Xocolatl LLC - Wam & Cozy Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves & Cardamom 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 2, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Xocolatl LLC
Warm & Cozy Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves & Cardamom 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.6 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Uganda Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate & Warm Spices Theme Week.

Today's Warm & Cozy Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves & Cardamom 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Xocolatl LLC (Atlanta, GA). (See previous post to read about the Uganda part of today--a single origin Uganda 75% Cacao bar from this same chocolate maker.)

Aroma notes included: appealing, slightly woodsy, and very slightly earthy, dark chocolate with subtle, comforting warm spice(s) (cinnamon, ginger).

Texture: pleasing smooth texture and melt with fully integrated spices (no detectable spice grit).

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, and an integrated blend of warm spices (cinnamon, ginger, and even fainter clove).

I enjoyed the balanced, albeit subdued spice flavors in this bar; the choice to create a darker than average (70% vs. 50-60% cacao) spice-flavored chocolate using a high-quality cacao (no sources specifically identified on packaging/label). I also appreciated the short list of ingredients

Ingredients: "Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (* organic)"

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that processes peanuts, soy, wheat & tree nuts (almonds, coconut, hazelnut, pecan)." "Vegan"

  

Intrigue Chocolate Co. - Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar) - April 30, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Uganda Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate and Warm Spices Theme Week.

Today's Sobolo 60% Cacao (bar) (Batch #000000110824) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).*  

The cacao used to make this bar was from Uganda (Rwenzururu; Semuliki Forest). Harvest year was 2022. And the cacao variety/ies were: "mostly Trinitario and Amelonado."

The cacao was from Eastern Africa; but this bar also contained ingredients with West African, Caribbean and spice island roots.

Aroma and flavor notes included: balanced, slightly woodsy, chocolate-y dark chocolate with bright citrus, floral (hibiscus) and very faint, bright, sweet pineapple, warm spice (ginger) and herbal/peppercorns.

In addition to the expected bright, tart sweet hibiscus and warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, etc.) there were two more fun, subtle exotic spice flavors: prekese (a member of the pea family, with large woody looking pods, from Ghana that is naturally sweet), and grains of paradise (also from West Africa and that have wonderful peppercorn and spice flavors).

Texture: smooth, with a very faint, fleeting mild trace of astringency (possibly from hibiscus/sorrel/sobolo).

I really enjoyed the thoughtfully created and executed, bright, sweet and tasty bouquet of flavors in this bar. The flavor inclusions conjured up a sweet, exotically-spiced tropical drink on a magical island somewhere that was pleasingly, authentically tart-sweet--without being too tart or too sweet or too spicy. And all these flavors were very complementary with (and were grounded by) the underlying, very slightly earthy/woodsy dark chocolate.

We may not have magical time machines or teleportation devices; but sometimes chocolate can be transporting. This one belongs in the virtual travel category.

Maker's tasting notes: "An Inspired Flavor...There is a staple beverage of West Africa and the Caribbean that has many names: sobolo, zobo drink, bissap, sorrel drink, roselle, wonjo, folere, dabileni, tsobo, agua de Jamaica...All the versions feature hibiscus, with lots of fruit, spices, and ice."

Ingredients:  Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, hibiscus, prekese, freeze-dried pineapple, ginger, grains of paradise, dried lemon juice, dried lime juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, paprika, clove, peppermint leaf.

Allergen-related information: (No information on package.)

*Note: the company is planning to relocate to Chisholm, MN.   

Intrigue Chocolate - Gingerbread 60% Cacao (bar) + Brandy Cherry and Anise Seed Truffles - Jan. 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.

Gingerbread 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Truffle assortment box 

• Brandy Cherry Truffle - Good ++ - Good +++
• Anise Seed Truffle - Good ++

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week(s).

Today's Gingerbread 60% Cacao (bar) made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA) was part of the company's bean-to-bar Origins line. The bar was made using cacao beans from Ghana (Asante Akim region). Community: Three Mountains, Kome blend; Type: "Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario, and more pending identification." Crop Year: 2023.

Aroma notes for this bar included: authentic gingerbread and gingerbread spices, and dark chocolate.

I appreciated the short list of quality ingredients in this well-balanced, judicious and warm seasonal bar. I often find 60% cacao chocolates a little too sweet; but this was not the case today. I could taste both the rich dark chocolate and the spices: the ginger, cinnamon, cloves and a bit of black pepper in this blend. 

(Disclosure I love ginger molasses cookies and gingerbread; and as an adult I also love gingerbread teas and lattes with similar spices.) 

