Cadbury - Original Chocolate Fish chocolate bar - Sept. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cadbury 
Original Chocolate Fish chocolate bar
Good+
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) in total bar
Calories: 78.4 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $17.40 + shipping for 1 box of 6 bars
Purchased from: (AshRoseHampers, Etsy store, online order)

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and The Sea Theme Week, including craft chocolate bars, a few sea-related novelty chocolates, and this Chocolate Fish candy bar,

This "Original Chocolate Fish" (chocolate covered marshmallow fish) "As Kiwi as..." from Cadbury was "Made In Australia From Imported And Local Ingredients."

Aroma notes included: chocolate and spun sugar.

The highlight of this fish-shaped candy bar may have been the texture of its light, spongy pink (strawberry) marshmallow center that was covered by a thin layer of smooth dark chocolate. (Happily it was 43% cacao dark chocolate, a higher cacao percentage than in many candy bars.)

Flavor notes included: sweet marshmallow (think a light, creamy, sponge-y version of cotton candy or spun sugar) and dark chocolate. Yes, it was very sugary sweet.

I'm featuring this sea-related chocolate fish because I'll be teaching families about fish and birds today at a marsh nature center, and to honor an Australian colleague (who does a great job teaching children to net fish). 

Note: for those interested, supplies of this bar may be limited, as I've read that Cadbury may be discontinuing their 20-gram version of a candy bar classic*. (Although "smaller 'sprat' versions may still be available.)

Ingredients: Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Cocoa Mass, Invert Sugar, Gelatine, Cocoa Butter, Milk Solids, Emulsifiers (Soy Lecithin, E476), Colour (E120), Flavours, Cornstarch. (Dark Chocolate Contains Cocoa Solids 43%)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk, Soy. May Contain Peanuts, Tree Nuts."

*Fish-shaped chocolates have been around for well over a century. The first chocolate fish I was able to find information about was produced in 1903. Later versions with marshmallow filling appeared in Scotland in the 1930s. While there are schools of other chocolate fish in the chocolate sea, Cadbury's Chocolate Fish is perhaps the most well-known in this century.

Chocolove - Ganache & Coconut in Dark Chocolate - Apr. 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove
Ganache and Coconut in Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total package of 2 small bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1 package of 2 small bars
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Nugget Markets, Tiburon, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Ganache and Coconut in Dark Chocolate was from Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, sweet coconut, and hot cocoa

A generous, creamy, almost buttery, soft dark chocolate (rich, dark chocolate ganache) coating enveloped a softly chewy, sweet, shredded coconut center. 

The dark chocolate was smooth, balanced and relatively uniform, with a very faint earthy fudge brownie note.

Having two smaller bars in the same package made it easy to share this with a friend. But, I also had no problem eating both pieces (considered one serving).

This Non-GMO Verified dark chocolate was sweet without being cloyingly so. This also reminded me of an luxe version of a classic childhood candy bar.*

Ingredients: Dark chocolate ([Rainforest Alliance certified**] cocoa liquor, sugar, [Rainforest Alliance certified] cocoa butter, soy lecithin and/or sunflower lecithin, vanilla), organic cream (milk, gellan gum), tapioca syrup, organic coconut, dextrose, glycerin, cane sugar, organic honey, organic butter, organic palm fruit oil, organic butter oil, sorbitol, sunflower lecithin, vanilla extract.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, coconut, soy. May contain traces of wheat, eggs, peanuts or other nuts."

*Today's bar recalls several higher end dark chocolate confections filled with a coconut centers, and the Dark Chocolate Coconut Mounds candy bar--currently owned and being produced by The Hershey Company, that was a top seller during my childhood.

The Mounds candy bar was produced by Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company (starting in 1929, after buying the offering from the original entrepreneur and Connecticut candy maker, Vincent Nitido.) Decades later, Peter Paul merged with Cadbury in 1978. And Hershey purchased U.S. Operations in the late 1980s.)

** "100% of the cocoa in this product comes from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms." "Cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms is grown in ways that benefit farm families, wildlife and the environment. To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org."

Unreal - Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar - Aug. 13, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Unreal Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar

Good +

Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) in total bar

Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.69 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar was from Unreal Brands Inc. (Boston, MA). 

The company offers updated/healthier versions of chocolate covered candy bars, generally with a much shorter list of ingredients. (Today's certified gluten free and vegan bar listed three ingredients: organic coconut, organic cassava syrup and dark chocolate (later spelled out as dark chocolate liquor, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla).)

