Elemental Superfoods - Double Chocolate Reishi, Chaga & Cordyceps Superfood Adaptogen Seed Bar - July 5, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Elemental Superfoods
Double Chocolate Reishi, Chaga & Cordyceps (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Purchased from: Elemental Superfood, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Mushrooms Week.

Today's Double Chocolate Reishi, Chaga & Cordyceps (bar) was distributed by Elemental Superfood, Inc. (Torrance, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: seedy, nutty and chocolate-y with faint, balanced earth and umami.

Texture: a blend of crunchy (buckwheat, flax seeds, nuts) and creamy, binding elements (almond butter, chocolate) 

This substantial energy seed, nut, chocolate and mushroom bar contained 8 grams of protein; and the relatively long list of flavors harmonized fairly well with each other.

Ingredients: Organic Buckwheat, Organic Almond Butter, Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Powder), Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Raw Honey, Organic Flaxseeds, Organic Coconut, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Brazil Nuts, Organic Sesame Seeds, Cacao Butter, Organic Reishi, Organic Chaga, Organic Cordyceps, Organic Vanilla Extract, Pink Himalayan Salt

Allergen-related information: Contains Nuts (Almonds, Brazil Nuts) and Coconut (Sugar)

Moksha - Reishi - Functional Mushrooms in 65% Dark Vegan Chocolate - June 30, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Moksha
Reishi - Functional Mushrooms in 65% Dark Vegan Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (15 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 90 calories in 1 package
Cost: $6.00 for 1 package 
Purchased from: Far West Fungi, SF Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate & Mushrooms Theme Week.

Today's Reishi Functional Mushrooms in 65% Dark Vegan Chocolate (square) was manufactured (from cacao bean nib-to-bar) by Moksha Chocolate (Boulder, CO). 

This reishi mushroom chocolate bar was labeled for "Night Time"--a reference to the thought that reishi mushrooms contain compounds that can act as a non-drowsy relaxant at the end of the day.

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, dark chocolate; faint coconut; and mushroom.

Texture: smooth textured (no mushroom powder "grit")

I appreciated the balanced and well-executed flavors, and the short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao Nibs, Coconut Sugar, Coconut Milk Powder, Cacao Butter, Dried Mushrooms (Reishi)

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut (Coconut Sugar, Coconut Milk).

Mandala Chocolate - "Cloud Forest" 62% Cacao Organic dark chocolate (bar) - June 28, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Mandala Chocolate
"Cloud Forest" 62% Cacao Organic dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 302 calories in 1/2 bar (151 calories in 1/4 bar (1 serving))
Cost: $10.80 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA 

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Earth, Mountains, Forests & Gardens Theme Week and Day #2 of Chocolate and Mushrooms Theme Week.

Today's "Cloud Forest" 62% Cacao Organic dark chocolate (bar) was from Mandala Naturals, LLC (Barnardsville, NC) and hand-crafted in Asheville, NC.

Aroma and flavor notes included smooth dark chocolate; gently fragrant herbs (similar to mint and lavender); very faint warm spices (cinnamon spice blend); and very faint lucuma (mild vanilla). 

Texture: smooth texture and melt

I enjoyed this bar. The diverse flavor blend was balanced, harmonious and slightly cooling--not unlike a cloud forest.

I wasn't able to taste the (Reishi and Chaga) mushrooms in this chocolate. There wasn't any mushroom powder graininess, or umami/earthy flavor, that would have given their presence away.

I appreciated the thoughtful sourcing and use of organic ingredients; the lack of additives; the company tagline "Cacao as Nourishment, Not Confection"; and the fact that the first ingredient listed was (heirloom) cacao*, followed by coconut sugar that wasn't too sweet. 

Ingredients: *Cacao, *Coconut Sugar, *Carob, *Sprouted Brown Rice Powder, *Lucuma, *Baobab, *Ginger, *Cinnamon, *Maca, *Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero), +Reishi, +Chaga, *Cardamom, *Turmeric, *Black Pepper, Celtic Sea Salt (TM) (* = Organic; + = Organic & Wildcrafted)

Allergen-related information: (None found on package.)

*While not specifically stated on packaging for this bar, the cacao used to make this bar may have come from Maya Mountain Cacao--a centralized fermentary/cacao processing facility in Punta Gorda, Belize--a source mentioned on the company's website.

Intrigue Chocolate - Blackberry Mushroom (bar) - Dec. 20, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Blackberry + Mushrooms 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Mushroom Week.

