Back Roads - Dark Chocolate Pecan granola - Dec. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Back Roads Food Company
Organic Dark Chocolate Pecan plant based granola
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (27 g.) / 10 oz. (284 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $8.49 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA 

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Pecan plant based granola was from Back Roads Food Company (Brattleboro, VT). 

Aroma notes for this gluten free and vegan granola included: sweet oats, nuts (pecans, cashews) and seeds and very faint dark chocolate and dried fruit (raisin).

This fresh, crispy-crunchy granola cereal was full of balanced oat, fruit (raisin), nut, coconut and dark chocolate flavors. It wasn't too sweet; it had an attractive natural sweetness. The Vermont maple syrup added a little more flavor depth than other sugars.

Ingredients: Certified gluten free rolled oats, Vermont maple syrup, dark chocolate (coconut sugar and cocoa butter), coconut chips, pecans, sweetened cranberries (apple juice and sunflower oil), cashews, high oleic sunflower oil, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut and sesame seeds. 

Allergen-related information: Contains nuts (pecans, cashews), coconut. "Processed in a peanut free facility that processes other nuts. May contain nut shell pieces or seed hulls."

Pralus - Indonesia Criollo 75% (bar) - Dec. 3, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Pralus 
Indonesia Criollo 75% (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 292.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Indonesia Criollo 75% (bar) was made in France by Patisserie Chocolaterie Pralus s.a.s. (Roanne, France).

The Java Criollo cacao variety used to make this chocolate was grown on the Island of Java, in Indonesia. This hybrid cacao is known for nuanced, subtle heritage Criollo flavor(s), blended with the bolder dark chocolate flavors of a Forastero* cacao variety.

Aroma notes included: bold dark chocolate, gentle fruit (sweet, green grapes; faint peach), very faint sweet cracker, malt, and honey; and barely there lemon-green herb (oxalis, wood sorrel, sour grass).

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap, and had a smooth texture and melt. As this relatively thick bar melted, there was a subtle unfolding and undulation of flavors that I associated with chocolates made with Criollo cacao(s).

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate, honey, subtle fruits, and fudge brownie.

Ingredients: Indonesian cocoa (min. 75%), sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin.

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

*Some would call this blend somewhat counter-intuitive hybrid a "best of both worlds" that combines the subtle prized flavors of a Criollo cacao (originally transported from the Americas to the Philippines and Indonesia--via Spanish ships many years ago), with the bold flavors of a Forastero cacao. Forastero pods are larger (contain cacao beans) and are more disease resistant as well.

 

Guido Gobino - Indonesia 80% disks - Dec. 2, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Guido Gobino 
Indonesia 80% pieces/disks 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 4.41 oz. (125 g.) total package of 25 pieces
Calories: 136 calories (estimate) in 5 pieces
Cost: $18.50 for 1 package of 25 pieces
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Indonesia (single origin) 80% individually-wrapped chocolates were from Guido Gobino (Turin, Italy). 

Happily, this family-owned, bean-to-bar maker offers smaller, high-percentage cacao, single origin, chocolates from different countries--including today's small (5 g.) disks made with Indonesian cacao. (Not all small chocolates are sugary, rather bland confections.)

Aroma notes for these individually-wrapped small disks included: aromatic dark chocolate; fruit (dark cherry); and woodsy earth (very faint, balanced peat/loam).

Texture: well-tempered (broke with a snap); smooth melt and mouthfeel--with a bit of faintly crunchy, ground cacao nib/bean fibers; and an almost invisible astringency in one or two bites (that may show up when you combine this chocolate with other foods).

Flavor notes included: rich, extra dark chocolate; very faint, dark/dried fruit (cherry); very faint, fleeting butter; very faint woodsy earth (peat, loam); and very faint, fleeting lemony-green herb (oxalis).

These chocolates were enjoyably complex, well-executed, robust and dark, and were not too sweet. (Thank you!)

Bar and Cocoa tasting notes: "...fragrant and intense, with notes of dried fruit and cocoa"

Ingredients: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter; Cocoa 80% minimum

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of milk, hazelnuts, soy

 

Bonnat Chocolatier - Indonesia Java Milk 65% (bar) - Dec. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Bonnat Chocolatier
Indonesia Java Milk 65% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 209 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Indonesia Java Milk 65% (bar) was from Bonnat Chocolatier (aka Chocolat Bonnat), based in Voiron, Isere, France. The company has been making chocolate for almost 140 years.