Aroma notes from this filled bar included: chocolate (dark chocolate ganache (truffle filling)) and sweet coconut. 

The dark chocolate provided a smooth, velvety coating, that contrasted with the chewy, lightly moistened, sweet shredded coconut. These coconut shreds continued to supply an authentic, textural chew that lasted into the finish after the chocolate had melted away.

As expected, the flavor was a blend of dark chocolate and coconut, with one complementing the other. Yes, it was sweet, but not quite as sugary or syrupy sweet as candy bars from the late 1900s. The flavors were balanced and uniform, with very faint, fleeting tropical fruit and nut notes, and a warm blanket of vanilla.

Adults wanting a healthier confection for their families, or wanting to take a trip down candy bar memory lane themselves--without all the preservatives, additives, or "natural flavors"--will appreciate this bar. The fact that some of the ingredients were fair trade was an added plus.

Ingredients: Organic coconut, organic cassava syrup, dark chocolate liquor, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut. Made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, wheat and milk. Made on equipment that processes milk chocolate. Please visit getunreal.com to read our allergen information." (Certified vegan, Certified gluten free; no soy ingredients.) 

Charles Chocolates - Ode to Joy (bar) - Sept. 24, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Charles Chocolates 

Ode to Joy (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.3 oz. (36 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: $4.00 (estimate) in 1 bar

Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Nuts and More Theme Week.

Today's Ode to Joy (bar) from Charles Chocolates (San Francisco, CA) was a high-end homage to American chocolate-covered candy bars with nuts (almonds) and caramel.

The core of this small, chubby bar was milk chocolate ganache, "deep" roasted almonds, and soft fleur de sel (salt) caramel that was coated in 65% bittersweet chocolate. It was small, sweet and successful as a high-end candy bar.

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate (cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, vanilla beans), almonds, cane sugar, butter, milk chocolate (cane sugar, cocoa butter, full cream milk, cacao beans, sunflower lecithin, vanilla beans), cream, glucose syrup, salt, vanilla beans.

Go Max Go - Thumbs Up Candy Bar - Feb. 15, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Go Max Go Foods LLC

Thumbs Up candy bar

Good

Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 160 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Buccaneer candy bar

Good

Weight: 2.0 oz. (57 g.) in total bar

Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's "Thumbs Up" and "Buccaneer" candy bars were distributed by Go Max Go Foods LLC (Santa Fe, NM).

First, a quick digression. A big Thumbs Up to all the athletes competing in this week's Winter Olympics in Korea this week.

The gluten free, vegan Thumbs Up candy bar was reminiscent of a Nestle Butterfinger bar, with a crunchy, "peanut buttery" center. Though similar, this bar had a slightly simpler ingredient list, and claimed to be made with "nothing artificial."

The second, Buccaneer, candy bar was featured on ChocolateBanquet.com (this site) a few years ago, but it was too pirate-like not to include again this week alongside its candy bar sibling. It had a creamy, almost fluffy, gooey-sweet nougat filling. (Think Mars Milky Way or 3 Musketeers bar.)

Both Go Max Go bars had a "chocolatey" coating which did contain cocoa powder, if you're wondering. The Buccaneer was bit too sweet for me, but pirates with a sweet tooth may enjoy this bar.

This Bar Saves Lives - Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Sea Salt bar - Oct. 14, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Bar Saves Lives
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Sea Salt bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEKs.

Candy bars and confections still rule Halloween. So this week we've been focusing on a range of traditional, healthy, updated and other versions of traditional chocolate candy bars.

Another variation is...the chocolate candy bar with a social purpose. Today's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Sea Salt bar was from This Bar Saves Lives (Culver City, CA).

It was gluten free, dairy free, non-GMO, and made with Fair Trade Cocoa; and it had a chewy, slightly crunchy satisfying texture and taste.

This bar also, as the name implied, had a social purpose: "Buy a Bar. Feed a Child. Healthy Snacking," read the taglines. The company uses proceeds from their bar sales to make and send food aid packets to children around the world (Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Mexico).

Amy's - Andy's Dandy Candy Dreamy bar - Oct. 13, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Amy's Kitchen Inc.
Andy's Dandy Candy - Dreamy bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in 1 package of 2 bars
Calories: 200 calories in 1 package
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEKs. And happy spooky* Friday the 13th to you.

We've been examining traditional candy bars and healthier alternatives this week. And, healthier means different things to different people.

Today's Andy's** Dandy Candy Dreamy bar was from Amy's Kitchen Inc. (Petaluma, CA). While similar to a traditional candy bar in appearance, it's been substantially improved (and I would say it was healthier too).

