ORA Cacao - Vibrant Vitality - Cacao, Maca, Ashwaghanda, Turmeric, Black Pepper (blend) - May 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

ORA Cacao
"Vibrant Vitality" - Cacao, Maca, Ashwaghanda, Turmeric, Black Pepper (blend)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total package
Calories: 170.4 calories in 1 package 
Cost: $ N/A - gift from family member (thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a family member

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

Today's "Vibrant Vitality" 100% Cacao from Family Farms; Red, Black, and Yellow Maca from Peru; with Ashwaghanda; Turmeric; and Black Pepper" blend was from ORA Cacao (Graton, CA). 

The company is committed to sustainably sourced cacao and ingredients and to sharing ceremonial cacao (and practices) with others.

Aroma notes included: mild, authentic cocoa, faint and balanced woodsy mushroom; faint, diffuse herb/spice; and very faint caramel popcorn (likely from maca).

Texture: smooth (not gritty) even when small disc-shaped pieces were tasted before making into a beverage. (These chocolate pieces can also be eaten by themselves if desired. The resealable package (single-serving pouch) would allow this to be a nice, portable snack/gentle energy boost over the course of a day.)

Flavor notes: subtle, balanced cocoa, with faint woodsy (forest), herb and spice notes.

I really liked the short list of quality ingredients, the use of organic ingredients; and the fact that this blend was not sweetened with sugar. The flavors were well-balanced with no "off" or overly strong/sharp herbal or earthy root notes. I also appreciated the inclusion of the following information: "28 mg Caffeine & 100 mg Theobromine per serving"

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Maca Powder*, Ashwaghanda*, Cacao Butter*, Turmeric*, Black Pepper*. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts (Almond, Cashew, Coconut) 

Choquiero Chocolate - Luca Maca Lucuma and Vanilla Bean bar - August 25, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Choquiero Chocolate
Luca Maca with Lucuma and Vanilla Bean 60% bar
Good+++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Luca Maca with Lucuma and Vanilla Bean 60% cacao bar was from Choquiero Chocolate (Grass Valley, CA; Made in Santa Cruz, CA). *

The company is committed to creating bars using ethically sourced, organic, unroasted cacao (in this case Ecuadorian Wild Arriba Criollo cacao), sweetened with coconut sugar.

This bar had subtle smoked toffee/caramel and fruit (mango) notes. I associated some of this aroma and flavor with lucuma, a Peruvian/South American fruit, aka egg fruit, that also contributes a thick, creamy texture.** Unfortunately, like cacao fruit, it doesn't travel well, so most of us in the U.S. have only experienced lucuma in powdered or, more rarely frozen, form.

Maca and coconut sugar added rich, subtle sweetness to this bar and vanilla added an upbeat, slightly floral sweetness of its own.

Beware, this creamy, silky little number with lovely chocolate and spiced cookie flavor highlights went down very easily, and quickly. Poof! And it was gone.

*Congratulations to Choquiero Chocolate on the opening of their new store in Nevada City, CA, near Grass Valley.

**Some have described lucuma fruit as a green-skinned, round, golden-orange relatively sweet avocado (with a pit in the middle) with the texture of a slightly starchy fruit + a cooked sweet potato.

Primordial Chocolate - 70% Cacao Salted Maca Crunch bar - June 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Primordial Chocolate
(Distributed by Fungi Perfecti, LLC)
70% Cacao Salted Maca Crunch bar
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Peruvian Superfoods Theme Week.

Today's Primordial Chocolate 70% Cacao Salted Maca Crunch bar was distributed by Fungi Perfecti, LLC (Olympia, WA).

This bar had a slightly woodsy, chocolate aroma with a fleeting hint of coconut sugar.

The bar contained chocolate, cacao nibs, maca root and a blend of mushrooms/fungi: including: Lions Mane Mycelium, Reishi Mycelium, Cordyceps Mycelium, Chaga Mycelium; and Myceliated Brown Rice. A subtle touch of Peruvian Pink Salt rounded out this not-too-sweet (thank you!) bar.

