Nibble Chocolate - Apple Cinnamon Super Nibbles - Dec. 17, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nibble Chocolate 

Apple Cinnamon - Super Nibbles

Good

Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece

Calories: 66 calories (estimate) in 1 piece

Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece  

Purchased from: Nibble Chocolate, Old Town, San Diego, CA

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

This morning's Apple Cinnamon Super Nibbles were from Nibble Chocolate (San Diego, CA).

These chocolates were infused with a touch of warm cinnamon spice, wrapped in a thin sheath of golden brown, naturally sweet apple (think fruit leather) and sliced diagonally across the top for a unique look.

These Super Nibbles would be at home on any holiday dessert plate.

Nibble Chocolate - Blueberry Coffee; Strawberry Chia Seeds Sea Salt - Dec. 16, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Nibble Chocolate

Blueberry Coffee - Super Nibbles
Good ++
Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Nibble Chocolate, Old Town, San Diego, CA

Strawberry Chia Seeds Sea Salt - Super Nibbles
Good - Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Nibble Chocolate, Old Town, San Diego, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Fruit Week.

Today's confections were from Nibble Chocolate (San Diego, CA), and were purchased (as part of an assortment box) recently from Nibble Chocolate's Old Town San Diego location.

These uniquely-shaped, cylindrical confections, diagonally sliced, were full of natural flavor. And the thin sheets of fruit that formed the outside wrappers added a touch of color and the perfect amount of fruit sweetness, without these chocolate Super Nibbles being too sweet. The texture was hearty with a soft chew; and the chocolate filling was made with quality chocolate.

The Blueberry Coffee flavor will please coffee-lovers.

Tru Fru - Real Strawberries in Dark Chocolate - Dec. 15, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tru Fru, LLC
Real Strawberries freeze-dried fresh and immersed in Dark Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 4.2 oz. (119 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1/4 package
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Fresh berries are harder to find in December, which is why freeze-dried fruits and powders adorn many seasonal chocolate bars. Freeze-dried fresh fruit can perk up confections as well.

Tru Fru, LLC (South Jordan, UT) offers an entire line of freeze-dried fresh fruit pieces ensconced in glossy chocolate. Today's Real Strawberries freeze-dried fresh and immersed in Dark Chocolate from Tru Fru, LLC (South Jordan, UT) yielded bursts of slightly crunchy, pleasantly tart, fresh strawberry flavor. 

Cavalier Belgian Chocolatier - Dark Berries bar - Dec. 14, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cavalier Belgian Chocolatier
Dark Berries bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Fruit Week.

Today's Dark Berries bar was from Cavalier (Eeklo,  Belgium)
This Non GMO dark chocolate bar, made with UTZ certified cocoa, was made without conventional sugar. Instead, the relatively smooth bar incorporated "sweeteners with stevia.*"

The sweetener blend was relatively natural tasting; although the ingredients list was a bit long. And with increased processing and each added ingredient, in any bar, there's a possibility natural cocoa notes will be muted. The balanced berry flavor blend included raspberry, blueberry and black currant.

*Ingredients: Unsweetened Chocolate, Dextrin, Erythritol, Cocoa Butter, Inulin, Oligofructose, Dried Raspberries, Dried Blueberries, Dried Blackcurrants, Soy Lecithin as an emulsifier, Vanilla Flavor, Steviol Glycosides as a sweetener.

Chocolove - Filled Strawberry in Dark Chocolate bar - Dec. 13, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolove 

Filled Strawberry in Dark Chocolate bar

Good +

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar

Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $2.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Filled Strawberry in Dark Chocolate bar was from Chocolove (Boulder, CO). 

This semisweet dark chocolate (55% cocoa) bar was filled with pillows of strawberry marmalade.

The chocolatier's description included these words: "The subtle fruity notes of African cocoa beans playfully swirl together with the sweet tart flavors of fresh ripe strawberries."

This week is focused on fruit. However, if this was a chocolate and poetry themed week, then Chocolove bars and confections would certainly be highlighted. The company has included printed verse on the inside of their chocolate wrappers almost as long as they've been in existence (1996).

Today's piece: "Sonnet 49: Against That Time, If Ever That Time Come" by William Shakespeare. Not exactly a joyous ode to strawberry picking and chocolate sampling on a light summer's day. It was more like spotting approaching dark winter* clouds; but it was thought-provoking nonetheless.

*We're bracing for winter here in Northern California. Winter is only 8 days away; but the palm trees outside betrayed no trace of the season's change today. 

Royal Hawaiian - Macadamia Nut - Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mango - Dec. 12, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Royal Hawaiian - Macadamia Nut, Inc.

Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mango 

Good

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total package

Calories: 200 calories in 1 package

Cost: $0.50 for 1 package (2 for $1.00 sale)

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

At the heart of today's Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mango pieces were roasted, Hawaiian-grown macadamia nuts from Royal Hawaiian Macadamia Nut, Inc.

These "mac" nuts were covered in dark chocolate and infused with pomegranate and mango flavor.

Royal Hawaiian - Macadamia Nut - Dark Chocolate Blackberry Goji - Dec. 11, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Royal Hawaiian - Macadamia Nut, Inc.

Dark Chocolate Blackberry Goji 

Good

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total package

Calories: 200 calories in 1 package

Cost: $0.50 for 1 package (2 for $1.00 sale)

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Blackberry Goji pieces were made possible by the Royal Hawaiian Macadamia Nut, Inc.

Roasted, Hawaiian-grown macadamia nuts were covered in dark chocolate and infused with tart blackberry and tropical goji.

A fruity, berry aroma wafted up to greet the taster, after this snack-size package was opened. The macadamia nut centers were mild and had a soft crunch.