ChocolateBet: July 3, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1/12 (each) of 2 bars
Vintage Plantations

1.) 90% Dark bar - Very Good
Weight: .29 oz. (8.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 42 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (not available)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

2.) 100% Dark bar - Very Good
Weight: .29 oz. (8.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 44 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (not available)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Both these bars contained cacao that was processed in Ecuador. I enjoy tasting low or no sugar chocolates. It's easier to detect the flavors inherent in the chocolate itself. After tasting these truly dark bars, I went back and re-tasted a bit of yesterday's (Republica del Cacao) 67% bar from Ecuador -- which tasted like a spritely milk chocolate bar in comparison to its darker compatriots.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Single Origin Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: July 2, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/3 bar
Republica del Cacao
Single Origin Dark Chocolate Bar - Ecuador
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .586 oz. (9.3 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 85 calories (estimate)
Cost: $misplaced info
Purchased from: misplaced info

Part of the fun of single origin bars is the story that comes with the chocolate. For the last two days, I tasted single origin chocolates from Venezuela; and now I've moved southwest to Ecuador. This particular 67% (cacao solids) bar was made from Arriba cacao beans from the Del Oro province, near the coast of Ecuador. The bar's label states that the chocolate was harvested and produced in Ecuador.

And now for the story part: According to the packaging, "The origin of (the name) 'Arriba' goes back to the XIX century, when a Swiss Chocolatier, traveling on the Guayas River (in Ecuador), impressed by the aroma, asked workmen unloading cacao sacks from a boat, where does the cacao aroma come from? They answered 'de rio arriba' or 'from up the river.'"

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Single Origin Theme Week, with a focus on South America.

ChocolateBet: July 1, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
.75 oz.
Il Cioccolato di Pasticcione
Le Monorigini (single origin) bar from Venezuela
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in 1 bar (estimate)
Calories: 108 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - Thank you Rick!
Purchased from: Il Cioccolato di Pasticcione - dal 1937; shop in Rome, Italy

I love finding bars with no sugar. Smooth and dark, this fondente extra, 100 percent cacao bar, senza zucchero (with no sugar), had a little bit of a flavor arc (which I like). I didn't get a lot of distinct, sharp or unique notes that might help me immediately recognize the country of origin (Venezuela). However, I am not a super-taster (yes, they exist), and I also didn't taste this side-by-side with any other similar bars, which might have been helpful.

I believe this chocolate may have contained a bit of cocoa butter and a hint of vanilla. However, the mention of the aroma of vanilla listed on the label could have been meant as a tasting note rather than a literal description of contents. Perhaps someday I will fly over to Rome to ask the shopowners.

Thank you to Rick who kindly sacrificed this chocolate bar for the cause, meaning this bar's appearance on Day #2 (July 1) of Chocolate and Single Origin Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: June 30, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Patric Chocolate
Rio Caribe Superior - 70% bar
Very Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 36 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: N/A - Obtained at The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

For the next week I will be focusing primarily on single origin chocolate bars. This evening I attended a members only chocolate tasting event at The Chocolate Garage in downtown Palo Alto. Great discussions were had about favorites, packaging, and taste attributes. Thank you to Sunita for making this possible.


My favorite bar was this Patric Chocolate 70% cacao bar (right) with just two ingredients: cocoa beans and a little sugar (no added cocoa butter or vanilla). Cocoa beans used to make this bar came from Venezuela's Paria Peninsula, from hybrids of Criollo and Forastero cacao trees.

Comparing this bar with others (in a blind tasting) helped highlight my preference for a clear, but complex flavor arc. I enjoy different notes all the way through a tasting experience: earth here, olive there, followed by a nice finish, etc. If this sounds like pretentious wine talk to you, you have a point. The two tasting experiences are similar for me. Blends are nice, but picking a certain vintage or bean helps isolate unique flavors you may like.

ChocolateBet: June 29, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
3 pieces/truffles
Wine Country Chocolates
1.) Chocolate Cacao Nibs with Espresso - Good - Good +
2.) Cinnamon with Clover Honey - Very Good
3.) Boysenberry with Blackberry Honey - Good+
Weight: 1.35 oz. (38.2 g.) (estimate) 3 truffles
Calories: 210 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.25 for 3 truffles
Purchased from: Wine Country Chocolates, in Sonoma, CA

Today was a day to experiment with chocolate truffles (unaffiliated with any theme week). I enjoyed trying three different truffles from Wine Country Chocolates. Thank you to Kim for her suggestions. I think the Cinnamon with Clover Honey was my favorite. Honey and chocolate is an interesting combination. Depending on the chocolate, the subtler flavors in the honey can be overwhelmed, or they may be faintly detectable. This was a case of the latter, which I appreciated.

Tomorrow is the beginning of single origin theme week.

ChocolateBet: June 28, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
Wine Country Chocolates
1.) Peanut Butter and Jelly - Good - Good+ (pink dots)
2.) The Elvis - Good - Good + (yellow dots)
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: Approx. $3.50
Purchased from: Wine Country Chocolates, tasting room in Sonoma, CA

Elvis has left the (Wine Country Chocolates) building... and was eaten by me (along with Elvis's cousin, Peanut Butter and Jelly) today (Day #8 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week). In case, you're new to this blog, I frequently combine similar chocolates into "theme weeks" -- and this week I am sampling different chocolates that have incorporated peanut butter in some form.

Today's chocolates were both truffles from Wine Country Chocolates tasting room in Sonoma, CA, acquired yesterday. Thank you again to Cynthia who shared in this chocolate, cheese and wine tasting adventure. We followed the Chocolate Tasting sign through a little passageway, to arrive at a small courtyard where there were opportunities to taste olive oil and wine and cheese as well.

ChocolateBet: June 27, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Wine Country Chocolates
Peanut Butter Heart
Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) / .9 oz. (25 g.) (estimate) in package of two hearts
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $3.00 for package of 2 hearts
Purchased from: Wine Country Chocolates, in downtown Sonoma, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week; and, thanks to a stop at Wine Country Chocolates in Sonoma, I was able to purchase these hearts, and a two more chocolate and peanut butter items to sample this week.

Today was a warm day, and you may notice (picture at right) that this milk chocolate heart was melting and getting ready to slip right out of my fingers. No time for analysis. Eat first, ask questions later.

Thank you to Cynthia for sharing notes about food, cheese, wine, and chocolates this afternoon.