Scharffen Berger - 70% Dark Chocolate with Cherries + Almonds + Sea Salt (bar) - June 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker 
70% Dark Chocolate with Cherries + Almonds + Sea Salt (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: (Missing information) 
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate with Cherries + Almonds + Sea Salt (bar) was manufactured by Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker (Ashland, OR).

Aroma notes included: hearty, sweet dark chocolate (dark ganache); dark tart-sweet cherry fruit; nut (almond); and faint vanilla.

The blend of textures and flavors included: smooth, rich dark chocolate; crunchy crispy-sea-salty nut bits, and fleeting, chewy, tart-sweet, cherry fruit. The upticks of sea salt and small almond bits helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Cane Sugar, Almonds, Sweetened Tart Cherries (Tart Cherries, Sugar, Sunflower Oil), Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Vanilla Bean." 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. Produced in a Facility That Also Processes Other Tree Nuts and Dairy.

Zotter Chocolate - Blueberry + Hazelnut (bar) - June 2, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolate
Blueberry + Hazelnut (bar) 
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week. Cherries, berries and citrus are heavily represented this week. It's always nice to find a bar with blueberries.

Today's Blueberry + Hazelnut - Blueberry candy bar and hazelnut praline with hazelnut pieces (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Zotter offers an abundant variety of creatively executed and packaged bars -- both filled ("hand-scooped") and single origin ("Labooko" line) chocolate bars.*

Aroma notes for this filled milk chocolate bar included: chocolate; blueberry; and very faint berry cereal milk and vanilla.

Texture: Creamy milk chocolate with a softer milk chocolate filling/center that contained crunchy hazelnut pieces.

Flavor notes included: sweet, slightly tangy blueberry-infused, rich and creamy milk chocolate, and subtle nut (hazelnut). 

The authentic flavors in this high-end, sweet candy bar (including the organic brown sugar) helped make this candy bar more interesting and mildly addicting. I would say that it was too sweet, but I had no trouble eating more than I'd planned. As in other candy bars, nuts helped balance out the sweetness. 

Ingredients: Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Butter** (24%), Hazelnuts** (21%), Cocoa Mass**, Dry Skim Milk, Dried Blueberries* (14%), Dry Whole Milk, Soy Lecithin*, Lemon Powder* (Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Corn Starch*, Sugar*), Dark Brown Cane Sugar**, Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder*, Cardamom*, Star Anise*. 

(* = Organic; ** = Organic and Fair Traded) Fair Trade Content: 87%

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, and sesame." 

*Zotter is one of the only chocolate makers offering dark chocolate single origin bars "sweetened" with just milk, and with NO sugars. (No artificial or other sweeteners.) Not sure why more makers haven't done this. Hats off to the maker for this decision.

Zotter - Cranberry - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with cranberry ganache (bar) - June 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter Chocolate
Cranberry - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with cranberry ganache
Good ++  
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotter, online order

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

Today's Cranberry - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with cranberry ganache (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Zotter offers an abundant variety of bars -- both filled ("hand-scooped") and single origin ("Labooko" line) chocolate bars. Today's organic Cranberry bar was one of the company's first 100% vegan fruit filled bars.

Aroma notes for this 70% filled chocolate bar included: dark chocolate; subtle fruit (red berry); and very faint coconut and vanilla.

Texture: The soft, pink ganache (center) was surrounded by a thin but firm, dark chocolate shell.

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and a uniform, authentic tasting, tart-sweet cranberry filling. 

Ingredients: Cane Sugar**, Cocoa Mass**, Cocoa Butter**, Cranberries*(17%), Rice Drink Powder* (Rice*, Sunflower Oil*, Salt), Cranberry Concentrate*, Apple Juice*, Invert Sugar Syrup*, Dried Cranberries*, Glucose Syrup*, Coconut Powder* (Coconut Paste*, Coconut Milk*, Coconut Flour*), Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Toasted Coconut**, Lecithin (Soy)*, Salt, Emulsifier: Lecithin (Sunflower)*, Lemon Powder* (Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Corn Starch*, Sugar*), Vanilla Bean Powder** 

(* = Organic; ** = Organic and Fair Traded); "Fair Trade Content in Total: 70%"

Allergen-related information: Contains soy (and coconut). "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, gluten and sesame."

Mama Ganache - Spicy Orange 70% Cocoa Chocolate (bar) - May 31, 2024 + Candied Watermelon - May 31, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

1.) Mama Ganache 
Spicy Orange 70% Cocoa Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 95 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Eric!)

2.) Homemade by Megan
Candied Watermelon strips
Good ++
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) (estimate) for 1 serving
Calories: 83 calories (estimate) in 1 serving
Cost: N/A - gift from family (Thank you Megan!)
Purchased from: N/A - homemade by Megan

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week. Today's Spicy Orange 70% Cocoa Chocolate (bar) was from Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates (San Luis Obispo, CA). I enjoyed this chocolate with a side of homemade candied watermelon rind strips. (Thank you Megan!)

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and citrus (orange oil, fruit).

Texture: smooth, buttercream-like chocolate with an appealing, creamy melt.

This bar had a bittersweet, smooth dark chocolate flavor, suffused with just the right amount of authentic orange (oil), followed by a spicy (cayenne pepper) uptick that bloomed mid-way through the tasting experience; and the "heat" gradually subsided 10-12 seconds after it peaked.

