ChocolateBet: November 9, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 servings
Marich Confectionery Co.
Dark Chocolate Cacao Nib Toffee (72% cacao)
Very Good +; these are very tasty
Wt.: 80 grams (16 pcs.)/4.5 oz. (125 grams) in total package
Calories: 400 calories in 2 servings (16 pieces)
Cost: $4.50 for total package
Purchased from: Safeway, in San Jose, CA

Marich is a Hollister, CA-based family-run business (about a one-hour drive from where I live). These were very good; and I look forward to trying more Marich chocolates in the future.

ChocolateBet: November 8, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece/ball
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls
Dark Chocolate and Cayenne Pepper - Balls of Fire
Very Good; plus a few extra points for fun marketing/packaging
Wt.: ~.8 oz./4 oz. (114 grams) in total package
Calories: ~ 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.95 for total package
Purchased from: Lava Java Coffee in Kehei, on the island of Maui, in Hawaii

ChocolateBet: November 7, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece/ball
Keoki's Big Island Donkey Balls
Dark Chocolate - Flaky Balls - Toasted Coconut
Very Good; these are fun; picture a chocolate jaw-breaker w/ a macadamia nut in the middle
Wt.: ~ .8 oz./8 oz. (227 grams) in total package
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $11.95 for total package
Purchased from: Lava Java Coffee, in Kehei, on the island of Maui; in Hawaii

I've had fun sharing these "Donkey Balls" with toasted flakes of coconut from Hawaii. This evening, we all had a ball before a Mexican food feast and a movie. It was all good.

Pictured above right is empty package/resealable bag.

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