Harper Macaw - Winter's Cheer 70% Dark Chocolate, Candied Orange Peel, Dried Cranberry bar - June 12, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Harper Macaw
Winter's Cheer
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Harper Macaw, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Ginger and Citrus Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week.

Today's Winter's Cheer 70% Dark Chocolate, Candied Orange Peel, and Dried Cranberry bar was from Harper Macaw (Washington, D.C.). The bean-to-bar chocolate makers hope that customers will savor the rainforest-grown, fine flavored cacao they use; and they help support threatened land and reforestation efforts near their cacao sources in Brazil.

Flavorful Brazil-grown cacao in today's bar complemented bright, citrus, tangy and tart sweet fruit flavors,* in an offering originally designed for fall and winter--when a Winter's Cheer bar would light up a gray day. But, this chocolate would be enjoyable any time of year.

"Ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, candied orange peel, and dried cranberry."

Atypic Artiste Chocolatier - 50% Milk Chocolate Lemon Myrtle (bar) - June 11, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Atypic Artiste Chocolatier

50% Milk Chocolate Lemon Myrtle (bar)

Good - Good +

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

Calories: 183 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.75 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Ginger and Citrus Theme Week. 

This 50% Milk Chocolate Lemon Myrtle bar was from Atypic Artiste Chocolatier (South Melbourne Market, Victoria, Australia).

It had a green herbal/citrus (lemon verbena-like/myrtle) aroma with very faint, fleeting roasted, light plant latex, coconut and dairy notes. The melt was very creamy; and the flavor was all milk chocolate sweetness, but there were a few glimmers or authentic lemon myrtle flavor that were quite nice, and complemented the chocolate very nicely as botanical inclusions go.

*Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is a flowering plant native to Queensland, Australia, used in teas, liqueurs, and other beverages, breads, cookies and other confections. 

Divine Chocolate - Rich Dark Chocolate with Refreshing Lemon 85% Cocoa Sao Tome (bar) - June 10, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Divine Chocolate
Rich Dark Chocolate with Refreshing Lemon 85% Cocoa Sao Tome (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 serving (9 squares) of bar
Cost: $4.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Easy Market, Mountain View, CA

Rich Dark Chocolate with Turmeric and Ginger 85% Cocoa Sao Tome (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (9 squares) of bar
Cost: $4.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Easy Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Ginger and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's pair of Organic Rich Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (Sao Tome) bars with flavor inclusions were from Divine Chocolate.*

Divine's "Rich Dark Chocolate with Refreshing Lemon 85% Cocoa Sao Tome" (bar) had a dark chocolate and citrus aroma with notes of lemon and lime peel(s). This smooth chocolate had a faint bitter citrus flavor note and finish.

The Turmeric and Ginger bar was previously featured and was re-tasted today as a pairing with its lemon sibling. This Turmeric an Ginger chocolate had a lovely, authentic ginger spice (ginger cookie) aroma and tangy, spice flavor, giving the illusion of sweetness beyond its ultra-dark 85 percent but smooth chocolate base. Satisfying and flavorful without being too sweet.

*Divine Chocolate is a Fairtrade cocoa farmers co-operative in Ghana. Divine Chocolate USA is based in Washington, D.C.

Nuance Chocolate - Crystallized Orange 70% Dark (bar) - June 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nuance Chocolate Company
Flavored Series - Crystallized Orange 70% Dark (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.50 for 1 bar + any applicable shipping
Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate, Fort Collins, CO

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Ginger and Orange Theme Week.

Today's Crystallized Orange 70% Dark (bar) was made by Nuance Chocolate (Fort Collins, CO).

The company specializes in small batch, bean to bar chocolates (single origin bars, bars with inclusions and confections/truffles). Today's bar was part of the company's Flavored Series. The candied orange peel* was sourced from Provence, France, and "sprinkled onto a bar of forastero cacao from the Republic of Ghana..." The maker's tasting notes read as follows: "...with "deep and sustained classic chocolate flavors throughout...with subtle layers of cherries and honey."

The aroma of this bar had dark chocolate, sweet malt, citrus notes and a very faint hint of mint/menthol. (The mint was not evident in the taste.) The smooth dark chocolate complemented chewy bits of orange peel, which contributed a balanced but acidic, sweet tangy citrus flavor.

I enjoyed re-sampling this bar later with a glass of ginger tea.

*"Ingredients: cacao, cane sugar, candied orange peel (orange peel, glucose-fructose syrup, sucrose, dextrose and citric acid), cocoa butter."