I enjoyed today's Gingerbread bar with two different Intrigue truffles from an assortment box of 13 different, and individually-wrapped, flavors. 

Intrigue's Brandy and Cherry Truffle was a classic. Rich, creamy, dusted in cocoa powder. Very Good. 

A warm cup of Tazo Ginger Jasmine tea + Intrigue's Anise Seed Truffle (also authentic and tasty), provided the "tea" and "herb" components of this week's theme (Chocolate Tea, Herbs and Spices Week). 

Maker's Tasting Notes for Gingerbread bar: "...smells like home and grandma's baking."

Ingredients: Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, ginger, cassia cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, black pepper, sea salt."

Allergy-related information: "No actual bread was harmed in the making of this treat..." (minimizes gluten worries).

Mariposa Baking Co. - Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Pain au Chocolat, Ginger Spice Biscotti - Jan. 22, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Mariposa Baking Co.
(All items listed below were gluten free.)
1.) Chocolate Chunk Cookies - Good ++
2.) Ginger Spice Biscotti - Good - Good +
3.) Pain au Chocolat - Good ++
4.) Bagel with seeds (toasted with cream cheese)
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown
Cost: $18.00 for multiple items
Purchased from: Mariposa Baking Co., Ferry Building location, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to the last day of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Mariposa Baking Co. offers great tasting, gluten-free baked goods that taste like the real deal. (They are not overly heavy, dense, dry or crumbly.)

Today's assortment of gluten-free chocolate and ginger baked goods, purchased at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, CA, were indulgent pleasures.

Previously, ChocolateBanquet.com featured Mariposa's triple chocolate brownies and walnut brownies. Today's Chocolate Chunk cookies were dark, thick and fudge-y with chewy rich brownie-like texture and mouthfeel.

These cookies—and a buttery pain au chocolat (chocolate-filled pastry)—were paired with ginger spice biscotti. And speaking of ginger...Mariposa's ginger molasses cookies were also very tasty, and could easily be dipped in almost any favorite chocolate (fondue, hot chocolate, melted dark chocolate, etc.)

Obolo Chocolate - 70% Cacao con Sal de Cahuil (bar) - Jan. 20, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Obolo Chocolate
70 percent Cacao con Sal de Cahuil (bar)
Good
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 142.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's 70 percent Cacao with Cahuil Salt dark chocolate bar was from Obolo Chocolate (Santiago, Chile).

This organic three-ingredient* bar had a pleasing fudge brownie, slightly earthy dark chocolate aroma and initial flavor, followed by a few seconds of tart acidity (acetic acid/vinegar).** It also contained a touch of salt (from Cahuil, Chile).

I paired this bar with warm ginger tea (fresh sliced ginger, honey and hot water). And something very interesting happened. The ginger tea seemed to soften and neutralize the tart acidity mentioned above.

Paired flavors often complement each other nicely. Only occasionally do they rise above this level to create something better than what had existing before. And even more rarely, one item seems to "fix" a potential flaw in the other. Such was the case here.

*Ingredients: organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, Cahuil salt. (Cahuil is a village in Chile known for its salt production.)

**This tartness often can be traced back to choices made in the cacao fermentation phase of chocolate making. Sometimes it may even be a deliberate choice to create some tartness; although too much is generally undesirable.

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate - Pumpkin Spice Latte Truffle bar - Jan. 19, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company
Milk Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Latte Truffle bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from Z. Cioccolato, San Francisco, CA


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

Today's Pumpkin Spice Latte Truffle bar was from Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company (St. Louis, MO).

Pumpkin spice blends almost always include ginger. Today's sweet, filled 34 percent cocoa milk chocolate bar was no exception.*

Sweet milk chocolate surrounded a sweet, velvety ganache. This confection of a bar had a subtle pumpkin spice aroma and flavor. The touch of coffee ("latte") flavor* was very subtle, and overshadowed by sweetness.

*Ingredients: Milk chocolate (fair trade certified cane sugar, milk powder, fair trade certified cocoa butter, fair trade certified chocolate liquor, soy lecithin, natural flavors); fair trade certified cane sugar, corn syrup, white chocolate (sugar, fair trade certified cocoa butter, whole milk, non-fat dry milk, milk fat, soy lecithin and natural vanilla flavor; fresh whipping cream; whey powder; natural flavor; glucose syrup; burnt sugar; 2% coffee extract; modified starch; pumpkin; cinnamon; allspice; nutmeg; ginger; mace; cloves; invertase.

