jcoco - 61% Cacao Boharat Spice Peruvian dark chocolate (bar) - July 16, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

jcoco 
61% Cacao Boharat Spice Peruvian dark chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $3.49 (also was part of a larger assortment pack of bars)
Purchased from: jcoco/Seattle Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 61% Cacao Boharat Spice Peruvian dark chocolate (bar) was from jcoco* (Seattle, WA). It was part of an assortment of bars.

The Boharat spice blend originated in Syria; and its history may entwine with Arabic spice traders. (Boharat means "spices" in Arabic; so blends may vary. E.g., some may contain mint, some not.)

Aroma notes for this bar included: warm spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper, paprika) and sweet dark chocolate.

Texture: smooth and creamy texture with barely detectable ground spice particles.

Flavor notes include: dark, sweet chocolate with a lovely, warming middle eastern spice blend that included some that can swing either sweet or savory (cumin, coriander, black peppercorn and paprika). I could say the same for cacao. I love trying "savory" chocolates. 

The 61% dark Peruvian cacao chocolate base was tasty. The sugar level was a bit higher than many dark chocolates; but it seemed like a good level for this bar. There was a very faint, fleeting, yogurt/loamy earth type note toward the end. It was not clear if this was coming from the cacao, the spices or a combination of both. But, mostly, it was the spices that lingered in a subtle, warm finish.

This complex Boharat spice blend was rich in flavor(s) and lacked a spicy burn. I appreciated that. The chocolate bar was well-balanced; and well-executed, and the smaller bar (in an assortment pack) gave me a chance to try a new spice blend. (More virtual travel and education via chocolate. Could this bar be used to make a Middle Eastern mole sauce I wondered?)

Ingredients: 61% cacao dark chocolate (cracked cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin), boharat spice (cardamom, nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, black peppercorn, paprika). 

Allergen-related information: "This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg and wheat products."

*jcoco is part of (a brand that belongs to) Seattle Chocolate Company. 

 

Jcoco - 61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate - Mar. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Jcoco
61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $3.49 (estimate) for 1 small bar
Purchased from: jcoco/Seattle Chocolate, online order 

Welcome to Day #3 of a Chocolate and Floral Series, including bars and confections with floral/flower-related ingredients.

Today's jcoco 61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate (bar) was made in Seattle, WA. (The jcoco brand is part of Seattle Chocolate Company, Seattle, WA.)

Aroma notes included: chocolate, orange blossom and ground coffee.

Texture: smooth chocolate with a very slight coffee grit.

Flavor notes included: relatively sweet, smooth dark chocolate (ganache); floral (orange blossom), warm spice, and coffee. 

This small bar was colorfully wrapped and is also available in a 3-bar pack.

Ingredients: 61% cacao dark chocolate (cracked cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin), coconut oil, decaffeinated espresso, orange oil, black tea powder, cloves, sea salt."

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut. This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg and wheat products." (Vegan, Gluten free, Kosher dairy)

jcoco - Mango Plantain 47% Cacao (bar) & Edamame Sea Salt 47% (bar) - Feb. 18, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day 

jcoco
Mango Plantain 47% Cacao Peruvian milk chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: jcoco, online order

jcoco
Edamame Sea Salt 47% Cacao Peruvian milk chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: jcoco, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

Today's jcoco Mango Plantain 47% Cacao and Edamame Sea Salt 47% Cacao Peruvian milk chocolate bars were from Seattle Chocolate Company (Seattle, WA).*

Mango Plantain (bar)

Aroma notes included: sweet milk chocolate and subtle, diffuse tropical fruit(s).

Texture: chewy dried mango and crunchy bits of plantain chips in a creamy smooth milk chocolate base.

Flavor notes included: creamy, sweet milk chocolate and hints of dried tropical fruit (dried mango) and plantain chips. Subtle sea salt helped balance the sugar content of the 47% milk chocolate.

Edamame Sea Salt (bar)

Aroma: sweet milk chocolate with very faint, diffuse, aromatic and almost perfumed (tropical) fruit. 

Texture: a blend of creamy milk chocolate and toasted edamame with a soft crunch.

Flavor notes included: sweet, creamy milk chocolate and salted, toasted edamame (young, more tender soybeans). The salt in the edamame provided a welcome counterbalance to the sugar/sweetness of the chocolate for me.

*The jcoco brand (created in 2012) and line of bars are part of Seattle Chocolate Company. A portion of the sales of jcoco bars go toward feeding people in need. (The company describes the jcoco line as: "Chocolate that feeds"...the farmer, your neighbor and yourself.)

