Mikawaya Mochi Ice Cream - Double Chocolate Mochi - Aug. 19, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Mikawaya Mochi Ice Cream

Chocolate Chocolate (Double Chocolate) Mochi

Good + 

Weight: 3 oz. (86 g.) / 9.1 oz. (258 g.) in total package of 6 pieces

Calories: 200 calories in 2 pieces

Cost: $3.99 for 1 serving

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

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

Today's "Chocolate Chocolate" Mochi was the second frozen mochi treat (with chocolate) made by Mikawaya Mochi Ice Cream (Vernon, CA) featured this week. (The first was filled with mint chip ice cream.)

As with many frozen mochi (aka daifuku) desserts, the aroma was barely detectable. Texturally, this was a blend of refreshing, creamy, cold chocolate chocolate chip ice cream covered with a pillowy soft, lightly springy and chewy sweet rice dough. Both complemented each other well.

The chocolate ice cream, flecked with chocolate (that added some microbursts of authentic dark chocolate flavor), was flavorful and creamy with rich, smooth chocolate-y and cocoa tones. 

A light pixie dusting of rice flour adorned these pieces, enabling an effortless release of the mochi spheres from their half-dome plastic compartments. 

Ingredients: Ice Cream Ingredients: Milk, cream, cane sugar, chocolaty bits (cane sugar, coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, cocoa, corn starch, salt), cocoa processed with alkali, whey, nonfat dry milk, stabilizer (guar gum, locust bean gum). Mochi Dough Ingredients: Cane sugar, water, sweet rice flour, egg whites, rice flour, purple carrot juice (color), caramel color, enzyme, beet juice concentrate (color), citric acid.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, egg. "May contain peanuts and tree nuts." (Gluten free, no soy ingredients, Kosher dairy)

Haagen-Dazs - Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch Ice Cream bar + Double Belgian Chocolate Chip and Coffee Ice Creams - July 19, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Haagen-Dazs

1.) Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch ice cream bar 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 3 fl. oz. (78 g.) / 9 fl. oz. (266 mL) in 1 box of 3 bars
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.75 (estimate) for 1 box of 3 bars 
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Double Belgian Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2/3 cup (133 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL.) in total container
Calories: 420 calories in 1 serving 
Cost: $2.50 (sale) for 1 container (2 for $5.00 USD)
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week(s) -- a series that has included a lot of coffee + coffee/mocha ice cream-related items, just in time for summer weather. 

Today's three Haagen-Dazs frozen offerings: 1.) Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch ice cream bar and 2.) Double Belgian Chocolate Chip and 3.) Coffee ice creams were distributed by Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc. (Oakland, CA).

Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch (ice cream bar)

As with many frozen items, today's Haagen-Dazs Coffee Almond Toffee ice cream bar had a subtle aroma (compared to room temperature bars and confections), but with identifiable notes of chocolate, nuts and caramel/toffee.

The texture was a blend of a smooth ice cream interior and a crunchy chocolate outer shell and a thin shards of toffee candy and tiny bits of almond. The ice cream center had a creamy texture with vanilla and faint coffee flavor.

Ingredients: Coffee ice cream: cream, skim milk, sugar, egg yolks, coffee; milk chocolate and vegetable oil coating with almonds and toffee: milk chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), coconut oil, almonds roasted in vegetable oil (almonds, safflower oil), toffee (corn syrup, sugar, butter (cream, salt), brown sugar, almonds, baking soda, soy lecithin, salt). 

Allergen-related information: Contains: milk, almond, egg and soy ingredients. 

Double Belgian Chocolate Chip + Coffee ice creams

The Haagen-Dazs Belgian chocolate (and Coffee) ice cream flavors were relatively smooth and mild; however, I was pleasantly surprised that the Double Belgian Chocolate ice cream had maintained very faint, diffuse fruit, nut, floral and light earth (authentic cacao) notes. 

Most chocolate ice creams are made using cocoa processed with alkali (a process that neutralizes acidic and/or bitter flavors in cacao. Today's Double Belgian Chocolate ice cream did contain some alkalized cocoa, but also a healthy dose of Belgian dark chocolate.

