Likkle More Artisan Chocolate - Blue Mountain Coffee Jamaica, West Indies 68% Cocoa (bar) - Oct. 6, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Likkle More Artisan Chocolate
Blue Mountain Coffee Jamaica, West Indies 68% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week. This is the second coffee bar featured today. (See previous entry.) Both bars were notable for their subtle, nuanced coffee notes.

Today's Blue Mountain Coffee Jamaica, West Indies 68% Cocoa (bar) was from Likkle More Chocolate (Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies).

Aroma and flavor notes for this single origin bar included: relatively bold dark chocolate with rich (but not overpowering) coffee; subtly sweet, with balanced acidity, earth.

Texture: well-tempered; broke with a snap; smooth melt

I appreciated the relatively bold, balanced dark chocolate and the deep forest-y Blue Mountain coffee notes. It was bolder and darker than most 68% cacao dark chocolates, but not too bitter or acidic. 

Once last thought: I suggest leaving this bar open to "breathe" for about 15-20 minutes after opening the inner packaging and before tasting. You'll get a slightly smoother, more even flavor.

Ingredients: "Cocoa nibs, cane sugar, cocoa butter, ground Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. All-natural colors derived from plants, fruits & vegetables."

Allergen-related information: "Made in a kitchen that handles milk, seeds & nuts."

Endorfin Foods - Turkish Coffee 60% Cacao with coconut (bar) - Oct. 6, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Endorfin Foods 
Turkish Coffee 60% Cacao with coconut (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar

Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee 60% Cacao with coconut (bar) was manufactured by Coracao Confections (Richmond, CA).

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate (slightly fudge-y); brown sugar; faint dried fruit (date, jujube, red fruit) and coconut cookie; and very faint cardamom coffee.

Texture: relatively smooth texture with a pleasant melt

Flavor notes included: smooth "milk" chocolate with complex and subtle dried fruits; mild brown/coconut sugar and "caramelized" coconut butter; and very faint, gently spiced coffee.

I enjoyed the subtle flavors in this bar; the short list of organic and fair trade ingredients; the lack of gluten and refined sugars; and the lightness of the coffee--that allowed the chocolate-y notes shine.

Note: This bar was similar (but not identical) to a similar bar from Endorfin Foods 10 years ago (so likely a different harvest/batch of cacao as well). But, just in case, I'm featuring a second coffee chocolate bar today (see next entry) from Jamaica.

Ingredients: Cacao+*, Coconut Sugar*, Caramelized Coconut Butter*, Cacao Butter+*, Coffee*, Cardamom* (*Organic (Certified Organic by COOF);+Fair Trade Certified (TM))

Allergen-related information: No Dairy, No Soy, No Refined Sugar, No Gluten, No GMO, No Sugar Alcohols

Valley Isle Chocolate - Kona Coconut Mocha (bar) - Oct. 5, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Valley Isle Chocolate
Kona Coconut Mocha (bar)

Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.40 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 109 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Village Market, SF Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Kona Coconut Mocha (bar) was from Valley Isle Chocolate (Kahului, Maui, HI). The company offers a variety of bars with Hawaiian-grown ingredients. They started as a Hawaii home kitchen operation in 2021 and expanded into a commercial space.

This bar was made using Kona (Big Island) grown cacao, and coffee from Maui 'Oma Coffee Roasting Co. (Kahului, HI) in Maui.

Aroma and flavor notes included: coffee, coconut, cocoa and light caramel.

The texture was a study in contrasts: very smooth and creamy coconut milk chocolate on the one hand,  with a coating (on one side) of crunchy coffee bean shards on the other. The unsweetened coffee beans  helped balance the coconut milk sweetness.

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Milk Powder, Coffee 

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. Manufactured in a facility that also processes: Milk, Peanuts, Tree Nuts

Sted Foods - Coffee + Cream 50% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 4, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Sted Foods
Coffee + Cream 50% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 79 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $3.33 for 1 small bar (1 bar from a $10.00 3-bar set)
Purchased from: Sted Foods, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Sted Coffee + Cream 50% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was manufactured by TC Foods, LLC (Fergus Falls, MN).

Aroma and flavor notes included: comforting dark milk chocolate and mocha latte

Texture: smooth and creamy, as advertised

I really enjoyed the balanced and gently complex flavors, and the creamy texture. And I appreciated the  list of organic, high-quality and authentic-tasting ingredients. 

Could I see this as my "morning ritual"? Yes. Yes, I could.

Maker's tasting notes: Bright Ethiopian coffee balanced with our creamy dark milk chocolate

Ingredients: organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic whole milk powder, organic Ethiopian coffee

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that uses sesame seeds, pecans, almonds, coconut, cashews, hazelnuts, and milk

Venchi - Tiramisu - Mascarpone Flavoured Triple Layer with Coffee (bar) - Oct. 3, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Venchi 
Tiramisu - Mascarpone Flavoured Triple Layer with Coffee (bar)
Good ++  
Weight: 1.55 oz. (44 g.) / 3.88 oz. (110 g.) in total bar
Calories: 260 calories in 2/5 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift 
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friends (thank you Evan, Maddy & Isla!)

