Stone Grindz Chocolate - Crystallized Ginger Coconut Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar) - Nov. 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Crystallized Ginger Coconut Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 (+ shipping) for 1 bar 

Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Today's Crystallized Ginger Coconut Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar) was made from bean to bar by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ). Chocolate makers Kasey McCaslin and Steven Shipler craft small batch single origin chocolate bars, and several chocolates with flavor inclusions.

The award-winning coconut milk-based chocolate was made using cacao beans grown in Peru.

Aroma notes for this 55% cacao exotic chocolate included: relatively faint but rich, smooth chocolate; ginger; tart green-lemon herb; and very faint coconut milk and vanilla.

The base chocolate had a creamy, almost silky melt and texture. And a generous array of chewy candied ginger pieces added texture as well as flavor.

Flavor notes included: smooth chocolate, sweet spikes of candied ginger, lemongrass (oil) and a barely detectable dash of sea salt. There was a lot going on with this bar, but the flavors were balanced. 

Stone Grindz Makers' Tasting Notes: "Notes of candied ginger, coconut cream, lemongrass"

Ingredients: "Cacao*, Cacao Butter*, Cane Sugar*, Coconut*, Ginger*, Vanilla Bean, Ginger Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Sea Salt (* = Organically Farmed)

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan"

 

Mutari Chocolate - Tranquilidad, Heirloom, Wild Bolivia 72% (bar) - Nov. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari Craft Chocolate
(White Label/Single Origin Chocolate)
Tranquilidad, Heirloom, Wild Bolivia 72% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's White Label Tranquilidad, Heirloom, Wild Bolivia 72% (bar) was from Mutari Craft Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA). 

The Beniano cacao used to make this bar was from the Tranquilidad Forest Estate, managed by Volker Lehmann, in the Beni Department of northern Bolivia.*

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: naturally sweet, pleasing cocoa, very faint molasses, very faint dried fruit (raisin, peach), and ultra faint graham cracker.

This well-tempered bar had a smooth texture and a creamy melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (smooth, rich chocolatey, (warm cocoa, brownie)) with naturally sweet notes (very faint honey, sweet molasses, very faint sweet nut); and very faint dried, iron-rich fruit (raisin, dried plum). 

This chocolate had a very pleasing, nuanced, chocolate-y flavor. It possessed a rich aroma and flavor complexity, while also being relatively low in bitterness. The choice of 72% cacao seemed just right.

Today's Tranquilidad Heirloom Wild Bolivia chocolate (made with rare Beniano beans**) reminded me of other Criollo/heritage cacao-based chocolate bars: subtle, rich, layered flavors that were gentle, but transporting. 

Chocolates made with heirloom and heritage cacao beans make up a small fraction of the world's bars. Many thanks to all those who were part of growing the cacao, bringing the cacao to market, and making and distributing this special, small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Raisin, Tabacco, Nutty, Chocolate Base"

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: 

*Bolivia is about the size of Texas and California combined, and cacao growing regions are often in very remote areas. The Beni Department alone (in northern Bolivia) is close to the size of the Western U.S. State of Idaho.

** Beniano cacao is grown in the Beni Department of northern Bolivia, adjacent to wild forests of cacao that date back thousands of years. Evidence to date (2015 study) has suggested that wild cacao trees first evolved in present day South America approximately 10 million years ago--long before the first humans arrived. 

Solstice Chocolate - 70% Tranquilidad Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 3, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate
70% Tranquilidad Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Solstice Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Tranquilidad Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT). 

The cacao used to make this bar was grown in northern Bolivia, and likely from Hacienda Tranquilidad. Some very wonderful wild heirloom and/or single estate cacaos grow in this area.

Aroma and notes included: smooth dark chocolate; diffuse fruits (very faint honeyed mango, raisin); and faint brown sugar/molasses.

The texture was smooth with a creamy melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes for this naturally sweet 70% dark chocolate included: smooth dark chocolate, faint cream and very faint brown sugar/molasses. There was a small uptick in bright, diffuse fruitiness (subtle fruit acidity) in the middle, followed by a creamy, chocolate-y finish.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Honey, Cream, Molasses"

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a tree nut, gluten, dairy and soybean free facility."

Solstice Chocolate - 56% Bolivia Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 2, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Solstice Chocolate
56% Bolivia Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Solstice Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 56% Bolivia Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was made by Solstice Chocolate, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT).

Aroma notes included: chocolate (fragrant, sweet warm cocoa with milk); and very faint, diffuse green mango/citrus.*

This 56% chocolate has a thick, creamy texture and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: rich, flavorful milk chocolate; sweet caramel and toffee; and very faint sweet green botanicals (stalks, oxalis) in the finish.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Toffee, Salted Caramel, Mocha"

Ingredients: "Cacao Bean, Organic Cane Sugar, Whole Milk, Cocoa Butter, Pure Vanilla Extract, Non-GMO Lecithin Powder"

Allergen-related information: (Contains milk.) "May contain coconut."

*Descriptions of chocolate aroma and flavor notes may not reflect actual ingredients. (E.g. in this case, there are no mango or citrus ingredients, although cacao fruit/pulp surrounding the seeds (beans) may have these flavors.) Different cacao varieties and origins also have different flavors.

