ChocolateBet: July 15, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 package
Nosh This
Salt and Pepper Caramels
Very Good +
Weight: approx. 1.3 oz. (36.8 g.)
Calories: 187 calories (estimate)
Cost: Approximately $4 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Nosh This, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Pepper Theme Week. San Francisco-based Nosh This offers a variety of salt caramels and confections, including Bacon Crack -- written about previously on Chocolate Banquet. This Salt and Pepper Caramel was very good. The chocolate coatings and caramel centers were well executed; and I enjoyed the micro-bursts of freshly ground black pepper flavor, amongst savory salt overtones.

Unfortunately, while I was getting my camera out earlier to photograph these caramels, I laid this small package to rest on my dining room table -- directly under a skylight, for a few minutes. And the sun had its way with this artfully prepared treat. It still tasted wonderful, but I'm not including a picture for this reason.

ChocolateBet: July 14, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 small squares
Dolfin
Lait Hot Masala
Very Good +
Weight: .32 oz. (9 g.) for 2 squares/ 7.6 oz.(216 g.) total box of 48 squares
Calories: 48 calories (estimate)
Cost: $19.95 total box of 48 squares
Purchased from: Fog City News, in San Francisco, CA

Today was the first day of Chocolate and Pepper Theme Week. Dolfin's small, individually wrapped, milk chocolate square flavored with hot masala spices was part of a 48-piece assortment of different flavors. Judging from the tiny illustration on this square, a hot masala mix generally contains pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices.

ChocolateBet: July 13, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

4/5 bar
Artisan du Chocolat
Ginger and Lemongrass (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 1.59 oz. (45 g.) total bar
Calories: 190 calories
Cost: $6.00 for total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week. I like to make my own teas. Pouring a cup of boiling water over coin-sized slices of fresh, peeled ginger, and/or chopped lemongrass -- with a drizzle of honey, is an easy recipe for a satisfying herbal tea. So, naturally, I was interested in trying this Ginger and Lemongrass chocolate bar from London-based Artisan du Chocolat.

This 40% milk chocolate bar was a bit too sweet for me; but fairly well balanced in terms of flavorings. It offers something a little fun and different, and nothing that will offend. Findings in a Chocolate Garage tasting: This bar paired surprisingly well with blue/stronger cheese(s), and fruit.

ChocolateBet: July 12, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Rococo Chocolates Ltd.
Rococo Bee Bar - Organic Dark Earl Grey Tea
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) total bar
Calories: 105 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.00
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building location, in San Francisco, CA

Rococo Chocolates (based in London) makes a large and a small version of their Organic, dark Earl Grey Tea bar. This Bee Bar (with small bees on one side of the bar) is the smaller, 20-gram version. Rococo wrapper designs often incorporate images of historic-looking molds that might have been used for chocolates.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: July 11, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

2 petite bars
Maison Bouche
1.) Jasmin - Good - Good +
2.) Bergamot - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (guesstimate for 2 petite bars -- no info given on label or website for petite bars)/ 3 oz. (84.9 g.) (guesstimate for total package of 12 tiny bars)
Calories: 90 calories
Cost: $18.00 (part of 12-pc set)
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building location, in San Francisco, CA

This tiny, adorable, flavored 40% milk chocolate bar assortment was from Maison Bouche (based in Oakland, CA). Each of the 12 petite bars was scored into 15 even tinier squares. I bought them because of their floral and tea flavors. Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

I usually enjoy natural floral flavors infused into chocolate(s). However, I associated this Jasmin-muguet scent and flavor too closely with perfume (it was not the same Jasmine flavor as you'd find in certain Asian Jasmine teas), which made this bar less yummy for me. The citrusy Bergamot (primary flavoring for Earl Grey tea) fared better with me, because I associated this flavor with tea. So much of life is about managing one's expectations, and realizing what predispositions you bring into a situation.

ChocolateBet: July 10, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Kitchen T.L.C.
Chocolate Teacups - Earl Grey & Lavender Tea in Dark Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: .21 oz. (5.9 g.) (estimate) /2.5 oz. (72 g.) total tin
Calories: 31 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ part of a larger order
Purchased from: (online order)


Dark chocolate is very versatile, and pairs well with most all flavors. I'm a lavender fan and, happily, I've found that lavender tea, natural lavender essence, or even candied lavender buds, mix very nicely with dark chocolate. Today's dark chocolate teacup is no exception. Kitchen T.L.C. has infused Earl Grey and Lavender tea into dark chocolate to come up with a winning result for those who appreciate floral flavors.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: July 9, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 teacup

Kitchen T.L.C.

Chocolate Teacups - Jasmine in Dark Chocolate

Good + - Very Good

Weight: .21 oz. (5.9 g.) (estimate) / 2.5 oz. (72 g.) total tin

Calories: 31 calories 

Cost: approximately $12.00 per tin

Purchased from: (online order)

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Tea Theme Week. Kitchen T.L.C., is a Montana-based company that offers a variety of tea-related items, including chocolate teacups. Today's teacup flavor was Jasmine in Dark Chocolate. Pinkie fingers up and out, and sip that tea in style, you all.