The chocolate ice cream paired nicely with Haagen-Dazs Coffee ice cream. Both the Double Belgian Chocolate Chip and Coffee flavors had a satisfying and filling, authentic creamy texture, mouthfeel and taste.

Ingredients: Chocolate ice cream: Cream, skim milk, dark chocolate (Belgian chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), sugar, egg yolks, cocoa processed with alkali, vanilla extract. Chocolate chunks with vegetable oil: Belgian chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural flavor), cottonseed oil, coconut oil.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, egg and soy ingredients. 

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."

Re-Think Ice Cream - Chocolate Orange with Almond Butter - Sept. 23, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Re-Think Ice Cream
Chocolate Orange with Almond Butter Ice Cream
Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (92 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container
Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving (1/2 cup)
Cost: $1.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Nuts and More Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Orange with Almond Butter ice cream was from Re-think Ice Cream  (San Francisco, CA).

The company described this ice cream as "the first and only collagen-infused, lactose free, A2/A2* dairy ice cream"..."Indulgence with benefits." Today's flavor included 9 grams of protein, 9 grams of sugar and 11 grams net carbs in one (1/2 cup) serving.

Aroma tends to be muted with frozen items like ice cream. There was a nutty, and faint chocolate, aroma. 

The base chocolate-orange ice cream had a very light chocolate flavor with very low chocolate/cocoa acidity. (The company may use Ghirardelli Majestic Cocoa which is apparently not dutched or alkalized, but it has an unusual, slightly alkaline pH. (It wasn't acidic like most natural cocoa tends to be.) Bakers and ice cream makers may milder flavor if they're highlighting other flavors. The natural orange flavor paired nicely with the chocolate and was allowed to shine.

Two additional flavors were added: chocolate flakes, and ribbons of almond butter. 

The initial frozen texture was hard, but it quickly softened, creating a pleasing smooth and creamy texture with a relatively rapid melt. Finely ground almonds (almond butter) added nutty texture and authentic nutty almond flavor.

This was a nicely balanced flavor combination of chocolate, nuts and something more. The orange added flavorful, sweet citrus to the mix. This ice cream also contained fiber (organic inulin) and whey protein. The latter helped to boost the protein content.

Ingredients: Milk, cream, whey protein concentrate, organic agave syrup, almond butter (almonds, canola oil and invert sugar), chocolate flavored flake (sugar, coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, butter oil, soy lecithin (emulsifier), natural flavor), cocoa processed with alkali, almonds, organic inulin (agave fiber), natural flavor, green tea extract, locust bean gum, guar gum, citric acid.  

 

Green Girl Bakeshop - Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie ice box treats - Nov. 27, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Green Girl Bakeshop
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie ice box treats
Good
Weight: 4.2 oz. (119 g.) in 1 ice box treat
Calories: 400 calories in 1 ice box treat
Cost: $5.99 for 1 ice box treat
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA


Welcome to Day #4 of Cookies with Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's frozen Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream and cookie treat was from Green Girl Bakeshop (San Leandro, CA).

A generous layer of chocolate, dairy-free (coconut milk) "ice cream" was sandwiched between two, gluten-free, soy-free chocolate chip cookies.

Enlightened - Triple Chocolate Ice Cream - Sept. 24, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Beyond Better Foods, Inc.

Triple Chocolate Ice cream

Good

Weight: 1/4 cup (36.5 g.) / 1 Pint oz. (473 mL) in total container

Calories: 45 calories in 1/4 cup serving

Cost: $2.99 for 1 container of ice cream

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

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Ice Cream Theme Week.

This Enlightened higher protein, lower sugar, Triple Chocolate ice cream (Better Beyond Foods, Inc., Bronx, NY) was threaded with dark chocolate sauce. It was both light and full of rich chocolate flavor. And not too sweet. 

I'm not sure how this would fare in a side-by-side tasting with a full-fat ice cream (hard to beat the mouthfeel of real dairy milk and cream); but it's also hard to beat a frozen dessert with only 45 calories for 1/4 cup serving.

