Spring & Mulberry - Lavender Rose Date-Sweetend Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) - June 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Spring & Mulberry 
Lavender Rose Date-Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.75 for 1 bar (part of a larger order)
Purchased from: Spring & Mulberry, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Floral Theme Week.  

Today's Lavender Rose Date-Sweetened Chocolate 72% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Spring & Mulberry (Raleigh, NC). 

The company produces a variety of date-sweetened chocolates. (All but one of the bars I've tasted so far have also had flavor inclusions in addition to the dates--that some also consider a flavor inclusion.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, sweet green botanical (+ pollen/honey), dried fruit (date), and very faint lavender that increased significantly when I broke off another piece of this bar (with many more lavender buds).

Texture: relatively smooth chocolate texture with a very slight granularity (fruit astringency).

Flavor notes included: rich but smooth dark chocolate, rich date sweetness, and light/fleeting floral (mostly lavender, but that is to be expected as lavender is very aromatic). 

I appreciated the floral (lavender and light bee pollen) flavors; the rich sweet (but not overly sweet) taste of the dates; the visual appeal of the red rose petals; and the short list of quality and organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Dates*, Cacao Butter*, Bee Pollen, Rose Petals, Lavender (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a Facility That Also Handles Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Milk, Soy, and Wheat. Bee Pollen May Cause an Allergic Reaction. Not Recommended for Children Under One."

Ritual - Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) + Intrigue - Fernet Branca Truffle - Dec. 11 , 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $11.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Intrigue Chocolate
Fernet Branca Truffle
Good ++
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) in 1 truffle / for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories for 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week, featuring two chocolates -- a gin-infused bar, and an Italian liqueur-inspired truffle.

Ritual Chocolate

Today's Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was made by Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT), using Barrel Aged Alpine Distilling Gin from Alpine Distilling (Park City, UT). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: authentic, fragrant and floral (lavender) botanical gin (with juniper) and dark chocolate.

The juniper and lavender both contributed fairly strong flavors--as did the sweet-tart acidity (citrus) taste and astringency in this dark chocolate It was interesting to try this very flavorful blend. However, for those who don't care for gin/juniper and/or lavender, you may find the intersection of all these bold flavors a little overwhelming. 

Maker's tasting notes: Juniper, Lavender, Cardamom, Orange Peel

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Juniper Berries, Lavender, Alpine Distilling Gin 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes Wheat, Tree nuts"

Intrigue Chocolate - Fernet Branca* Truffle

Today's Fernet Branca* flavored chocolate truffle was created by Intrigue Chocolate (Seattle, WA). It was part of a larger assortment of different truffles.

This individually-wrapped, square dark chocolate truffle had pleasing, authentic mint and herbal (light liqueur) notes, including a slightly mellow richness--likely due to the practice of aging this liqueur in oak barrels. The creamy soft truffle (with a rich, buttery melt) was dusted with a generous amount of cocoa powder. 

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (as described in the truffle name).

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy, Soy. 

*Fernet Branca is an Italian amaro liqueur made with "27 herbs from 4 continents" that's often served as an after-dinner digestif or before-meal appertif. 

Some ingredients said to be part of this recipe include: aloe, angelica, camomile, cardomom, cinchona, gentian, iris, myrrh, peppermint and rhubarb. (Some sources also say it may contain chocolate.) The base is distilled grape spirits.

Donnelly Chocolates Rose, Lavender Dark Chocolate bars; Sweet55 Florentiner; Only Child Chocolate Rose bar - June 6, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Richard Donnelly Chocolates

Rose Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++++ - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.25 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Donnelly Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

Dark Chocolate Lavender Bar
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.25 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Donnelly Chocolates, Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Rose Dark Chocolate Bar and Dark Chocolate Lavender Bar were created by Richard Donnelly and team at Donnelly Chocolates (Santa Cruz, CA). The bars were attractively packaged (with beautiful outer craft paper wrappers). A version of these two Donnelly flavors were enjoyed in bark form several years ago. Both bars were suffused with natural, balanced floral scents. Today's Rose bar was especially creamy and smooth in melt and texture as well.

But, that's not all...Also sampled as part of our Chocolate Banquet bouquet today: two other West Coast "floral" chocolates, as we reluctantly conclude this two-week long theme "week." Not all chocolate fans appreciate floral flavors inclusions. We love trying flowers paired with, and botanical adds to, chocolate.

Sweet55 - Swiss Chocolates and Confections

Sweet55
Florentiner
Very Good
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total box of 8
Calories: 55 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.00 (estimate) for 1 box of 8 florentines
Purchased from: Sweet55, Half Moon Bay, CA

Sweet55 is a relatively new, Swiss chocolate shop in Half Moon Bay, CA (worth the trip over to the coast to enjoy their chocolates and views of the Pacific Ocean.)

