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) 

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. 

Elements Truffles - Orange Pistachio Turmeric bar - April 10, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles
Orange Pistachio infused with Turmeric
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar/package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Orange Pistachio infused with Turmeric bar was created by Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ). The company produces a line of "Ayurveda Inspired Artisanal Chocolate."

This 70% cacao dark chocolate had a balanced, complex and intriguing orange (orange essential oil) spice aroma, and soft, smooth texture and creamy melt (like a truffle).

Organic, raw cacao butter (Peruvian Criollo) was the first ingredient listed and helped create the creamy texture. The cacao used to make this bar was: "Fair Trade organic cacao ethically sourced from Peru."

Refined sugar does have a powerful ability to attract (or repulse). And chocolates (like this one), made with raw honey instead of refined sugar, do have a different, more relaxed feel to them.

Honey scores lower on the glycemic index than refined sugar, and this chocolate scored a bit better on our (granted, somewhat subjective) perceived sugar buzz index.** If you're seeking to be more centered and balanced, this is a good thing.

This bar was made without dairy, soy/emulsifiers, preservatives, and/or gluten-containing ingredients; and made with a purpose: A percentage of the profits of these bars "go towards education of underprivileged children (www.careforchildren.org)"

*The word Ayurveda comes from Ayur (life) + veda (knowledge)
** After sampling 4,000+ chocolates, one can sense a difference within the first few minutes between a dark chocolate bar made with refined white sugar and sweeteners such as coconut palm sugar, honey or stevia.

Trader Joe's - Golden Spiced Milk Chocolate Bar - July 21, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Trader Joe's
Golden Spiced Milk Chocolate Bar
Good
Weight: .65 oz. (19 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Carlsbad, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) has sourced a variety of chocolates for their label that are accessible in terms of price and availability throughout their chain of retail stores in the U.S.

Most of their dark chocolates have been quite good. Great milk chocolates are harder to find in general, not just at Trader Joe's. Today's Golden Spiced Milk Chocolate Bar had its strong points, but was not one of my favorites.

The texture was smooth with a slightly creamy melt. And crisped quinoa provided some nice texture. The list of spices was impressive and included curry powder, ginger, powder, turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg and black pepper.

The resulting blend was fairly balanced; i.e., it was not too strong or weak; however it was not completely harmonious; and there was a slight artificial flavor. The bar also contained "natural coconut flavor" and vanilla extract. That's a lot of flavor components to juggle.

The bar was fairly sweet, as most milk chocolates are.