Giraudi - Mandorle Italia Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate (bar) - Jan. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Giraudi S.r.l.
Mandorle Italia - Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate
Italy Almond - Milk Chocolate 36% with Whole Toasted Italian Almond (bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 577 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from family (Thank you David)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from family (Andronico's, Los Altos, CA)

Welcome to Day #3 of European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week.

Today's Mandorle Italia - Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate (bar) produced by Giraudi S.r.l. (Castellazzo Bormida (AL), Italia) was made in Italy and imported into the U.S. by Manicaretti (Oakland, CA). 

This chocolate was part of a family of Giraudi milk chocolate (36% cocoa) and dark chocolate (61% cocoa) bars with nuts. (There are also hazelnut and pistachio versions of this bar.) I first became acquainted with Giraudi through their gianduja*/gianduia and gianduiotti (creamy and delicious Italian hazelnut chocolate) confections. 

Today's gluten free, thick, sweet and creamy milk chocolate bar embedded with whole crunchy almonds delivered. Rich sweet chocolate flavor was well balanced by a healthy serving (30% of content) of whole, toasted almonds and an upbeat touch of vanilla.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, powdered whole milk, cocoa paste. Emulsifier: soy lecithine, natural vanilla flavour. Cocoa min. 36%), Italian almonds (30%). 

Allergen-related information: Contained: milk, soy (lecithin), tree nuts (almonds). "It may contain traces of other fruit with shell, sesame and peanuts." "Senza glutine - Gluten Free"

*Gianduja is a northern Italian classic that came about in the 1800s as a result of war-time rationing during the reign of Napolean. (Cocoa was in short supply and was blended with hazelnut.) 

This heavenly chocolate and nut blend is now enjoyed in many parts of Europe and beyond. Turkey may be the world's largest producer of hazelnuts, but Italy can lay claim to creating gianduja--and the first versions of Nutella more than 170 years ago.

Nutella is a popular, sweetened (hazelnut, palm oil and skimmed milk) spread that may contain (depending on the country where it's distributed) less than 10% cocoa solids. It was first introduced in the 1960s by Ferrero S.P.A. (Italy). Giraudi offers their version of a chocolate and hazelnut spread.

Naive - Citrus Licorice Crunch Specialty Dark Chocolate 67% (bar) - Jan. 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Naive
(Mulate UAB)
Citrus Licorice Crunch Specialty Dark Chocolate 67% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155.6 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 (+ summer shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Citrus/Lemon Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate European Holiday Theme Week--as we virtually tour the EU, via chocolates from makers and chocolatiers in several European countries.

Today's Citrus Licorice Crunch Specialty Dark Chocolate 67% (bar) from Chocolate Naive, produced by Mulate UAB (Vilnius, Lithuania). Chocolate maker and chocolatier Domantas Uzpalis is doing a great job representing artisan chocolates from Lithuania.

The aroma notes for this bar included: slightly earthy herby and citrus notes. The texture was smooth, almost creamy, interspersed with tiny, hard crunchy bits.

Flavor notes included: chocolate (rich, dark milk chocolate and caramel) with authentic, bittersweet licorice spice and mixed citrus (bright fruit and peel. (Note: there was no milk in this chocolate.)

The citrus included a blend of less sweet Lisbon and Eureka lemons*, sweeter (more mandarin orange-like) Meyer lemons, and oranges. 

The results: an integrated, creative, kaleidoscope of three relatively strong flavors--each one capable of capturing (or competing for) the limelight. Happily the ringmaster (chocolate maker) skillfully managed and balanced all three authentic, high-quality flavor elements.

Chocolate Naive tasting notes: "This bar is not for everyone but it leaves no one indifferent. The deep and complex flavors of crunchy licorice combine with multilayered taste of chocolate, while fresh and bright citruses act like a bridge and connects all tempermental aromas into one. Just give it a minute and you will find out for yourself." 

Beverage pairing suggestions: "... gin..." (Also)..."It's characteristic notes contrast well with the complex smoky, firewood and fruity elements of...mescal.")

