Orchard Valley Harvest - Dipped Almonds, 64% Cacao Dark Chocolate - Aug. 20, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Orchard Valley Harvest
Dipped Almonds - Almonds Coated in 64% Cacao Dark Chocolate
Good + 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total package of 8 packs
Calories: 160 calories in 1 pack

Cost: $5.00 for 1 package of 8 individually-wrapped packs
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Orchard Valley Harvest Dipped Almonds --Almonds Coated in 64% Cacao Dark Chocolate--were distributed by John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (Elgin, IL).

One percent of the sales of this product goes "towards tackling child hunger across America."

Aroma notes for these glossy, dark chocolate covered almonds included: chocolate (dark ganache), nut (almond, peanut), faint vanilla and faint, fleeting fruit (pear). (Note: there were no peanut ingredients listed in this product.)

The whole almond centers had a crunchy, roasted texture; a smooth, fudge-y 64% dark chocolate covering (and a shiny coat); and a smooth, dark chocolate finish that was balanced and not too sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Vanilla Extract), Almonds, Gum Acacia, Sugar, Confectioner's Glaze.

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (almonds). May contain milk, peanuts and other tree nuts. 

Blue Stripes - Chocolate Covered Whole Cacao Beans Hazelnut Butter - Aug. 19, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Blue Stripes Urban Cacao
Chocolate Covered Whole Cacao Beans Hazelnut Butter
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ N/A - part of a multi-item ($31.99) gift box order
Purchased from: Blue Stripes, online order (part of a larger gift box order)

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

Today's Chocolate Covered Whole Cacao Beans Hazelnut Butter offering was distributed by Blue Stripes LLC (New York, NY). The company offers a variety of products that use the whole cacao pod ("shell + fruit + beans").

Aroma notes for this whole cacao confection included: subtle chocolate and dried fruit (raisin, mango, citrus), gently roasted cacao and faint nuts/nut butter.

These generously sized rounds offered a high-contrast creamy (chocolate and hazelnut butter) and crunchy (whole cacao beans) experience--as I enjoyed tasting the "whole" cacao pod: cacao shell, cacao fruit and cacao bean, in layered form.

Flavor notes for the sweeter outer layer(s) included relatively subtle chocolate, very faint fruit, and hazelnut butter. This relatively thick, creamy outer layer(s) melted away fairly quickly.

Soon I was biting into the crunchy whole, unsweetened cacao bean center. It was slightly fibrous (cacao nib-like texture), nutty and seedy, with subtle (balanced) bitter flavor notes. If you like cacao nibs, you'll appreciate the opportunity to taste the whole, cacao bean.

You also may feel a theobromine buzz if you eat too many pieces. Theobromine, a close cousin to caffeine, is the stimulant present in cacao beans--and to lesser extent in other plants like tea and kola nuts.*

Ingredients: Whole Cacao Blend (70% Chocolate [Cacao Mass, Coconut Sugar, Cacao Butter], Cacao Shell Fiber, Cacao Fruit Sugar), Hazelnut Butter, Whole Cacao Beans, Sea Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains Hazelnut, Coconut.

*Theobromine is a naturally-occurring plant alkaloid and stimulant. (Bitter tasting plant alkaloids evolved as a defense mechanism for plants, to help to deter would be "predators"/consumers in the wild.)

Just as some people have a lower tolerance for caffeine-containing plants (coffee, guarana), be aware that some people may be more affected by theobromine than others. And for 9-10% of humans (and many other species) who may have problems processing this alkaloid, too much theobromine may not feel so great. 

Blue Stripes Cacao - Whole Cacao Chocolate Bar - Hazelnut Butter 70% Cacao - Aug. 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Blue Stripes Urban Cacao
Whole Cacao Chocolate Bar Hazelnut Butter 70% Cacao
Good ++
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories; 380 calories in 1 bar
Cost: (Part of $31.99 multiple item gift box order)
Purchased from: Blue Stripes, online order 

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

Today's Whole Cacao Chocolate Bar - Hazelnut Butter (bar) was distributed by Blue Stripes Cacao LLC (New York, NY). 

