Wild West Chocolate - "Snakebite" Pepitas, Cayenne & Sea Salt 70% Cacao Dark (bar) - June 4, 2026

Chocolate of The Day 

Wild West Chocolate
"Snakebite" Pepitas, Cayenne & Sea Salt 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Weight: .77 oz. (22 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65.2 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $4.49 (sale price) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazzas, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Wild West Theme Week.

Today's "Snakebite" Pepitas, Cayenne & Sea Salt 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) was from  Wild West Chocolate, LLC (Missoula, MT)--and featured an image of a rattlesnake.

Aroma notes: included very slightly smokey/roasted cacao; faint seed/nut; and diffuse fruits (stone fruit, berry, date) and vanilla. The flavor notes were similar, with a deeper dive into rich, gently complex chocolate, a bit of chili heat, and faint vanilla.  

Texture: The base chocolate was smooth, almost creamy, with a satisfying texture and melt. The smoothness was interspersed with crunchy bits of pumpkin seeds (pepitas). 

I liked the balanced, hearty dark chocolate and the sweetness/fruit sweetener blend (date, mulberry, peach, mango). The spicy cayenne added a little chili heat--not enough to burn.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Fruit Blend [Powdered Date++, Powdered Mulberry+, Powdered Peach+, Powdered Mango+], Organic Cocoa Liquor++, Organic Cocoa Butter++, Vanilla Extract+), Pepitas+, Cayenne Pepper, Salt. (+ = Organic; ++ = Regenerative Organic Certified; Cocoa Liquor and Cocoa Butter: Fair Trade Certified 61% of Product.)

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat and soy."

Wild West Chocolate - Wise One Puffed Quinoa Crunch 50% Cacao Oatmilk Chocolate (bar) - June 3, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Wild West Chocolate
Wise One Puffed Quinoa Crunch 50% Cacao Oatmilk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65.2 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories for 2/3 bar

Cost: $4.49 (sale) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Wild West Theme Week, featuring chocolates with tie-ins to cowboys, outlaws, bears and other wildlife in the Great Outdoors.

Today's "Wise One" Puffed Quinoa Crunch 50% Cacao Oatmilk Chocolate (bar) was distributed by Wild West Chocolate, LLC (Missoula, MT)--and featured an image of an owl.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: balanced, smooth dark chocolate; grains (subtle quinoa, oat); very light stone fruit/berry; and vanilla.

Texture: creamy oatmilk chocolate with crunchy puffed quinoa pieces.

I enjoyed the fresh-tasting crispy quinoa (just the right texture) and that the oatmilk didn't taste too oat-y. The base (fruit-sweetened) chocolate complemented these flavors nicely, adding the perfect amount of very subtle sweet fruit brightness. Wisely implemented blend all these ingredients.

And, I appreciated the use of Organic, Regenerative Organic Certified and Fair Trade ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Fruit Blend [Powdered Date++, Powdered Mulberry+, Powdered Peach+, Powdered Mango+], Cocoa Liquor++, Cocoa Butter++, Oatmilk+, Vanilla Extract+), Puffed Quinoa+.

(+ Organic Ingredients; ++ Regenerative Organic Certified; Cocoa Liquor and Cocoa Butter: Fair Trade Certified 45% of Product.

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat and soy."

Wild West Chocolate - Most Wanted Almond & Sea Salt 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)

Chocolate of the Day

Wild West Chocolate
Most Wanted Almond & Sea Salt 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65.2 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories for 2/3 bar

Cost: $21.25 for 3 dark chocolate bars (approx. $7.08 each)
Purchased from: Wild West Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Wild West Theme Week, featuring chocolates with tie-ins to cowboys, outlaws, bears and other wildlife in the Great Outdoors.

Today's Most Wanted Almond & Sea Salt 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) was distributed by Wild West Chocolate, LLC (Missoula, MT).

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: slightly malty, roasted almonds, balanced, smooth dark chocolate; vanilla; and faint salt.

Texture: creamy texture and melt with tiny, crunchy almond bits

I liked that this bar wasn't too sweet. The fruit blend (date, mulberry, peach and mango) that the company uses (instead of cane sugar) gave the sweetness a more subtle, authentic and slightly layered flavor--compatible with naturally occurring fruit notes you might find in some cacaos.

And I appreciated the use of Regenerative Organic Certified* cocoa and Fair Trade ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Fruit Blend [Powdered Date++, Powdered Mulberry+, Powdered Peach+, Powdered Mango+], Cocoa Liquor++, Cocoa Butter++, Vanilla Extract+), Roasted Almonds+, Sea Salt. (+ = Organic; ++ = Regenerative Organic Certified; Cocoa Liquor and Cocoa Butter: Fair Trade Certified 55% of product.) 

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat and soy."

* USDA Organic certification focuses on how food is grown, and prohibits synthetic pesticides, fertilizer and GMOs. Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) starts with organic certification as a minimum required baseline and adds  requirements around soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness for farmworkers.

Wild West Chocolate - Dark Horse Original Dark 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) - June 1, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Wild West Chocolate
Dark Horse Original Dark - 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65.2 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories for 2/3 bar

Cost: $21.25 for 3 dark chocolate bars (approximately $7.08 each)
Purchased from: Wild West Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Wild West Theme Week, featuring chocolates with tie-ins to cowboys, outlaws, bears and other wildlife in the Great Outdoors.