Today's Blackberry + Mushrooms 60% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). This bar was made in collaboration with Lumen Field (Seattle, WA). 

Origin story: The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Uganda, Rwenzururu - Semuliki Forest (Type: "Mostly Trinitario and Amelonado; Harvest Year: 2022). (Batch No.: 000000083024)

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate; ripe, tart, almost boozy, dark berry (blackberry); slight roast-y, slightly umami bitterness.

Texture: very smooth and buttery--with no mushroom powder/grit or berry seed particles (thank you!).

Flavor notes included: a blend of dark chocolate (chocolate-y, roast-y dark ganache), authentic blackberry notes, and diffuse, balanced umami (mushroom). 

I liked many things about this bar. First, this blend was well executed and well balanced, and the sweetness level was just right for me -- i.e, sweet, but not too sweet. Second, there were no "off" or astringent notes with this potentially challenging flavor blend.

Like other chocolates from Intrigue, I appreciated the thoughtful, short list of quality ingredients, the lack of emulsifiers or other additives, and the use of raw cane sugar.

Makers tasting notes/description: "...first developed...as an exclusive for their (Lumen Field) suites and gifts...The lush dark fruit and the rich deep earth are emblematic of the region's sun-drenched summers and mist-drenched winters."

Ingredients: "Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, freeze-dried blackberries, mushroom blend (wood ear, oyster, cordyceps, turkey tail, lion's mane, shiitake, chaga, maitake, mesima, reishi)." 

Allergen-related information: None listed on packaging.

Venice Organics - Stress & Immunity Support - Reishi & Chaga 70% Chocolate (Dominican Republic) Bar - May 9, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Venice Organics
Stress & Immunity Support - Reishi & Chaga 70% Chocolate Bar
Dominican Republic - Single Origin 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.325 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 206 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order

Welcome to the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Virtual Caribbean Cruise Theme Week.

This virtual cruise week has been relaxing. Today's Dominican Republic cacao chocolate even offered stress and immunity support--an appreciated dose of dark benefits before rejoining a more hectic life back on the virtual mainland next week.

Today's Organic "Stress and Immunity Support" Reishi & Chaga 70% Chocolate Bar was made from cacao bean-to-chocolate bar--by Venice Organics (Los Angeles, CA), using single origin cacao from the Dominican Republic.

Aroma notes for this single origin dark chocolate included: pleasing dark chocolate; sweet green (coconut sugar, almost floral); and very faint, herby botanicals; and slightly woodsy almost-coconut shell. (There was no shell in this bar.)

Texture: smooth, almost creamy, fully incorporated ingredients (with zero detectable graininess from any mushroom particles in case you're wondering).

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate (dark brownie, extra dark ganache), and some well-balanced, very faint earth-toned complexity (very faint woodsy, coconut sugar, and umami/mushroom); and all these harmonious flavor notes tapered off together into a pleasant finish.

Ingredients: *Chocolate (*Cocoa, *Coconut Sugar, *Cocoa Butter), *Cocoa Butter, *Reishi, *Chaga (* = Organic) 

Allergen-related information: Processed in shared equipment with products containing nuts. 

 

Chimes Herbal Chews - Calmer Cacao - Aug. 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chimes Herbal Chews
Adaptogenic Chews - Calmer Cacao Ashwagandha Reishi + Dark Cacao, Ginger
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .282 oz. (8 g.) / 2.5 oz. (72 g.) in total package
Calories: 30 calories in 2 chews
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Surprise Theme Week.

This "Surprise" week includes chocolates with unique ingredients, insights about food, farmers and/or culture, and/or found in interesting places. 

Today's Calmer Cacao Ashwagandha Reishi + Dark Cacao, Ginger Chimes Herbal Chews were a product of Indonesia, and manufactured for Roxy Trading, Inc. (Pomona, CA).

The creators indicated on the packaging that they were influenced by "Ayurvedic wisdom."    

Subtle aroma notes for these small, chewy, individually-wrapped bites included: rich, spiced cafe mocha; chai tea blend (ginger, very faint, fleeting black pepper); and very faint herbal-mushroom (reishi) hot chocolate.

Spicy ginger bloomed when I took a bite, and tickled the back of my throat on the way down. I liked the surprisingly strong ginger. (The heat subsided fairly quickly.) The cocoa was subtle and helped balance the spiciness.

