Hijita - Marranito Spice - 70% Dark Chocolate Filled with Ginger & Spice Infused Almond Butter (bar) - April 7, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Hijita
Marranito Spice - 70% Dark Chocolate Filled with Ginger & Spice Infused Almond Butter (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hijita, online order 

Welcome to Day #22 of Chocolate & Mexico Theme Week(s).

Today's Marranito Spice - 70% Dark Chocolate Filled with Ginger & Spice Almond Butter (bar) was manufactured by Hijita, LLC (in Austin, TX). 

The company collaborates with "farm and artisan partners in Mexico" and focuses on "preserving and showcasing Mexican Heirloom and Regenerative Cacao."

Today's bar was inspired by "Ashley's* favorite Mexican pan dulce"--the marranito (or puerquito)--"a classic pig-shaped gingerbread cookie."

Aroma and flavor notes for this single origin cacao, nut butter filled bar included: dark chocolate (deep, chocolate-y, slightly roasted), nut (almond butter) and warm spices (cinnamon, light ginger, vanilla).

As with other Hijita offerings, this was chocolate "art" in the form of a geometric, multidimensional, faceted sculpture. It was not your average, rectangular, flat chocolate bar (tableta, tablette).

Texture: smooth, well-tempered chocolate and authentic nut (almond) butter 

I appreciated the maker's choice to have the dark chocolate still be the star here. (This filled chocolate wasn't overly sweet or spicy.) 

I also liked the short list of quality, locally-sourced ingredients including single origin cacao from Mexico. The judicious use of less refined cane sugar added subdued, warm sweetness and allowed me to further enjoy the cacao and subtle warm spice and almond flavors.

Ingredients: Mexican Cacao*, Almonds*, Cacao Butter*, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Diaspora Co. Basiya Ginger, Mexican Cinnamon, Mexican Allspice, Mexican Vanilla Bean, Mexican Sea Salt; Less than 1%: Cocoa Butter Coloring (Cocoa Butter, Natural Colors) (* = Certified Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Almond. Made in a Facility That Processes Peanuts & Tree Nuts

*Ashley Ugarte founded Hijita. (Ashley also formerly served as a chocolatier at bean-to-bar maker Dandelion Chocolate (San Francisco, CA.)

Intrigue Chocolate - Honey & Salt; Pomegranate Bay Leaf; Fresh Mint; Coffee & Balsamic Fig Truffles - Jan. 7, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.

• 1.) Honey & Sea Salt Truffle - Good ++ - Good +++
• 2.) Pomegranate Bay Leaf Truffle - Good ++ - Good +++
• 3.) Fresh Mint Truffle - Good ++ - Good +++
• 4.) Coffee Truffle - Good ++ - Good +++
• 5.) Balsamic Fig Truffle - Good ++

Weight: 1.57 oz. (44.5 g.) in 5 truffles / 4.09 oz. (116 g.) (estimate) in total box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 245 calories (estimate) for 5 truffles
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate, Tea, Herb and Spice Week--featuring a range of bars, truffles, and hot chocolates infused with herbs and/or spices and/or teas.

Today's five truffles were made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). These individually-wrapped truffles were part of a 13-piece truffle assortment box. 

Pairing these truffles with a few (non-competing) side dishes and some teas, resulted in an instant, well-crafted cacao feast.

Honey & Sea Salt Truffle aroma and flavor notes included: rich, creamy fudge brownie, honey, very faint honey cookie, and sea salt. Sounds simple, but the flavors were perfectly balanced in this truffle. Another favorite.

Pomegranate & Bay Leaf Truffle notes included: rich chocolate with flavorful red fruit and sophisticated herb (bay leaf). Well-executed, and wonderfully balanced. The result was something akin to a classy, vertical, floral arrangement with subdued, elegant reds and greens. (Ode to a truffle?)

Fresh Mint Truffle notes included: fresh and authentic mint infused into rich, creamy chocolate.But the mint wasn't the strong, overpowering, sweet peppermint found in most mint-flavored chocolates. Instead, the maker chose to use a mint closer to spearmint (and perhaps a touch of another mint). A very nicely balanced chocolate with pleasing, subtly complex mint flavor.

