Fossa Chocolate - Osmanthus & Golden Berries 56% Dark Milk (bar) - Apr. 7, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
Osmanthus & Golden Berries 56% Dark Milk (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 251.5 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $14.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Village Market, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's 56% Dark Milk Osmanthus & Golden Berries (bar) was from Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore).

The cacao used to make this bar was from "Paquibato Village in Davao City" in the Philippines. 

Tiny white Osmanthus flowers also contributed flavor to this dark milk chocolate. These fragrant blooms are used to flavor oolong, green, black and herbal teas, and tea blends. The tiny blossoms have a lovely, sweet, apricot-like scent.*

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (bold but balanced), tart sweet fruit (golden berries, sweet, sun-dried tomato, golden raisin, dried apricot), faint floral, and very faint (barely detectable) earth.

Texture: smooth, creamy dark chocolate and chewy pieces of dried golden berries.

As with every Fossa Chocolate bar I've tasted to date, the flavors in this chocolate were very well-balanced, well-integrated and executed, and authentic. Their choices of single origin cacao(s) and teas--as well as fruits, spirits and unique botanicals). Single origin and high-quality ingredients really do matter.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Delicate floral aroma with morsels of fruity berries"

Ingredients: "Cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, dehydrated golden berries, milk powder, osmanthus flower"

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

*Osmanthus is a genus of about 30 species in the Oleaceae family. Osmanthus is sometimes referred to as "tea olive" or "fragrant tree olive" as it is in the olive family.

The Osmanthus used in this bar came from Southern China. (It also grows near where I live in California. Its perfume emanates from a tall green hedge with tiny clusters of ivory-colored flowers. The scent is strong and alluring on some days, and dormant on other days.) 

Fossa Chocolate - Jasmine Green 51% Drifting Snowflakes (bar) - Apr. 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
Jasmine Green 51% - Drifting Snowflakes (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 271.5 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Jasmine Green 51% - Drifting Snowflakes (bar) from Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore) was part of the company's Tea Chocolate collection.

The cacao used to make this bar was from Hacienda Limon in Ecuador. And the jasmine green tea was sourced via Pekoe & Imp (a collaboration partner focused on specialty, single origin teas).

Aroma and flavor notes included: intoxicating jasmine floral; green tea (clear/clean mineral, botanical); and subtle sophisticated milk chocolate. 

The jasmine green tea floral notes (from the Bi Tan Piao Xue traditional green tea from Sichuan Province in China harvested in spring, layered with jasmine flowers that bloom in summer) lingered into a long and satisfying finish.

This 51% cacao bar was relatively sweet -- think sweet milk tea; but the high-quality tea and chocolate flavors were excellent and well-balanced.The green tea (and to a lesser extent cacao) polyphenols (tannic acid, astringency); and very slight, fleeting bitterness (from cacao and tea) were both well-managed and buffered by the milk in the chocolate and relative high-quality of the ingredients.

Loved the floral and green tea flavors, as well as the smooth texture with a creamy melt and mouthfeel. But, more than that was a glimmer of chocolate magic, where nuanced complexity jumps up to the next level.

With skilled precision, execution and balance, one might be able to surf two ("double up") waves, almost at the same time. This is the sensation I had with this bar. (Surfing in on an elegant catamaran might be a better analogy.) I felt like I was simultaneously sipping an excellent tea and nibbling on a high-quality chocolate. I love floral tea flavors and chocolate magic moments like this.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Jasmine fragrance with lingering umami"

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, green tea leaves, jasmine flowers 

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy. "Produced in a facility that processes nuts." 

 

Fossa Chocolate - Tea Chocolate Uji Hojicha (bar) - April 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
Tea Chocolate - Uji Hojicha (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 148.5 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Uji Hojicha (bar) was part of the Tea Chocolate collection from Fossa Chocolate Pte Ltd (Singapore).

This 53% milk chocolate was made using Hojicha roasted Japanese green tea from Kyoto and "Ugandan Semuliki Forest organic cacao."

Aroma and flavor notes included: subtle dark milk chocolate, and lovely roasted (almost malty) and floral tea notes.

Texture: well-tempered chocolate with a thick and luxurious creamy melt and mouthfeel.

I really enjoyed the: 1.) sophisticated, complex tea flavor notes, 2.) very smooth, creamy dark milk chocolate, and 3.) well-executed and almost perfectly balanced chocolate--made with a short list of quality ingredients. 

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Nutty and toasty tea aroma with a creamy mouthfeel"

Ingredients: Cacao, cacao butter, cane sugar, milk powder, tea leaves

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

 

NeoCocoa - Milk Tea Toffee Brittle - Apr. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

NeoCocoa
Milk Tea Toffee Brittle 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 3.0 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: N/A - not listed on packaging 
Cost: $11.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Toque Blanche, Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

Today's Milk Tea Toffee Brittle was from NeoCocoa (Belmont, CA).

NeoCocoa founder and chocolatier, Christine Doerr, has produced a line of very tasty chocolate covered toffees and treats since 2008 (and probably before then). See previous entries on Chocolate Banquet.*

Aroma notes for today's toffee brittle included: subtle dark milk chocolate; tea with milk and sugar; faint botanical (citrus, seed) and floral (bergamot orange blossom, and (imagined) very faint, sweet lavender).

