Kad Kokoa - Chumphon 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Kad Kokoa 
Chumphon 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Chumphon* 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Kad Kokoa (Bangkok, Thailand). The company is dedicated to making premium, bean-to-bar chocolate made with locally grown cacao beans--"to introduce our wonderful Thai terroirs and their unique flavors to the world."

Intriguing and complex aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (chocolate brownie); fruit (very faint, pleasing, savory tomato and red bell pepper sauce (that faded quickly); even fainter, fleeting cooked plum and berry); and faint sweet green, almost floral, botanical; very faint sweet tea (green, oolong); fleeting woodsy.

This well-tempered bar broke with a snap and had a relatively smooth, almost buttery melt.

Flavor notes for this unique and special chameleon-like bar included: chocolate (brownie, dark chocolate torte) and a unique, warming, blooming sensation that included, warm sweet molasses, very faint ginger snap cookies; faint vanilla-like green/floral; and...a luscious dive into rich, tasty chocolate.

This well-executed, balanced, complex, Thai-cacao based dark chocolate was sweet, but not overly so (thank you). And even the sweetness had some ice depth and complexity to it. I am a sucker for high-quality chocolate that has a sense of movement and depth to it. 

My favorite chocolates are transporting; and I feel like I took a wonderful, sensory field trip today. This rare travel experience is possible thanks to dedicated makers of single origin/single region chocolates.

Ingredients: "70% Cocoa Beans (and) 30% Organic Sugar"

Allergen-related information: (No allergy-related information listed on packaging.)

*Kad Kokoa provided the following background for this local cacao origin: "Chumphon, the gateway to the south of Thailand, accommodates the Horticultural Research Centre responsible for the R&D of national robusta coffee, coconuts, and cacao beans. We work with the Centre in exchanging the post-harvesting know-how so the farmers in the region can learn from the Centre to improve their production and thus, their quality of life. Strong cacao body with notes of ripe grapes and red berries."

Kad Kokoa - Andaman Blue (bar) - Nov. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Kad Kokoa 
Andaman Blue (bar)
Good +
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Kad Kokoa - Andaman Blue

Today's Andaman Blue (bar) was from Kad Kokoa (Bangkok, Thailand). This bean-to-bar maker is dedicated to offering chocolates made with local (Thai grown) cacao beans, including some bars with Thai-inspired flavor inclusions.

This blue-gray hued (white) chocolate was a tribute to the beautiful, blue Andaman Sea--located west of Thailand.

Aroma notes for this bar included: sweet white chocolate, seed/grain (rice, very faint sesame*), faint coconut milk, and very faint botanical (green). 

The relatively smooth bar had a slightly grainy texture (finely ground toasted rice).

Flavor notes included: white chocolate, subtle coconut milk, rice (mostly textural), and a very faint green note (perhaps the blue spirulina, used for coloration). Overall it had a relatively gentle, sweet flavor, in part due to the absence of cocoa solids.

Nature's Organic Ice Cream - Chocolate Chocolate Chip 

Later, to ensure I had a daily dose of cocoa solids, I enjoyed a scoop of Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream from Nature's Organic Ice Cream (Fremont, CA), and a small handful of Thai spiced peanuts.

This local northern California, San Francisco Bay Area-based ice cream maker offers a few exotic southeast Asian and floral flavors as well. They offer high-quality ice cream flavors (dairy and non-dairy options) that don't contain extra additives (e.g. gums or carrageenan). (Thank you!) They also use organic ingredients in this chocolate flavor.

Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Coconut Milk Powder, White Sugar, Toasted Rice, Blue Spirulina

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles nuts, dairy, and gluten."

*There was no sesame in this chocolate. Like many tasters (think wine, coffee, craft beer tasting), I may smell or taste things that may activate sense memories, or detect substances that are similar to, but don't reflect exact/literal ingredients. People have different memories and abilities in what they taste, so your experience may differ from mine.

Kad Kokoa - Salted Tamarind (bar) - Nov. 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Kad Kokoa 
Salted Tamarind (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.45 oz. (41.25 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 255 calories in 3/4 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Thailand Theme Week. 

