Vine to Bar - Dark Chocolate Chardonnay Marc tasting square - July 9, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Vine to Bar
Chocolate Tasting Squares
Chardonnay Smoked Salt and Cocoa Nibs
Good +
Weight: .777 oz. (22 g.) in 2 squares
Calories: 120 calories in 2 squares
Cost: $2.58 for 2 squares
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate with Chardonnay Marc chocolate tasting square(s) were from Vine to Bar. (There was no HQ location listed on packaging or website.) 

The chardonnay grape marc* used in the company's chocolates was from "coastal vineyards." The company uses pressed wine grapes that might otherwise get discarded to use in chocolates.

Aroma notes included: naturally sweet dark chocolate, soft, diffuse fruit, and slightly floral botanical (including very faint vanilla-like, sweet green) notes.

The chocolate was fairly smooth, with a very slightly granular texture (likely due to chardonnay grape marc). A light sprinkling of cocoa bean pieces (nibs) added a crunchy element.

The flavor was a blend of very light dark chocolate and soft fruity (grape) notes, with a bit of salt. The flavors were relatively gentle, and well balanced.

I also tasted a few other Vine to Bar flavors, including a "plain" Dark Chocolate flavor. It shared some of the same aroma and flavor notes as those mentioned above. Relatively subtle, sweet flavors. It had slightly more dark chocolate oomph to it, but was otherwise very similar.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural flavors)

Allergen-related information: May contain tree nuts, peanut, egg, wheat and milk. Vine to Bar Chocolates "contain no alcohol."

*Chardonnay Marc is a by-product of making wine. It's what's left after wine grape juice has been extracted. (According to the company, this by-product represents "up to 10 billion pounds of waste a year.")

The company describes their process to upcycle this marc as follows: "...After experimenting many times over, we transformed this by-product into WellVine (tm) Chardonnay Marc, a new ingredient full of natural sweetness, flavanols, and beneficial nutrients. It is also alcohol free.

This is one of several relatively new "upcycled" chocolates I've tasted that have become popular in recent years. This trend sounds practical and economical. I'm also interested in how these by-products will be monitored (e.g. how they're tested for pesticides and herbicide residues).

Standout Chocolate - Liquorice & Beech Smoked Sea Salt 67% (bar) - July 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate
Liquorice & Beech Smoked Sea Salt 67% (bar)

Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.)/1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 144.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Liquorice & Beech Smoked Sea Salt 67% (bar) was from Standout Chocolate (Kallered, Sweden).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, fruit (red grape, light raisin) and very faint sweet herb. 

The texture was smooth, thick and creamy.

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate, hearty black licorice* and diffuse fruit (faint red berry/grape). The salt was very subtle, and well integrated into the licorice. 

Those who enjoy licorice and/or European salted licorice will appreciate this authentic flavor.

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Cane sugar*, Cacao butter*, Liquorice*, Beech-smoked sea salt. (*Organic)

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

*Licorice is a spelling variant of liquorice in the U.S. and Canada.

Coracao - 81% Dark California Almonds & Sea Salt (bar) - July 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Coracao  
81% Dark California Almonds & Sea Salt
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Z. Cioccolato, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Organic 81% Dark California Almonds & Sea Salt (bar) was from Coracao Chocolate (Oakland, CA). The company has been making great-tasting chocolate bars and filled confections (less sweet, with high-quality, authentic flavors) since 2008.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, light floral citrus (subtle lemon), very faint tart green herb (oxalis), very faint graham cracker and coconut sugar, subtle vanilla spice cake, and barely detectable wood and nut.

This high cacao percentage (81%) dark chocolate was nuanced--more mild than wild. I noticed the absence of sugar (not a bad thing for me). What I'd call a soft landing after the first bite (often present with added cocoa butter). What was "missing" was the range of bold, bitter and acidic elements that often accompany ultra-dark chocolates. 

The use of Heritage variety cacao(s)* and coconut sugar as a sweetener (vs. cane sugar) helped to create this gentle, ebony-hued bar. The sea salt was also relatively subtle. (I was unable to detect the smoked salt flavor in the bites I had.)

Whole almonds pressed into the back of the bar gave this chocolate more textural oomph, layered almond and chocolate flavor(s) and moderated/mellowed what natural-tasting sweetness was present. The authentic light touch of vanilla bean also added a trace of background, floral warmth (that my brain frequently associates with baked goods and vanilla ice cream).

This well-executed, Organic and Vegan dark chocolate is perfect for those who enjoy the gentler flavors of Heritage cacao(s)--that offer subtle, attractive complexity. 

Too much sugar and salt would have overwhelmed these wonderful traits. Thank you to the maker for dialing back both sweet and savory levels to achieve a harmonious balance of flavors. For those that prefer the buzz of a bolder, harsher bar, there are plenty of other options out there.

Ingredients: Organic Heirloom Cacao, Organic Almonds, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Cacao Butter, Smoked Sea Salt, Himalayan Salt & Organic Vanilla Bean

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes almonds, cashews & other tree nuts"

*The cacao source listed on this packaging made reference to Eco Cacao Collaborative, Esmeraldas, Ecuador. (Esmeraldas is a coastal city in NW Ecuador.) Many of the region's residents make a living from agricultural products, including: banana, tobacco, coffee and cacao.