Seattle Chocolate - jcoco - 85% Single Varietal Contamana Cacao Peruvian dark (bar) - Feb. 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Seattle Chocolate Company
jcoco - 85% Single Varietal Contamana Cacao Peruvian dark (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package of 3 bars
Calories: 155 (estimate) calories in 1 small bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package of 3 smaller bars
Purchased from: Seattle Chocolate, online order 

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

Today's jcoco 85% Single Varietal Contamana Cacao Peruvian dark (bar) was from Seattle Chocolate Company, Inc. (Seattle, WA) and was one of three identical, individually-wrapped bars contained in an attractively blue-purple hued, larger package. 

The Contamana* variety cacao used to make this bar was from the central-southern area of Peru (Cuzco region) in Quillabamba, in a valley (not that far from Machu Picchu), known for "its unique fine aroma cacao trees."

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: dark chocolate (rich cocoa); faint (muffled) fruit (ripe blackberry); subtle, balanced and fleeting rich, loamy + peat/tannic earth; and very faint botanical.

Texture: This well-tempered bar broke with a snap. The texture was pleasing and creamy smooth with the exception of a few very tiny crunchy (nib) particles in one bite. There was also a very faint, fleeting and very well-balanced tannic astringency.

Flavor notes included: flavorful dark chocolate (dark cocoa) with subtle, complex fruit (dark/red berry, citrus (faint lime), tropical fruit: cacao pulp); very faint botanicals (light spice); and balanced earth/light tannins. The finish was light, lingering and clean, especially for an 85%er.

What I liked about this bar: 1.) opportunity to try a single region, single varietal (Contamana) Peru chocolate; 2.) relatively smooth and approachable 85% ultra-dark chocolate with complex, interesting and balanced aroma and flavor notes; 3.) the maker's choice of a low roast**; and 4.) attractive packaging + three smaller, individually-wrapped bars that made it easy to share with/gift to others.

Ingredients: cracked cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin).

Allergen-related information: "This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg and wheat products."

*Contamana is a rare variety of cacao; and one of many varieties of cacao from South America (the birthplace of cacao). Just as there are many varieties of grapes used to make wine, there are many varieties of cacao that can be used to make chocolate.

**Maker's notes: "fermentation: 6 days; drying 5 days; roast: low"

 

jcoco - 72% Peruvian Dark with Cacao Nibs (bar) - Jan. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Seattle Chocolate Company
jcoco - 72% Peruvian Dark with Cacao Nibs 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package of 3 bars
Calories: 155 (estimate) calories in 1 small bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package of 3 smaller bars
Purchased from: Seattle Chocolate, online order 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's jcoco 72% Peruvian Dark with Cacao Nibs (bar) was from Seattle Chocolate Company, Inc. (Seattle, WA) and was one of three identical, individually-wrapped bars contained in a larger package. The packaging was attractively pink, and having these smaller bars made it easier to share this chocolate with others.

The Rupa-Rupa cacao used to make this bar was from a tropical, high mountains/"high jungle" area in Peru. (The Rupa-Rupa district is located in the (Upper) Amazon River basin, east of the Andes mountains.)

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: sweet dark chocolate, and very faint fruit (sweet lime), very fleeting hot cereal (cream of rice), and roasted nut notes.

Texture: This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap. The texture was creamy smooth (base chocolate) and very crunchy (roasted cacao nibs including some very hard, well-roasted pieces).

Flavor notes included: almost earthy (not quite charcoal-roasted) sweet dark chocolate with heavily roasted, very crunchy cacao nibs; fleeting, very faint sweet tropical fruit (lime, pineapple); faint roasted nut; and a very faint aromatic, almost perfume-y, floral note in the nibs before the roasted nut" flavor kicked in. The roast for the cacao used to make this chocolate was listed as "medium"; however the nibs had such a hard crunch that it tasted like they were roasted for a longer time. 

This was an interesting chocolate, made with ingredients from a remote, mountainous area of tropical Peru. It was flavorful and smooth (and very crunchy) all at the same time. I enjoyed experiencing the complexity in this chocolate.

The finish was light, lingering and clean. 

Ingredients: 72% cacao dark chocolate (cracked cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin), roasted cacao nibs.

Allergen-related information: This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg and wheat products.

*Maker's notes: "fermentation: 6 days; drying 6 days; roast: medium"

jcoco - Peanut Strawberry Baobab dark bar - Dec. 3, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

jcoco
(Seattle Chocolates)
Peanut Strawberry Baobab bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) package of 3 smaller bars
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 package of 3 smaller bars
Purchased from: Seattle Chocolates website, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and ABC Theme Week. (Today "B" is for Baobab.)