The vegan Dreamy bar contained no 1.) high fructose corn syrup, 2.) preservatives or 3.) GMOs. Several companies have made a move away from the first two, not so much with the third.

Also, the bar was made with organic dark chocolate and real cocoa butter. (Much of the chocolate used in traditional candy bars is milk chocolate and often contains vegetable oils in place of cocoa fat/dairy butter, and a very low percent of cocoa solids—barely qualifying as chocolate in some cases. Beware when you see the term "chocolately.")

Amy's updated take on candy bars shows how this market has evolved. Their bars are gluten free, vegan and 98% organic ingredients, and can still satisfy a sweet tooth (via organic cane sugar and tapioca syrup).

It was sweet; but the high sugar contain (found in almost all nougat-centered candy bars) was also balanced by the use of dark chocolate and the addition of soy protein. The two smaller bars in one package made sharing and portion control easier (100 calories in each bar).

There were no dairy, wheat, gluten, or nut ingredients listed; but the packaging did contain the: "May contain traces of tree nuts" statement.

*Scarier than Halloween or Friday the 13th this week are the real life wildfires that are burning around some of the Amy's facilities in Northern California. I called to convey good thoughts, and as of this writing the facilities were fine, although many employees were being affected. 

** The name Andy's Dandy Candy came from Andy and Rachel Berliner. who founded the original company in 1987 and named it after their daughter, Amy. The privately-held, family business has grown over the years and produces a line of frozen foods, entrees, soups, and chocolates that offer consumers organic, gluten free and low-sodium options.

Balance - Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Nutrition Bar - Oct. 10, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

The Balance Bar Company
Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Nutrition Bar
Good
Weight: .78 oz. (22 g.) for 1 small bar
Calories: 100 calories in 1 small bar
Cost: N/A - free samples being handed out
Purchased from: N/A - free samples being distributed to passer-bys

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Halloween wEEKs.

Many people are looking for healthier, more balanced alternatives to traditional Halloween candy. As a child, I remember a dentist handing out sample containers of dental floss instead of candy. Not really appreciated by children at the time. But, times change and balance means different things to different people.

Today's Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Nutrition Bar was from The Balance Bar Company (Bohemia, NY). The company has aimed for a 40-30-30 blend of carbohydrates, protein and fat respectively in their bars. Today's bar looked like a traditional chocolate candy bar, but had added protein.

This Balance bar did have a slight soy protein taste, but overall the flavors were balanced, and the soy wasn't objectionable.

Trader Joe's - Quasar bar - Mar. 1, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Quasar bar
Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's store in Bay Area, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of LMNOPQR Theme Week. "Q" is for Quasar (more about that below). It also is the name of a candy bar from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA).

Quasars are, according to definitions I found: "massive celestial objects emitting exceptionally large amounts of energy, and typically having a star-like image in a telescope" and "it has been suggested that quasars contain massive black holes and may represent a stage in the evolution of some galaxies."

Yes, quasars are associated with enormous amounts of energy. On a smaller scale, today's Quasar candy bar supplied me with sugar, chocolate and energy in the form of calories. This bar contained approximately 220 calories, and a cosmically impressive 44 g. of Carbohydrates.

The Trader Joe's Quasar Bar contained "whipped chocolate nougat and rich caramel enrobed in dark chocolate." It was quite sweet, as one might expect. The caramel was satisfying without it being so gooey as to make a mess.

The milk chocolate and nougat were primarily about the sugar; so any chocolate flavor nuances were lost, in space. And speaking of space, the Quasar bar reminded me of another candy bar inspired by a heavenly body: The Milky Way.

Note: The Quasar bar is not gluten free. While it does not contain wheat (or may contain only trace amounts), malted barley is listed as an ingredient.

Baru - Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bars - Nov. 3, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Baru NV

Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bar
Dark Chocolate and Nutty Sea Salt Caramel
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bar
Milk Chocolate and Chai Latte
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #6 of Trick or Treat Theme Week.

Is it possible to have a high-end candy bar? There are several candy bars that cater to more sophisticated palettes.

Today's two Chocolate Fluffy Marshmallow Bars were from Baru NV (Diepenbeek, Belgium). One was covered with dark chocolate and lightly flavored with sea salt and caramel. And the second was coated with milk chocolate and flavored with a hint of chai seasonings.

These candy bars was quite sweet (as marshmallows are), but would make a nice addition to any Halloween candy collection, or as sophisticated treats.

