World Market - Bark Dark Chocolate with Everything - June 16, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cost Plus, Inc.
World Market Bark - Dark Chocolate with Everything... (bar)
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146.6 calories (per label) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: World Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Cashews Theme Week.

Today's "Bark - Dark Chocolate with Everything..." bar was distributed by Cost Plus, Inc. (Oakland, CA).

The "everything" in the title here I'm guessing is derived from the expression "everything but the kitchen sink."

The Belgian dark chocolate bark came in rectangular bar form and was adorned with five flavor inclusions: pieces of coconut, cashews, bits of dried cranberries and apricots, and a pinch of chipotle chili powder that gave the chocolate a few bursts of spicy flavor.

It was a bit of a jumble, but it was interesting to try.

Silk Chocolate Cashewmilk - June 15, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

WhiteWave Foods
Silk Chocolate Cashewmilk
Good
Weight: 4 oz. (118.3 mL) / 12 oz. (355 mL) in total container
Calories: 46.6 calories in 1/3 bottle
Cost: $missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to the first day (Day #1) of Chocolate and Cashew Theme Week.

While most chocolates this week involve chocolate-covered cashews, or cashews as inclusions in chocolate bars or confections, this first entry today was an alternative (nut) chocolate "milk" beverage.

Today's Silk Chocolate Cashewmilk from (WhiteWave Foods, Broomfield, CO) was advertised as being "free of dairy, soy, lactose, gluten casein, egg and MSG," and having "55% fewer calories and 33% less sugar than low-fat milk." Also, there were "no artificial flavors, colors or funny business," and no saturated fat.

Yes, but how did it taste?

It tasted a bit like commercial chocolate milk. Cashews were high up in the ingredients list, but the nut flavor was relatively mild. (Cashews do have a very subtle flavor, as far as nuts go; so perhaps they are the best choice for a dairy milk-like taste.)

The texture and sweetness level was also similar to regular chocolate milk. There was a very faint chemical/artificial flavor note, similar to what one might find in commercial chocolate milks.

Zokoko - Goddess Milk Chocolate with Coffee bar - June 14, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Zokoko Artisan Chocolate
Goddess Milk Chocolate with Coffee bar
Good ++
Weight: .458 oz. (13 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 69 calories (per label) in 1/5 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar (need to find receipt)
Purchased from: Village Market, SF Ferry Bldg., San Francisco, CA

G'day mates and welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Goddess Milk Chocolate with Coffee bar was made down under, by Zokoko Artisan Chocolate—a bean-to-bar maker based in Emu Heights, NSW, Australia.

The company description for this bar read: "The smooth and velvety milk chocolate is paired with the rich flavour of freshly roasted coffee."

I don't know about goddesses; however, the bar did in fact have a heavenly, creamy texture.

The coffee aroma and flavor were fairly strong. It was difficult to pick out the nuances of the base chocolate flavor with the milk and the coffee, but the combination worked.

Black Mountain Chocolate - Espresso Bar - June 13, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Black Mountain Chocolate
Espresso Bar
Good+++
Weight: .75 oz. (21 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127 calories (estimate per label) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $5.00 (estimate) for 1 bar (part of a larger order)
Purchased from: Black Mountain Chocolate, phone order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's 70% Cacao Espresso Bar came from Black Mountain Chocolate (Winston-Salem, NC), a family owned business that has been offering bean-to-bar chocolate since 2007.

The company began operations near Asheville, NC. Later their "Visible Factory + Kitchen" moved to their present day location in Winston-Salem, NC.

This 70% cacao dark chocolate bar was "dusted with finely ground espresso beans" from Dynamite Roasting Company (Black Mountain, NC). In fairness to Brent Peters and team at Black Mountain, by the time I ate this bar (today) it was past its expiration date. However, it was still very good.

The chocolate had rich, smooth dark chocolate aroma and flavor with dried fruit (raisins) and freshly ground coffee notes. The dusting of finely ground coffee gave it additional dark depth, without smothering the fruit notes that still shone through.

Pamela's - Ambition Bar, Cold Brew Chocolate - June 12, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pamela's Products, Inc.
Ambition Bar - Cold Brew Chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .47 oz. (13.3 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total package
Calories: 63.3 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ava's Downtown Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

The Ambition Bar - Cold Brew Chocolate bar from Pamela's Products, Inc. (Ukiah, CA) was made with cold brew coffee (and green coffee); and was one of 5 different, new caffeinated Ambition Bar flavors from Pamela's.

The company has been producing and working on their expanding gluten-free product line for many years now. Their ginger, chocolate chunk/chip and other cookies were a welcome addition to grocery shelves many years ago when there were few good-tasting gluten-free options available in the U.S.

Today's Ambition Cold Brew Coffee Bar had a warm, pleasing cookie aroma reminiscent of fig bar, graham cracker, dates, blended with chocolate chips and a faint hint of coffee and malt.

The ebony-colored bar had the look and texture of a soft brownie cookie bar. It was satisfying and flavorful without being too sweet. The chocolate chips yielded bursts of rich chocolate flavor and it had a mild coffee and chocolate cookie finish.

The amount of caffeine (70 mg) in this organic and gluten- and grain-free energy bar was clearly listed on the packaging. Very useful for those watching their caffeine intake. (The bar was also vegan.)

TCHO - Mokaccino Organic Milk Chocolate Discs - June 11, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

TCHO
TCHO Bites - Mokaccino Organic Milk Chocolate Discs
Good+ - Good++
Weight: .8 oz. (22.8 g.) / 5 oz. (140 g.) in total package
Calories: 130.8 calories in 4 drops
Cost: $N/A for 1 package (included in a gift bag at an event
Purchased from: N/A - part of a gift bag at an event

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Mokaccino Organic Milk Chocolate Discs from TCHO (Berkeley, CA) were delicious. Creamy organic 45% cacao (dark milk) chocolate discs were infused with the bold flavor of Blue Bottle Coffee* espresso roast coffee.

This gluten free, Non-GMO Bay Area created blend would be a hit with anyone who enjoys coffee and/or mocha blends.

*Blue Bottle Coffee is based in Oakland, CA

Trader Joe's - Milk Chocolate Portfolio - Coffee bar - June 10, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Milk Chocolate Portfolio
Coffee (Milk Chocolate) bar
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 85 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - part of a 12-bar variety box purchased earlier
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) has been offering collections of individually-wrapped dark single origin bars, as well as chocolate bars with flavor inclusions, for several years. These dark (or milk) bars are great for a group tasting experience, or for just one person.

This past year's Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Portfolio (Made in England) contained 2 each of 6 different flavored bars (12 small bars total); and it included this Coffee bar.

Today's Coffee milk chocolate bar contained authentic coffee flavor, making the milk chocolate seem a little darker and richer. The base chocolate, sugar and vanilla also had a slight toffee flavor, creating a tasty finished blend.

These bars contained no wheat or gluten ingredients, but were made in a shared facility.