Desirs de Provence - P'tit Carre Chocolate - Piment d'Espelette bar - March 28, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Desirs de Provence
P'tit Carre Chocolate - Chocolat Noir Piment d' Espelette bar
Good+
Weight: .282 oz. (8 g.)/ 2.82 oz. (80 g.) total bar
Calories: 42 calories (estimate)
Cost: $9.95 total bar
Purchased from: TWG Tea, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week.

I bought this bar at a tea and gift shop (TWG Tea) while on a stroll through Vancouver, Canada.

It took awhile to find enough bars with "pepper" to do a whole theme week with this ingredient. This 70% dark bar was made in France (and Imported to Canada by Desirs de Provence, France). The piment d' espelette was not particularly spicy; but it is did add some texture.

L'Amourette Chocolatier - Chocolat Noir Cayenne Chili bar - March 27, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

L'Amourette Chocolatier
Chocolat Noir Cayenne Chili
Good - Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.)/ 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1/10 bar
Cost: $4.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week.

This 72% cacao Chocolat Noir (dark chocolate) Cayenne Chili bar from L'Amourette Chocolatier (San Francisco, CA) had a very hard snap, a deep, dark color, and a smooth consistency. The chocolate base contained a blend of Rio Caribe and Carenero Superior beans from Venezuela.

The chili flavor was present, but not overwhelming. My only quibble with this gluten-free product: the bar had a nice chocolately flavor, with a "hint of black currant," but also had a faint chemical taste. 

Madecasse - Cinnamon and Sakay bar - March 26, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Madecasse
Cinnamon and Sakay bar
Good +
Weight: .435 oz. (12.5 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) total bar
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1/6 bar
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Scream Sorbet, in Oakland, CA


Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week.

I was looking for a chocolate that might bridge these two theme weeks, and this Cinnamon and Sakay (bar) from Madecasse Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY), had a foot in both camps.

Made "in country" -- that is, from bean-to-bar in Madagascar --  this 63% cocoa bar base had a fairly robust flavor, with very subtle hints of cinnamon and a sakay pepper* finish. Madecasse founders took their Peace Corps volunteer experience in Madagascar and decided to make bars in the country where the beans were grown to help local people.

I found this bar at Scream Sorbet in Oakland, CA, a store with the best sorbet flavors I've yet tasted -- chocolate flavors included. Each flavor is carefully crafted and has the freshness of a sorbet with the rich satisfaction of an ice cream or gelato.

*The sakay pepper is found "in almost every home and restaurant on the island."

Michel Cluizel - Crispy Pearls with Cinnamon bar - March 25, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Michel Cluizel
Crispy Pearls with Cinnamon bar
Good +
Weight: .891 oz. (25 g.)/ 2.70 g. (76 g.) total bar
Calories: 129 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.25 total bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week.
Today's Crispy Pearls and Cinnamon (pareve) chocolate from Michel Cluizel (Paris France/Michel Cluizel USA - West Berlin, NJ) could have been breakfast in a bar.

The chocolate bar base had a darker roasted flavor than the 55% cocoa would have indicated, with a hint of coffee. Pressed into the back of the bar was a small cup's worth of puffed, lightly sweetened rice cereal that looked a bit like puffed wheat to me; but the ingredient list did say puffed rice. The cinnamon flavor was evenly present throughout the bar without being too overpowering.

Cafe-Tasse - Noir Cannelle bar - March 25, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Cafe-Tasse
Noir Cannelle
Good +
Weight: .99 oz. (28.05 g.) / 2.99 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 148 calories
Cost: $4.00 total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

This 54% cocoa Cinnamon bar from Cafe-Tasse (Belgium) had a relatively smooth milk + soy lecithin mouth feel, and an authentic cinnamon flavor.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week.

Mars - Cinnamon M and Ms - March 23, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mars
Cinnamon M and M's
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 9.9 oz. (280.7 g.) total bag
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: n/a
Purchased from: n/a

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week. Mars M and M's have been appearing in special flavors in recent years. Some flavors debut and then disappear -- such as these Cinnamon M and M's ("made with real milk chocolate").

The Cinnamon flavor made an appearance this past winter, and I haven't seen them since. Fortunately, I bought a bag before they disappeared.

Despite the added lactose and some artificial ingredients that I could do without, these crunchy classics with a twist had just about the right amount of cinnamon flavor.

Chocolate Visions - Cozy Cinnamon bar - March 22, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Visions
Cozy Cinnamon bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .353 oz. (10 grams) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 53 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ info not available
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, Scotts Valley, CA

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

And, today's bar delivered a cloud of finely chopped, toasted pecan pieces and cinnamon enveloped in a smooth 32% Belgian milk chocolate base. This Cozy Cinnamon bar was from Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA).