Spicely - Rosemary Orange Chocolate - Jan. 30, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Organic Spices Inc.
Spicely Rosemary Orange Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: .2 oz. (5.6 g.) / 3 oz. (84 g.) in total tin
Calories: 30 calories (estimate) in 1 piece/disc
Cost: $11.99 (less $2.50 discount) = $9.49 for 1 tin
Purchased from: Spicely, online order

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

These Spicely Rosemary and Orange infused, organic chocolates were from Organic Spices Inc. (Fremont, CA).

The disc-shaped pieces had subtle, natural flavors that were tough to pin down at first. I first thought I smelled and tasted a hint of ginger.

The fact that rosemary is not paired often with chocolate made it tougher to recognize. I picked some fresh rosemary from my backyard and it was indeed a close match to the faint herb aroma and flavor in this chocolate. The orange peel was tough to detect as well but contributed to the almost spicy, "bright" flavor note.

Citrus and rosemary are often companions in savory dishes (lemon herb chicken); and it was fun and different to experience them together in chocolate.

Jelly Belly - Sunkist Dark Chocolate Orange Sticks - Jan. 29, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jelly Belly Candy Company
Sunkist Dark Chocolate Orange Sticks
Good
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 2.55 oz. (72 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 package, 4 pieces
Cost: $2.69 for 1 package
Purchased from: Orchard Supply Hardware, Mountain View, CA

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

These Sunkist Dark Chocolate Orange Sticks from Jelly Belly Candy Company (Fairfield, CA) contained natural tasting, soft citrus gel centers that were covered in chocolate.

These orange sticks were gluten free and peanut free (made in a peanut-free facility), and had no added coloring.

Jelly Belly and Sunkist co-branded products included these sticks, and a range of non-chocolate items such as fruit gems, orange slices, and lemon and lime jelly beans.

Baron Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate with Orange bar - Jan. 28, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Baron Chocolatier (European Chocolate Milano)
Dark Chocolate with Orange and Almond bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 100 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Michael's, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. Chocolate with orange and almond flavors and textures blend nicely in bars, confections and desserts, and this was also the third item this week with all three flavors.

Today's smooth, 50% cocoa Baron Chocolatier (European Chocolate Milano, a division of The Milano Group*) was similar to yesterday's orange and almond bar, but with a bit more dark chocolate flavor. The bar broke with a hard snap (a sign of a good temper). Almond pieces appeared throughout the bar. And the subtle orange flavor added a hint of sweet citrus.

This bar was GMO Free and Kosher.

*The Milano Group business started in Poland 30 years ago, and grew into a larger company, with  off-shoots/different divisions, and a U.S. location in Buffalo Grove, IL.

The Fresh Market - Bittersweet Chocolate Orange Almond bar - Jan. 27, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Fresh Market
(made for)
Bittersweet Chocolate Orange with Almond Slivers bar
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 206 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.69 for 2 bars
Purchased from: The Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

This Bittersweet Chocolate Orange with Almond Slivers bar was made in Italy for The Fresh Market (Greensboro, NC).

The dark milk bittersweet bar broke with a hard snap (a sign of a good temper) and bits of almond were immediately visible throughout. The orange flavor (supplied with flecks of candied orange peel) was subtle and natural tasting.

The size was perfect for a single serving, or two. Many dark chocolate bars being sold now are three times this size, and I find I end up throwing chocolate away (a small crime) when I buy these larger bars.

Quaranta - Nougat with Orange Peel, Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 26, 2015

Nougat Chocolate of the Day: 

Industria Dolciaria Quaranta Srl
Nougat Passion - Orange Peel and Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 141 calories in 30 g. serving
Cost: $4.49 in total bar
Purchased from: Crossroads International Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

This rectangular, cream-colored soft Nougat Passion bar from Industria Dolciaria Quaranta (Caravaggio BG, Italy) was a visual feast -- loaded with tiny dark chocolate chips, almonds and hazelnuts, and colorful striplets of candied orange peel.

The sweetness of the soft nougat dominated, but the other ingredients contributed to a well-balanced flavor and texture blend. The nuts added crunchy texture and helped to balance the sugar.

Enstrom Candies - Almond Toffee Single - Jan. 25, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Enstrom Candies
Almond Toffee Single
Good+
Weight: .75 oz. (21 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ 0.99 for 1 packet/bar
Purchased from: The Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

This petite Almond Toffee Single bar from Enstrom Candies (Grand Junction, CO), packed a lot of good flavor in a single serving.

The core of this tiny bar was a slab of buttery, crunchy toffee with generously sized pieces of almond that was enveloped in dark (61% cacao) chocolate.

The convenient single-serving size was large enough to satisfy, and small enough to avoid over-indulgence.

Amazing Grass - Sweet and Savory Almond Bar - Jan. 24, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Amazing Grass
Sweet and Savory Almond
Whole Food Energy Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA


Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week, the chocolate of the day was this Sweet and Savory Almond energy bar from Amazing Grass (Newport Beach, CA).

Gluten and Soy Free, Organic and Vegan, this Green Superfood Almond Whole Food Energy Bar was also "cold processed." I'm assuming keeping temperatures down helps preserve nutritional value.

Rather than a chocolate coating, organic chocolate chips were incorporated into the bar, along with a long list of other ingredients. Normally, a long list means additives, preservatives, emulsifiers and such, but not here.

The bar contained a blend of greens, fruits and vegetables, and an Amazing Grass Green Superfood blend found in the company's other bars as well. The green blend included grasses, alfalfa, spirulina, spinach, and broccoli.

As indicated by the term "whole food," generous layers of whole almonds, peanuts, and cashew pieces were visible in this energy bar.