Coco Delice - Sour Cherry Almond Bark - Feb. 6, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Coco Delice
Sour Cherry Almond Bark
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (14.1 g.) in two pieces / 4.5 oz. (128 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 2 squares
Cost: $11.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

All across the U.S., people are embracing or dreading the arrival of Valentines Day (Friday, February 14th, 2014, lest you forgot). I choose to look at this bright red holiday as an opportunity to be thankful for friends, family and special people in my life....and, an opportunity to eat chocolate of course.

Cherries, strawberries and red raspberries are classic "red" fruits paired with chocolate for Valentines Day. This week, I'm going with cherries.

Today's package of Sour Cherry Almond Bark, from Coco Delice (Emeryville, CA), contained a neatly trimmed stack of 9 squares that was full of mouth-watering flavor and texture. Generous, fresh-tasting pillows of tart-sweet cherry and chunks of almond were well balanced with the surrounding dark chocolate.

According to the company's website, Coco Delice this chocolate was vegan, gluten-free and free of vegetable oils and stabilizers.

Not inexpensive (at $11.95 per package), these bark squares were, nonetheless, satisfying enough in small quantities that they could be shared with one or two others without the offerer feeling pouty or deprived. (Field research has shown that it's easier to fall into a state of possessiveness over foods containing chocolate or potatoes.)

BARR Necessities - Vegan Chocolate Cherry "Meal" - Feb. 5, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

BARR Necessities
Vegan Chocolate Cherry It's a Meal
Good+
Weight: 4 oz. (116 g.) in total package
Calories: unknown (500 calories (estimate) in 1 package)
Cost: $4.25 (discounted price)
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week, and the first day of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week.

Each generously sized, gluten, grain and soy-free, Vegan Chocolate Cherry "It's a Meal" from BARR Necessities (Berkeley, CA), was about the size of a large cookie and came individually wrapped.

This product was meal-sized and looked like it might be on the heavy side. However, it was surprisingly light, refreshing, and not overly sweet. Sweetened with coconut nectar and made with almond meal instead of flour, the bits of dried cherries, orange zest gave this treat a warm, bright holiday taste. TCHO chocolate chips, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds contributed good flavor balance and texture. 

Taza Almond Crunch bar - Feb. 4, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Almond Crunch bar
Good
Weight: .28 oz. (8 g.) / .85 oz. (24 g.) in total bar
Calories: 42 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.25 for 1 small (mini) bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today's Almond Crunch bar from bean-to-bar (and drinking chocolate) maker Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) was made with organic, stoneground chocolate, giving it a rustic feel and taste.

This 65% dark chocolate bar, with bits of almond and puffed brown rice, was also certified gluten-free; soy and dairy free; and pareve.

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

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.