Ali'i Kula Lavender - Lavender Dark bar - December 15, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Ali'i Kula Lavender/The Lavender Farm, Inc.
Lavender Dark Chocolate Bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.)/ 1.5 oz. (43 g.) total bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.50 total bar (plus any applicable online ordering costs)
Purchased from: Ali'i Kula Lavender/Sweet Paradise Chocolatier, Hawaii

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Lavender Theme Week.

I had the privilege to visit the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm in Kula, in the "up-country" -- on the slopes of Mount Haleakala, on the island of Maui, in Hawaii -- about a year and half ago. It was a beautiful place, and I remember sampling some chocolate gelato with lavender in their small shop during the visit. I made a mental note at the time to, at some point, plan a Chocolate and Lavender Theme Week for this site. So, many months later, this is it.

I'm happy to kick off this theme week by featuring the Lavender Dark Chocolate bar from Ali'i Kula Lavender (also known as AKL Maui, and The Lavender Farm, Inc.), Kula (Hawaii). The 55% cocoa bar was infused with organic lavender oil. I could smell the lovely fresh lavender scent the moment I unwrapped the parchment lined gold foil wrapper. For someone who likes floral smells and tastes, as I do, this bar was a treat.

Hava Kava Hut - Coconut Ginger Kava bar - December 14, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Hava Kava Hut
Dark Chocolate Coconut Ginger Kava bar
OK+ - Good
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) total bar
Calories: 187 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00
Purchased from: Sweet Paradise Chocolatier, Hawaii

Today at lunch, I drove to the San Francisco Bay shore. It was the week of "King" tides in California, the highest of the high tides this year (2012). Some paths, benches and signs at the water's edge were temporarily underwater.

It was cold and gray. Even so, I imagined that this seawater might be flowing toward us from Hawaii. Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. As I contemplated this notion, I nibbled on a Dark Chocolate Coconut Ginger Kava bar from Hava Kava Hut (Kailua Kona, Hawaii), available through Sweet Paradise Chocolatier (Hawaii).

I cannot tell a lie, this bar tasted like it might have come from a soapy flavored plant made into a soda, and then infused into a 70% cocoa dark chocolate bar. Kava root is often ground up and served in half coconut shells, and is thought to create a mellow state of mind (and to help counter motion sickness). Kava flavor has been described as "dirty dishwater" and worse. Visitors to Hawaiian kava cafes often order their kava with POG (pineapple, orange and guava juice). The organic dark chocolate, ginger, coconut and vanilla in this Hava Kava chocolate bar helped cover up this taste.

So, did I feel more relaxed? Not that I could tell. But, the bar, made with kava from Vanuatu (an island nation in the south Pacific ocean), did help me enjoy a walk in the baylands, and a trip to a local zoo after that, where I visited with a happy bobcat and a peacock (not in the same cage). OK, maybe I was more relaxed.

World Market - Coconut Black Lava Salt bar - December 13, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

World Market/Cost Plus
Milk Chocolate Coconut Flakes with Black Lava Salt bar
Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.)/ 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 113 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for total bar
Purchased from: World Market, Reno, NV

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

Part of a new line of flavored sea salt bars, this milk chocolate coconut flavored sea salt* offering from World Market/Cost Plus was an intriguing cross between sweet and savory.

I visualized how it might taste as part of a sauce (with sauteed onions and  for chicken or vegetables, over rice -- a southeast Asian or Indian version of mole sauce. I look forward to experimenting with this concept.

*The Hawaii connection with this tropical themed bar was the black lava sea salt.

Manoa Chocolate - Goat Milk Peru bar - December 12, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Manoa Chocolate
66% Goat Milk - Peru bar
Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.)/ 1.5 oz. (42.55 g.) total bar
Calories: 112 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 total bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, Oahu, Hawaii

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

This Manoa Chocolate (Oahu, Hawaii) 66% Goat Milk bar was made in Hawaii, with cacao from Peru. While the maker's tasting notes described a creamy goat cheese flavor, I probably would not have detected any goat flavor if I'd tasted this chocolate blindfolded. My own tasting notes read as follows: rich and smooth, with no strong flavor spikes; very, very slight bitter or sour aftertaste without being acidic, and very faint floral and earth notes.

Notes: Bars were enveloped in compostable wrapping. The 2 goats (shown) were not included.

Sweet Paradise - Lava Sea Salt Caramels - December 11, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sweet Paradise Chocolatier
Lava Sea Salt Caramels
OK+ - Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) (estimated) for box of 4
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.00 for box of 4
Purchased from: Sweet Paradise Chocolatier, Hawaii

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week, and today's chocolate menu featured lava sea salt caramels from Sweet Paradise Chocolatier (Hawaii).

These chewy caramels were coated with chocolate and adorned with a sprinkle of Hawaiian black lava sea salt.

Sweet Paradise - Chocolate Dipped Tropical Fruit - December 10, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sweet Paradise Chocolatier
Chocolate dipped dried tropical fruit
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226.4 g.) total bag/package
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Sweet Paradise Chocolatier, Hawaii

This past week I featured several mango + chocolate combinations. Today was the first day of "Chocolate and Hawaii" Theme Week, which included sampling pieces of dried apple banana, Maui pineapple, and dried mango -- all partially covered in Belgian dark chocolate, from Sweet Paradise Chocolatier (Hawaii).

As the weather outside turned to winter this month, I imagined touring a cacao plantation near a warm beach in Hawaii -- the only state in the U.S. where cacao is grown. Virtual travel to the islands, made possible thanks to the wonderful magic of chocolate.

Eighteen dollars may sound like a lot for an 8 oz. bag dried tropical fruit, but there were enough flavorful pieces to share with several chocolate fans and friends on a hike in a redwood forest today, with half a bag to spare. And this purchase was much less expensive than an airline ticket.

May you all find time to enjoy a bit of sweet paradise wherever you might be.

Dessert Service - Cioccolato Gelato, Mango Sorbetto - December 9, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Dessert Service (distributor)
1.) Cioccolato Gelato (bindi)
 Good - Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup /1.5 Pints (710 mL) total tub
Calories: 50 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $6.29 total for 1 container/tub
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Mango Sorbetto (bindi)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1/4 cup/1.5 Pints (710 mL) total tub
Calories: 70 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $6.29 total for 1 container/tub
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week. The sun was out, and it was a perfect afternoon for a walk. Good day for a light frozen fruit and chocolate dessert as well.

What's my idea of a "light" ice cream sundae? A martini glass with little scoops of cioccolato (chocolate) gelato and mango sorbetto (sorbet), topped with a sprinkle of trail mix with dried mango, coconut, other fruits and chocolate chips. Only about 246 calories -- almost half what a richer ice cream sundae would be.

The mango sorbetto had a smooth, light and fresh mango taste and consistency. The chocolate gelato had more of a sorbet mouth feel than a creamier gelato (consistent with less fat), but had a rich, dark chocolate flavor.