Auro Chocolate - Salted Peanut 47% Milk Chocolate with Salted Peanut (bar) - Sept. 25, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Auro Chocolate
Salted Peanut 47% Milk Chocolate with Salted Peanut (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 338 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and The Philippines Theme Week.

Today's plant-based, Salted Peanut 47% Milk* Chocolate with Salted Peanut (bar) was produced by Auro Chocolate (Calamba City, Laguna, Philiippines).

Aroma notes included: rich dark chocolate, and nuts (peanuts).

The texture was a blend of smooth dark chocolate and softly crunchy bits of peanut.

The flavor notes were richer than expected for a chocolate and peanut blend. The 47% cacao chocolate tasted darker (closer to a 65%+ dark chocolate), and the peanuts tasted very authentic with a light roasted note. One of the reason for the clear flavors was that the "milk" in this Milk Chocolate bar was supplied by oat powder and not dairy milk. Any "milks" can blunt/soften cacao flavors; but that doesn't appear to have occurred here.

Bold and balanced dark chocolate with a judicious touch of salt made this an appealing chocolate.

Ingredients: Cane sugar, cacao mass, natural cacao butter, oat powder, roasted peanut, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains oats and peanuts. This product is manufactured in a facility that processes other products which may contain milk, tree nuts, and soy." (Halal.)

*The "milk" in this milk chocolate refers to the inclusion of oat powder. There were no dairy ingredients listed.

Chocolat Bonnat - No. 3 - Les Sirenes Philippines Chocolat Noir 75% de Cacao (bar) - Sept. 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolat Bonnat
No. 3 - Les Sirenes Philippines Chocolat Noir 75% de Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150.75 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and The Philippines Theme Week.*

Today's limited edition, No. 3 - Les Sirenes Philippines Chocolat Noir 75% de Cacao (bar) was from Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron Cedex, France).

Cacao was transported to the Philippines from Mexico by Spanish galleon ships as far back as the early 1600s.

Aroma and flavor notes included: bittersweet, baked fudge brownie, subtle caramel, butter, fleeting berry, spice and nut notes. 

The texture for this three-ingredient chocolate was notable: a very creamy texture (small particle size) with a melt and mouthfeel consistent with a generous amount of high-quality, pure cocoa butter. (No emulsifiers/lecithins here.)

Ingredients: Cacao, Cacao butter, Sugar

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on wrapper)

*This is the second single origin week this year (2023) featuring cacao grown in the Philippines.

 

Hotel Chocolat - Serious Dark Fix Collection - Sept. 23, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hotel Chocolat
Serious Dark Fix "H-Box" Collection (assortment box)
Good + - Good ++ (varied with piece)
Weight: 3.53 oz. (100 g.) / 5.46 oz. (155 g.) in total box of 14 pieces
Calories: 583 calories in 100 g. serving (tastes of all flavors)
Cost: 18.50 Euros / ($18.50 (estimate) USD) for 1 box
Purchased from: The Loop (shop), Dublin Airport (Collinstown, Ireland)

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

Today's Serious Dark Fix "H-Box" collection was from Hotel Chocolat (London). In 2017, the company opened its first shop in Dublin, Ireland.

This assortment included: Gin, Dark Rum, Praline 80%, Dizzy Praline 70%, Chilli, Honduras Pistachio Praline, Colombia Almond Praline, 70% Dark Macaron, Simple Dark, Hazelnut and Ginger, 70% Dark Baton, and Gianduja Bombe.

Below are some brief notes on this dark chocolate collection:

• Gin - boozy, bright citrus and authentic juniper, botanical and light floral notes
• Dark Rum - dark chocolate with authentically boozy, dark rum notes
• Dizzy Praline 70% - dark chocolate filled with a thick, creamy, lightly nutty center
• Chilli - very smooth with a slow burn that kicks in gradually
• Honduras Pistachio Praline - flavorful single origin dark exterior, filled with a nutty, slightly caramelized filling.
• Colombia Almond Praline - Smooth, flavorful dark chocolate with a soft, nutty (finely chopped almond) center
• Hazelnut and Ginger - authentic hazelnut and ginger (crunchy whole nuts, spicy sweet ginger pieces, dark chocolate)
• Dark Chocolate Baton - Sweet, smooth, dark, chocolate-y
• Gianduja Bombe - (round) dark chocolate + gianduja (hazelnut) paste - fully incorporated/blended in a rich, delicious thick center

My three favorites were: Gin, Hazelnut and Ginger, and Gianduja Bombe. The English and Irish know how to do chocolates infused with Gin and other spirits.

