ChocolateBet: November 6, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls
Milk Chocolate Chinese Balls ("Rolled in Li Hing Mai Powder")
Very Good - although you have to open wide to fit these into your mouth
Wt.: ~.8 oz. for 1/4 oz. (114 g.) in total package
Calories: ~ 120 cals. in one ball/piece
Cost: $5.95 for total package
Purchased from: Lava Java, in Maui, Hawaii

ChocolateBet: November 5, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

~1.2 oz. serving
Republica Del Cacao Los Rios Province
Single Origin Dark Chocolate - 75% cacao solids (bar)
Very Good +
Weight: 1.2 oz. (estimate) serving/ 3.5 oz. (100g) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.50 (CAD) for total bar
Purchased from: SOMA chocolatemaker, Toronto, ON, Canada

This bar was made from "Arriba" cacao beans from the Los Rios Province in Ecuador.

There is an oft repeated story about cacao from this region. It goes something like this: Cacao beans had been grown in the Los Rios Province of Ecuador for many years, characterized by unique sweet and floral flavor notes. In the 1800s a Swiss chocolatier was traveling up the Guayas River and was impressed by a certain aroma.

The story is printed on this Republica de Cacao bar's label. The chocolatier was reputed to have asked workmen unloading cacao sacks from a nearby boat, where does the cacao aroma come from? They answered "de rio arriba" or "from up the river"

ChocolateBet: November 4, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bite
Laura Secord
"milk chocolate covered marshmallow halloween bar"
OK
Weight: ~ 5 grams/25 grams total bar
Calories: 20 calories (estimate) /100 calories in total bar
Cost: $1.35 (Canadian)
Purchased from: Laura Secord shop in Toronto, ON, Canada

Oops. Halloween was four days ago; and I forgot I had this Laura Secord milk chocolate and marshmallow bar from a recent trip to Canada. Well, better late than never.

It is election day in the U.S., and by late this evening we may know who our President will be for the next 4 years. Major changes like this in times of economic uncertainty like we have now is probably frightening enough for some. No need for Halloween ghosts and goblins here.

ChocolateBet: November 3, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 squares
Natalie's
Dark (chocolate squares)
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: .58 oz. (16 grams) for 2 squares/2.9 oz. (80 g) in total package
Calories: ~84 calories for 2 squares
Cost: $6.59* for total pkg of 10 squares
Purchased from: Natalie's Candy Bar, shop in DFW Airport, in Dallas, Texas

ChocolateBet: November 2, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 squares/pieces
Natalie's
Milk (Chocolate)
Good
Weight: .58 oz. (16 grams) in 2 squares/2.9 oz. (80 grams) in total package
Calories: ~ 87 calories in 2 squares/pieces
Cost: $6.59 in total package*
Purchased from: Natalie's Candy Bar, shop in DFW Airport, in Dallas, TX

ChocolateBet: November 1, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 square
Natalie's
Milk Almond (square)
Good
Wt.: .29 oz. (8 grams) per piece or square/ 2.9 oz. (80 grams) in total 10-pc. package
Calories: ~ 44 calories
Cost: $6.59 in total package
Purchased from: Natalie's Candy Bar, shop in DFW Airport, in Dallas, TX

I found Natalie's Candy Bar, candy and chocolate shop, while changing planes in Dallas. This location/shop was another good chocolate-at-an-airport find.

ChocolateBet: October 31, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
Redstone's
Red Chili and Curry dark chocolate bar
Very Good
Wt.: 1 oz. (28.3 g) out of a 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 148 calories (estimate) in 1 oz.
Cost: $5.99 for bar
Purchased from: Natalie's Candy Bar, shop at DFW Airport, in Dallas, TX

These are fun bars. I had tried Redstone's Jalapeno milk chocolate bar with peanuts before and liked it. My only complaint with this 72% cocoa Red Chili bar was that the chili and curry flavorings seemed to be somewhat unevenly distributed in the bars. One bite might be mild; and the next bite in the same bar might contain a spicy mouthful of curry and/or chili. I shared some of this bar with others at work, and one individual bit into more curry than he bargained for. Trick or treat. It's Halloween!

Halloween is a big chocolate holiday. For the past two years I've been trying to get a hold of a chocolate skull or something that might tie in with the Day of the Dead celebrations this week. I ordered a chocolate skull for Halloween, but shortly after I submitted my order, the company sent me an email message saying the item was discontinued. It's a pity. Next year maybe...