Michel Cluizel - Noir 63% Ecorces D'Orange (Dark 63% Orange Peels) (bar) - Nov. 5, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Michel Cluizel

Noir 63% Ecorces D'Orange

(Dark 63% Orange Peels)

Good ++

Weight: 33.3 oz. (1.16 g.) / 100 oz. (3.5 g.) in total bar

Calories: 179.8 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar

Cost: $10.00 (+ summer shipping) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Noir 63% Ecorces D'Orange (Dark 63% Orange Peels) bar was from Michel Cluizel (Damville, France).

This chocolate had a subtle aroma. This relatively thick bar yielded a smooth, substantial mouthfeel with a sustained creamy melt and texture.

The dark chocolate had smooth and satisfying flavor and malt and butter notes, with occasional sparkles of orange (candied orange peel). The vanilla pod was used sparingly. Overall, it was very nicely balanced, not too sweet (thank you) and quite appealing.

Ingredients: Cocoa, sugar, candied orange peels (13% minimum) (orange, sugar, glucose syrup), cocoa butter, emulsifier (rapeseed lecithin), Bourbon vanilla pod.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of shelled tree nuts, milk and gluten."

Hogarth Chocolate Makers - Sarsaparilla and Orange 68% (bar) - Nov. 4, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Hogarth Chocolate Company Ltd.
Sarsaparilla and Orange 68% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 185.6 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 (+ summer shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Sarsaparilla and Orange 68% Cacao (bar) was from Hogarth Chocolate Company Ltd. (Nelson, New Zealand).

Hogarth makers described sarsaparilla* as a "thirst quenching, slightly spicy tonic, (that's) not so common these days." They combined sarsaparilla with licorice and ginger to achieve this classic spicy flavor (similar to sassafras, horehound, birch beer and/or root beer) and blended it with cacao and orange.

Orange is a challenging flavor to impart in desserts and baked goods. Orange peel loses it's flavor and is often enhanced with orange juice and/or orange oil (and/or artificial flavors) as a result. It also often requires preservatives. (Sugar can also act as a preservative.)

The aroma for this sarsaparilla flavored chocolate with candied orange pieces included: subtle dark/bittersweet chocolate, root-y/herbal, and faint citrus/floral notes.

The bar had a lush, thick, creamy texture with a satisfying melt and mouthfeel.

After a few day of sweet milk chocolates, this less sweet bar was very satisfying. (I admit I have a fairly strong bias toward less sugar, if only because too much sugar obscures flavor nuances.) This orange flavored chocolate was not too sweet. (Thank you!)

The flavor was a mix of dark/bittersweet chocolate and a balanced, yet complex, blend of slightly earthy and naturally sweet root flavors: sarsaparilla, ginger, licorice, and maybe a little inferred arrowroot (cookie) and star anise. These flavors lingered lightly into the finish. 

Tiny islands of sugared orange peel/zest shreds were pressed into the back of the bar. The orange peel provided a subtle, authentic citrus flavor (that complemented the roots/herbs) and contributed a barely there chewy textural element.

Maker's notes: "...aromatic and refreshing, with candied orange pieces for a sweet zesty bite."

Ingredients: Cocoa solids 68% (organic cocoa beans, organic, fair trade cocoa butter), organic sugar, sarsaparilla root, licorice root, ginger root, orange oil; candied orange (orange peel, glucose, sugar, citric acid, preservative E220).

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk and nuts."

*Sarsaparilla (actually a group of similar plants in the Smilax genus) is a woody, tropical vine-like plant that can be found in South American rainforests, Jamaica, the Caribbean, Mexico, Honduras, and the West Indies...some of the same places where cacao is grown/originated.

The soft drink known as "sarsaparilla" that was popular many years ago was often made with sassafras, birch, and other roots and herbs. (The taste is said to be similar to sassafras, horehound and "wild sarsaparilla," birch beer and/or root beer.) Due in part to health concerns associated with people consuming too much sassafras and sarsaparilla (e.g., not being cooked in the correct way to make it fully safe), and perhaps cost savings associated with substitutes, the flavors of these herbs/roots are often synthesized in a lab or factory.

Note: The roots of "Wild sarsaparilla" (Aralia nudicaulis)--a North American plant closer to the ginseng family, and not part of the Smilax genus--is sometimes used as a sarsaparilla substitute to flavor root beer and has also been used as a medicinal plant.

