Andy's Orchard - Apricot Amaretto Sandwich - Nov. 26, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Andy's Orchard

Apricot Amaretto Sandwich 

Good + - Good++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) (estimate) 1 piece

Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 piece

Cost: $3.50 for 1 package

Purchased from: Andy's Orchard, Morgan Hill, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Weeks. 

Today's Apricot Amaretto Sandwich was from Andy's* Orchard (Morgan Hill, CA).

The aroma of this layered confection included notes of chocolate biscuit, almond biscotti, cooked rice, and sweet almond cookies.

Flavors included layers of dark chocolate, marzipan, and juicy, tart-sweet apricot with honey floral notes. The use of (now relatively rare) Blenheim apricots up-leveled the flavor. It made for a great California dessert.

Ingredients: Dried Blenheim Apricot (prepared with sulfur dioxide), glace apricot, marzipan, and chocolate

Allergen-related information: (none listed on small label/tag)

*Andy" of Andy's Orchard is Andrew Mariani -- part of a famous California fruit growing family.

Zotter - Cranberry In-Fusion in Cacao (bar) - Nov. 25, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
In-Fusion - Cranberry in Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.235 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Fruit Weeks, and Happy Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., where cranberries and cranberry orange sauce are on the menu.

Today's In-Fusion - Cranberry in Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) was made from bean-to-bar in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

The aroma of this organic bar included fresh butter, subtle sweet, fruit (tart red berry and very faint sweet lemon and pineapple); and very faint fall floral spice (saffron-infused honey and sweet marigold) notes.

This chocolate had a smooth texture with a velvety melt that accelerated over a period of seconds, and a creamy mouthfeel. 

The dark chocolate had quite a smooth with uniformly balanced taste, well integrated dark chocolate and tart red fruit (cranberry) flavors with a very faint buttery sweet lemon and saffron floral honey scone note. The dark chocolate was low in bitterness and had mellow, balanced fruit acidity.

The sweetness level was pleasant and not too overpowering. (Thank you.)

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa mass; organic, fair trade cane sugar; fair trade organic cocoa butter; organic dried cranberries (4%); organic coconut powder (organic coconut paste, organic coconut milk, organic coconut flour); organic rice drink powder (organic rice, organic sunflower oil, salt), organic, fair trade toasted coconut; organic soy lecithin, organic lemon powder (organic lemon juice concentrate, organic corn starch, organic sugar), organic vanilla bean powder, salt, emulsifier: organic sunflower lecithin

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

Raven Rising - Cranberry (filled chocolate) - Nov. 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raven Rising 

Cranberry - (filled chocolate)

Good ++

Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 6 oz. (168 g.) (estimate, per label) in total box of 12 pieces

Calories: 43.4 calories (estimate, per label) in 1 piece

Cost: $37.50 for 1 box of 12 chocolates (4 different flavors) (+ shipping)

Purchased from: Raven Rising, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Weeks. 

Today's Cranberry dark chocolate was made using Cacao Barry's relatively new Evocao "WholeFruit" chocolate made with cacao fruit.* This chocolate was part of a 4-flavor assortment box from Raven Rising (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada).

Edible berries including cranberries** have a long history in the Americas; and a Cranberry chocolate seemed an appropriate to mark Thanksgiving Day tomorrow (Thursday) in the U.S., as well as Native American Heritage Day, a holiday since 2008, that falls on the Friday that follows Thanksgiving here.***

Raven Rising offers "Global Indigenous Chocolates" that include local/native ingredients (flavor inclusions) and ingredients sourced from Indigenous people and businesses where possible. Pastry Chef and Chief Chocolatier, Tammy Maki, produces a variety of well-executed and interesting bars and confections. She uses chocolate from Barry Callebaut Group** (Zurich, Switzerland) for her creations. Maki is a "proud Saulteaux Ojibwe Kwe from White Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan" (Canada).

Aroma

This dark chocolate confection and had a meaty, dark chocolate aroma with dark red fruit (cranberry) notes.

Flavor

I enjoyed this thoroughly dark (couverture and ganache filling) chocolate that had pemmican, tart authentic bittersweet red fruit (cranberry) and caramel notes with balanced bitter earth and citrus acidity. It's hard to find flavorful confections like this that aren't too sweet. (Thank you!)

Ingredients: (included: Cacao Berry WholeFruit Evocao dark chocolate, cranberries)

Allergen-related information: (None listed/found; possible of traces of soy, dairy)

*Barry Callebaut was created in 1996 after a merger between Belgian chocolate maker Callebaut and French chocolate producer Cacao Barry. Following the acquisition of the cocoa business from Petra Foods in 2013, Barry Callebaut became one of the largest producers of chocolate and cocoa products and suppliers to confectioners, chocolatiers and chefs worldwide.