Ingredients: Specialty cacao*, cane sugar*, pure cacao butter*, licorice extract* (5%), dried lemon* (1%), dried orange* (1%), sea salt. (* wild or all-natural farming) 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of treenuts, peanuts, wheat or milk."

*Lemons originated in Asia, but by 200 A.D. were already being cultivated in Mediterranean regions. Today there are dozens of varieties of lemon (Citrus limon, citrus x limon), ranging from bitter to sweet, from sour and acidic to mild and floral, from puckery to lightly tangy. Lemons, like cacao, are versatile and can be found in savory and sweet dishes (as well as beverages and sauces) around the globe. 

 

Zotter - In-Fusion Lemon in Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter

In-Fusion Lemon in Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good +

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

Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar

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

Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week--and Day #1 of Chocolate European Holiday Theme Week. Covid-19 may prevent travel, but a virtual trip is possible with a selection of European chocolates.*

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

The company offers a very wide variety of bars. This Lemon bar is bar of a series of fruit-infused ("In-Fusion") bars. Fruit flavors in this line amplify natural, complex fruit notes already found in chocolate (including citrus, berry, tropical and/or stone fruits). 

The aroma notes for this chocolate included: citrus and tart, lemony, green herb (sorrel, oxalis, sour grass).

Cocoa butter gave this bar "a tender melt." And when combined with milk, these two ingredients yielded a uniform, creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: relatively mild, milky 60% dark chocolate with complex lemon. Smooth, sweet lemon that blossomed into lemonade, and finally resolved into tart, bittersweet lemon. (Freeze-dried powdered lemons were fully incorporated into the chocolate to create a "lemon couverture" that would impart natural lemon aroma and taste.)

Those who enjoy a smooth chocolate experience with bright, shimmering lemon overtones may enjoy this stylish, circle-shaped bar. 

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cane sugar; organic, fair traded cocoa mass; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic lemon powder: 4% (organic lemon juice concentrate, organic corn starch, organic sugar); dry skim milk; organic soy lecithin; organic vanilla bean powder; salt

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

*Thank you also to all the people, and the international chocolate supply chain, that allow us to obtain chocolates from/made in Europe.

Zotter Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut dark chocolate (bar) - Jan. 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut Dark Chocolate 70% (filled bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Guten tag (good day) and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Tangerine, Matcha, and Coconut bar from Zotter (Austria) was made in Austria (from bean-to-bar at their in-house factory) and distributed by Zotter Chocolates USA LLC (Fort Myers, FL). 

The team at Zotter* know how to celebrate chocolate by creatively embracing a parade of flavors that pair well with chocolate. The company offers a wide variety* of intricately layered ("hand-scooped") filled bars that contain two or more layers of festive flavors. (And who doesn't need a bit of citrus fun in January?) Today's bar contained "tangerine jelly," green tea ganache, and coconut praline, and was covered in smooth, 70% dark chocolate.

All the company's bars are adorned with the beautiful graphic illustrations (by artist Andreas H. Gratze) and occasionally (like today's bar) a bit of gold lettering--making Zotter bars make attractive chocolate gifts.

Aroma notes for this filled bar included: coconut macaroon, chocolate (drinking chocolate/hot cocoa) and faint citrus. 

The layering of flavors allowed for full appreciation of each individual filling flavor element, as well as enjoyment of their combined taste. The tart-sweet tangerine and green tea accent flavors were complementary and livened up the coconut and chocolate layers. A dark chocolate exterior helped balance the sweetness.

Helpful tasting tip: Zotter recommends enjoying chocolates at room temperature, as you might with a fine red wine. Dark chocolate at 77 degrees (F.)/25 degrees (C.); milk chocolate at 72 degrees (F.)/22.2 degrees (C.); and white chocolate at 68 degrees (F.)/20 degrees (C.).

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, organic cocoa mass, organic cocoa butter, organic tangerine concentrate, organic glucose syrup, organic toasted coconut, organic rice drink powder (rice, sunflower oil, salt), organic soy powder (organic soybeans, organic maltodextrin, organic corn syrup), organic coconut blossom sugar, organic coconut oil, organic lemon juice concentrate, organic green tea powder, gelling agent: apple pectin, organic vanilla bean powder, salt, organic soy lecithin, organic orange oil, organic star anise, organic cinnamon.

