Akbal Chocolate Mexicano - Oscuro 72% Higo Almendra bar - Mar. 30, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Akbal Chocolate Mexicano
Oscuro 72% Higo Almendra Ahumada Sal de Mar (Edicion Especial)
Dark 72% Fig, Smoked Almond, Sea Salt (Special Edition) (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) (estimate, no weight listed on label) in total bar
Calories: 296 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (thank you Julie!)

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

Today's Oscuro 72% Higo Almendra Ahumada Sal de Mar chocolate was from Akbal Chocolate Mexicano aka Akbal Chocolates (Playas de Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico). This attractively packaged* 72% cacao dark chocolate fig almond and sea salt special edition bar was made from bean-to-bar in Mexico.

Dried fig and nuts naturally complement dark chocolate very nicely. Add a balanced hint of sea salt and a trace of smoke, and I'm sold.** The dark chocolate was relatively uniform and smooth and not too sweet (thank you!).

*Art on packaging was from Ronaldo Glaubitz

**Ingredients: Cacao, azucar (sugar), higo (fig), almendra ahumada (smoked almond(s)), sal de mar (sea salt).

Akbal Chocolate Mexicano - Chocolate Oscuro Almendras (bar) - Mar. 29, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Akbal Chocolate Mexicano
100% Cacao - Chocolate Oscuro Almendras (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ unknown - gift from a friend 
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (thank you Julie!)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Oscuro (Dark) Almendras (Almonds) (bar) was from Akbal Chocolate Mexicano (aka Akbal Chocolates) located in Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, in Mexico.

The smell of a 100% cacao bar can be very different from the taste one's brain is expecting. Most of this difference can be explained by the lack of sugar or sweeteners.

However, there was no schism or shocking split between aroma and expected flavor with today's ultra-dark chocolate that was made from bean-to-bar in Mexico.

The aroma of this 100% cacao bar was fairly light, with roasted notes. And the flavor was also relatively mild, with a balanced, roasted bitterness. Whole almonds added crunchy, nutty texture and flavor and a welcome, relative sweetness that mellowed the bitterness.

*The three ingredients listed for this bar were: pasta y manteca de cacao, almendras (cacao paste, cacao butter, almonds)

Mexican Chocolate Avocado Mousse - Mar. 28, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Mexican Chocolate Avocado Mousse
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) (estimate) in 1 serving
Calories: unknown 
Cost: $ N/A - multiple ingredients (some old, some new)
Purchased from: N/A - multiple sources

Bienvenidos a (welcome to) Chocolate Banquet. Today we celebrated Day #5 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week with a Mexican-themed chocolate mousse,* made with a blend of ingredients native to Mexico, including: cacao, avocado, vanilla, honey, allspice, and a touch of chili powder.

Melted 81% dark chocolate and cocoa powder provided rich chocolate flavor, and vanilla extract and ground allspice brightened up the deep dark flavor a bit. Ripe avocados added creamy texture; and a few spoonfuls of milk of one's choice, or even ice cream, can enhance this further.

These ingredients were blended together to make a creamy, flavorful, honey-sweetened mousse. (The Maya and Aztec peoples may have used honey from stingless bees as a sweetener or dessert. I couldn't find any stingless bee (Melipolini/Melipona) honey. I used organic honey from honeybees.

Nuts and seeds (peanuts, pecans, pinon nuts and squash seeds) from Mexico would also be suitable, authentic garnishes for this dessert.

*A pudding is generally cooked, whereas a mousse is not. Several recipes call for using a piping bag to apply a mousse like this to a plate or a bowl, as it does make it much more attractive looking. (While it sounded unnecessary, it really does make this dessert look much more appetizing.)

Original Beans - Zoque 88% "Spirited" Dark Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 27, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Original Beans B.V. 

Zoque 88% "Spirited" Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 205 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Hola y bienvenidos (Hello and welcome) to Day #4 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Zoque 88% "Spirited" Selva Zoque, Mexico, Dark, Organic, Vegan (bar) was from Original Beans B.V. (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). This chocolate had bold earthy, dried fruit (dried fig, dried banana), and slightly bitter flavor and finish. I enjoyed the lack of sugar; although some might like a pinch more cane sugar to brighten this up. Tasting notes on the package read: tropical lychee and coconut.

The ultra-dark chocolate was made using Tabasqueño cacao, and supports local Zoque and Tzotzil tribes--who live largely in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas in Mexico, and who have had some relationship with cacao for approximately 4,000 years.

Michel Cluizel - Plantation Mokaya Organic 66% Mexico (bar) - Mar. 26, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Michel Cluizel
Plantation Mokaya Bio/Organic Chocolat Noir 66% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week--and the third French chocolate bar made from Mexican-grown cacao.

Today's single origin (Mexico) Plantation Mokaya Organic 66% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Michel Cluizel (Damville, France).

This bar had an aroma with chocolate fudge brownie, dried fruit (prune), clean green and very faint pleasant/aromatic vanilla tobacco notes. The melt was even and smooth and the texture was slightly silky and buttery.

The flavor was relatively sweet (but not overpoweringly so) 66% cacao chocolate with balanced earth, true chocolate and mellow dried fruit flavor and finish.

The bar contained three ingredients: "Fine cocoa from the Mokaya Plantation" (located in the Province of Chiapas, in SW Mexico); "Pure cocoa butter;" and "Bourbon vanilla pod."

Bonnat - Selva Maya 75% cacao (bar) - Mar. 25, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat 

Selva Maya 75% cacao (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 300 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

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

Today's Selva Maya* 75% cacao (bar) had a light spice, fruit and very faint, fleeting green, aroma; and it was light and fruity and tasted sweeter than expected for a 75% cacao dark bar. It had a gentle complexity to it with very slight earthiness and cocoa flavor in the finish. 

The description on the packaging described the chocolate as "very balanced, fruity" and "intense but delicate." The latter phrase may sound contradictory, but it was accurate.

This three-ingredient** bar was made from "an ancient cacao"...that had been "rediscovered and rescued after many years of research and adventure in the deepest part of the Mayan territory in the heart of Chiapas" (in SW Mexico, north of Guatemala). The unique cacao origin story helps explain the relatively high price ($18.50 USD for this 100 gram bar).

* Selva Maya in English translates to: Maya Jungle

** Ingredients: "Bitter chocolate, cocoa butter, sugar"

Bonnat - Morenita 65% Mexico bar - Mar. 24, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Morenita 65% Mexico (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 167 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week, via France.

Today's French chocolate duo involved a re-tasting of a Madagascar bar from Chapon Chocolatier (France), accompanied by a Morenita 65% Mexico bar from Chocolat Bonnat (France).

The latter Chocolat Bonnat dark milk bar had the heavenly buttery, creamy texture, melt and mouthfeel that Bonnat bars often have. And the smooth rich flavor was lovely too with a light hint of caramel.