Chocolove - Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar) - Feb. 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove
Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.29 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Peanut Theme Week.

Today's Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar) was from Chocolove ("Made in Boulder, CO with Belgian Chocolate").

Aroma notes included: rich milk chocolate, faint nut (peanut butter) and warm vanilla.

The thick creamy milk chocolate bar contained a creamy peanut butter filling--making for a hearty, substantial bar.

A generous helping of sweetness and a little salt helped tipped this bar into the addictive snack zone; but when it comes to peanut butter chocolate confections I may eat more due to the tie to childhood chocolate candy memories. That happened today.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Peanut Butter (Dry Roasted Blanched Peanuts), Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Organic Butter Oil, Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin. 

** Rainforest Alliance Certified

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts, Milk, Soy. Made in a facility that also processes eggs and tree nuts.

Nomolotus - Truvani "The Only Bar" Organic, Gluten Free (bar) - Feb. 24, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Truvani
The Only Bar Organic, Gluten Free (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Truvani* "The Only Bar" Organic, Gluten Free (bar) was manufactured for Nomolotus, LLC (Las Vegas, NV).

Aroma notes included: chocolate brownie cookie.

Texture: light and compact fudge brownie (softer) cookie chew with tiny (cacao nib and peanut?) bits.

Flavor notes included: light fudge brownie with very subtle date and peanut butter notes. 

I liked the: 1.) emphasis on authentic chocolate flavor (cacao nibs and cocoa); 2.) relatively lightness of the other flavor elements--including the light but complex sweetness (it wasn't too sweet or date-y); 3.) overall chocolate brownie flavor and texture; and 4.) relatively short list of quality, authentic/organic ingredients. 

Ingredients: Organic Dates, Organic Peanuts, Organic Maple Syrup, Organic Peanut Flour, Organic Cacao Nibs, Organic Cocoa, Organic Peanut Oil, Sea Salt, Organic Coconut Oil

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts, Tree Nuts (Coconuts).

*Truvani is a registered trademark of Nomolotus LLC.

Raw Rev Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt (bar) - Feb. 23, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Raw Rev Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (46 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Raw* Rev Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt (bar) was manufactured for Raw Indulgence Ltd. (Elmsford, New York). 

Aroma and flavor notes for this gluten free, plant-based protein bar included: peanut butter, peanut cookie, and chocolate. Light touches of salt, fat (coconut oil) and vanilla rounded out the flavor. I liked that it wasn't overly sweet (thank you!).

The substantial, chewy texture and high protein blend made it hearty and satisfying. (This bar contained 12 grams of protein.) The chew was not too soft, not too hard -- just right for a protein bar.  

Ingredients: Peanuts, Isomalto-Ougosaccarides (Prebiotic from Tapioca), Protein Blend (Pea Protein Isolate, Brown Rice Protein, Organic Hemp Protein, Flax Protein), Organic Dark Chocolate Chips (Cane Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Organic Chia Seeds, Sunflower Lecithin, Organic Unrefined Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Roasted Peanut Extract, Sea Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains Peanuts, Soy and Coconut. Manufactured on Equipment Shared With Tree Nuts, Milk, Fish, Wheat, and Sesame.

*Manufacturer's Note:"Not a Raw Food; Ingredients Heated for Food Safety."

Chocolate Spiel - Peanut Butter (bar) - Feb. 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Spiel
Peanut Butter (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (27 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) for 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Spiel, online order 

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

Today's Peanut Butter (bar) was from Chocolate Spiel (Edmonds/Seattle, WA). 

Aroma notes included: subtle milk chocolate and nut (peanut). (Note: there were no milk ingredients listed.)

Texture: creamy, uniform melt and mouthfeel with soft nuttiness from peanut halves.

Flavor notes included: smooth, creamy dark chocolate with smooth creamy peanut butter and softly crunchy peanuts. The flavors in this bar were closest to peanut butter cup flavors so far this week -- without the extra sugar, salt or emulsifiers. 

I liked the near perfect, classic blend of peanuts and smooth dark chocolate in this bar. Not ultra sweet (thank you). It was just right for me (a dark chocolate lover).

The painted (colored cocoa butter) dotted patterns on this bar created a festive, upbeat visual appearance.

Ingredients: "cocoa, peanuts, sugar, cocoa butter, colored cocoa butter (yellow 5)."

Allergen-related information: Contains Peanuts. "May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts and gluten." 

Seattle Chocolate - Peanut Buddy Crisp milk chocolate truffle bar - Feb. 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Seattle Chocolate
Peanut Buddy Crisp milk chocolate truffle bar 
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.29 for 1 bar
Purchased from: FarmFresh, online order

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

Today's Peanut Buddy Crisp milk chocolate truffle bar was from Seattle Chocolate Company (Seattle, WA). 

Aroma notes included: smooth, rich milk chocolate, faint peanut butter, and very faint vanilla.

Texture: smooth, creamy and hearty milk chocolate base. Muted crisped rice bits added textural interest.

Flavor notes included: rich milk chocolate and subtle (fully incorporated) peanut butter. 

This was a rich and filling milk chocolate truffle bar. It provided great fuel for a winter weather walk.

Ingredients: "milk chocolate (cane sugar, milk, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, organic soy lecithin, natural vanilla), peanut butter (peanuts, salt), crisp rice (brown rice flour, cane sugar, sea salt, molasses), sea salt."

Allergen-related information: Contains: Milk, Soy and Peanuts. "This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, and wheat products."

Fossa Chocolate - 65% Dark Spicy Mala (bar) - Feb. 20, 2025

Chocolate of the Day 

Fossa Chocolate
65% Dark Spicy Mala (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 65% Dark Spicy Mala (bar) was from Fossa Chocolate (Singapore).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, green peppercorn, warm/upbeat spices, and very faint chili/heat.

This bar broke with a well-tempered snap, and had a relatively smooth texture with a smattering of light crunchy bits (sesame seeds). 

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate, fragrant green peppercorn, and light, warm spices (light cardamom, cinnamon).

This was a wonderful stewpot of well-balanced flavors. I really liked the aromatic top notes of the peppercorn, cardamom and cinnamon and very light umami elements (sesame, soy).

Maker's description: "An incredibly aromatic, spicy and numbing, yet addictive chocolate, inspired by the popular spicy mala stir fry pot dish..."

Ingredients: "Cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, peanut, sesame, soy sauce, dried chilli (sic), Sichuan peppercorn, cardamom, Bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds"

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanut, Sesame, and (possibly wheat in soy sauce). Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy. 

Fossa Chocolate - 48% Milk Satay Sauce (bar) - Feb. 19, 2025

Chocolate of the Day 

Fossa Chocolate
48% Milk Satay Sauce (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 144.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's 48% Milk Satay Sauce (bar) was from Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore).

Aroma and flavor notes included: authentic chili powder, dark milk chocolate, faint nuts, and spices. 

I enjoyed trying this bar, even if the flavors were different than what I was expecting. Where I live in the U.S., satay sauce (a peanut sauce served over meat skewers) has more sweet peanut butter flavor and less chili powder flavor, so that's what I was expecting initially. 

The added milk helped harmonize the spices and made the chocolate closer to the texture of a smooth savory sauce.

I appreciated the short list of quality/authentic ingredients in this chocolate. And I look forward to trying the more spice-forward versions of this sauce when I visit Singapore in the next year or two.

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, peanut, milk powder, cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, anise, fennel seeds, peppercorn, sea salt

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts, Milk. Produced in a facility that processes nuts & dairy.