I also was pleasantly surprised by the information provided about the approximate amount of theobromine: 4 mcg of theobromine (from cacao) in each chew. (Each chew also contained 80 mg. of KSM-66 Ashwagandha, and 120 mg. of Reishi mushroom/extract.) Not everyone will care about these details; but I appreciate them.

Ingredients: Cane sugar, tapioca starch, ginger, cacao powder, reishi, ashwagandha root.

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that processes peanuts." "Gluten Free" "Vegan"

Green Girl Bakeshop - Reishi Chocolate Plant-Based Superfood Gelato - Oct. 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Green Girl Bakeshop

Reishi Plant-Based Superfood Gelato 

Good 

Weight: 1/2 cup (118 mL) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container

Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 cup serving

Cost: $8.89 for 1 container

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

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Mushroom Theme Week and Day #2 of Chocolate and Umami Theme Week.

Today's Reishi* Chocolate Plant-Based Superfood Gelato was from Green Girl Bakeshop (San Leandro, CA). 

The aroma profile for this gelato included: dark chocolate coconut milk ice cream with woodsy, bitter notes.

The bitter flavor was slightly less than in the aroma. (I'm assuming this tough-to-love flavor came from the reishi mushrooms and not the chocolate.) The rougher, albeit authentic, woody earth (Reishi) mushroom taste contrasted with the smoother, creamy, sweet dark chocolate, plant (coconut milk)-based gelato base. 

I really enjoy umami flavors. The umami in this blend comes from the mushrooms (and nuts I added). (Both mushrooms and nuts contain glutamate/glutamic acid--a common amino acid that vegetable and animal-based umami rich foods share.) I topped this chocolate frozen dessert with some Organic almonds and sea salt, for a little extra umami flavor. 

This bitter-sweet gelato flavor was interesting; but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to people just looking for a culinary highlight. However, it might excite novelty-seekers who are also interested in the possible health benefits of certain mushrooms. 

Props to Green Girl Bakeshop for continuing to offer allergy-friendly gelato flavors with a short list of quality ingredients. (Today's Reishi Chocolate flavor contained/listed just 4 ingredients.)

Ingredients: Organic coconut milk, Organic maple syrup, Organic cacao powder, Organic reishi mushroom.

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. "Made in a dedicated facility free from dairy, gluten, grains, peanuts, egg, and soy."

*Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are currently a popular medicinal mushroom (often available in powder and/or extract form) in the U.S. Ganoderma are often used in traditional Chinese medicine. Their earthy, tree bark-like flavor makes them a bit less appealing as a culinary mushroom.

Cherie Sweet Heart - Cacao and Reishi - Oct. 25, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Cherie Sweet Heart 

Cacao and Reishi

Good - Good +

Weight: 2 Tablespoons (15 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package

Calories: 60 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $5.99 for 1 package

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

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

Today's Cherie Sweet Heart Organic Cacao and Reishi* (mushroom) blend was manufactured for Sweet Heart Group Ltd (City of Industry, CA).

Aroma notes for this blend included: subtle, slightly savory (mushroom soup) note and cocoa.

After a few minutes of stirring this powdered blend with water and letting it sit for a while, the resulting beverage was smooth, with no powdery grit.

This unsweetened, two-ingredient blend was unadorned with any sugars, sweeteners or fillers, and it had bold cacao and earthy mushroom flavor with a slightly bitter finish. (It was hard to tell whether this bitterness was from the cacao or the mushroom powder, or both.)

Ingredients: Organic cacao powder, organic reishi mushroom powder

Allergen-related information: (None listed/found on packaging.) "Organic, Non-GMO, Plant-based"

*Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are non-psychoactive mushrooms, native to East Asia but also found in the Americas and elsewhere, that have an earthy, somewhat bitter flavor. 

They have a relatively tough texture, and look like semi-circular shelf fungus (bracket fungus)--typically growing on the side of hardwood and conifer trees. (As with any wild foraging, make sure you consult an expert before hunting for yourself.)

The taste has been described using words like "tree bark-like." This may explain why you won't see the reishi mushroom on many restaurant menus. Instead, it may be listed more in medicinal and health-related items. (Note: reishi may lower blood pressure and increase blood clotting time; so consult your health professional if you're on medication(s) or have questions.)