And yes, I could tell the difference(s) when single origin chocolates were used. These chocolates were a bit more flavorful. The Honduras chocolate was a bit more "dark"/intense with balanced earth notes. The Colombian cacao-based chocolate was smoother--with a bit more flavor range than the standard dark couverture/blends.

Ingredients: Cocoa solids (cocoa mass, cocoa butter), sugar, HAZELNUT paste, sweetened hazelnut paste (HAZELNUTS, sugar, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin)), butter oil (from MILK), full cream MILK powder, roasted HAZELNUTS, stabilisers (sorbitol, gycerol), ALMOND NUTS paste, glucose syrup, ginger pieces (dextrose, ginger, glucose syrup, sugar), pistachio nuts paste (PISTACHIO NUTS, rapeseed oil), rum, whipping cream (cream from MILK), stabiliser (carageenan)), skimmed MILK powder, vegetable fats (coconut, shea, sunflower), nibbed HAZELNUTS, gin, emulsifiers (SOYA lecithin, sunflower lecithin), cream (from MILK), dextrose, cocoa powder, flavourings, concentrated whey (from MILK), neutral alcohol, lactose (from MILK), natural colours (beetroot, annatto, carotene), MILK protein, Habanero chili powder. Dark chocolate contains minimum 70% cocoa solids. 

Allergen-related information: "For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in BOLD. All chocolates in this box may contain tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soya, gluten, wheat, egg, sesame. Suitable for vegetarians. Contains alcohol. No artificial flavours. Caution: Although every care has been taken to remove nut shells, some may still remain."

Nobo Ltd. - Irish Sea Salt (bar) - Sept. 22, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Nobo Ltd.
Irish Sea Salt (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 159 calories in 1 bar
Cost: 2.25 Euros ($2.25 (estim.) USD) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Loop, Dublin Airport shop

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

Today's Irish Sea Salt (bar) was from Nobo Ltd. (Ranelagh, Ireland). The company produces a variety of gluten free, plant-based treats, confections, bars and spreads.

Aroma and taste notes were a pleasing blend of gentle sweet and salty/savory flavors, that included very faint cashew coconut shortbread cookie; soft fruit (grape/raisin); and sea salt.

This chocolate bar did not break with a snap. Instead the texture was cohesive, smooth and softly creamy--with a distinctive, smooth melt. (Cocoa butter was the number one ingredient.)

A lower cacao percentage chocolate is often very sweet but may still have some detectable (diluted) sour/bitter cacao notes. This 48% cocoa plant-based chocolate bar--made with single origin Colombian cacao--was very smooth and low in bitterness, and it was not (surprisingly) too sweet. 

Nut butters (in this case cashew butter) helped mellow/dilute flavors 

Coconut sugar was the number two ingredient (after cocoa butter). It added an authentic "warm" (brown/coconut sugar) flavor, while being less "buzzy" (lower on the glycemic index) than processed sugars. 

Last, but not least, I loved the Irish sea salt. It created a very satisfying, integrated sense of healthy snack balance. 

Ingredients: Cocoa butter, coconut sugar, cocoa mass, cashew nut butter, coconut, Irish sea salt (0.5%).

Allergen-related information: Contains cashews, coconut. Made on equipment that handles milk, soya, peanuts and other nuts. (Made in the EU.)

Butlers Chocolates - Drumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Truffles - Sept. 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Butlers Chocolates
Drumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus
Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Chocolate Truffles
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 8 pieces
Calories: 249 calories in 4 pieces (498 kcals in 100 g.)
Cost: 9.00 Euros or $9.00 (estimated USD) for 1 box
Purchased from: The Loop Dublin Airport (shop), Collinstown (Dublin), Ireland

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Ireland Series.

Today's Dumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Chocolate Truffles was from Butlers Chocolates UC (Dublin, Ireland). 

Butlers was founded in 1932 by Marion Bailey-Butler. It subsequently was acquired; and in the 1980s the company name became Butlers Irish Chocolates.

. It subsequently was acquired; and in the 1980s the company name became Butlers Irish Chocolates.

