Living Intentions - Activated Superfood Nut Blend - Dark Cacao - July 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Living Intentions

Activated Superfood Nut Blend - Dark Cacao

Good 

Weight: 1/4 cup (28 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package

Calories: 120 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $5.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Dark Cacao Activated* Superfood Nut Blend was made by Living Intentions (Point Richmond, CA). 

The company produces a variety of cereals, popcorn(s), and other nut and seed blends; and others with cacao have been featured on this site previously.

This satisfying, slightly crunchy mix of nuts (sprouted almonds, raw cashews), coconut chips and fruits (raisins, dried blueberries) was covered with an ebony-colored chocolate glaze that added cacao flavor but was not overly sweet. The raisins provided plenty of fruit sugar on their own; and there was also a touch of coconut sugar. A hint of sea salt, vanilla and olive oil rounded out this blend.

*The company describes "activated" as a philosophy and a practice--possibly involving sprouting (ingredients) with active enzymes, the inclusion of superfoods (with high levels of phyto-nutrients) and/or prebiotics.

Hungry Buddha - Coconut Clusters Cocoa Crisp - July 8, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Hungry Buddha 

(Distributed by Temple Lifestyle Inc.)

Coconut Clusters Cocoa Crisp

Good 

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

Calories: 260 calories in 1 serving (3/4 cup)

Cost: $5.99 (estimate) for 1 package

Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's Coconut Clusters Cocoa Crisp were from Hungry Buddha (Montreal, Quebec, Canada).

The clusters had a substantial crunch and light coconut and cocoa aroma and flavor. The additional inclusions of puffed rice and cranberries added accent flavors and textures; but this was a coco + cocoa show.

West Thomas Partners - GFB - Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar - July 7, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

West Thomas Partners LLC

GFB - Coconut Cashew Bar (mini bars)
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 1 mini bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package of individually wrapped mini bars (2 flavors)
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

GFB - Dark Chocolate Coconut  (mini bars)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 1 mini bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package of individually wrapped mini bars (2 flavors)
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

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

Today's two GFB* Coconut Cashew and Dark Chocolate Coconut mini bars from West Thomas Partners LLC (Grand Rapids, MI) were packaged together.

Both of the coconut mini bars were individually-wrapped, chewy protein bars. But only one contained chocolate.

The plant-based protein sources included cashews, brown rice protein and pea protein.

Protein ingredients tend to muffle, or balance out, sweet and acidic flavors. For this reason, the GFB Dark Chocolate Coconut mini bar didn't appear to taste too sweet--even though the bar contained organic dates (the first ingredient**) and three more sweeteners (brown rice syrup, agave nectar and cane sugar).

 

I could taste the dark chocolate in this bar, but it was in a supporting role; and I was unable to detect any cacao flavor nuances.

*GFB stands for Gluten Free Bar

**Ingredients for Dark Chocolate Coconut mini bar: Organic dates, Complete Protein Blend (organic brown rice protein, pea protein), organic brown rice syrup, organic dark chocolate (organic chocolate liquor, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter), organic agave nectar, toasted coconut, organic brown rice, organic sunflower seeds, cocoa powder, natural vanilla flavor, natural coconut flavor, flax seed, sea salt.

Oakdale Orchards - Milk Chocolate Coconut Cashews - July 6, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Oakdale Orchards

Milk Chocolate Coconut Cashews

Good 

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 9 oz. (255 g.) in total package

Calories: 150 calories in 1 serving (approx. 2 Tablespoons)

Cost: $2.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Milk Chocolate Coconut Cashews were manufactured for Oakdale Orchards (Oakdale, CA).

For chocolate and nut lovers with a sweet tooth, this snack had an appealing description: "roasted cashews caramelized with coconut and covered in milk chocolate.

These milk chocolate drenched pieces had a sweet coconut aroma. The outer chocolate shells (shiny with confectioners glaze) had a creamy melt and mouthfeel. The inner coating was crunchy, crystallized sugar(s) with a coconut flavor. And, at the heart of each piece was a cashew nut.

These cashew confections were a bit too sweet for me. I like to taste the subtle chocolate and the nut flavors; and sugars tend to overpower these flavors. But, those with a sweet tooth who appreciate chocolate and nut candy bars would likely enjoy these.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, chocolate liquor, non-fat dry milk, soy lecithin - an emulsifier, vanilla), cashews, sugar, coconut; tapioca dextrin, natural flavor, butter, salt, confectioners glaze.

Bare Foods - Chocolate Coconut Chips - July 5, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bare Foods Inc.
Chocolate Coconut Chips
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (79 g.) in total package
Calories: Approx. 200 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Coconut Chips from Bare Foods Inc. (San Francisco, CA) pare down the combination of chocolate and coconut to the very basics. The company* makes preservative-free, Non-GMO fruit and veggie baked snacks.