Green Girl Bakeshop - Reishi Chocolate with chocolate chip cookies - Aug. 23, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Green Girl Bakeshop
Reishi Chocolate with chocolate chip cookies
Good - Good +
Weight: 5 oz. (142 g.) in total package
Calories: 340 calories in 1 package/frozen cookie sandwich 
Cost: $4.49 (sale) for 1 package/frozen cookie sandwich
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #1 of Cold Chocolate Week, featuring frozen and refrigerated treats, snacks and bars with chocolate.

Today's Reishi Chocolate frozen plant-based, cookie sandwich was from Green Girl Bakeshop (San Leandro, CA). 

This chilly organic treat had light green, nut, coconut, and cookie notes, rich chocolate flavor with a fleeting earthy/loamy, slightly bitter note (that I'm assuming came from the reishi mushroom).

It was satisfying and sweet, but not too sweet. (It was sweetened with judicious amounts of coconut palm sugar, applesauce, chocolate chips, evaporated cane sugar in the chocolate chip cookies--and maple syrup in the chocolate frozen filling.) 

Note: Green Girl offers some of the few gluten free ice cream sandwich alternatives available in our area, unless you have time to make your own with gluten free cookies (that you may have to bake first) and your choice of milk/cream filling. So, I felt grateful to find these.

Ingredients: 1.) Cookie: organic cassava flour, organic coconut palm sugar, organic applesauce, organic chocolate chips (organic evaporated cane sugar, organic natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla powder), organic coconut oil, baking soda. 2.) Gelato: Organic coconut milk (organic coconut water, organic guar gum--less than 1%), organic maple syrup, organic cacao powder, organic reishi."

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts (coconut)...produced in a facility that also processes tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, wheat, and soy."

Rebbl - Reishi Chocolate Immunity Elixir and Antidote Earl Grey & Orange 70% bar - Sept. 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Rebbl 
Rebbl Reishi Chocolate Immunity Elixir
Good ++
Weight: 12 fl. oz. in 1 bottle
Calories: 160 calories (verify) in 1 bottle
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Antidote
Earl Grey and Orange 70% Cacao (bar) (re-tasting)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's new chocolate was a Reishi Chocolate Immunity Elixir from Rebbl (Emeryville, CA). 

This smooth beverage was made with coconut milk and the chocolate added additional rich flavor depth. The reishi (mushroom) extract was smoothly incorporated into this blend, and there were no "off" fungi-related flavors. This well-balanced elixir was sweetened with coconut sugar and stevia.

Technically an elixir may not have been a tea, but it was a liquid botanical brew. 

The "tea" portion of today's entry came from re-tasting an Earl Grey and Orange 70% dark chocolate bar from Antidote Chocolate (Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY)--made with Arriba Nacional cacao (Ecuador) and aromatic, chewy bits of orange peel on the back which nicely complemented the subtle infused floral tea flavor.

Tabal Chocolate - Reishi Superfood 70% (bar) - Oct. 5, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Tabal Chocolate
Reishi Superfood 70% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Salt and Savory Theme Week.

This Reishi Superfood 70% (bar) was crafted by Tabal Chocolate (Wauwatosa, WI). The company serves drinking chocolates and other items (such as chocolates infused with teas and superfoods) in their chocolate factory and lounge in Wisconsin. And bars can be ordered from them online.

The dark chocolate in this bar had a satsifying umami* (slightly savory) aroma. This three-ingredient bar (cacao, organic cane sugar and Reishi mushroom) was relatively sweet but about average for a 70 percent blend. (It would be interesting to try a 75% version of this bar that might have been part of the selection/testing process.)

The dark chocolate had a true chocolate and light fruit and light spice flavor notes, and a smooth, even melt and texture—with a very fine granularity (powdered reishi mushrooms perhaps?)—and a pleasing, very subtle umami flavor note throughout.

Some might find it tempting to add salt along with potentially savory flavor inclusions, but there was no salt listed in the ingredients. And that was fine. (You can always add your own tiny pinch of sea salt if you feel the need, or are curious.)

This bar was vegan, soy free and gluten free.

*Umami is a Japanese term describing a range of flavors that many associate with "savory" or the presence of L-glutamate, IMP and GMP. (Umami flavors can be found in mushrooms, cheeses, bacon and other forms of meat, ripe tomatoes and certain types of seafood and seaweeds.)

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Nature fans: On a tangentially related note, if you're interested in beneficial fungi, don't miss the film "Fantastic Fungi: Magic Beneath Your Feet." Playing in select theaters now.

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