Amy's Kitchen - Andy's Dandy Lucky Candy Bar - Apr. 2, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Amy's Kitchen Inc.
Andy's Dandy Candy Bars
Lucky bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 130 calories in 1 bar (1/2 package)
Cost: $ need to find receipt
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's gluten-free "Lucky" candy bar was from Amy's Kitchen Inc. (Petaluma, CA).

Part of the company's Andy's Dandy Candy Bars* line, this Lucky chocolate candy bar was filled with nougat, caramel and a blend of chopped pecans, walnuts and...cashews.

*The Andy's Dandy Candy Bars line was named for Amy's father Andy.

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

Brown and Haley - Peanut Butter Mountain bar - Sept. 18, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Brown and Haley
Peanut Butter Mountain bar
Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

This chunky Peanut Butter Mountain bar was from Brown and Haley (Tacoma, WA) -- the company most famous for Almond Roca buttercrunch confections.

The mound-shaped bar contained, as advertised, "a mountain of chocolate flavor with crunchy peanuts over a creamy peanut butter center." The layering of flavors and textures was effective and tasty.

I didn't care for the hydrogenated oil, corn syrup, gum, soy lecithin, etc. in this (and most other) traditional candy bars, but sometimes these bars are fun to eat.

To paraphrase theater critic Walter Kerr (circa 1954): Of course, (some of the ingredients were) terrible. But apart from that it's not so bad. I enjoyed this bar that was in one generous bite -- creamy, chocolatey, nutty and crunchy.

Hershey Zagnut, NECCO Clark bars - September 17, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

The Hershey Company
Zagnut bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Orchard Supply Hardware, Mountain View, CA

New England Confectionery Company, Inc.
Clark bar
Good
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Orchard Supply Hardware, Mountain View, CA


Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

In the mid-1900s, a neurosurgeon named Dr. Wilder Penfield did pioneering work on the brain and memory. He found that when a patient's brain was stimulated, memories of conversations or events could be evoked -- including not only factual information, but also sounds and feelings associated with a conversation or event being recalled.

If my brain were similarly probed for cocoa-related recollections, I'm sure these evocations would be tied to many happy childhood chocolate memories -- days spent in movie theaters, ice cream shops, and local markets, on backyard lawns having picnics, at birthday parties -- all places where there was bound to be chocolate.

In 2006 and 2007, when I started this site, ChocolateBanquet.com, I featured many U.S.-made chocolate bars. However, for some strange reason, I missed several peanut butter-related candy bars.

I'll try to make up for that this week, starting with two red-wrappered candy bars: 1.) the Zagnut bar from The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA) -- originally introduced in 1930 by the D. L. Clark Company, and 2.) the Clark bar from the New England Confectionery Company, Inc. (NECCO) (Revere, MA).

Zagnut bar
I unwrapped the Zagnut bar to find a crunchy peanut butter and coconut "shell" -- think of eating the crunchy, crispy sweet peanut butter center of a Butterfinger bar. The cocoa incorporated into this bar takes a back seat to the other ingredients. Unlike most chocolate-coated candy bars, you can nibble on this without chocolate meltage on your hands. To ensure I met my recommended daily allowance for chocolate, I followed this up with the Clark bar.

Clark bar
The Clark bar had a similar crispy, crunchy peanut butter core, and was coated with a layer of "real" milk chocolate. Like the Zagnut bar, there was also a hint of molasses and coconut. NECCO offers an upbeat stable of mid-century retro confections, including Squirrel Nut Zippers, colorful Candy Dots, NECCO wafers, Mary Janes, and Sweethearts.

Wowza Bar, Nespresso Mousse - Sept. 13, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Zingerman's Candy
ZZang! Candy Bars
Wowza - Raspberry
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (41 g.) / 3 oz. (82 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ N/A - gift from friend
Purchased from: N/A - friend bought in Ann Arbor, MI

Thanks to a friend's recent trip to Michigan, today I was able to sample a WowZa bar from Zingerman's (deli/store in Ann Arbor, MI). The bar contained layers of raspberry chocolate ganache, raspberry preserves, and fresh raspberry marshmallow nougat, and was covered in dark chocolate. The dark chocolate helped tone down the cotton-candy level sweetness a bit.

Nestle Nespresso - San Francisco, CA

Later in the day I drove into San Francisco. The America's Cup (sailing) races were still in progress on San Francisco Bay this week/month, and Nespresso (Nestle) has been a major sponsor.

