Stoked Chocolates - Dark and Milk Chocolate Sand Dollars - July 20, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Stoked Chocolates

Dark Chocolate Sand Dollar - Cocoa Nibs + Sea Salt
Good ++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) in one packet/sand dollar
Calories: 50 calories in 1 sand dollar
Cost: $N/A - part of a larger, multi-item gift set 
Purchased from: Stoked Chocolates, online order

Milk Chocolate Sand Dollar - Rainbow Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds
Good ++

Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) in one packet/sand dollar
Calories: 50 calories in 1 sand dollar
Cost: $N/A - part of a larger, multi-item gift set 
Purchased from: Stoked Chocolates, online order

Dark Chocolate Sand Dollar - Raspberry
Good ++
Weight: .32 oz. (9 g.) in one packet/sand dollar
Calories: 45 calories in 1 sand dollar
Cost: $N/A - part of a larger, multi-item gift set 
Purchased from: Stoked Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week(s) -- featuring a variety of chocolates with tie-ins with water, that include cacao origins linked with bodies of water (oceans, lakes, rivers); chocolate fish, fishing and surfing themes; as well as chocolate sea shells and boats.

Today's three Dark and Milk Chocolate Sand Dollars with three different flavor inclusions were the creations of Stoked Chocolates (Hermosa Beach, CA).

Each of today's three, individually-wrapped, packets held a different flavored chocolate Sand Dollar, and they were all quite tasty. If we could forage sand dollars like this, the world might be a happier place.

Aroma, taste and texture for all three were well-balanced and flavorful. The chocolate was chocolate-y. A bit of added vanilla added warmth (to all three).

#1 Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Vanilla), Cacao Nibs, Sea Salt"

Allergen-related information: Contains: Soy. "Processed in a Facility That Contains Nuts"

#2 Ingredients: "Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Powdered Whole Milk, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla), Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds (Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Whole Milk, Soy Lecithin (An Emulsifier), and Vanilla); Sunflower Kernel; Sugar; Titanium Dioxide (Food Grade); Gum Arabic; Tapioca Dextrin; Carnuba Wax; Natural Food Colorings (Vegetable Juice, Caramel))"

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. "Processed in a Facility That Contains Nuts"

#3 Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier), Vanilla), Freeze-Dried Raspberries"

Allergen-related information: Contains Soy. "Processed in a Facility That Contains Nuts"

Harbor Sweets - Sand Dollars - Caramel & Pecan in Dark Chocolate & Milk Chocolate Periwinkle - July 10, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Harbor Sweets

Sand Dollars - Caramel and Pecan in Dark Chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: .647 oz. (18.33 g.) / 3 7/8 oz. (110 g.) in total package of 6 pieces
Calories: 90 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $13.95 + shipping for 1 package of 6 pieces
Purchased from: Harbor Sweets, online order

Milk Chocolate Periwinkles 
Good ++
Weight: .45 oz. (12.78 g.) for 2 small pieces / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total (large Nautical Assortment box)
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) in 2 periwinkles 
Cost: $50.00 + shipping for 1 large assortment box (that contained several other chocolates)
Purchased from: Harbor Sweets, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week. 

Today's two nautically-themed chocolates from Massachusetts were inspired by shells you might find on a beach walk along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.

Today's Caramel and Pecan filled dark chocolate Sand Dollar--and the two, cute little (solid) milk chocolate periwinkles--were from Harbor Sweets (Salem, MA). Both were attractive to look at and each chocolate was swaddled in gold foil.

Both were relatively sweet, and had a relatively bright sweetness to them. (The addition of wildflower honey in many of the company's chocolate likely contributed to this pleasant fruit/floral sweetness.)

Ingredients (Sand Dollars): Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Chocolate Liquor processed with Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Butterfat (Milk), Soy Lecithin, Vanilla), Pecans, Cream (Light Cream and Disodium Phosphate), Tapioca Syrup (Tapioca Starch), Evaporated Milk (Milk 0.5% or less of: Dipotassium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Vitamin D3), Sugar, Light Brown Sugar, Butter (Cream (Milk), Salt), Wildflower Honey, Vanilla, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Baking Soda.

Allergen-related information for dark chocolate Sand Dollars: Contains Milk, Soy and Pecans. "This product is prepared in a facility that handles soy, milk, peanuts, wheat, tree nuts and sesame." (The latter statement likely applies to the milk chocolate periwinkles as well.)

Ingredients (Periwinkles): (Not Listed individually in larger assortment box.) Contained Milk, Soy.

