Marana - Chocotejas - Pecan 70% Dark Chocolate - Dec. 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Marana Craft Chocolate
Chocotejas - Pecan 70% Dark Chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .99 oz. (28 g.) / 17.82 oz. (504 g.) in total box of 18 pcs
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $52.00 for a box of 18 pieces (6 flavors)
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Chocotejas* - Pecan 70% Dark chocolate confections from Marana Craft Chocolate were manufactured by Cacao Valley S.A.C. (Lima, Peru).

Aroma notes these traditional Peruvian, filled chocolate confections included: well-toasted bread, caramelized nut, and faint dark chocolate.

A smooth dark chocolate shell covered the large, (oval loaf-shaped) chocolate covered confection. Flavor notes included: nutty, earthy, chocolate-y with balanced burnt caramel/dulce de leche flavored milk fondant filling with pecan pieces.

Ingredients: Manjar/milk caramel (whole milk, sugar, agar, disodium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate), 70% dark chocolate (cacao mass, sugar, and cacao butter), and pecans.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, nuts.

Peruvian Chocotejas often contain a thick fondant (manjar blanco) similar to dulce de leche, nuts (pecans) and/or dried fruits. 

Pure Chocolate Ltd. - Toffee Pecan Milk Chocolate Truffles - Dec. 9, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Pure Chocolate Ltd.
Toffee Pecan Milk Chocolate Truffles
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) / 5.40 oz. (153 g.) in box of 16 pieces
Calories: 240 calories in 5 pieces
Cost: $2.99 for 1 box of 16 pieces
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA  

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

Today's Toffee Pecan Milk Chocolate Truffles were from Pure Chocolate Ltd. (Tukums Municipality, Latvia). I was happy to find this chocolate from Latvia, a country that hasn't been represented yet on Chocolate Banquet. 

Aroma notes included: caramel candy, milk chocolate and nuts.

A crunchy exterior coating (tiny bits of toffee and pecan nut) surrounded a round creamy, sweet milk chocolate interior. These sweet confections tasted exactly as advertised, with notes of creamy milk chocolate, toffee (caramelized sugars) and nut (sugared pecan).

Ingredients: "Sugar, Caramelized Pecan Pieces, Dry Whole Milk, Cocoa Butter Vegetable Oils (Palm, Shea), Chocolate Liquor, Condensed Milk, Dry Skim Milk, Glucose Syrup, Caramelized Sugar Syrup, Soy Lecithin, Ethyl Alcohol, Natural Flavorings, See (Sea) Salt. Milk Chocolate - Minimum Cocoa Solids 34%."

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, and Tree Nuts (Pecans). "Made in a facility that also processes peanuts."

Gnosis Chocolate - Raw Trail Mix "Immunity" - Dec. 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Gnosis Chocolate 
"Immunity" Raw Trail Mix
Good ++
Weight: 2 oz.  (56.6 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 2 oz. serving
Cost: $15.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate (online order)

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

Today's Immunity Raw Trail Mix was made by Gnosis Chocolate (Astoria, NY).

Aroma notes for this gluten free, vegan and raw offering included: aromatic dried fruits (persimmon, currant, golden berry/golden raisin), and subtle nut, seed and dark chocolate.

This trail mix was made with generous squares of raw, dark chocolate that had a smooth chocolate-y flavor and a very faint (fruit) astringency. 

The dried fruits offered a range of chewy, tart-sweet flavors. (I enjoyed the seasonal persimmon, cranberries, and the South American golden berries.) The pecans, pumpkin seeds and nibs rounded out the blend and added some softly crunchy texture.

This grain-free trail mix was balanced, flavorful and not too sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: pecans*, raw chocolate* (raw cacao beans*, coconut sugar*), cranberries*, pumpkin seeds*, black currants*, persimmons*, goldenberries*, raw cacao nibs.* (* = organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nut(s) (pecans), coconut (sugar)

  

Nuts.com - Dark Chocolate Covered Pecans - Dec. 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Nuts.com
Dark Chocolate Covered Pecans 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (29 g.) / 16 oz. (1 lb.) (454 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $17.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Nuts.com (online order)

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Covered Pecans were distributed by Nuts.com (Cranford, NJ).

