Carstens - Dark Chocolate Filled with Coconut Cream - Aug. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Carstens

Dark Chocolate Filled with Coconut Cream (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.18 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 160 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Filled with Coconut Cream (bar) was from Erasmi and Carstens GmbH (Lübeck, Germany). And the Carstens brand has roots that extend back to 1845.*

The blend of coconut cream filling and dark chocolate in this bar delivered an above average confection experience. The texture of both filling and outer layer was smooth and well executed, the chocolate was chocolate-y (dark brownie), and the very finely grated coconut tasted like coconut. Was it sweet? Indeed it was quite sugary, and a little addicting in a high-end candy kind of way. But, the dark chocolate helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: Sugar, chocolate liquor, grated coconut, glucose syrup, cocoa butter, water, coconut fat, emulsifier, sunflower lecithin, humectant, invertase. 

Allergen-related information: Contains: coconut. "May contain almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, wheat, soy, milk and egg"

*Early on the German company also manufactured a variety of foods, including canned foods. However, since the early 1900s, the company is best known for its chocolate and (Lübeck(er)) marzipan offerings. 

They also offer chocolates with hazelnut and nougat, praline marzipans, fruit flavored chocolates, and the traditional Katzenzungen ("cats tongues")--a name that may mystify outsiders. Don't worry, no malice or real cats involved. It refers to the elongated oval shape of the chocolate pieces. Boxes of/packaging for Katzenzungen are typically adorned with images of adorable cats.

Raaka - Winter Spice Hot Chocolate Unroasted Dark Chocolate - Aug. 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka
Winter Spice Hot Chocolate Unroasted Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (1/4 cup) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package
Calories: 118 calories in 1/4 package (dry mix only)
Cost: $12.00 (sale) for 1 package
Purchased from: Raaka.com, online order 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Certified Organic Winter Spice Hot Chocolate Unroasted Dark Chocolate mix was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

The cacao used to make this blend was from Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania, Africa.

Aroma notes for this blend included: sweet-tart red fruit (red berry) and dark, chocolate-y chocolate. Once blended together with hot milk, the resulting warm beverage had a relatively creamy melt and texture.

The balanced, subtle chocolate and cocoa flavors were accented with gentle warm spice, vanilla and faint coconut notes. A judicious dose of coconut sugar provided mild, balanced and warm sweetness. (Coconut milk powder also may have contributed to a relatively smoother, creamier mouthfeel than some other artisan cocoa mixes.)

Ingredients: organic cacao powder, organic coconut sugar, organic coconut milk powder, organic cacao, organic cacao butter, organic cinnamon, organic vanilla, organic nutmeg.

Allergen-related information: (Contained coconut.)

 

Raaka Chocolate - Pure Cacao & Coconut Swirl 70% Cacao Unroasted Dark Chocolate - Aug. 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate 
Pure Cacao and Coconut Swirl Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Tanzania Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Pure Cacao and Coconut Swirl 70% Cacao Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Raaka Chocolate in Brooklyn, New York.

Most cacao and coconut blends are very sweet chocolate confections. I was attracted to today's bar, because this bar was made with 100% (unsweetened) cacao and was paired  with a lightly (coconut sugar) sweetened component.

The swirling of coconut and dark chocolate flavors to create the finished bar was attractive. The aroma was a bit variable, depending on whether you smelled the ultra-dark portion of the swirled bar or the sweeter ivory-hued swirl. The aroma notes included: varied a slightly waxy (on a cold morning) ultra-dark chocolate, subdued coconut, and unsweetened cocoa + vanilla chocolate. 

The texture was relatively creamy + slightly waxy (again, when tasted at a room temperature of 65 degrees F. (18.3 C.)).

The flavor(s) grew on me. I enjoyed the unsweetened, authentically chocolate-y-candy-bar-cocoa flavor (from Tanzanian cacao) elevated by the lightly sweetened (with coconut sugar) ivory-hued swirl with vanilla and maple-caramel notes. 

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cacao butter, organic coconut sugar, organic toasted coconut, organic sunflower lecithin, sea salt, organic vanilla.

Allergen-related information: Certified Organic and Kosher. Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free.

Spinnaker Chocolate - 70% Tanzania (bar) - Aug. 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Spinnaker Chocolate 
70% Tanzania (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 120 calories (per package info) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Spinnaker Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Tanzania (bar) was created by Spinnaker Chocolate, a small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Seattle, WA. The company offers a variety of single origin chocolate bars, inclusion bars, and other chocolate treats (including drinking chocolate, gianduja spread and cocoa nibs).

