ChocolateBet: March 30, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bovetti Artisan Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate with Espelette Peppers
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.)/ 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 130 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $8.99 total bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week. This 73% cocoa dark chocolate bar with espelette peppers was not spicy, but the crushed espelette peppers sprinkled on the back of this bar from Bovetti (France) did give it an attractive, festive look.

This would be a good bar for eating or for grating, baking, and perhaps even for fondue. However, for those who have become spoiled by the new American maker bars, you may find this dark bar a little flat-flavored. I was convinced I was eating nice dark chocolate (hard snap, smooth consistency), but there was something (flavorings? vanilla? cocoa source? a darker roast time that flattened out acidity?) that was dulling down the flavor arc from the cocoa itself. I've found the same thing in other dark(er) bars from Italy in the last few years. Theories on this phenomenon would be welcome.

Madecasse - Exotic Pepper bar - March 29, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Madecasse Chocolate
Exotic Pepper bar
Good +
Weight: .528 oz. (15 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) ttl bar
Calories: 77 calories (estimate) for 1/5 bar
Cost: $6.49 total bar
Purchased from: Farm Fresh Store, Ferry Bldg., SF, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week.

If you want to experience some of the more beautiful flavor notes from pepper -- without the hot spots or grit of most commercially available freshly ground peppercorns -- then I highly recommend trying this 70% cocoa Exotic Pepper bar, made with tsiperifery pepper (and pink and black pepper) from Madecasse Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

Madecasse is one of a handful of chocolate makers developing bean-to-bar offerings in Madagascar -- closer to where cacao beans are grown. Most chocolate bars are made in North America, Europe, Asia, or elsewhere -- closer to the brand origin vs. the cacao origin. The hope is that developing closer relationships with farmers and those involved in the initial processing of cacao in-country may result more local jobs and better chocolate.

Desirs de Provence - P'tit Carre Chocolate - Piment d'Espelette bar - March 28, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Desirs de Provence
P'tit Carre Chocolate - Chocolat Noir Piment d' Espelette bar
Good+
Weight: .282 oz. (8 g.)/ 2.82 oz. (80 g.) total bar
Calories: 42 calories (estimate)
Cost: $9.95 total bar
Purchased from: TWG Tea, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week.

I bought this bar at a tea and gift shop (TWG Tea) while on a stroll through Vancouver, Canada.

It took awhile to find enough bars with "pepper" to do a whole theme week with this ingredient. This 70% dark bar was made in France (and Imported to Canada by Desirs de Provence, France). The piment d' espelette was not particularly spicy; but it is did add some texture.

L'Amourette Chocolatier - Chocolat Noir Cayenne Chili bar - March 27, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

L'Amourette Chocolatier
Chocolat Noir Cayenne Chili
Good - Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.)/ 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 52 calories (estimate) in 1/10 bar
Cost: $4.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week.

This 72% cacao Chocolat Noir (dark chocolate) Cayenne Chili bar from L'Amourette Chocolatier (San Francisco, CA) had a very hard snap, a deep, dark color, and a smooth consistency. The chocolate base contained a blend of Rio Caribe and Carenero Superior beans from Venezuela.

The chili flavor was present, but not overwhelming. My only quibble with this gluten-free product: the bar had a nice chocolately flavor, with a "hint of black currant," but also had a faint chemical taste. 

Madecasse - Cinnamon and Sakay bar - March 26, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Madecasse
Cinnamon and Sakay bar
Good +
Weight: .435 oz. (12.5 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) total bar
Calories: 65 calories (estimate) in 1/6 bar
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Scream Sorbet, in Oakland, CA


Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Spicy Pepper Theme Week.

I was looking for a chocolate that might bridge these two theme weeks, and this Cinnamon and Sakay (bar) from Madecasse Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY), had a foot in both camps.

Made "in country" -- that is, from bean-to-bar in Madagascar --  this 63% cocoa bar base had a fairly robust flavor, with very subtle hints of cinnamon and a sakay pepper* finish. Madecasse founders took their Peace Corps volunteer experience in Madagascar and decided to make bars in the country where the beans were grown to help local people.

I found this bar at Scream Sorbet in Oakland, CA, a store with the best sorbet flavors I've yet tasted -- chocolate flavors included. Each flavor is carefully crafted and has the freshness of a sorbet with the rich satisfaction of an ice cream or gelato.

*The sakay pepper is found "in almost every home and restaurant on the island."

Michel Cluizel - Crispy Pearls with Cinnamon bar - March 25, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Michel Cluizel
Crispy Pearls with Cinnamon bar
Good +
Weight: .891 oz. (25 g.)/ 2.70 g. (76 g.) total bar
Calories: 129 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.25 total bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week.
Today's Crispy Pearls and Cinnamon (pareve) chocolate from Michel Cluizel (Paris France/Michel Cluizel USA - West Berlin, NJ) could have been breakfast in a bar.

The chocolate bar base had a darker roasted flavor than the 55% cocoa would have indicated, with a hint of coffee. Pressed into the back of the bar was a small cup's worth of puffed, lightly sweetened rice cereal that looked a bit like puffed wheat to me; but the ingredient list did say puffed rice. The cinnamon flavor was evenly present throughout the bar without being too overpowering.

Cafe-Tasse - Noir Cannelle bar - March 25, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Cafe-Tasse
Noir Cannelle
Good +
Weight: .99 oz. (28.05 g.) / 2.99 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 148 calories
Cost: $4.00 total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

This 54% cocoa Cinnamon bar from Cafe-Tasse (Belgium) had a relatively smooth milk + soy lecithin mouth feel, and an authentic cinnamon flavor.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week.