Chocolove - Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups - May 28, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolove

Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in 1 package of 2 cups

Calories: 190 calories in 1 package of 2 cups

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's Chocolove Dark Chocolate Almond Cups were made in Boulder, CO using 55% cacao Belgian chocolate.

The chocolate cups were filled with authentic-tasting almond butter. The ground almond filling blended well with the smooth chocolate, resulting in a not too sweet (thank you!), satisfying flavor and texture.

Perfect Bar - Dark Chocolate Almond bar - May 27, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Perfect Bar, LLC
Dark Chocolate Almond Bar
Good +++
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62 g.) / 17.5 oz. (496 g.) in total box of 8 bars
Calories: 310 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $14.99 for 1 box of 8 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Almond bar from Perfect Bar, LLC (San Diego, CA) was one of the best, most satisfying protein bars we've tasted in years.

"The original refrigerated protein bar" was developed in Southern California and the company is run by members of the inventor's family.

The bar contained almond butter, organic honey, milk powder, dark chocolate, organic vegetable oils, fruit and vegetable powders, and other ingredients.

This bar was great for breakfast, and/or as a snack or meal replacement if you're on the go. It helped power two hikes this weekend.

KIND - Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond bar - May 26, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

KIND
Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond bar was part of KIND bar's "nut and spice" group, part of the company's expanding line of nut and fruit bar flavors.

This gluten-free, mahogany-colored bar had a satisfying almond nut crunch and dark chocolate mocha flavor, as promised.

Ingredients: "Almonds, chicory root fiber, palm kernel oil, sugar, honey, glucose syrup, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder, rice flour, cocoa nibs, coffee powder, soy lecithin, madagascar vanilla, salt, natural flavor, cocoa butter."

Probar - Organic Koka Moka Almond Butter - May 25, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Probar LLC
Organic Koka Moka Almond Butter
Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32 g.) in total packet
Calories: 180 calories in 1 packet
Cost: $2.00 for 1 packet
Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

The Organic Koka Moka Almond Butter from Pro Bar (Park City, UT) was packaged in a handy, and relatively generous, single-serving packet.

The company's relatively new line of organic nut butters are described as "The spreadable Probar."

Like most nut butters, the consistency of this Koka Moka butter was spreadable and a bit oily in spots. (I wouldn't try opening this and eating it directly from the packet if you're wearing a nice new shirt.)

Looks can be deceiving. The aroma and flavor of this almond butter was unexpectedly light, with pleasant notes of vanilla angel's food cake and coconut—but not too sweet (thank you!)—vs. the expected "heavier" flavors of chocolate, coffee or even almond. This nut butter would be interesting on a variety of edibles: cupcakes, pancakes, crackers, ice cream, etc.

Chicago Bar Company - RXBar Coffee Chocolate Protein Bar - May 24, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chicago Bar Company LLC

RXBar Coffee Chocolate Protein Bar

Good

Weight: 1.83 oz. (52 g.) in total bar

Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.79 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Today's, RXBar Coffee Chocolate Protein Bar was distributed by Chicago Bar Company LLC (Chicago, IL). It was a compressed protein bar that had a pliable chew, with a slightly medicinal flavor, along with coffee, caramel-date and chocolate notes.

Ingredients list: (3 egg whites, 6 almonds, 4 cashews, chocolate, natural flavors, cocoa, coffee and sea salt" (and I suspect a date or two as well).

Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Baton 60% Cocoa - Espresso - May 23, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate Baton 60% Cacao - Espresso
Good
Weight: .416 oz. (11.6 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 66.6 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

Trader Joe's
Joe's Dark Coffee Squares
Good
Weight: .353 oz. (10 g.) / 4.9 oz. (140 g.) in total package
Calories: 60 calories in 1 square
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today we sampled two chocolate and coffee offerings from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA): an elongated dark chocolate bar with ground espresso, and Coffee Squares—a clever blend of sugar, cocoa butter, milk, very finely ground coffee and vanilla. What's missing? Cocoa solids. But, you may not notice.

Dark Chocolate Espresso Baton
The (organic, fair trade) 60% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Espresso Baton was segmented into six pieces, and was chock full of coffee/espresso grounds and flavor. Enjoy the caffeinated ride. The chocolate itself was smooth and dark with a quick melt.

Joe's Dark - Coffee Squares
While these squares could certainly pass for milk chocolate, notice the word "chocolate" does not appear in this title. The squares do contain coffee and cocoa butter, but no cocoa solids, as noted above.

No surprise, these squares had a very strong coffee aroma. Intoxicating if you love coffee. A little intimidating for others. The square had a unique, slightly chewy soft melt with a sweet coffee and milk chocolate flavor—followed by a bittersweet edge (from all those coffee solids), and a lingering bittersweet coffee aftertaste.

Cocoa Republic - Gran Couva 65% Dark Chocolate with Blue Mountain Coffee bar - May 22, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cocoa Republic
Single Origin Gran Couva 65% Dark Chocolate with Blue Mountain Coffee bar
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (15 g.) / 1 oz. (30 g.) (per label) in total bar
Calories: 88 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

This Single Origin Gran Couva 65% Dark Chocolate with Blue Mountain Coffee (Jamaica) bar was from Cocoa Republic (Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies).

The chocolate makers use only single origin Trinitario* cacao sourced from the Rainforest Alliance Certified, Montserrat Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Society in Trinidad and Tobago. And they make their chocolate "in country."

That is, the chocolate is made in the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago (off the coast of northeast Venezuela), where the beans are grown, vs. shipping the beans to North America, Europe or elsewhere.

The Blue Mountain Coffee in this bar came from Jamaica.

Ingredients: Trinidadian cocoa beans, demerara brown sugar, organic cocoa butter, Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, Non-GMO soy lecithin

The mindfully-sourced chocolate had a slight spice and cocoa aroma which carried over into the flavor. The coffee flavor was very light. It also had a faint taste of sour milk or mold in the piece that was tasted.

*Cocoa Republic described Trinitario cacao as follows: The Trinitario group represents a hybrid collection of types that arose in Trinidad from crossings between mixed Criollo and mixed Forastero types in the late 18th century. There are currently 11 commercial varieties grown in Trinidad and Tobago. This group took the best qualities from each parent plant, resulting in a healthy, sturdy plant with a robust “chocolate” flavour and a range of subtler secondary notes.