Quinoa, Almonds, Chocolate - Feb. 3, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

keen-wah, LLC
Chocolate Sea Salt
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4 oz. (113.4 g.) total package
Calories: 130 calories in 7 piece serving
Cost: information no longer available
Purchased from: Abe's Market (online order)

Today's Chocolate Sea Salt quinoa clusters were distributed by keen-wah, LLC (Chicago, IL). These petite, dense crunchy squares were studded with healthy chunks of almond, and drizzled with organic dark chocolate.

These satisfying diminutive, sweet nuggets reminded me of a healthy (gluten-free and non-peanut) version of peanut brittle.

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

Endangered Species - Dark Sea Salt Almonds bar - Feb. 2, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Endangered Species
Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and Almonds bar
Good
Weight: .6 oz. (17.2 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 100 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $3.49 total bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, San Mateo, CA

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


Made with certified gluten-free, non-GMO verified, vegan, kosher and Rainforest Alliance certified 72% cacao, this Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and Almonds bar from Endangered Species (Indianapolis, IN) had deep, dark bittersweet flavor with a slightly bitter, malty finish. Bits of crunchy almonds harmonized well with the tiny bursts of sea salt flavor.

What's in a name? Endangered Species Chocolate has a 10 percent "give-back" program to benefit endangered wildlife and related causes. The company contributes 10% of their net profits to "organizations that support species conservation, habitat preservation and humanitarian efforts" in Africa and elsewhere.

Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Almond Praline - Feb. 1, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate with Almond Praline Filling
Good
Weight: .92 oz. (26 g.) / 16.6 oz. (470 g.) total assortment box
Calories: 138 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today's Dark Chocolate with Almond Praline Filling from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) was smooth and creamy, with dark chocolate enveloping an almond flavored interior.

The almond praline flavored chocolate was part of a larger (36-piece) Trader Joe's "Belgian Chocolate Shoppe" Assortment Box (a "Product of Belgium"*).

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

*Note: Trader Joe's has many suppliers that provide them products that are sold under the Trader Joe's label. The company's buyer(s) have provided customers with a variety of interesting and tasty chocolates over time. However, as with any product, one must read the ingredients to determine if there may be milk products (added lactose), or wheat/gluten (wheat syrup in the fondant sugar and elsewhere). I am hoping that the wheat listed will not bother me; but if you're very sensitive, I'd advise sticking with chocolates with a short(er) ingredient list. 

NatureCrops - Quinoa, Almond bar - Jan. 31, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

NatureCrops
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Made in Argentina and Imported and Distributed by Natural Product Imports, Inc. (Delray Beach, FL) the NatureCrops Quinoa, Almonds and Dark Chocolate nutrition bar contained some soy, but no gluten.

The NatureCrops product line included other bars, and quinoa flakes.

This bar would be a great bar for someone who wanted something high in fiber and not very sweet. There are many times that I just don't want a mouth full of sugar (or any other sweetener used to excess). The dark chocolate was an accent flavor, and the Almonds provided some nutty crunch.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

NuGo Nutrition - Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar - Jan. 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

NuGo Nutrition (Lifestyle Evolution Inc.)
Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar
Good
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.66 (sale)
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week. (Bonus Day), and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar from NuGo Nutrition (Pittsburgh/Oakmont, PA) was enhanced with Non-GMO rice protein crisp and brown rice crisps, providing an alternative to the many nutrition bars packed with soy protein. In fact the packaging stated that the company intended this gluten-free bar to provide "...nourishing food for people with sensitivities to wheat, dairy and soy." The bar also contained dark chocolate, almonds, pumpkin seeds and walnuts.

This bar was one of several gluten-free, pareve bars in the NuGo Nutrition line-up. The company prides itself on using "real" chocolate (vs. "chocolatey" or chocolate-like alternatives made with other vegetable fats added).

Taza Chocolate - Hazelnut Crunch bar

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Hazelnut Crunch bar
OK+ - Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 127 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

The Hazelnut Crunch bar from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) was made with stoneground, organic chocolate, also the dominant flavor in this small-sized bar with big flavor. The "Crunch" was supplied by a flurry of brown rice crisps and bits of hazelnut.

The Taza process for their chocolate was described on their website. Inspired by Mexican stoneground chocolate, the company used/uses similar equipment (Oaxacan stone mills or molinos) to grind and partially refine their cacao beans into a paste that was used hundreds of years ago for cacao consumption in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.

So, yes, Taza chocolates do have "rustic, bold flavor and texture." You might learn to appreciate this authentic flavor over time. Just don't expect super creamy sweet European style chocolate when you first try it.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week.

Note: early cacao/chocolate was consumed as a beverage; and Taza chocolate can be nice melted in hot chocolate as well.

Macadamia Nut Rice Crisps - Jan. 28, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Explore Vietnam (brand)
Milk Chocolate Macadamia Nut Rice Crisps
OK + - Good
Weight: .276 oz. (7.8 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) total box of 18 pieces
Calories: 42.6 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $9.00 total box of 18 pieces
Purchased from: Duty Free Shop, Hanoi Airport; Hanoi, Vietnam

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week.

These "Explore Vietnam" milk chocolates (manufactured by Hawaiian King Candies in Hawaii) were molded into smallish, peanut butter cup-shaped confections -- with bits of hazelnut and rice crisps in them instead of peanuts and peanut butter.

I've done my best to explore Vietnam this past week, and to look for chocolates with both nuts and rice (crisps) or rice flour/crepes. This may sound like an odd flavor trio, however, I've had no trouble finding chocolates with nuts + rice (in some form).

I also sampled some fairly fresh, lightly sweetened mochi (made with rice and filled with red bean or fruit paste, or sometimes chocolate flavoring), with chopped peanuts, and some local ice cream. More on that later.

Today's Explore Vietnam box was adorned with a large color photo of Halong Bay in central Vietnam, a popular tourist location. A boat tour is one of the best ways see some of the more than 1,600 towering "karst"/limestone (sea stack-like) islands in Halong Bay. Having visited this site this week, I can say that it's worth a visit.