The Organic House - Philippines 100% Cacao, Philippines Bon Bulak (bar) - Jan. 17, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Philippines 100% Cacao, Philippines Bon Bulak (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and the Philippines Week.

Today's Philippines 100% Cacao, Philippines Bon Bulak (bar) was from The Organic House (Burlington, Ontario, Canada). 

Bon Bulak ("floral") refers to a micro-lot (of cacao) from Kablon Farms in South Cotabato, Davao, in the Philippines; and chocolates using this cacao origin have been created by several craft chocolate makers in the past year or so. Yesterday I featured a 70% cacao version of this cacao from the same maker.

Today's 100% bar included much fainter versions of the same aroma and flavor notes (that appeared in yesterday's 70% version): dark chocolate with faint fruit and floral, very subtle light molasses/brown sugar, and warm spice. Flavor notes also included deep, appealing chocolate-y notes and warm buttery umami (slightly sweet mushrooms in butter and green herbs (savory, mint family). 

The texture was very cocoa-buttery and smooth, with a pleasant creamy melt and mouthful. 

The difference was with no sugar, this chocolate was more bitter, and some of the bright/sweet fruit and buttery mushroom notes dropped out quite a bit--as did some of the flavors in the coconut blossom sugar. The (relatively earthier) mint herb notes were still intact. (Today's 100%er would be a great educational bar to pair with its 70% sibling as part of a tasting flight.)

Maker's tasting notes: "Porcini, sage, lilac, petit verdot (small red wine grape (slow to ripen), primarily from Bordeaux). Mellow earthy notes, with a smooth finish."

Ingredients: "Organic cacao beans, Organic cacao butter"

Allergen-related information: "May contain Almonds, Cashews, hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios"  

The Organic House - Philippines 70% Cacao, Bon Bulak (bar) - Jan. 16, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Philippines 70% Cacao, Philippines Bon Bulak (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 392 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and the Philippines Week.

Today's Philippines 70% Cacao, Philippines Bon Bulak (bar) was from The Organic House (Burlington, Ontario, Canada). 

Bon Bulak ("floral") refers to a micro-lot (of cacao) from Kablon Farms in South Cotabato, Davao, in the Philippines. Kablon Farms, a bio (organic) grower, is producing some very tasty cacao--based on both yesterday's (Ritual Chocolate) and today's (The Organic House) bean-to-bar chocolates made with cacao grown there.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's 70% bar included: dark chocolate with faint fruit and floral, very subtle light molasses/brown sugar, and warm spice. Flavor notes also included deep, appealing chocolate-y notes and warm buttery umami (slightly sweet mushrooms in butter and green herbs (savory, mint family). 

Note: I like chocolates with umami flavors and/or coconut (flower nectar) sugar, so those flavors in today's balanced and subtlety complex chocolate was a bit of heaven for me.

Texture: smooth chocolate, and a pleasant creamy melt and mouthful. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Porcini, sage, lilac, petit verdot (small red wine grape (slow to ripen), primarily from Bordeaux). Mellow earthy notes, with a smooth finish."

Ingredients: "Organic cacao beans, Organic coconut flower nectar, Organic cacao butter"

Allergen-related information: "May contain Almonds, Cashews, hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios" 

Ritual Chocolate - Limited Edition Philippines Kablon Farms 75% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 15, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Limited Edition Philippines Kablon Farms 75% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Ritual Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and The Philippines Week.

Today's Limited Edition Philippines Kablon Farms 75% Cacao (bar) was from Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT).

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate with very faint, diffuse fruit (dark red, ripe berry); forest (very faint woodsy/cedar/fir); nut (roasted peanuts with skins); and very faint (barely detectable) spice (black pepper, black licorice, star anise).

Texture: this was a relatively slim chocolate bar (all the better as it allows better, more immediate access to texture and flavors) that had a smooth chocolate bite and a creamy melt and mouthful. 

After enjoying a few weeks of chocolates with flavor inclusions, it was great to get back to a single origin bar (made with just three organic ingredients) where 100% of the focus was on this full-bodied cacao from the Philippines that had well-executed complexity.

Maker's tasting notes: "Kablon Farms...organic since the '90's and pioneers in fermentation.....Their beans topped our taste tests with rich, roasted peanut flavors..."

Ingredients: "Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of Wheat, Tree Nuts and Soy"

Kasama Chocolate - The Endless Summer (Philippines cacao) (bar) - Jan. 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate

"The Endless Summer" - Seasonal Release 55% Chocolate with Coconut Milk and Saba Banana (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 329 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $13.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kasama Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and The Philippines Theme Week.

Today's "The Endless Summer" - Seasonal Release 55% Dark Chocolate with Coconut Milk and Saba Banana (bar) was from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, BC, Canada).