Coffee Truffle notes included: beautiful coffee, cream latte, and coffee cheesecake/cream cheese (there was no cream cheese). I really enjoyed that I could taste the nuanced flavors in the coffee, which was wonderful.

Balsamic & Fig Truffle notes included: rich fruit (dried fig), red wine (there was no wine) and chocolate notes. The Balsamic added some flavor depth and a sweet, rich, slightly tangy taste.

I enjoyed the buttery smooth truffle texture, the authentic and balanced flavors, and the choice of herbs and spices in the assortment box (of 13 truffles). 

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

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.  

Earth Echo - Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend - Feb. 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Earth Echo LLC
Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 level scoop (7.88 g.) / 8.34 oz. (236.4 g.) in total package
Calories: 35 calories in 1 level scoop 
Cost: $59.95* for 1 package (less $8.99 discount) + $9.95 shipping = $60.91
Purchased from: (Earth Echo ad - online order)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend was manufactured for Earth Echo LLC (Evergreen, CO).

Marketed online, this organic, dietary supplement powder was designed to be mixed in with cold or hot liquids, including water, alternative milks, and/or hot chocolate or coffee. 

The dry, powdered blend contained "superfoods"** and spices that included cinnamon, black pepper fruit, sea salt and turmeric. (Lucuma and mesquite added mild, mellow sweetness.***)

Aroma notes for this powdered blend (mixed with water) included: chocolate, coconut and faint root/herb.

The texture was smooth and satisfying once thoroughly stirred and incorporated. There were no vegetable gums or other common additives (emulsifiers, stabilizers) often added to similar beverages (thank you!). (Note: If you prepare a cold beverage with this mix, and let it sit for a long period, it's a good idea to re-stir, unless you enjoy more layered flavors.)

Flavor notes included cocoa and salt with faint coconut and subtle root/herb and warm spice. There was a relatively subtle, balanced and fleeting cacao bitterness in the after-taste, but it mellowed quickly. (When I re-tasted this later I also enjoyed a bit more of a mildly spicy, authentic cinnamon flavor.)

This mix was sweetened with coconut sugar and monk fruit extract and it was not too sweet (thank you). This would make a potentially tasty addition to a hot or cold beverage or possible ingredient in homemade cacao treats/confections.****

This blend was made using (raw) "ceremonial grade cacao." This description refers to a "less processed" forms of cacao (e.g. unroasted or lightly roasted cacao, but not heated/fully ground (made into) chocolate). The cacao country of origin was not specified on the package/labeling.

Ingredients: Organic cacao bean powder, organic MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil powder, organic coconut (flower blossom) nectar powder, organic cocoa (bean) powder, organic turmeric root powder, Himalayan sea salt, organic cinnamon bark powder, organic monk fruit extract, organic lucuma fruit powder, organic mesquite pods powder, organic black pepper fruit powder.

Allergen-related information: (Couldn't find on packaging.) "Gluten Free, Non Dairy, USDA Organic, Soy Free, Non GMO"

*The price per ounce/gram for this all-organic product was much higher than most comparable product on the market that I could find; however, it was also made with relatively expensive ingredients.

**Note: I was not able to (nor did I seek to) confirm claims of "superfoods," or claims related to weight loss that accompanied some of the product's testimonials by users.

***Lucuma is a South American tree fruit often used in powdered form in food supplements. Its flavor is often described as sweet, with butterscotch, sweet potato, maple, or tropical fruit/mango notes. 

Mesquite powder is made from ground seed pods of the mesquite plant/tree and is used as a mild sweetener and/or flour.

**** Product disclaimer printed on the back of this package: "Do not use if you are pregnant, nursing, or are under the age of 18. 

