ChocolateBet: July 13, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

4/5 bar
Artisan du Chocolat
Ginger and Lemongrass (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 1.59 oz. (45 g.) total bar
Calories: 190 calories
Cost: $6.00 for total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week. I like to make my own teas. Pouring a cup of boiling water over coin-sized slices of fresh, peeled ginger, and/or chopped lemongrass -- with a drizzle of honey, is an easy recipe for a satisfying herbal tea. So, naturally, I was interested in trying this Ginger and Lemongrass chocolate bar from London-based Artisan du Chocolat.

This 40% milk chocolate bar was a bit too sweet for me; but fairly well balanced in terms of flavorings. It offers something a little fun and different, and nothing that will offend. Findings in a Chocolate Garage tasting: This bar paired surprisingly well with blue/stronger cheese(s), and fruit.

ChocolateBet: July 12, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Rococo Chocolates Ltd.
Rococo Bee Bar - Organic Dark Earl Grey Tea
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) total bar
Calories: 105 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.00
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building location, in San Francisco, CA

Rococo Chocolates (based in London) makes a large and a small version of their Organic, dark Earl Grey Tea bar. This Bee Bar (with small bees on one side of the bar) is the smaller, 20-gram version. Rococo wrapper designs often incorporate images of historic-looking molds that might have been used for chocolates.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: July 11, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

2 petite bars
Maison Bouche
1.) Jasmin - Good - Good +
2.) Bergamot - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (guesstimate for 2 petite bars -- no info given on label or website for petite bars)/ 3 oz. (84.9 g.) (guesstimate for total package of 12 tiny bars)
Calories: 90 calories
Cost: $18.00 (part of 12-pc set)
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building location, in San Francisco, CA

This tiny, adorable, flavored 40% milk chocolate bar assortment was from Maison Bouche (based in Oakland, CA). Each of the 12 petite bars was scored into 15 even tinier squares. I bought them because of their floral and tea flavors. Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

I usually enjoy natural floral flavors infused into chocolate(s). However, I associated this Jasmin-muguet scent and flavor too closely with perfume (it was not the same Jasmine flavor as you'd find in certain Asian Jasmine teas), which made this bar less yummy for me. The citrusy Bergamot (primary flavoring for Earl Grey tea) fared better with me, because I associated this flavor with tea. So much of life is about managing one's expectations, and realizing what predispositions you bring into a situation.

ChocolateBet: July 10, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Kitchen T.L.C.
Chocolate Teacups - Earl Grey & Lavender Tea in Dark Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: .21 oz. (5.9 g.) (estimate) /2.5 oz. (72 g.) total tin
Calories: 31 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ part of a larger order
Purchased from: (online order)


Dark chocolate is very versatile, and pairs well with most all flavors. I'm a lavender fan and, happily, I've found that lavender tea, natural lavender essence, or even candied lavender buds, mix very nicely with dark chocolate. Today's dark chocolate teacup is no exception. Kitchen T.L.C. has infused Earl Grey and Lavender tea into dark chocolate to come up with a winning result for those who appreciate floral flavors.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: July 9, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 teacup

Kitchen T.L.C.

Chocolate Teacups - Jasmine in Dark Chocolate

Good + - Very Good

Weight: .21 oz. (5.9 g.) (estimate) / 2.5 oz. (72 g.) total tin

Calories: 31 calories 

Cost: approximately $12.00 per tin

Purchased from: (online order)

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week. Kitchen T.L.C., is a Montana-based company that offers a variety of tea-related items, including chocolate teacups. Today's teacup flavor was Jasmine in Dark Chocolate. Pinkie fingers up and out, and sip that tea in style, you all.

ChocolateBet: July 8, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Scharffen Berger
Milk Chai Truffle
Very Good
Weight: .48 oz. (13.6 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 72 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.25
Purchased from: Scharffen Berger, in Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week. The Scharffen Berger  location in the San Francisco Ferry Building also carried individual chocolate truffles -- including this milk chocolate chai piece with a smooth, flavored milk chocolate ganache and an attractive molded design on top.

I opened the small 2-piece box in the "to go" bag and the smell of chai tea spices wafted out. Although this truffle was a bit sweet for me, it  was a nice way to start the morning.

ChocolateBet: July 7, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 servings
Cowgirl Creamery
1.) Chocolate Mousse - Very Good
2.) Earl Grey Panna Cotta - Very Good +
Weight: 3 oz. ea. (85 g. ea.) x 2 (estimates)
Calories: 175 x 2 = 350 calories (estimates)
Cost: $3.75 + $3.00 = $6.75 total
Purchased from: Cowgirl Creamery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

When I see the Cowgirl Creamery logo, I think of good food -- mainly cheeses. However, this morning I enjoyed two Cowgirl Creamery desserts: a chocolate mousse that had just a hint of coffee or espresso flavor, and a smooth, creamy Earl Grey Panna Cotta. Both were quite good.

Today was the first day of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.