Aroma notes for today's Tanzania bar included: light fermentation, fruit (white wine grape/raisin, tart sweet mango, diffuse red berry, dried apricot), very faint, fleeting shortbread cookie, warm spice, fig and clean mineral), and chocolate (ganache/cocoa).

The chocolate had an even texture and melt with a very slight, tart fruit astringency. 

The flavor coaxed out of just two ingredients (cocoa beans and sugar) was impressive and fruit-forward--with mango notes taking the lead after a few bites.* This naturally, bright and sweet chocolate might be good paired with cheese, or as part of a dessert plate. 

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that uses milk powder and nuts."

*It made me wonder if these Tanzanian cacao beans had been co-fermented with mango or tropical fruit(s).

Rozsavolgyi Csokolade - Mababu Tanzania 75% cocoa (bar) - Aug. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Rozsavolgyi Csokolade
Mababu Tanzania 75% cocoa (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163.1 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.95 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Zombierunner (coffee), Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week.

Today's Mababu Tanzania 75% cocoa (bar) was from Rozsavolgyi Csokolade (Budapest, Hungary).

The name Mababu refers to "...a tiny village on the slopes of the Livingstone mountain with lush vegetation by the Malawi lake in Tanzania. The Trinitario variety cocoa/cacao used to make today's chocolate was purchased from "a group of only 60 families pioneering quality organic cocoa farming."*

Aroma notes for this bar were relatively subtle and included: faint tart (lemony) green notes, fruit (light mango/tropical fruit and diffuse berry), a faint fleeting earth. This bar attractively patterned bar had smooth creamy texture.

Flavor notes mirrored aroma notes but with richer chocolate and slightly tart fruit (red berry) notes that lingered lightly into the finish. Possibly due to the inherently naturally "sweet" and relatively subtle taste in this Tanzanian cacao, the maker's choice to go slightly darker (75% vs. 70% cacao) produced good results. Less sugar, more taste.

*Maker's tasting notes: "...The fresh air from the lake, banana, rice and aromas of rum can be felt in this chocolate..."

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, Organic cane sugar, Organic cocoa butter (cacao content: 75%).

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a factory that also handles nuts, oat and milk powder."

 

Solstice Chocolate, Inc. - 70% Kilombero Dark Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate, Inc.

70% Kilombero Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $11.00 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Zombierunner (coffee), Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week.

Today's 70% Kilombero (Tanzania) Dark Chocolate (bar) was handcrafted from bean to bar by Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT). 

Subtle aroma notes for this bar included: faint, light fermentation/fermented (fruit, salts, very faint green vegetable) and gentle dark chocolate (true chocolate, very faint brownie).

This dark chocolate had smooth texture and smooth, balanced flavor: dark chocolate with bright, balanced fruit (sweet tart cherry and lemon), and sweet (sugar/honey-floral) notes.

Maker's tasting notes: "Wine, lemon, tart cherries, honeysuckle"

Ingredients: Cacao bean, Organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a tree nut, peanut, gluten, dairy and soybean free facility."

Monsoon Chocolate - Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania 77% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Monsoon Chocolate
Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania 77% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 136 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Monsoon Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week. 

Today's Kokoa Kamili Tanzania 77% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Monsoon Chocolate (Tucson, AZ) and is part of the company's Origin Series--made possible by direct collaborations with (and purchases from) farmers and fermenteries in cacao-growing countries.

Aroma notes included sweet-tart red fruit (red berry) and dark chocolate. Other, much more subtle notes included: fleeting, barely detectable, balanced fermentation notes (faint raisin, fruit vinegar, salts) and green (mildly tart-bright succulents, wood sorrel) notes. 

This chocolate had a creamy melt and texture.

Flavor notes for this well-crafted, very balanced 77% Tanzania cacao bar included the aforementioned tart-sweet red berry--that shaded into bittersweet, ripe red cherry and lingered lightly in the finish along with smooth dark chocolate (not quite as chocolate-y as soft dark fudge but getting there).

There were no off flavors; just smooth dark chocolate goodness with just enough complexity to be interesting. It was fruity without being too jammy-sweet or too acidic. (Thank you to the makers for not adding too much sugar. The selection of 77% cacao (and "only" 23% sugar) seemed like a great choice for these beans and this bar.)

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: "There is no gluten or animal product added to this bar, however it is processed in a facility that also processes wheat, dairy, nuts and soy."