Raaka Chocolate - Mango Mojito Unroasted Dark Chocolate 68% (bar) - Dec. 31, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Mango Mojito 68% Cacao Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: RaakaChocolate.com, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Mango Mojito Unroasted* Dark Chocolate 68% Cacao (bar)--created by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY)--was a nod to the Cuban Mojito (rum, sugarcane, mint, lime). No alcohol was detectable in this chocolate, but the flavors honored the spirit of this cocktail. 

Aroma notes for today's limited edition ("first nibs"), spirited dark chocolate included: smooth, dark chocolate; tart sweet fruit (apricot, mango, pineapple, citrus); subtle green (mint, oxalis); and faint brown sugar.

Flavors for this well-tempered, 68% dark chocolate bar included dark, flavorful chocolate (with a hint of natural marshmallow sweetness and implied, fleeting floral vanilla). 

Infused into this chocolate was a relatively subtle and balanced bouquet of accent flavors including fruit (mango, citrus) and green herb (mint). Tiny clumps of brown sugar adorned the back of the bar, and provided warmth and depth to the overall taste.

The cacao used to make this bar was from Tanzania (Kokoa Kamili). The mint and lime ingredients were seamlessly infused into the added cocoa butter that was in turn blended completely with the cocoa solids.

The texture was smooth (no crunchy fruit or botanical bits) and uniform, as you might expect from a freshly-made, shaken, sieved cocktail. And the sugar levels were relatively restrained, allowing the chocolate and the added mango mojito tribute flavors to be savored and appreciated.

This chocolate offered a sophisticated, restrained vibrance that seemed designed to break through winter to wish everyone a very Happy New Year's Eve, and Feliz 2022!

Raaka's short description read: "sweet, fruity, minty"

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic mango, organic mint, organic lime zest

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, gluten free, soy free, nut free"

*The makers at Raaka make their chocolates/bars from scratch, using unroasted cacao beans in order to...make "delicious chocolate that captures the brighter, bolder and fruitier side of cacao." 

Wm. Chocolate - Classic Dark 70% Cacao Dominican Republic Single Origin Rum Barrel Aged - Dec. 30, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Wm. Chocolate
Classic Dark 70% Cacao Dominican Republic Single Origin Rum Barrel Aged (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 147 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Wm. Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Classic Dark 70% Cacao Dominican Republic Single Origin Rum Barrel Aged (bar) was made by Wm. Chocolate (Madison, WI). 

William (Will) Marx, the force behind Wm. Chocolate is turning out great single origin chocolates. His bars I have sampled in the past few years have all offered masterfully subtle and complex bouquets of aroma (and flavor) notes. 

Great chocolate happens when a maker applies laser-like attention to and appreciation of the strengths of each batch of high-quality cacao beans from a given origin. Eat this chocolate slowly to fully appreciate the end results.

Aroma notes for this bar included a dark chocolate, faint maple, brown sugar, buttered rum, faint dried fruit (pear + date), faint green, faint graham cracker, and a very faint, fleeting clean mineral earth (clay) note.

Flavor notes were very similar to the aroma notes (above), but with more rich dark chocolate (smooth, ultra-dark brownie + very faint red berry) flavor, along with molasses and faint floral honey notes. This bar also had an alluring light, lingering finish.

The rum barrel aged cacao (Dominican Republic) was subtle and sophisticated with quiet layers of rich flavor. (I imagined a rack of wooden rum casks stowed in a cool stone cavern where time and flavor development was measured...slowly.) Well balanced, not too sweet, and with a generous helping of skillfully produced 3D aroma and flavor notes, this 70% cacao dark bar provided a pleasing sensory trip.

Note: While rum (barrels) added flavor, there was no detectable amount of alcohol that I could taste.

Maker's tasting notes: "Smooth dark chocolate sweetened with traditional whole cane sugar"

Ingredients: Certified organic cacao beans, organic unrefined cane sugar, organic cacao butter

Allergen-related information: "No soy, dairy, grain, nuts, refined sugar, or animal products."

Bixby - Split Rock Bourbon Bar 70% Dark Chocolate - Dec. 29, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Bixby and Co.
Bourbon Bar 70% Dark Chocolate  
Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) (estimate) in total bar
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar (including shipping, part of a larger order)
Purchased from: Good Food Awards (Marketplace), online order 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Split Rock Bourbon Bar 70% Dark Chocolate was from Bixby and Co. (Rockland, ME). 

The maker's description: "Barrel aged, grain-to-glass Maine made bourbon blended into our single origin, Dominican Republic bean-to-bar chocolate."

Aroma and flavor notes for this ebony-hued bar included deep, dark chocolate, very slight citrus (orange) and fermented corn/grain, slightly malty sweetness (whiskey). While the 70% dark chocolate was almost boldly flavorful, it was also balanced, and not terribly bitter or acidic. The chocolate itself seemed to have a base level of relative natural sweetness.

The bar had a smooth melt and a uniform texture with a very slight astringency (light graininess).

Maker's tasting notes: "Notes of orange with a rich smooth taste."

Ingredients: Organic dark chocolate (organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar), organic bourbon whiskey

Allergen-related information: "Prepared in a facility that processes milk, tree nuts and peanuts."

Exquisito Chocolates - Champagne Papi - Moet Champagne Truffles - Dec. 28, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates

Champagne Papi - Moet Champagne Truffles

Good + - Good ++

Weight: .98 oz. (27.7 g.) / 3.92 oz. (110.9 g.) (estimate) in total box of 8 

Calories: 147 calories (estimate) in 2 truffles

Cost: $24.00 for 1 box of 8 pieces/truffles

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's "Champagne Papi" Moet Champagne Truffles were from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL). 