Mexican Chocolate Avocado Mousse - Mar. 28, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Mexican Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) (estimate) in 1 serving
Calories: unknown 
Cost: $ N/A - multiple ingredients (some old, some new)
Purchased from: N/A - multiple sources

Bienvenidos a (welcome to) Chocolate Banquet. Today we celebrated Day #5 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week with a Mexican-themed chocolate mousse,* made with a blend of ingredients native to Mexico, including: cacao, avocado, vanilla, honey, allspice, and a touch of chili powder.

Melted 81% dark chocolate and cocoa powder provided rich chocolate flavor, and vanilla extract and ground allspice brightened up the deep dark flavor a bit. Ripe avocados added creamy texture; and a few spoonfuls of milk of one's choice, or even ice cream, can enhance this further.

These ingredients were blended together to make a creamy, flavorful, honey-sweetened mousse. (The Maya and Aztec peoples may have used honey from stingless bees as a sweetener or dessert. I couldn't find any stingless bee (Melipolini/Melipona) honey. I used organic honey from honeybees.

Nuts and seeds (peanuts, pecans, pinon nuts and squash seeds) from Mexico would also be suitable, authentic garnishes for this dessert.

*A pudding is generally cooked, whereas a mousse is not. Several recipes call for using a piping bag to apply a mousse like this to a plate or a bowl, as it does make it much more attractive looking. (While it sounded unnecessary, it really does make this dessert look much more appetizing.)

Lucky Spoon - Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes; Dagoba xocolatl drinking cocoa - Jan. 27, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

1.) Lucky Spoon Bakery
Chocolate Buttercream Cupcakes
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2 oz. (57) / 8 oz. (228 g.) in total container of 4
Calories: 220 calories in 1 cupcake
Cost: $3.49 (sale) for 1 container of 4
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Homemade chocolate brownie with...
Dagoba Xocolatl Drinking Chocolate
Whiskey-soaked cacao nibs and cinnamon and fig

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

One can satisfy a chocolate brownie craving via many forms of chocolate, including in rich chocolate cakes, chocolate bars and in homemade brownies.

Today's double entry features a mini chocolate cupcakes that satisfied a brownie craving in the morning, and a mad scientist (homemade) brownie with several toppings.

Lucky Spoon Bakery
The first chocolate, a petite chocolate cupcake topped with buttercream frosting was from Lucky Spoon Bakery (Salt Lake City, UT). This perfectly sized cupcake satisfied chocolate brownie and cake/sugar cravings. It was relatively moist and light, and not too crumbly...in other words, you might never know this chocolate cupcake was gluten free.

Dagoba Xocolatl spicy brownie
The second chocolate, was a homemade brownie, sprinkled with Dagoba* xocolatl drinking chocolate (cocoa/dry mix), and topped with whiskey-marinated cacao nibs and marinated fig, and sliced almonds. It was very satisfying.

A brownie buffet table with unlimited toppings might have also had fresh whipped cream, grated orange peel, allspice and additional items suitable to add this teetering tower of flavors.

*Dagoba's xocolatl drinking chocolate mix (with chili, cinnamon and pieces of dark chocolate) was likely inspired by the original Dagoba xocolatl bar (chocolate with a subtle, warm spicy kick to it).

Note: Dagoba Organic Chocolate, founded in 2001 by Frederick Schilling, has been owned by the Hershey Company since 2006.

Goodio Craft Chocolate - Winter Glow - Dec. 31, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodio Craft Chocolate
Winter Glow 49% Chocolate Topped with Mulled Wine Crystals (bar)
Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in 1/2 bar
Calories: 117 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #10 of Holiday Tea and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Winter Glow Chocolate Topped with Mulled Wine Crystals 49% Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Ltd for Goodio Craft Chocolate, from bean-to-bar, in Helsinki, Finland.

The Finns know more about winter than most of us around the globe do. And gathering in the dark months to enjoy some hot, sweet, mulled wine is a Scandinavian tradition. Goodio shares that tradition with us with this vegan, sweet chocolate bar that was lightly spiced* and had opaque magenta-colored mulled wine crystals on one side—giving it a faint but pleasant sweet red fruit (red grape, berry) flavor.

*Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic coconut palm sugar, organic cacao butter, organic coconut flakes, birch sugar, organic cinnamon, organic cardamom, bitter orange peel, organic cranberry powder, organic ginger, organic carnation.

