Sjaak's - Organic Melk Chocolate with Almond Butter bar + raspberry sundae - Dec. 5, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Organic Melk Chocolate with Almond Butter bar
(with raspberry preserves) in vanilla ice cream
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Melk Chocolate with Almond Butter bar was from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA).

This sweet, non-dairy "melk" chocolate was made with organic rice milk chocolate and had an organic almond butter filling. It had a soft and creamy texture. It also had a distinct almond extract flavor note to it.

I had intended on pairing this Sjaak's Melk Chocolate Almond Butter bar with Sjaak's Organic Dark Chocolate with Raspberry bar. However, I discovered when checking my spreadsheets that I'd already tasted this bar before. (I've sampled over 4,700 different chocolates in the last 13+ years; so this does happen occasionally.)

So, half of the Almond Butter bar was sampled, then the other half was chopped and used to make a very small almond butter and raspberry ice cream sundae (using vanilla ice cream from Three Twins (Novato, CA) and raspberry sauce.

Fresh raspberries in December are very scarce. (It's cold. Can we see our breath yet?) However, the bright, tart flavor of red raspberries keep the promise of more summers and fresh berries to come alive. This is why I'm featuring a raspberry week during a time when I feel very grateful to find even frozen raspberries in a back of my freezer, and any and all raspberry chocolates, made with fruits from summers past. 

Base Culture - Raspberry Cocoa Brownie - Dec. 2, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Base Culture LLC
Raspberry Cocoa Brownie
Good +
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in 1 package/brownie
Calories: 250 calories in 1 package/brownie
Cost: $2.49 for 1 package/brownie
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Raspberry Cocoa Brownie was from Base Culture LLC (Clearwater, FL).

This modern, paleo-friendly and gluten free take on a traditional brownie was made with honey, cashews (butter), coconut (oil and flour) and egg (in addition to cocoa and raspberry). This Kosher brownie contained no grains, wheat, dairy or soy.

It had authentic brownie and raspberry flavor and the texture was somewhere in between fudge brownie and chocolate cake. It was quite sweet, but enjoyable nonetheless.

This raspberry brownie also shows how far we have come in the gluten free baked goods category. Base Culture's single serving packaged baked goods (pumpkin bread, banana bread, almond butter and raspberry brownies) taste closer to the "real thing" and are healthier in many respects. For example, the list of ingredients* was simple and short, and there were not artificial flavors, colors or preservatives in this brownie.

Ingredients: Honey, eggs, cashew butter, raspberry swirl (raspberry, honey), coconut oil, unsweetened chocolate, coconut flour, raspberries, raspberry puree, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, sea salt.

Enjoy Life - Chocolate Protein Bites - Dark Raspberry - Dec. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Enjoy Life
Chocolate Protein Bites - dark raspberry
Good
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 6.4 oz. (180 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $8.49 for 1 package
Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Protein Theme Week, and the first day of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week.

Today's Dark Raspberry Chocolate Protein Bites were from Enjoy Life Natural Brands LLC (Chicago, IL). One serving (3 pieces) contained 6 grams of plant protein.*

Enjoy Life offers a variety of cookies, bars (including Breakfast Ovals) and bites that are free of common allergens,* including today's Chocolate Protein Bites, that were made without "wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish, (and/or) crustaceans." These Bites were also Palm Oil free.

These ball-shaped chocolate protein bites had a soft, slightly chewy texture and mild chocolate cookie flavor with flecks of red raspberry (and tiny raspberry seeds) inside—with corresponding fleeting sparkles of genuine raspberry flavor.

There was a very slight artificial flavor that was noticeable but not off-putting. It could have been from the "Natural Flavor" or the sunflower protein or rice protein. "Natural Flavors" can cause a slightly off flavor. One wonders why they are used at all.

Ingredients: Semisweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter), sunflower protein, sugarcane syrup (cane sugar, water), tapioca syrup, cocoa butter, roasted and salted pumpkin seeds (pumpkin seeds, safflower oil, salt), rice protein, cocoa powder, dried raspberries, safflower oil, natural flavor, citric acid.

