Standout Chocolate - Vegan Coconut Milk 60% (bar) - Oct. 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate
Vegan Coconut Milk 60% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 157.75 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Coconut Milk 60% (bar) was from Standout Chocolate (Kållered, Sweden).

Aroma notes for this creamy smooth chocolate included: elegant rich chocolate (warm cocoa, brownie), smooth coconut, and faint fruit and mild nut notes.

The cacao used to make this chocolate (from Oko Caribe) was grown in the Duarte Province in northeast Dominican Republic. (The coconut was harvested in Sri Lanka and the Philippines.)

Ingredients: Cacao beans, cane sugar, coconut milk powder, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. (May contain traces of milk.) "Organic cacao content 60%"

Shekoh Confections - Coconut filled chocolate - Oct. 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections 
Coconut filled chocolate
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .4 oz. (11,32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece 
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.45 (estimate) for 1 piece (one piece in a 5-piece box) + tax
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Coconut filled chocolate was created by Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (fudge brownie), very faint tart lemon green herb (oxalis, sorrel), and coconut (very slightly fruity coconut, coconut water).

Texture(s) in this small, filled chocolate dome were very smooth. A velvety, ultra-thin dark chocolate shell covered a very creamy, Valrhona white chocolate, coconut infused interior. 

The toasted coconut flavored ganache (filling) was accented with a subtle hint of coconut liqueur. Bold (but smooth), slightly earth dark chocolate prevented this confection from being too sweet. The result: flavor depth and rich, complementary flavor complexity. 

Maker's description: Coconut infusion, toasted shredded coconut, Valrhona white chocolate, coconut liqueur.

Ingredients: (No label with exact ingredients)

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut

Marou - Coconut Milk Chocolate 53% Popped Rice (bar) - Oct. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat

Coconut Milk Chocolate 53% and Popped Rice (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.20 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Xin chao (hello) and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Coconut Milk Chocolate 53% and Popped Rice (bar) was made by Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat (Ho Chi Minh City), in southern Vietnam.

Aroma notes for this single origin chocolate bar included: authentic coconut (coconut milk), dark chocolate, crisped rice (marshmallow treats) and very faint (likely implied) sweet vanilla wafer/cookie.

This high-end 53% coconut milk chocolate (single serving bar) was wrapped to look like a candy or snack bar (even though the pretty green and gold colors in the packaging signaled something more high-end). But, when I took the first bite, I knew I was on an interesting and lush flavor journey. It was satisfying aggregation of velvety, creamy and crunchy textures.

The flavor notes had more layered depth (and authentic quality) than most coconut and chocolate confections you'll find. These notes included (as advertised/expected) a well-executed, flavorful blend of rich dark chocolate (fudge brownie), sweet coconut (milk) and crispy rice flakes.

Warning: mildly addictive if you like coconut and dark chocolate. Tasted more like a darker chocolate, while at the same time being approachable for milk chocolate fans. 

Ingredients: Cacao nibs, cane sugar, coconut milk powder (coconut milk, glucose syrup), popped rice, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. Manufactured in a facility that also processes milk, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs.

Solstice Chocolate - 70% Dak Nong Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate, Inc.
70% Dak Nong 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: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Solstice Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Dak Nong Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT). Solstice is a small batch, craft chocolate maker that offers a variety of single origin chocolate bars.

The cacao used to make this 70% dark chocolate was grown in Dak Nong province, located in the central highlands of southern Vietnam.

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate included: dark chocolate (fudge, dark ganache), dried fruit (prune, date), very faint green earth, and fleeting and faint sweet almond marzipan and mocha (very faint roasted coffee). 

This chocolate yielded a smooth, almost silky texture with a relatively rapid, melt.

The flavors were subtle and pleasing, starting with relatively uniform, slightly fruity dark chocolate (fudge brownie) notes that lingered lightly into the finish. There were also very faint, fleeting flickers of subtle green floral, and honey-drizzled fruit (pear, dragon fruit, and white wine grape raisin). 

Thank you to the farmers, fermentery, and of course Solstice chocolate maker(s), for the enjoyable tasting experience, especially the layered and delicate flavor and fruit nuances in this single origin (Vietnam) chocolate. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Prunes, Raisins, Marzipan"

Ingredients: Cacao Bean, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

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

Solstice Chocolate - 70% Ben Tre Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate, Inc.
70% Ben Tre Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Solstice Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Ben Tre Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT).

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate were subtle, very faint and fleeting oxalis (tart lemony green), diffuse, mild poached fruit with light warm spice (cinnamon, very faint licorice), and mocha notes. 

This well-tempered chocolate yielded a smooth, almost silky texture.

The flavor was pleasing and relatively uniform, with slightly fruity dark chocolate (brownie) notes that flowed gently into the finish. There were also very faint, fleeting flickers of balanced earth, yogurt and honey-drizzled pear (in the re-tasting of this bar a few hours later).

Maker's tasting notes: "Pear, Dates, Cinnamon"

Ingredients: Cacao Bean, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

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

White Label Chocolate - Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar) - Oct. 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label Chocolate
Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information; part of a large, multi-bar purchase
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA) 

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

Today's Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar) was from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA*).

Ben Tre Province is located in the Mekong River delta area of southern Vietnam, southwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: faint warm spice and molasses, cocoa and dried fruits (date, raisin, prune).

The well-tempered chocolate had a smooth texture and even melt.

Flavor notes were relatively complex and interesting and included: green, molasses, spice (star anise), and dark chocolate (ganache) -- flavors that mellowed and became more integrated in the finish.

Maker's tasting notes: "Brown spice, raisin, molasses"

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

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

*Note: Mutari Chocolate, the cozy, single story retail store on Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz that served drinking chocolates, confections, and chocolate bars, closed shortly after this Vietnam bar was purchased (Feb. 2022), due to a large multi-story building project in that location. The company is planning to re-open at another location.

Seahorse Chocolate - Vietnam Ben Tre 70% (bar) - Oct. 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Seahorse Chocolate
Vietnam Ben Tre 70% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Seahorse Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Vietnam Ben Tre 70% (bar) was from Seahorse Chocolate (Bend, OR). The company developed their roasting expertise with specialty coffee. They drum roast small batches of cacao and offer a line of bean-to-bar chocolates.

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: sweet, fresh green, green sugars, sweet berry pie, dark chocolate, and very faint vanilla tobacco.

Rich, smooth chocolate flavors included dark chocolate (ganache, torte), brown sugars, very faint molasses, tart-sweet berry jam and very faint fresh berry yogurt.

Maker's tasting notes: Blueberry, graham cracker

Ingredients: Cocoa beans and organic sugar.

Allergen-related information: (Vegan, Gluten-Free)