If you are in the neighborhood, one item at Sweet55 I'd recommend highly would be the Sweet55 Florentiner.

Sold in a package of 8, these rich, dark chocolate, orange and almond (flourless) florentines were a cross between a flavorful mendiant*-style confection and a dark chocolate "cookie"—with a soft, chewy crunch from very thinly sliced almonds, natural orange bits (with a faint, refreshing pineapple note)—all precisely layered on a slim dark chocolate disc.

The image currently adorning the top of the first page of the Sweet55 website featured chocolates surrounded by a red rose, and rose petals.

I'd suggest "pairing" (any of) the company's fine chocolates with roses if you're looking for a classy, high-impact gift experience. (Continuing on the floral them, Sweet55 also offers a chocolate bar "Thank you card" with daisy-style chocolate flowers.)

Only Child Chocolates - white chocolate bar with rose

A bonus shout out today to the "Rose Colored Sunglasses" bar we sampled from Only Child Chocolate (Portland, OR).

This pretty pink and sweet "White Chocolate with Cranberry, Rose and Pistachio" bar did not contain cocoa solids (i.e. the darker brown colored portion of the cocoa bean). However, it was fun to look at and interesting to try.

Yana, Only Child's chief chocolatier, and self-described lover of puns and all things chocolate, also makes milk and dark chocolate bars.

*Mendiants are French-style chocolate discs topped with fruit and nuts.

Markham and Fitz - Ooh La Lavender 64% bar - May 31, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Markham and Fitz Chocolate Makers
Ooh La Lavender - Lavender, honey, vanilla, nibs 64% dark chocolate bar
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA


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

Today's Ooh La Lavender bar was made by Markham and Fitz Chocolate Makers (Bentonville, AK).

This lovely 64% dark chocolate bar contained the aforementioned lavender (lavender oil); Patagonia honey (a floral honey sustainably produced by Patagonia Bee Products); cacao nibs and vanilla.

The single origin chocolate was made using organic cacao that was grown in Oko Caribe, Dominican Republic. (The makers work with importing partners, such as Uncommon Cacao.)

The bar had a great lavender floral aroma—made extra beautiful with honey and an almost invisible but very effective touch of vanilla.

Honey itself can provide a subdued floral note or two. This bar was sweetened with honey and cane sugar. Using honey in this bar added great complementary flavor and, when combined with the DR cacao, the 64% cacao chocolate (that tasted more like a 75% bar), was not too sugary sweet (thank you!).

Why don't more makers choose to work with honey? Not everyone wants floral or honey flavors added to their chocolate, however subtle they may be. And refined cane sugar is considered more "neutral" as well as being less expensive. Honey can be more challenging to work with than cane sugar.*

The texture was smooth and the flavor was the realization of aromas promised, punctuated by crunchy cacao nibs. The chocolate had a bold, smooth dark flavor that the makers balanced very nicely with the other flavors.

This Ooh La Lavender bar had a very pleasant, very light lingering honey and lavender finish that felt both refreshing and calming. Overall it was a very well executed bar, and a well-deserved Good Food Awards** win.

*Unlike cane sugar which is fairly dry, honey is about 20 percent water, and is considered a humectant (meaning it acts to preserve moisture). Chocolate generally reacts poorly to water or moisture and can "seize up" in its melted form (when be made into chocolate bars) if one adds water. Not a great thing to happen in the manufacturing process, which is also why powdered milk (and not fresh milk) is added directly to chocolate in the making of milk chocolate. 

**The Good Food Awards have roots in the slow food and sustainability movements in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City. If you're looking for great chocolates, peruse their list of winners. 

Antidote Chocolate - Lavender Flowers + Red Salt slow roasted 84% bar - May 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Antidote Chocolate
Lavender Flowers + Red Salt 84% slow roasted cacao, low sugar bar
Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Lavender Flowers + Red Salt slow roasted cacao bar was from Antidote Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

The chocolate, made with cacao grown in Ecuador, had a relatively creamy melt and texture. The bar had a green plant aroma which softened into lavender flower bud flavors after the first bite. A balanced amount of red salt added some mellow contrast.

The lower sugar level in this vegan, 84 percent cacao bar (and no attempt to add alternative sweeteners) was refreshing.

Ethereal - 66% Dark Chocolate Blueberries, Lavender, Almonds bar - May 25, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ethereal Bean-to-Bar Craft Chocolate
66% Dark Chocolate Topped with Blueberries, Lavender, Almonds bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 234 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

Combining chocolate with edible flowers and floral flavors is one of our favorite pastimes, so we were looking forward to this week for months.

Today's 66% Dark Chocolate Topped with Blueberries, Lavender and Almonds bar was created by Ethereal Confections (Woodstock, IL).