This simple, baked snack had mild roasted coconut aroma with nutty, cocoa notes. The crunchy, cocoa-colored coconut shavings were sweetened with coconut nectar and were not too sweet (thank you)!

The cocoa was uniformly applied and the product was a balanced melding of cocoa and coconut.

At 19 carbs for one (1/2 cup) serving these were not a low carbohydrate snack (although 6 grams of that was fiber); but they were still relatively healthy, based on the following reasoning:

 1.) This snack had only three ingredients: coconuts, coconut nectar, and unsweetened cocoa. There were no additives, preservatives or refined white sugar(s) added. (Coconut nectar is lower on the glycemic index than beet or cane (white) sugar.)

2.) These were baked, not fried. There were no palm oils or other vegetable oils that had been heated or processed along with these three ingredients. Therefore, no worry about trans fats either.

3.) This product was not organic, but it was Non-GMO Project Verified, along with being gluten free.

4.) For those who are looking for roughage, there was 6 grams of dietary fiber in 1 serving (1/2 cup).

Note: I am assuming the cocoa powder is not alkalized cocoa--that is lower in health benefits (polyphenols/anti-oxidants) and still relatively high in phosphorus (for those with kidney issues watching their phosphorus-calcium balance).

*In 2018, PepsiCo announced it was acquiring Bare Foods.

Square Organics Inc. - Chocolate Coated Coconut Organic Protein Bar + 4th of July Sundae - July 4, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Square Organics Inc.
Chocolate Coated Coconut Organic Protein Bar
Good
Weight: 1.69 oz. (48 g.) / 20.3 oz. (576 g.) in total box of 12 bars
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 box of 12 bars
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

So Delicious
Chocolate (Coconut) Frozen Dessert (No Sugar Added)
(with blueberries, red plum sauce, white coconut topping)
Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (85 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week. Today we celebrate the 4th of July Independence Day holiday in the U.S. I enjoyed two coconut and chocolate items. One was a red, white and blue sundae in honor of today's holiday.

Chocolate Covered Coconut Organic Protein Bar
The first of today's chocolate items was the Chocolate Coated Coconut Organic Protein Bar from Square Organics Inc. (Oakland, CA).

This individually-wrapped, chocolate covered protein bar was semi-sweet with oat-y and coconut palm sugar (think slightly caramelized, brown sugar) flavors. (It also contained other forms of coconut.) The slim, filled bar had a soft chew and was a relatively satisfying snack.

"So Delicious" Chocolate Coconutmilk Sundae - Happy 4th
Today's holiday sundae was made with So Delicious* Chocolate Coconutmilk Frozen Dessert (No Sugar Added). I topped this dairy free dessert with organic blueberries, homemade red plum sauce and (white) coconut cream.

The underlying non-dairy (also certified gluten-free and vegan, and Non-GMO Project Verified) chocolate frozen dessert was fairly creamy due to its coconut milk base.

This no sugar added dessert was sweetened with monk fruit and erythritol, and it wasn't too sweet. Nor did it taste like it was artificially sweetened (Thank you on both counts.)

Alkalized cocoa made the chocolate flavor less exciting (less acidic/strong); but this is not unusual with ice cream/frozen dessert and hot cocoa market offerings. Some prefer smoother, more predictable cocoa flavor.

*So Delicious Dairy Free (founded in Oregon in the 1980s) was acquired by The WhiteWave Foods Company (Denver, CO) in 2014. And in 2017, Danone S.A. (Paris, France) became the parent company of WhiteWave Foods.

**The company also offers versions of this dessert with sugar, which I have featured on Chocolate Banquet in past years.

Lindt - Lindor Strawberry Dark Chocolate Truffles - July 3, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lindt and Sprungli

Lindor - Strawberry Dark Chocolate Truffles (Limited Edition)

Good

Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 6 oz. (168 g.) in total package of 14 truffles

Calories: 230 calories in 3 truffles (1 serving)

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Red Fruits Theme Week. 

I'd be remiss if I left out strawberries in the the red fruit line-up. This red berry blends so effortlessly with chocolate, they seem made for each other. Both cacao and strawberries originated in the Americas; however, strawberries were found further from the Equator in North and South America.

Today's Limited Edition Lindor Strawberry Dark Chocolate Truffles were manufactured in the U.S. by Lindt and Sprungli (USA) Inc. (Stratham, MA). Lindt and Sprungli is a large chocolatier based in Switzerland in business since the mid-1800s.

Like other members of Lind't Lindor truffle family, today's strawberry truffles were individually-wrapped orbs swaddled in a decorative jacquard-patterned outer wrappers.

Inside, were relatively soft rounds--sweet and creamy hollow chocolate balls injected with creamy smooth pale pink strawberry flavored fillings. Each chocolate orb yielded a consistent sweet chocolate and strawberry aroma, and had a soft, creamy smooth melt and texture throughout the tasting experience.