ChocolateBet: September 22, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Wow Wee Candy Bar
Wow Wee Maui's - Kava Chocolate Bar
Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 grams) for 1 bar
Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.95
Purchased from: Lava Java, in Kihei, on the island of Maui, Hawaii

Interesting concept - Kava in a chocolate bar. Kava is supposed to make you relaxed. (The warning label on the wrapper recommends not eating more than one of these chocolate bars per day; and also recommends against driving heavy machinery if you're eating too much Kava.)

I didn't notice any dramatic effects from eating one of these. But, then again, I just came back from vacation, and I was feeling refreshed, clear-headed and productive just from the break; so it was hard to isolate any kava effects.

The milk chocolate base in this bar was OK, but the tiny flecks of kava did impart a certain texture that may taste fibrous or gritty to some.

ChocolateBet: September 21, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Tahoe City Chocolates
(Milk) Chocolate (Dipped) Apricot
Very Good; the apricot inside the chocolate had just about the right amount of moistness and sweetness to it.
Weight: ~ .6 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Tahoe City Chocolates, in Tahoe City, CA

ChocolateBet: September 20, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Tahoe City Chocolates
English Toffee
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from Tahoe City Chocolates, in Tahoe City, CA

ChocolateBet: September 19, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Coconut Truffle
Tahoe City Chocolates
Very Good+
Weight: ~ .5 oz. (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Tahoe City Chocolates (in a small mall on the lake), in Tahoe City, CA

Thank you to Mike at Tahoe City Chocolates who gave me a few tips on which chocolates I might enjoy. Today's Coconut Truffle was like a smaller, slightly creamier version of a Mounds bar.

ChocolateBet: September 18, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 pkg./2 pcs.
Hawaiian Sun
Tapa Toffee - "Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nut Toffee"
Very Good
Weight: .80 oz. (23 g)
Calories: 130 calories for 1 package
Cost: $1.29
Purchased from: Safeway, on the island of Kauai, in Hawaii"

It's hard to go wrong with chocolate-coated nut toffees in my book. And this Tapa Toffee from Hawaiian Sun (Honolulu, HI), made with mac nut toffee and a very subtle hint of coconut oil, was good.

Random thought: I don't know whether all (or any of) the Honolulu-based chocolate companies (Hawaiian Host, Hawaiian King, Hawaiian Sun and a few others) are related. I'll have to look into that later when I have more time.

ChocolateBet: September 17, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Wow Wee Candy (Bar) - Maui's Candy Bar
Maui Kitch'n Cook'd Potato Chip and Milk Chocolate bar
Very Good
Wt.: 1.75 oz. (50 grams)
Calories: 253 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: Lava Java, in Kihei on the island of Maui, in Hawaii

Milk chocolate + Maui style potato chips. Two of my favorite foods, together in a bar.

ChocolateBet: Septemer 16, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 package (2 pieces /1 serving)
Hawaiian Host
Kona Caramacs ("Kona coffee caramel and macadamias covered in milk chocolate")
Very Good - I'll bet a dark chocolate version of this wouldn't be bad.
Wt.: .95 ounces (27 grams) in package
Calories: 130 calories in one package/2 piece serving
Cost: $1.99
Purchased from: Travel Traders - shop in main terminal of Kauai airport, in Hawaii

Airports - once again a good source if you're looking to buy some local chocolates.

Kona coffee caramel and dry roasted macadamia nuts, covered in milk chocolate. I think that sums up rather nicely what can happen when chocolate goes on vacation to Hawaii.

These Kona Caramacs (caramel + mac nuts) were made by Hawaiian Host Chocolates (Honolulu, HI). The chocolate may have come over from the U.S. mainland. It wasn't clear, but the other major components looked all Hawaiian to me.