Nu-Trail - Cacao Nut Granola - Mar. 2, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Nu-Trail 
Cacao Nut Granola
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week -- including granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates, and an outdoor spring egg hot cocoa experience.

Today's (gluten-free and keto certified) Nu-Trail Cacao Nut Granola was manufactured for Snacks Generation Inc. (Miami, FL).

Aroma notes for this "no sugar added" granola included: sweet coconut, cacao and very faint (barely detectable) sweet green, botanical extracts, nuts and seeds.

Flavor notes for this crunchy granola included: coconut, nut, cacao/chocolate, seed, and nut.

Ingredients: Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Coconut, Erythritol, Pecans, Almonds, Butter (Pasteurized Cream, Natural Flavor), Unsweetened Chocolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Salt, Natural Flavors, Monkfruit Extract

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Tree Nuts (Almond, Coconut, Pecan)." "Processed in a Facility That Also Processes Dairy, Wheat, Tree Nuts, Sesame, and Soy."

The Granola Guru - Cacao Almond Butter - Mar. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

The Granola Guru
Cacao Almond Butter 
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (28 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Outdoors Week--a week that includes granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates, and an outdoor mug of spring egg hot chocolate. 

Growing up and spending a lot of time outdoors, we often made their own granolas--inspired by Muesli-style oat cereals from Europe--and trail mixes.

Today's Cacao Almond Butter granola from The Granola Guru (Oakland, CA) was made with gluten-free oats. Company founder, Ayana K., has created a "dairy free, vegan-friendly...nourishing superfood snack...with no refined sugars."

Rich aroma notes for this outdoor-friendly granola included: authentic cacao; maple and brown/unrefined sugars; grains, oats, and faint malt; and nuts (almonds).

The ebony-hued granola was full of rich, authentic cacao and nut (almond) flavors. And the use of quality ingredients, oils and sweeteners created a better tasting experience. This was a dark chocolate lovers granola!

Ingredients: "Gluten Free Oats, Almonds, Maple Syrup, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Almond Butter, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Coconut, Organic Cacao Nibs, Water, Organic Flaxseed Meal, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, Vanilla Bean"

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almond, Coconut. Manufactured in a facility that also processes: tree nuts, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, and dairy."

Premium Orchard - Chocolate Almond & Cherry Blend - Feb. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Premium Orchard 
Chocolate Almond and Cherry Blend 
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (34 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Almonds Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate Outdoors Theme Week.

Today's Premium Orchard Deluxe Chocolate Almond and Cherry Blend was manufactured by Mixed Nuts, Inc. (Pico Rivera, CA).

Aroma notes for this mix included: a subtle, appealing and rich blend of fruits, nut and chocolate.

Textures and flavors included: generously sized, plump, dried, chewy red fruits (cherries and cranberries); large lightly salted cashews; and smooth, shiny and dark chocolate covered almonds with crunchy nut interiors.

What I liked about this blend: 1.) balanced flavors; not too sweet and not too salty; 2.) hearty, enjoyable and portable snack that could be enjoyed outside, at home or on the go.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds (Semi-Sweet Chocolate [Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor], Roasted Almonds and Confectioner's Glaze), Dried Cranberries (Cranberries, Sugar, and Sunflower Oil), Roasted Cashews (Cashews, Non-GMO Canola Oil and Sea Salt), and Dried Sour Cherries (Cherries, Sugar, and Sunflower Oil).

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almonds, Cashews, Milk and Soy. Manufactured on Equipment That Also Processes Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Soy, Wheat and Dairy Products. Contains a bioengineered food ingredient."

Nature's Garden - Oat Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds - Feb. 27, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Nature's Garden
Oat Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nature's Garden Oak Milk Chocolate Covered Matcha Almonds were from Cibo Vita Inc. (Totowa, NJ).

Aroma and layered flavor notes included: subtle chocolate; faint oat/cereal; sweet green, almost fruity/floral, refreshing tea (green tea); and nut (almond). 

There were pleasant, light, lingering almond butter and fruit (jelly/jam) + oatmeal/oat bread sandwich notes in the finish. 

Overall I enjoyed the flavors in these almonds. The chocolate element was subtle, and added some complementary flavor depth to the lighter green/floral and nut notes.

These coated almonds were made in the USA -- using ingredients sourced from Canada, Colombia and the United States.

Ingredients: Oat Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Dried Gluten Free Oat Powder, Cocoa Mass, Dried Rice Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla Extract, Natural Flavor), Roasted Almonds (Almonds, Peanut Oil), Matcha Seasoning (Sugar, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin [Corn], Silicon Dioxide, Gum Arabic, Soybean Oil, Citric Acid), Natural Flavor Green Tea Type Oil, Sugar, Maltodextrin, Dextrin, Color (Spirulina Extract), Color (Turmeric). 

