Stoked Chocolates - Doheny Berry Dark Chocolate Longboard (bar) - July 19, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Stoked Chocolates
Doheny Berry Dark Chocolate Longboard (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .66 oz. (18.6 g.) / (2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $0 for 1 bar (part of a $50 gift set of 4-bars, already accounted for in last entry)

Purchased from: Stoked Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Water Theme Week. 

Today's Doheny Berry Dark Chocolate Longboard (bar) was from Stoked Chocolates (made in Hermosa Beach, CA). 

The company offers several surf-themed chocolates, including at least 4 different "longboard" (surfboard) shaped bars. 

Aroma and flavor notes for today's dark chocolate longboard included: smooth dark chocolate; light vanilla and bright red berries (strawberry, red raspberry) -- the latter three being identifiable by its light and crunchy texture, from bits of sweet, ripe, freeze-dried berries.

I enjoyed the packaging* and the longboard (surfboard) design* (complete with a spattering of berry-hued colored decor) of this chocolate bar; the blend of chocolate-y dark chocolate; and fresh-tasting crunchy red (organic) that harmonized very well together. The vanilla added a spark of joy, and the tiny ripple of Pacific sea salt balanced the sweetness. 

Ingredients: "Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Organic Freeze-Dried Strawberries, Freeze-Dried Raspberries, Sea Salt, Natural Colorants."

Allergen-related information: Contains Lactose (milk sugar). Made in a facility that processes nuts.

*The outer packaging artwork was by Amanda Davidson; and the longboard bars were "shaped by Barahona Surfboards" (another, revered, hand-crafted business in Hermosa Beach, CA). 

Chocolate and surfing both have a long history in California. Longboard surfing from Hawaii was first demonstrated in Southern California around 1907. (Prior to that in the late 1800s, three Hawaiian princes had surfed in Northern California, in Santa Cruz, on custom redwood boards.) By the mid-1900s, the art of hand-crafting surfboards in the Golden State was well underway. And Barahona Surfboards has 85 years of experience in this business.

The first major chocolate business in California was arguably The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in Northern California during the Gold Rush, and Guittard not long after, followed by See's, and many other chocolate makers and chocolatiers over the years. 

Stoked Chocolates - Maverick's Crunch Dark Chocolate Longboard (bar) - July 18, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Stoked Chocolates
Maverick's Crunch Dark Chocolate Longboard (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .66 oz. (18.6 g.) / (2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $50.00 for 4-bar Gift Set

Purchased from: Stoked Chocolates, online order

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

Today's Maverick's Crunch Dark Chocolate Longboard (bar) was from Stoked Chocolates (Hermosa Beach, CA). The company offers several surf-themed chocolates, including at least 4 different "longboard" (surfboard) shaped bars. 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate; light vanilla and sea salt; chocolate-y cacao nibs, puffed quinoa and popping candy -- the latter three being identifiable by their festive textures.

I enjoyed the packaging*, the longboard shape* of this chocolate bar and the blend of chocolate-y and crunchy ingredients that harmonized very nicely together. The sea salt balanced the sweetness. 

Ingredients: "Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor, Organic Puffed Quinoa, Lactose (milk), Corn syrup, Carbon Dioxide, Cacao Nibs, Sea Salt, Natural Colorants."

Allergen-related information: Contains Lactose (milk sugar). Made in a facility that processes nuts.

*The packaging artwork was by Amanda Davidson, and the longboard bars were "shaped by Barahona Surfboards" (a crafted-by-hand local maker--and repairer--of longboards) in Hermosa Beach, CA)

Otherly - Sea Salt Oatm*lk Chocolate (bar) - July 17, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Otherly
Sea Salt Oatm*lk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) / 4.2 oz. (120 g.) in total bar
Calories: 326 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Very Vegan Sweet Shop, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week.

Today's Sea Salt Oatm*lk Chocolate 43% (bar) was from Otherly (South Queensferry, UK/Product of Scotland). 

And the creative design on the wrapper was full of marine and seaside images (submarine, octopus, people engaging in water sports, leaping orca, lighthouse on the shore; and what I believe were two mice rowing a small boat). 

I'm not sure I can tie the flying bat and the godzilla-like creature on the edges into this theme; but they were fun and on-brand for "otherly" ways of looking at life.)

The company has taken an "other way" or "Otherly Way" approach by using oat milk vs. dairy/cow's milk in their chocolates.) The company offers several oat milk bars, most with flavor inclusions

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich dark "milk" chocolate with a faint, smooth oat/cookie/cake (vanilla) note. The use of single origin (likely Colombia) cacao gave it a little more flavor depth with very occasional hints of balanced earth and pure cacao (nibs) surfacing and helping to balance the sweetness. 

Texture: relatively smooth and creamy. This was another good example of the newer generation of oat milk chocolates. The oat "grit" or mealiness of first generation attempts years ago are gone. (Thank you!)

Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Dried Gluten-Free Oat Powder, Cocoa Mass, Dried Rice Powder, Sea Salt (<196), Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Vanilla Extract, Cocoa Solids: 43% Minimum.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soya, gluten, peanuts and nuts."