Confusing? Yes it is.

Al Nassma Chocolate - Macadamia-Orange Camel Milk Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 3, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Al Nassma Chocolate
Macadamia-Orange Camel Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 198.8 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $8.50 (+ summer shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Macadamia Nut and Orange Zest Camel Milk Chocolate (bar) was produced by Al Nassma Chocolate (Dubai, United Arab Emirates). 

This is the third milk chocolate and orange bar this week. All three have been quite sweet. (Think richer versions of store-bought chocolate orange cupcakes or filled chocolate orange truffles). And some have had aromas and flavors possibly "enhanced" or altered slightly by addition of "natural flavors" or preservatives. 

Those with a sweet tooth will likely enjoy the sweetness. However, if you've cut back on sugar over time, and/or would like to taste more of the cacao and other flavor nuances, too much sugar can be a little overpowering.

Thanks to the unique addition of camel's milk, the texture was smooth and relatively creamy. Tiny bits of mild (macadamia) nuts added some soft crunchy texture, as did the slightly (naturally) chewy flecks of orange zest (outer, flavorful orange peel(s)).

Overall, flavor notes included sustained, uniform sweet chocolate and sweet orange flavor all the way through into the finish.

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa butter, camel milk powder (19%), cocoa mass, macadamia nuts (5%), orange zest (5%), honey, natural flavorings, bourbon vanilla. Cocoa 36% minimum in the chocolate mass.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of other nuts and soy lecithin."

Venchi - Crema Scorzette chocolate (bar) - Nov. 2, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Venchi

Crema Scorzette Arancia Cioccolato Fondente 56% (bar)

(56% Bittersweet Chocolate with Candied Orange Peels Filling (bar))

Good + 

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $9.00 (plus summer shipping) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Crema Scorzette Arancia Cioccolato Fondente 56% (bar) was from Venchi S.P.A. (Castelletto Stura (CN), Italy. The company's history stretches back to Turin in 1878. The chocolatier became known for their hazelnut nougatine candies dipped in chocolate.

Aroma notes for this bar included an alluring blend of dark chocolate, orange, sweet orange liqueur and faint nut and candied orange peel cake.

Yes, this filled chocolate bar was sweet. However, the smooth, dark, bittersweet chocolate shell (that tasted a bit darker than 56%) that surrounded a soft, golden brown, orange-flavored filling,  helped to balance the sugars. The sweet center included small flecks of candied orange peel that had an authentic, soft chewy texture.

Milk, butter (and cocoa butter), vanilla and other flavorings in this gluten free bar rounded out the chocolate and orange blend.

Ingredients: Chocolate liquor, sugar, glucose syrup, cocoa butter, concentrated milk butter, candied orange peel (orange peel, glucose-fructose syrup, sugar, acidifier, citric acid. (100 g. of orange peels per 100 g. of candied product), whole milk powder, condensed sweetened whole milk - 9% fat (milk, sugar), cocoa powder, water, emulsifier: soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavor, natural flavoring, acidifier: citric acid.

Allergen-related information: Contains: milk, soy. May contain: tree nuts.

Zotter - Orange Liqueur Milk Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 1, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter

Orange Liqueur Milk Chocolate (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.25 (plus summer shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

Today's Orange Liqueur Milk Chocolate (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Cape Coral, FL).

Aroma notes included: slightly boozy, chocolate orange cake, nuts (faint sweet chestnut and almond paste) and brown sugar. Breaking this bar in half exposed a soft, creamy milk chocolate, ganache-style filling (with very tiny shreds of orange if I'm not mistaken). Also released: the subtle but invigorating aroma of fresh orange (juice, fruit).

The overall flavor of this well-executed, get-ready-for-the-holidays blend of orange, chocolate and spirits landed somewhere between a sophisticated, perfectly mixed chocolate lovers cocktail with hints of mild brandy and Cointreau, and an exquisite chocolate and orange chocolate mousse. A judicious amount of vanilla gave this sweet bar some extra floral warmth. 

Layers of complex flavors harmonized together enabled an enjoyable tasting journey. Were it just a filled, sweet milk chocolate bar (sugar was the number one ingredient), this would have been less fun and interesting. Cocoa butter (the number two ingredient) along with real butter (cream) provided richness (and likely a good base for flavor inclusion infusions); and the orange liqueur and real orange fruit and juice contributed flavor depth.

