That's All - Dark Chocolate Knafe Crunch (bar) - July 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

That's All
Dark Chocolate Knafe Crunch (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62.2 g.) in total bar
Calories: 341 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $13.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's handmade Dark Chocolate Knafe Crunch (bar) from That's All (San Jose, CA)

This bar was a tribute to the Dubai chocolate bars popular on social media in recent years that contain pistachios and knafeh/kataifi/kadayif (shredded, thin phyllo dough pastry sheets) -- often with tahini (ground sesame).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with appealing sweet, nutty and very faint coconut notes.

Texture: smooth, firm dark chocolate coating surrounded a soft, ground pistachio nuts (salted pistachio butter) filling that was also crunchy and flavorful thanks to popped quinoa, sesame (tahini) and coconut.

Flavor notes included: a pleasing blend of dark chocolate layered with pistachio nut butter and other complementary flavors and complementary creamy and crunchy textures.

I also appreciated the short list of quality ingredients and being able to try a gluten-free version of a "Dubai Chocolate"-inspired filled bar. 

Ingredients: 70% Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin), Salted Pistachio Butter, Popped Quinoa, Tahini (Sesame), Coconut Sugar.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Pistachio, Sesame & Coconut (sugar)"

Divine - Organic Dark Chocolate Blueberry Popped Quinoa 85% Sao Tome (bar) - Oct. 26, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Divine Chocolate
Organic Rich Dark Chocolate with Blueberry and Popped Quinoa - 85% Cocoa Sao Tome (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226.6 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Easy Foods Company, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Blueberry Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Africa Theme Week.

Today's Organic Rich Dark Chocolate with Blueberry and Popped Quinoa (bar) was from Divine Chocolate (London, UK), and was made using 85% organic cacao from Sao Tome.*

Divine Chocolate, founded in the U.K. in October 1998, is an international company based in the U.K. and the U.S., and is 44%** owned by the Kuapa Kokoo farmers' co-operative in Ghana. The company is a Certified B Corp (that stresses not only revenue and profits, but also aspects of business that can benefit communities, workers and the environment).

This Divine Chocolate ultra-dark bar had deep, dark (forest) chocolate aroma with hint of sharp (citrus/bittersweet) and earth notes.

The texture evoked cacao blended with thick creamy cacao butter (first tasting on a cold morning) that was embedded with crunchy popped quinoa. The chocolate tasted surprisingly mild and smooth, with muted earth and balanced bitterness. The bar was refreshingly un-sweet (thank you!).

The blueberry fruit (also on the subtle earthy side as fruits go) played a minor role. It was more evident toward the finish, and in the few bites that emitted a tiny tangy fruity burst of dark berry flavor.

Today's bar bore the following information/seals on the label: FairTrade, USDA Organic, Non GMO Project Verified, Vegan.

*Sao Tome is part of the island nation of Sao Tome e Principe, off the West Coast of Central Africa on the Equator. Sao Tome is a forested, tropical volcanic island with a long cacao growing history.

** This bar was a product of Germany and was Distributed by Divine Chocolate Inc in the U.S.  Source for co-op ownership percentage was a May 2019 Divine Chocolate press release.

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Mirzam Chocolate Makers - 45% Milk Chocolate Loqaimat bar - July 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mirzam Chocolate Makers
(Kakaw Manufacturing Co. LLC)
45% Milk Chocolate Loqaimat bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 142 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) of bar (per label)
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Peruvian Superfoods Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Island Nations Theme Week. Chocolate, with its far-flung supply chain, and delicious flavor, ties many geographic areas and peoples together.

Today's 45% Milk Chocolate Loqaimat* bar was created by Mirzam Chocolate Makers (Dubai, UAE).

Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates. And while it is not technically part of an island, it has nonetheless taken island design and building to a whole new level. Some of the created islands are shaped like palm trees. And what prized fruit grows locally on palm trees there? Dates.

Mirzam Chocolate Makers was highlights great chocolate blended with ingredients linked to extensive, historic Arab maritime trade routes, such as dates.**

Today's confection of a bar was made of high-quality, sweet milk chocolate (45% cacao). The chocolate had toffee and caramel flavor and a crunchy, slightly sticky texture, all achieved from two inclusions: 1.) puffed quinoa (there's our Peruvian reference) caramelized with 2.) date syrup (Arab trade item). The results of this blend: pretty, copper-colored flecks seen on the inside wrapper and a sweet treat.

Quinoa
Quinoa, a high-protein pseudo-cereal prized for its nutritious seeds, originated in the harsh upper elevations of Peru, and is now being cultivated around the Mediterranean and in parts of Africa. (It is also similar to millet or Fonio, an up-and-coming West African "superfood" that also grows "where nothing else will grow.") There has been a resurgence of interest in these humble, gluten-free seeds and grains in recent years.

*Loqaimat or luqaimat or lukma is a sweet, fried dough dessert that resembles American doughnut holes.

**The line up of Mirzam chocolate bars features a few bars containing dates. My favorite so far has been their bar with dates and fennel. Dates, have an incredible natural sweetness and have been cultivated in the Middle East for thousands of years. (The largest producers of dates today are: Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.)

Skratch Labs - Skratch Anytime Energy Bar - June 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Skratch Labs
Skratch Anytime Energy Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Cashew Theme Week, and Day #4 of Peru Superfoods Theme Week.

Today's Skratch Anytime Energy Bar with chocolate chips and almonds was from Skratch Labs (Boulder, CO).

This chewy nut and fruit energy bar contained a nut and seed butter blend (cashew butter and tahini (sesame seeds, salt)), chocolate chips and almonds. Dried cranberries added some sweet-tart concentrated fruit flavor.

