ChocolateBet: August 17, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (1/8 of cake)
Dowd and Rogers
Dutch Chocolate Cake Mix - Made with Italian Chestnut Flour (Gluten- and Wheat-free)
Very Good
Wt: ~100 g? for one piece cake; total box of dry cake mix = 14 oz. (408 g.)
Calories: 340 cals for 1/8 cake (+ 100 additional cals for coconut frosting, pecan chips = ~ 440 total)
Cost: $0 - gift (Alec bought earlier)
Purchased from: (Alec thought this was from Whole Foods?)

ChocolateBet: August 16, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 small bars
Waialua Estate (Dole)
Extra Dark Chocolate - 70% cacao
Very Good
Weight: 20 grams (.70 oz.) in 2 small bars; small box comes with 5 bars - for a total package weight of 50 grams (1.75 oz.)
Calories: 104 calories (estimate) in 2 small bars
Purchased from: Cacao Drink Chocolate, in Portland, OR

This Dole Wailua Estate bar was the first chocolate I've seen made from all Hawaiian-grown cacao/beans.* Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. (with the possible exception of small areas of Florida) where you can really grow cacao. While others are starting to make chocolate in Hawaii, it was exciting to see and taste my first U.S.-grown bar.

The 70% cacao chocolate tasted pleasant, with a smooth taste, and no strong distinctive or acidic flavor spikes.

*This small dark chocolate bar was labeled as "Single origin, from the north shore of O'ahu, Hawai'i." I'm guessing that the Waialua Estate area was part of an old Dole (pineapple) plantation. 

ChocolateBet: August 15, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
Canada True/Heart Industries
Maple Cream - Milk Chocolate Maple Cream filled
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .875 oz. ( 25 grams) for 1/2 bar; 1.75 oz. (50 grams) total
Calories: 125 calories for 1/2 bar
Cost: $0 (gift) - Thank you Jasmin!
Purchased from: ? (somewhere near Niagra Falls where Jasmin was on vacation?)

ChocolateBet: August 14, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Canada True/Heart Industries
Dark Chocolate Icewine* Cream filled
Very Good
Weight: 50 grams (1.75 oz.)
Calories: 250 calories for 1 bar
Cost: $0 (gift) - Thank you Jasmin!
Purchased from: (? - perhaps somewhere near Niagra Falls? while Jasmin was on vacation)

*Icewine is a dessert wine made from grapes that are left on the vines late enough in the year/season that they may be frozen when they are picked, before they are fermented.

ChocolateBet: August 13, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Michel Cluizel
Forestiere
Very Good - nice mix of crunchy and smooth layers
Wt: ~.45 oz.
Calories: ~ 70 cals. (estim.)
Cost: ~ $2.00
Purchased from: Cacao Drink Chocolate, in Portland, OR

ChocolateBet: August 12, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Michel Cluizel
Florentine
Very Good -- This round and flat chocolate was slightly crispy, slightly chewy, with an almond and candied fruit layer over a chocolate base.
Wt: ~ 1 oz.
Calories: ~ 150 (estim.)
Cost: ~$2.00
Purchased from: Cacao Drink Chocolate, in Portland, OR

ChocolateBet: August 11, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Theo Chocolate
Rose Caramel
Good + - Very Good -- The quality of the individual ingredients seemed to be quite good; however, the overall taste was bitter (due to the rose?).
Wt: ~ .5 oz.
Calories: ~ 75 cals. (estimate, as information not available)
Cost: ~$2.00
Purchased from: Cacao Drink Chocolate, in Portland, Oregon