Note: This bar does contain low levels of alcohol.

Ingredients:  Cane sugar, cocoa butter, orange liqueur, sugar, 

 

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and sesame."

Nightfood - Cherry Eclipse ice cream + Let's Do Gluten Free - Sugar Cones - Oct. 31, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Nightfood, Inc.
Cherry Eclipse Nighttime Ice Cream

Good +

Weight: 2/3 cup (96 g.) / 1 Pint (473 g.) in total container

Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving

Cost: $1.99 for 1 container

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

Edward and Sons Trading Co., Inc. 

(Product of Israel)

Let's Do Gluten Free - Sugar Cones, Rolled Style

Good +

Weight: .77 oz. (22 g.) / 4.6 oz. (132 g.) in total box of 12 cones

Calories: 90 calories in 2 cones 

Cost: $4.49 for 1 box of 12 cones

Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Waffle Theme Week--a week that has included several waffle ice cream cone items and a few ice creams with chocolate inclusions.

Today is also Halloween. Happy Halloween to all. This holiday is linked traditionally with candy (fun-sized chocolate bars), carved pumpkins, spooky skeletons, bats, witches, ghosts and costumes of all sorts.

Cherry Eclipse Ice Cream

Today's Cherry Eclipse ice cream was manufactured for Nightfood, Inc. (Tarrytown, NY).

This light ice cream was "Cravemonster and sleep expert approved." Despite images of scary cartoon monsters (perfect for Halloween) featured on Nightfood ice cream containers, this product line was formulated for better sleep in mind. 

To earn their "Sleep Friendly" tagline, Nightfood has added certain ingredients (and omitted others). Buried in the long list of ingredients (see below) you'll see a sleep-friendly "Nightfood mineral blend," and prebiotic fiber (and possibly two more recent additions (based on Nightfood website ingredient information): lactase enzyme and vitamin B6). There was no erythritol, artificial sweeteners or gluten in this Kosher, low fat and higher protein, ice cream. Tart cherries (the second ingredient listed) were called out as being melatonin-rich.*

This Cherry Eclipse ice cream had a very light, creamy (silky, velvety, almost foamy) texture, yet retained an authentic dairy milk taste and mouthfeel. The light ice cream had a subtle cherry flavor and color, and contained a smattering of small chocolate-y pieces/flecks.

Disclaimer: After sampling this ice cream, a la carte, I later added a spoonful of single origin chocolate shards for richer, darker authentic cacao flavor and a few roasted walnuts--adding back in a bit of protein and fat, to balance out carbs (sugars and gums). It liked it both ways.

I tasted two monster-adorned Nightfood Nighttime ice cream flavors today--the only two I was able to find in time at my local store: "Cherry Eclipse" (with chocolate chips) and "Pickles for Two" (a chocolate-less flavor).** Other flavors in the Nightfood line-up include "Midnight Chocolate" and "Full Moon Vanilla.") 

Nightfood light ice creams are part of a sleep-friendly snacking trend; because scary things do occur late at night (such as eating a whole pint of ice cream, and then finding it hard to sleep).

Ingredients: Skim milk, tart cherries (tart cherries, water, invert sugar, sugar, corn starch, natural flavor, citric acid, locust bean gum), prebiotic fiber (chicory root), milk protein concentrate, brown rice syrup, choco pieces (confectioner's sugar, coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, cocoa, butter oil, soy lecithin, natural flavor), cream, tapioca syrup, glycerin, glycine, Nightfood mineral blend (calcium citrate, magnesium citrate, zinc citrate), tara gum, guar gum, natural flavor, salt, monk fruit extract.

(Note: This ingredient list from the container I purchased varies a bit with latest ingredients listed on the Nightfood website, which can happen as formulas and ingredients are updated, changed, replaced or clarified.)

Allergen-related information: Contains: milk, soy. "Made on shared equipment that also processes Peanuts and Tree nuts."

Sugar Cones

Today's Rolled Style Sugar Cones were imported to the U.S. by Edward and Sons Trading Co., Inc. (Carpinteria, CA).

The lightweight, almost airy, crunchy, gluten free, sugar cones were strong enough to hold ice cream and toasted walnut and dark chocolate pieces (that I added). They came carefully packaged. (None were broken.) Just don't squeeze the cones too hard when they're full of ice cream.