The chocolate had a deeper, darker, slightly fruit-acidic chocolate aroma and flavor than other 66% cacao bars, and less sugar sweetness than expected (thank you!). Whether there was actually less sugar or not, we're not sure, but this would have helped explain why the authentic chocolate, blueberries, lavender and almond flavors seemed to shine through.

Freeze-dried blueberries provided some down to earthy fruit-acid flavor and finely sliced almonds provided some balance and slightly nutty texture/soft crunch. Lavender flower buds contributed a distinctive, calming, floral flavor that lingered in the finish.

Chuao Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Organic Blueberry Lavender 72% - March 31, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Chuao Chocolatier

Dark Chocolate Organic Blueberry Lavender 72% 

Enamored Collection

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar

Calories: 143 calories in 1/2 bar 

Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar

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

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week. We're sampling another chocolate with blueberry and lavender today.

Today's Dark Chocolate Organic Blueberry Lavender 72% bar from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA) contained whole wild, organic blueberries infused with lavender flavor. (The blueberries were more visible when the bar was broken into pieces.)

Like most of the other blueberry + lavender blends this week, this chocolate tasted fairly sweet for a 72% dark chocolate bar.

Dagoba - Organic Lavender Blueberry Cacao Gems - March 30, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Dagoba Organic Chocolate
Organic Lavender Blueberry Cacao Gems - Good
Organic Picante Chocolate Cacao Gems - Good +
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 4.2 oz. (119 g.) in total package of  pieces/3 flavors
Calories: 100 calories in 2-piece serving
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

What chocolate will be in your Easter basket this Sunday? How about today's Organic Lavender Blueberry or Picante Chocolate Cacao Gems, from Dagoba Organic Chocolate* (Ashland, OR)? 

Today's three-flavor variety pack included Picante Chocolate, Lavender Blueberry, and Ginger Lime chocolates. We're featuring the first two of these three individually-wrapped chocolates.

Made with Rainforest Alliance Certified Cacao, these chocolates were linked with "The One for All Cacao Project: Inspired Chocolate Empowering Women." Dagoba established this project in 2016; and the goal of this program is to "strengthen cacao communities by advancing the role of women in cacao production worldwide," a laudable goal.

The Organic Picante Chocolate cacao gem may have been "74% extra dark," but the facet-cut dark chocolate (adorned with an image of a cacao pod) tasted very sweet. The smooth, dark chocolate had a slight, soft crunch from a cacao nib or two, and hot chili kick that you could feel as you swallowed a bite, but it wasn't overwhelming.

As one might expect, the Organic Lavender Blueberry Cacao Gem had more of an aroma—lavender and blueberry. And, though it was only 59% cacao, this gem seemed to have about the same level of sweetness as the Picante Chocolate Cacao Gem. (It also contained milk.)

*Dagoba Organic Chocolate is a division of the Artisans Confection Company—which is owned by The Hershey Company.

Chocolita - Lavender Dreamtime 78% - March 27, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolita

Lavender Dreamtime 78% bar

Good +

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar

Calories: 140 calories (per label) in 1 bar

Cost: $4.59 for 1 bar

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

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

Today's Lavender Dreamtime 78% raw dark chocolate bar was made by Chocolita (Sedona, AZ). The company specializes in eco-friendly, exotic chocolate products.

This gluten-free, paleo bar was made with heirloom fair trade cacao, and had a slightly bitter medicinal aroma atop a dollop of lavender fragrance. The chocolate had a buttery melt and true lavender and smooth dark chocolate flavor.

Some people find lavender to be both relaxing and invigorating. We're told today that "you'd never know there is also gotu kola and mugwort added to assist is more vivid and memorable dreams. Let lavender carry you towards relaxation and restful slumber."

I did sleep well after eating this bar.

Ingredients: cacao*, coconut palm sugar*, vanilla*, sea salt, lavender*, mugwort*, gotu kola*
*certified organic

Elements Truffles - Peppermint Lavender - March 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles

Peppermint Lavender 

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package

Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 package

Cost: $6.99 for 1 package

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

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

What do you do as a follow-up act when you're a high-powered trader on Wall Street? Start making chocolate might not be the most obvious answer to this question. But, fortunately for us, this is just what Alak Vasa, founder of Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ) did.*

Vasa created a line of raw, Ayurveda Inspired Artisanal Chocolate. Her chocolates are handmade in small batches, with no refined sugar, dairy, soy/emulsifiers or preservatives; and they're sweetened with local honey. She used Fair Trade organic cacao sourced from Peru in today's bar.

Today's 70% cacao Peppermint infused with Lavender bar was made with raw cacao butter, raw honey, raw cacao powder, peppermint essential oil, lavender essential oil, organic lavender flowers, and Himalayan sea salt.