Today's brightly colored package of three smaller, individually wrapped, Peanut Strawberry Baobab in dark chocolate bars was from jcoco—a brand belonging to Seattle Chocolates (Seattle, WA).

Baobab powder gave this dark chocolate bar a slightly fruity, tropical flavor that intermingled with strawberry and other fruit flavors.

"Strawberry baobabs" in this bar were a blend of strawberry, plum, apple, apple juice, baobab powder, black carrot juice, citrus pectin, strawberry puree, rice flour, and coconut oil.

Peanut bits gave the vegan and gluten-free bar a soft, crunchy texture. And a darker, slightly earthy dark chocolate helped balance the sweeter fruit and nut flavors, and vice versa.

jcoco Vanuatu Coconut Pecan bar - Nov. 21, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Seattle Chocolates
jcoco Vanuatu Coconut Pecan bar
Good++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift (thank you Toni!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friend

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Thankful Theme Week.

Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific where cacao is grown. After being being colonized by various European countries, the Republic of Vanuatu gained its independence in 1980.

Pecans are part of many U.S. Thanksgiving celebrations (pecan pie, pecans in stuffing, chopped pecans crumbled over sweet potatoes and yams, etc.).

The jcoco Vanuatu Coconut Pecan bar was a blend of international flavors and textures, including smooth and flavorful single origin milk chocolate from Vanuatu, and crunchy bits of raw pecans. Dried coconut shavings and a bit of sea salt rounded out the mix.

I'm thankful for the 1,000s of chocolatiers around the world and their chocolate creations that incorporate ingredients from around the world.

The jcoco brand is part of Seattle Chocolates (Seattle, WA).

jcoco - dark bar with nibs; Cocoa Rumpkin - Oct. 27, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Seattle Chocolate Company
jcoco
Noble Dark - 72% Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: N/A - gift; thank you Toni!
Purchased from: N/A - gift; thank you Toni!

Cocoa Rumpkin
(various ingredients)
Good +
Weight: 1 small glass
Calories: disregarded
Cost: N/A - used existing ingredients
Purchased from: N/A - used existing ingredients

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Halloween Cocktail Theme Week.

Cocoa nibs are concentrated bits of chocolate flavor. Their essence can be contained in a dark chocolate bar, or infused into spirits. (Not Halloween ghosts, but distilled spirits.) Being that Halloween—one of the great chocolate holidays—is upon us, I'm going with both a dark chocolate bar with cocoa nibs and a Halloween cocktail called a Cocoa Rumpkin (see below).

First up...the jcoco Noble Dark bar (72% dark chocolate with cocoa nibs). This bar was one of a set of small bars I received as a gift.

The jcoco brand is part of Seattle Chocolate Company (Seattle, WA). The design and packaging for the jcoco line is high fashion fun, and the chocolate isn't bad either*. The company has pledged to give one serving of food to a person in need for each chocolate purchased.

The bar had a chocolate fudge brownie aroma and taste and the nibs added some texture. The "non-gmo, vegan, gluten-free" Noble Dark bar was also kosher.

Cocoa Rumpkin
A Cocoa Rumpkin is a three-layer cocktail that I made up.

The bottom layer was Aperol (an orange-flavored apertif) and honey. The middle layer was a pumpkin-infused cream with spices (cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger).

And, saving the best for last, the top layer was cocoa nib infused dark rum**. The cocoa nibs imparted an extra dark chocolate, almost coffee-like flavor to the dark rum.

Carefully "float" one layer atop another and there you have it: a Cocoa Rumpkin, today's chocolate rum and spicy orange Halloween cocktail. Or, you can stir all these layers together, and freeze, to enjoy as an adult milkshake.

*The jcoco Cayenne Veracruz Orange white chocolate bar is an example of how tasty white chocolate can be.
**First, I infused cocoa nibs into Myers's dark rum for a week. Then I drained off the rum to use as a top layer for this cocktail. Leftover cocoa nibs, can be used for cookies, brownies or with ice cream in adult milkshakes.

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

jcoco - Agave Quinoa Sesame bar - July 15, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Seattle Chocolates
jcoco Agave Quinoa Sesame bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend (thank you Toni!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week.

Grains are malty, neutral-tasting and a bit starchy -- a good foil for flavorful chocolate which has just enough acidic tang and bittersweet zing to liven things up.

