Raaka Chocolate - Pumpkin Swirl Unroasted Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar) - Mar. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Pumpkin Swirl Unroasted Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25.5 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 134 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Pumpkin Swirl Unroasted Dark Chocolate 60% cacao bar was made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY), and included Oat Haus (maple-sweetened) Granola Butter. 

Today's Pumpkin Swirl had a very subtle cacao aroma* with warm spice (maple, cinnamon, pumpkin pie and oatmeal) notes.

The dark chocolate was fully blended with the warm spice blend that was blended with a swirl white chocolate and pumpkin powder, adding even further flavor depth and complexity.

The spice-infused chocolate was sweet but the pumpkin powder, dark chocolate and perhaps some of the "butter" and spices helped balance the sweetness in the well-executed, overall blend. The pumpkin, spice and granola flavors played well together in this, and there were no off notes in this dairy-free and gluten-free bar. 

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic coconut, organic Oat Haus Granola Butter** (organic, gluten-free oats; organic flaxseed, organic olive oil, organic maple syrup, organic coconut oil, organic cinnamon, salt, organic allspice, organic cardamom, organic ginger); organic pumpkin powder; organic sunflower lecithin; organic cinnamon; organic ginger; organic allspice; organic cardamom; organic nutmeg.

Allergen-related information: (Contained coconut.) Certified Organic and Kosher. Vegan, Gluten free. Soy free.

*Un-roasted cacao beans can be milder/smoother than roasted cacao(s). However, there were a lot of other flavors in today's Pumpkin Swirl chocolate, making it more difficult to discern the cacao notes from the Zoral Cacao, Dominican Republic cacao used to make this bar. The dark chocolate clearly helped anchor the sweet and spice flavors though.

Bixby and Co. - 20 Karat Primo Bar - 70% DR Dark Chocolate Spiced Primo Almonds - Mar. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Bixby and Co.

20 Karat Primo Bar
70% Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate Spiced Primo Almonds 
Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar ($46 for 4-bar assortment)
Purchased from: Good Food Awards Marketplace, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's "20 Karat Primo Bar"--70% Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate with Spiced Primo Almonds (bar)--was created by Bixby and Co. (Rockland, ME) to celebrate Rockland neighbor Primo Restaurant's 20th anniversary. 

The aroma for this bar encompassed bold, flavorful dark chocolate, salt/savory snack, roasted nut, and raw sugar notes--and the scent of a potentially addictive, high-end, savory-sweet snack mixes with spices and herbs (rosemary) as well.

 

The flavors did deliver on the promise of a seductive and satisfying, salty-sweet nut mix. This 70% dark chocolate bar was a balanced blend of bold flavors and smooth and crunchy textures. 

The spices (salt, red and black peppers and rosemary) were a great match with (and elevated) the roasted nuts and chocolate. I detected to a very faint tingle of ginger spice; however, there was no mention of ginger in the ingredients list. Probably the pepper and sugar. It was hard to tell if there might have been a warm spice note also in the single origin DR chocolate.

Bixby notes for the spicy almond pieces adhered to the back: "...Primo's iconic recipe for roasted rosemary almonds, a snack that's typically served with drinks and cocktails." The Mediterranean-themed, almond blend helped balance the sweetness and added sassy savory depth.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, almonds, rosemary, crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper.

Allergen-related information: "(Contains) Tree Nuts. Manufactured in a facility that also processes Peanut and Milk products."

Pump Street Chocolate - 60% Grenada Milk and Nutmeg (bar) - Mar. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Pump Street Chocolate
60% Limited Edition Grenada Milk and Nutmeg (bar)

Good + - Good ++

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

Calories: 195 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's 60% Limited Edition Grenada Milk and Nutmeg (bar) was from Pump Street Chocolate (Suffolk, UK). The founders built an award-winning bakery and expanded their (naturally-leavened) bread making skills into chocolate making. They make chocolate from cacao beans they import from single estates and cooperatives.

Aroma notes for this dark milk chocolate bar first evoked memories of savory dishes with spices (nutmeg), such as certain curries, creamed spinach, brown sauces. This note morphed to include spiced, creamy hot chocolate.  

The whole milk powder influenced the aroma, texture and flavor of today's limited edition bar. The texture was creamy and milky; and the overall flavor was less sweet than expected (thank you). The taste also evoked a savory cream bechamel sauce (even though there was no added salt or salty flavor--due to shared spice (nutmeg) ingredients in both foods). 

