Chocolate of the Day:

Enzymatic Therapy, Inc.
DGL Ultra - German Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: 2 tablets (approx. 2 grams)
Calories: N/A
Cost: $13.95 for bottle of 90 tablets
Purchased from: Country Sun, in Palo Alto, CA

It's nice to know that there is a "German Chocolate" chewable supplement (with licorice) that's available to provide "soothing, digestive relief" if we need it. And, it was appropriate that I tried this product this week, as today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Licorice Theme Week.

Chocolate is not the only substance with proven health benefits. From what I've read, licorice possesses some anti-inflammatory, stomach soothing properties and other benefits. However, too much of anything is bound to create problems. Possible side effects from eating more than a few ounces of licorice: a chance of elevated blood pressure for those and a possible change/drop in potassium levels. (Note: not all licorice candy is made from real licorice root; some is flavored with anise seed.)

Fortunately, this product from Enzymatic Therapy contained licorice without the sweet component that causes blood pressure issues -- that is, these chewable tablets contained deglycyrrhizinated licorice (with barely a hint of licorice flavor, I might add). And, the German Chocolate flavor (with a hint of coconut and cocoa) was very pleasant. A tasty way to help subdue heartburn.

ChocolateBet: January 10, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Miette (Koppers)
Licorice Lentils
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) (estimate) total bag/package
Calories: 75 calories
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, in San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Licorice Theme Week.

What are licorice lentils you ask?

For those living in the U.S., think little round discs of faintly licorice-flavored dark chocolate, coated with black candy shells -- similar to (Mars) MandM's.

These lentils were good by themselves, and/or...as part of a miniature bowl of hot, steaming licorice lentil soup, made with a Tablespoon of chocolate soy milk.* (Don't laugh, it was better than it looked.)

I'm fairly certain these lentils were made by Koppers (Greenwich Village, New York) and then re-sold by Miette Bakery -- a great little San Francisco establishment that carries unique chocolates as well as their own macarons and baked goods.


*Note: Use caution if you melt these in the microwave. Those little candy shells melt at a much higher temperature than the chocolate inside; so you could end up with faint notes of burnt, toasted marshmallow in your "soup" if you're not careful.

ChocolateBet: January 9, 2012

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Vosges Haut Chocolat

1.) Verde caramel - 2 pieces - Good + - Very Good

2.) Leaf caramel - 2 pieces - Good+

Weight: 1.2 oz. (33.8 g.)/5.4 oz. (152.8 g.) total 18-pc. asst box (estimate)

Calories: 170 calories (estimate)

Cost: $29.00 for 18-piece box

Purchased from: Vosges Haut Chocolat, Chicago, IL

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Licorice Theme Week. Both of these chocolate-covered caramels from Vosges (Chicago, IL), had licorice tie-ins. The "Verde" -- Mexican guajillo chillies + licorice root + dark chocolate + organic pumpkin seeds, and the "Leaf" (or should that be "Leaves"?) -- Aboriginal anise myrtle + dark chocolate  -- were both part of a fun, 9-flavor (2 of each flavor) Exotic Caramel assortment, packaged in a classic Vosges-purple box and bow. 

The Verde was a rich caramel in a small package, with subtle hints of flavor -- that I would have liked to have tasted more of -- and topped with an organic pumpkin seed. I would probably not have guessed that one of these flavors was licorice root unless I'd read it on the description sheet tucked in the box.

I had a similar comment about the Leaf -- a caramel with a dusting of faintly green (leaf) powder. I only picked up vague hints of grass/leaf and bubble gum (not sure where that came from). It was interesting, and relatively pleasant. I would have liked to have experienced a bit more of the Aboriginal anise myrtle -- which I believe comes from a medium-sized tree from the rain forests of eastern Australia that has a anise/fennel flavor.

ChocolateBet: January 8, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Askinosie Chocolate
Dark Milk Chocolate with Licorice bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.)
Calories: 85 calories
Cost: $10.00
Purchased from: Askinosie Chocolate, Springfield, Missouri

Today's "Dark Milk Chocolate on My Tongue Mingling with a Sweet Velvety Licorice" bar from Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, MO), kicks off Chocolate and Licorice Theme Week.

Shawn Askinosie, a small-batch, bean-to-bar maker with an eye toward delivering value to cacao farmers and end consumers, deserves credit for his creative and sustainable packaging. The inner wrap was compostable, and the tie that bound the package was made from "a biodegradable bag of beans shipped to our factory."

This particular chocolate bar was a collaBARation (sic) with a Scandinavian licorice manufacturer (Lakritsfabriken from Ramlosa, Sweden).

And in addition to bits of gluten-free, black licorice from Ramlosa, this milk chocolate bar also contained anise seed pressed into the back of the bar; and Askinosie's single origin cocoa butter, goat's milk powder, sea salt also added flavor.

The front of the bar featured embossed letters, one per square, that spelled out - Askinosie Chocolate. One could spell out a poem, play a game of chocolate scrabble, or write a chocolate ransom note with these letters.

ChocolateBet: January 7, 2012

 
Chocolate of the Day:

Gorenjka
Whole Hazelnuts (Celi Lesniki) bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1/2 bar - 1.76 oz. (50 grams)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 294 calories
Cost: $ N/A
Purchased from: N/A - gift, thank you Ying

There is only one thing better than a great chocolate bar -- one with a good story behind it.

 
This Gorenjka (Slovenia) bar, a gift from a colleague at work, came from the same region her husband was from. The milk chocolate that surrounded an array of superb hazelnuts was very smooth, sweet and creamy, in the European style.

I broke open this bar, and it looked just like the picture on the wrapper -- it was studded with great, fresh tasting nuts that perfectly balanced the sweet chocolate. 

ChocolateBet: January 6, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Maison Bouche
Eggnog Noir (dark) bar
Good
Weight: 1/4 bar - .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) / 2.1 oz. (59 g.) total bar
Calories: 78 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.99 total bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA


Carrying on the eggnog, post-holiday theme from yesterday, I tried Maison Bouche's version of the famous, nutmeg-scented, 'nog combined with dark chocolate. The smooth dark chocolate base was good; however, the flavoring tasted a bit off. It could have been that the expiration date was Christmas-time (a few weeks ago), or that the nutmeg flavoring morphed a bit over time. The Maison Bouche packaging was beautiful as always.

ChocolateBet: January 5, 2012

 
Chocolate of the Day:

Ethel M Chocolates
Egg Nog
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.33 (estimate)
Purchased from: Ethel M Chocolates, LAS Airport shop, Las Vegas, NV

'Tis the week to polish off holiday chocolates -- such as this Egg Nog truffle from Ethel M Chocolates (Henderson, NV).

If you're visiting Las Vegas, you can drop by the Ethel M factory shop (and cactus garden that is colorfully decorated with inflatable snowmen and Christmas characters during the holidays). However, even if you're just changing planes at McCarran International Airport (LAS), you can also stop by the company's shop(s) in the airport.

This Egg Nog chocolate had a smooth texture, and an authentic eggnog taste, with a nutmeg-inflected white chocolate/flavored cream style filling.