Elements Truffles - Ecuadorian Dark infused with Turmeric - Apr. 4, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles
Ecuadorian Dark infused with Turmeric (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in bar
Cost: $3.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Ecuadorian Dark infused with Turmeric (bar) was created by Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ).

The dark square bar had a rich chocolate aroma with a faint hint of coconut, and a creamy, rapid melt. This 85% five-ingredient* offering was sweetened with a touch of honey rather than cane or beet sugar, so it was not too sweet (thank you).

While the golden color of the turmeric** root powder inclusion was not visible, the ultra-dark (85% cacao) chocolate had a warm, slightly bitter flavor from this spice.

Fair trade organic cacao used to make this chocolate was from Ecuador. And cocoa nibs on the back side of the bar added a light soft crunchy texture and concentrated cacao flavor in the finish.

And, like other Elements Truffles bars, it left me feeling somewhat calmer than usual. The lack of an immediate sugar buzz may be one explanation. (Reading about company founder Alak Vasa's interest in Ayurveda and her team listening to vedic chants while they make chocolates at Elements Truffles—and that 25 percent of profits go towards educating underprivileged children—may be another.)

*Ingredients: Organic raw cacao butter, raw honey, organic raw cacao powder, organic turmeric root powder, sea salt.

**Turmeric is a golden yellow spice and medicinal herb made from the orange-yellow tuberous root of the Turmeric (Curcuma longa) plant, and is commonly found in Indian/Asian cooking. It gives curry and other dishes a bright yellow color.

Elements Truffles - Cinnamon Orange Infused with Clove - Apr. 3, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Elements Truffles
Cinnamon Orange Infused with Clove
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Cinnamon Orange Infused with Clove 70% bar was from Elements Truffles (Kearny, NJ).

This square bar had a warm cinnamon and spice aroma, and a creamy, rapid melt.

The blend of flavors included soft, dark chocolate, cinnamon, clove, spice and chewy dried orange pieces—with a light, lingering cinnamon and natural orange finish.

I've found most bars from Elements Truffles to be quite soothing. Perhaps because the company sweetens their bars with honey instead of sugar. Although if you look at the founder origin story, other clues to this conveyed state of mind are revealed:

"Elements Truffles was born at the intersection of two things that make us happy - chocolates and meditation. We are an Ayurveda inspired line of clean chocolates that taste good and does good - for the body, mind, and community." (This is coming from an ex-Wall Street trader who chose to pursue her own chocolate business.)

Tropical Valley Foods - Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger - Apr. 2, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tropical Valley Foods
Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger
Good +
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Next by Nature Dark Chocolate Ginger (round pieces) were created and distributed by Tropical Valley Foods (Pittsburgh, NY).

These dark glossy rounds were flavorful and refreshing. A relatively thick dark chocolate coating surrounded a slightly chewy, golden, sassy-flavored, natural ginger center.

The bright, spicy flavor of ginger will wake you right up, making these good for a pick-me up snack any time of the day—even breakfast.

No gluten-containing items appeared on the ingredients list.

The Good Chocolate - 65% Dark Ginger bar - Apr. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Good Chocolate
65% Dark Ginger bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, San Mateo, CA

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

Today's 65% Dark Ginger bar was made with the company's "Signature Dark" chocolate mixed with granulated ginger (crystallized without sugar). Instead, erythritol, mesquite and stevia were used to sweeten this bar.

The ginger (bits of ginger root and ginger oil) in this dark chocolate tasted authentic. And the bar didn't taste too sweet (thank you).

At less than 100 calories per ounce (88 calories for 1 oz. according to the packaging), this might be a great bar for those either watching their sugar or their weight.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Erythritol, Cacao Butter, Ginger Root, Mesquite Powder, Ginger Oil, Stevia, and Vanilla.

Goodio Craft Chocolate - Chai 50% Cacao bar - Mar. 31, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodio Craft Chocolate
Chai 50% Cacao bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: goodio.com (online order)

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

Today's raw, vegan and organic Chai 50% Cacao bar from Goodio Craft Chocolate (Helsinki, Finland) was made from stoneground cacao.

The bar had a coconut aroma. The melt was fairly creamy. And a variety of chai spices* unfolded in a balanced and pleasing way after the first bite.

*Ingredients: cacao beans, coconut palm sugar, cacao butter, coconut flakes, cashew nuts, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, black pepper. (There were no dairy, gluten or soy ingredients listed.)

Cocomel - Cinnamon Spice Coconut Milk Caramels - Mar. 30, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Distributed by JJ's Sweets, Inc.
Cocomel Bites - Cinnamon Spice Coconut Milk Caramels
Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 237.5 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Menlo Park, CA

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

Today's Cinnamon Spice Cocomel Bites Coconut Milk Caramels were distributed by JJ's Sweets, Inc. (Boulder, CO).

These chewy, chocolate coated, chewy caramel rounds had a warm, authentic cinnamon roll aroma and flavor. And the sweet cinnamon lingered in the finish.

These bites were organic, vegan and made without dairy. 

Theo Chocolate - Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar - Mar. 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate, Inc.
Cinnamon Horchata 45% Milk Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: .95 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.9 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, Scottsdale, AZ

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Cinnamon Horchata* 45% Milk Chocolate bar was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The cinnamon elevated the flavor of this sweet milk chocolate bar.

And, instead of rice milk, which I associate with American horchata beverages, the "rice" came from crispy brown rice embedded in this bar, giving is some crunchy texture as well.

*Horchata is a light-colored, opaque, grain or rice-based beverage, flavored with cinnamon from Latin America. 

Horchata's origins stretch back to North Africa (when the beverage was often made from soaked tiger nuts) and Spain, and the idea was likely brought to Mexico and Central America). 

Horchata (origin likely from a word for barley) refers to a larger class of plant- and grain-based beverages from the Mediterranean. Ingredients for these beverages may include ground almonds, rice, barley, sesame or tiger nuts.

**Ingredients: Organic, Fair Trade Cane Sugar; Organic, Trade Cocoa Beans; Organic, Fair Trade Cocoa Butter; Organic Milk Powder; Organic Crisped Brown Rice; Organic, Fair Trade Crisped Quinoa; Organic, Fair Trade Cinnamon; Organic Ground Vanilla Bean.