Rebbl - Dark Chocolate Protein Plant-Powered Elixir (+ Hazelnut Nog) - Dec. 21, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Rebbl 
Dark Chocolate Protein Plant-Powered Elixir 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 12 fl. oz. (355 mL) in 1 bottle
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bottle  
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's bottle of Dark Chocolate Protein Plant-Powered Elixir was distributed by Rebbl (Emeryville, CA).

This chilled beverage had an appealing chocolate-y aroma and flavor, with faint, but not objectionable plant protein notes. (Other plant extracts or ingredients included ashwagandha,  reishi mushroom, maca root and vanilla.)

The texture was creamy and smooth and it was a great mixer/complementary beverage with a batch of homemade Holiday Hazelnut "Egg-not" Nog.*

Ingredients: Organic coconut milk (water, organic coconut creme); organic, alkalized cocoa powder; organic pea protein; organic coconut sugar; organic inulin (prebiotic fiber); organic vanilla extract; pink salt; organic ashwagandha extract; organic maca extract; baker's yeast beta-glucan; organic stevia extract; organic reishi mushroom extract; gellan gum. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains coconut." "Not intended for small children or anyone sensitive to caffeine. If pregnant or breast-feeding, please consult your healthcare professional before consuming."

*Hazelnut Nog (Egg-not) - This homemade holiday beverage was made with a base of Pacific Foods Hazelnut beverage + freshly ground nutmeg, a dash of cinnamon, and a splash of spiced rum. It was enjoyed separately, and mixed with Rebbl Chocolate elixir.

Zotter - Plum and Nuts 100% Cacao filled with plum cream, hazelnut praline (bar) - Dec. 20, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Plum and Nuts 100% Cacao filled with plum cream and hazelnut praline (bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 340 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

The aroma notes for this bar included spices (dates, vanilla, and sweet saffron), chocolate and nut (hazelnuts, roasted almond)

The filled bar was covered in an ultra-dark (100% cacao) shell. Bold, balanced, bittersweet (with a slight roasted note), this chocolate shell broke with a well-tempered snap, revealing a rich, flavorful center with plump pieces of dried plum, lightly spirited (rum) notes, and an occasional glimmer of hazelnut, date and vanilla.

A sophisticated, fruit-sweetened, spirited dark bar with grown-up flavors for the holidays. Not overly sweet. Sugar plum fairies, all grown up.

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cocoa mass; organic dried plums; organic, fair traded hazelnuts; organic, fair traded date sugar; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic, fair traded rum; organic hazelnut oil; organic soy lecithin; organic, fair traded cinnamon; organic vanilla bean powder; salt

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

Moonstruck - Spicy Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Chai 68% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 19, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Moonstruck
Spicy Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Chai 68% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 215 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Andronico's Community Markets, Los Altos, CA 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

Today's Spicy Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Chai 68% Cacao (bar) was from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR).

There was a lot going on with this bar. (See ingredients list below.) The aroma notes for this chocolate included: sweet chocolate marshmallow candy with black pepper; German pfeffernusse ("pepper nut") or Icelandic/Nordic pepperkakor cookies; and spices (salt, pepper, ginger and vanilla).

Flavor notes included the aroma notes above, but dark chocolate, and to a lesser extent hazelnut, flavors were prominent. The 68% cacao dark chocolate was relatively sweet and uniform. Bits of hazelnut, and flecks of citrus rind, salt and pepper gave off temporary tiny bursts of these flavors.

This bar grew on me as I tasted it over the course of an hour. It started out feeling a bit cluttered with so many sweet and savory elements. However, as my palette adjusted to this festive spice party, it became more appealing.

Included at no extra cost to you: thoughts of enjoying European holiday treats, while warming up around a fire in the winter with some hot spiced cider or wine. Happy Holidays.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin (emulsifier), natural vanilla flavor); roasted hazelnuts; chai spice blend (organic cardamom, organic clove, organic cinnamon, organic orange peel, organic fennel, organic ginger, organic black pepper); black tea powder; organic black pepper; organic cardamom; kosher salt.

Allergen-related information: (Contains hazelnuts, soy.) "Manufactured on shared equipment. May contain traces of milk, wheat, soy, peanuts and tree nuts."

Zotter - Merry Christmas Milk Chocolate filled w/ spiced marzipan, cinnamon hazelnut praline (bar) - Dec. 18, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter 
"Merry Christmas" Milk Chocolate filled with spiced marzipan and cinnamon hazelnut praline (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 380 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Week, including a few European holiday entries. It's that time of year, when virtual travel via a chocolate tasting experience is as fine as any other gift I can imagine.

Today's "Merry Christmas" Milk Chocolate bar was filled with layers of marzipan and cinnamon hazelnut praline. It was created by Zotter, made in Austria, and distributed by Zotter US LLC (Fort Myers, FL). 

This fragrant bar was filled with holiday scents including cocoa, marzipan and cinnamon. There was also a slight fruitiness (sweet currant and raspberry jam, with orange/lemon peel) nestled in with faint nut notes. 

Flavor followed fragrance with chocolate, marzipan, nuanced spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, vanilla, cloves, pepper), nut and fruit (light, sweet citrus, berry) notes. The hazelnuts were present (part of the hazelnut brittle layer), but were overshadowed a bit by the spiced marzipan layer.