Chequessett Chocolate - Blueberry Ginger Origin Dominican Republic 72% Dark bar - Oct. 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chequessett Chocolate
(Cape Cod Craft Chocolate)
Blueberry Ginger Origin Dominican Republic 72% Dark bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: approx. 1.125 oz. (31.8 g.) / approx. 2.25 oz. (63.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 169 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Blueberry Ginger Origin Dominican Republic 72% Dark (bar) was from Chequessett Chocolate: Cape Cod Craft Chocolate (North Truro, MA).

As their name and tagline suggest, Chequessett Chocolate makes small batch craft chocolate on Cape Cod. The company was co-founded by Katherine Reed, Josiah Mayo and Kristen Reed and has focused on fine flavored cacao from different origins and high-quality flavor inclusions.

Today's bar, with slivers of golden, candied ginger and small dried, wild Maine blueberries was made with direct trade cacao.

The chocolate had a relatively creamy smooth texture and melt and the ginger was a pleasing match to the chocolate and the diminutive, authentic-tasting wild blueberries.

Copyright 2019. Unauthorized use of the text and/or images from this site, www.ChocolateBanquet.com, is a copyright violation.

Chamisa Chocolate - Zanzibar 61% dark blend bar - Sept. 7, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chamisa Chocolate
Zanzibar 61% dark bar with coconut and ginger
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (30 g.) / 2 oz. (60 g.) (per label) for total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chamisa Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chamisa Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Zanzibar 61% dark blend bar with coconut and ginger was made by Chamisa Chocolate (Santa Fe, NM).

Today's exotic-sounding Zanzibar chocolate bar had a cocoa and coconut aroma, and a creamy texture—thanks to added cocoa butter and coconut milk.

Coconut palm sugar (as well as flecks of ginger and pieces of coconut adorning the back of this bar) gave this chocolate a subtle, sweet, tropical island flavor. The cacao used to make this bar was an organic blend (multiple origins).

As with the other bars this week from this company, the bar had an appealing, restrained sweetness.

Fine and Raw Chocolate - Mesquite No Sugar Added (bar); Ginger 67% (bar) - July 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fine and Raw Chocolate
Mesquite No Sugar Added 58% cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 63 calories (per label) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fine and Raw Chocolate, online order

Fine and Raw Chocolate
Ginger 67% cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 164 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $25.00 for 5-bar collection set
Purchased from: Fine and Raw Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Mesquite No Sugar Added 58% cacao and Ginger 67% cacao bars were both made by Fine and Raw Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).


Rounding up cows out on the range conjures up thoughts of hard work, dusty rides through high chaparral and mesquite tree country, and music around a fire. And speaking of mesquite...

Mesquite
...Mesquite wood smoke is used for barbeques. But lesser known is the fact that the beans these trees produce are edible and can be ground into a flour and eaten.

Roasted mesquite beans are said to have notes of slightly sweet vanilla, cream, caramel, coconut and/or chocolate. They were a food source for native peoples in Mexico and the Southwest U.S., who referred to mesquite as the tree of life, because of its many uses.

People continue to use mesquite flour ground from seeds (pods shown at right), bean pod pulp, in items including gluten free pine nut cookies, roasted mesquite bean "coffee," protein drinks/bars, mesquite bean jelly, and, of course, chocolates.

Today's raw Mesquite bar contained cacao and mesquite powder and none of the usual sugar sweeteners: i.e., coconut, cane, maple or birch sugar. Instead this chocolate was lightly sweetened with organic ground lucuma (a South American fruit with a mild sweet flavor and thick creamy, slightly starchy texture).

This Mesquite bar had a surprisingly sweet and warmly spicy chocolate aroma, and a faint trace of light fruit (apple custard), sweet potato and honey notes in the flavor and finish. The three American native plants: cacao, lucuma and mesquite worked well together. This chocolate had a thick, creamy texture and a very slight granularity.

Ginger
If you like ginger, you might like Fine and Raw Chocolate's 67% dark ginger bar, made with organic ginger powder.


The ginger was thoroughly incorporated and not visible to the naked eye. However, it was evident in the aroma and flavor of this bar and lingered into the finish. The melt was even, and the texture was slightly granular.

The added ginger gave the "50% raw and 50% roast(ed)" cacao bar a warm, satisfying zing. Ginger is from Asia originally, but we've adopted it as one of our own.* (Many of us have fond childhood memories of homemade ginger molasses cookies.)

We paired this Ginger bar with a sweet, spicy kick of music from Ginger Cowgirl, (aka Stacy Antonel, originally from the Bay Area, who moved to Nashville in 2017. We wish her well. She's got a great sound. (Photo source: Ginger Cowgirl website.)