Harbor Sweets - Sweet Shells Dark Chocolate with Orange Crunch - Oct. 15, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Harbor Sweets
"Sweet Shells" - Dark Chocolate with Orange Crunch 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.33 oz. (38 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package of 12 pieces 
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in 4 pieces
Cost: $12.95 (+ shipping) for 1 package of 12 pieces
Purchased from: Harbor Sweets, online order

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

Today's Harbor "Sweet Shells" Dark Chocolate with Orange Crunch (individually wrapped chocolates) were from Harbor Sweets (Salem, MA). The company offers a variety of sea-themed chocolate confections.

Aroma and flavor notes for these gold foil, scallop shell-shaped confections included: sweet dark chocolate, vanilla and orange flavorings; and very faint (barely detectable) oxalis (tart green herb, sour grass).

The dark chocolate tasted smooth. (Alkalized cocoa/chocolate liquor was used.) And the flavors complemented each other nicely.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor processed with Alkali, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Butterfat (Milk), Soy Lecithin, Vanilla), Orange Crunch (Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor), Oil of Orange (Natural Flavor).

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Soy. "This product is prepared in a facility that handles soy, milk, peanuts, wheat, tree nuts and sesame."

 

Claude's Chocolate - Chocolate Candy Sea Shells - Mar. 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Claude's Chocolate
Chocolate Candy Sea Shells 
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 5 oz. (141 g.) in total container
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend; thank you Toni!
Purchased from: Gift from a friend

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate Snacks Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Candy Sea Shells were from Claude's Chocolate (St. Augustine, FL).

These novelty chocolates were a trip souvenir, courtesy of my friend Toni. Once again I am a beneficiary of her travels and kindness.

In appearance, these chocolate candies looked like slightly worn shells from a sandy beach. Milk chocolate centers were first covered with a light (white-ish) coat, then shades of candy shell (artificial and natural) colors. The end result was: weathered sea shells adorned with festive beach vacation, sunset/golden hour hues.

Because of the candy shell coating(s), there was no detectable aroma. The texture was a mix of crunchy outer shell and creamier chocolate inside.

Yes, these were sweet. The milk chocolate inside was sweeter than the "shell" on the outside. But, they were a fun trip souvenir and tasted better than some chocolate candy "rocks" I've sampled in previous years.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, milk, cocoa mass, soy lecithin (an emulsifier), vanilla), sugar, maltodextrin, titanium dioxide, artificial colors (includes FD+C Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Red No. 45, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6), natural colors (includes beet juice, caramel), confectioner's glaze, carnuba wax.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soybeans.

GuyLian - Belgian Chocolate Caramel Milk Chocolate bar - Jan. 10, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

GuyLian

Belgian Chocolate Caramel Milk Chocolate bar

Good

Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 170 for 1 bar

Cost: $0.79 for 1 bar

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

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Caramel Theme Week.

This GuyLian Belgian Chocolate Caramel bar—imported and distributed by GuyLian USA Inc. (Englewood Cliffs, NJ)—was a slightly more elegant take on a candy bar. The milk chocolate bar (scored into four segments) was filled with a thin layer of soft caramel.

Each of the 4 squares that comprised this bar was adorned with a sculpted white chocolate likeness of a marine creature, mollusk or shell.

The milk chocolate was relatively sweet and lacked the depth of flavor a darker bar might have had, but I enjoyed looking at these sea-inspired shapes.

Chocolats du CalifBressan - Bressan shoe, Sea Shell truffles - July 23, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Chocolats du CaliBressan
Bressan truffle - Good ++ - Very Good
Sea shell truffle - Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .78 oz. (22 g.) (estimate) for 2 truffles
Calories: 119 calories (estimate) for 2 truffles
Cost: $3.60 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Chocolats du CaliBressan, Santa Barbara, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week, and I celebrated with two different bonbons from Chocolats du CaliBressan (a shop with two locations: Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, CA).

Today's chocolates were part of an assortment box from this chocolatier in Santa Barbara that I purchased while visiting this Spanish-themed coastal city last week.

The first chocolate was a "Bressan" -- a shoe-shaped "milk chocolate and praline spiced with nutmeg, covered with milk chocolate." I loved the little spikes of fresh nutmeg embedded in a sweet creamy and firm filling (leavened by what might have been a few micro-specks of salt).

The second piece was shaped like a Sea Shell, with a silky dark chocolate and boysenberry ganache that sparkled with bright, authentic berry flavor, encased in dark chocolate.

Thank you to the staff for tips on which chocolates to buy. Lots of good ones; and it was hard to decide.