Each truffle's single origin (Ecuador) 73% dark chocolate (hand-painted) shell encased a rich chocolate, champagne-infused ganache (filling). Ivory-colored, these attractive chocolates (with tiny bubble sized speckles) had the appearance of exotic bird eggs.

Aroma and flavor notes for this elegant confection included rich dark chocolate, light olive, sparkling white wine/champagne (with light fruit and floral notes). The champagne added pleasant flavor depth. (The very subtle alcohol (champagne) flavor was detectable toward the end.)

Ingredients: No ingredients label on box. Description online included: "Organically cultivated cacao, unrefined cane sugar, fair trade cacao butter, cream"

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on box.) 

Exquisito Chocolates - "Rumbelievable" Flor de Cana Rum Truffles - Dec. 27, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Exquisito Chocolates

"Rumbelievable" Flor de Cana Rum Truffles

Good +

Weight: .98 oz. (27.7 g.) / 3.92 oz. (110.9 g.) (estimate) in total box of 8 truffles 

Calories: 147 calories (estimate) in 2 truffles

Cost: $24.00 for 1 box of 8 truffles

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's "Rumbelievable" Flor de Cana* Rum Truffles were from Exquisito Chocolates (Little Havana, Miami, FL). Located in South Florida, Exquisito sources cacao and other ingredients from the Caribbean and Central and South America.

These hand-painted, single origin dark chocolate (Ecuador) confections were colored a beautiful, swirling turquoise sea blue. Nestled inside was a creamy, chocolate ganache (filling) infused with Flor de Cana* premium rum from Nicaragua. 

These truffles had a rich, dark chocolate (almost brownie) flavor with a hint of rum--more satisfying, layered flavor than alcohol.

Ingredients: (No ingredients list with box). Ingredient description included: organically cultivated cacao, unrefined cane sugar, fair trade cocoa butter, cream.

Allergen-related information: (None printed on confection box.)

*"Flor de Cana" (Spanish for sugarcane flower) is a brand of premium rum manufactured and distributed by Compania Licorera de Nicaragua (Managua, Nicaragua)--a company with origins that stretch back to the late 1800s.

Oodaalolly - Coconut Milk Chocolate with Kasama Rum 46% (bar) - Dec. 26, 2021

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Oodaalolly, LLC

Coconut Milk Chocolate with Kasama Rum 46% (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar

Calories: 219 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar ($24 for set of 3 bars)

Purchased from: Oodaalolly, LLC, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Coconut Milk Chocolate (bar) infused with Kasama Rum* was from Oodaalolly, LLC (El Cerrito, CA). This was part of a three-bar Christmas Collection (that also included Kasama Cacao 70% dark chocolate, and White Chocolate with Pineapple Chunks (bars)--all with a very subtle hint of Kasama Rum.

Oodaalolly chocolate maker and company founder, Hernan Lauber, sources cacao from (a co-op) in the Davao region of the Philippines to make his chocolates. 

The aroma notes for this bar included: sweet, rich milk chocolate, coconut, caramel, and faint fruit (pineapple).

The 46% cacao chocolate had a smooth, relatively creamy texture and slow melt (at 65 F. degrees room temperature). The rich coconut milk chocolate flavor was sweet with some interesting complexity (richness from coconut milk, a mild fruitiness), and a relatively low acidity and minimal bitterness. 

The Kasama Rum infused cacao was very faint, but likely added to the subtle complexity. There was no detectable alcohol flavor. 

Ingredients: "Sugar, Kasama Cacao, coconut milk powder, cocoa butter."

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that uses milk, soy, peanuts and/or tree nuts for Oodaalolly LLC..."

*Kasama Rum is produced in small batches by Alexandra Dorda (who has Polish and Filipino roots). Ingredients (sugar cane, other) from the Philippines are sent to Poland for distillation, aging in oak barrels/finishing. Tasting notes: "Kasama has all the flavors of the tropics: pineapple, a hint of vanilla and just a pinch of sea salt." ("Kasama is a tagalog verb that means to be together.") 

Oodaalolly - 70% Kasama Cacao dark chocolate (bar) - Dec. 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Oodaalolly, LLC

70% Kasama Cacao, dark chocolate infused with Kasama Rum (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar

Calories: 218 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar ($24.00 for 3 bar set)

Purchased from: Oodaalolly, LLC, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's 70% Kasama Cacao dark chocolate (bar) infused with Kasama Rum* was from Oodaalolly, LLC (El Cerrito, CA). This was part of a three-bar Christmas Collection (that also included Coconut Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate with Pineapple Chunks bars)--all with a very subtle hint of Kasama Rum.

Oodaalolly chocolate maker and company founder, Hernan Lauber, sources cacao from (a co-op) in the Davao region of the Philippines to make his chocolates.

The aroma notes for this bar included: warm cocoa, spices, nut and tart lemon green herb (oxalis, sorrel). And the 70% cacao chocolate had smooth, balanced and naturally sweet dark chocolate flavor, with a very mild fruitiness, relatively low acidity and minimal bitterness.

Ingredients: "Cacao, coconut palm sugar, cocoa butter."

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that uses milk, soy, peanuts and/or tree nuts for Oodaalolly LLC..."

*Kasama Rum is produced in small batches by Alexandra Dorda (who has Polish and Filipino roots). Ingredients (sugar cane, other) from the Philippines are sent to Poland for distillation, aging in oak barrels/finishing. Tasting notes: "Kasama has all the flavors of the tropics: pineapple, a hint of vanilla and just a pinch of sea salt." ("Kasama is a tagalog verb that means to be together.")