Aroma notes for these jumbo-sized nut confections included: rich, dark chocolate (rich cocoa, fresh cacao nibs, mild nut/wood) with very faint vanilla.

A generous coat of satisfying dark chocolate surrounded large and authentic-tasting, crunchy pecan halves. The dark chocolate coating was flavorful, well-balanced and sweet, but not overly so. 

Some of the cocoa was alkalized--a process used to reduce bitterness/acidity in cacao; but happily some was not (something dark chocolate fans will likely appreciate). The balance seemed just right; some dark flavor complexity, but not too strong. The complementary, fine pecan nut flavors (smooth, slightly slight sweet, mellow and wood(s)y) were allowed to shine through.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor processed with Alkali, Butterfat, Soy Lecithin (an emulsifier), Natural Vanilla Flavor, Salt), Pecans (Pecans, Soybean Oil), Water, Gum Arabic, Confectioner's Glaze, Modified Food Starch (Tapioca), Coconut Oil, Canola Oil.

Allergen-related information: "Contains Tree Nut (pecans). Soy, and Milk."

  

Nuts.com - Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Pecans - Dec. 6, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Nuts.com
Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Pecans 
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (30 g.) /16 oz. (1 lb.) (453 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $16.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Nuts.com (online order)

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

Today's Chocolate Cinnamon Bun Pecans were distributed by Nuts.com (Cranford, NJ).

Aroma notes for these substantial chocolate-covered confections included: subtle cinnamon roll and vanilla, and faint chocolate. 

Textures and flavors were layered. With each bite, there were three layers: 1.) the dry outer, cinnamon sugar dusting (that really did conjure up the taste of cinnamon bun dough*); 2.) milk chocolate (couverture) with a rich chocolate-y melt; and 3.) a softly crunchy pecan nut at the center. 

*A little vanilla contributed to the baked goods flavor and sweetness. And speaking of sweetness, these were just about right, i.e. sweet, but not overly sweet--especially given they were successfully conjuring up a cinnamon bun. 

Ingredients: Pure Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Milk, Cocoa Mass, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla), Dry Roasted Pecans, Cane Sugar, Ground Cinnamon, Cocoa Powder, Confectioner's Sugar, Gum Arabic, Natural and Artificial Flavors. 

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nut(s) (pecans). soy, and milk. 

 

Fjak - Wild Mushroom Funnel Chanterelle Milk Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak
Wild Mushroom Funnel Chanterelle Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / ~2.11 oz. (~60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175.2 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 Pecans Theme Week.

Today's award-winning, Funnel Chanterelle Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Fjak Chocolate AS (Eidfjord, Norway). 

This Limited Edition chocolate was part of the company's "Nordic Specials" series, featuring seasonal, local Norwegian flavors (apples/cider, berries, moss, brown cheese--and in this case wild mushrooms) found in the Hardangerfjord area of western Norway.

Subtle but complex aroma notes for this bar included subtle dark milk chocolate (very faint, diffuse fruit and lemon-green herb (oxalis)), faint mushroom (soup), and a pleasant, natural sweetness (similar to woodsy honey).

This well-tempered bar had a pleasing, creamy melt and texture. 

Flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate (creamy cacao, milky drinking chocolate); very faint, honey and warm spiced fruit (peaches and pears), and almost undetectable mushroom with a dab of cream and a barely there aromatic (floral peppercorn) spice. At the very end (tail end of the finish) there was a very faint, fleeting, smoky/savory mushroom note.

I really enjoyed this well-executed, wild mushroom chocolate with subtle flavors simmering just below the sweet, milky surface. It wasn't salty or savory, but there was some trace, satisfying umami to it.

I paired this creamy milk chocolate with pecan nuts that were woodsy, nutty and slightly sweet.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Milk Powder*, Cocoa Butter*, Funnel Chanterelle* (Min. 50% Cocoa). (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. "Processed in a facility that handles nuts, dairy (and) gluten."

 

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."