In 2021, the company began shipping 72% dark chocolate Evocao(tm) WholeFruit (Chocolat Toutfruit) for chefs, bakers, chocolatiers and other food professionals--as the first offering in a WholeFruit chocolate line-up. This dark chocolate contains 31% cocoa mass, 41% cocoa butter, as well as "upcycled" cacao/fruit pulp/juice/sugars/"peel"--detectable by tart-sweet, citric acid-like flavor (although there was no palpable fruit pulp texture). It is also supposed to be lower in sugar (probably less cane sugar if natural fruit is being used).

**American cranberries are endemic to boggy/swampy areas in northeast North America. Growing areas extend as far south as Georgia and north into Canada. 

Tammy Maki at Raven Rising notes that the "...Tart, tangy cranberry has been a staple of Indigenous peoples and had been used as a food and medicine. Cranberries were an integral part of pemmican (somewhat similar to jerky, made from tallow, meat and cranberries/berries) and (cranberries) helped preserve the meat. The dye from cranberries was used for blankets and rugs."

***Indigenous Peoples days are celebrated in October in the U.S. and in June in Canada.

Raven Rising - 76% Tanzanie Banana (bar); and Black Trumpet Mushroom Chocolate - Nov. 23, 2021

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Raven Rising

76% Tanzanie Dark Chocolate and Banana (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.71 oz. (105 g.) (estimate) in total bar

Calories: 290 calories (per label) in 50 g. of bar

Cost: $13.75 for 1 bar (+ shipping)

Purchased from: Raven Rising, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Raven Rising

Black Trumpet Mushroom (chocolate)

Good ++

Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 6 oz. (168 g.) (estimate per label) in 1 box of 12 pieces

Calories: 43.4 calories (estimate, per label) in 1 piece

Cost: $37.50 for 1 box of 12 chocolates (4 different flavors) (+ shipping)

Purchased from: Raven Rising, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Weeks.

Today's 76% Tanzanie (Tanzania) Dark Chocolate and Banana (bar) and Black Trumpet Mushroom filled chocolate were both handcrafted creations from Raven Rising (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada). 

The company is helmed by Chef Tammy Maki (a "proud Saulteaux Ojibwe Kwe from White Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan" (Canada)) and produces "Global Indigenous Chocolates" including high-quality bars and confections. Maki sources ingredients from Indigenous people and businesses whenever possible, and uses Barry Callebaut (Callebaut and Cacao Barry) chocolate(s) that are traceable back to their respective origins.

Tanzanie Dark Chocolate and Banana (bar)

 

Maki does a masterful job of selecting chocolate origins and blends to pair with her Indigenous flavor inclusions. The Tanzania dark chocolate used as a base for light and airy banana slices was delicious, with chocolate (deep dark chocolate brownie/torte), diffuse fruit (prune, fig cookie, berry, green banana), nut and green notes.

This relatively thick bar had a creamy, smooth texture with a substantial, satisfying mouthfeel.

The freeze-dried banana slices added a subtle, authentic and highly complementary, banana fruit flavor.

Ingredients: "Tanzanie 75% (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, natural vanilla flavour), Freeze-dried banana (banana)."

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Soy."

Black Trumpet Mushroom chocolate

Mushrooms may be referred to as the "fruit(ing) body" of a fungi/fungus. But, they're not really fruits. However, mushrooms can make great flavor additions to chocolate(s). 

The second Raven Rising chocolate featured today was a filled chocolate flavored with black trumpet mushroom (also called the black chanterelle mushroom). The Black Trumpet was described as having a "nutty/smokey taste that pairs perfectly with the chocolate." (I couldn't agree more. Then again, I really enjoy savory/umami chocolate flavors; so perhaps I'm biased.)

This creamy, filled chocolate was made with "Cacao Barry 70% Fleur De Cao" (blend) couverature chocolate. It had well balanced, very subtle savory (mushroom), subtle tart-sweet red fruit/sweet red wine grape, faint floral (vanilla) and nut, and rich chocolate (faint brownie) aroma and flavor notes. The umami flavor of the mushroom helped balance out the sugar in these sophisticated confections.

Allergen-related information: Contains: dairy

Raven Rising - Paw Paw in Cacao Barry Ghana Milk Chocolate - Nov. 22, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raven Rising 

Paw Paw in Cacao Barry Ghana Milk Chocolate

Good ++

Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) / 6 oz. (168 g.) (estimate, per label) in total box of 12 pieces

Calories: 43.4 calories (estimate, per label) in 1 piece

Cost: $37.50 for 1 box of 12 chocolates (4 different flavors) (+ shipping)

Purchased from: Raven Rising, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Weeks, beginning with a filled chocolate flavored with paw paw--a relatively rare. exotic-tasting fruit endemic to North America.*

Today's Paw Paw* filled chocolate was created using Ghana milk chocolate. This flavor was part of an intriguing, 4-flavor assortment box from Raven Rising (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada). 

