Ranger Chocolate Co. - Mexico Soconusco Dark Chocolate Bar 70% - Feb. 28, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Co.
Mexico Soconusco Dark Chocolate Bar 70%
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 349 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week. It's always a pleasure to return to the Americas, where cacao originated. 

Today's Mexico Soconusco 70% Dark Chocolate Bar was from Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). The Soconosco region is "the birthplace of cacao in Mexico, where they've been growing this crop for 4,000 years..."

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (rich drinking chocolate); fruit (mango, wine grape juice/white raisin); diffuse warm spice; very faint botanicals (faint peppercorn); and very faint, fleeting, warm apple cider in the finish.

Texture: well-tempered and executed bar with smooth and satisfying texture.

I liked everything about this well-executed chocolate. I enjoyed the balanced, deliciously hearty yet smooth, cacao aroma and flavor complexity...the fruit, spice and other subtle flavors in this bar. I also appreciated the texture and the sourcing of the short list of ingredients.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "juicy mango, grapefruit, white grape, juniper"

Ingredients: "organic cacao, organic sugar"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free"

 

 

Zoe's Chocolate Co. - Peanut Butter Love Bugs - Feb. 27, 2025

Chocolate of the Day 

Zoe's Chocolate Co. 
Peanut Butter Love Bugs
Good + - Good ++
Weight: (unknown)
Calories: (unknown)
Cost: $11.00 + shipping for 1 box of 2 pieces/bugs
Purchased from: Zoe's Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Peanut Theme Week.

Today's Peanut Butter Love Bugs were from Zoe's Chocolate Company (Frederick, MD).

Aroma notes for these heart-shaped pair of ladybug-like Love Bugs included: chocolate and peanut butter (peanut butter cup).

A thin, velvety coat of dark chocolate--decorated with an attractive, rose and pink hued (colored white chocolate) pattern--surrounded a smooth, sweet peanut butter center.

Flavor notes included: a blend of classic, chocolate and peanut butter cup flavors.

I liked: the appearance and classic peanut butter cup flavors. The love bug confections, designed to look like festive ladybugs, were cute. I was less excited about the long list of ingredients that included artificial colors. But, overall these were tasty treats.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla), Milk Chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla), White Chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla), Organic Peanuts, Salt. Decorations: Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Full Milk Powder, Sunflower Lecithin (emulsifier). Titanium Dioxide, Rice Starch, FD&C Blue #1, Blue #2, Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5. 

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts, Milk. "Made in an environment where peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, dairy and eggs are used"

Nutsola - Dat Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Dark Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Nutsola 
Dat Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories in 1 bar
Cost: Pricing not available for a single bar; (I paid $56.00 for 1 of a box of 8 bars)
Purchased from: Nutsola, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Peanut Theme Week.

Today's Dat Chocolate Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Nutsola LLC (Livingston, NJ).

Aroma notes included: bold (slightly bitter, but balanced) dark chocolate and faint nut.

Texture: relatively smooth dark chocolate and a filling of ground peanuts (peanut butter)

Flavor notes included: bold but balanced dark chocolate with faint umami/savory peanut. Because of the lack of added sugar (dates were used to lightly sweeten this chocolate), this bar tasted like a higher percentage (80%) dark chocolate. 

I liked 1.) the short list of quality (Organic and gluten-free) ingredients, 2.) how the peanut butter balanced and mellowed the dark chocolate); and 3) the hearty chocolate flavor that wasn't too sweet (thank you!). 

Sugar can be valuable to balance bitterness in some chocolates; but I can do without a sugar buzz. (I also enjoy balanced bitter and umami flavors.) Nutsola co-founders, Adam and Michael, created this date-sweetened chocolate with "clean ingredients" and with more fiber "to slow down sugar absorption." The company produces a variety of "no added sugar" bars.

Ingredients: "Organic Cacao, Organic Date, Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt"

Allergen-related information: "Contains Peanuts. May contain occasional pits. Shares Equipment with Products Containing Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Milk, Egg and Wheat."

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."