Ruya - Cardamom Turkish Coffee Dark Chocolate 65% (bar) - Sept. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ruya

Cardamom - Turkish Coffee Dark Chocolate 65% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .459 oz. (13 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 70 calories in 2 squares of bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA 

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

Today's Ruya Cardamom Turkish Coffee Dark Chocolate 65% (bar) was created by Melis Aydogan. 

Aydogan started her business as a Turkish-style coffee house concept (including reading fortunes occasionally). We are invited to taste the dream. (Ruyu means "dream" in Turkish.) This dark spiced coffee chocolate was a Good Food Awards Winner in 2021.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, roasted coffee, faint roasted nut(s) and spice.

Texture: uniform, fudge-y, smooth texture and melt.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, sweet spice (cardamom) and dark roast coffee.

I liked the robust flavors in this chocolate. The roast(s) seemed just right: bold, but no burnt flavor(s); and the roasting process(es) may have minimized (or eclipsed) any sharper edged flavor(s) (acidity, bitterness, earth, etc.) that might have existed. The cardamom (almost playful by contrast) added natural sweetness and light and helped elevate and balance the dark roast flavors.

Maker's description: "Dark as Hell, Strong as Death, Sweet as Love"

Ingredients: "Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic espresso, cardamom"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and milk products due to shared equipment." ("Soy Free. Vegan.")

Ragged Coast Chocolates - Coffee Peanut Bark - Sept. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ragged Coast Chocolates
Coffee Peanut Bark
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $5.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: Ragged Coast Chocolates, online order 

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

Today's Coffee Peanut Bark was from Ragged Coast Chocolates (Westbrook, Maine).

Aroma notes included: milk chocolate, peanuts and very faint vanilla and coffee (latte).

The textural blend included: creamy smooth milk chocolate topped with softly crunchy peanuts, and tiny, firm/hard granules of coffee.

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet and creamy and cacao-buttery (whole) milk chocolate, peanut, and occasional tiny bits of roasted coffee. The vanilla and (Maine) sea salt were both subtle and enhanced the slightly addictive quality of this Coffee Peanut Bark confection.*

I liked the relatively short list of ingredients and use of Single Origin Latin American (milk) chocolate.

Ragged Coast product description: "...slightly smoky flavor of Maine-roasted coffee...percolates through organic peanuts, Maine sea salt and luscious milk chocolate."

Ingredients: Single Origin Latin American Milk Chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa liquor, soy lecithin, natural vanilla), Organic Coffee Beans, Organic Peanuts, Maine Sea Salt."

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Peanuts" "Allergens: Soy, Nuts, Milk, and Coconut."

Note: while the coffee is not immediately obvious in appearance/strength, I did get a bit of a caffeine buzz from this.

 

Giddy Up Nuts - Coffee Chocolate Gourmet Spiced Almonds - Sept. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Giddy Up Nuts 
Coffee Chocolate Gourmet Spiced Almonds
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 6 oz. (170.1 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $9.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, order add-on

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

Today's Coffee Chocolate Gourmet Spiced Almonds were from Giddy Up Nuts (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma notes included: roasted nuts (almonds), cocoa/chocolate, shortbread nut cookie and faint vanilla latte.

Texture: fresh, crunchy, whole roasted almonds with a light glaze coating that had small dark cocoa/coffee bits.

Flavor notes included: tasty crunchy roasted almond, milk cocoa (dutch-processed cocoa powder was part of the thin, glaze-style coating), vanilla, and very faint coffee.

I loved the fresh, almond nut flavor and texture. The nuts were the stars of this show. They were lightly seasoned and allowed to shine. The hints of cocoa, coffee and vanilla were well-balanced; and these nuts were not too sweet (thank you!). 

Ingredients: "Almonds, Sugar, Cocoa Powder, Coffee, All Natural Vanilla Extract, Kosher Salt"

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almond"

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - 77% Dark Chocolate Las Palomas Coffee (bar) - Sept. 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
77% Dark Chocolate with Las Palomas Coffee Guatemala (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.00 for 1 bar (when bought in a 3-bar Coffee bundle)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Special Reserve 77% Dark Chocolate with Las Palomas Coffee Guatemala (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA) in collaboration with George Howell Coffee.

Aroma notes included: appealing dark chocolate; fruit; and subtle spice and coffee.

Texture: rich, smooth, relatively creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: a compelling blend of true chocolate with fruit (ripe, sweet berry, faint tropical fruits (mango, cacao, other)); slight, diffuse warm spice and coffee.

I really enjoyed the nuanced, sophisticated complexity in this bar. I kept returning to take another bite, to appreciate what I was tasting, and in case I had missed something in the attractive unfolding of notes.