Chamisa Chocolate - Santa Fe Biscochito dark bar, Matcha white chocolate bar - Dec. 22, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Chamisa Chocolate
Santa Fe Biscochito dark bar
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - sample bar
Purchased from: N/A - from Chamisa Chocolate

Welcome to Day #1 of Holiday Tea and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's bars were from Chamisa Chocolate (Santa Fe, NM). Thank you to Amanda for sharing your wonderful "experimental" holiday cookie and tea chocolate bars.

A traditional biscochito is a butter cookie with spices (e.g. star anise) that you might find in the Southwestern U.S. These cookies are, I'm told, the state cookie of the State of New Mexico. Today's dark bar contained a gluten-free blend of almond flour and spices that was a great tribute to this Santa Fe favorite.

I also appreciated being able to sample an "experimental" Green Tea Matcha white chocolate bar with crisped rice.

This complex bar had both warming and cooling elements, with green tea, and a faint hint of mint/(menthol?) notes. The rice added a light crunch that complemented the smooth white chocolate base—that was not too sweet (thank you!).

Again, thank you to Amanda for sharing these chocolates. They brightened up our winter holiday season.

*Chamisa Chocolate offers a variety of vegan and gluten free chocolate bars, including many with flavor inclusions and a few single origin bars.

Chocolate Tree - Haggis Spice Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 3, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Tree
Haggis Spice Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.)  / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135.5 calories in 1/4  bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Greetings and welcome to the first day of Salt and Savory Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Haggis Spice Dark Chocolate bar hails from Chocolate Tree (Haddington, Scotland).

This bar smelled like a savory stew or porridge, with rosemary, pepper, sea salt and pepper doing their best to convince me this was true. These and other traditional haggis spices* were blended with (gluten free pinhead) oats and organic dark chocolate to create this unique bar.**

The chocolate was a relatively bold, but smooth dark chocolate, which had a relatively smooth melt. However, you'll experience tiny chewy bits of other ingredients embedded in this chocolate, yielding flavor spikes of rosemary and spice, tiny sparkles of sea salt and oats. This blend of salt, savory and sweet was well balanced and fun to try.

*Ingredients: Organic sugar, organic cocoa mass, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla, gluten free pinhead oats (8%). Haggis spice (2%): organic black pepper, organic rosemary, sea salt, organic coriander seed, organic mace and organic thyme.

**You may have heard that haggis also contains sheep's innards. Fear not. There were no animal parts in today's vegetarian chocolate bar. It contained only the spices and salt used to make this traditional Scottish savory dish.

Copyright 2019. Unauthorized use of the text and/or images from this site, www.ChocolateBanquet.com, is a copyright violation.

Argencove - Banana 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Nicaragua bar - Sept. 22, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Argencove Fine Artisan Chocolate
Banana - 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate - Nicaragua (bar)
Good+++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.11 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 162 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Banana 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Nicaragua (bar) was made in-country* by Argencove Fine Artisan Chocolate (Granada, Nicaragua).

This fine dark chocolate bar was infused with banana pieces and spices (cinnamon and cloves) and had balanced aroma and flavor with rich chocolate (and light, natural fruit/banana) and satisfying warm spice notes.

The sweetness of these ingredients was conveyed without the bar being overly sweet—a nice hat trick for makers, if they have the patience and determination to pull this off. And much appreciated by us.

This might be one of the best banana chocolate bars you'll ever taste.

*This phrase is often used to refer to chocolate that was made from bean-to-bar in the same location where the cacao was grown. Most of the time cacao beans are shipped, out of country, for production into chocolate elsewhere.

Only Child Chocolate - Ginger and Rosemary Walk into a Bar - Apr. 15, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Only Child Chocolate Co.
Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate, Plants and Herbs Theme Week.

Today's Rosemary and Ginger Walk into a Bar (bar) was from Only Child Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). Company founder, Yana, grew up as an only child in Moscow. And, via Chicago, eventually made her way to Portland. After pastry-making and bakery experience, she started her own chocolate company.

