Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Flower Child Truffles - March 27, 2024

Chocolate of The Day

Dude, Sweet Chocolate
Flower Child Truffles
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) / 3.6 oz. (103 g.) in total cylinder
Calories: 93 calories (estimate) for 1 truffle
Cost: $12.00 for 1 container of 6 truffles
Purchased from: Dude, Sweet Chocolate (online order)

Welcome to Day #1 of Floral Chocolate Series.

Today's Flower Child Truffles were from Dude, Sweet Chocolate (Dallas, TX). I love Chef Katherine Clapner's exploration of flavors -- from roasty and nutty to floral, and everything in between--with product names like "Crack in a Box" (chocolate bark squares) that will make you smile, because their descriptions are funny, and mostly true.

Aroma for these Flower Child truffles included: orange blossom, chocolate (brownie), jasmine, bergamot and very faint vanilla.

Tasting notes included: dark chocolate, and a floral explosion of orange blossoms (neroli), jasmine blossoms (think jasmine infused tea), and bergamot (think Earl Grey Tea) -- everywhere, all at once.

If you like floral flavors like I do, you'll appreciate this dose of floral gunpowder (embedded in a high-end chocolate) experience. 

Floral flavors (often more volatile and easily lost during processing) are often shunted to the back room, to be seen (read about) but not heard (or tasted). Not so today! 

Suggested wine and cheese pairings from the maker: "...Sauvignon Blanc, goat cheese and great brie (cheese)"

Ingredients: (Made with 55% Equatoriale chocolate from Valrhona, French butter and cane syrup...) and floral flavorings.

Allergen-related information: Contains dairy (butter).

Pacific Resources International - Ginger Dark Chocolate Patties Manuka Honey - Mar. 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Pacific Resources International

Ginger - Dark Chocolate Patties Manuka Honey 

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 5 oz. (141.5 g.) in total package

Calories: 120 calories in 3 pieces

Cost: $9.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and New Zealand Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate, Flowers and Honey Week.

Today's Ginger Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey were distributed by Pacific Resources International (Carpinteria, CA).

Aroma notes for these chocolates included: ultra-dark chocolate, honey, and very faint pollen, floral and warm spice.

The 99% cacao dark chocolate shell was thin and almost crunchy in a cool room. (Well-tempered chocolate breaks with a snap.) This outer, ebony-colored coating delivered satisfying ultra-dark flavor--and was thin enough to still showcase the generous, sticky-smooth and creamy, manuka honey center. 

Layered flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate; thick, authentic honey (with floral, pollen), and subtle, warm ginger.

What I liked. These chocolate patties had: 1.) a short list of (three) ingredients; 2.) a 99% ultra-dark chocolate coating that was refreshingly un-sugared and satisfying; a treat for dark fans; 3.) New Zealand Manuka Honey with an MGO rating* (MGO 60+); 4.) thoughtful layered flavors; and 5.) gluten free and dairy free ingredients.

Ingredients: "Manuka/Honey, 99% cocoa dark chocolate, ground ginger"

Allergen-related information: None listed. (gluten free, dairy free, Kosher Certified)

*"MGO" refers to the level of methylglyoxal (MGO), a naturally occurring compound found in manuka honey. A higher level (rating number) is often associated with stronger antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. An MGO rating of "60" means that the honey has at least 60 mg. of methylglyoxal per kilogram.

Today's rating of 60 is above what you might find in some honey's, but it's not at the upper echelon of manuka honey offerings from this company/distributor. They also sell jars of New Zealand manuka honey with MGO 200+-500 ratings. 

Whittaker's - Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in Milk Chocolate 33% - Mar. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's
Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in Milk Chocolate 33%
Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 square
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and New Zealand Week.

Today's Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in 33% Milk Chocolate bar was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand). 

This chocolate was part of NZ Artisan Collection--highlighting ingredients from different regions of New Zealand. The Nelson region is known for sunny beaches, locally grown produce, local seafood, and Manuka Honey.

Aroma notes included: milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and fruit (pear).

Texture: creamy milk chocolate and very small chewy fruit bits.

Flavor notes included: milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and honeyed pear.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate [Sugar, Cocoa Solids 33%* (Pure Cocoa Butter & Cocoa Mass), NZ Milk Powder 30%*, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour, Natural Flavour], Pear & Honey Pieces 10% [Pear Puree 33%, Concentrated Apple Puree, Invert Sugar, Sugar, Humectant (Glycerol), Manuka Honey 2.5%, Wheat Fibre, Gelling Agent (Pectin), Flavour, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid)] *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Wheat. "May be present: Peanuts, Tree Nuts."

