Ritual Chocolate - Bourbon Barrel Aged 75% bar - July 11, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ritual Chocolate
Bourbon Barrel Aged 75% Cacao bar
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Bourbon Barrel Aged 75% Cacao bar from Ritual Chocolate (Park City, UT) was made from a blend of cacao nibs that were aged in High West Distillery* bourbon whiskey barrels for several months.

This 75% Cacao dark chocolate bar had a dark chocolate and slight bourbon aroma. The vegan,  relatively thin, bar had an even, smooth melt—and a complex, smooth and uniform dark chocolate flavor with notes of coffee, very slightly smokey, bourbon-soaked fruit (mild cherry), light oak and honey, and a slight nuttiness.

The bar came with this evocative tasting suggestion: "Best enjoyed alongside an alpine babbling brook with a flask of your favorite whiskey."

*Based in Park City/Salt Lake City (Utab), the High West Distillery is a "ski-in gastro-distillery." Their Old Town Park City mountain location (approx. 7,000 ft. in elevation) is based at the bottom of "Quittin' Time" ski run near the Town Lift. 

Lake Champlain - Filled Bourbon Caramel bar - July 10, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lake Champlain

Filled Bourbon Caramel bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 3.25 oz. (92 g.) in total bar

Calories: 425 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $3.69 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Bourbon and Whiskey Theme Week.

Today's Filled Bourbon Caramel Dark Milk bar was from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT). 

Made with dark milk 43% cocoa dark milk chocolate, this bar was a bit sweet, but over the course of one day and evening, I still managed to eat the whole bar.

Vermont-crafted Mad River Distiller's bourbon added a tasty accent flavor to the soft caramel filling and helped balance the sweetness.

Wella Bar - Hazelnut Cacao Chilled Organic Protein Bar - July 9, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wella Bar

Hazelnut Cacao Chilled Organic Protein Bar

Good +

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 11.2 oz. (320 g.) in total box of 8 bars

Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $24.00 for 1 box of 8 bars (approx. $3.00 each)

Purchased from: Wella Bar, online order 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Refrigerated protein and energy bars with honey seem to be enjoying a surge in popularity this year. Today's Wella Bar Hazelnut Cacao Chilled Organic Protein Bar was distributed by Lockhart Fine Foods (Lockhart, TX).

The company produces a line of chilled, honey-sweetened, protein bars, including some with chocolate—mixed with nuts/nut butters.

The number one ingredient in this gluten-free bar was organic hazelnut butter (dry roasted hazelnuts, cashew butter, sunflower oil, coconut oil). The number two ingredient was organic honey.

And, speaking of honey, the Wella Bar website included information about bees and the Bee Kind Initiative, and included the reminder that 1 out of 3 bites of our food is linked to the pollination work that bees do for us.

The bar contained 8 grams of protein, and was relatively low in sodium (20 mg).

Honey Stinger - Vanilla and Chocolate Flavored Waffle - July 8, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

EN-R-G Foods, LLC dba Honey Stinger

Honey Stinger - Vanilla and Chocolate Flavored Waffle

Good

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in total package

Calories: 140 calories in 1 waffle

Cost: $1.75 for 1 package

Purchased from: ZombieRunner, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Gluten Free Organic Vanilla and Chocolate Flavored Waffle was from EN-R-G Foods, LLC dba* Honey Stinger (Steamboat Springs, CO).

This ultra-thin, round waffle had a soft crispy-chewy texture and the aroma of a honey-sweetened baked good. The gluten-free, organic waffle had a pleasant vanilla flavor with a hint of chocolate.

And, this securely packaged treat is suitable for fueling a hike, or I'm sure any one of many other activities printed on the waffle packaging: "ski, wrestle, fish, bull ride, climb, lift, surf, split wood, ride"...etc.

*dba stands for "doing business as"

Heavenly Organics - Peanut Chocolate Honey Patties - July 7, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Heavenly Organics
Peanut Chocolate Honey Patties
Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) in 1 package of 3 patties
Calories: 170 calories in 3 patties
Cost: $1.79 for 1 package of 3 patties
Purchased from: Country Sun

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

Today's Peanut Chocolate Honey Patties from Heavenly Organics were distributed by Fairfield Organics, LLC (Keota, IA).

Made with only 4 ingredients (raw organic white honey, unsweetened organic dark chocolate, organic defatted peanut flour and Himalayan sea salt), these organic patties were gluten, soy and dairy free and made without traditional refined sugar.

The dark chocolate shell is made with 100% cocoa.

Elements Truffles - Ginger Black Pepper bar - July 6, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles
Ginger infused with Black Pepper 70% Cacao bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: ZombieRunner,  Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Ginger infused with Black Pepper 70% Cacao bar was from Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ).

This raw, dairy-free bar was sweetened with raw honey and contained no refined sugar. It had very pleasing authentic ginger flavor with a very subtle hint of black pepper.

The cacao used to make this bar was "ethically sourced" from Ecuador. And added cocoa butter helped give this bar a slightly soft bite and buttery texture.

Heavenly Organics - Pomegranate Chocolate Honey Patties - July 5, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Heavenly Organics
Pomegranate Chocolate Honey Patties
Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) in 1 package of 3 patties
Calories: 160 calories in 1 package of 3 patties
Cost: $1.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Pomegranate Chocolate Honey Patties from Heavenly Organics were distributed by Fairfield Organics, LLC (Keota, IA), and contained only three ingredients: raw white honey, 100% (unsweetened) dark chocolate* and pomegranate flavor. (Thank you!)

The company's Honey Patties line includes multiple flavors, including original, mint, double dark, and this week's pomegranate and peanut.

These organic and gluten-, soy- and dairy-free patties provided a distinct contrast in flavors. A taste of very sweet honey filling was followed by a slightly bitter, unsweetened dark chocolate (coating) flavor and finish, followed by a more balanced aftertaste. The pomegranate flavor was very subtle, but may have contributed to the contrast in flavors.

The three small patties in one package were easily shared with others or enjoyed as a satisfying single serving. As with every filled chocolate, be careful they are stored in a cool, dark place and not in a back pocket or somewhere where they might be squished.

*The organic honey and chocolate were both Fair for Life certified.