And, oats, quinoa crisps and sorghum flakes gave the bar some heft and soft crunchy texture.

Quinoa
Quinoa (pronounced keen-whah), a flowering plant related to spinach with edible starchy seeds grows in the the high plains of the Andes, and has become a popular export crop in Peru.

This pseudo-cereal was enjoyed by the Incas and peoples of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador for thousands of years before it became popular in other countries. Some peoples in northern South America who may have been consuming cacao as a beverage may have also been enjoying quinoa seeds as well.

Regardless of what you may think of the term superfood, quinoa is higher in protein and vitamins and minerals than some true grains. It's been a welcome alternative to wheat and other gluten-containing grains for vegetarians and people with gluten sensitivities and allergies. And it's found its way into chocolate bars too.

Theo Chocolate - Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar - Mar. 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate, Inc.
Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .95 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Cinnamon Horchata* 45% Milk Chocolate bar was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The cinnamon elevated the flavor of this sweet milk chocolate bar.

And, instead of rice milk, which I associate with American horchata beverages, the "rice" came from crispy brown rice embedded in this bar, giving is some crunchy texture as well.

*Horchata is a light-colored, opaque, grain or rice-based beverage, flavored with cinnamon from Latin America. 

Horchata's origins stretch back to North Africa (when the beverage was often made from soaked tiger nuts) and Spain, and the idea was likely brought to Mexico and Central America). 

Horchata (origin likely from a word for barley) refers to a larger class of plant- and grain-based beverages from the Mediterranean. Ingredients for these beverages may include ground almonds, rice, barley, sesame or tiger nuts.

**Ingredients: Organic, Fair Trade Cane Sugar; Organic, Trade Cocoa Beans; Organic, Fair Trade Cocoa Butter; Organic Milk Powder; Organic Crisped Brown Rice; Organic, Fair Trade Crisped Quinoa; Organic, Fair Trade Cinnamon; Organic Ground Vanilla Bean.

Freed Foods - NurturMe Organic Ancient Grain Cookies - Cocoa - Mar. 21, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Made for Freed Foods

NurturMe - Organic Ancient Grain Cookies - Cocoa

Good

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 5 oz. (1?? g.) in total box

Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving (7 small cookies)

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's NurturMe Organic Ancient Grain Cookies - Cocoa - were manufactured for Freed Foods (Austin, TX), and were made from a flour blend of millet, sorghum and quinoa—considered "ancient grains" here (as well as potato and tapioca starch).

Quinoa is a plant from the Andes with starchy seeds that looks like a grain. Technically it's a pseudo-cereal, that has become popular in the U.S. in recent decades. Today's small cocoa-flavored cookies were crunchy, and not too sweet (thank you).

Quinoa can add a satisfying crunchy texture to baked goods, especially cookies. The cocoa gave these cookies a rich flavor. These were a bit on the dry side, but it was nothing a glass of water, milk, coffee, or companion beverage of your choice wouldn't be able to address.

Did I mention these cookies included probiotics? The probiotic(s) listed: GanedenBC30(R) (Organic Inulin, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086). Sounds technical. We weren't sure what this beneficial bacteria is used for in terms of digestive or overall health. But, it didn't seem to affect the taste of these small cookies.

barkThins - Dark Chocolate Blueberry with Quinoa Crunch - Dec. 28, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ripple Brand Collective, LLC

barkThins 

Dark Chocolate Blueberry with Quinoa Crunch

Good +

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40g.) / 4.7 oz. (133 g.) in total package

Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Crunchy Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate barkThins were made for Ripple Brand Collective, LLC (New York, New York), which is owned by The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA).

These Blueberry with Quinoa Crunch barkThins were similar to other flavors from the barkThins family. The package held a generous amount of chocolate "bark" pieces containing a flavor inclusion.

Yesterday's dark mint barkThins pieces were peppered with peppermint candy. Today's barkThins contained fruit (sweetened blueberries) and gained added crunch from glazed quinoa bits. It was a balanced, satisfying flavor blend.

Theo - Salted Almond Chocolate Clusters - June 30, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate
Salted Almond Chocolate Clusters
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total package
Calories: 230 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $0.99 (sale) for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Salted Almond Chocolate Clusters from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA) contained dark chocolate, almonds, quinoa, and...drum roll please...coconut. Not a bad flavor combination for a snack, and accented with a shake of pink salt. I could have done without the salt; but most people will like this blend.

These small haystack-like, bite-sized chocolate rounds were certified Organic, Non-GMO verified, and made with fair for life ingredients.

Brownie Brittle - Sheila G's Thindulgent Organic Dark Chocolate Bark with almonds - Aug. 3, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Brownie Brittle, LLC
Sheila G's - Thindulgent Dark Chocolate Bark
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total package
Calories: 230 calories in 1 serving (1/11th pkg.)
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Sheila G's Thindulgent Dark Chocolate Bark was from Brownie Brittle, LLC (West Palm Beach, FL)—a company founded by Sheila G. Mains.

This Organic dark bark had a rich, slightly earthy, fruity chocolate aroma. It contained bits of almond, dried cranberries, quinoa, and a hint of vanilla and sea salt. A generous scattering of pumpkin seeds added color and texture.

Organic, high-end trail mix enveloped in thin sheets of fair trade dark chocolate brittle. Not a bad idea for a snack.

The generously-sized, large package held enough bark pieces to satisfy more than a dozen people.

Note: This flavor may not currently be available, or may have been discontinued; it was not listed on the company website this week.