Today's Salted Tamarind (bar) was from Kad Kokoa (Bangkok, Thailand).

Aroma notes for this bar included: smooth dark chocolate; faint tart-sweet fruit; iced tea with lemon/citrus; and very faint light green, almost floral (sweet vanilla tobacco).

Texture: Smooth dark chocolate, interspersed with small chewy salted tamarind fruit bits, and the occasional tiny fragment of chili pepper (seed, membrane).

Flavor notes included: smooth, almost delicate bittersweet chocolate (faint, light green floral/sweet botanical notes); tart-sweet chewy sweet-sour fruit with very faint salt, and chili. The dried chili contributed a strong spicy kick toward the end (especially in the bites of chocolate that contained multiple bits of chili-spiced, tamarind fruit).

I liked the incorporation of authentic Thai flavors in this chocolate and how the chocolate and the tamarind bits interacted with each other. 

Warning: The dried chili flakes in this bar packed some serious chili heat. This will warm your palette and tickle your throat on the way down.

Ingredients: "Cocoa Nibs, Organic Sugar, Salt, Cocoa Butter, Dried Tamarind, Dried Chili Flakes"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles nuts, dairy, and gluten."

Fjak - Thailand Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (bar) - Nov. 13, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Chocolate
Thailand Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.11 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Thailand Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa (bar) was made by Fjak Chocolate AS (Hardangerfjord, Norway).

The cacao beans used to make this chocolate were from the province of Chanthaburi, in eastern Thailand, in a region known for gems, tropical fruits, and pepper.

Aroma and flavor notes for this aromatic and unique dark chocolate included: bold, dark chocolate; sharp, peppery fruit (blueberry, fig, pineapple); sweet red bell pepper; distilled spirits; and very faint tart-sweet tropical fruit (mango, passion fruit, mangosteen) vinegar.

Texture: This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap (at room temperature (68 degrees F. / 20 degrees C.); and the chocolate had a relatively rapid, yet light buttery, melt and mouthfeel. I braced myself for some fruit astringency (puckery/dry like in some red wines), but the level was relatively low (and/or well-managed).

This, three ingredient, ultra-dark 85% single origin (single region) bar was a transporting, exotic ride. I felt grateful to be able to taste all these vibrant, complex cacao flavors that could have been lost in a more processed, over-roasted blend or a very sweet chocolate. Thank you to the makers at Fjak for a well-executed Thai chocolate, that I enjoyed more with every bite. It's rare when I'm tempted to eat an entire 85% bar; but, this was one of those times.

Fjak tasting notes: "Tropical vibes in a bar: with tasting notes of pineapple, passionfruit and rum, this might be the fruitiest 85% dark chocolate you have ever had."

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that handles nuts, dairy and gluten." Vegan.

Siamaya Chocolate - Coconut Milk Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 12, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Siamaya Chocolate
Coconut Milk Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.32 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 185 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Thailand.

Today's Siamaya Chocolate Coconut Milk Dark Chocolate (bar) was hand-crafted in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Aroma notes for this gluten free and vegan bar included: chocolate and pleasing, warm, toasted coconut.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, creamy coconut milk chocolate, and integrated bits of coconut.

Flavor notes included naturally sweet dark chocolate (dark chocolate torte, dark ganache) and (tiny bits of) authentic coconut. This 65% dark coconut milk chocolate was slightly acidic, and was not overly sweet (thank you).

Ingredients: Cacao nibs, organic cane sugar, coconut, coconut milk, and cacao butter.

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

Pinwheel Craft Chocolate - 62% Coconut "Milk" Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania (bar) - Nov. 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Pinwheel Craft Chocolate
62% Coconut "Milk" - Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Pinwheel Craft Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 62% Coconut "Milk" Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania (bar) was from Pinwheel Chocolate LLC (Eagle Mountain, UT). This bean-to-bar chocolate maker "started as a mother/daughter hobby..." Happily for us, this hobby morphed into a small business.