*Today's Bites were made in a dedicated nut and gluten free facility.

Nana Joes - Granola, Chef's Blend Series - Strawberry, Coconut and Chocolate Chip - Sept. 12, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Nana Joes
Chef's Blend Series Granola - Strawberry, Coconut, Chocolate Chip
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $12.00 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Nana Joe's table, CUESA's Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Nut Butter Theme Week.

Sometimes nut butters can take the place of other/more processed oils and fats, and we're all for that if it's done right. One example: Today's Chef's Blend Series Granola - Strawberry, Coconut and Chocolate Chip, from Nana Joes (San Francisco, CA), created using Hu Kitchen (New York, NY) chocolate chips*

This vegan and gluten free granola was flavorful, sweet and crunchy, and had a nutty texture and taste (almonds and almond butter + seeds).* The nuts and seeds were accented with micro flavor bursts of authentic, concentrated strawberry, raspberry and chocolate.

This was a great blend of high-quality ingredients, resulting in a great granola. And, unlike some granolas, it still felt relatively "light." Instead of added/processed vegetable oils, the fat content was provided by nuts, seeds, and almond butter.

This granola was sweetened with both organic maple syrup and organic coconut sugar, but contained no refined white or brown sugar.

*Ingredients: "Organic sliced almonds, organic shredded coconut, organic maple syrup, organic pecans, organic pumpkin seeds, organic almond butter, Hu Chocolate Gems (organic cacao, unrefined organic coconut sugar, organic fair-trade cocoa butter), seeds, hemp seed, hulled, dried strawberries, raspberry fruit powder, organic chia seeds, sea salt"

Chamisa Chocolate - raspberry bear 71% Honduras bar - Sept. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chamisa Chocolate
raspberry bear 71% Honduras bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (30 g.) (per label) / 2 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chamisa Chocolate, Santa Fe, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chamisa Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's raspberry bear 71% Honduras bar was from Chamisa Chocolate (Santa Fe, NM).

This thick, relatively creamy, organic* and vegan dark chocolate bar had red raspberry bits on the back.

The chocolate had pleasing, mini-bursts of natural tart raspberry flavor that complemented the rich, almost nutty, chocolate. And, once again, this bar, was not too sweet (thank you Amanda!).

*Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic sugar, organic cacao butter, organic raspberry

Chuao Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Organic Raspberry Rose 72% bar - Feb. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chuao Chocolatier

Dark Chocolate Organic Raspberry Rose 72% cacao bar

Good ++

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

Calories: 143 calories (estimate per label) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar

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

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Organic Raspberry Rose 72% cacao bar from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA) was part of the company's "Enamored Collection," which is apt, as Valentines Day is coming up soon.

The organic chocolate had a rich dark chocolate aroma and flavor, interspersed with natural red raspberry fruit flavor (and one or two tiny seeds), coupled with faint rose (organic rose petal) floral notes.

In case it's difficult to read in the photo, the words inscribed on this bar read: "let's leave a, little sparkle, wherever, we go, chuao..."

No Cow - Raspberry Truffle Bar - Jan. 31, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

No Cow LLC
Raspberry Truffle Bar
OK + - Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 105 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.89 for 1 bar
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

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

This Raspberry Truffle Bar was from No Cow LLC (Denver, CO), a company that specializes in non-dairy, high protein and low sugar bars that are also vegan, gluten-free and soy free.

Today's bar had chocolate and raspberry flavors and a slightly granular texture that accompanies some protein bars. The bar contained no added sugar, and was sweetened with erythritol, monk fruit and stevia.

Berra Bites - Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites - Dec. 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Berra Bites

Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites

Good

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package

Calories: 190 calories in 1/4 cup (1 serving)

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: The Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Mixed Berry Dark chocolate bites were manufactured for Berra Bites (San Francisco, CA). The company is committed to avoiding use any artificial flavorings or preservatives in their offerings.

These bites were made from pureed mixed apple, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry and black currant fruit pieces—creating concentrated berry fruit flavored centers, covered in dark chocolate.