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy." "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, and sesame." "Vegan" "USDA Organic", "Fair Traded 61% (website)"

*Josef Zotter and his daughter Julia Zotter have created literally hundreds of different flavors. They are committed to creating innovative, organic, bean-to-bar and fair trade chocolates.

Honey Mama's - Tahini Tangerine (bar) - Jan. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Honey Mama's
Tahini Tangerine (bar)
(Nectar Foods, Inc.)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Honey Mama's Tahini Tangerine (bar) was from Nectar Foods, Inc. (Portland, OR). Made in Portland, this bar was low in bitterness and acidity and high in flavor(s) and texture.

The aroma notes for this chilled* bar included balanced, authentic citrus (tangerine), nutty, rich chocolate honey cake/cookie.

The aromatic tangerine note was more detectable in the aroma than in the flavor. This is usually (but not always the case) for authentic flavor inclusions, and as the chocolate takes more of a front seat in the taste that follows.

Tasting this bar revealed stronger chocolate notes (honey-sweetened fudge brownie) with wee, crunchy sparkles of sea salt, chewy cocoa nibs, faint undercurrents of nutty sesame (tahini), and citrus (tangerine). All these flavors were well balanced and harmonized nicely.

Ingredients: Organic, raw honey, organic sesame seeds, organic unrefined coconut oil, organic alkalized cocoa powder, organic cacao nibs, Himalayan pink salt, vanilla, tangerine oil.

Allergen-related information: "Contains tree nuts: coconut"..."Do not feed honey to infants under one year of age." "No preservatives"..."Keep it Cool. This nourishing treat melts at 72 degrees F" (Farenheit) / 22.2 degrees C (Celsius). Note: this also contained sesame.

*Due largely to a relatively low melting point (of coconut oil), Honey Mama's series of honey-sweetened bars that I've purchased have all been chilled. I've found them in/near dairy/produce sections (refrigerated shelves) in stores. 

Raaka - Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate 
Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 137 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). 

The company offers a bounty of bean-to-bar chocolates using unroasted (single origin) cacao. Today's bar was made using cacao from Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania.

This Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed chocolate had pleasant, sweet, slightly fruity (berry) cake/muffin aroma notes; and it was uniform and smooth in texture. 

The flavors did indeed mirror a blueberry lemon poppy seed scone or muffin. And the ingredients* list was plain and simple. Flavors were subtle and authentic, and not too sweet (thank you!).

Tasting notes: "We grind wild blueberries into Tanzanian cacao, then swirl in a lemon, vanilla, and poppy seed strewn vegan white chocolate. An ode the lemon poppy seed scone."

*Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic blueberries, organic coconut, organic lemon, organic poppy seeds, organic sunflower lecithin, organic vanilla bean"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free"

Raaka - Lemon Coconut Meringue Unroasted Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka 
Lemon Coconut Meringue Unroasted Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 137 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week. 

Today's Lemon Coconut Meringue Unroasted Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). The company offers an impressive array of chocolate bars with flavor inclusions, made with single origin, unroasted cacao.

The cacao for this bar came from Zorzal Cacao, Dominican Republic. From what I could detect (from the mix of flavor notes), this was a smooth, deep dark chocolate base. The second ingredient of this bar was organic cane sugar, but the chocolate was remarkably un-sweet for a 56% bar. (A combination of buckwheat flour and coconut milk powder may have helped dampen the sugar.)

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: an aroma with slightly earthy coconut cookie/pie crust with faint dark chocolate and lemon/citrus. The flavors did evoke a less sweet pie--a bit of bright, authentic lemon meringue filling + subtle but pervasive coconut and coconut pie crust. Very small amounts of vanilla and cinnamon added warmth and very subtle pie flavors.

Tasting notes/description: "Citrus Coconut Pie" ".....Earthy buckwheat reminds us of the gluten free pie crust."

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic coconut milk powder (coconut milk, tapioca maltodextrin), organic cacao butter, organic buckwheat flour, organic lemon, organic vanilla bean, organic cinnamon."

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free"