The cacao used to make this bar was from Java (a large island in the Indonesian archipelago), located west of Bali and south of Borneo.

Aroma notes for this bar included: bold dark chocolate and cream of rice cereal with milk, sugar and butter.

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap, and had a satisfying, creamy, buttery texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, faint grain/cereal, and very faint brown bread. The choice of a bit more cocoa butter, sugar and milk (65% cacao vs. 70% cacao dark chocolate) seemed like a good choice. The cacao was fairly bold, and seemed well managed in this bar.

Ingredients: Cocoa (Indonesie), cocoa butter, sugar, milk powder; 65% cocoa minimum.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. 

Firetree Chocolate - Indonesia Seram Island 72% Cocoa (bar) - Nov. 30, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Firetree Chocolate Limited
Indonesia Seram Island 72% Cocoa (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1.145 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180.5 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Indonesia Seram* Island 72% Cocoa (bar) was from Firetree Chocolate Limited (Peterborough, United Kingdom). 

Firetree produces "Rich Volcanic Chocolate"--sourcing cacao from remote islands, including Indonesia and South Pacific Island nations. The company's name is inspired by the flame-colored hues (yellow, orange, red and even pink and purplish) found in cocoa pods, as well as the volcanic lava(s) that created rich volcanic soils for cacao.

Aroma notes for today's Indonesia bar included: subtle dark chocolate; faint brown sugar toffee; and very faint, fleeting, raisin bread toast.

This chocolate had a smooth texture and creamy mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (cocoa, drinking chocolate); diffuse, bright dried fruit and faint honey; and very faint light brown sugar, warm spice (star anise), and nut. 

This was a smooth, almost subtle 72% dark chocolate with natural sweetness and moderate complexity. It was relatively low in bitterness and had low-to-moderate acidity. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Crafted from Indonesian island beans, this chocolate has a pleasing blend of cocoa, toasted walnuts, treacle and floral notes."

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, unrefined sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin. 

Allergen-related information: "This product is made in a no nut factory." "Dairy free. Halal. Suitable for Vegans."

*Seram is part of the Maluku Island group (Maluku Province of Indonesia), located west of Papua and East of Sulawesi and Bali.

Metiisto - Bali 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 29, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Metiisto Artisan Chocolate
Bali 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.32 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 217.6 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Indonesia Theme Week, including a few chocolates from Bali.

Today's Bali 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Metiisto Artisan Chocolate "from scratch in Toowoomba (Australia)."

This single origin bar had smooth, almost creamy texture; and aroma and flavor notes that included: bold dark chocolate with subtle, balanced earth (peat, loam); very faint dark molasses; and occasional flickers of brighter, sweet fruit. 

This bar was a bit edgier and less sweet than many 70% chocolates. But it was flavorful and well-executed.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, Sugar, Cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: May contain traces milk. Produced in Australia from local and imported ingredients.

Standout Chocolate - Single Origin Bali Indonesia 70% (bar) - Nov. 28, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Standout Chocolate
Single Origin Bali Indonesia 70% (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $10.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Om Suwastiastu (Greetings) and welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Indonesia Theme Week.

Today's Single Origin Bali Indonesia 70% (bar) was handcrafted in Sweden, by bean-to-bar maker Fredrik Martinsson, at Standout Chocolate (Kallered, Sweden).

The label contained interesting details about the cacao origin. The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Jembrana (West Bali), and produced by KSS cooperative. This cacao was "intercropped with jackfruit, mangosteen, (and) snakefruit...and after being harvested, it was fermented in 2-tier wooden boxes covered with banana leaves.

Aroma and flavor notes for this unique and pleasing 70% cacao bar included: smooth dark chocolate, warm spiced fruit compote, faint sugar molasses cookie, raisin toast, and fleeting, faint, soft cherry and herbal tea (star anise and clove rooibois tea) notes in what was a longer finish than expected. 

I really enjoyed this well-executed chocolate. The texture was smooth and uniform; and there were no off notes. Lots of well developed (and preserved) flavors from just two ingredients. While there was considerable natural sweetness (spice, fruit notes) present, happily, this chocolate was not overly sweet either. (Thank you!)

Maker's tasting notes: "Cloves, Nutmeg, Toasted Bread' and "Herbal"

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Cane sugar*. 

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