A generous helping of cacao nibs gave the bar the "Crunch" that appeared in the title.

*Mycelium has to do with this little white/beige threads that eventually produce mushrooms (the "fruiting body"). Yes, this does make one wrinkle the nose a bit, and perhaps it's better not to know, as the chocolate tasted fun.

Bearded Brothers - Mega Maca Chocolate bar - June 27, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bearded Brothers LLC
Mega Maca Chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.519 oz. (43 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Cashews Theme Week, and Day #3 of chocolate and Peru Superfoods Theme Week.

Today's Mega Maca Chocolate bar was from Bearded Brothers LLC (Austin, TX). The company's line of bars appear to be designed for outdoor adventurers who might want a quick boost of natural and convenient energy on the trail, on the mountain, or on the go in general.

This Organic, compressed date and nut (cashews, almonds) bar also contained maca powder, cacao nibs, Mexican cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, chia seeds, coconut sugar and sea salt. The cacao flavors were very subtle.

Maca
Maca, a plant growing at high altitudes in Peru, is prized for its root that looks a bit like a beet or a radish. (Botanically speaking, it's in the mustard family.) It is rich in Vitamin C, carbohydrates, copper and other vitamins and minerals. It's also said to boost energy and sexual vitality, and to convey a host of other benefits that I can't corroborate. Additional studies are likely underway as I write this in 2019.

Maca root powder (the form we see it in) has been described as having an earthy, nutty flavor.

While color is not typically listed on ingredient lists or labels, maca root (like potatoes, carrots, radishes and other root vegetables), comes in different colors: including yellow, white, red and black, and the yellow or white powder (hard to tell in this form) seems to be common in stores in the Western U.S. It's not clear whether these varieties also have different superfood qualities or nutrient levels.

Markham and Fitz Chocolate Makers - Brain Food 85% Dark Chocolate bar - June 26, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Markham and Fitz Chocolate Makers
Brain Food 85% Dark Chocolate with Wild Organic Blueberries, almonds, cashews superfood bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Cashews Theme Week, and Day #2 of Peru Superfoods* Theme Week. Today's bar includes cacao and maca.

The Brain Food 85% Dark Chocolate bar with Wild Organic Blueberries, almonds, cashews and superfood powders (berries, maca) was from Markham and Fitz Chocolate Makers (Bentonville, AK).

This ultra-dark chocolate was made with cacao grown in the Dominican Republic, and had a dark chocolate, berry, nut and seed aroma and flavor. The base chocolate had a creamy melt and texture, and crunchy bits of almonds and cashews. The organic, dried blueberries were a nice touch and added natural blueberry flavor; and the 85 percent bar was not so sweet as to overpower the berry add-ons.

*The list of "superfoods" this week includes cacao, maca, lucuma, camu-camu, and quinoa. And while they may be found growing in other Latin American/South American countries, the latter four on this list are often associated with Peru. I could include potatoes (which also originated in/near Peru) as well, but it is more difficult (outside of gluten free chocolate baked goods that use potato flour/starch) to find chocolates with potatoes :-).

Choquiero Chocolate - Mayan Rose with Cinnamon and Maca 75% bar - May 30, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Choquiero Chocolate
Mayan Rose with Cinnamon and Maca Root bar
Good++
Weight: .8 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

The aroma of today's Mayan Rose with Cinnamon and Maca Root bar from Choquiero Chocolate (Grass Valley, CA / Santa Cruz, CA) promised a wonderful balance between the chocolate and flavor inclusions.

And this organic, vegan, fair trade 75% cacao bar delivered. The chocolate had smooth and soft (added cocoa butter) flavors and texture. Barely detectable hints of cinnamon, vanilla and salt gave it a lift. Sweetened with coconut sugar, the dark chocolate was sweet, but without a sugar buzz (thank you!).

Ingredients: (All Organic): Cacao paste, cacao butter, coconut sugar, vanilla bean, maca, Himalayan salt, rose "pedal," rose "essene" and cinnamon.