Devnaa - Saffron Caramel, Mango Fudge - Feb. 16, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Devnaa

Saffron and Pistachio Caramel
Good +
Weight: .485 oz. (14.2 g.) / 7.77 oz. (220 g.) in total 16-piece box
Calories: 73 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $26.70 for 1 box
Purchased from: NotOnTheHighStreet.com, online order

Mango Fudge
Good
Weight: .485 oz. (14.2 g.) / 7.77 oz. (220 g.) in total 16-piece box
Calories: 73 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $26.70 for 1 box
Purchased from: NotOnTheHighStreet.com, online order

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

Eight different India-inspired chocolates (2 each) were nestled together in this Devnaa (UK) Signature Chocolate Collection box.
(Brother and sister team, Roopa and Jay Rawal, founded Devnaa and were influenced by Indian family traditions and sweets.)

Packaged in a brightly-colored, pink and purple, tiffin*-inspired carbboard box, this 16-piece collection included today's two chocolates.

First, I tried the company's Saffron and Pistachio Caramel. Beneath the outer round of sweet white chocolate that was dusted with pistachio bits, was a heavenly soft caramel center redolent of saffron (a favorite flavor of mine). I couldn't have been more pleased with the flavor of this filling.

The second piece, a square of dark chocolate covered Mango Fudge, also had the taste of real mango. The fudge in this case was what I might call a mango-tinged "white" fudge, infused with authentic tropical mango flavor.

*"Tiffin boxes are widely used in India as lunch boxes and food carriers with compartments for different foods and a handle for easy transportation." The tiffin set I have is a stack of small stainless steel containers, that work well for hikes and picnics as well as lunchboxes. I recommend them.

ChocolaTree - Rose Saffron - Feb. 15, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

ChocolaTree
Rose Saffron
Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.4 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 55.5 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 for 1 piece
Purchased from: ChocolaTree, Sedona, AZ

Today was Day #7 of Valentines Chocolates Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and India Theme Week.

I've been interested in Indian spices, snacks and other flavors for several years now. I'll be featuring some chocolatier offerings that incorporate these flavors into chocolate bars and confections.

I'm also blending some of my own chocolates that I hope capture the spirit of India -- at least from an American perspective, and given that I haven't actually been to this very large and diverse country.

I love the use of flowers in Indian dishes, including marigolds, kewra, onion, drumstick, banana, orange blossoms, roses (petals and rose water), and saffron.* Roses are also popular this Valentines Day weekend.

Today's Rose Saffron chocolate from ChocolaTree (Sedona, AZ) incorporates two of these floral ingredients from the above list. This chocolate had a velvety melt and texture, was suffused with authentic rose flavor. It was also gluten free, dairy free and soy free.

I also sampled a ChocolaTree white chocolate elephant flavored with frankincense which tasted as intriguing as it sounded. My thoughts wandered to Indian elephants (especially male elephants with tusks) that are being killed by poachers in India. Best wishes to those who are in a role to help protect this endangered species.

* Kewra water is made with an extract distilled from the pandanus flower.
**Saffron is a spice made with the red-orange stamens from the saffron crocus flower (Crocus sativa).

Moonstruck - With Love, Heart chocolates - Feb. 14, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.

Chocolate Fudge Buttercream
Good - Good +
Weight: .475 oz. (13.5 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories for 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece/$9.99 for 4-piece assortment
Purchased from: Andronico's Community Markets, Los Altos, CA

Hazelnut Praline Heart Truffle
Good - Good +
Weight: .475 oz. (13.5 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories for 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece/$9.99 for 4-piece assortment

Happy Valentines Day to all. If chocolate was part of your celebration, I hope you enjoyed it on this heart-shaped day.

These two Valentines Day Chocolates from Moonstruck Chocolate (Portland, OR) were the remaining two pieces in a 4-piece Valentines assortment.

The Chocolate Fudge Buttercream had a bittersweet dark exterior. Stenciled across the top was a pretty "with love" design in white lettering. Inside was an an almost fluffy, whipped creamy, chocolate buttercream center.

The second piece was a beautiful red heart filled with treasure. Inside the Hazelnut Praline Heart Truffle was a wonderful and complex blend of creamy, crunchy, sweet nutty textures and flavors.

Moonstruck - Vintage Merlot, Pink Champagne chocolates - Feb. 13, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.

Vintage Merlot Sea Salt Caramel (milk)
Good
Weight: .475 oz. (13.5 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece

Pink Champagne Heart Truffle
Good
Weight: .475 oz. (13.5 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece

Today was Day #5 of Valentines Chocolates Week.

Happy Valentines Day Eve all. These two sweetheart chocolates were made by Moonstruck Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR).

The Vintage Merlot Sea Salt Caramel was topped with a generous sprinkle of wine-colored sea salt crystals. Inside the gem encrusted milk chocolate covering was a soft, chewy caramel filling, creating an attractive blend of flavors and textures.