I enjoyed this lovely Christmas confection with a side dish of roasted hazelnuts and sliced, ripe fuyu persimmon with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a sip of Frangelico. Hazelnut holiday perfection.

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cane sugar; organic marzipan (organic almonds, organic sugar, organic invert sugar syrup); organic, fair traded cocoa mass; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic, fair traded hazelnuts; dry whole milk; organic orange juice concentrate; organic glucose syrup; organic orange juice; dry skim milk; butter (cream); organic, fair traded cinnamon; organic ginger; organic, fair traded dark brown cane sugar; organic soy lecithin; salt; organic cardamom;  vanilla bean powder, cloves, pepper, lemon oil, organic orange oil"

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

Donnelly Chocolates - Dark Chocolate Caramel Pecan (bar) - Dec. 17, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Donnelly Chocolates

Dark Chocolate Caramel Pecan (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 218 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Julie!)

Purchased from: N/A - gift (purchased at Donnelly Chocolates)

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Week (with pecans and caramel playing a starring role).

Today's Dark Chocolate Caramel Pecan (bar) was a treat from a friend who was likely driving through Santa Cruz, California, and made a stop at "World Famous Donnelly's Chocolates," where chief chocolatier Richard Donnelly practices the art of making chocolate bars, barks and confections.

I don't eat caramels that much anymore because many lack much, if any, flavor other than sugar. This thick, rich caramel bar was very sweet; but it was also full of flavors: homemade butter, brown sugar, pecans, and dark chocolate to be precise. 

The caramel filling was luscious and soft. I highly recommend eating this bar with a napkin or two at-the-ready.

This bar was accompanied by a glass of hazelnut "milk."

Ingredients: "dark chocolate (contains cocoa liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin as emulsifier, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla flavoring), caramel, pecans"

Allergen-related information: None listed on small label; contained pecans.

Zotter - Sweet Christmas Greetings - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hazelnut praline, brittle (bar) - Dec. 16, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter

"Sweet Christmas Greetings" - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hazelnut praline and hazelnut brittle (bar)

Good ++

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

Calories: 400 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar (free shipping, part of larger order)

Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Today's "Sweet Christmas Greetings" Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hazelnut praline and hazelnut brittle (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma notes included: hazelnut biscuit (cookie) dipped in a thick sweet dark chocolate mocha beverage.

A smooth, creamy ultra-dark tasting (70%) chocolate covering allowed for more flavor depth and contrast with a sweet, nutty center.

Inside this Christmas holiday-themed, filled chocolate bar was a fragrant, praline slightly flaky, crunchy and authentically nutty praline-style layer melded with a hazelnut brittle layer. A winning combination of flavors that harmonized together without tasting overly sweet, despite sugar being the number one ingredient. 

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cane sugar; organic, fair traded cocoa mass; organic, fair traded hazelnuts; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic hazelnut oil; organic soy lecithin; organic, fair traded dark brown cane sugar; salt; organic vanilla bean powder; organic, fair trade cinnamon.

Allergen-related information: "Contains almonds, milk, hazelnuts, soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts." (Certified Organic.)

Cacao Crudo - 65% Sweet Hazelnuts Cream (Crema Dolce Alle Nocciole) - Dec. 15, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo 

65% Sweet Hazelnuts Cream

(Crema Dolce Alle Nocciole - Delice Noisettes 65%)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 7. oz. (200 g.) in total jar

Calories: 291 calories in 1/4 jar 

Cost: $ N/A - sample 

Purchased from: (N/A - sample from Cacao Crudo, Italy)

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

I was impressed with today's spread from Cacao Crudo for multiple reasons. First the makers used high-quality Italian hazelnuts (65%) and single origin cacao (from Peru). Second, it contained a reasonably high percentage of cacao (cocoa powder) for a spread and was not loaded with sugar. (It was lightly sweetened with coconut flower sap). Third, the organic unroasted cacao and hazelnuts were both delicious in this three-ingredient confection.

Complex aroma notes included: a whiff of tropical fruit (passion fruit, musk strawberry) and coconut sugar, very light cocoa, and nutty vegetable.

The texture was velvety smooth. It would make a fine high-end, thick icing/frosting, spread for a croissant, or treat right out of the jar. And, again, it was not overly sweet (thank you!)--allowing for a range of authentic and delicate chocolate and nut notes to shimmer and shine.

The makers at Cacao Crudo craft quality, nuanced chocolates using very few, high-quality ingredients--achieving a fine balance, to the point of apparent contradiction. Delicate but 100% rich and decadent; suitable for confections without being too sweet; balanced complexity--all the while busting the myth that unroasted chocolate is somehow lacking in flavor.* The company's unroasted cacao offerings that I have tasted in the past year or two have all been exceptionally good.

Ingredients: Unroasted, Organic "Tonde Gentile Romana" hazelnuts paste; organic cocoa powder; organic, concentrated coconut flower sap.

Allergen-related information: "May contain almonds and walnuts." (Contains hazelnuts.)

*As coffee and craft chocolate lovers will tell you, roasting is an art unto itself. An important step in a long list of steps to make a flavorful end product. Roasting plays an important role in flavor development and can help get rid of unwanted qualities as well. However, if makers are working with fine-flavored beans with very subtle aroma and flavor profiles, roasting can lead to the loss of more delicate notes. And unroasted cacao may have an advantage here.