*True, ginger is from Asia and not the wild west. However, there are very capable horsewomen—cowgirls in spirit—in Asia too. Just ask someone who has visited Mongolia or ridden in the Mongolian Derby. (Photo Source for image of Mongolian girl riding horse: Daily Travel Photos)

The spice closest to ginger that's native to the Americas and has co-evolved with chocolate historically would likely be allspice. Allspice is not uncommon in Caribbean-adjacent cuisines, local chocolates and drinking chocolate.

Goodio Craft Chocolate - Ginger and Lemongrass 59% bar - Apr. 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodio Craft Chocolate
Ginger and Lemongrass 59% Cacao (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 124.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Plants and Herbs Theme Week.

Today's Ginger and Lemongrass 59% Cacao (bar) was made by Goodio Craft Chocolate (Helsinki, Finland).

The authentic aroma of lemongrass in this raw, organic and vegan bar was heady and wonderful without being overwhelming. It smelled like a favorite Thai soup.

Although the brain started thinking savory, the flavor  of this bar (lightly sweetened with coconut palm sugar) brought our awareness back to chocolate. Ginger and lemongrass gave this chocolate a bright flavor lift, without the harsher processed sugar buzz.

This bar was labeled raw, organic and vegan.

Only Child Chocolate - Ginger and Rosemary Walk into a Bar - Apr. 15, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Only Child Chocolate Co.
Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Plants and Herbs Theme Week.

Today's Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar) was from Only Child Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). Company founder, Yana, grew up as an only child in Moscow. And, via Chicago, eventually made her way to Portland. After pastry-making and bakery experience, she started her own chocolate company.

The title of today's bar was a clever pun. (It's tax day in the U.S., and a bit of humor and a spring hike in the green hills brightened this day.) And how did this milk chocolate bar with rosemary and candied ginger taste?

This thick, sweet milk chocolate bar had a minty, spicy aroma, and smooth, creamy melt.

The two inclusions played nicely together. The balanced, subtle and natural rosemary flavor was fun. And the ginger added warmth and a light spiciness without being overwhelming.

Sunbiotics - Probiotic Chocolate Bar - Ginger Spice - April 7, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sunbiotics
Probiotic Chocolate Bar - Ginger Spice
Good +
Weight: .625 oz. (17.5 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 82 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Ginger Spice probiotic* chocolate broke with a well-tempered snap.

This bar had a warm ginger spice aroma and flavor; and the dark chocolate was sweetened with coconut sugar. It was quite tasty.

*The probiotics did not contribute any noticeable aroma or flavor.

Tropical Valley Foods - Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger - Apr. 2, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tropical Valley Foods
Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger
Good +
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Ginger (round pieces) were created and distributed by Tropical Valley Foods (Pittsburgh, NY).

These dark glossy rounds were flavorful and refreshing. A relatively thick dark chocolate coating surrounded a slightly chewy, golden, sassy-flavored, natural ginger center.

The bright, spicy flavor of ginger will wake you right up, making these good for a pick-me up snack any time of the day—even breakfast.

No gluten-containing items appeared on the ingredients list.

Jade Chocolates - 7-piece Assortment - Sept. 14, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jade Chocolates
Assortment box
1.) Masala Chai - Good ++
2.) Bittersweet with Ajwain (think caraway) Seeds - Good
3.) Coconut Honey Meltaway (dairy free) - Good
4.) Olive Oil Cardamom - Good
5.) Lychee Rose Green Tea - Good
6.) Curry Caramel - Good + - Good ++
7.) Ginger Tumeric (sic) Meltaway - Good ++

Weight: 2.7 oz. (76 g.) (estimate) in 7 pieces
Calories: 405 calories (estimate) in 7 pieces
Cost: $21.95 for 1 package of 7 pieces
Purchased from: Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Celebrating 12 Years of Chocolate Series.

I wanted to enjoy a variety of chocolates this week to celebrate eating a different chocolate every day for 12+ years (4,414 days). And this beautiful 7-piece assortment from Jade Chocolates (San Francisco, CA) with creamy centers and exotic flavors was just the ticket.

Jade Chocolates is a small batch chocolatier specializing in chocolates (blended with
teas, spices and tropical fruits) with Asian and Pacific Islands origin stories.

Elements Truffles - Ginger Black Pepper bar - July 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles
Ginger infused with Black Pepper 70% Cacao bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: ZombieRunner,  Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Ginger infused with Black Pepper 70% Cacao bar was from Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ).

This raw, dairy-free bar was sweetened with raw honey and contained no refined sugar. It had very pleasing authentic ginger flavor with a very subtle hint of black pepper.