Aroma notes for this bar included: smooth dark chocolate; faint, butter-diffused, warm, woodsy spice; faint red berry; and very faint coconut milk/coconut milk chocolate.

This 62% chocolate had a smooth melt, and a creamy, almost silken mouthfeel and texture. The coconut was fully incorporated into the chocolate. (Not one small chewy coconut shred was detected.)

Flavor notes included: flavorful, sweet then bittersweet dark chocolate; red berry; and very faint authentic coconut. This chocolate had a very satisfying, ("single origin-y"* chocolate-y) finish.

I loved the well-balanced complexity (and harmony of flavors) in this bar, and the fact that it wasn't overly sweet. Most 62% cacao chocolates taste quite a bit sweeter. Unfortunately, that often means that sugar (or sugar and milk(s)) eclipse cacao flavor nuances that may be present. Today's coconut milk bar was neither too sugary, nor overly coconut-y; and it embraced the red berry and rich notes of the Tanzania cacao. It tasted like a naturally sweetened chocolate with much to share.

Maker's tasting notes ("What we taste"): "ripe red raspberries, coconut water, (sometimes cinnamon)" "This bar is also a chameleon -- after certain foods, it has the unmistakable flavor of sweet cinnamon."**

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, coconut* (*Organic ingredients)

Allergen-related information: "Made on shared equipment that processes nuts and dairy."

*Single origin chocolates tend to have richer, more unadulterated flavors. And small batch single origin chocolate makers are more likely to want to preserve (and highlight) unique, multi-layered varietal flavors. A big thank you to these makers.

**I later re-tasted this bar with bourbon pecan ice cream and that muted spice note detected in the aroma came into greater focus; and sure enough it was cinnamon.

KOS - Organic Plant Protein - Chocolate Peanut Butter - Nov. 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

KOS 
Organic Plant Protein - Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavored  
Good +
Weight: 1.37 oz. (39 g.) / 19 oz. (1.2 lbs.) (546 g.) in total package
Calories: 165 calories in 1 serving of 2 scoops
Cost: $21.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's "Organic Plant Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Flavored" powdered blend was distributed by KOS Inc. (Santa Barbara, CA). It contained both coconut milk and coconut sugar.

Aroma notes included: cocoa, faint fruit (berry, citrus), and roasted nuts and coffee. The coconut was barely detectable in the mix, with so many other ingredients (peas, peanuts, fruits, vegetables, etc.).

Like most powdered protein blends, when mixed well into water/liquid, it was mostly smooth. It had a little bit of a starchy, powdery taste that tickled the back of my throat; but no objectionable grit.

Flavor notes included: sweet cocoa, faint peanut and pea, and very faint fruit(s). There was a sense of sweetness that often comes with sugar replacements. In this case, coconut sugar, stevia and monk fruit extract served as sweeteners.

The overall taste was good. Extra points for using Organic ingredients. The company suggests "if you're feeling frisky, add a frozen banana."

Ingredients: Organic Pea Protein, Organic Peanut Flour, Organic Alkalized Cocoa, Organic Coconut Milk, Organic Flax Seed, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Inulin, Organic Acacia Gum, Himalayan Salt, Organic Quinoa, Natural Chocolate Flavor, Organic Stevia Extract, Organic Fruit and Veggie Blend (Organic Apple, Organic Carrot, Organic Cranberry, Organic Orange, Organic Broccoli, Organic Shitake Mushroom Extract, and Organic Tomato), Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Organic Chia Seed Seed, Digestive Enzyme Blend (Amylases, Lactase, Preteases, Lipase, Cellulase), KOS Vitamins and Minerals Blend (DL-Alpha Tocopherol, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Oxide, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Oxide, Riboflavin, Niacinamide, Phylloquinone, Chromium Picolinate, Folic Acid, Cyanocobalamin).

Allergen-related information: "Contains Peanuts and Tree Nuts (Coconuts). Made in a facility that may also process eggs, dairy, soy, tree nuts, sesame, peanuts, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, and wheat products."