I loved the fruity notes in this well-executed chocolate and coffee blend; the care taken to make a true single origin bar--with a short list of high-quality ingredients; and the balance and harmony between chocolate and coffee.

Maker's description: "...This collaboration bar with George Howell Coffee is a testament to the joys of single origin flavor. The many fruit flavors of their Las Palomas coffee from Huehuetenango, Guatemala combine with our fruity cacao from Coban, Guatemala..."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Single Origin Coffee

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts." ("Soy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free")

 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch 69% (bar) - Sept. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch 69% Cacao (bar)
Good +++ 
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 135 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.00 for 1 bar (when bought in a 3-bar Coffee bundle)
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Maker's Choice Dark Chocolate El Carmen with Coffee Crunch Nicaragua 69% Cacao (bar) was from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA). Both cacao and coffee beans used to make this single origin bar hailed from Nicaragua.

Aroma notes included: very inviting dark chocolate and coffee.

Texture: smooth, fudge-y, creamy dark chocolate with finely ground bits of (very slightly gritty, crunchy) coffee.

Flavor notes included: rich dark chocolate (dark chocolate fudge, true chocolate-y) infused with just the right amount of coffee (not too much, not too little) so that the chocolate was still the primary focus. The cacao and the coffee were neither too acidic nor too bitter. 

I appreciated the thoughtful execution and moderate sweetness level. (There was enough sugar to please those who don't care for black coffee, but not enough to muffle flavors that ultra-dark fans appreciate.)

Maker's description: "...premium single origin Nicaraguan cacao with finely ground single origin coffee from Nicaragua's El Recreo Estate for this crunchy celebration of Nicaraguan flavor."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Single Origin Coffee

Allergen-related information: "May contain trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts." ("Soy Free, Vegan, Gluten Free")

Cacao Space - Colombia Arauca 75% (bar) - Sept. 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Space
Colombia Arauca 75% (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar  
Purchased from: Cacao Space, online order, local pick-up 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Colombia Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week--that includes chocolates with coffee flavor inclusions, and (in today's case) a bar with coffee notes.

Today's Colombia Arauca 75% (bar) was from Cacao Space (Los Altos, CA). The maker is focusing on handcrafted, stone ground, refined sugar free, and plant-based chocolates.

I really enjoyed the pleasing and satisfying aroma and flavor notes in this two-ingredient dark chocolate. Notes included: smooth dark chocolate (that was naturally sweet, fragrant, and very balanced/low acidity and bitterness); warm spice (gingerbread); and very faint coffee latte. 

The organic coconut sugar likely contributed to the faint warm spice and latte notes.

Texture: smooth, even texture and melt.

Ingredients: cacao nibs, organic coconut sugar.

Allergen-related information: (None listed on wrapper.) 

Coco Chocolatier - Cold Brew Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Coco Chocolatier
Cold Brew Coffee Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Phoenix Shop, Big Sur, California

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Colombia Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Coffee Week(s).

Today's Cold Brew Coffee (61% cocoa) Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Coco Chocolatier/Coco EU (Belfast and Edinburgh). The outer wrapper was, quite literally, a work of art.*

Aroma: relatively sweet dark chocolate, roasted coffee and appealing, mysterious and hard to pin-down notes that might have been: fleeting herb, spice and savory notes (mild green pepper; roasted olive tapenade on freshly toasted bread); mild earth/clay; and slightly smoky vanilla.

The cacao origin for this bar was Colombia. 

Texture: relatively smooth, even texture and melt.

Flavor notes: well-balanced dark chocolate and coffee; not too acidic; not too bitter; naturally sweet, but not too sweet; and a polite lingering coffee finish. 

I loved the intriguing aroma and felt grateful for the relatively mellow, smooth, almost coffee flavor--likely due to the cold brew method, and added cocoa butter.

While I don't drink coffee anymore, I've featured a Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week almost every year on Chocolate Banquet. I loved drinking coffee; and the toughest part about giving it up was the lovely, seductive aromas. I'm looking forward to being intoxicated by coffee scents this week.

Ingredients: Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Coffee (<1%), Emulsifier: Non-GMO Soya Lecithin, Natural Coffee Flavour, Natural Vanilla Flavour. (Cocoa Solids: 61% Minimum)

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Nuts, Milk and Gluten."

*Chocolate can be blended with thousands of flavors; it's very versatile. It also can be enjoyed with--and found swaddled in--many art styles. Packaging/labels for craft chocolate, beer, and wine have been great sources of fresh and inspired designs and entertaining surprises over time. I would have saved all of the thousands of the physical wrappers I've seen, but that would've required renting a large storage facility.