This relaxing, but invigorating (is this possible?) chocolate was firm (it broke with a snap); yet, had the buttery melt of a truffle. Lavender buds and oil were well balanced with the mint and provided a natural tasting, balanced floral and herbal experience. The chocolate had a pleasing lavender finish, and was designed to support Vata and Pitta ayurveda doshas.

Loved that it was not ultra-sweet. The amount of honey used was just right, and didn't overpower the other elements/inclusions.

*25% of proceeds go towards education of underprivileged children. 

Dagoba - Superberry 74% Cacao dark bar - Aug. 20, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Dagoba Organic Chocolate
Superberry 74% Cacao dark chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) total bar
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Hello and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Superberry dark* chocolate bar from Dagoba Organic Chocolate (Ashland, OR; part of The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA) contained blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and acai**.

Today's 74% Cacao Dagoba bar was a blend of bold dark chocolate and bright, slightly tart-sweet berry flavors. The chocolate had a slight bittersweet (almost coffee) finish.

Where are the flowers you ask? While this Superberry bar was all about berries, I used part of a Dagoba Lavender Blueberry bar (featured yesterday) and lavender flowers to amp up a chocolate lavender cake. Mmm. Lavender.

For those who love lavender, this chocolate lavender (gluten free) cake, topped with a dose of aromatic lavender flower buds, couldn't be better.

For those who are reminded of aromatic soaps and oils when they smell lavender, you may have mixed feelings about this edible flower (and cake). Even if you're on the fence, I hope you'll try lavender chocolate edibles some day.

*Note: This 74% cacao dark bar also contained milk.
**Acai berries originated in the rainforests of South America.

Dagoba - Lavender Blueberry, Roseberry 59% bars - Aug. 19, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Dagoba Organic Chocolate

Lavender Blueberry 59% dark bar
Good - Good+
Weight: .707 oz. (20 g.) / 2.83 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 95 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Roseberry 59% dark bar
Good
Weight: .66 oz. (18.6 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Flowers Week and Day #3 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Lavender Blueberry and Roseberry dark bars were from Dagoba Organic Chocolate* (Ashland, OR). Both bars contained floral and berry flavors (and also contained some milk).

The Lavender Blueberry 59% cacao dark chocolate bar contained lavender essence and wild blueberries. Lavender lovers will appreciate the lovely, natural lavender aroma of this bar.

The Roseberry 59% cacao dark chocolate bar contained "raspberries and rosehips" resulting in a pleasing bright red fruit/raspberry flavor (with tiny raspberry pieces with real seeds) and a gentle hint of tart floral flavor from the rose hips**.

*Dagoba Organic Chocolate was founded in 2001 by Frederick Schilling, and became part of The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA) in 2006. 

In 2012, the company dropped fair trade certification but their cacao beans began bearing the logo of the Rainforest Alliance Certified program. The company buys their cacao beans from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms that have adopted sustainable farming practices.

** Rose hips are the roundish, slightly swollen seed pods of the rose plant located directly below the rose flower. These tiny apple-shaped pods are easiest to see after the rose petals have dropped off; they may be a slightly reddish color. (Roses are related to apples and some call rose hips rose apples.)

XOX Truffles - Lavender, Hazelnut, Cognac Truffles - Sept. 27, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

XOX Truffles

1.) Lavender - Very Good
2.) Black and White - Good ++
3.) Hazelnut - Good ++ - Very Good
4.) Cognac - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate) for 4 truffles
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 4 truffles
Cost: $1.00 each (quantity pricing for 20 truffles)
Purchased from: XOX Truffles, San Francisco, CA

Bienvenue a (Welcome to) Day #4 of French Chocolate Theme Week.

Today I sampled the last truffle flavors from my recent XOX Truffles (San Francisco, CA) purchase.

The team at XOX offers truffles in the true French style, and they are creamy, authentic and delicious.

The Lavande (Lavender in French) truffle was suffused with beautiful lavender flower flavor. If you like lavender and dark chocolate, you'll love this one.

The Black and White truffle was a dark chocolate truffle covered in white chocolate.

The Hazelnut truffle had authentic hazelnut flavor (a great blend with chocolate) and was rolled in hazelnut bits.

The Cognac truffle was boozy and marvelous. I had tasted this one a few years ago, and decided to re-taste it with the others today, as I remembered it fondly. And while I may occasionally forget other details about life, I felt gratified to find that I wasn't wrong about this truffle.

ChocolateBet: March 12, 2007

Chocolate of the Day: 

NewTree
Lavender "Tranquility" milk chocolate bar
Very Good
Weight: 1/4 bar / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1/4 bar

Very Good; it had a nice lavender taste.