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Tiramisu - Mascarpone Flavoured Triple Layer with Coffee (bar) was manufactured by Venchi S.P.A. (Castelletto Stura (CN), Italy).

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractively layered bar included: fragrant coffee, bittersweet chocolate and light vanilla. 

Texture: creamy smooth layers that yielded a rich, satisfying chocolate dessert.

I enjoyed the blend of creamy textures (cocoa butter, butter, olive oil) and tiramisu flavors. This was quite a sweet chocolate dessert but the layered coffee, chocolate and vanilla flavors helped break up the sweetness, and I found myself enjoying this as a dessert rather than a bar. (I also appreciated this was gluten free.)

Ingredients: Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate Liquor, Concentrated Milk Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Coffee Paste (Coffee 62%, Cocoa Butter) 6.0%, Whey Powder (From Milk), Olive Oil, Emulsifier: Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavouring, Natural Vanilla Flavor.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy. May Contain: Tree Nuts.

Venchi - Latte Milk (bar) + Pralus Coffee (bar) - Oct. 2, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Venchi 
Latte Milk - Creamy, Indulgent (bar)
Good + 
Weight: .918 oz. (26 g.) / 2.75 oz. (78 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift 
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friends (thank you Evan, Maddy & Isla!)

Pralus
Carre de Cafe - Cafe Noir a Croquer Pur Arabica Du Bresil (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.)/ 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 131.7 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week.

Today's first bar -- a Latte Milk chocolate was manufactured by Venchi S.P.A. (Castelletto Stura (CN), Italy). This milk chocolate ("Latte" bar) did not contain coffee.

The second bar, from French maker Francois Pralus (Roanne, France), was a Carre de Cafe coffee bar made with Arabica coffee--with little to no cocoa solids. Together, chose these two European bars to represent cacao and coffee.

Latte Milk (bar)

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet, creamy milk chocolate with faint vanilla.

Texture: creamy and indulgent, as advertised. 

I appreciated the creamy, whole milk melt and mouthfeel. The sweetness level was a little too high for me; but this will likely appeal to those with a sweet tooth who enjoy creamy vanilla and chocolate desserts.

Ingredients: Sugar, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Unsweetened Chocolate, Anhydrous Milk Fat. Emulsifier: Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Soy. May Contain: Tree Nuts.

Carre de Cafe (bar)

Aroma and flavor notes included: beautifully aromatic coffee, creamy coffee flavor with a hint of smooth chocolate. 

Texture: smooth, creamy and satisfying

I loved the authentic coffee and cream aroma, the single origin (Brazil) Arabica coffee flavors and creamy texture. If you like coffee, I'd highly recommend trying this bar. It looks like a chocolate bar, and it may even fool you into thinking you're eating one too. 

Ingredients: Sugar, Whole Milk Powder, Cocoa Butter, Unsweetened Chocolate, Anhydrous Milk Fat. Emulsifier: Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk and Soy. May Contain: Tree Nuts.

Antidote - Nina Naked 84 Dark High on Cacao less sugar (bar) - Oct. 1, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Antidote 
Nina - Naked - 84 Dark High on Cacao less sugar (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Antidote, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate & Coffee Theme Week. See previous entry for the "coffee" half of today's entry--that was made with coffee-flavored white chocolate. 

This Nina* Naked 84 Dark High on Cacao less sugar (bar) from Antidote Chocolate represents the cacao half of the chocolate and coffee equation today. (The bar was made in Ecuador.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate with dried fruit (dried plum/prune, sour cherry, apricot) and slightly toasted malt and earth.

Texture: very smooth, pleasant melt and mouthfeel

I appreciated the short list of ingredients in this bar and the complex dark flavors in this bold but balanced bar. It also helped me suppress a coughing fit as I was recovering from a bad cold today.**  

Ingredients: 84% cacao Arriba Nacional cacao beans, whole cane sugar, cacao butter, sunflower lecithin

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that handles milk, soy & nuts.

*Antidote founder Red Thalhammer ("New York/Miami-based with Austrian roots") has invented stories and personas around her chocolate bars. In today's case, "Nina rides a motorbike in leather shorts year round. Brash with a killer stare, she has nothing to lose by baring it all. There is no need for your added spice in her life, not your sweet nothings, she is rock solid and full of flare all on her own. Her art lies in keeping it simple, wearing it well and sinking into the deep, dark flavors of life. Hang with her once and see if you ever recover your previous superficiality."

**Theobromine in ultra-dark chocolate bars can act as a cough suppressant and bronchodilator. I have had this experience before with high-percentage dark bars that helped me breathe and settled down coughs. Doses in bars and individual experiences may vary. Please do consult a physician if you have serious cold or flu symptoms before trying this at home.