Mindo Chocolate Makers - Special Edition Sea Salt Sesame Garlic 77% Chocolate Bar - July 13, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mindo Chocolate Makers
Special Edition Chocolate Bar
Sea Salt and Sesame Garlic bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.45 oz. (40 g.) / 2.9 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mindo Chocolate Makers, online order

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

Today's Special/Limited Edition Sea Salt and Sesame Garlic 77% Chocolate Bar from Mindo Chocolate Makers (Dexter, MI and Mindo, Ecuador) was one of the most savory flavored bars to date.

The aroma was complex with hints of garlic,* and savory soup-like notes--along with wisps of chocolate and sesame. There are times when it's fun to be confused.

The base 77% heirloom cacao (Ecuador) chocolate had some floral aroma and flavor notes (characteristic of Ecuador cacao). You would think that these more almost light, sweet and delicate floral notes might have been crushed under such strong savory flavor inclusions and a relatively dark (higher % cacao) chocolate. But no. This co-existence was a testament to the makers, who created a nicely balanced, and very unique bar.

I enjoyed the tiny spikes of crunchy sea salt, garlic, sesame seeds, and some unique synergistic flavors created by this blend. About 3/4 way through the tasting process I tasted a fleeting, faint waxy flavor note. It was not necessarily unpleasant; and it may have been a reaction from the garlic and chocolate together.

This special bar may not be for everyone, but I had fun trying it. It should be noted: I'm fond of savory chocolate snacks and chocolate that isn't too sweet.

Ingredients: cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, garlic,* celtic sea salt, toasted sesame seeds

*The garlic used in this bar was from Dyer Family Organic Farm (Ann Arbor, MI).

Nuance Chocolate - Rosemary, Sea Salt and Olive Oil Truffle - July 12, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nuance Chocolate 

Rosemary, Sea Salt and Olive Oil Truffle

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: .69 oz. (19.5 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle

Calories: 103 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle

Cost: $3.80 for 1 truffle

Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate, Fort Collins, CO

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

Today's Rosemary, Sea Salt and Olive Oil Truffle was made (hand-rolled) by Nuance Chocolate (Fort Collins, CO).

This truffle had a rich chocolate aroma and taste with a smooth melt and texture. This flavorful dark chocolate and taste paired very nicely with authentic, aromatic rosemary flavoring, and a balanced whisper of sea salt. 

Botanical herbs, sea salt and olive oil combined with great chocolate--a recipe for sweet and savory chocolate success.

The Oakland Chocolate Co. - Wild Onion Roasted Almond Truffle - July 11, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Oakland Chocolate Company
Wild Onion Roasted Almond Truffle
Good ++
Weight: .49 oz. (13.8 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle
Calories: 74 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $2.50 for 1 truffle
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Company, online order

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

Today's Wild Onion Roasted Almond Truffle was created by chocolate-maker Nancy Nadel of The Oakland Chocolate Company (Oakland, CA). 

Nadel makes her chocolate bars and bonbons from scratch using cacao beans from Jamaica (Bachelors Hall). And flavor inclusions in her bean-to-bar, small batch chocolates are often locally (San Francisco Bay Area) sourced, from a farmers market or garden.

This dark chocolate truffle was filled with a creamy smooth dark chocolate ganache that contained a tiny sprig of wild onion and piece of roasted almond--inside and outside--embedded in the filling and as a topping. This garnish created a lovely appearance as well.

Balance is important in all food preparation, perhaps especially so for food items that combine sweet and savory. While salt is the most frequently used way to create a savory-sweet chocolate, there are other ways to incorporate an umami flavor or two, such as using herbs and spices people associate with savory dishes (e.g. rosemary, tarragon or black pepper). A dash of sea salt often balances out lots of sugar or or caramel and appeals to our food cravings. But no heavy dose of salt was required or desired today. Just a whisper would do just fine.

Today's wild onion truffle was not too sweet (thank you!). And because of the lack of extra sugar one could really taste the layers of sweet, rich and savory authentic flavors. 

Savory ice cream coconut sundae & Safeway Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel - July 10, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Sweet and Savory Ice Cream Sundae
Peanut Butter cup ice cream, toasted coconut strips, savory seed and nut blend, cacao nibs
Good ++
(Various vendors)

Weight: Approx. 16 oz. (1 lb.)

Cost: Approx. $10.00
Purchased from: three different suppliers/stores

Safeway
Signature Reserve Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel
Good
Weight: .8 oz. (23 g.) in one piece
Calories: 100 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $0.60 for 1 piece 
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week and Day #1 of Chocolate and Savory Theme Week.

Today's chocolate double feature, began with a large sweet and savory, homemade ice cream sundae made using ingredients from several companies.

Savory Ice Cream Sundae
The base vanilla ice cream was embedded with slightly salty flecks of chocolate peanut butter cups. And the toppings included a generous serving of organic, toasted coconut chips, a savory nut and seed blend that added crunchy texture, and a little sprinkle of cacao nibs.

The savory elements balanced out the sweetness very nicely. And layering toppings elements (vs. being homogenized together in one ice cream flavor) added flavor fun and depth and kept the topping textures fresh and crispy/crunchy. I'll be making this sundae again in the future.

Safeway - Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel
I also tasted a Signature Reserve Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel from Safeway (Pleasanton, CA).

Crunchy crystals of salt made this substantial milk chocolate covered caramel seem less sugary sweet--a neat trick given that caramel is mostly (heated) sugar. The caramel stretched into soft points with each new bite. 

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.