Fruition - Bolivia Beniano Dark Tranquilidad 66% (bar) - Nov. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Bolivia Beniano Dark Tranquilidad 66% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Limited Release Bolivia Beniano Dark Tranquilidad 66% (bar) (Batch #1) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, New York).

The company sourced the wild Beniano Bolivian cacao beans used to make this chocolate from Volker Lehmann via Uncommon Cacao. Lehmann operates Hacienda Tranquilidad, in northern Bolivia. And their cacao is designated as a special heritage cacao by the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund.

Aroma notes included: subtle, complex dark chocolate that started with a slightly more intense dark chocolate and ended with a more delicate, almost floral, sweet botanical dark chocolate.

This well-tempered 66% dark chocolate bar broke with a hard snap, and had a smooth, even texture and melt.

Flavor notes included: sweet dark chocolate; very faint coffee; molasses brown bread; honey; and sweet nut(s). This Bolivia Beniano dark chocolate had a gentle, pleasing finish with slight roasted cacao/coffee and faint, fleeting forest notes.

I've tasted and featured several bars from different makers who used Tranquilidad, Bolivia, (Beniano) cacao grown in the Beni Department of northeastern Bolivia. 

While the resulting chocolates vary slightly (based on harvest year, selected roasting and conching/grinding times, etc.) all have had gentle, appealingly complex aroma and/or flavor aspects to them. 

Love live these wonderful islands of heirloom cacao trees and those that protect them. 

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Allergen Warning: Our facility contains tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat, eggs, soy, and sesame. Trace amounts possible."

 

Chuao Chocolatier - Potato Chip Milk Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 31, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Chuao Chocolatier
Potato Chip Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 420 calories in 1 bar
Cost: N/A - birthday present
Purchased from: N/A - birthday present (Thank you Megan!)

Happy Halloween--one of the biggest chocolate consumption days of the year in the U.S. 

This Potato Chip Milk Chocolate (bar) is the last of 4 bonus Halloween chocolate entries sandwiched in between a week of Bolivian Chocolates. Two of these Halloween chocolates contained potato (crisps and chips).

What's the connection between potatoes, chocolate and Bolivia? 

1.) My two favorite foods are: chocolate and potatoes.
2.) Both cacao and potatoes originated (and are still cultivated in) Bolivia* (and Peru).
3.) It's Halloween! I can eat any chocolate that I want. I like savory chocolates.

This evening's Potato Chip Milk Chocolate bar was from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA).

Aroma notes for included: sweet milk chocolate; very faint salted potato (potato chip); and very faint vanilla.

The texture was both creamy (milk chocolate, cocoa butter) and crunchy (embedded potato chip bits).

Flavor notes included: sweet (41% cacao) milk chocolate, salty potato chip bits, and very faint vanilla. The sugar and salt levels landed this bar into the addictive snack zone. 

Neither chocolate nor potato (chip) flavors were very strong. The sugar (and vanilla) and the fat (cocoa butter and oil from the potato chips) were more prominent. I like flavorful dark chocolates (including those with salt/umami flavor inclusions); but that didn't stop me from eating this entire milk chocolate bar. Scary. 

Ingredients: Premium 41% milk chocolate (cane sugar*, cacao butter*, milk, cacao*, sunflower and soy lecithin [as an emulsifier], natural vanilla*), potato chips (potatoes, vegetable oil [sunflower, corn and/or canola oil]), sea salt. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Soy" "Manufactured in a facility that uses tree nuts and wheat on shared equipment."

*There are thousands of varieties of potatoes in South America. The potato may have been first cultivated/domesticated in Bolivia as far back as 9,000+ years ago.

Sjaak's - 1.) Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar, 2.) Chipotle & Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Bar - Oct. 31, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates

Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 85 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Chipotle & Cinnamon 60% Dark Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 80 calories for 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome and Happy Halloween to all who celebrate. We interrupt Chocolate and Bolivia Theme Week to insert four spooky "bonus" Halloween chocolates on this night of tiny ghosts and goblins. 

This small bar duo: 1.) Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate and Chipotle and 2.) Cinnamon 60% Dark Chocolate Bars were from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA). 

Extra Dark 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar

Aroma notes included: robust dark chocolate aroma with balanced earth (loam, faint peat) and very faint chocolate torte and faint vanilla.

Texture: smooth, uniform dark chocolate with a buttery, easy melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: rich, dark chocolate with balanced earth (faint peat, loam); silky chocolate ganache; and very faint vanilla.

Ingredients: 72% Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Liquor*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Vanilla Bean Powder*) (*=Organic)

Allergen-related information: Produced in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, and coconut.

Chipotle & Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Bar

Aroma notes included: robust dark chocolate (very similar to the 72% dark chocolate above only diluted with a pinch more sugar, and spices); balanced, subtle earth notes (faint peat, loam); and very light warm spices (cinnamon); and faint chili pepper.

Texture: smooth, uniform with a buttery melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes were the same as the aroma notes, only with more dark chocolate-y taste--and heat from the chipotle pepper.

Ingredients: 60% Chocolate* (Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Liquor*, Cocoa Butter*, Ground Vanilla Beans*), Ground Chipotle Pepper*, Cinnamon*. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Produced in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, and coconut.