The sugar/sweetness level was about right; the 70% dark chocolate was very slightly bitter (bittersweet), and that balanced out the sweetness. A small amount of vanilla added a bit of baked goods warmth to the orange and chocolate flavors.

The pale pink candied watermelon rind strips I paired this chocolate with were fruity and chewy with a smooth, refreshing, bright, naturally sweet melon flavor. And they were a perfect complement to today's spicy orange dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: Organic bittersweet chocolate (Organic chocolate liquor*, organic sugar*, organic cocoa butter*, organic cocoa powder*, and organic vanilla*), organic orange oil and organic cayenne. (* = Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, nuts, wheat and dairy"

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates - Candied Coconut + Makrut Lime (bar) - May 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
Candied Coconut + Makrut Lime (bar) - 43% Madagascar Couverture
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.6 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 403 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order 

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

Today's Candied Coconut and Makrut Lime (bar) with 43% Madagascar Couverture was from Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Inc. (Sacramento, CA).

Today's lime flavor was from lime leaves and lime oil. The Makrut Lime leaves from Beck Grove Farm in Southern California (Fallbrook, CA).

Aroma notes for this 43% bar included: dark milk chocolate, fruit (lime, very faint sweet melon/cacao fruit), and very faint coconut and vanilla.

Texture: smooth dark milk chocolate and tiny, chewy/crunchy shreds of coconut.

Flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate; lilting, pleasingly complex lime; light vanilla; and very subtle coconut.

Flavors and textures were well-balanced and executed. Warning: the complex, slightly fruity sweet, milky cocoa and caramel notes made this bar slightly addictive, especially if you're hungry.

Maker's notes: "This custom single origin 43% chocolate from Madagascar is blended to have a higher amount of cocoa than traditional milk chocolate. Candied coconut and Makrut lime pair perfectly with the delicate acidity and soft caramel notes of this beautiful chocolate."

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Cocoa beans from Madagascar, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Dried Skimmed Milk, Vanilla Extract, Soya Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor), Cocoa Paste (100% Cocoa Beans from Madagascar), Organic Coconut, Cane Sugar, Organic Makrut Lime Leaves, Cold Pressed Lime Oil.

Allergen-related information: "This product contains milk, soybeans and coconut. This product may contain traces of wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

Lindt - Excellence - Lime Dark Chocolate (bar) - May 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Lindt 
Excellence - Lime Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving (30 grams)
Cost: $4.89 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Excellence - Lime Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Lindt -- distributed by Lindt and Sprungli (USA) Inc. (Stratham, NH).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and citrus (lime). 

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with tiny (slightly crunchy) freeze-dried lime bits--that hydrated in my mouth and tasted like flecks of pleasant (not bitter) lime fruit and peel.

Flavor notes included: smooth, relatively sweet dark chocolate and small sparkles of authentic (freeze-dried) lime fruit/rind. 

Many chocolates with fruit flavor inclusions start to taste more like candy. They often contain a higher percentage of sugar, and a lower percentage of cacao. 

While this 47% cacao chocolate was sweet (sugar was the first ingredient listed), the dark chocolate and lime both helped balance the sweetness; and the bitterness level was fairly low. The blend was well-balanced and executed.

I also liked that the smooth yet hearty (and less sugar-y tasting) dark chocolate with authentic lime also harmonized with the naturally occurring "fruit" flavors (e.g. "citrus" notes) found in cacao. 

Ingredients: Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Freeze-Dried Lime, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier).

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. May Contain Sesame and Tree Nuts.

Holm Made Toffee Co. - Marionberry - Oregon Hazelnut Toffee - May 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Holm Made Toffee Co.
Marionberry - Oregon Hazelnut Toffee
Good ++  
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 4 oz. (114 g.) in total package
Calories: 310 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order/add-in

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

Today's Marionberry - Oregon Hazelnut Toffee was from Holm Made Toffee Co. (Bend, OR). 

Aroma notes included: sweet berry (fruit, jam), faint chocolate, and berry (somewhere between sweet black raspberry and ripe blackberry) jam shortbread cookie (with nuts, berries and vanilla). 

Texture: crunchy toffee core with creamy (dark and white chocolate)

Flavor notes included: sweet, crunchy, buttery toffee; nut and berry "cookie" with smooth/creamy rich chocolate and cocoa texture and flavor; and finely chopped hazelnuts that added a crunchy, nutty texture.

I liked that this rich toffee was made with real marionberries*, real butter, and no gluten, soy or corn syrup. Dark/flavor fans may prefer a version with more dark chocolate and less white chocolate, and more berry flavor. (Try the company's Vanilla and Cardamom toffee--my favorite Hold Made Toffee flavor--for a bit more chocolate flavor.)

This toffee confection was tasty, and it captured Oregon flavors like hazelnuts, marionberries and berry pie. 

Ingredients: Butter [cream (milk) & salt], pure cane sugar, Oregon hazelnuts, dark chocolate [unsweetened chocolate, sugar, sunflower lecithin, and vanilla], white chocolate [palm kernel and palm oils, whey, nonfat milk], blackberry oil [oils of natural flavors], freeze-dried Oregon marionberries.

Allergen-related information: Contains tree nuts (hazelnuts) and dairy 

*The Marionberry was created at Oregon State University in 1948. Considered a type of blackberry (a cross between Chehalem and Olallie blackberries), it also has some Himalaya blackberry and red raspberry heritage.