The title of today's bar was a clever pun. (It's tax day in the U.S., and a bit of humor and a spring hike in the green hills brightened this day.) And how did this milk chocolate bar with rosemary and candied ginger taste?

This thick, sweet milk chocolate bar had a minty, spicy aroma, and smooth, creamy melt.

The two inclusions played nicely together. The balanced, subtle and natural rosemary flavor was fun. And the ginger added warmth and a light spiciness without being overwhelming.

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.

K'ul Chocolate - Soyle Leve Dark Milk Chocolate bar - Oct. 30, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

K'ul Chocolate

Soyle Leve Dark Milk Chocolate bar

Good + 

Weight: 1.45 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.9 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 217.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar 

Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Draeger's, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Single Origin Milk Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's beautifully packaged Soyle Leve* Dark Milk Chocolate bar was from K'ul Chocolate (Minneapolis, MN).

This "100% Haitian bean" dark milk chocolate was flavored with star anise and cinnamon—in the style of spiced breakfast hot chocolate prepared in Petit Bourges, Haiti. 

Star anise was the dominant flavor, masking some of the more subtle cacao notes. A hint of cinnamon added some warmth; and milk added some creamy texture.

Ingredients: Direct Trade Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Whole Milk Powder, Organic Cacao Butter, Spices

*Soyle Leve is the Creole name for sunrise.

Map Chocolate Co. - "Favorite Flannel Shirt" Pumpkin Babka Caraway Seeds bar - April 21, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Map Chocolate Co.

Favorite Flannel Shirt pumpkin babka with caraway seeds bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 187 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's "Favorite Flannel Shirt" pumpkin babka with caraway seeds bar was from Map Chocolate Co. (Eugene, OR).

The bar's packaging unfolded a bit like a Russian nested doll. Underneath the brown paper outer wrapping was a beautifully illustrated, botanically-themed wrapper. And at the center, was a square chocolate bar, imprinted with an intricate, mandala-like pattern. The flip side was dusted with a tiny riot of pumpkin and caraway seeds, spices, sugar and oat particles.

This bar had a pleasant, faint intriguing aroma that was tough to pin down (dried plum, dessert, light spice with a comfortable top and bass notes). The aroma did have a comforting/comfortable quality, thus the possible connection with "Favorite Flannel Shirt" and "babka" in the name.

A babka typically might contain yeast dough/gluten, but it seemed that organic oats* were used instead to simulate the grain component here.

The base chocolate had relatively bold, dark flavor with a touch of citrus acidity, and bar had a lingering, even finish.

*Ingredients: "cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter, organic pumpkin, organic oats, organic spices, caraway, maple syrup, olive oil, organic brown sugar"

Allergy information: Soy free; may contain nuts and/or dairy due to shared equipment.

Ultimate Superfoods - Ojio Shape Shifter Cayenne bar - Jan. 17, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Made for: Ultimate Superfoods, Inc.
Ojio Shape Shifter Cayenne Metabolism 66 percent bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 193 calories in 2/3 bar
Cost: $5.95 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Ojio Shape Shifter Cayenne Metabolism bar from Ultimate Superfoods, Inc. (Moorpark, CA) looked exciting and a little scary. Do I really want to be a shape shifter?

In addition to spices like turmeric and cinnamon, this 66% cacao chocolate was powered by some cayenne pepper heat and many other flavor and functional inclusions (ginseng, green coffee, garcinia cambogia, pine bark extract, etc.).

Surprise! There was no need to fear. This was a well-tempered bar that broke with a hard snap. And it had well-balanced, rich chocolate and spice flavors. There was no strange medicinal flavor, and this offering did not take the "fun" out of functional chocolate.

Know Foods - Chocolate Chip Donuts - Dec. 28, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Know Foods
Know Better Donuts - Chocolate Chip
Good+
Weight: 2.66 oz. (76 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total package of 6
Calories: 200 calories in 1 donut (+ frosting)
Cost: $9.99 (estimate) for 1 package of 6 donuts
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Holiday Spices and Maple Theme Week(s).