Most chocolate and grain items come in the form of baked goods. Before I had to skip all things gluten, some of my favorites included: chocolate croissants, German chocolate cake, eclairs, and other lovelies. Thankfully there are plenty of gluten-free alternatives to these sweets now -- except perhaps flaky pastry items such as croissants.

This week, I'll be focusing on chocolates with grain or grass inclusions or alternatives, such as today's jcoco Agave Quinoa Sesame bar from Seattle Chocolates (Seattle, WA).

Quinoa is from a plant native to South American that's grown primarily for its edible seeds. It has become popular in the last several years in the U.S. However, it is neither grass nor grain, but rather a "pseudocereal." (Chenopodium quinoa is more closely related to the beet family.) However, quinoa can serve, and is serving, as a grain alternative to couscous, bulgar wheat, rice and other starches, and can complement or replace other cereal grains.

Today's non-GMO and gluten-free Agave Quinoa Sesame milk chocolate bar was sweet and a good blend of creamy sweet milk chocolate and crunchy, chewy seeds and quinoa. Agave and sugar glazed quinoa to be precise. A dash of sea salt helped balance the sweetness.

This bar was part of an assortment of 6 small-sized, different flavored jcoco bars from Seattle Chocolates.

jcoco orange bar, Whetstone milk oranges - Oct. 27, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

jcoco
cayenne veracruz orange bar
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 small bar (1 of 6 in set)
Calories: 150 calories in 1 small bar
Cost: $ N/A - from a friend (Thank you Toni!)
Purchased from: N/A - from a friend

This cayenne veracruz orange jcoco bar (affiliated with Seattle Chocolates) was what I'd call excellent white chocolate. The orange taste and spicy kick created a sweet, rich and well balanced flavor blend.

Because this chocolate did not contain cocoa solids (a requirement for my daily chocolate), I also had the following orange milk chocolates.

Whetstone Candy Company
Milk Chocolate Oranges
Good
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) in 4 pieces
Calories: 201 calories in 4 pieces
Cost: $ lost information
Purchased from: $ lost information

This bag of tiny, solid milk chocolate "oranges" with a hint of vanilla from Whetstone Candy Company, Inc. (St. Augustine, FL) were individually wrapped in orange foil. I'd been storing these in my chocolate vault, just for this very theme week.


Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

jcoco - edamame bar, brownie - Oct. 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

jcoco
(created by Jean Thompson, Seattle Chocolates)
edamame sea salt in milk chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / part of a 6 pack of jcoco small bars
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) = 1/3 bar (+ 1 brownie with pieces of bar)
Cost: N/A - gift from a friend (thank you Toni!) ($18.00)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend

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

Edamame (green soybeans) may not be the first flavor that pops to mind when dreaming up a new brownie.

However, there is much to be said for chocolate desserts with a savory kick. And armed with this belief, I created today's Asian-themed brownie cookies. Say what you will, mixing these up was great fun.

To a gluten-free brownie mix, I added finely chopped black sesame crackers, sea salt, a dash of tamari sauce, and chopped up most of a jcoco* edamame sea salt in milk chocolate bar (after tasting this bar by itself). The non-GMO and kosher bar had a good buttery milk chocolate melt/texture with crunchy pieces of roasted edamame and a slight hint of sea salt and soy sauce**.

The brownie cookies were chewy, slightly sweet and slightly savory, and were topped with a few roasted edamame. They worked for me, but may not be everyone's favorite.

*The jcoco brand is part of Seattle Chocolate Company.
**This bar probably contained a trace of wheat from the small amount of soy sauce.

jcoco - black fig pistachio bars - May 7, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

jcoco
black fig pistachio in dark chocolate bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. bar
Cost: $8.00 for package of 3 bars
Purchased from: The Olive Press, Sonoma, CA

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

jcoco* (affiliated with Seattle Chocolate Company, Seattle, WA) produces what they call couture chocolate.

A purple covering enveloped three smaller black fig pistachio dark bars that were wrapped in copper foil and outer wrappers adorned with black and white fashion photographs.

The question is, did the chocolate deliver? Happily, the answer was yes. Non-GMO, vegan and gluten-free, this set of 3 dark chocolate black fig pistachio bars had an unexpectedly buttery taste and mouth feel, and a generous helping of crunchy, green roasted pistachio nuts (from California).

jcoco is also interested in giving back. "With each bar, we provide a serving of fresh food to someone in need."

*jcoco owner, and creator of this line of bars, is Seattle Chocolates CEO Jean Thompson.