The company offers "Global Indigenous Chocolates" that include local/native ingredients (flavor inclusions) and ingredients sourced from Indigenous people and businesses where possible. Pastry Chef, Owner and Chief Chocolatier, Tammy Maki, at Raven Rising produces a variety of well-executed and interesting bars and confections. She uses chocolate from Barry Callebaut Group** (Zurich, Switzerland) for her creations. Maki is a "proud Saulteaux Ojibwe Kwe from White Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan" (Canada).

Aroma

The milk chocolate shell (colored an attractive paw paw peel green) had a rich, nuanced chocolate aroma with true chocolate (faint brownie) as well as faint fruit, nut and earth notes. 

Flavor

The taste of the creamy ganache filling (combined with the chocolate outer shell) contained notes of mango + banana + sweet citrus + over-ripe, almost boozy, nutty earthy pear + custard apple. Although diluted a bit by the cream, sugar and milk chocolate, happily, traces of this unique paw paw fruit flavor shone through.

Ingredients: Ghana 40% milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, unsweetened Ghana chocolate, soy lecithin, vanilla bean seeds), paw paw (paw paw fruit, invert sugar)

Allergen-related information: Contains dairy (milk), soy (lecithin).

*The paw-paw fruit (approximately 4-5 inches long) resembles an elongated kidney-shaped green pear on the outside. (The skin darkens considerably to an avocado black-green as it ripens or if bruised.) The fruit inside is a yellow to yellow-orange flesh that evokes a blend of mango, banana, citrus and custard apple. The fleshy center contains several relatively large brown seeds (about the same size as cacao seeds (beans)).

While found primarily East of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S., this fruit is also cultivated on the West Coast (including small, specialty orchards in California).

Perhaps most notably, the paw paw is thought to be the largest fruit native to North America. (It's a bit larger/longer than the relatively small "American persimmon.") Both of these indigenous fruits (along with berries and smaller fruits) were cultivated and eaten by Indigenous Americans, primarily in the Eastern U.S. (and Canada) for centuries before Europeans and others subsequently brought in larger fruits from around the globe: Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Mediterranean and middle eastern countries.

**Barry Callebaut was created in 1996 after a merger between Belgian chocolate maker Callebaut and French chocolate producer Cacao Barry. Following the acquisition of the cocoa business from Petra Foods in 2013, Barry Callebaut became one of the largest producers of chocolate and cocoa products and suppliers to confectioners, chocolatiers and chefs worldwide.

Bixby and Co. - Organic 70% Dark Chocolate - Haitian Cacao (bar) - Nov. 21, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Bixby and Co.

Organic 70% Dark Chocolate - Haitian Cacao (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar

Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar ($46 for 4 bars)

Purchased from: Bixby and Co. via Good Food Awards Marketplace, online order

Welcome to the last day (Day #16) of Chocolate and Hispaniola Theme Weeks, featuring chocolates from the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti. 

It's been great to see (and taste) many high-quality, small batch bars from both these two nations that sharing one island, including a number of organic chocolate bars.

Today's Organic 70% Dark Chocolate bar from small batch artisan chocolate maker Bixby and Co. (Rockland, ME) was crafted from Haitian cacao beans.

This bar had a naturally sweet dark chocolate aroma and flavor with diffuse fruit acidity (very faint ripe, dark berries, with a barely detectable whisper of citrus and green). 

The two-ingredient bar had a bright sweetness with medium acidity, and was low in bitterness.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar.

Allergen-related information: "Prepared in a facility that also processes milk, tree nuts and peanut ingredients." Organic, vegan and gluten free.

Honeymoon Chocolates - 80% Haiti + Manuka Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 20, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates

80% Haiti + Manuka (honey) Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar

Calories: 148 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $11.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Hispaniola Theme Weeks, including chocolates made from cacao grown in the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti.

Today's 80% Haiti Cacao + Manuka (honey) Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis, MO).

The aroma notes for this ultra-dark bar included: dark chocolate, light, bright fruit (peach jam, sweet green banana, and very faint ripe berry + spice).

The chocolate had a very smooth texture, with a soft, relatively rapid melt.

Flavor notes included smooth dark chocolate with buttery and floral honey notes--with a relatively mild/friendly flavor profile for an 80% cacao bar, with no harsh or bitter notes and balanced acidity.

Maker's tasting notes: "Apricot, vanilla, green banana, pine"

Ingredients: "Cacao, raw honey, cacao butter"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that prepares products with peanuts and tree nuts." "Free of refined sugar, soy, dairy, and gluten."