Enlightened - Frozen Hot Cocoa Ice Cream - Sept. 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Produced for Beyond Better Foods, Inc.
Enlightened - Frozen Hot Cocoa Ice cream
Weight: 1/2 cup (73 g.) / 1 Pint (473 g.) in total container
Calories: 90 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $2.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ice Cream Theme Week.

Today's Enlightened Frozen Hot Cocoa ice cream was produced for Beyond Better Foods, Inc. (Bronx, NY).

What made it different? It was lower in calories and carbs (lower sugar) and higher in protein than most other popular frozen dessert treats.

In keeping with the hot cocoa concept, this relatively light and naturally sweet-tasting, chocolate ice cream was larded (sugared?) with a bit of white marshmallow ripple.

Celebrating 12 Yrs. of Chocolate - Marash Turkish Ice Cream - Choco Hazelnut - Sept. 20, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Marash Ice Cream
Choco Hazelnut - Turkish Ice Cream
Good+ - Good ++
Weight: 4 oz. (96 g.) / 8 fl. oz. (236 mL) in total container
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 container
Cost: $5.45 for 1 container
Purchased from: Tuts Bakery and Cafe, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Celebrating 12 Years of Chocolate Series.

I began this month's 12-year celebration line-up with chocolate and hazelnut offerings, and am ending this baker's dozen series with three more, starting with today's ice cream.

Today's Choco Hazelnut (Turkish Ice Cream) from Marash Ice Cream (Santa Ana, CA) had a creamy texture, and natural tasting roasted hazelnut chocolate flavor more commonly found in Europe than in the U.S.

The Turkish-style ice cream was made with sahlep (a substance made from a starchy orchid tuber). I was told this ice cream contained mastic (tree sap), which is found in some Turkish ice creams. But, if this was so, it did not appear on the ingredients list. (This ice cream did contain vegetable gums (locust bean, guar) and carrageenan.)

Hudsonville Creamery - Chocolate Cocoa Bean Ice Cream + cherry - June 20, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hudsonville Creamery and Ice Cream Company 

Naturals - Chocolate Cocoa Bean Ice Cream 

Good

Weight: 1/4 cup (32 g.) / 32 oz. (946 mL) in total container

Calories: 65 calories (per label) in 1/4 cup

Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 container

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

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

Today we cooled down with some cherry-related items combined with a scoop of Chocolate Cocoa Bean Ice Cream from Hudsonville Creamery and Ice Cream Company (Holland, MI).

The Chocolate Cocoa Bean Ice Cream was part of the company's Naturals line, and was made with a list of 7 ingredients* and included cocoa that had been more minimally processed. (Much of the bulk cocoa powder people buy has been treated (alkalinized) to reduce the natural acidic content of cocoa. This apparently was not.) The chocolate flavor was still smooth.

Perhaps the favorite, chilled cherry and chocolate ice cream combination of the day was a small scoop of Cocoa Bean Ice Cream with rum-soaked cherries. This dish disappeared too quickly to be photographed.

Ingredients: Milk, cane sugar, cream, organic natural cocoa, skim milk, carob bean gum, vanilla 

Magnum - Double Chocolate ice cream bars - Mar. 24, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Unilever
Magnum Double Chocolate ice cream bars
Good+
Weight: 3.38 fl. oz. (100 mL) / 10.14 fl. oz. (300 mL) total box of 3 bars
Calories: 310 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 3 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Ice Cream Bar Theme Week.

Today we're sampling one more ice cream bar flavor from the Magnum ice cream bar line from Unilever (Englewood Cliffs, NJ): The Magnum Double Chocolate ice cream bar.

What is double chocolate? "Answer: Chocolate ice cream dipped in a chocolatey coating, chocolatey sauce and milk chocolate."

I enjoyed this rich chocolate bar, especially its incorporation of chocolate sauce into the bar (a tidy but extravagant layer sandwiched between the chocolate ice cream and the chocolatey coating). It made this bar seem a little decadent.

