Oodaalolly - 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate with Calamansi (bar) - Jan. 2, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Oodaalolly 

70% Cacao Dark Chocolate with Calamansi (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 228 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Oodaalolly, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate with Calamansi (bar) was crafted using cacao from the Philippines and "Swiss technique." Oodaalolly (El Cerrito, CA) specializes in small batch chocolate(s) made with cacao from the Philippines.

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: sweet, subtly aromatic dark chocolate with faint notes of sweet citrus, very faint vanilla spice tobacco.

The texture and melt were smooth, and relatively creamy for a non-dairy bar.

This well-tempered, three-ingredient chocolate had flavor notes that included: sweet, smooth relatively dark chocolate with tart and tangy citrus and very faint vanilla tobacco notes. The base chocolate was fairly low in acid and bitterness, making the addition of a citrus element more pleasing and part of a well balanced whole.

Maker's tasting notes: "Smooth with a tangy finish"

Ingredients: Cacao beans, unrefined cane sugar, powdered calamansi (calamansi and maltodextrin)

Allergen-related information: (None found on packaging.)

*Calamansi (Citrus x microcarpa) is a hybrid citrus fruit cultivated primarily in the Philippines. (It's also found in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Southern China and East Asia.) The calamansi, also known as calamondin, Philippine lime, or Philippine lemon, may be a cross between a kumquat and a mandarin orange. The fruit (that looks like a small lime) is often used in cooking and in sauces/marinades and preserves.

Jasper + Myrtle - Macadamia and Lemon Myrtle Milk Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Jasper + Myrtle
Macadamia and Lemon Myrtle Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: "441 kj" in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $9.75 + summer shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

G'day. Happy New Year. And welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week. 

Today's Macadamia and Lemon Myrtle Milk Chocolate (bar) was created by Jasper + Myrtle (Fyshwick, Canberra, Australia). 

The two co-owners (Li Peng and Peter) of this family business source their cacao beans from Bougainville, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Bars with added flavors (inclusions like today's) feature items that are grown/found in Australia.

The aroma notes for this bar included: lemon herb (a combination of lemon, lemongrass and lemon-lime), and sweet, nutty milk chocolate.

Flavor notes in this smooth, dark, milk chocolate included, most notably, the lemon myrtle, which was similar to lemon-forward herbs/plants* such as lemon balm (a member of the mint family), and lemongrass. This mild, aromatic lemon flavor was pleasantly present, but without being too overwhelming. 

The macadamia was very subtle, and well integrated, adding a mild, nutty quality to the milk chocolate. (Two tiny nut pieces confirmed the presence of these nuts. I'm assuming the nuts were finely ground, possibly into a nut butter, or were mechanically incorporated into warm, pre-tempered chocolate--further reducing particle size and melding the two flavors.)

While all these very complementary flavors were well balanced and blended, it was difficult to pick out the nuances of the PNG cacao. (Happily, Jasper + Myrtle also offer PNG single origin chocolates/bars without flavor inclusions. I look forward to trying those too in the future.)

Maker's tasting notes: "An indulgent combination of classic Australian flavours; subtle, silky and fragrant"

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, cocoa butter, milk powder, lemon myrtle leaves, macadamia, sugar"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of sesame. Allergen advice: contains milk and macadamia nuts."

*Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) is a shrub/tree found in coastal, subtropical rainforests in Australia (Queensland, NSW). Indigenous people first used lemon myrtle as a food and a medicinal plant. The leaves have lemon, lemongrass, lemon-lime notes, and are used to flavor savory dishes as well as sweet desserts.

What made the lemon myrtle seem immediately familiar was: Citral, a naturally-occurring compound in lemon myrtle, lemongrass, lemon balm, as well as lemon and orange peels. Citral gives these plants a similar lemony-citrus (almost floral) green herb flavor.

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.