Lily's - Double Chocolate Crunch bar - Dec. 31, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lily's
Double Chocolate Crunch bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Marketing, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Crunchy Chocolate Week.

Today's Double Chocolate Crunch bar was distributed by Lily's Sweets, LLC (King of Prussia, PA).

The crunch in this bar was supplied by crisped brown rice and the texture was a hearty mix of creamy and crunchy. Tiny chocolate chips were embedded in this bar as well.

This Non-GMO, certified gluten free 40% chocolate bar was sweetened with stevia and brown rice syrup.

Primal Chocolate Crunchy Caramel 85% bar - Dec. 30, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Eating Evolved

Primal Chocolate Crunchy Caramel with Organic Coconut Sugar 85% Cacao (bar)

Good

Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 140 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (1 serving) of bar

Cost: $4.49 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Crunchy Chocolate Theme Week.

The Primal Chocolate Crunchy Caramel with Organic Coconut Sugar 85% Cacao (bar) was made by Eating Evolved (Setauket, NY). The company offers a line of Primal Chocolate bars, Coconut Butter cups, as well as customized chocolate bars.

Today's dairy and soy free, paleo, vegan, 4-ingredient, organic bar delivered a high-percentage (85%) cacao experience, with a very light touch of coconut and maple sugar sweetness and crunch.

Ingredients: organic cacao, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter, organic maple syrup

Loving Earth Organic Dark Mint Bar with Crunchy Raw Cacao Nibs - Dec. 29, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Loving Earth
Organic Dark Mint Bar - Vegan Chocolate Truffle with Peppermint Essential Oil and Crunchy Raw Cacao Nibs
Good
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Crunchy Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Organic Dark Mint Bar was from Loving Earth* and "Made in Australia from Imported Ingredients." The organic cacao was sourced from Peru.

This 72% dark, gluten, dairy and cane sugar free bar had a soft crunch (nibs) and slightly soft, cocoa butter melt and mouthfeel. (Today's chocolate-powered, winter walk took place on a sunny, cold day, and cold can influence texture.)

The chocolate (made with raw cacao butter and nibs) like most raw chocolates was smooth in flavor, without fully highly developed acidity or roasted flavors.

Ingredients: organic cacao (72%), organic virgin cacao butter, organic cacao powder, organic raw cacao nibs, organic raw agave nectar, organic peppermint essential oil (less than 1%)

*It appears that Loving Earth is based in Upper St. Clair, PA; and the chocolate is made in Melbourne, Australia.

barkThins - Dark Chocolate Blueberry with Quinoa Crunch - Dec. 28, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ripple Brand Collective, LLC

barkThins 

Dark Chocolate Blueberry with Quinoa Crunch

Good +

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40g.) / 4.7 oz. (133 g.) in total package

Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $4.99 for 1 package

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

Welcome to Day #3 of Crunchy Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate barkThins were made for Ripple Brand Collective, LLC (New York, New York), which is owned by The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA).

These Blueberry with Quinoa Crunch barkThins were similar to other flavors from the barkThins family. The package held a generous amount of chocolate "bark" pieces containing a flavor inclusion.

Yesterday's dark mint barkThins pieces were peppered with peppermint candy. Today's barkThins contained fruit (sweetened blueberries) and gained added crunch from glazed quinoa bits. It was a balanced, satisfying flavor blend.

barkThins - Dark Chocolate Mint - Dec. 27, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

barkThins
Dark Chocolate Mint
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 4.7 oz. (133 g.) in total package
Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Crunchy Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Mint barkThins were "manufactured exclusively for" Ripple Brand Collective, LLC* (New York, NY).

These dark, bark-like snack pieces were generously studded with bits of peppermint candy, making them fairly sweet and crunchy. Dark chocolate was a good choice. (Milk chocolate may have made these barkThins too pliable, sticky and very sweet.)

*The barkThins brand was made for Ripple Brand Collective, LLC—an entity that was purchased by The Hershey Co. in 2016. The barkThins were Non-GMO Project Verified and contained Fair Trade ingredients.

Chuao Chocolatier - For the Love of Peppermint (bar) - Dec. 26, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chuao Chocolatier

for the love of Peppermint (bar)

Good

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar

Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA

Happy Holidays, and welcome to Day #1 of Crunchy Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's "For the Love of Peppermint" (bar) was from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA). The company was co-founded by two Venezuelan brothers in 2002. 

This chocolate bar was one of at least three holiday-themed bars the company has offered this season. Today's bar was the company's "ode to the wonder and glee of the season...dark chocolate...mixed with crushed candy canes..."

When opening the package for this bar, the aroma of cooling peppermint wafted out. This peppermint was a prominent part of the tasting experience. The slightly bold dark chocolate took a back seat to the sweet but powerful mint candy. The bar offered a refreshing, wake-up, holiday experience. And the candy cane bits did add crunchy texture to the otherwise smooth dark chocolate.

Merry Chocolate Christmas - Chocolate Covered Tangerines, Advent Calendar - Dec. 25, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Nature to Go

Dark Chocolate Covered Tangerines

Good

Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package

Calories: 240 calories in 1/3 package (2 servings)

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

Friedel

Advent Calendar - 24 Milk Chocolate Figurines

Good

Weight: .10 oz. (3.1 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total package

Calories: 15 calories in 1 piece

Cost: $N/A - gift (Thank you Bill!)

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

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Dark Chocolate Covered Tangerines
As children, we found tangerines in our stockings on Christmas morning. Today's dark chocolate covered tangerine pieces from Nature To Go (distributed by Food Castle Inc. (Vernon, CA)) recalled those childhood memories.

Working with preserved citrus and chocolate can be tricky. The pieces of dried tangerines enrobed in dark chocolate didn't quite match the illustration on the front of the package (they were more compressed in dried form), but were fun to try nonetheless.

Advent Calendar

Chocolate advent calendars were also fun growing up. Although there was the problem of six children remaining patient, and taking turns opening the tiny doors with chocolate items behind them. And it took the wisdom of Solomon to figure out how to split one small treat six ways. (No wonder they were retired after a few years.)

Even though the last Advent Calendar door is traditionally opened on Dec. 24th (Christmas Eve), I waited until Christmas morning to reveal the last of 24 milk chocolate figurines, an image of old St. Nick himself. The tiny Santa milk chocolate tasted better than most chocolate novelty items, and was gone in a flash.

This Friedel Advent Calendar was made in Germany, Produced by Rubezahl Schokoladen GmbH.