The bar was made with Belgian chocolate. And, according to the packaging, the cocoa used in these bars came from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

Tillamook - Tillamook Mudslide Ice Cream - Aug. 19, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Tillamook
Tillamook Mudslide Ice Cream
Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (70 g.) / 1.75 quarts (1.66 L) in total container
Calories: 190 calories for 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Summer wouldn't be summer without ice cream and frozen refreshments.

With a long history in the dairy business, the 100 farm families that make up the Tillamook dairy co-op (in Tillamook, Oregon) -- as well as the cheese and ice cream makers there -- know a thing or two about ice cream.

Over time, Tillamook has expanded their ice cream and ice cream bar offerings. Today I tried the company's Tillamook Mudslide Ice Cream. It was laced with broad ribbons of chocolate and chunks of fudge, in a base of creamy chocolate ice cream.

This ice cream was made with "extra cream." I'm not sure what made it extra (beyond having 13.5% butterfat), but I found it noteworthy that the company plans to transition next year to a recipe that is "even creamier than our current recipe while eliminating Carageenan, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Mono and Digyclerides, and Polysorbate 80." That sounds like a good thing to me.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Frozen Desserts Theme Week. 

Mars - Dove Unconditional Chocolate Ice Cream - Aug. 16, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Mars
Dove Unconditional Chocolate Ice Cream
Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (72 g.) / 15.1 fl. oz. (447 mL) in total container
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Frozen Desserts Theme Week.

It's August and it's hot. Perfect for a week of "cold" chocolate -- in the form of ice cream and frozen desserts.

Today's Dove brand Unconditional Chocolate Ice Cream (distributed by Mars, Hackettstown, NJ) was loaded with concentrated chocolate flavor -- shards and flecks of chocolate were buried in a chocolate ice cream base.

I ate this chocolate ice cream in the morning. But it was already so hot, that the ice cream started to melt within seconds after I scooped it into a glass to eat. It still tasted refreshingly great.

ChocolateBet: October 28, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Ultra Chocolate Ice Cream
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup (52.5 g.)/ 1 Quart (946 mL) total container
Calories: 125 calories in 1/4 cup; (210 cals. total with 1/6 cup Pumpkin ice cream)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Menlo Park, CA

A mixture of two "Super Premium" ice creams from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) -- Ultra Chocolate and Pumpkin -- tasted slightly better than the two flavors did separately. The Pumpkin ice cream by itself was a bit sweet and unremarkable, but when used in moderation with a larger scoop of Ultra Chocolate ice cream, the resulting spicy chocolate flavor was quite nice.

The Ultra Chocolate might be a good mix with cherry ice cream and other flavors as well.

Top this ice cream with some caramelized nibs and chopped almonds, and you have yourself a tasty fall-themed ice cream treat.

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

ChocolateBet: June 4, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Straus Family Creamery
1.) Dutch Chocolate ice cream - Good +
2.) Caramel Toffee Crunch ice cream - Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2/3 cup (120 g.) small bowl with both flavors
Calories: 312 calories total for small bowl (2/3 cup) of both flavors
Cost: $3.50 pint + $3.50 pint = $7.00 total cost
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Tonight I combined small scoops of Dutch Chocolate and Caramel Toffee ice creams from Straus Family Creamery (Petaluma, CA) in a little bowl for dessert. I didn't really need a cherry on top, but added one anyway.

What the heck is this picture of scenery doing in this chocolate post you ask? A walk out at Angel Island earlier today allowed me to justify this post-dinner indulgence. The view atop Mt. Livermore on this island in San Francisco Bay was so wonderful, we could almost imagine seeing the grassy hills of Petaluma, in the north bay, where Straus cows might have been grazing. (Picture of view included at right.)

Hats off to Straus Family Creamery for their line of gluten free ice creams and organic dairy products.

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

ChocolateBet: February 1, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 servings (1 cup)
Breyers (Unilever)
Rocky Road ice cream
Very Good
Wt.: 1 cup (134 g.)/1.5 quarts (1.42 L)
Calories: 300 calories for 1 cup
Cost: $? (someone else bought)
Purchased from: Draeger's, in Los Altos, CA

There is something about good chocolate ice cream that always hits the spot for me.