Texture: generously-sized, shards of (crunchy then chewy) toffee brittle were covered in smooth milk chocolate.

Flavor notes: smooth, creamy milk chocolate, authentic buttery toffee (browned sugar, butter, vanilla), and very faint seed and botanical (tea with bergamot). The Earl Grey (bergamot orange) tea flavor became more prominent toward the finish, and continued (in a most pleasing way) into an extended finish. I loved the progression of the tea flavor. 

As with all NeoCocoa toffee brittles, this Milk Tea flavor was addicting. Be forewarned. If you're overly hungry, this toffee in this package will disappear almost immediately.

Ingredients: Dark-milk chocolate (cane sugar, milk, cocoa butter, cacao beans, sunflower lecithin, vanilla beans), brown sugar, butter, black tea, bergamot. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy.

*Other toffee brittle flavors include: black sesame seed; warm ginger root; and toffee (cacao) nib.

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao "Grown in Maui" (bar) - Apr. 3, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao "Grown in Maui" (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao "Grown in Maui" (bar) was manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

This dark bar was made using locally grown cacao. from Maui. It's also a rare example of a "made in country" (from tree to bar in the U.S.) chocolate. Hawaii is a special place in many respects; it's also one of the only U.S. states with the optimal climate and soils to support cacao trees.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with sweet green botanical; subtle diffuse tropical fruit (mango) and date), faint floral and barely detectable ripe white wine grapes/cacao pulp.

This 70% chocolate had a rich, balanced and authentic dark chocolate flavor with bright, diffuse tropical fruit (mango, cacao pulp, sweet white wine grapes) notes; and faint, fleeting floral oolong tea and then more fruit in the relatively long finish.

Goldilocks zone achieved. (It was not too strong, bitter or sweet. It was just right.) The chocolate was full of sophisticated, subtle flavors; and it had a pleasing natural fruit sweetness* rather than a sugar-y sweetness (thank you!). 

I really enjoyed the balanced complexity and natural bright fruit sweetness in this Hawaiian dark chocolate--thoughtfully made with just three ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: "Tropical fruits, delicate cocoa, lingering fruit & wine notes."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter

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

*These flavor notes were consistent with the cacao varieties listed. "Cacao varieties: Classic Trinitario, Upper Amazon mix, ancient Criollo, novel hybrids."

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 65% and Dark Milk 60% (squares) - Apr. 2, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate

Dark Chocolate 65% square
Good ++
Weight: .18 oz. (5 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 28.3 calories in 1 square
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 dark and milk assortment box
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Dark Milk Chocolate 60% square
Good ++
Weight: .18 oz. (5 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 30 calories in 1 square
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 dark and milk assortment box
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate 65% and Dark Milk Chocolate 60% squares--manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI)--were part of an attractively-packaged 48-piece dark chocolate and dark milk assortment of individually-wrapped squares.

Dark Chocolate 65% square

Aroma and flavor notes for this smooth-textured 65% dark chocolate included: dark chocolate (dark ganache/torte, cocoa); slightly acidic but balanced fruit (citrus); and barely detectable balanced, bittersweet, cream, clean mineral and fleeting floral/oolong tea notes.

Dark Milk Chocolate 60% square

Aroma and flavor notes for this creamy, smooth-textured dark milk 60% square included: rich, creamy (hot chocolate/drinking chocolate), nuanced (and very slightly milk-buffered) cacao complexity.

What did I like? The genuine robust, well-balanced and gently complex cacao/dark chocolate flavors in the dark chocolate square; and the rich taste and creaminess (with cacao flavor depth) in the dark milk chocolate 60% version. 

Both these chocolates were good. The former was well-executed, flavorful and not too sweet (thank you!); and the latter is a dark milk chocolate that I think will likely please both dark and milk chocolate lovers.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter. The Dark Milk 60% version also contained Milk. 

Allergen-related information: The Dark Milk Chocolate 60% square contained Milk. "Soy, nut and gluten free."

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Milk Chocolate 60% Calamansi (square) - Apr. 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
Dark Milk Chocolate 60% Calamansi (square)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in a total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 60 calories in 2 squares 
Cost: $58.50 - $65.00 for 1 box of 48 pieces
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Dark Milk Chocolate Calamansi 60% Cacao squares were manufactured in Hawaii by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI). 

Company founder and CEO Gunar Valkirs set up a farm with the intent to share net profits with the community, and they have done so. They offer chocolates (like this one) made using cacao from Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador--and chocolates made with Hawaiian cacao.

Today's individually-wrapped chocolates (squares) were part of a attractive, 48-piece assortment box featuring 1/2 Dark Chocolates and 1/2 Dark Milk Chocolates--almost all with different flavor infusions.

There was also a darker sibling (Dark Chocolate 65% Calamansi) square in this assortment. However, because I'd already featured the dark chocolate 65% version (in a Chocolate and Lime themed week), the Dark Milk 60% version appears by itself today.

Aroma notes for this dark milk chocolate included: subtle dark milk chocolate (cream) and citrus (lime).

Texture: smooth and relatively creamy

Flavor notes included: subtle dark milk chocolate and aromatic, sweet lime + lemon natural flavoring. The latter lingered into a long sweet citrus finish (slightly bittersweet lime + lemon candy/soft drink).

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Milk, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors."  

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.