Monsoon Chocolate - Hazelnuts Covered in Dark Chocolate - Mar. 11, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Monsoon Chocolate
Hazelnuts Covered in Dark Chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package
Calories: 233 calories (estimate) in 1/4 package
Cost: $12.50 for 1 package
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Hazelnuts Covered in Dark Chocolate were hand-crafted by Monsoon Chocolate, LLC (Tucson, AZ), using hazelnuts from Oregon--the state that produces up to 99% of hazelnuts in the U.S.

Aroma notes included: sweet dark chocolate and authentic hazelnuts.

Texture: a generous coating of ebony-hued dark chocolate encased roasted hazelnuts--at the heart of each round piece.

Flavor notes included: sweet dark chocolate (chocolate-y, faint green (oxalis) and nut), and hazelnuts.

What I enjoyed about these dark chocolate and hazelnut confections: 1.) a generous coating of rich dark chocolate; 2.) the hazelnuts (flavor and texture); 3.) a relatively short list of ingredients and the lack of confectioners glaze(s).

Ingredients: Roasted Oregon Hazelnuts*, Gianduja (Dark Chocolate [Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*), Hazelnuts*, Cane Sugar*], Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*), Maldon Salt, Maltodextrin, Acacia Gum. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (hazelnuts).

Amedei - Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts (chocolate block) - Mar. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Amedei 
Prendime - Cioccolato Al Latte Con Nocciole
(Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts)
Good ++
Weight: 2.65 oz. (75 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total chocolate block (bar)
Calories: 435 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts bar was from Amedei* S.R.L. (Pontedera, Pisa, Italy). 

Aroma notes for this Tuscan chocolate included: roasted nuts (hazelnuts, peanuts) and subtle milk chocolate. (Note: this bar did not contain peanuts.)

The large bar was packed with whole, crunchy, toasted Piedmont (IGP**) hazelnuts. There was just enough sweet, buttery milk chocolate to bind these round nuts together. 

Flavor notes included: authentic, high-quality hazelnuts with complex nutty notes; and sweet, smooth milk chocolate.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Piedmont Hazelnut (30%), Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Mass. (Cocoa min. 32%.)

Allergen-related information: Contains hazelnuts, milk. "May contain traces of almond, pistachio, walnut."

*The Amedei Tuscany "Italian chocolate brand was founded by Cecilia Tessieri," the "first female master chocolatier" in Europe.

***Indicazione Geografica Protetta (IGP) or "Indication of Geographic Protection" for Piedmont hazelnuts (nocciola Piemonte). A variety of foods (cheeses, meats, hazelnuts), wines, and other agricultural products from Italy carry this IGP designation.

Chocolove - "Bites" - Hazelnut Truffle in 33% Milk Chocolate - Mar. 9, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove 
Bites - Hazelnut Truffle in 33% Milk Chocolate 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 7.05 oz. (200 g.) in total package of 20  
Calories: 170 calories in 3 pieces 
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Today's Bites - Hazelnut Truffle(s) in 33% Milk Chocolate were from Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

Aroma notes for these individually-wrapped, tree-shaped, filled bites included: rich milk chocolate, (warm cocoa with faint vanilla), and subtle nut butter (hazelnut).

A thick, creamy milk chocolate "tree" shell surrounded a ground hazelnut (nut butter) center, creating a layered gianduja confection-like tasting experience.

These will appeal to those with a sweet tooth who like milk chocolate and nut butter treats. (Think peanut butter cup offerings -- only with hazelnut butter.)

What I liked: 1.) the blend of chocolate and hazelnuts; 2.) these were made without gluten-containing ingredients and no artificial preservatives; 3.) individually wrapped chocolates that were easy to share with others and enjoy on a hike or other cool weather outdoor activity this month.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Hazelnut Butter, Cocoa Butter**, Organic Butter Oil, Sea Salt, Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols, Sunflower Oil). (** = Rainforest Alliance Certified. Find out more at ra.org.)

Allergen-related information: Contains: Hazelnuts, Milk, Soy. Made in a Facility That Also Processes Eggs, Peanuts, and Other Tree Nuts.

 

Chocolove - Bites - Peppermint Creme in 55% Dark Chocolate - Mar. 8, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove 
Bites - Peppermint Creme in 55% Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 7.05 oz. (200 g.) total package of 21 bites
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week--featuring granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates and other outdoor-related chocolate items.

Today's individually-wrapped, tree-shaped Peppermint Cremes in 55% (Belgian) Dark Chocolate were from Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

Aroma notes for these chocolates "tree" bites included: hearty, smooth dark chocolate and aromatic creme-de-menthe peppermint.

The thick dark chocolate (pine-tree shaped) outer shell was firm, almost crunchy in a cool room (64 degrees F.), and provided good protection for the soft, white, fondant center.

Flavor notes included: hearty, smooth dark chocolate (that tasted like it could've been 65% or even 70% dark chocolate) and zingy soft peppermint. 

This was a well-executed and tasty blend of authentic dark chocolate and peppermint -- two bold flavors that can stand up to, and complement, each other very nicely in the right proportions. I felt like I was up in the snow-covered Sierra mountains on a crisp, sunny day.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Liquor**, Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Fondant (Cane Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Water), Tapioca Syrup, Cocoa Butter**, Peppermint Oil (**Rainforest Alliance Certified. Find out more at ra.org.)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Soy. Made In A Facility That Also Processes Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, and Tree Nuts."

 

Ticket Chocolate - Easter Egg Hot Chocolate Bomb - Mar. 7, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ticket Chocolate
Easter Egg Hot Chocolate Bombs

Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (39.5 g.) / 2.8 oz. (79 g.) in total package of 2
Calories: 200 calories (estimate) in 1 serving (1 egg)
Cost: $12.99 for 1 package of 2 eggs
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week, featuring granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates and other outdoor-loving treats. 

