Firetree Chocolate - Hispaniola Dominican Republic 72% Cocoa (bar) - May 28, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Firetree Chocolate
Hispaniola Dominican Republic 72% Cocoa (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.145 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's Hispaniola Dominican Republic 72% Cocoa (bar) was from Firetree Chocolate (Peterborough, United Kingdom).

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate, roasted cocoa, diffuse fruit (red berry), and very faint floral spice.

This well-tempered chocolate had a smooth melt and texture with a barely there fruit astringency.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (roasted cocoa), diffuse fruit (red berry, dried nectarine and fig), spice, and faint sweet green (floral, light banana).

Maker's tasting notes: "...intense chocolate with brown fruit flavours, with spicy and red fruit notes, and a hint of green banana."

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, unrefined sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin.

Allergen-related information: This chocolate is made in a no nut factory. Dairy free. Halal. Kosher. Suitable for Vegans. 

 

Svenska Kakao - Dominican Republic, Oko Caribe 2021 70% Harvest (bar) - May 27, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Svenska Kakao

Dominican Republic, Oko Caribe, 2021 70% Cacao (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 137 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's Dominican Republic, Oko Caribe (2021 Harvest) 70% Cacao (bar) was from Svenska Kakao (Osterlen, Sweden). 

Svenska Kakao (Swedish Cacao) is small, family owned chocolate maker located in a red brick building (former school house) built in 1893 near the Baltic Sea. Their goal is to highlight the flavors found in cacao worldwide. They "roast their cacao beans at low temperatures, process minimally and add no unnecessary ingredients."

Aroma notes for today's bar--made with cacao produced by Oko Caribe in the Dominican Republic--included: dark chocolate (iron-rich dried fruits (raisin, plum, berry); faint molasses; faint, fleeting licorice; light green botanical; and barely there graham cracker). Within a five-minute smelling and tasting span other interesting (appealing) dark chocolate and very faint (not-undesirable) light fermentation notes flickered by as well.

The melt was nice; the texture had a very faint fruit astringency/dryness to it.

Flavor notes included nuanced dark chocolate with dried fruit (pear, berry, raisin), honey, sweet green and true chocolate (dark chocolate torte, pudding), notes.

Today's 70% DR dark chocolate was a well-crafted, shape-shifter, with interesting, well-balanced complexity and aroma and flavor notes. (One of my favorite kinds of chocolate to taste.) All the more impressive when one remembers all these nuances were from just two ingredients: cacao beans and sugar. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Dark chocolate with balanced notes of honey, red berries and nuts."

Ingredients: Cacao beans, cane sugar. Cacao: 70% 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts and milk."

Ethereal Chocolate - Organic 80% Dominican Republic (bar) - May 26, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ethereal Chocolate 
Organic 80% Dominican Republic (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 167.6 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ethereal Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's Organic 80% Dominican Republic (bar) was from Ethereal Chocolate (Woodstock, IL).

Aroma and flavor notes for this 80% cacao bar were almost the same and included: dark chocolate, red fruit (berry, cherry, red apple), wood (cedar) and faint nut.

The single origin, two-ingredient chocolate had an enjoyable aroma and flavor, and a relatively granular texture/astringency over the last two-thirds of each bite.

This ultra-dark chocolate was well-balanced, with relatively low bitterness and a sophisticated, natural fruit sweetness/brightness for an 80%er. The fruit acidity was not too strong, and the sweetness level was good (not too sweet, not too bitter).

Maker's tasting notes: ..."cherry, fig, and citrus"

Ingredients: Cocoa beans*, cane sugar* (* Organic)

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

NearyNogs - Wild Irish Dulaman Gorse Flower & Irish Seaweed (bar) - May 25, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

NearyNogs
Wild Irish Dulaman Gorse Flower & Irish Seaweed (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .705 oz. (20 g.) / 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Flowers Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Theme Week.

Today's Wild Irish Dulaman Gorse Flower and Irish Seaweed (bar) was from NearyNogs Chocolate Makers (in their Mourne Coast facility/Newry, Northern Ireland -- with views of the Mourne mountains and the Irish Sea). The company produces a line of small batch, bean-to-bar, stoneground chocolates, some with locally-inspired flavors. 

The two Irish flavor inclusions: 1.) Edible Gorse flowers (Aiteann gallda) seen as small, dried yellow petals) Some species have a faint coconut scent., and 2.) Irish seaweed that added a light salty/umami note. Together, these two unique flavor inclusions were skillfully harmonized with each other-- and with the fruit (red fruit) flavors in the dark chocolate. 

Aroma notes for this well-tempered 70% dark chocolate included: dark chocolate, diffuse red fruit (red grape), evasive floral and very faint salt/savory notes

Flavor and finish notes were subtly complex, with an appealing, smooth but hearty, dark chocolate base (made with single estate cacao from Zorzal, in the Dominican Republic) with natural, balanced ripe fruit sweetness, sweet floral, very faint salt/savory and light caramel tones. 

I enjoyed this bar, with rich, pleasing flavors that included a light touch of endemic Irish floral and marine elements.

Maker's description: "Local foraged Irish channel wrack seaweed, just like the ancients foraged, paired with gorse ("whin") flowers, Irish bean to bar, craft chocolate"

Ingredients: 70% Organic Dominican Republic Chocolate, (70% cacao beans and sugar) seaweed and dried gorse flowers.

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

Standout Chocolate - Saffron 70% (bar) - May 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate
Saffron - 70% Chocolate (bar)

Good +

Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150.75 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar (yellow dot)
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA  

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Dominican Republic Week.

Today's (Seasonal Collection*) Saffron 70% (bar) was handcrafted by Standout Chocolate (Kallered, Sweden).

Cacao origin: OKO Caribe, Dominican Republic 

Oko Caribe (Eco Caribbean)--acts as a co-op, central fermentery and organic certifier, and purchases (wet) cacao beans from more than 150 farmers in the Duarte Province. Fermented and dried cacao beans (from DR and other cocoa growing nations) are sold to chocolate makers around the globe. The cacao has been described as having red fruit and subtle wood notes. 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (very faint diffuse red fruit and wood) and faint earthy herbal (freshly cut grass) and floral (saffron, chysanthemum). 

The 70% dark chocolate base had a smooth, almost creamy texture, and a relatively bold dark flavor (that tasted a bit darker than 70%).

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, herbal (freshly cut sweet green grass, earthy root (dandelion)), floral (saffron), and faint, fleeting slightly bitter earth. The chocolate tasted a bit on the darker, bolder side with a very faint bittersweet sharpness. The faint earth notes may have come from the cacao, the saffron, or both.

This relatively complex dark chocolate with earthy botanical and floral notes was interesting to try. The maker did a good job of navigating and trying to harmonize the raw flavors.

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Cane sugar*, Cacao butter*, Saffron* (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of milk.

*St. Lucia saffron buns are a Christmas holiday tradition in Sweden.

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.