La Belge Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Lavender Basil Black Currant (bar) - May 23, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Le Belge Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Lavender Basil Black Currant (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mercantile shop at Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA 

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Lavender Basil Black Currant (bar) was from La Belge Chocolatier, a "Napa Valley Chocolate Company" in northern California.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and dark berry (black raspberry, black currant, deep black cherry), and a diffuse, refreshing blend of floral and herbal notes. 

Flavor notes included: smooth, sweet, dark chocolate, with rich black currant flavor, subtle floral (lavender and vanilla) and tiny, crunchy sparkles of herb crystal basil--green-tinged sugar crystals with crushed basil.

This was a very enjoyable bar to eat. The dark chocolate was a bit on the sweet side. However, the harmonious blend of flavor inclusions (that would be tasty in a variety of desserts and beverages) infused this chocolate with an enjoyable, upbeat complexity, and helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin [emulsifier], and natural vanilla extract), herb crystal basil, natural black currant extract, and natural lavender flavor. 

Allergen-related information: Contains soy. May contain milk, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts. Kosher Dairy.

 

Leith Chocolate - Lavender Milk Chocolate 40% (bar) - May 22, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Leith Chocolate
Lavender Milk Chocolate 40% (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 219 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.84 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Lavender Milk Chocolate 40% cocoa (bar) from Leith Chocolate EU (Belfast/South Queensferry, Scotland) was made in Scotland.

The company takes their name from the once bustling sea port of Leith that once the gateway to Scotland. The port neighborhood has more recently become a creative hub, home to several artisan makers creating goods for export.

Leith Chocolate sources cacao from South America to make their line of chocolates. And the cacao origin for today's bar was Colombia.

Aroma notes included: milk chocolate, lavender and warm vanilla.

This smooth, creamy bar kept it simple with three primary well-blended flavors: sweet milk chocolate, lavender and vanilla, that all harmonized very nicely. 

It was hard to taste cacao flavor nuances due to a relatively high percentage of sugar (and milk). While a bit sweet for me, I enjoyed the authentic lavender (and mellow vanilla) floral flavors. 

This Leith chocolate would be a great choice if you fancy flower flavors and have a milk chocolate sweet tooth.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, milk powder, emulsifier, non-GMO soy lecithin, natural vanilla extract), lavender oil. Cocoa solids. 40% minimum.

Allergen-related information: Made in a factory that handles dairy, peanuts, soy and tree nuts.

Srsly Chocolate - Love Bar 70% dark Rose petals & cranberry (bar) - May 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Srsly Chocolate Inc. 
Love Bar 70% dark Rose petals and cranberry (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Srsly, online order

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

Today's Love Bar 70% dark Rose petals and cranberry (bar) was from Srsly Chocolate Inc. (Austin, TX).

Aroma notes included: dark, slightly smokey chocolate (jungle earth/loam, faint peat--that was present after first opening the wrapper, but then dissipated), faint floral (red rose, pollen), and subtle, sweetened red fruit.

The back of the 70% chocolate bar was carefully strewn with attractive ruby and deep pink dried cranberries and red rose petals.

Flavor notes included: rich, deep dark chocolate, fleeting rose, and nuanced, sweet dried cranberry--all of which subtly undulated into the finish.

The flavors were harmonious and well balanced, including the sweetness level.

Ingredients: cacao*, cane sugar*, rose petals*, dried cranberries (cranberries, sugar, sunflower oil) -- *Organic

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that also processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat

Ethereal Chocolate - Organic Chocolate Apricot Honey (bar) - May 20, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ethereal Chocolate
Organic Dark Chocolate Apricot Honey (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ethereal, online order

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

Today's Apricot Honey (bar) with Organic Dark Chocolate, Dried Apricots, Marigold Petals, Honey Candy and Bee Pollen (bar) was made by Ethereal Chocolate (Woodstock, IL).

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: dark chocolate, dried stone fruit (apricot, nectarine) and natural sweeteners (brown sugar, honey).

The back of the dark chocolate bar was an attractive, warm-hued, tiny gold mine of flavor additions, including: dried apricot pieces, shredded golden marigold petals, cheery yellow speckles of bee pollen, and honey candy crystals.  

The base dark chocolate was flavorful, but had a slight granular dryness (fruit astringency) (likely from the cacao). Otherwise it was well balanced and well-executed.

Together, the blend of dark chocolate and the added floral and other flavors mentioned above resulted in an interesting, and thoughtfully complex, bar--made with a short list of high-quality, organic ingredients.

This dark chocolate was also not overly sweet (thank you!). 

