Dick Taylor - Dominican Finca Elvesia bar - Nov. 13, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Dominican Finca Elvesia bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Dark chocolate single origin bars showcase nuanced flavors from a given region, or even a single farm (finca) or plantation.

Today's 74% Dominican Republic Finca Elvesia bar from Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (Arcata, CA) was no exception.

Made with only two ingredients (organic cacao and cane sugar), this DR bar was pure, unadulterated, finely concentrated, rich (subtlely smoky and earthy) dark flavor.

Co-founders Dustin Taylor and Adam Dick put the "craft" in craft chocolate -- from the chocolate itself (and latticed bar molds), to the careful graphic, printing and packaging design. You get the idea these two makers enjoy mastering the art and science of creating and building...just about anything that interests them.

Salazon - Sea Salt and Pepper Bar - Nov. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Salazon Chocolate Co., LLC
Organic Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and crushed Black Pepper
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: (information lost)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Chocolate and salt have become popular partners. Today's Organic Dark Chocolate bar with sea salt from Salazon Chocolate Co. (Eldersburg, MD) goes one step further by adding a light sprinkle of organic finely ground black pepper (from India).

The company founders have built their product line around single origins dark bars with salt and other inclusions. In addition to today's Dominican Republic Sea Salt and Black Pepper bar, other sea salt bars are paired with caramel, coffee, sugar, almonds, coconut and cayenne, respectively.

I enjoyed reading the origin story printed on the bar's packaging:

Origin Story:
"Sitting around a campfire during a backpacking trip in 2009, we were struck with the idea that a salted-dark chocolate bar would be the perfect energy food. So, after visiting organic cacao farms in the Dominican Republic and perfecting the recipe, we launched Salazon Chocolate Co.

Our single-origin (Dominican Republic) organic chocolate is made using only the famous Hispaniola cacao beans, which have been fermented and sun-dried. Then each bar is hand-sprinkled with natural, solar-evaporated sea salt."

Organic Nirvana - Dark Crispy Rice Coconut bar - Nov. 11, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Organic Nirvana
72% Dark Chocolate with Crispy Rice and Coconut bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 154 calories (estimate) in 2/7 bar (per label)
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's "Made with love in Belgium*" Organic Nirvana, 72% dark chocolate bar was made with organic and fair trade certified cacao from the Dominican Republic. (Trinitario beans were used for this smooth dark bar.)

Filled with tiny bits of crispy brown rice and coconut, the bar was evenly infused with coconut flavor and a slightly crunchy texture. The coconut flavor was just strong enough that it was difficult to detect more subtle notes in the chocolate; although there was certainly nothing objectionable.

*This gluten-free, Non-GMO bar was made in Belgium for Belgium's Chocolate Source (Wellesley, MA).

Lillie Belle Farms - The Other One Dominican Republic bar - Nov. 10, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lillie Belle Farms
"The Other One" (Dominican Republic) dark chocolate bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 2/5 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Lillie Belle Farms, Central Point, OR

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's thick, rich and smooth 74% dark chocolate bar from Lillie Belle Farms (Central Point, OR), was made with cacao from a single small, family-run plantation ("Bio-Organic Estate"), in the Dominican Republic. This three-ingredient bar included: "Organic cocoa beans, organic sugar and organic vanilla."

The name of this bar, "The Other One," was inspired by a Grateful Dead song of the same name. (The description on the Lillie Belle website might seem a bit vague to the uninitiated: "The bus came by and I got on..."This is the one, or rather, "The Other One.") But there was nothing vague about this single origin dark bar.

I believe Lillie Belle Farms' Jeff Sheperd crafts single origin bars, like this one. And the company also offers other chocolates and caramels. (Not to digress, but the Lavender Caramel is particularly nice.)

Cacao Prieto - Orchid bar - Nov. 9, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cacao Prieto
Orchid bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao Prieto, online order

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Floral flavors and notes in chocolate are often the first to be lost, or overpowered by acidic or bittersweet notes in dark chocolate.

So, it was a pleasure to be able to unfurl this attractively-wrapped Orchid bar from Cacao Prieto (Brooklyn, NY) to taste a few squares of smooth, 72% single origin (Dominican Republic), organic dark chocolate infused with authentic-tasting orchid oil.

Vanilla comes from an orchid, so this is not such a far-fetched flavor blend as it first sounds. And it was fun to try. I do recommend finishing a bar like this fairly quickly though, as some of the most subtle floral notes do tend to dissipate over a short period once a package or bar is opened.

Cacao Prieto - Mandarin and Bergamot bar - Nov. 8, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cacao Prieto
Mandarin and Bergamot bar
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.00
Purchased from: Cacao Prieto, online order

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

I'm enjoying a few more flavored dark bars from Cacao Prieto (Brooklyn, NY) this week, made with organic, single origin cacao from a family-owned plantation in the Dominican Republic.

Today's Cacao Prieto Mandarin and Bergamot bar hit the flavor trifecta, with well-balanced winning fruity citrus, herby floral, and light spice notes. (Bergamot is one of predominant flavors in Earl Grey tea.) The 72% dark chocolate base was agreeably smooth with a slightly buttery melt and mouth feel. 

Cacao Prieto - Dominican Spice - Nov. 7, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cacao Prieto
Dominican Spice bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight:  .75 oz. (21.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 113 calories (estimate) for 1/4 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cacao Prieto (online order)

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Holiday Spices Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Week.

Cacao Prieto (Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY) is a "beans-to-bar" chocolate maker. The makers -- Daniel (Prieto) Preston and team -- are fortunate to have access to cacao beans from the Coralina Farms plantation in the Dominican Republic, owned by the Prieto family. According to the Cacao Prieto website, this 100% organic plantation has been producing cacao for more than 100 years.

Today's Cacao Prieto Dominican Spice 72% dark bar was made from Organic Criollo Dominican cacao. Criollo beans are known for their subtle, fine flavors.

The chocolate had a pleasing buttery melt and texture; and the smooth dark flavor possessed a hint of slight bitterness in the aftertaste. It was difficult to taste any nuanced Criollo cacao flavor notes, as the wonderfully balanced blend of warm island spices -- cloves, cassia, nutmeg and cardamon -- gave this bar its predominant aroma and flavor.