Pleasant, true chocolate/cacao notes (very faint or diffuse nut and fruit) were relatively muffled (cushioned by milk (milk hugged) and cocoa butter). The cacao was from Crayfish Bay Organic Estate (Saint Mark), Grenada ("2019 Crop").

The authentic (Grenada) nutmeg was complex, subtle and wonderful. It was in the background (peeking out from behind the curtains), but it still managed to steal the show. (Nutmeg, the product of an evergreen tree, like cinnamon, came to the Americas from south/SE Asia (e.g. Indonesia (Spice Islands)--and Sri Lanka/India, Myanmar in the case of cinnamon), often via spice traders/merchants interested in growing these valuable crops elsewhere. Nutmeg grows well in Grenada (a large exporter of nutmeg), and in other humid, tropical nations/islands with sandy soil.

Maker's tasting notes: "A high cocoa (60%) milk chocolate, offering subtle undertones of the fruit flavours characteristic of the Crayfish Bay (cacao) beans and gently scented with the warmth of Grenadian nutmeg."

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, milk powder and nutmeg.

Allergen-related information: (Contained milk.) "We also handle dairy, gluten, nuts and seeds on the premises."

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, milk powder and nutmeg

Crow and Moss - Vanilla Smoke Chocolate 69% (bar) - Mar. 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Crow and Moss

Vanilla Smoke Chocolate 69% (bar)

Good +++

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

Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $9.25 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Vanilla Smoke Chocolate 69% small batch (bar) was from Crow and Moss (Petoskey, MI).

This dark chocolate bar had a prominent vanilla aroma, and true to it's name, it had a balanced, subtle smokey fragrance and faint green floral notes.*

This well-tempered, bean-to-bar chocolate had smooth texture, an thick buttery melt, and a complex flavor bouquet that included dark chocolate, green, floral (white flowers), spice and faint, very slightly astringent tropical fruit and green notes (persimmon and green mango meet jasmine and orchid). 

Re-tasting this bar yielded even more subtley complex green notes (green tea, green-lemon herb (sorrel) and very faint and fleeting vegetable (Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) + baked potato). 

The faint (or perhaps implied) fruit note was difficult to nail down. Can a flavor come to life and refuse to be captured and fully analyzed? I was happy to chase this white (vanilla) rabbit through the hickory forest. 

I applaud the skills that went into melding the hickory-smoked cacao and vanilla bean together. Both these flavors stood proud and tall on their own; and the lovely nuances of each were highlighted and celebrated. There was also a barely detectable quantity of salt in this bar, that seemed just right.

Together, this pied piper of a partnership seemed to take flight. A sense of motion--an elegant flavor flux--created a highly satisfying ride, and kept me coming back for just one more piece. Nicely balanced, not too sweet. Highly complementary chocolate and vanilla flavors sparked a winter fire, while invisible grains of salt nodded in grounded approval, and floral notes looked at cherry trees blooming and whispered that spring is here.*

Maker's tasting notes: "We've taken whole vanilla beans and paired them with a hint of hickory smoked cacao and salt to create a fruity, floral twist with a nostalgic campfire finish."

Ingredients: "Cacao blend, organic cane sugar, vanilla beans, salt, hickory smoke."

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also handles nuts and dairy"

*I like floral, balanced umami and subtlely smokey and savory flavors in single origin chocolate. It's hard to find these flavors, and even harder to discover all these skillfully blended in one bar. Hats off that Cross and Moss makers for even attempting this bar when there are some critics who view umami, smokey (and, surprisingly, even floral) notes as possible "flaws" in cacao processing. Apologies: Happiness over this bar did lead to some wordy poetic celebration.

Endorfin Foods - Vanilla Bean Dark Chocolate Coconut Cream 70% Cacao (bar) - Mar. 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Endorfin Foods

Vanilla Bean Dark Chocolate Coconut Cream 70% Cacao (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar

Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $6.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Organic Vanilla Bean Dark Chocolate Coconut Cream 70% Cacao (bar) was distributed by Endorfin Foods (San Francisco, CA). 

Aroma notes for this (70% cacao 30% coconut) bar rich blend of dark chocolate (deep dark chocolate cake/torte) and warm, authentic vanilla bean blended with caramel overtones and very faint coffee and coconut cookie. 

The chocolate had a smooth, even texture, facilitated by cocoa "coconut mylk" and cocoa butter.

Flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes (above). Rich dark chocolate, caramelized coconut milk and lovely pure and pulsing vanilla all harmonized to create a great blend of flavors. Just the right amount of sweetness (not too much), and well-executed flavor depth and complexity.

Note: This Limited Edition Vanilla Bean bar was sold out at the time of this post (3/1/22).

Ingredients: Cacao, coconut sugar, caramelized coconut, cacao butter, single origin Madagascar Bourbon vanilla

Allergen-related information: (Contained coconut.) "No dairy, soy, refined sugar, gluten, GMO, or sugar alcohols

Helados La Neta - Chocolate con Canela - Feb. 28, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Helados La Neta

Chocolate con Canela

(Chocolate with Cinnamon Ice Cream)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 2/3 cup (158 mL) / 14 oz. (414 mL) in total container

Calories: 210 calories in 1 serving (2/3 cup)

Cost: $2.49 for 1 container

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market,  

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Ice Cream with Cinnamon was from Helados La Neta (Marietta, GA). The company, part of the High Road family* offers ice creams with Mexico-inspired flavors (like Horchata, Avocado and Lime, Mexican Vanilla and today's Chocolate with Cinnamon).

Cacao, vanilla, allspice, as well as many chilies and other spices originated in the Americas. But, the Spanish introduced cinnamon to Mexico. Today, imported cinnamon can be found in a variety of savory and sweet dishes across Mexico and the Americas, including hot cocoas, drinking chocolate, postres and helados (desserts and ice creams). 

Today's creamy ice cream had lush, authentic chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla flavors, with rich spiced chocolate notes that lingered into the finish.

Great flavors. I would definitely buy this again. 

Maker's description: "Like the real chocolate beverage you used to drink at abuelita's (grandmother's) house...Think Mexican drinking chocolate -- a dense chocolate ice cream with a spicy cinnamon finish"

Ingredients: Milk, cream, cane sugar, cocoa powder, dextrose, cinnamon, Mexican vanilla extract, sea salt, guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum.

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk....Made on equipment that also processes soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

*The High Road family of brands also includes High Road Ice Cream (and cookies) and Ciao Bella Gelato and Sorbetto. The company (started by chefs) creates craft ice creams "at scale" (i.e. at a higher volume than small batch specialty makers), and they also are engaged in private label business.

Oodaalolly Chocolate - Pumpkin Five-Spice Milk Chocolate bar - Feb. 27, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Oodaalolly Chocolate

Pumpkin Five-Spice Milk Chocolate (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 0.88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar

Calories: 141 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: $5.00 in total bar

Purchased from: Oodaalolly, online order

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

Today's Pumpkin Five-Spice Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Oodaalolly Chocolate (El Cerrito, CA). Oodaalolly founder, Hernan Lauber, creates small batch chocolates using Philippine cacao (and Philippines-inspired flavors) and family Swiss chocolate making techniques.

Five-spice blend (also known as Chinese Five Spice powder) is associated with savory and sweet dishes across Asia and some Pacific Islands. The five spices include: star anise, cloves, Chinese (cassia) cinnamon bark, fennel seeds and Sichuan (aka Szechuan) peppercorns. (Regional blends may include other ingredients (e.g. Mandarin orange peel)).

Aroma notes for today's milk chocolate bar included subtle spice (star anise, followed by mild clove, cinnamon, vanilla, and barely there fennel and pepper). This bar had a generous amount of cocoa butter which added to the creamy melt and texture.

The powdered pumpkin added a sweet vegetable note (think pumpkin pie) that was very complementary with the balanced spice blend. As with the aroma (above), the star anise was slightly more prominent. 

Skillfully balanced, compatible flavor elements led to a pleasing (and slightly addictive) chocolate. The pumpkin and spices created depth/interest and helped prevent the milk chocolate from seeming overly sweet. Last but not least, vanilla contributed a baked goods-like warmth (along with raw sugar) and pie-like flavor.

Maker's tasting notes: "Creamy milk chocolate, five-spice powder, and real pumpkin come spectacularly together in this limited-edition release of Oodaalolly's twist on a classic Autumn flavor."

Ingredients: "Cocoa butter, raw cane sugar, whole milk powder, Philippine cacao, pumpkin powder, five-spice (star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seed, sichuan pepper), and vanilla."

Allergen-related information: (Contained milk.) No allergen-related information found on label.