Ingredients: Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*), Dried Apricots*, Honey Pieces* (Cane Sugar*, Brown Rice Syrup*, Honey*), Marigold Petals*, Bee Pollen. (* Organic Ingredient)

Allergen-related information: "Made on shared equipment with peanuts (and) tree nuts." 

Ethereal Craft Chocolate - Organic Dark Chocolate w/ Strawberries, Rose Petals, Pink Peppercorns (bar) - May 19, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ethereal Chocolate
Organic Dark Chocolate Strawberry, Rose Petal, Pink Peppercorn (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 222 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Happy Girl Kitchen (Pacific Grove, CA)

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

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate with Dried Strawberries, Rose Petals and Pink Peppercorns (bar) was made by Ethereal Chocolate (Woodstock, IL).

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: dark chocolate (cacao, subtle wood (cedar, pepper), very faint nut and fruit); diffuse red fruit (strawberry); little pops of pink peppercorn; and very faint floral. 

A beautiful field of rose-hued flavor additions on the back of this bar included: dried strawberry slices, rose petals and pink peppercorns.  

The dark chocolate had a light creaminess and nice melt, as well as a slight granular dryness (fruit astringency), which could have been caused by flavor inclusions. Hard to tell.

The dark chocolate, strawberry and pink peppercorn flavors were appealing, complex and balanced. Every once in awhile there was an uptick in concentrated, naturally tart-sweet strawberry flavor, or a hint of pink peppercorn. 

The rose petals added visual beauty; their more subtle flavor was a bit subdued in this blend. However, if you savor this thoughtfully crafted chocolate (made from a short list of high-quality, organic ingredients) slowly...you'll be rewarded with a few wonderful, soft encounters with authentic rose flavor. 

Like the flavor levels above, the sweetness was well-balanced too; and this enjoyable dark chocolate was not too sweet (thank you!). 

Ingredients: Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*), Freeze-Dried Strawberries*, Rose Petals*, Pink Peppercorns*. (* Organic Ingredient)

Allergen-related information: "Made on shared equipment with peanuts (and) tree nuts."

Maya Chocolates - Rose & Pistachio 65% Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Maya Chocolates 
Rose and Pistachio 65% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + Good ++
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62.4 g.) in total bar
Calories: 341 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Rose and Pistachio 65% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Maya Chocolates (Pinole, CA).

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: roasted cocoa, dark chocolate, very faint floral (rose petal tea, rose petal jam, and even fainter vanilla), as well as diffuse, faint red berry and rosehip jam.  

The texture of the base 65% dark chocolate was very creamy with a satisfying melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate (dark chocolate pudding with vanilla/chocolate torte/fondue) that extended into the finish. Very subtle floral flavor (rose tea) came from real pink rose flower petals; and a sprinkling of green pistachio nuts added flavor and texture.

The flavors and the sweetness (sugar level) were both well-balanced. The bittersweet dark chocolate (not that bitter) took center stage; but there was room for authentic, attractive rose and pistachio elements to shine momentarily.

Ingredients: Unsweetened Chocolate, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavour, Rose, Pistachio

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk (and) other tree nuts."

Tony's Chocolonely - Milk Chocolate Rose Raspberry (bar) - May 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Tony's Chocolonely
Milk Chocolate Rose Raspberry (bar)

Good + - Good++

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 6.35 oz. (180 g.) in total bar

Calories: 160 calories (per label) in 1/6 of bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from family member
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market (Thank you Megan!)

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

Today's Milk Chocolate Rose Raspberry (bar) was distributed by Tony's Chocolonely Inc. (New York, NY).

Aroma notes for this Valentine ("For My Valentony") limited edition milk chocolate included: sweet milk chocolate, faint fruit (berry), very faint floral and light vanilla.

This smooth, sweet milk chocolate (punctuated by tiny, crunchy red raspberry seeds), tasted a little less sweet than most 32% cocoa solids bars (thank you!). This made it easier to taste the authentic red raspberry, Belgian milk chocolate, and faint rose, and vanilla malt flavors. 

Company description: "Belgian Fairtrade milk chocolate with pieces of freeze-dried raspberry and fudge with natural rose flavor. "

Ingredients: "sugar, dry whole milk, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, rose fudge (sugar, glucose syrup (wheat), sunflower oil, invert sugar syrup, natural rose flavor, sunflower lecithin, citric acid, beeswax, elderberry concentrate), raspberry, soy lecithin." (Cocoa solids: 32% minimum.)

Allergen-related information: (Contained milk, wheat, and soy.) "May contain traces of: peanut, egg and tree nuts."