Today's Dark Horse Original Dark - 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) was distributed by Wild West Chocolate, LLC (Missoula, MT). The company was founded in 2023 by BJ Howard, a woman whose interests include making a better chocolate ("without the junk") and water preservation.*

Aroma and flavor notes for this Dark Horse 70% bar included: balanced, smooth dark chocolate (chocolate-y; roasted brownie, smooth and very slightly earthy dark chocolate torte); vanilla; and very light fruits (stone fruit (peach), berry and mango).

Texture: pleasing creamy melt and mouthfeel

The sweetness in this bar came not from sugar, but rather from a very thoughtful fruit powder blend. The fruits added gentle and sweetness and subtle flavor depth. (The powders were fully incorporated into the chocolate so there was no detectable change in texture.)

I appreciated the use of organic and fair trade ingredients; the aforementioned well-executed blend of fruits to sweeten this dark chocolate (vs. cane sugar); and the relatively short list of ingredients.  

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Fruit Blend [Powdered Date++, Powdered Mulberry+, Powdered Peach+, Powdered Mango+], Cocoa Liquor++, Cocoa Butter++, Vanilla Extract+). (+ Organic Ingredients; ++ Regenerative Organic Certified; Cocoa Liquor and Cocoa Butter: Fair Trade Certified 68% of Product.

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat and soy."

*I love her interest in solving big problems. Water has been one of the most enduring and challenging issues in the Wild West. (The company donates a portion of profits "from every sale" to the River Management Society.)

And replacing cane sugar in chocolate is no small feat. From what I've tasted so far, the blend of powdered fruits (instead of conventional sugar) in her bars works very well. 

I also admire those makers creating dark milk chocolate bars "sweetened" only with milk powder. No sugar (or artificial sweeteners) were used in either of these approaches, and the chocolates were great.

 

Wild West Chocolate - Cowboy Coffee Dark Chocolate with Ground Espresso 70% Cacao (bar) - May 31, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Wild West Chocolate
Cowboy Coffee - Organic Dark Chocolate with Ground Espresso 70% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65.2 g.) in total bar

Calories: 260 calories for 2/3 bar

Cost: $21.25 for 3 dark chocolate bars (approx. $7.08 each)
Purchased from: Wild West Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Wild West Theme Week, featuring chocolates with tie-ins to cowboys, outlaws, bears and other wildlife in the Great Outdoors.

Today's Cowboy Coffee - Organic Dark Chocolate with Ground Espresso 70% Cacao (bar) was distributed by Wild West Chocolate, LLC (Missoula, MT).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Cowboy Coffee bar included: balanced, smooth dark chocolate with very faint coffee; campfire marshmallow and vanilla; very light stone fruit/berry; and barely detectable salt/savory and warm spice.

Texture: creamy texture and melt with very little coffee ground grit (thank you).

I enjoyed this bar. It felt hearty and substantial without being acidic or bitter. The well-integrated coffee complemented the dark chocolate and vice versa.

I appreciated the organic and fair trade cocoa and coffee; the use of fruits to sweeten this dark chocolate; and the relatively short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Fruit Blend [Powdered Date+, Powdered Mulberry+, Powdered Peach+, Powdered Mango+], Organic Cocoa Liquor++, Organic Cocoa Butter++, Vanilla Extract+), Organic Coffee++, Cinnamon+. (+ Organic Ingredients; ++ 69% Fair Trade Ingredients, Fair Trade CertifiedTM)

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, wheat and soy."

Rhyme & Reason Chocolate Co. - Coffee Toffee Crunch (bar) - May 30, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Rhyme & Reason Chocolate Co.
Coffee Toffee Crunch Milk Chocolate 42% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Coffee Toffee Crunch Milk Chocolate 42% cacao (bar) was handcrafted in small batches by Rhyme & Reason Chocolate Company LLC (Greensboro, NC).

Aroma notes included: attractive, aromatic mocha and brown sugar and butter toffee

Texture: relatively smooth blend of dark milk chocolate, coffee and almost fully incorporated tiny, buttery toffee bits

Flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate and relatively rich, smooth specialty coffee, accented with authentic buttery toffee bits. This bar had a sweet, politely robust coffee and dark milk chocolate finish.

Many toffee bars teeter on the edge of candy; this one (happily for me, a dark chocolate lover) did not. This had the flavor complexity and depth I dream of in a chocolate toffee offering. 

I appreciated the short list of quality ingredients and lack of additives. And the fact that cocoa beans were the number one ingredient (and not sugar). Thank you to Elizabeth Tully, founder and chief chocolate maker at Rhyme & Reason for a bar that both dark and milk chocolate lovers can appreciate.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Full Cream Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Coffee Beans, Toffee (cane sugar, butter)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Made in a facility which also handles peanuts and tree nuts

 

Compartes Chocolatier - Espresso Martini - Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini 67% Cacao (bar) - May 29, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Compartes Chocolatier
Espresso Martini - Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini 67% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.35 oz. (38 g.) / 2.7 oz. (76 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Espresso Martini - Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini 67% Cacao (bar) was from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma notes included: slightly roasted coffee and dark chocolate; vanilla; faint spirits/alcohol (vodka); and faint marshmallow/whipped cream.

Texture: smooth with an even melt and mouthfeel (no coffee or cacao grit).

I enjoyed the satisfying dark chocolate and light espresso blend. It was a sweet chocolate version of an espresso-mocha martini. The vodka flavor was very subtle, but it was enough to "sell" the martini concept.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Soy Lecithin as An Emulsifier, Vanilla), Coffee, Vodka

Allergen-related information: "Made in a Facility That Handles Dairy, Peanuts, Wheat, Egg, Soy, Tree Nuts." "Vegan, Gluten Free"