Today's Chocolate Chip Know Better Donut, from Know Foods (Atlanta, GA), looked a little lonely; so it received some homemade "frosting" (made of organic cream cheese, maple (syrup), cinnamon and spices).

This baked good looked like a cross between a bagel and a donut, and appeared to be far healthier than most donuts, even with a rich topping.

Know Foods is building a brand for itself based on products like these Know Better Donuts, billed as: "...natural, non-GMO, grain/gluten free*, high protein, high fiber, low carb and low sodium—and have a near zero sodium index..."

Other health stats of note:

• 8 grams of fiber per donut
• 12 grams of protein per donut
• 6 grams net carbs per donut

Sounds good. These donuts were made with almonds* instead of grains. And the donut tasted better than many gluten-free baked goods. It was substantial and, refreshingly, not too sweet. (It did use allulose, a relatively new sweetener that we know little about.)

The company used Enjoy Life ("vegan, soy, nut, dairy and GMO free") chocolate chips in these donuts, and has plans to incorporate their own chocolate chips in the future.

*Ingredients: water, almonds, chocolate chips (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), apple puree, allulose, organic prebiotic fiber, flax seeds, dried egg whites, apple cider vinegar, organic coconut flour, chia seeds, organic flax flour, coconut oil, leavening (Potassium Bicarbonate), organic sea salt. Contains: egg and tree nuts

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Cinnamon Cayenne 70% Cacao bar - Dec. 24, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Cinnamon Cayenne 70% Cacao bar
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Holiday Spice and Maple Theme Week.

It's a cold December evening, and you're craving a hot drinking chocolate with a kick. What do you do?

Well, you could wrap your mittened hands around today's Cinnamon Cayenne 70% Cacao bar from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

This bar's balanced aroma and flavor captured the steamy essence of spiced drinking chocolate: warming cinnamon with a slightly delayed hot sparkle of cayenne pepper, in a quality, 70% cacao, bean-to-bar chocolate base.

The Cinnamon Cayenne bar also had a pleasing texture, with a relatively creamy/buttery, even melt.

Happy Christmas Eve to all who celebrate. May all your holiday dreams come true.

World Market - Milk Chocolate Chai Spice Filled bar - July 17, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cost Plus, Inc. World Market
Milk Chocolate with Chai Spice Filling bar
Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99.2 g.) in total bar
Calories: 153.3 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market/Cost Plus, Mountain View, CA

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

This Milk Chocolate with Chai Spice Filling bar from Cost Plus, Inc. (Oakland, CA) was packaged in a colorful and fun wrapper. (A monkey holding an umbrella was riding on a festively decorated elephant.)

This thick, sweet bar filled with a caramel-like center had a relatively soft and smooth texture and melt. The chai spices were so light that they were undetectable. Might be a good bar if you have a sweet tooth.

For those watching ingredients: This bar did contain milk, soy, carrageenan and polysorbate. It also carried the notice: "may contain wheat, peanuts, tree nuts."

Neo Cocoa - Dark chocolate toffee brittles with seeds - Dec. 14, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Neo Cocoa

Spiced Pumpkin Seed Toffee Brittle
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total package
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) for 1/2 package
Cost: $N/A - gift from client/friends
Purchased from: N/A - gift



Pistachio, Anise, Orange Toffee Brittle
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1/3 package
Cost: $N/A - gift from friends
Purchased from: N/A - gift

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

Our grand finale for this week featured two items with dark chocolate and seeds: 1.) Spiced Pumpkin Seed Toffee Brittle and 2.) Pistachio, Anise and Orange Toffee Brittle, both from Neo Cocoa (Belmont, CA).

The predominant flavors from these svelte but substantial sheets of toffee came from thin layers of crunchy, buttery, almost rustic brittle made with brown sugar and butter, layered between 72% dark chocolate.

However, the different inclusions in both these toffees made them each unique. The flavors between the chocolate, toffee and seeds, nuts, spices/fruits were very well balanced, natural tasting and satisfying.