Taza Chocolate - 70% Dark Chocolate Covered Brazil Nuts - Nov. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Taza Chocolate 

70% Dark Chocolate Covered Brazil Nuts

Good + 

Weight: 1/4 cup (28 g.) / 16 oz. (453 g.) in total package 

Calories: 180 calories in 1 (1 oz.) serving

Cost: $9.99 for 1 package

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

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

Today's Organic, Keto Dark Chocolate Covered Brazil Nuts were from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA).

Aroma notes for this organic, gluten free snack included: cacao nibs, very faint cacao fermentation, very faint brown/maple sugar and very slightly savory (salt). (The faint cacao fermentation note receded after the package had been opened for a few hours.)

Relatively bold, but balanced, 70% dark chocolate surrounded softly crunchy Brazil nuts, yielding faint hints of earthy nut flavor. Not too sweet (thank you) or salty.

Ingredients: Organic Brazil nuts, organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic sunflower lecithin, sea salt. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Brazil nuts. May contain traces of other tree nuts and sesame seeds. 

Essential Living Foods - Beyond Trail Mix (Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Dark Chocolate) - Nov. 8, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Essential Living Foods

Beyond Trail Mix - Brazil Nuts + Cashews + Dark Chocolate 

Good + 

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package

Calories: 140 calories in 1 (28 g.) serving

Cost: $8.49 for 1 package

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

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week, featuring chocolate made with Brazilian-grown cacao as well as chocolates with Brazil-related flavor inclusions.

Today's Essential Living Foods Organic Beyond Trail Mix (Brazil Nuts + Cashews + Dark Chocolate) was distributed by Terrafertil US, LLC* (Torrance, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes for this trail mix included: authentic nut (brazil nut and cashew), sweet dark chocolate chip, and sweet raisin. 

Normally trail mixes are quite salty and sweet. The lack of salt, and judicious sweetening, let more of the true nut and dried fruit flavors shine through. A mix of crunchy and chewy textures added interest.

Ingredients: Organic Brazil nuts, organic cashews, organic dark chocolate chips (organic chocolate liquor, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier), organic vanilla extract), organic Thompson raisins, organic Sultana raisins.

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (cashews, Brazil nuts). May contain milk and soy. Manufactured in a facility that processes other tree nuts.

*Terrafertil US, LLC became a wholly owned subsidiary of Nestle USA in 2018. (The company was originally founded in Ecuador in 2005.)

Nature To Go - Dark Chocolate Brazil Nuts - Nov. 7, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Nature To Go

Dark Chocolate Brazil Nuts 

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total package

Calories: 160 calories in 1 (1 oz.) serving

Cost: $8.99 for 1 package

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

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

Today's Nature To Go Dark Chocolate Brazil Nuts were distributed by Food Castle Inc. (Vernon, CA).

Aroma notes for this chocolate-covered nuts included: tasty, dark chocolate fudge sauce, very faint spirits (whiskey, dark rum), and faint (imagined) vanilla. (These did not contain spirits or vanilla.)

Each piece contained a crunchy, large, nutty (whole Brazil nut) center, with faint, fleeting earth notes, and was surrounded by satisfying, authentic-tasting, quality dark chocolate.

Brazil nuts grow on tall trees in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador--in some of the same regions as cacao. (They're also grown in similar climate zones in Africa and elsewhere.)

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, palm kernel oil, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), whole milk powder, butter fat, soy lecithin as an emulsifier, salt, and natural flavor), roasted Brazil nuts (Brazil nuts and salt).

Allergen-related information: "Contains: milk, soy, brazil nuts" "Manufactured in a facility that also processes: milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts."

Crow and Moss - Passion Fruit Sesame Chocolate 68% (bar) - Nov. 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Crow and Moss
Passion Fruit Sesame Chocolate 68% (bar)
Good + Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 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 Umami Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week.

Today's Passion Fruit Sesame Chocolate 68% (bar) was from Crow and Moss (Petoskey, MI). The company creates bean-to-bar, small batch chocolate in Michigan. 

The sesame seeds in this bar--and in (white and black) sesame crackers with blue and cream cheese--provided umami flavor. 

The passion fruit in the chocolate (and guava (feijoa) and acai fruits (and Brazil nuts)) paired with this unique chocolate kicked off Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week. 

Aroma notes for this dark bar included: authentic, smooth dark (Forastero variety) cacao (with very faint fermentation note) and subtle tropical fruit acidity.

Creamy, bold 68% dark chocolate with fleeting bursts of tart-sweet tropical fruit (passion fruit, citrus). Golden sesame seeds pressed into the back added some texture.

This tart-sweet dark bar was paired with black sesame crackers, blue and cream cheese, fruit and nuts (guava, acai and Brazil nuts).

Maker's description: "Whisk your tastebuds off on holiday with this lush combination of velvety chocolate, juicy passionfruit and the satisfying crunch of sesame. Tropical sunshine encased in chocolate."