Tropical flavor inclusions and island origins are great for cold winter days. It was chilly outside today where I live; but this "Endless Summer" bar offered a welcome, virtual trip to the Philippines.

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate (dark ganache); sweet green (banana); and subtle, authentic coconut milk. 

There was also a faint and balanced fruit tanginess to this bar also; but it was hard to pin down whether it was coming from the cacao, the coconut milk, the banana or a combination of all the ingredients. In any case, it added a tiny bit of oomph to the overall taste. Not too tart or sour, but enough to add some interest--like a squirt of lime or lemon on a fruit salad.

Texture: The base chocolate had a creamy, almost silken, texture -- thanks to the combination of coconut milk and cocoa butter. 

The Saba* banana chips (pieces on the back of the bar) added subtle banana/plantain chip texture and flavor. The chips (a generous sprinkle of small, thin, crunchy pieces) were just right for my taste; and it was great to see a variety of banana that originated in the Philippines.

As with other Kasama Chocolate offerings, I appreciated the short list of quality ingredients. And I liked that the 55% cacao dark coconut milk bar had a richer, darker flavor (more like a 65%+ cacao dark chocolate) than some other dark milk chocolates.

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans*, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Coconut Milk Powder*, Saba Banana Chips, Sea Salt" (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

*The Saba banana is a triploid hybrid cultivar, that originated in the Philippines. It's used in cooking and eating fresh.

Kasama Chocolate - 55% Goat's Milk, Philippines (bar) - Jan. 13, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
55% Goat's Milk, Philippines (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 318 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kasama, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and The Philippines Theme Week.

Today's 55% Goat's Milk, Philippines (bar) was from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, BC, Canada).

Aroma notes included: smooth, dark milk chocolate with very faint, clean floral and light hay.

Texture: smooth dark milk chocolate with a clean, light mouthfeel and melt.

Flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate with a very small hint of goat milk (with no game-y or off notes). Think goat milk (metaphorically wrapped in freshly washed silk and) blended with rich cocoa.

Thank you to the makers for the short list of quality ingredients, and for the opportunity to try chocolates made with cacao from the Philippines.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, "Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Goat's Milk Powder (* = Organic) 

Allergen-related information: Contains Goat Milk. "Made in a facility that contains nuts." 

Theo & Philo - 65% Dark Chocolate with Labuyo Chili (bar) - Jan. 12, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Theo & Philo 
65% Dark Chocolate with Labuyo Chili (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 cals. for 20 g. serving
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and the Philippines Theme Week.

Today's 65% Dark Chocolate with Labuyo Chili (bar) was from Theo & Philo Chocolate Factory (Metro Manila, Philippines). 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (ganache), and very faint red chili/bell pepper and even fainter brown sugar/maple syrup.

Texture: smooth texture, with a firm but creamy fudge aspect.

Flavor notes included: chocolate (dark, slightly fudge-y, ganache) with some heat from the Labuyo chili kicking in now and then.

I appreciated the short list of ingredients and overall flavor in this well-balanced bar. I also found it oddly addicting. 

The sweetness level was relatively high, but I enjoyed the brown sugar-like complexity that may have come with the choice of sugar.

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chili"

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and other dairy products." Halal.

*Labuyo chili (Capsicum frutescens 'Siling labuyo') is a small chili pepper cultivar that developed in the Philippines. The fruits and leaves are used in traditional Philippine cuisine. How hot is this pepper?  Approximately 80,000-100,000 Scoville units. (The hottest scoring chili peppers in the world (so-called "super hots") can score over 1,000,000 units.) 

Kasama Chocolate - 57% Earl Grey Tea, Philippines (bar) - Jan. 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
57% Earl Grey Tea, Philippines (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 157 calories in 1/2 bar (314 cals. in 1 bar)
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kasama, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and the Philippines Theme Week.

Today's 57% Earl Grey Tea, Philippines (bar) was created by Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, BC, Canada). The company offers a variety of bars made using cacao from the Philippines*-- and you'll see at least four of these bars featured this week.

Aroma and flavor notes include fragrant bergamot (floral, citrus); dark milk chocolate (cocoa, ganache); and smooth, satisfying and sweet tea latte.

Texture: smooth, with a very slight (authentic) black tea astringency in the finish. Extra points for providing a full Earl Grey tea experience. 

I really enjoyed "sipping" (savoring small bites of) this tea-inspired chocolate. This bar would be a great gift for (or to share with) chocolate and Earl Grey tea fans.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, "Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Whole Milk Powder, Earl Grey Tea" (* = organic) 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

*One of the founders has roots, and family, in the Philippines.