The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus used to animate these chocolates was "slow distilled at The Shed Distillery--located in the village of Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. Founded in 2014 by PJ Rigney, this producer of gin (including Gunpowder Irish Gin), whiskey and vodka was the first distillery in this area in over 100 years. 

Aroma notes for these filled confections included: sweet milk chocolate and faint citrus (lemon, various other citrus) and spirits (gin, botanicals).

The thick, Butlers Chocolates 32% milk chocolate* outer shell was thick, creamy and sweet. But, things got a lot more flavorful inside, after the first bite.

Botanical inclusions in the gin (that flavored the centers) included the traditional juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet, cardamom and star anise. But the flavor notes were even more multi-layered and complex, and included citrus (lemon, lemon peel, sweet grapefruit), botanicals (herbal, floral (meadowsweet), gunpowder tea, and balanced juniper in the finish)...and very faint cedar.

The citrus, tea and herbal notes really helped to counter the inherent sweetness of these milk chocolates. 

Ingredients: Sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, Drumshanbo Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus(R) (6.9%), sweetened condensed milk (milk, sugar), invert sugar syrup, glucose syrup, lemon compound (lemon 47%), sugar, nature flavouring, acidity regulator: sodium citrate, anti-oxidant: ascorbic acid), emulsifier: soya lecithin, glycerol, citric acid, natural flavouring. (Milk chocolate contains: 32% cocoa solids minimum, 20% milk solids minimum. White chocolate contains: 26% cocoa solids minimum, 20% milk solids minimum). Alcohol by volume: 3.15%

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. "This product may contain nut traces."

*The cacao origin listed: "West Africa."

Teeling Distillery - Whiskey Chocolate Truffles - Sept. 20, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Teeling Distillery
Teeling Whiskey Truffles - Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: Missing information
Calories: Missing information
Cost: 6.00 Euros ($6.00 (estim.) USD) for 1 box of 4 pieces
Purchased from: Teeling Distillery, Dublin, Ireland

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

Today's Teeling Whiskey Dark Chocolate Truffles were purchased at Teelings Distillery, in The Liberties (Dublin, Ireland). These chocolates were made for Teeling by Skelligs Chocolate (St. Finian's Bay, County Kerry, Ireland). 

Teeling Distillery offers a lively tour and tasting on-site; and the chocolates in the gift shop were a fun find/take-away. 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, and faint spirits (whiskey).

A firm, outer dark chocolate shell surrounded a flavorful, sweet dark chocolate ganache (center) that was infused with attractive whiskey notes.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, Emulsifier (Soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavouring), Dark Chocolate Compound Vegetable Fat, sugar, fat-reduced cocoa powder; Whey powder, Emulsifier (Soya lecithin), creme, Teeling Irish Whiskey. 

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a factory that handles nuts."

 

The Fumbally - Hot Chocolate and Gluten Free Chocolate Cake - Sept. 19, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

The Fumbally

Hot Chocolate
Good ++
1 Cup
Calories: Unknown
Cost: 4.10 Euros ($4.10 (estim.) USD) for 1 cup
Purchased from: The Fumbally, Dublin, Ireland

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
Good ++ 
1 Slice
Calories: Unknown
Cost: 4.90 Euros ($4.90 (estim.) USD) for 1 slice
Purchased from: The Fumbally, Dublin, Ireland

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ireland Theme Week. Sometimes the best way to explore chocolate is to sit in a cafe.

Today's two chocolate items were from The Fumbally, located in The Liberties area of Dublin, Ireland.

This community cafe was a wonderful place to have breakfast, and watch the world go by. As the weather shifted from light showers to dry pavement and back again, I enjoyed eating fresh eggs and sipping a cup of hot chocolate. I also tried the Fumbally gluten-free chocolate cake. 

The cocoa was warm, sweet, chocolate-y and inviting, with a decorative dash of cocoa powder across the top.

The gluten free chocolate cake was silky smooth, authentic and chocolate-y with a very thin flaky layer on top (like you'd find on a brownie or tort).

Both items were a bit on the sweet side; but portions were enjoyable (not too big/heavy, or too small), and were very satisfying as a dual dose of chocolate on a rainy day. 

I don't have a list of ingredients or potential allergens for these two gluten-free chocolate offerings, but The Fumbally's food tasted healthy and made from scratch to me.