Loon Chocolate - Maine Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - July 16, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Loon Chocolate
Maine Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Loon Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week.

Today's Loon Chocolate Maine Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by White Birch Living LLC (Manchester, NH). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, sweet and balanced dark chocolate (dark ganache) and salt--from very thin sea salt flakes sprinkled on one side. 

I liked the balanced chocolate flavor, and the short list of organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Organic Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt

Allergen-related information: Produced in a Facility That Uses Almonds, Milk and Wheat

Standout Chocolate - Nordic Nature Sugar Kelp & Sea Salt 66% (bar) - July 15, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Standout Craft Chocolate
Nordic Nature Sugar Kelp & Sea Salt 66% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 297.5 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $12.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week--including a variety of items ranging from chocolates with connections to bodies of water (lakes, rivers, oceans) to more literal objects like chocolate surfboards and chocolate fish.

Today's Nordic Nature Sugar Kelp & Sea Salt 66% (bar) was from Standout Craft Chocolate (Goteborg, Sweden).

The cacao used to make this bar was from Oko Caribe (a cacao producer) in The Dominican Republic.

Aroma and flavor notes included: pleasing dark chocolate with a satisfying light floral green tea; subtle umami; light salt; and warm spice (very faint ginger graham cracker cookie).

Texture: smooth texture and mouthfeel

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Rose Hip, Green Tea, Sea Breeze"

I liked the smooth blend of balanced flavors and appreciated the short list of organic ingredients.

Ingredients: Cacao beans*, Sugar*, Cacao butter*, Sugar Kelp*, Sea Salt. 

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of MILK."

Bixby & Co. - Puffin Project Dominican Republic 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) & Dark Chocolate Sardines - July 14, 2026

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Bixby & Co.

Puffin Project Dominican Republic 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bixby & Co., online order

Dark Chocolate Sardines
Good ++
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total tin
Calories: 279 calories (estimate) in 1 tin
Cost: $11.00 for 1 tin
Purchased from: Bixby & Co., online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week, featuring two items made by Maine-based Bixby & Co. (Rockland, ME).

Puffin Project Dominican Republic bar

This Organic, bean-to-bar dark chocolate bar was created in collaboration with Project Puffin Seabird Institute--an organization that works to safeguard restored colonies of puffin (birds) in the Gulf of Maine.

The cacao used to make this bar was from the Dominican Republic.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate; very faint, diffuse fruit.

Texture: relatively smooth and creamy with a barely detectable and not objectionable fruit astringency

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (ganache, torte); balanced earth; and faint medium red fruit (red berry + red dragon fruit) and light citrus.

I liked the balanced and subtle complexity in this chocolate and the very faint fruit notes. 

Ingredients: Organic Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that processes: milk, peanuts, soy, and tree nut ingredients." "Vegan, Gluten Free"

Dark Chocolate Sardines

Both coastal Maine and California in the U.S. once had robust sardine (fishing) industries in the early 1900s. Sadly, due to overfishing and changes in climate, this is no longer the case. 

Happily, there are occasionally chocolate sardines, like today's catch, if you're willing to fish around for them.

Aroma notes for today's attractively-rendered, fish-shaped chocolate sardines included: smooth dark chocolate and vanilla.

Texture: smooth dark milk like texture. (There was no milk.) 

Flavor notes included: very sweet dark chocolate and warm vanilla. (The sweetness was amplified by the healthy dose of added vanilla.) 

I enjoyed the idea of chocolate sardines even more due to their being packaged in a real metal tin with a pull top. (I wish I'd ordered a few more sets to give as gifts to friends. They are currently sold out.)

Ingredients: Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that processes: milk, peanuts, soy, and tree nut ingredients." "Vegan, Gluten Free"

Cacao Laboratory - "Water" Ceremonial Grade Cacao (bar) - July 13, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Cacao Laboratory 
"Water" - Ceremonial Grade Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.176 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) total bar

Calories: 190 calories for 1/3 bar

Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Water Theme Week--part of a larger, two-month long series of elemental themes (including chocolates inspired by (or with ingredients related to) Earth, Water and Fire).

Today's "Water" - Ceremonial Grade Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Cacao Lab Corp. (Kingston, NY).

Note: This "bar" was intended to be consumed in liquid form -- with water added. I enjoyed it as an eating chocolate.

Aroma notes included: subtle dark chocolate, with very faint spice.

Texture: thick and creamy texture, with some very tiny particles (perhaps ground coriander or maca)

Flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate with, balanced earth, well-managed bitterness, and light coriander (spice), and very faint carrot, sweet potato and butterscotch-vanilla notes.

I appreciated the very balanced, relatively restrained bitterness, and moderate acidic (citric) levels; the bit of authentic sweetness (and no sugar); and the maker's choice of a light roast to preserve delicate flavor(s) and "nutrient abundance."

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Roasted nuts, citrus"

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao*, coriander*, maca*, (*=organic)

Allergen-related information: Processed on equipment that also processes nuts.