The cacao used to make this bar was "ethically sourced" from Ecuador. And added cocoa butter helped give this bar a slightly soft bite and buttery texture.

Antidote - Ginger + Panela 77% dark bar - Aug. 18, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Antidote Chocolate
Ginger + Panela 77% dark bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 390 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: missing information


Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Ginger and Panela 77% dark bar from Antidote Chocolate (Brooklyn?, NY) was flavorful, bittersweet, yet smooth with no sharp notes and not overly sweet (thank you). Hints of lightly candied ginger popped up now and then.

Panela (similar to brown sugar) sweetened the bar and gave it some extra flavor.

This Antidote Chocolate bar was created with the company founder's unique blend of 50% raw and 50% roasted cacao. (The Arriba cacao beans used were from Ecuador (Camino Verde).)

After tasting a piece of the bar, I broke the remainder into pieces to include in a (cooked) dessert.

The rest became part of a chocolate pot de creme flavored with ginger and small amounts of additional floral spices: vanilla (flowering orchid), cardamom (spice with fragrant, floral notes), saffron (crocus stamens) and kewra (another flower) water.

This dessert was then topped with blueberries and mango pieces

Le Chocolats de Pauline - Dark Ginger - July 20, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Le Chocolats de Pauline
Dark Ginger - Candied Ginger
Good +
Weight: .615 oz. (17.5 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 95 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Chocolate Stars USA, online order

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

Today's Dark Ginger was from Les Chocolats de Pauline (France), inported to the U.S. by Chocolate Stars USA.

This rich tasting dark bar with finely ground flecks of candied ginger was 100% Organic and Certified Gluten Free. Just a few squares (each adorned with an attractive cacao pod pattern) proved to be very satisfying.

Pacari - Organic Chocolate with Ginger and Chia bar - July 19, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pacari
Organic Chocolate with Ginger and Chia bar
Good+
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: missing information

Hola (Hello) and Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Organic Chocolate with Ginger and Chia bar from Pacari* (Quito, Ecuador) was made from "tree to bar" in Ecuador, where cacao has been grown for centuries. Chia seeds also are from South America.

The chocolate had a buttery melt and a delicious and subtle natural ginger flavor; and the chia provided a hint of texture.

Labeled as organic, soy free, gluten free and vegan, this bar was made with arriba nacional cacao--a type of fine flavored cacao grown in South America.

*Pacari works with Kiwa BCS Oko-Garantie GmbH on organic certification.

Vosges - Turmeric Ginger bar - July 13, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Vosges
Turmeric Ginger bar
Good
Weight: .375 oz. (10.6 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g) in total bar
Calories: 57.5 calories in 1 square, 1/8 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges kiosk, O'Hare Chicago Airport, Chicago, IL

Welcome to the first day (Day #1) of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's beautifully packaged Turmeric Ginger bar from Vosges (Chicago, IL) was a unique blend of Asian/Indian flavors: turmeric, ginger, coconut, sweet curry powder and black pepper in 45% dark milk chocolate.

Bold spice blends dominate yet complement and enhance mild foods like chicken, vegetables and/or rice.

However, getting all today's spices to harmonize with a bold acidic flavor like chocolate in this (or other chocolate) bar may have been too much to ask. The complex flavor blend would be fine in a "golden milk" coconut milk-based turmeric and spice beverage without chocolate, but maybe not with cacao.

The result was interesting, but some flavors seemed to be fighting each other a bit.

This Vosges bar was labeled as free of gluten and GMO ingredients.

Wine Country Chocolates - Sesame Ginger Bar - Oct. 23, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wine Country Chocolates
Sesame Ginger Chocolate Bar
Good+
Weight: .78 oz. (22 g.) / 2.35 oz. (66.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 117 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Wine Country Chocolates, Tasting Room, Glen Ellen, CA

Welcome to the last day (Day #4) in this week's Chocolate and Sesame Series, and the first day of Chocolate, Sugar and Spice Theme Week.

Being located in Northern California, it's easy to find local wineries to visit. In the case of Wine Country Chocolates, located near several wineries in Sonoma County, they operate tasting rooms filled not with bottles, but rather chocolate confections, barks and bars.

I found today's Sesame Ginger Bar after after taking a wrong turn while driving in the Sonoma area. Happily, this led to discovering Wine Country Chocolates' Glen Ellen location on a tree-lined, meandering country road.

This Sesame Ginger dark chocolate bar was sprinkled with small pieces of candied ginger and toasted white sesame seeds. Ginger is a great spice and complement to chocolate. And this bar achieved a nice, balanced blend of flavors.