Dick Taylor - Maple Coconut bar - Jan. 7, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dick Taylor
Maple - Coconut bar
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.25 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $9.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

The flaked coconut, in this lightly sweetened Maple - Coconut bar from Dick Taylor (Arcata, CA), was on the back of the bar. However, rich dark fruit, and slightly bitter earth notes of the chocolate dominated the flavor profile in this 72% (Belize) cacao bar.

Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor, the two chocolate-makers behind "Dick Taylor," made this bar (and their other bars) in small batches, from scratch, in their Northern California facility, from organic, fair trade cacao beans.

Obsessive Confections - WTFudge - Jan. 6, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Obsessive Confection Disorder
WTFudge
Good + - Very Good
Weight: "2 honkin' oz." (56 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $4.50 for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

If today's WTFudge from Obsessive Confection Disorder* (Pinole, CA) is the result of a disorder, then hats off to the founder for her sense of creativity and detail -- and, most important, execution and results.

If you like coconut, then I recommend these individually wrapped WTFudge squares. This was not your mother's fudge. The one I enjoyed today had a rich and substantial, but also light and crunchy, coconut caramel bite to them (due to a blend of "coconut milk, coconut butter, agave nectar, evaporated cane juice, crisp rice, coconut and pecans."

A light touch of bittersweet chocolate in the background seemed to enhance or sharpen the flavors a bit. Chocolate was the seasoning rather than the main dish here, and it worked just fine.

*For more information check out "OCDetails" The company specializes in vegan caramels (in a variety of flavors), but offers other confections as well.

Coconut Secret - Peruvian Crunch bar - Jan. 5, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Leslie's Organics
Coconut Secret
Peruvian Crunch bar
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.125 oz. (32 g.) / 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.75 in 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

This Coconut Secret (Leslie's Organics, Mill Valley, CA) Peruvian Crunch, Organic Dark Chocolate (70% cacao) bar was flecked with toasted coconut and sweetened with coconut crystals. The chocolate had a very subtle dark smokey flavor note, which rose above the toasted coconut.

Coconut Secret chocolate and coconut bars use Non-GMO coconut sugar as a sweetener, which can offer a lower-glycemic alternative to processed cane sugar. The plain coconut sugar I've sampled has also tasted great, especially if you favor a faint, warm caramel flavor (similar to what you might find in less processed brown sugars) with your chocolate.

The Coconut Secret website listed helpful background information for those interested in finding out more about how coconut sugar sap is "tapped" from coconut palm trees.

Coconut Secret Ecuadorian Crunch bar - Jan. 4, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coconut Secret
(Leslie's Organics)
Ecuadorian Crunch bar
Good +
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

The Ecuadorian Crunch bar from Coconut Secret (Leslie's Organics) in Mill Valley, CA was made with slightly soft and sweet (40% cacao) organic milk chocolate, that was quite tasty. Shredded, toasted coconut provided good flavor and slightly crispy, almost crunchy, texture to this bar.

The founders of Leslie's Organics/Coconut Secret offer low-glycemic and gluten free foods. Being gluten-free myself, and not wanting a sugar buzz, especially if I eat my chocolate in the evening, I was interested in learning more about the Coconut Secret product line. (I will feature the Coconut Secret Peruvian Crunch Dark Chocolate bar tomorrow.)

The company markets a range of chocolate bars sweetened with coconut and coconut sugar (as well as coconut flour, crystals, nectar, aminos and vinegar). Coconut palm sugar* tends to minimize blood sugar spikes and I enjoyed the slight caramel flavor in this bar -- as I have previously in other chocolates using this sweetener. Coconut sugar may offer a healthy sweetener alternative (to processed cane sugar) for those watching their blood sugar.

*Coconut tree blossoms are tapped for their sweet sap. This sap can be harvested sustainably, and my understanding is that coconut palm trees may be tapped for up to 20 years. Coconut Secret's coconut palm sugar is produced in the Philippines.

Taza - Coconut Crunch bar - Jan. 3, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Coconut Crunch bar
Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 128 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.25 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Today's certified organic*, dark chocolate (65% cacao), Coconut Crunch Tazito mini bar (one of five different flavors in this small bar line) from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) was packed with stoneground chocolate and coconut flavor, and crunchy texture.

For those who prefer a very smooth, creamy ("European style") chocolate, stoneground and rustic chocolate can take a bit of getting used to. However, mixing this robust bean-to-bar chocolate with the crunchy texture of brown rice crisps (made from brown rice flour, sugar, molasses, sea salt) resulted in a good, complementary combination.

*This bar was labeled USDA Organic; Certified Gluten Free; Direct Trade; Soy and Dairy Free; and Pareve

RawRah - Raw Cacao Coconut Macaroon - Jan. 2, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

RawRah
Raw Cacao Coconut Macaroon(s)
Good - Good+
Weight: 1.2 oz. (33.96 g.) (estimate) for 1 package of 3 pieces
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 package of 3 pieces
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Coconut has become a popular choice for sweets and chocolate, especially in the raw and organic world. Today's package of 3 small Raw Cacao Coconut Macaroon(s) from RawRah (Thousand Oaks, CA) were tasty and slightly chewy.

Many commercial coconut macaroons are sticky sweet. These were sweetened with shredded dried coconut and a hint of maple syrup, rather than sugar. They were satisfying in texture and flavor (enhanced by the raw cacao) without being too sweet. I'd rather savor quality ingredients than experience a sugar buzz.

These raw cacao macaroons were produced by Joy Dupuis at RawRah. Thank you to Katy who passed these on to me!

Theo - Coconut Mint bar - Jan. 1, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Theo Chocolate
Coconut Mint bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in 1/2 bar / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 229.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of 2014 (Happy New Year!) and the first day of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Coconut was a good choice for this month (January). First, a touch of shredded coconut may be the closest thing we could see to "snow" here in California this week. We're experiencing a drought. Second, coconut reminds me of warm tropical islands during cold mornings and evenings; and that is a good thing.

This Coconut Mint bar from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA) was warm and cool at the same time, if that's possible. The organic and fair trade (45% cacao) milk chocolate, and the tiny riot of embedded coconut shreds, contributed the warmth and a hint of caramel. And, a faint, natural menthol note communicated a whisper of cool mint. These two flavors are tough to blend successfully together, and Theo did a reasonably good job with this bar.