Whittaker's - Sea Salt And Caramel Brittle in 33% Milk Chocolate - March 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's 
Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle In Milk Chocolate 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 square
Cost: $ N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and New Zealand Series.

Today's Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle in 33% Milk Chocolate square was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand).

This chocolate was part of the NZ Artisan Collection that highlighted flavor inclusions from different parts of New Zealand. Marlborough (on the northern end of the South Island, and one of 16 different regions/districts in New Zealand) produces wine grapes, sea salt, dairy, honey, and other products.

Aroma flavor notes included: sweet chocolate, vanilla and caramel.

Texture: smooth, creamy milk chocolate with crunchy micro bits of brittle.

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet 33% milk chocolate with vanilla; tiny bursts of crispy, toffee-like, brittle; and a subtle hint of sea salt.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate [Sugar, Cocoa Solids 33%* (Pure Cocoa Butter & Cocoa Mass), NZ Milk Powder 30%*, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour], Salted Caramel Pieces 10% [Sugar, Glucose, Salt, Clarified Butter (From Milk), Water, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Natural Flavour, Natural Color (150A)]. *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. May Be Present: Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Gluten.

Whittaker's - Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle with Saffron in Dark Chocolate - March 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's
Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle with Saffron in Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 square
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and New Zealand Series.

Today's Marlborough 62% Dark Chocolate bar was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand).

Aroma flavor notes included: chocolate (ganache), caramel/toffee, and faint floral spice (vanilla, very faint saffron/botanical/marigold), and barely detectable earth.

Flavor notes included: creamy, sweet dark chocolate filled with tiny, crunchy, sugar-sparkly bits of caramel/toffee. There was also a faint chorus of floral (vanilla), backed up by a few barely detectable upticks of: sweet citrus (orange), sea salt, balanced earth and buttery floral spice (which I'm assuming was saffron) in the finish. 

I enjoyed the well-executed complexity of aromas and flavors that harmonized well together.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate [Cocoa Solids 62%* (Cocoa Mass & Pure Cocoa Butter), Sugar, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour]; Saffron Salted Caramel Pieces 12% [Sugar, Glucose, Saffron Infused Salt, Clarified Butter (From Milk), Water, Natural Colour (160A), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Flavour]. (*Minimum Percentage.)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. "May Be Present: Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Gluten." 

Whittaker's - Wellington Roasted Supreme Coffee - Mar. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's
Roasted Supreme Coffee in Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 individually-wrapped square
Cost: $N/A gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and New Zealand Series.

Today's individually-wrapped square: Roasted Supreme Coffee in 50% Dark Chocolate was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand).

This dark chocolate was part of the company's New Zealand Artisan Collection, making good use of local ingredients. Today's flavor included roasted coffee from Wellington.

Aroma flavor notes included: sweet dark chocolate, coffee and very faint vanilla.

Texture: smooth texture and melt melt. (No detectable coffee grounds.)

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, coffee, and baked goods (chocolate and vanilla cake).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate [Cocoa Solids 50%* (Cocoa Mass & Pure Cocoa Butter), Sugar, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour]; Supreme Coffee 8%; Pure Cocoa Butter. *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information: "May Be Present: Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Gluten." 

Whittaker's - Hawke's Bay Plum and Roasted Almonds in Dark Chocolate - March 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's
Hawke's Bay Plum and Roasted Almonds in Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 individually-wrapped square 
Cost: $N/A gift 
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and New Zealand Series.

Today's individually-wrapped square: Hawke's Bay Black Doris Plum and Roasted Almonds In 50% Dark Chocolate was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand).

This dark chocolate--part of the company's NZ Artisan Collection--was made with Black Doris Plum(s) from Hawke's Bay* (one of 16 regions of New Zealand, located on country's North Island), and roasted almonds.

Aroma flavor notes included: sweet dark chocolate (dark ganache; chocolate and vanilla cake); fruit (red grape, ripe plum); and vanilla flavoring.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with flecks of crunchy roasted almond and barely detectable fruit particles (easier to identify by flavor than by texture).

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (with a touch of vanilla) with uniformly dispersed sweet refreshing red fruit (red grape, sweet plum and berry jam) and tiny hits of roasted nut (almond flecks).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate [Cocoa Solids 50%* (Cocoa Mass & Pure Cocoa Butter), Sugar, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Natural Flavour, Vanilla Flavour]; Roasted Almonds 5%; Freeze Dried Plum Pieces 1.5%. *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information:  Contains: Almonds, Soy. "May Be Present: Milk, Peanuts, Other Tree Nuts, Gluten."

*Hawke's Bay is known for apples, stone fruits (including peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines), wine grapes--and almonds. This region is sometimes referred to as "The Fruit Bowl of New Zealand".