Arete Fine Chocolate - India Jangareddygudem 70% Dark Chocolate bar - March 13, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
India Jangareddygudem 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .766 oz. (33.3 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $16.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's India Jangareddygudem 70% Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) was crafted by Arete Fine Chocolate.

This three-ingredient bar contained organic cacao, organic cane sugar and single origin Jangareddygudem cocoa butter.

The chocolate had an enjoyable, complex and subtle tasting profile with light green notes, light spice, and a trace young green coconut/coconut palm sugar. Very smooth and well executed.

Arete Fine Chocolate - India Idukki 70% bar - March 12, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
India Idukki 70% Organic Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .766 oz. (21.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's India Idukki 70% Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Arete Fine Chocolate.

Some cacao beans call for a little added cocoa butter. However, most chocolate makers producing single origin, artisan dark bars don't go the extra step of adding single origin cocoa butter (from the same origin as the cacao beans) to their bars. David and Leslie Senk, the duo behind Arete Fine Chocolate, do this.

Today's three ingredient bar contained organic cacao, organic cane sugar and single origin organic Idukki cocoa butter

This bar had a pleasing chocolate flavor with light spice and very light molasses note and smooth, even texture.

Arete Fine Chocolate - India Anamalai 70% bar - March 11, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Arete Fine Chocolate
India Anamalai 70% bar
Good +++
Weight: .766 oz. (21.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

In the last decade, many more chocolates made with cacao grown in (and flavor inclusions from), India have become more widely available.

Some of the best India single origin bars I've tasted have been made by David and Leslie Senk at Arete Fine Chocolate. Today's India Anamalai 70% Dark Chocolate bar from Arete was purchased as the Senks were relocating their chocolate factory from Milpitas, CA, to Spencer Tennessee. (Bars from both their previous and new locations are featured this week.)

Today's well-tempered Anamalai 70% dark bar broke with a hard snap and revealed a pleasing chocolate aroma with a light spice note. The melt was even, and the texture was smooth almost creamy.

Layered dark chocolate flavors gently bloomed into balanced fruit and molasses notes. This two-ingredient bar was made with cacao beans (from Anamalai* in Southern India) and organic cane sugar.

*The Anamalai hills straddle the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India. The name translates into English as "Elephant Mountains;" and this hilly forested area includes a park, wildlife sanctuary—areas where you might find tigers, elephants, teak trees and waterfalls. There are also farms where cocoa, coconuts and nutmeg are grown.

Chocolats et Cacaos - Favarger - Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline bar - March 10, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolats et Cacaos - Favarger

Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline bar

Good

Weight: 1.166 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $3.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: World Market, N. Scottsdale, AZ

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

Today's imported Dark Chocolate with Hazelnut Praline bar was from Chocolats et Cacaos Favarger (Versoix, Switzerland).

The dark chocolate had relatively robust dried fruit and slight earth flavor notes with a hint of ground, roasted hazelnut.

Zing Bars - Chocolate Hazelnut Vitality bar - March 9, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Zing Bars

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Vitality bar

Good

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.19 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Menlo Park, CA

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

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Vitality bar from Zing Bars (Seattle, WA)

This chocolate covered bar was a combination of chopped hazelnuts, almonds with a "hint of coconut and dark chocolate." It had a slightly chewy, substantial texture; and it contained 10 grams of plant-based protein (primarily from rice and pea protein). And it wasn't too sweet (thank you).

All Zing Bars are certified gluten free.

Caffarel - Creamy Gianduia Chocolate bars - March 8, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Caffarel Chocolate
Gianduia 1865 - Creamy Dark Gianduia Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.34 oz. (38 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 3 squares
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Caffarel Chocolate
Gianduia 1865 - Creamy Gianduia Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.34 oz. (38 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 220 calories in 3 squares
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

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

Happily, today is another double hazelnut day, with not one, but two Gianduia bars from Caffarel Chocolate* (Turin, Italy).

Both were velvety blends of chocolate and finely ground hazelnuts with a satisfying, creamy mouthfeel and melt. (And both were labeled gluten free.) The dark chocolate version was, as expected, a little darker in color and flavor.

*Caffarel was founded in the 1800s in northern Italy. Operations continue in Turin, Italy; and the company is now a subsidiary of Swiss chocolate giant, Lindt and Sprungli.

Caffarel - milk and dark gianduia chocolates - March 7, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Caffarel
Creamy Gianduia Pralines
Good
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g.) / 4.41 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 5 pieces
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Caffarel
Piemonte Gianduia assortment milk and dark with Italian hazelnuts
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.37 oz. (39 g.) / 4.41 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

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

What's better than an Italian chocolate with hazelnuts? Two different Italian chocolates with hazelnuts.

Both these individually-wrapped chocolates had a great nutty aroma and flavor. But the highlight was the creamy melt and mouthfeel, characteristic of gianduia from northern Italy, made with chocolate and finely ground hazelnuts.

The Piemonte pieces also included Italian hazelnuts which helped balance out the sweetness and created a pleasing textural contrast between creamy and crunchy.

Caffarel began making chocolate in northern Italy (Turin) in the 1820s. The company still maintains operations there. However, it is now a subsidiary of Swiss chocolate maker Lindt and Sprungli.