ChocolateBet: March 14, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces (halves)
Schurra's (Fine Confections)
Zoria Farms California Dried Apricots (dark choc.)
Very Good
Wt.: ~.5 oz. (14.1 grams) (estim.)
Calories: 65 calories (estim.)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Schurra's in San Jose, CA

ChocolateBet: March 13, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small bar
Arriba - 40% (cacao) (from Origin Collection - small bars)
Very Good
Wt.: 13.5 grams for 1 bar/162 grams for total pkg. of 12 bars
Calories: 78 calories for one small bar
Cost: $13.00* for total package/box of of 4 different small bars
Purchased from: Leonidas - Chocolate Cafe, in Pasadena, CA

ChocolateBet: March 12, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small bar
Leonidas
Venezuela - 72% (cacao) (from single origin collection of small bars)
In between Good + - Very Good and Very Good
Weight: 13.5 grams
Calories: 73 calories in one bar
Cost: $13.00 for total package/box of 4 different small bars
Purchased from: Leonidas - Chocolate Cafe, in Pasadena, CA

I would rate this small, dark Venezuela bar from Leonidas between Good + - Very Good and Very Good (How's that for splitting hairs?)

ChocolateBet: March 11, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small bar
Leonidas
Ghana 60% (from single origin collection of small bars)
Very Good
Wt.: 13.5 grams
Calories: 69 calories in one small bar
Cost: $13.00* for total package of small bars
Purchased from: Leonidas - Chocolate Cafe, in Pasadena, CA

ChocolateBet: March 10, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small bar
Leonidas
Tanzanie 75% (from single origin collection of small bars)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 13.5 grams
Calories: 76 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $13.00 for total package/box of small bars
Purchased from: Leonidas - Chocolate Cafe, in Pasadena, CA

This small, Tanzania dark bar had smooth dark chocolate flavor. What it may have lacked in complexity (a more dramatic flavor arc), it made up for with a nice, even taste -- which some will prefer.

I liked the packaging on these Leonidas single origin bars -- with examples of tribal masks from the different cacao-growing regions.

ChocolateBet: March 9, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
1.) Green Tea (Dark) - Good +
2.) Banana Cream (Milk) - Good +
Wt. ~ 1 oz. (28.3 grams)
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Mignon Chocolate, in Pasadena, CA

I'm on the road again this week, and am eating some chocolates I bought last weekend on a day trip down to L.A./Pasadena area. Both green tea and banana are difficult flavors to pull off I've found. Parts of these flavors seem to get lost, or end up tasting somewhat artificial. These were fairly good.

ChocolateBet: March 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Mignon Chocolate
1.) Limoncello (Dark) - Good +
2.) Lavender (Dark) - Very Good + - Yum
Wt.: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 g.)
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Mignon Chocolate, Pasadena, CA

The limoncello flavored chocolate was good, although it didn't really taste exactly like the lemon-flavored alcoholic drink. Something did not translate exactly right. This may may need an extra dose of lemon flavoring to counteract something else that's going on here when the liqueur is blended with the chocolate; I'm not sure. The lavender flavored dark chocolate was excellent.

The family that started Mignon have an interesting story. The company has roots in the Ukraine and Iran. Mignon Chocolate operates in Southern California, with two locations - one in Glendale and one in Pasadena. (Their factory is in Van Nuys, CA.)