Ingredients: Cacao blend, organic cane sugar, passion fruit, organic sesame seeds

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

Angies - Boom Chicka Pop - Dark Chocolate Drizzled Kettle Corn - Nov. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Angie's Artisan Treats, Inc.
Boom Chicka Pop - Dark Chocolate Flavored Drizzled Sea Salt Kettle Corn 
Good +
Weight: 1.09 oz. (31 g.) / 5.5 oz. (156 g.) in total package 
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order (add-in to larger order)

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Umami Theme Week, featuring chocolates with high umami flavor inclusions and chocolate pairings with umami foods.

Today's Dark Chocolate Flavored Drizzled Sea Salt Kettle Corn was distributed by Angie's Artisan Treats, LLC* (Osseo, MN). 

Aroma notes for this snack mix included: sweet/lightly candied popcorn and faint chocolate.

This kettle corn had a soft crunch and was, as advertised, drizzled with just the right amount of smooth (alkalized) dark chocolate (not too much, not too little). And the overall sweetness was not overwhelming (thank you!). You could still taste the lightly salted popcorn underneath.

Today's Kettle Corn was paired with two high umami snacks: 1.) homemade umami almonds (slow roasted with Worcestershire sauce) and 2.) homemade Parmesan cheese crackers. A satisfying sweet and salty (and umami) snack balance was achieved. 

Ingredients: Cane sugar, popcorn, sunflower oil, palm kernel and palm oil, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), whey powder, sea salt, soy lecithin, natural flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy." "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts and tree nuts."

*Angie's Artisan Treats (maker of popcorn and kettle corn snack products) was acquired by Conagra Brands in 2017. (Conagra brands include: Marie Callender's, Reddi-wip, Hunt's, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim and Orville Redenbacher's.)

Qantu - Reves de Cachemire Goat Milk (bar) - Nov. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Qantu

Reves de Cachemire (Goat Milk) 55% (bar)

Good ++

Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar

Calories: 143 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Reves de Cachemire (Goat Milk) 55% (bar) was from Qantu Cacao et Chocolat Inc. (Montreal, QC, Canada).

Aroma notes for this 55% goat milk chocolate bar included: dark milk chocolate, caramel,  very faint fruit (pear), and barely detectable goat.

The texture was dense and creamy with a very slight graininess--in a cool, 65 degree F. (18 degrees C.) room.

The flavor had a lightness to it. Notes included: subtle, dark milk chocolate; caramel; very faint and fleeting goat; and mild, diffuse fruit.

This gently complex chocolate was even and smooth, but not dull. The goat notes were very subtle. Some may not notice a very mild gaminess. Others will. The caramel sweetness level was just right--comforting, almost fruit-floral in spirit) but not cloying. The fats in the milk and cocoa butter helped buffer any sharpness or over-sweetness. 

Umami pairing

Qantu's goat milk bar contained a low amount of glutamate (umami indicator); but it inspired a robust, high umami lunch that included a salad with Humboldt Blue goat milk blue cheese (high on the umami scale) and spaghetti squash with tomato sauce, mushrooms and parmesan cheese (pushing the umami scale score even higher). This meal was enjoyed after I sampled today's lovely, dreamy goat milk chocolate. This umami lunch pairing was satisfying and delicious.

I'm glad I ate today's delicate cashmere dream goat milk chocolate first. By eating chocolate for breakfast...or before lunch, I'm better able to still taste cacao nuances. Heavier, spicy foods can overwhelm the taste buds temporarily.

Maker's tasting notes: "Eye: silky light brown; Nose: mild goat milk caramel; Mouth: slightly fruity, reminiscent of pear; Finish: floral as c(h)amomile."

Ingredients: Bagua cocoa beans, cane sugar, goat milk powder, cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk (goat milk). "May contain traces of nuts."

Zotter - Seaweed Caramel Pineapple (bar) - Nov. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter

Seaweed Caramel Pineapple (bar)

Good + - Good ++

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

Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.99 (sale) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Zotter, online order

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

Today's Seaweed Caramel Pineapple (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Cape Coral, FL).

Edible seaweeds can be good examples umami flavors. Today was a rare opportunity to taste a chocolate that included seaweed as a flavor inclusion.

Aroma notes for this bar included: cocoa, slightly savory, graham cracker, fresh sweet green, and very faint fleeting sweet fruit (pineapple), and dark chocolate cake.

A thin crispy dark chocolate shell enclosed a soft, substantial, two-layered filling - one layer was ivory colored and one layer was more caramel in color.

Flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes (above) with fleeting sweet, chewy pineapple fruit bits. The flavors and the sweetness level were well balanced and complementary. The dulse* seaweed flakes offered a satisfying, very soft and subtle, umami flavor presence.

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, organic cocoa mass, organic cocoa butter, organic almonds, organic pineapple concentrate, organic dried pineapples, organic rice syrup, milk, dry skim milk, caramelized dry milk (dry skim milk powder, sugar), butter (cream), organic dulse seaweed flakes, organic lemon juice concentrate, dry whole milk, organic soy lecithin, organic dark brown cane sugar, salt, dry sweet whey, organic lemon powder (organic lemon juice concentrate, organic corn starch, organic sugar), organic vanilla bean powder, organic rose petals, organic cinnamon.

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

*Dulse (Palmaria palmata) is an edible (red algae) seaweed (think red sea lettuce) that grows on the northern coasts of the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.