Equal Exchange - Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Chips 70% Cacao - Dec. 3, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Equal Exchange
Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Chips 70% Cacao
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42? g.) in 1 serving / 10 oz. (283.5 g.) total package of chocolate chips
Calories: 350 calories (estimate) in 1 small piece of tart made with chocolate chips
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's homemade gluten-free, dark chocolate raspberry tart was made with several ingredients, including Organic Bittersweet Chocolate Chips (70% Cacao), produced in Peru for Equal Exchange (W. Bridgewater, MA).

The crust for this very tasty no-bake tart was made with cocoa powder, finely ground roasted almonds, coconut oil, and small amounts of honey and maple syrup.

The chocolate filling contained melted chocolate chips, raspberry jam, almond "milk" and coconut oil. And the tart was topped with organic frozen raspberries (as no fresh berries were available this time of year).

Raspberries remind me of warmer weather. So, it's challenging to feature a chocolate and raspberry theme week when berries are not in season. However, these frozen raspberries today held up well and looked and tasted bright and refreshing.

Base Culture - Raspberry Cocoa Brownie - Dec. 2, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Base Culture LLC
Raspberry Cocoa Brownie
Good +
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in 1 package/brownie
Calories: 250 calories in 1 package/brownie
Cost: $2.49 for 1 package/brownie
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Raspberry Cocoa Brownie was from Base Culture LLC (Clearwater, FL).

This modern, paleo-friendly and gluten free take on a traditional brownie was made with honey, cashews (butter), coconut (oil and flour) and egg (in addition to cocoa and raspberry). This Kosher brownie contained no grains, wheat, dairy or soy.

It had authentic brownie and raspberry flavor and the texture was somewhere in between fudge brownie and chocolate cake. It was quite sweet, but enjoyable nonetheless.

This raspberry brownie also shows how far we have come in the gluten free baked goods category. Base Culture's single serving packaged baked goods (pumpkin bread, banana bread, almond butter and raspberry brownies) taste closer to the "real thing" and are healthier in many respects. For example, the list of ingredients* was simple and short, and there were not artificial flavors, colors or preservatives in this brownie.

Ingredients: Honey, eggs, cashew butter, raspberry swirl (raspberry, honey), coconut oil, unsweetened chocolate, coconut flour, raspberries, raspberry puree, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, sea salt.

Enjoy Life - Chocolate Protein Bites - Dark Raspberry - Dec. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Enjoy Life
Chocolate Protein Bites - dark raspberry
Good
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 6.4 oz. (180 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $8.49 for 1 package
Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Protein Theme Week, and the first day of Chocolate and Raspberry Theme Week.

Today's Dark Raspberry Chocolate Protein Bites were from Enjoy Life Natural Brands LLC (Chicago, IL). One serving (3 pieces) contained 6 grams of plant protein.*

Enjoy Life offers a variety of cookies, bars (including Breakfast Ovals) and bites that are free of common allergens,* including today's Chocolate Protein Bites, that were made without "wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, casein, soy, egg, sesame, sulfites, lupin, mustard, fish, shellfish, (and/or) crustaceans." These Bites were also Palm Oil free.

These ball-shaped chocolate protein bites had a soft, slightly chewy texture and mild chocolate cookie flavor with flecks of red raspberry (and tiny raspberry seeds) inside—with corresponding fleeting sparkles of genuine raspberry flavor.

There was a very slight artificial flavor that was noticeable but not off-putting. It could have been from the "Natural Flavor" or the sunflower protein or rice protein. "Natural Flavors" can cause a slightly off flavor. One wonders why they are used at all.

Ingredients: Semisweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter), sunflower protein, sugarcane syrup (cane sugar, water), tapioca syrup, cocoa butter, roasted and salted pumpkin seeds (pumpkin seeds, safflower oil, salt), rice protein, cocoa powder, dried raspberries, safflower oil, natural flavor, citric acid.

*Today's Bites were made in a dedicated nut and gluten free facility.

IQ Bar - Chocolate Sea Salt (bar) - Nov. 30, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

IQ Bar
Chocolate Sea Salt (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.87 for 1 bar
Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Sea Salt bar from IQ Bar, Inc. (Boston, MA) contained 10 grams of plant protein (primarily in the form of almonds, pea protein, almond butter).

IQ Bars target an audience looking at "Brain + Body" performance.* This keto and paleo-friendly bar contained "6 Brain Nutrients"**: Lion's Mane, MCTs, Omega-3s, Flavonoids, Vitamin-E and Choline. It also had a natural chocolate flavor and tasted very satisfying.