Today's Easter Egg Hot Chocolate Bombs were from Ticket Chocolate (Loomis, CA). This egg came nestled in some shiny green "grass"--a great tie-in with the greener-than-green (pre-Easter/Spring) grassy hills right now in northern California.

These were pretty (Belgian) chocolate eggs, decorated with very thin stripes of white chocolate and colored dot sprinkles. 

Aroma notes included: rich hot chocolate (cocoa), marshmallow and vanilla.

When put into a cup of hot water (and gently stirred), this egg "bomb" magically transformed into a cup of hot chocolate--with (voila!) a marshmallow floating on top--in seconds. (The marshmallow was inside the egg. And, when the outer chocolate egg shell melted, the generously-sized marshmallow bobbed up to the top.) 

The texture was smooth and creamy, and the marshmallow was fresh, soft, sweet and light.

Flavor notes included: pleasing, rich, smooth and creamy hot chocolate with marshmallow, and subtle warm vanilla.

I loved the Easter egg/spring holiday themed transformational (egg to hot chocolate) aspect. It was a well-executed, clever concept; and an attractive, sweet, creamy, cocoa winter warmer. (If you want to skip the artificial colors, you can scrape off the festive round candy confetti, before blending the chocolate egg with hot water.)

Ingredients: Milk & white couverture chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, soy lecithin, natural vanilla flavor), Vanilla marshmallow (cane sugar, invert sugar, water, brown rice syrup, gelatin, powdered sugar, rice starch and/or tapioca starch, natural vanilla flavor, vanilla extract, marshmallow flavor, salt, vanilla beans), Confetti sprinkles (sugar, rice flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, corn starch, cellulose gum, carrageenan, soy lecithin, titanium dioxide, yellow 5, red 3, yellow 6, artificial flavor, blue 1), cocoa mix powder (sugar, whey, nonfat dry milk, cocoa powder [Dutch process], creamer [coconut oil, corn syrup solids, sodium caseinate, dipotassium phosphate], natural flavors, guar gum, salt). 

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, coconut (and soy). "Crafted in facilities that also process wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame."

Thousand Oaks Acorn Co. - The Acorn Bar (Coffee, Chocolate, Cinnamon) - Mar. 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Thousand Oaks Acorn Co.
The Acorn Bar - Gluten Free - Coffee, Chocolate, Cinnamon
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.6 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar (part of a $30 pack of 6 bars)
Purchased from: Thousand Oaks Acorn Co., online order

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

Today's Gluten Free Coffee, Chocolate and Cinnamon Acorn Bar was from Thousand Oaks Acorn Co. (Thousand Oaks, CA).

Where I live (California), we're surrounded by several varieties of oak trees; however, we rarely get the opportunity to try an edible acorn product, much less one with chocolate.

Aroma notes included: coffee cookie, chocolate/mocha, oat cookie/cereal, and very faint coconut, spice and dried fruit.

Texture: All the ingredients were fully incorporated/blended; and the bar had a hearty, chewy texture, with a very slightly stone-ground meal/seed mouthfeel (pea protein, flaxseed meal, acorn flour). It hung together well and was not crumbly. 

Flavor notes included: an attractive, aromatic blend of mocha (coffee + chocolate brownie bar), along with several "back seat" flavors: brown sugar and oats; warm spice (ginger); coconut; and faint dried fruit (apricot).

I enjoyed: 1.) the rich aroma and flavors; 2.) trying a bar with acorn meal (thank you!); 3.) the fact that this was brown sugar sweetened, but wasn't overly sweet or gooey; 4.) that it was substantial and filling--making it great as a fuel for outdoor treks. I will be taking these on future hikes.

Ingredients: Oats, Brown Sugar, Vegan Butter Oil Blend (Palm Fruit, Canola, Flax and Olive), Water, < 2% Salt, Natural Flavor, Pea Protein, Sunflower Lecithin, Lactic Acid (To Protect Freshness), Annatto Extract (Color), Water, Flaxseed Meal, Acorn Flour, Organic Ginger Chips, Coconut Flakes, Apricots.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Acorn." "Made in a Facility on Shared Equipment That Also Processes Soy, Peanuts, and Other Tree Nuts, and Fish (Marine Collagens).

*

 

Maya Chocolates - S'mores 65% Dark Chocolate Marshmallow and GF Graham Cracker (bar) - Mar. 5, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Maya Chocolates
S'mores - 65% Dark Chocolate Marshmallow and GF Graham Cracker (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62.4 g.) in total bar
Calories: 341 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $4.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme. It's still too cold for a campfire to make old fashioned (original version) of s'mores; fortunately, this chocolate bar rendition of this childhood/camping favorite was on hand.

Today's S'mores Chocolate (bar) was from Maya Chocolates (Pinole, CA).

Aroma notes included: sweet dark chocolate, faint vanilla icing, and very faint nut/seed cookie.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate that broke with a snap, topped with soft, fluffy marshmallows, crunchy roasted almonds and light crumbly-crunchy graham cracker pieces.

Flavor notes included: authentic, rich and sweet dark chocolate--accented with vanilla, marshmallow and graham cracker flavors and textures.

This was a fun and slightly addicting bar. I appreciated the dark chocolate; and I found myself eating more to get to the marshmallows and larger sections of (gluten free) graham cracker--chasing childhood memories all the way. The sprinkling of roasted almond pieces were a nice addition, and complemented/balanced (the sweetness of) the classic s'mores flavor trio. 

Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Cocoa, Butter (Milk), Soy Lecithin, Marshmallow, Ghram (sic) Cracker, Roasted Almonds

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk and other tree nuts."