Moka Origins - Lemon Ginger Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao (Uganda) bar - June 8, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Moka Origins
Lemon Ginger Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao (Uganda) bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) / 2.4 oz. (68 g.) in total bar
Calories; 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Moka Origins, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Ginger and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Lemon Ginger Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao (Uganda) bar was from Moka Origins (Honesdale, PA). Moka Origins works with cacao and coffee farmers in Africa and the Dominican Republic to source beans for their chocolate and coffee  offerings. 

This ginger-forward bar had robust natural-tasting sweet spicy flavor from a generous helping of candied ginger pieces/shreds on the back of the bar, and lemon citrus flavor notes. The base dark chocolate (made with Ugandan cacao) was smooth and flavorful and complemented the flavor inclusions. And the touch of lemon was just right. (I enjoy a touch of lemon peel in coffee and/or chocolate now and then.) 

If you adore ginger and dark chocolate, this would be a great bar to sample. Some may like their chocolate with slightly less ginger and lemon to better taste the nuances of the cacao. Others will find this bracing blend of quality flavors very satisfying. 

Mindo Chocolate Makers - 77% Chocolate with Tropical Fruits & Nuts (bar) - June 7 ,2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mindo Chocolate Makers
Pure 77% Chocolate with Tropical Fruits and Nuts (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 268 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mindo Chocolate Makers, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Ginger and Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Pure 77% Chocolate with Tropical Fruits and Nuts (bar) was made in Ecuador with cacao grown in Ecuador, and distributed by Mindo Chocolate Makers (Dexter, MI).*

The organic, shade-grown Nacional cacao used formed a uniformly smooth dark chocolate, allowing the fruit, nut and spice inclusion items to shine. High-quality pieces of bright, fresh-tasting fruits (pineapple, mango, dried orange peel) were incorporated into the bar. One could still taste the subtle flavor of the fresh macadamia nuts (thank you). And bits of candied ginger added a balanced sparkle to this blend.

The choice of a 77% smooth dark chocolate meant this bar was not overly sweet and that it lacked bold or bitter notes that would have overpowered the other flavors.

"Ingredients: Cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, macadamia, dried pineapple, dried mango, dried candied ginger, dried orange peel."

*Founders Jose Meza and Barbara Wilson of Mindo Chocolate Makers have facilities in both Mindo, Ecuador and in Michigan. (Mindo is a small town in a subtropical cloud forest area on the western slope of the Andes Mountains, about 2 hours from Quito, Ecuador.) 

The founders work with farmers in Ecuador to source fine flavor Nacional cacao. They have fermentation, drying and other facilities on-site in Ecuador, and this facility (as well as their Michigan location) can accommodate small groups for tasting and tours). And because of their presence in a cacao-growing region, they can offer jars of miel de cacao, cacao nibs, Ecuadorian vanilla beans and other interesting cacao-related products on their website.

Volo Chocolate - 73% Dark Chocolate + Candied Orange Peel bar - June 6, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Volo Chocolate
73% Chocolate Orange - Dark Chocolate + Candied Orange Peel (Guatemala) (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (36 g.) / 2.5 oz. (72 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar (+ shipping)
Purchased from: Volo Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Citrus and Ginger Theme Week.

Today's 73% Chocolate Orange Dark + Chocolate Orange Peel (bar) was made by Volo Chocolate* (Windsor, CA).

Today's flavorful dark chocolate base (made from cacao grown in Lachua, Guatemala) blended very well with bits of crunchy candied orange peel. The chocolate had an appealing, bold, roasted aroma and flavor with citrus-fruit notes and a slight nutty-fudge chocolate note and smooth texture. The sweetness and citrus-acid levels were balanced with a hint of sea salt, and warmed with a trace of cinnamon. 

Nicely done by (married chefs and chocolate makers) Jeff and Susan Mall--who deepened their interest in chocolate when they lived and worked in Mexico.

"Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Unrefined Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Candied Orange Peel (orange peel, sugar), Baja Sea Salt, Cinnamon."

*Volo Chocolate makes bean to bar chocolate in Sonoma County, CA, an area of northern California known for wine and food. In addition to bars, the company recently made a 62% dark chocolate "Masked 2020 bean-to-bunny" rabbit with a white chocolate face mask (a reflection of Covid-19 social distancing/sequestrations in 2020). This masked rabbit sold out, but was still visible on Volo's website this week. Volo wins my award for most clever use of chocolate and leftover Easter chocolate bunnies in 2020.