Aroma notes included: light chocolate, diffuse fruit (light mango, sweet citrus, berry jam), nuts (hazelnuts, roasted peanuts, hazelnut paste).

This chocolate bar had two layers. The base 70% dark chocolate layer was smooth in texture and taste, with mild to moderate chocolate-y (ganache), nut and faint faint flavor. It was not too sweet or acidic, and it was low in bitterness. 

The other layer was softer and nut-buttery (hazelnut butter, gianduja-like) and with a generous amount of hazelnut pieces adding enjoyable crunchy and ultra-creamy textural contrast.

This was a satisfying blend of very creamy chocolate and crunchy hazelnut pieces--and, I'm imagining, tiny bits of cocoa pod/fruit, as this was "100% upcycled chocolate" made with not only cacao (beans), but also cacao shell flour and cacao fruit sugar.

The sweetness level seemed about right. And it tasted authentically (fruit/coconut) sweet, rather than processed sugar sweetened.

Ingredients: Whole Cacao Blend (100% Chocolate*, Cacao Shell Flour, Cacao Butter*, Cacao Sugar), Hazelnut Butter*, Hazelnuts*, Coconut Sugar*, Sea Salt. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Hazelnuts, Coconut. "...product is produced in a facility that also processes tree nuts, soy, peanuts, and wheat."

Blue Stripes Cacao - Whole Cacao Chocolate Bar 70% Cacao Almond Butter (bar) - Aug. 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Blue Stripes Urban Cacao
Whole Cacao Chocolate Bar 70% Cacao - Almond Butter
Good++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories; 360 calories in 1 bar
Cost: (Part of a larger $31.99 assortment box order)
Purchased from: Blue Stripes, online order 

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

Today's Whole Cacao Chocolate Bar - Almond Butter (bar) was distributed by Blue Stripes Cacao LLC (New York, NY). 

Aroma notes included: light chocolate; sweet, green botanical; diffuse fruit; and nut (almond, almond butter).

I loved the texture. It was a satisfying blend of very creamy chocolate and crunchy almonds--and, presumably, tiny bits of cocoa pod/fruit, as this was "100% upcycled chocolate" made with not only cacao (beans), but also cacao shell flour and cacao fruit sugar.

This very creamy, smooth (luxe melt-in-your-mouth) 70% chocolate and nut butter bar was like enjoying an almond gianduja* chocolate--comparable to some of the best hazelnut gianduja chocolates from Italy, with some additional pleasant and gentle cacao flavor complexity.

Ingredients: Whole Cacao Blend (70% Dark Chocolate* [Cacao Mass*, Coconut Sugar*, Cacao Butter*], Cacao Shell Flour, Cacao Fruit Sugar), Almond Butter, Almonds, Cacao Butter*, Coconut Sugar*, Almond Oil, Sea Salt. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds, Coconut. "...product is produced in a facility that also processes tree nuts, soy, peanuts, and wheat." 

*Gianduja is a smooth blend of chocolate and 30% hazelnut paste, that first appeared in northwestern Italy (Turin) during Napoleon's reign (1796-1814). This Piedmont region of Italy is known for these chocolates made with special, high-quality hazelnuts as well as white truffles and various other nuts and fruits.

Ethel's Baking Co. - Turtle Dandy - Aug. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ethel's Baking Co.
Turtle Dandy 
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total container
Calories: 235 calories in 1/2 of 1 bar
Cost: $6.59 for 1 container (3 bars)
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Nuts Week.

Today's Turtle Dandy confections were from Ethel's Baking Co. (Shelby Township, MI).

These gluten-free bars were a stacked blend of rich shortbread cookie and chocolate "turtle" confection (thick, oval-ish shaped caramel and nut filled chocolates--often with pecans sticking out that resemble turtle limbs). Now imagine that concept translated into a rich cookie-pie hybrid.

Aroma notes include chocolate, shortbread cookies, nuts and fruit (very faint brown sugar and peach jam), and very faint vanilla. (These did not contain any peach, fruit or jam.)