These cones were more flavorful than the bland ice cream receptacles of decades past. Demerara sugar (a light brown, less processed sugar), a pinch of cocoa powder and salt, all contributed to a pleasing flavor. The aroma and taste evoked the ghosts of vanilla and chocolate ice creams, even when the cone was eaten with no ice cream (by itself). Spooky. (There was no vanilla added; I checked.)

I filled these sugar cones with two "scary" monster-adorned Nightfood ice cream flavor(s): "Cherry Eclipse" and "Pickles for Two."**

Ingredients: Potato starch, demerara sugar, tapioca starch, organic expeller-pressed palm oil, potato fiber, cocoa powder, soy lecithin, salt, xanthan gum.

Allergen-related information: Pareve, Non-GMO Project Verified

*Melatonin is a hormone (made in the humane body), that is released (by the pineal gland) at night to  coincide with sleep. Man-made melatonin supplements are thought to help regulate/influence sleep and wake cycles. There are studies that have shown Montmorency/tart cherry juice to be correlated with better and longer sleep. (Note: Nightfood advisors listed on their website included at least three sleep experts.)

**"Pickles for Two" was a Nightfood ice cream flavor with very faint and balanced dill pickle notes. Despite what you're thinking, it was not bad. This flavor was inspired by food and mineral cravings that pregnant women sometimes experience--in this case, for pickles (sodium/salt and small amounts of calcium and potassium) and ice cream (calcium and protein, as well as sugar and fat).

Haagen-Dazs - Heaven Cold Brew Espresso Chip Ice Cream + Coconut Cones - Oct. 30, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Haagen-Dazs 
Heaven Collection - Cold Brew Espresso Chip Light Ice Cream
Good + 
Weight: 1/3 cup (60 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container
Calories: 110 calories in 1/3 cup serving (1/2 suggested serving)
Cost: $1.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Sprouts Farmers Market
Coconut Cones 
Good ++
Weight: .636 oz. (18 g.) / 5 oz. (144 g.) in total package/box of 8 cones
Calories: 90 calories in 1 cone 
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package of 8 cones
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Waffle Theme Week, including several waffle (ice cream) cone-related chocolates.

Today's Haagen-Dazs* Cold Brew Espresso Chip Light Ice Cream was part of the company's* "Heaven Collection" (with approximately half the fat, and lower calories). 

Typically low-fat or low-calorie ice creams contain extra ingredients, such as one or more vegetable gums. Thankfully this light ice cream flavor did not. (Haagen-Dazs has, historically, offered high-quality ice creams with shorter ingredient lists.)

This espresso ice cream had a creamy texture and relatively subtle roasted coffee and chocolate chip flavors. 

Ingredients: Ultra-filtered skim milk, skim milk, cream, tapioca syrup, cane sugar, chocolate (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), egg yolks, coconut oil, coffee, Vitamin A palmitate. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, egg and soy ingredients" 

Coconut Cones
I paired today's ice cream with some great-tasting, waffle-style ice cream cones. These gluten free and dairy free Coconut Cones were made in Thailand and sold in the U.S. under the Sprouts Farmers Market label.

The cone was large enough to fill with the Haagen-Dazs Coffee Chip ice cream along with (on top of) a layer of toasted walnut pieces, toasted coconut chips + dark chocolate pieces. 

I loved the short ingredient list (see below) for these honeycomb patterned waffle-style cones, as well as the crispy texture and authentic coconut (milk and sugar) taste. For a (gluten-free) ice cream cone, it had surprisingly delicious, rich flavor. 

There were no vegetable gums, stabilizers or other extraneous ingredients. (And thanks to very secure packaging, not one cone was broken.)

Ingredients: Coconut milk (extracted from coconut meat), rice flour, coconut sugar, egg, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: tree nuts (coconut), egg."

*Haagen-Dazs was once an independent company. Pillsbury bought Haagen-Dazs back in 1983. Later, in 1999, Pillsbury merged with Nestle. According to a Reuters news story (in 2019), Nestle owns the rights to Haagen-Dazs in the U.S., while General Mills sells the brand "in non-U.S. markets." This ice cream was listed as being distributed by "Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Company" in Oakland, California.

Note: For waffle cone fans, Haagen-Dazs also offered (at the time of this write-up) a Strawberry Waffle Cone flavor as part of their Heaven Collection (with "chocolatey cone pieces"). I would have gladly featured this flavor today, the waffle cone pieces contained wheat (this flavor was not gluten-free).