ChocolateBet: November 23, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bag (5 coins)
Palmer (R.M. Palmer Co.)
Premium Milk Chocolate Gold Coins
Good +
Weight: 0.81 oz. (23 g.) in 1 bag
Calories: 121 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0.89 for 1 mesh bag of coins
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

In keeping with chocolate money theme week, today we have...more chocolate coinage. This little yellow mesh bag from Palmer contained chocolate versions (chocsimiles) of the following coins:
1.) Two Canada dollars
2.) One U.S. Kennedy dollar
3.) Two Israeli 5 Shekel coins

ChocolateBet: November 22, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small bag of 7 pieces/coins
Palmer (R.M. Palmer Co.)
"Milk Chocolate Coins of All Nations"
Good
Weight: .81 oz. (23 g.) in total small mesh bag of 7 "coins"
Calories: 121 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: ?*

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Money Theme Week. The tradition(s) of using chocolate money to celebrate holidays is a long one. Chocolate coins are used for Hanukkah gelt and dreidel games, to celebrate Chinese New Years, and Christmas, to name a few. Palmer's chocolate "Coins of all Nations" contained facsimiles (chocsimiles) of two U.S. pennies; three 5 Kronors; and two 1 Euros.

*Note: I found these chocolate coins in my chocolate stash. Unfortunately, they had become separated from the receipt and place of purchase information.

Today I also tried Yogi Tea's Mayan Cocoa Spice Tea (which does contain actual cacao ingredients). It was quite good. I was given this tea bag to try by my sister, when I was staying at the Double K Ranch in Southern California a few weeks ago.

ChocolateBet: November 21, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
Manischewitz
Magic Max's Milk Chocolate Coins
Good - Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11 g.)/.53 oz. (15 g.)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A - gift (thank you to Elise)

I placed this mesh bag of chocolate coins on my computer keyboard (see image), to show size. Fortunately, it's cooler in November, so this placement did not result in instant chocolate coin fondue.

ChocolateBet: November 20, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces
Streit's
Kids Milk Chocolate Coins
Good - Good +
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) for 4 coins
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A gift (Thanks Elise)

Today I enjoyed more simulated wealth via chocolate -- with gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins from Streit's, a company based in Israel. I've wanted to do a chocolate money theme week for some time. And I'd been building up a few chocolate bills and coins in my chocolate storehouse for just such an occasion. Thank you to Elise for making this possible.

ChocolateBet: November 19, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces
Laica S.p.A.
Milk Chocolate $$$
Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total pkg.
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A - gift (thank you to Elise)

Yesterday I scarfed down a 100 Grand. Today, I ate $110 of chocolate...in milk chocolate bills, that is. In a nod to our global ecosystem, this chocolate currency in U.S. denominations was made in Arona, Novara, in Italy. I'd like to think I'm just doing my part to keep the economy going.

ChocolateBet: November 18, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 fun size (mini) bar
Nestle
100 Grand bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .79 oz. (22.3 g.) in 1 fun size/mini bar
Calories: ~ 118 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (part of a Halloween candy assortment bag)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Well, who wouldn't want 100 Grand? The name has a ring of prosperity to it. This small bar is the last of the miniature Nestle chocolate bars in my Halloween candy bowl. (It contains "Chewy Caramel $ Milk Chocolate $ Crispy Crunchies"...I like the dollar signs instead of ampersands.) Now, I'm down to a few non-chocolate gummy skeleton items, which will evaporate slowly and mysteriously over time.

ChocolateBet: November 17, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small bar
Nestle
Oh Henry! candy bar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 125 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (part of Halloween assortment bag)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

This small Oh Henry! candy bar came from my Halloween candy bowl. I've been working on the leftovers for the last few days.

Nestle owns a flock of popular chocolate bars that have become Halloween staples. Nestle acquired the name and/or rights to distribute this candy bar in the U.S. more than 20 years ago. (The Oh Henry! name is almost 90 years old, and the bar was developed in the U.S.)

Taste is important; but for a brand name to live this many decades, it needs the backing of a large marketing budget, a rabid local following, or a clever tie-in to something attractive. Or, sometimes a company gets lucky. There are dozens of different Kit Kat bar flavors (ramune soda, caramelized potato to name a few) sold in Japan. Apparently Kit Kat (a 73+-year old brand, licensed and made by Nestle in Japan) is similar to a Japanese phrase for you will surely be a winner (kitto katsu), and has become a pre-exam talisman for students, potential lottery winners and others hoping for some good fortune. Unfortunately the wheat (wafer) in these bars will prevent me from eating a lot of these, but good luck to all of you out there.