Claudio Corallo - Chocolate Laranja - Nov. 8, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Claudio Corallo
Chocolate Laranja (Chocolate with Orange)
Good - Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total package
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $12.00 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, Palo Alto, CA

On the label affixed to the foil pouch of Chocolate Laranja from Claudio Corallo I found information printed in at least three different languages (English, Italian and French with a bit of Portugese and German). This international labeling reflected, in part, the journey of a small, hand-crafted chocolate from a small island off Africa to a few exclusive outlets in the U.S. and Europe.

The chocolate came about when tropical agronomist and small cacao producer, Claudio Corallo, decided to revive an old strain of cacao on the Terreiro Vehlo Plantation, in Sao Tome e Principe, a small African island nation.

The only place in the San Francisco Bay Area that carried this chocolate was Alegio Chocolate* (Berkeley, CA and Palo Alto, CA). Alegio proprietor, Panos Panagos, served as a curator and virtual tour guide, for those wishing to know more about the source and the story behind this relatively pricey import with a unique flavor. He urged customers to smell, feel and taste this dark, soft chocolate.

The thin bars of chocolate had indeed a very characteristic earthly/loamy, almost tobacco-like smell and taste. The chocolate was also less adulterated (no soy lecithin for a smoother texture, or vanilla -- which can mask some flavors). The chocolate may have lacked the gloss and hard snap of most tempered chocolates, but offered a unique tasting experience.

When I sampled the first bite, the chocolate flavor profile was strong enough that the orange never had much of a chance to shine through. I could detect only a faint orange, citric acidic note. However, subsequent pieces had generous amounts of crystallized orange peel that, thankfully, possessed just the right amount of sweetness -- not too sweet, not too bitter.

*Alegio carries chocolates from Claudio Corallo (Sao Tome e Principe) and also Enric Rovira (Barcelona)

Chocolove - Orange Peel Dark bar - Nov. 7, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolove

Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate bar

Good +

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.)

Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1/3 bar

Cost: $3.00 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Cost Plus/World Market, Mountain View, CA

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

I opened the cheery orange wrapper, and the gold foil liner and broke off a piece of today's Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate bar from Chocolove (Boulder, CO). I could smell dark chocolate and a faint whiff of orange. The 55% semi-sweet, Belgian chocolate base was pleasant, and the orange peel bits tasted natural, and were small enough to impart a nice, uniform citrus accent flavor.

I enjoy a bar that inspires. And, I could see eating this bar plain, or melted with a bit of Cointreau and added to a vanilla ice cream sundae, or blended into chocolate orange souffle. All attractive possibilities.

To paraphrase the John Keats poem* printed on the inside of the wrapper: "A thing of beauty (or a good bar of chocolate) is a joy forever...Its loveliness increases..."

*Chocolove chocolate bars come with love poems inside the wrappers.

Chuao - Orange bar - Nov. 6, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chuao Chocolatier
orange-a-go-go bar
Good
Weight: .924 oz. (26.4 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 136 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

This attractive "orange-a-go-go" bar from Chuao Chocolatier (San Diego, CA) bustled with flavors: 60% dark chocolate, candied orange peel, bergamot orange and orange extracts. Each flavor in this sweeter than expected, high-octane bar seemed to be jostling for top position. A-Go-Go, indeed.

Three Twins - Orange Confetti ice cream - Nov. 5, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Three Twins
Chocolate Orange Confetti ice cream
Very Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (85 g.) / 1 Pint (473 g.) total container
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $3.50 (sale) for 1 container
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

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

A well-made chocolate ice cream is an underrated pleasure. A well-made chocolate ice cream with high-quality flavor additions is a gift. Today's organic chocolate ice cream with orange oil and flecks of dark chocolate from Three Twins (Petaluma, CA) was very good -- creamy, natural tasting, and well-balanced with orange undertones and rich chocolate flavor. The chocolate flecks added some texture and taste.

Warning, if you like ice cream, you may be tempted to have seconds helpings of Three Twins flavors. This one was no exception. I'll likely try pairing this flavor with the company's "Dad's Cardamom" or "Madagascar Vanilla" ice cream in the near future.

John and Kira's - Orange Rosemary bar - Nov. 4, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
tangy orange + garden rosemary bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.75 oz. (77.8 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

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

The "tangy orange + garden rosemary" bar from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA) was made in partnership with the company's Urban Garden Partners, who provide ingredients like the fresh rosemary in today's bar. One of these partners, the Common Good City Farm, in Washington, D.C. -- an urban farm and education center -- was highlighted on the packaging that enveloped this bar.

John and Kira's 40% milk chocolate bar, with caramel overtones, was infused with a great balance of orange peel and fresh rosemary flavors. 

John & Kira's Bergamot chocolate - Nov. 3, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Just Us Bergamot chocolate
Good +  - Very Good
Weight: .766 oz. (21.7 g.) / 5.75 oz. (163 g.) total box
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $ 32.00 for 15-piece box -- cost already noted in previous entry for different flavor
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week, and an opportunity to try another orange-related chocolate from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA). This chocolate was part of the company's Every Flavor 15-piece Collection box.

John and Kira's "Just Us Bergamot" squares were enrobed with a thin layer of 62% dark Valrhona chocolate. Flavored with organic and fair trade earl grey tea from "Indulgashena tea co-op in Sri Lanka," this dark chocolate square imparted a rich flavor "with slight orange overtones."

A cup of hot Constant Comment (orange and spices) or Earl Grey tea would be a perfect pairing with this flavorful chocolate. Both tea and chocolates kept me warm on a cold, windy fall day.

John and Kira's Angelic Oranges - Nov. 2, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Angelic Oranges
Good +
Weight: .33 oz. (9.44 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in 9-piece box
Calories: 50 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $29.00 in 1 box of 9 pieces
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

This 9-piece box of bright, cheery orange chocolates from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA) looked fresh enough to have come right from the tree.

These domed, orange beauties may appeal to white chocolate fans as well. Inside a thin, 62% Valrhona dark chocolate shell was a creamy white chocolate ganache, flavored with orange juice, orange peel, and a hint of Indonesian vanilla.