I had lunch at a Nespresso boutique and bar near Union Square, and taste-tested (for a future chocolate of the day) a duo of diminutive chocolate mousses -- one with raspberry and chocolate layers, the second mousse incorporated white chocolate and milk chocolate -- and a small shot of coffee over vanilla ice cream. The smaller portion sizes made it possible to enjoy these lovely flavor combinations without suffering from sugar overload. I'll be back.

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

Eli's Earth Bars, Treasure bar - June 18, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Eli's Earth Bars - Treasure bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

A handful of chocolate candy bars have been redesigned in recent years, to incorporate healthier ingredients. Today's peanut butter packed Treasure Bar with caramel highlights was an example of such a bar.

The Treasure bar from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) -- part of the company's Eli's Earth Bar line -- was organic, gluten-free and vegan, and made with dairy-free milk chocolate (that contained rice milk powder and almond milk).

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter 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.

'Bert' Bar - June 15, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Bees and Beans
'Bert' bar
Weight: 1.3 oz. (36.8 g.) / 2 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 195 calories (estimate) in 1.3 oz. piece
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

The 'Bert' candy bar from Bees and Beans (Portland, OR) contained a dense, slightly creamy jumble of ingredients, including filberts, milk chocolate, crispy rice and peanut butter, dipped in dark chocolate. Bees and Beans specializes in higher-end, handmade candy bars.

shokomonk - coconut bars - January 23, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

shokocrown GmbH
shokomonk bars

1.) kokos bar - 50% chocolate with coconut
Good
Weight: .586 oz. (16.6 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 88.5 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample from shokomonk
Purchased from: N/A - sample; shokomonk booth, Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, CA

2.) kokos bar - 31% white chocolate with coconut
Good
Weight: .586 oz. (16.6 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 97 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $N/A - sample from shokomonk
Purchased from: N/A - sample; shokomonk booth, Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week. Once again, I'm extending the conventional 7-day week, because chocolate offerings expand beyond time and space -- or at least geography -- in today's shokomonk bars from Germany (adorned with an illustration of a smiling monk). This line may be expanding into the U.S. soon.

A few days ago, I stopped by the shokomonk booth at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, CA, and picked up a set of bars to try, including two with coconut. The first bar was a 50% zartbitterschokolade mit kokosflocken (plain chocolate with coconut); the second was a 31% weisse schokolade mit kokos (white chocolate with coconut).

The company's two founders are committed to creating a line of bars that are enjoyable and mobile, and the bars I've had so far were made with higher quality ingredients that many traditional bulk candy and chocolate manufacturers. Both coconut bars had a consistent sweet and crunchy texture. The company uses cacao from Ecuador, according to a company rep.

I don't count white chocolate in my "different chocolate every day" approach on this site; but this second bar was the perfect candy playmate for the plain chocolate version. And, happily, cocoa butter (and not cheaper, substitute fat) was the second ingredient, behind sugar, and ahead of coconut flakes (8%); the bar also contained bourbon vanilla.

Note: these two bars do not contain gluten ingredients, but some of their bars do incorporate glucose syrup that contains wheat.

ChocolateBet: August 21, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Zingerman's Candy Manufactory
ZZang! Candy Bar (Original flavor)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.875 oz. (53.25 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 3/4 bar
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Heath Ceramics, in Sausalito, CA

Thank you to the staff at Heath Ceramics (Sausalito, CA) for recommending this ZZang! Original bar from Zingerman's (Ann Arbor, MI). Tucked away near the cash register in Heath's gift store (a shop that carried ceramic dishes and tiles), this high-end candy bar looked intriguing.

The first bite of this bar was enough to detect higher quality ingredients than those in many mass-marketed, popular candy bars. The ZZang! bar was stuffed with satisfying layers of "butter roasted peanuts, caramel and peanut butter honey nougat" -- and dipped in dark chocolate. Hard to go wrong with this winning combination of flavors and textures.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: August 19, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Unreal Brands, Inc.
Unreal Chocolate Caramel with peanut nougat
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in 2 bars/ 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total package
Calories: 200 calories in 2 bars
Cost: $5.39 total package of 9 bars
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Great concept. Take popular chocolate candy bars and subtract what some may find less desirable ingredients, such as corn syrup, preservatives and extra added lactose. And add agave syrup and other ingredients instead. Less sugar rush than, say, a Snickers bar, although just as good. Unreal Brands was doing just that, with their "unjunking" philosophy.

One shiny, pink and black Unreal (bag) contained nine individually wrapped, snack sized, chocolate caramel with peanut nougat bars.

Note: Information and photos were delayed this week due to travel.