JoJo's Chocolate - Chocolate Bark 70% Dark Chocolate Pistachios, Dried Cranberries, Almonds - Dec. 20, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

JoJo's Chocolate LLC 

Chocolate Bark 70% Dark Chocolate Pistachios, Dried Cranberries, Almonds

Good +

Weight: 2.4 oz. (68 g.) / 8.4 oz. (238 g.) in total package of 7 bars

Calories: 320 calories in 2 bars

Cost: $10.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bark 70% Dark Chocolate Pistachios, Dried Cranberries, Almonds from JoJo's Chocolate LLC (Orem, UT).

JoJo's Chocolate was created by Jodie Jones (JoJo) after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. The desire to eat and snack healthier led to experimenting with batches of chocolate barks and other treats with less sugar than conventional chocolates. 

These rectangular 70% dark bars had a pleasing dark chocolate aroma with a hint of fruit. Pressed on the back of each one were dried cranberries, pistachio and almond pieces. These bars were smooth yet flavorful. And, best of all, they weren't too sweet (thank you)!

Magnum - Double Cherry Truffle ice cream bar - Dec. 19, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Unilever
Magnum Double Cherry Truffle (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 3.04 fl. oz. (90 mL) / 9.12 fl. oz. (270 mL) package of 3 ice cream bars
Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information for 1 package of 3 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Today's Magnum Double Cherry Truffle bars were from Unilever, the ice cream colossus* based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Each individually-wrapped bar contained cherry ice cream with a "dark chocolate ganache swirl, dipped in a chocolatey coating, cherry sauce and milk chocolate." Complicated and mysterious, in a good way.

Made with Belgian chocolate, this bar was quite tasty, even if the long list of ingredients was a little off-putting.

*Unilever and Nestle are the global market leaders in ice cream. According to one source, Unilever owned an estimated 400 different brands worldwide in 2016.

Torn Ranch Signature Reserve Chocolate Covered Apricots - Dec. 18, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Torn Ranch
Signature Reserve Chocolate Covered Apricots
Good - Good +
Weight: 3.18 oz. (90 g.) / 9.5 oz. (269 g.) in total tin
Calories: 300 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

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

Today's Signature Reserve Chocolate Covered Apricots were from Torn Ranch (Petaluma, CA).

An embossed tin contained six, large (whole) California glace apricots covered in signature dark chocolate. Each plump, premium apricot was wrapped in gold foil.

The inner fruit was the best part. Only slightly tart, these sweet, moist fruits (think fresh apricot nectar, in the flesh) were completely covered in a chocolate shell. (Torn Ranch also offered/offers half-dipped apricots and oranges.)

Located in the Napa-Sonoma wine country, the self-professed foodies at Torn Ranch have been specializing in fruit, nut and chocolate offerings for decades (40 years). And it shows.

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.