Not every chocolate confection needs to be dark and mysterious. Moonstruck's Pink Champagne Truffle was a pretty little thing, with a speckled, pale pink, heart-shaped shell. Inside was a bright layering of flavors -- white chocolate and then a burst of raspberry flavor.

Lake Champlain - Valentines hearts - Feb. 12, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Milk Chocolate Caramel Heart
Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) /3.2 oz. (90 g.)
Calories: 55 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $13.99 for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Heart
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.)
Calories: 55 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $13.99 (estimate) for 1 package of 8 pieces
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

This red and pink, heart-shaped pair of filled chocolates from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT) came nestled in a clear plastic, rectangular 8-piece box, with a short length of bright pink ribbon. tied around the box.

I enjoy slowing unwrapping filled chocolates shapes like this. Eventually you get to bite into a piece and find out what's really in the middle.

Both of today's chocolates offered a sweet center -- especially the milk chocolate heart with a sweet, flowing caramel inside. A bit too sweet for me, but many will enjoy this.

The second chocolate, a Dark Chocolate Raspberry heart had a dark chocolate covering that contained a soft and smooth, fresh-tasting raspberry and chocolate ganache filling.

ChocolaTree - Raspberry raw chocolates - Feb. 11, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

ChocolaTree

Raspberry Mama
Good - Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: ChocolaTree, Sedona, AZ

Cosmic Raspberry
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: ChocolaTree, Sedona, AZ

I really enjoyed a recent stop at ChocolaTree (Sedona, AZ). The chocolate display case in this progressive cafe + marketplace oasis beckoned to us as we entered. And the wide range of raw and organic chocolates, made from Ecuadorian cacao, immediately invited a closer inspection.

The chocolates came in attractive molded shapes and natural colors, many with stencil patterns across the tops. Unique chocolates included a white chocolate elephant. This wonderful little elephant came in two flavors when we visited: a rose saffron, or infused with frankincense.* (More on this elephant and these flavors soon.)

Today, because of the proximity to Valentines Day, I selected two ChocolaTree raspberry chocolates. The faceted, dome-shaped "Raspberry Mama" was made with raspberry leaf and, like other ChocolaTree chocolates was mild but flavorful, and not too sweet. (Sorry folks, no sugar buzz, just satisfying natural flavor here.)

The "Cosmic Raspberry" had a delicate stencil pattern across the top that was a little difficult to see until I held it up to the light. It depicted what looked like a cacao pod growing on a tree.

On biting into this chocolate my taste buds were surrounded by a whirlwind of authentic raspberry flavor, and the promised "honey sunburst" came seconds later. A very nice chocolate for Valentines Day, or any other occasion.

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

*Frankincense is a fragrant gum resin from a tree (Boswellia) found on the Arabian peninsula and Northeast Africa, mentioned in the Bible as one of the gifts carried by the 3 wise men (Magi) to Jerusalem. 

ChocolaTree - Goji Bliss, Bee Love - Feb. 10, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

ChocolaTree

Goji Bliss
Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: ChocolaTree Organic Oasis, Sedona, AZ

Bee Love
Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.22 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocola Tree, Sedona, AZ

What could be more appropriate than a little more bliss and love for Valentines Day week. I selected this duo -- the Goji Bliss and the Bee Love -- from ChocolaTree (Sedona, AZ) -- for Day #2 of Valentines Day Chocolates Week.

The Goji Bliss square was a pretty golden ivory (with cacao butter) and pink (goji berries) layer on a dark chocolate base.

The Bee Love square dark chocolate was dusted with tiny grains of yellow pollen and tasted like a spoonful of honey with cocoa butter -- a very pleasing sensation and taste.

Both of these chocolates had a fast, even melt and mouthfeel (think pure cocoa butter or coconut oil) and lacked the "rush" that often accompanies conventional chocolates, as ChocoloTree has sought to avoid processed sugar.

Why raw chocolate? Raw* (unroasted chocolate) typically yields a smoother flavor profile with a gentler finish, often without the more complex, high, low or bitter notes of roasted cacao. Some will like this and others may miss the roasted flavors. Also, theoretically, more of the nutritional elements in cacao are preserved when temperatures are kept lower.

The ChocolaTree Organic Oasis was a combination cafe and marketplace (shop) that offered a range of organic, gluten-free and dairy free entrees, soups, salads, drinks and desserts and -- oh yes, organic, raw* chocolates in a case by the front entrance. The shop also carried local and wild-crafted ingredients and items.

A friend and I ate dinner out back in a patio seating area. Arizona winters are generally mild enough that you can enjoy sunny, warm days and eat outside on milder evenings, while you are reading about far off cities covered in snow.

*Raw chocolate is made with unroasted cacao beans. Instead beans are ground and processed until smooth at temperatures not exceeding a certain temperature -- in this case, 115 degrees Farenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius).