Happy Zoo, MaxCrisp bar - Jan. 23, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Network Food Industries

1.) Happy Zoo Milk Choco
OK
Weight: .35 oz. (8 g.) in 2 pieces
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: 48,000 VD
Purchased from: Mini Mart Van Toan; Hoi An, Vietnam

2.) MaxCrisp bar
OK+ - Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 214 calories in 1 bar
Cost: 10,000 VD
Purchased from: Mini Mart Van Toan, Hoi An, Vietnam

Today was the first Day of Chocolate and Nuts Week, with some rice thrown in for good measure.

I had to buy the Happy Zoo (the first of two chocolates listed above). The cute animal faces printed on the individually-wrapped chocolates made me do it. The chocolate inside was nothing to write home about, but the concept and the animals were fun.

Hoi An (city in Central Vietnam) was bustling with activity. I dodged motor scooters and sidewalk vendors to get to the local Mini Mart today to check out local chocolates in Hoi An; so, feeling grateful to have survived the trip, I picked up a few extra chocolate items to celebrate.

The second chocolate, a MaxCrisp "Milk Choco" bar, contained bits of almond, and rice. It wasn't bad.

I believe both the Happy Zoo and the MaxCrisp bar may have come from Malaysia. (It was difficult to tell from the packaging.)

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Royal Foods - Cashew Nut bar - Jan. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Royal Foods / Asia Pacific Corporation
One Royals - Cashew Nut with Dairy Chocolate bar
OK+
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1/2 oz. piece
Cost: $1.85 (estimate)
Purchased from: co.op mart (grocery store) in Hue, Vietnam

Today was Day #22 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Yesterday, I was happy to find a Vietnamese Cashew Nut bar (from Royal Foods/Asia Pacific Corporation based in Hanoi, Vietnam) in Hue (in central Vietnam).  Even though cacao does grow in Vietnam (I did find cacao fruit at a roadside stand, shown below right),
many chocolate brands on store shelves were made with cacao from (or produced in) other countries.

The cashews I've had this week in Vietnam were very good, so I was hoping that the mild, sweet flavor of these nuts would not be overwhelmed by the chocolate. However, there were only a few bits of cashew in the bites of bar I had. The chocolate had slightly waxy mouthfeel to it (consistent with lecithins used), and while it had about the right level of sweetness for my taste, there seemed to be a slight artificial aftertaste.

Where's the coconut you might ask? I ate this bar with a small handful of toasted coconut pieces.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Granola Cacao bar - Jan. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Love Force LLC
Granola Cacao bar
Good
Weight: 3 oz. (84 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 441 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #21 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Today's Gluten-Free, Rawganic Vegan Energy Bar from Love Force LLC (Cincinnati, OH) contained raw organic walnuts, coconut and cacao (beans). It was sealed in plastic, was fresh-tasting, and had just the right amount of moist, chewiness to it. Raw, organic raisins and dates added sweetness, and sunflower and flax seeds added a bit of texture and heft.

"Raw" was defined (on the bar's label) as ingredients not being heated beyond 110 degrees Farenheit.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Que Dua Coconut Candy - Jan. 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Que Dua
Coconut Candy with Cacao
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 9.89 oz. (280 g.) total package
Calories: 70 calories (estimate)
Cost: (Approximately) $1.80 USD
Purchased from: Outside of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Today was Day #20 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

I watched this Que Dua Coconut Candy (Vietnam) with bits of cacao being hand-made in southern Vietnam, Mekong River delta area (where both cacao and coconuts are grown).

For this candy, fresh coconuts were split open, shredded and stirred by machine in large stainless bowls with natural palm and rice sweeteners until the mixture looked like ivory-colored coconut taffy. Bits of cacao were incorporated. The candy was rolled out and hand cut into pieces and wrapped in edible rice paper, and then outer paper and plastic wraps.

On the boat ride back, we drank fresh coconut water, and ate fresh coconut meat. And, later, at lunch, I bought a cacao pod (yellow and red fruit) and enjoyed some coconut and taro ice creams. I did see some interesting Vietnamese chocolates, but it was too hot outside; they wouldn't have survived travel this week without air conditioning. It doesn't get more authentic than this.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

LUNA Chocolate Coconut Bar - Jan. 19, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Clif Bar and Company
LUNA Chocolate Dipped Coconut bar
OK + - Good
Weight: 1.69 oz. (48 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today was Day #19 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

This Chocolate Dipped Coconut "Nutrition Bar for Women" from Clif Bar (Emeryville, CA) was loaded with different ingredients and added protein, fiber and vitamins, and a good choice for breakfast on the go.

Both the chocolate coating and the coconut were supporting players in the overall flavor mix. And the texture of this barely sweet bar was slightly chewy, and slightly crunchy.

Chocolate was not the primary focus, but it was relatively filling, and kept me satisfied until lunchtime.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Leslie's Organics - Coconut Macaroon Bar - Jan. 18, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Leslie's Organics
Coconut Secret
Coconut Macaroon Bar
Good
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.75 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #18 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks, and I celebrated with another Leslie's Organics (Mill Valley, CA) Coconut Secret bar.

In addition to being organic, gluten-free, dairy free and low-glycemic (sweetened with coconut nectar and crystals* (rather than cane or beet sugar)), the Coconut Macaroon Bar was also kosher.

Unlike the other dark chocolate coated.bars in this Coconut Secret bar family, today's Coconut Macaroon Bar was "topless," meaning that the top and sides were a golden, coconut macaroon color, and only the base was dark chocolate. I like the browned flavor and surface, but a dark chocolate drizzle over the top would have added a little richness and moisture to the coconut, and I would have liked that. I did like that the macaroon bar was not too sugary sweet.

Coconut Palm Sugar Harvesting
*The coconut nectar was harvested from coconut palm trees. If coconut nectar is similar to maple syrup harvested from maple trees, then coconut crystals would be similar to crystals of maple sugar.

I've included photos of the coconut nectar collection process (in Angkor Wat, Cambodia) from this week, shown at right. This man climbed high up into a coconut palm and made small cuts first, then put collection vessel(s) in place to collect the nectar. He'll come back later to collect it.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

delish - Chocolate Granola - Jan. 17, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

delish
Chocolate Chip Granola
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup serving
Calories: 130 calories for 1/4 cup (30 g.) serving
Cost: $4.39 (estimate) for 1 bag
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #17 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

This delish brand gluten-free granola from Walgreens (Deerfield, IL) was dressed up with small chunks of dark chocolate and a hint of coconut. Coconut is a common addition to granolas and complements oats nicely.

I enjoyed this cereal for an early breakfast with a few almonds and some green tea, without milk. This crunchy cereal would also make a good topping for vanilla ice cream, yogurt or sliced bananas. I'll likely add this granola to other gluten-free cereals, with milk or a milk alternative, in the future.

It was great to find a gluten-free granola, like today's entry, in a popular store such as Walgreens. Batches of gluten-free oats in the past two years seem to agree with me more, i.e. may "really" be gluten-free. (Suppliers have done a better job at preventing cross-contamination with wheat/gluten.)

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.