These very generously-sized Turtle Dandy cookie bars had a thick, pie pastry-like butter cookie bottom, and were topped with layers of caramelized brown sugar chocolate and pecan nut pieces.

These were incredibly rich and buttery. (Butter was the number one ingredient.) I'd advise sharing a bar with someone (and eating these over a plate or napkin to avoid getting crumbs on your lap).

It's nice to see gluten-free confection and cookie/pie-like bar options like this; even if they're quite rich. That same rich, buttery quality could provide an interesting crumble over cooked fruit (plums, apples, peaches).

Ingredients: Butter (sweet cream, salt), brown cane sugar, Ethel's gluten-free flour blend (brown rice flour, modified tapioca starch, potato starch, corn starch, corn flour, white rice flour, xanthan gum), semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin, vanilla), pecans, cane sugar, honey, eggs, water, vanilla extract (water, ethyl alcohol, extractives of vanilla beans), leavening agent (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate).

Allergen-related information: "Contains: eggs, milk, soy, pecans. Made in a facility with other tree nuts, may contain pit or shell."

Chuao Chocolatier - Milk Chocolate Nut Bark - Aug. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chuao Chocolatier 
Milk Chocolate Bark - Almond and Hazelnut

Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 5.12 oz. (144.8 g.) in total 
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $7.04 total package of 3 large pieces
Purchased from: N/A - Received as a gift from a friend

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

Today's Milk Chocolate Almonds and Hazelnut Bark was with chocolate from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA). Today's package of three generously-sized pieces of chocolate nut-topped bark were sold (by weight) by Whole Foods Market in Cupertino, California. 

Aroma notes included: sweet, smooth dark milk chocolate and faint nut and spice.

Flavor notes for these thick 41% cacao slabs included: rich, creamy smooth, chocolate (fudge, creamy ganache); authentic whole almonds and hazelnuts; occasional bites of of sweet(er) white chocolate drizzle; and overall sweet mellow vanilla.

Eating this on a slightly warmer day made the thick milk chocolate just right, i.e. not too hard, but not too soft either. (It can be hard to take a bite of a very thick piece of chocolate on a cold day.)

Ingredients: "Premium milk chocolate (41% Cacao, Cacao Butter, Sugar, Dehydrated Milk, Soy Lecithin (as an emulsifier), Natural Vanilla), Almonds, Hazelnuts, Premium White Chocolate (Pure Cane Sugar, 31% Cacao Butter, Cream Lactose, Soy Lecithin (as an emulsifier), Vanilla Bean. 

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (almonds), hazelnuts; dairy (milk, lactose); soy.

Cappello's - Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - Aug. 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Cappello's
Gluten Free Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Good +++
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package
Calories: 420 calories in 3 cookies 
Cost: $16.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week. 

This week includes variety of chocolate bars and confections that contain a range of "true" nuts (pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts) and tree nuts/"drupes" (almonds, cashews and pistachios). 

Today's refrigerated Gluten Free Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough was from Cappello's LLC (Denver, CO). The company offers a line of gluten free, almond flour-based baked goods that are very tasty.

There's nothing like the smell of freshly baked cookies. Aroma notes for these right-out-of-the-oven cookies included: aromatic, slightly nutty, chocolate chip cookies, facilitated by warm chocolate chips, and a touch of warm vanilla and coconut. 

These cookies had a satisfying "buttery" crunchy texture accented with rich, melted chocolate chips.

I found these to be delicious, easy to prepare (slice and cook) cookies. They were good by themselves, and crumbled over a gelato sundae with amaretto, vanilla and mocha gelato flavors--topped with dark chocolate sauce, roasted almonds and a tiny sprinkle of sea salt. And they paired nicely with fresh fruit. (Cappello's has other recipe ideas on their website.)

Ingredients: Almond flour, organic maple syrup, semi-sweet chocolate morsels (unsweetened chocolate, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter), arrowroot flour, organic coconut oil, organic vanilla extract, sea salt, baking soda

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (almonds), coconut (oil). "Made in a facility that also produces products with peanuts, soy, milk, and egg." Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Vegan"