Tony's Chocolonely - Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt & Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt (eggs) - July 6, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Tony's Chocolonely Inc.
1.) Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt - Good ++
2.) Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt - Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in a total container of 12 eggs

Calories: 280 calories in 4 eggs
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package of 12 eggs
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt chocolate eggs were part of a 5-flavor assortment. This petite dozen were made in Belgium, packaged in a miniature (compostable) egg crate, and distributed by Tony's Chocolonely Inc. (New York, NY).

Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt

Aroma notes for this solid egg included: milk chocolate, caramel and very faint crisped rice, vanilla and nut. The texture was creamy smooth with crunchy caramel bits.

Flavor notes included: Creamy sweet milk chocolate with sparkles of caramel/butterscotch that lingered into the finish. 

These milk chocolates were nicely executed and were made with a slightly higher percentage cacao (32%) chocolate than most mass market novelty chocolates contain. 

Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt

These dark chocolate eggs had a smooth dark chocolate aroma and texture. The smooth base dark chocolate was interspersed with tiny bits of almond and sea salt. Not too sweet, not too salty.

The flavor was unexpectedly rich and deep with a very faint, fleeting earth note in the finish. Dark fans will enjoy the choice of 51% cacao. (This is darker than usual for a foil-wrapped novelty chocolate confection.) 

Ingredients: 

1.) Sugar, dry whole milk, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, caramel pieces (sugar, glucose syrup (wheat), cream (milk), butter (milk), sea salt, soy lecithin. 

2.) Chocolate liquor, sugar, almond, cocoa butter, sea salt, soy lecithin.

Allergen-related information: 

1.) Contains milk, wheat, soy.

2.) Contains almond, soy.

"In addition, all products may also contain: milk, wheat, egg, peanut and tree nuts."

 

Blejski otok - 70% Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt (bar) - July 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Blejski otok
70% Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt 
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: Not applicable - gift from a friend
Purchased from: Bought by a friend who traveled to Slovenia

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

Today's Blejski otok 70% Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt bar was from Slovenia.

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate included: dark chocolate, very faint clean green (stalks, floral, vanilla, nut), and barely detectable savory (salt).

This chocolate was smooth in texture and flavor with tiny, balanced upticks in sea salt. 

Flavor notes for this enjoyable bar included: rich, smooth (64%) dark chocolate, very faint green floral fruit (banana), and very faint vanilla. The chocolate was medium-low acidity and low bitterness.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass 64% (sugar 26.5%, cocoa butter 8.5%), emulsifier: soy lecithin, natural vanilla aroma

Allergen-related information: (Google translation: "This food is not suitable for allergy sufferers. May contain traces of zit (wheat?), egg, milk proteins, lactose, nuts, soy and peanuts")

Ranger Chocolate - Alaska Sea Salt Chocolate Bar - July 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Company
Alaska Sea Salt Chocolate Bar
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 349 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week. And Happy 4th of July (Independence Day) to all those from the U.S. The salt sparkles in this week's chocolates have helped celebrate summer.

Today's Alaska Sea Salt Chocolate Bar (Batch 8) was from Ranger Chocolate Company (Portland, OR).

The bean-to-bar makers described this collaboration bar (and series of bars with salt) as follows: "Our sea salt adventure explores salt harvested from the Pacific Ocean. For Alaska, we teamed up with our friends at Bitterman Salt Co." (Portland, OR).

"We paired the pristine Alaska Pure Flake Sea Salt with Ranger's Makers blend of cacao. Sea salt is turned into the chocolate to add texture and retain its true flavor."

Aroma notes included: diffuse fruit (red grape), dark chocolate (dark chocolate torte), faint spice and very faint sweet floral green.

This dark chocolate and Alaska salt blend had a smooth, creamy texture and melt, and embedded tiny crunchy sparkles of sea salt.

Cacao flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes mentioned above, with a deeper dive into the dark chocolate--a flavorful, very balanced and chocolate-y "makers blend" with attractive and very balanced complexity.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic sugar, cacao butter, sea salt

Allergen-related information: (None listed on label. Check inside.)

Lolli & Pops - Sea Salt Caramel Milk Chocolate Tiles - July 3, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Lolli & Pops 
Sea Salt Caramel Milk Chocolate Tiles
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 8.04 oz. (240 g.) total package of 16 tiles
Calories: 160 calories in 2 tiles (squares)
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend 
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Don)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Sea Salt.

Today's Sea Salt Caramel Milk Chocolate Tiles were manufactured for Lolli & Pops (San Francisco, CA). The company is a candy and confection shop with store locations in the U.S. that "sources ingredients from around the world."

The two individually-wrapped, square-shaped tiles featured today were part of a larger, 16-piece (8 flavors) assortment pack. These milk chocolate tiles had a sea salt caramel filling.

Aroma notes for these tiles included: milk chocolate, butterscotch, caramel, and faint sweet fruit.

Both Sea Salt Caramel Tiles had a relatively smooth, creamy milk chocolate texture. 

Flavor notes included: very sweet milk chocolate with a soft, almost flowing, sweet, salted caramel filling, and very faint vanilla flavoring. These confections were candy-sweet.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, whole milk powder, soy lecithin, vanilla flavor) + salt and caramel-related ingredients. (Each flavor's ingredients were not separately identified.) This assortment pack "contains bioengineered ingredients." (It was not clear which components this referred to.)

Allergen-related information: This advisory was listed on the package for all 8 flavors: "Contains: milk, soy and wheat. May contain peanuts and tree nuts."