This bar was sweetened with Erythritol, monk fruit and stevia and was not too sweet (thank you!). It also contained a fair amount of fiber (primarily Non-GMO tapioca fiber). Fiber was 13 g. of the 19 g. of total carbohydrate content. There were 4 g. of Net Carbs. in this bar after subtracting two for the Erythritol.

*Founder, Will Nitze, studied psychology and neuroscience as a Harvard undergraduate.

**Lion's Mane comes from a mushroom said to help support mental clarity. MCTs are medium chain triglycerides often derived from coconut oil. The bar was also labeled Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Dairy Free and Soy Free.

Sinister Labs - Sinfit Protein Cookie - Chocolate Chip Cookie - Nov. 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sinister Labs
Sinfit Protein Cookie - Chocolate Chip Cookie
Good
Weight: 2.75 oz. (78 g.) in 1 cookie
Calories: 310 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $0.99 for 1 cookie
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Sinfit Protein Chocolate Chip Cookie was manufactured for Sinister Labs (Southlake, TX). Sinister Labs offers protein powders, protein-enhanced pancake and waffle mix, caffeinated and non-caffeinated spreads, and protein cookies.

This generously-sized, soft baked, gluten-free* cookie contained 20 grams of protein (soy, milk, peanut) and was "covered with chocolate icing and chocolate chips," yielding a more satisfying chocolatey experience than most chocolate chip cookies offer.

Upon first opening the sealed packaging, there was a slightly artificial or processed aroma, but this dissipated. The cookie was fairly filling and could almost serve as a meal replacer if one was in a hurry or in a remote location.

Not sure what to make of the open jawed skeleton graphic... It looked poised to either offer you a sinister sinful cookie, or take a big bite itself. Take a bite, if you dare!

*The cookie contained no wheat or gluten-specific ingredients, but carried the shared manufacturing space with common allergens notice that many products do. Not certified gluten free, but probably OK. It did contain milk, soy, almond, peanut and sucralose. (While sucralose, an artificial sweetener, is not technically an allergen in the same way that soy or peanuts might be, it can cause an upset digestive system for some.)

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Clif Bar - Builder's Protein - Chocolate Peanut Butter (bar) - Nov. 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Clif Bar
Builder's Protein - Chocolate Peanut Butter (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.4 oz. (68 g.) in total bar
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.19 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Builder's Protein bar—made in Canada and distributed by Clif Bar and Company (Emeryville, CA)—contained 20 grams of protein, primarily from soy (soy protein isolate was the first ingredient listed), peanuts, peanut butter and cocoa.*

Twenty grams of protein* is significant, even for a relatively large (2.4 oz.) single serving bar like this.

This Chocolate Peanut Butter protein bar had much more appealing flavor and texture than many other soy protein bars we've tasted in the past. And, it seemed to be less sweet (thank you). The protein helped mute the beet syrup, brown rice syrup and cane sugar.

The bar had a bit more loft (think puffed, crunchy rice) with peanut butter and chocolate, with a slight caramel soft chew, but without the overly sweet taste. Cocoa and cocoa butter helped provide a satisfying, mild chocolate flavor.

*The same amount (2.4 oz. (68 g.)) of solid, 70% cacao dark chocolate might contain anywhere from 4.56 to 9.5 grams of protein**—along with 28.8 grams of carbohydrates (including fiber) and 26.4 grams of fat. (Cocoa beans used to make chocolate consist of approximately half fat and half solids.**) Dark bars containing higher cocoa/cacao percent numbers (with more cocoa solids) and/or cocoa powder would be highest in protein.

**Protein content numbers found online vary (in part due to different varieties and types of cacao). Fat/solids ratio in cacao may vary with cacao variety and geographic origin (where it's grown). Cacao grown at the Equator might be leaner than cacao grown at 20 degrees away from the Equator (where temperatures are cooler, and cacao tends to contain slightly more fat). Cacao growers/in-country chocolate makers in Hawaii might have as much as 10% or more cacao butter in their beans than cacao grown in Ecuador.

Whole Lotta - Roasted Peanut Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 27, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Whole Lotta
Roasted Peanut Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.98 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's gluten free and dairy free Whole Lotta Roasted Peanut Chocolate (bar) was from Clif Bar (Emeryville, CA).

This relatively new fruit, nut, seed and spice bar contained 10 grams of plant-based protein. The "fruit" was date paste (the first ingredient listed). Dates can act as a binder, sweetener and as some added moistness for many types of compressed bars. This fruit can deliver a powerful, gooey sweetness. However, this bar was not too sweet (and there was no added sugar). Thank you!* The protein and peanuts helped balance out the sweetness.

*Some might think it's odd to be sampling hundreds of chocolates a year, and not be that fond of sugar. But, I'm more interested in tasting the nuances of chocolate and flavor inclusions, and too much sugar can preclude having this experience.