Haagen-Dazs - White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Ice Cream - May 1, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Haagen-Dazs

Raspberry White Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream

Good?

Weight: 1/2 cup (104 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container

Calories: 280 calories in 1 (1/2 cup) serving

Cost: $5.39 for 1 container

Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Today's final day (Day #8) of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week featured two frozen treats. The first was: Haagen-Dazs* Raspberry White Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream, and the second was a Raspberry frozen pop. Both had short ingredients lists and were long on flavor.

Sweet, rich white chocolate ice cream contained bits of chocolate truffles and a subtle swirl of raspberry flavor and color. Haagen-Dazs also makes white chocolate raspberry ice cream bars with milk chocolate with dark chocolate drizzle.**

The second item today didn't contain chocolate, but it was deliciously full of natural raspberry flavor and color. It was a Chloe's Pops Raspberry frozen bar from Chloe's Soft Serve Fruit Co.; and it contained only three ingredients: fruit juice, water and sugar.

*Distributed by Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Company (Oakland, CA).
** These Haagen-Dazs ice cream bars were featured previously, on 3/20/17, on this site.

Le Belge Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hibiscus bar - Aug. 17, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Le Belge Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hibiscus bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146.6 calories (per label) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cavallo Point Mercantile shop, Fort Baker, Sausalito, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Raspberry Hibiscus bar was from Le Belge Chocolatier (Napa, CA).

This bar contained hibiscus flower crystals and freeze-dried raspberry granules (with real fruit and seeds). These two inclusions complemented each other nicely and added refreshing, bright red fruit notes to a smooth dark chocolate base and micro-bursts of crunchy texture.

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Raspberry bar - May 29, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Red Raspberry bar
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .66 oz. (18.86 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 99 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Red Raspberry bar was carefully made from scratch, from bean to bar, by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

Seventy percent dark chocolate was blended with real berries. And the result was a medium bodied dark bar with a very pleasing, authentic, luscious red raspberry jam flavor.

Stone Grindz Chocolate makes small batch, high-quality organic chocolate in their workshop in one of the hottest metro areas of the U.S. Triple digit temperatures are a regular occurrence in the warm months. Air conditioning is a must have. (Either that or one might explore solar power to run the operation.)

Torn Ranch - 4 pc. Assortment, dark chocolates - May 28, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Torn Ranch

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel - Good ++
Raspberry Truffle - Very Good
Orange Truffle - Good +++

Weight: .9 oz. (24 g) for 3 pcs. / 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in total box of 4
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $N/A - free with purchase
Purchased from: N/A - free with purchase (Draeger's, Los Altos, CA)

Welcome to Day #7 of Dark Blends Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Dark chocolate blends also find their way into dark confections. Today's Torn Ranch 4-piece chocolate assortment contained blended flavors, textures and, perhaps, cocoa sources.

Torn Ranch's "...gourmet chocolates start with a custom blend of ethically sourced and sustainably farmed cocoa beans."...."All of (our/their) chocolates are created by skilled chocolatiers."

I particularly liked the Raspberry Truffle; and that was fitting, as today was also the first day of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week.

Haagen-Dazs - White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Bars - Mar. 20, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Haagen-Dazs
White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Bars
Good - Good +
Weight: 3 fl. oz. (88.6 mL) / 9 fl. oz. (266 mL) in total box of 3 bars
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 box of 3 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Ice Cream Bar Week.

Today I tried a relatively new Haagen-Dazs ice cream bar. The (box of 3) White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Bars was distributed by Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Company (Oakland, CA).

A core of white chocolate ice cream (with embedded raspberry swirls) was dipped in milk chocolate then drizzled in dark chocolate. You experience the chocolate tri-fecta, in a well-designed ice cream bar that also offers layers of flavor.

The first mouthful of this bar revealed what looked like plain ice cream; however, successive bites uncovered the raspberry swirls.

The attractive milk and dark chocolate coating was smooth and natural tasting, with relatively mild chocolate flavor.