sometimes present in bars with a sophisticated tempering process (that requires heating chocolate to higher temperatures first before cooling). The consistency was smooth (helped by cocoa butter and sunflower lecithin), even though particle size seemed relatively large, again likely due to more minimal and low temperature processing to preserve nutrients.

The bar itself had dark richness, and was not too sweet (thank you). The dark cocoa flavor was interspersed with small almond bits.

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

Eli's Earth Bars, Dream Big Bar - June 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Eli's Earth Bars
Dream Big Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Spring turns to summer this week, and the long, warm light days are evoking memories of barbecues, baseball games, walks in the park, trips to the beach, ice cream, and a whole lot more.

So, in the spirit of summer optimism, today I tried a "Dream Big Bar" (good name) -- part of the Eli's Earth Bars line from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA). The softly chewy bar was filled with caramel, peanuts and peanut butter.

Eli's Earth Bars are organic, gluten free and vegan; and the company donates 5% of their proceeds to a charitable children's organization.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week. Best wishes on all your own big dreams this summer.

Cacao Walnut Brownie - May 3, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Blue Mountain Organics
Cacao Walnut Brownie
Good
Weight: 2.4 oz. (68 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 290 calories in 1 package
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package/brownie
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA


Today's Cacao Walnut Brownie from Blue Mountain Organics (Floyd, VA) kicks off the first day of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week. Many of the offerings this week are either organic, vegan or raw (or all of the above), and all are gluten free.

This brownie was rich and moist with a slight dried fruit tang. In fact, the #1 ingredient listed for this product was "Premium organic dates" -- followed by a short list: agave, cacao,  walnuts and golden flax.

ChocolateBet: February 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

Go Max Go Foods, LLC
Twilight (candy bar)
Good +
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

I ate this vegan, dairy-free Twilight bar with a handful of almonds. While I think this bar might have been a little less sweet than many bars (a good thing), at more than 2 oz., some raw nuts and water helped to balance out the sugary taste.

Note: This is a delayed post due to an all-day power outage in my neighborhood yesterday.

ChocolateBet: February 11, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1 candy bar
Go Max Go Foods, LLC
Buccaneer (candy bar)
Very Good
Weight: 2.0 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Yesterday, I bought four different Go Max Go Foods candy bars to try.  I felt a little pirate-ish today, so I chose the Buccaneer. This dairy-free, vegan, no trans fat, no cholesterol bar with a "chocolatey nougat filling" was covered in a "rice-milk chocolatey coating." (I checked, and it does have real cocoa powder in it.)

Despite the long list of ingredients the label claimed were omitted (no cholesterol, no hydrogenated fats, no trans fats and nothing artificial), the end product was jolly roger good.

ChocolateBet: September 9, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1/3 bar
Gnosis Chocolate
Cool Peppermint bar
Good +
Weight: .66 oz. (18.66 g.)/2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 99 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, New York City, NY

Smell is such an important part of taste. This morning, before I tried this raw, organic chocolate "Cool Peppermint" bar from Gnosis (NYC, NY), I enjoyed sticking my nose into a bunch of fresh cut lavender from my front yard. I like strong herbs like fresh peppermint and lavender that can stand up to dark chocolate.

On a related note, I am planning to unearth some recipes for home spa treatments that involve chocolate in some way. These may be featured in a(nother) chocolate theme week soon.

ChocolateBet: September 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Gnosis Chocolate
Slow Food Fast Children bar
("Special Cause Bar" to help school nutrition programs)
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 grams)
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, New York City, NY

Yesterday I watched Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary, Super Size Me, in which he ate nothing but fast food from McDonald's restaurants in New York City (and other U.S. cities) for one month. The decline in his own health helped to underscore the points he was making. Among them, don't eat fast food too often, and adults and children in the U.S. are not eating well, and not getting enough exercise.

Today's raw, vegan, and gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free chocolate bar was designed to help address one of these issues, with 35% of the proceeds going to "schools across the country who are implementing child nutrition programs," according to the label.

The title of today's (raw) chocolate bar was the inverse of fast food and slow children. The Slow Food Fast Children bar was handmade (in New York City), vegan, and free of gluten, dairy, soy and refined sugar. I've noticed that I can eat a whole 2-oz. Gnosis bar and still feel pretty good. There are other chocolates where I wouldn't even attempt to eat this much. OK, I'm sold on healthier/raw chocolates, based on trying several different bars over time.