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds) (and peanut oil). "Made in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, soy, wheat, egg & sesame. May contain pits, shell pieces or other naturally occurring objects."

Beekman 1802 - Goat Poop (Dark Toasted Almonds) - Feb. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Beekman 1802
Goat Poop - (Dark) Toasted Almonds
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total container
Calories: 230 calories in 1 serving 
Cost: $28.00  
Purchased from: Beekman 1802, online order

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

Today's Deep Dark Toasted Almonds were part of a six-flavor assortment* of "Goat Poop" chocolate covered confections--from Beekman 1802 (Sharon Springs, NY). These chocolates were housed in a sunny yellow, cylindrical tin decorated with images of the dark and milk chocolate coated rounds/ovals within.

Aroma notes included: subtle chocolate, faint caramel, and very faint nut.

Each Toasted Almond piece had a generous coating of Belgian chocolate that surrounded a crunchy whole toasted almond. Flavor notes included sweet dark chocolate; faint caramel, butterscotch and malt; and authentic almond (nut). Some of the more subtle (caramel/butterscotch-like) notes may have come from other flavors in the tin.

Ingredients: Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Belgium Unsweetened Chocolate, Whole Milk Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Butteroil, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Dry Roasted Almonds.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Tree Nuts (Almonds). Other pieces/flavors (all packed together in assortment tin) also contain hazelnuts and wheat. "May contain Sulphites, Eggs, Peanuts"...and Tartrazine, aka FD&C Yellow (color).

* Other flavors included: Roasted Hazelnuts, Maple Malted Milk Balls, While Chocolate Sugar Cookies, Sea Salt Caramels, and Butterscotch Pretzel Poppers.

Fuel4Ever - Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar - Feb. 26. 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fuel4Ever
Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar
Good+ - Good ++
Weight: 1.9 oz. (54 g.) 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar was manufactured for Fuel4Ever (San Jose, CA).

This dark chocolate-hued protein bar was dense, chewy, and chocolate-y, and flecked with small almond bits. 

Flavor notes included: sweetened cocoa; mild, diffuse and very faint fruit (date)); and subtle, mellow, nut (almond) butter (number one ingredient).

I liked that this Chocolate Almond bar contained 14 grams of protein*--great for someone wanting/needing to boost their protein intake. (Most protein bars contain closer to 9-12 gram of protein.)

The sweetness level was relatively high; although the bar contained only 5 Net Carbs. It was sweetened with Allulose**. I would've preferred a bar with 1/3 of this level of sweetness (and less allulose; but I prefer less sugar(s) in chocolate and dessert items, so others may feel differently.

Ingredients: "Almond Butter, Protein Blend (Bovine Collagen Peptides, Almond Protein Powder), Chicory Root Fiber, Allulose, Cocoa Powder, Almonds, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, MCT Oil (From Coconut), Kale, Spinach, Monk Fruit Extract, Stevia Leaf Extract."

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds, Coconuts). May contain traces of: Peanuts, Eggs, Soy, Milk, Wheat, Sesame, and other Tree Nuts.

*Protein sources: Bovine collagen protein and almond protein

**Allulose is a naturally occurring (lower calorie) sugar that occurs in very small amounts in plants (figs, raisins, wheat, molasses, maple syrup). It can be commercially produced from corn or sucrose.

LOVO Almond Milk Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day 

LOVO Almond Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (9 pieces)
Cost: $5.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's LOVO Almond Milk Chocolate (bar) was manufactured in Switzerland for Radically Good Food Co. (Toronto, ON, Canada).

Very faint aroma notes for this 100% plant-based bar included: sweet dark chocolate, malt and nuts. 

Texture: thick, creamy melt (soft, almost sticky caramel); and creamy, uniform texture.

Flavor notes included: very sweet, creamy, somewhat diluted chocolate (hot cocoa with an alternative milk, very faint almond milk); and very faint (barely detectable) warm spice (gingerbread) in the long, sweet finish. At the very end, I tasted a very tiny, fleeting hint of almond (milk); but otherwise it was difficult to detect any almond or nut-milk flavor.

This was a smooth, creamy, dairy-free (plant-based) chocolate confection made with just five ingredients. It was a bit too sweet for me (sugar was the number one ingredient); but this bar will appeal to those with a sweet tooth, and milk chocolate fans who wish to avoid dairy (milk, cream).

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa mass*, cocoa butter*, organic almonds, sunflower lecithin, organic vanilla extract. (*Rainforest Alliance Certified. "Find out more at ra.org.")

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. Produced on equipment that also processes products containing milk, coconut, hazelnuts and peanuts.