NatureCrops - Quinoa, Almond bar - Jan. 31, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

NatureCrops
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Made in Argentina and Imported and Distributed by Natural Product Imports, Inc. (Delray Beach, FL) the NatureCrops Quinoa, Almonds and Dark Chocolate nutrition bar contained some soy, but no gluten.

The NatureCrops product line included other bars, and quinoa flakes.

This bar would be a great bar for someone who wanted something high in fiber and not very sweet. There are many times that I just don't want a mouth full of sugar (or any other sweetener used to excess). The dark chocolate was an accent flavor, and the Almonds provided some nutty crunch.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.

NuGo Nutrition - Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar - Jan. 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

NuGo Nutrition (Lifestyle Evolution Inc.)
Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar
Good
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.66 (sale)
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week. (Bonus Day), and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar from NuGo Nutrition (Pittsburgh/Oakmont, PA) was enhanced with Non-GMO rice protein crisp and brown rice crisps, providing an alternative to the many nutrition bars packed with soy protein. In fact the packaging stated that the company intended this gluten-free bar to provide "...nourishing food for people with sensitivities to wheat, dairy and soy." The bar also contained dark chocolate, almonds, pumpkin seeds and walnuts.

This bar was one of several gluten-free, pareve bars in the NuGo Nutrition line-up. The company prides itself on using "real" chocolate (vs. "chocolatey" or chocolate-like alternatives made with other vegetable fats added).

Taza Chocolate - Hazelnut Crunch bar

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Hazelnut Crunch bar
OK+ - Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 127 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

The Hazelnut Crunch bar from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) was made with stoneground, organic chocolate, also the dominant flavor in this small-sized bar with big flavor. The "Crunch" was supplied by a flurry of brown rice crisps and bits of hazelnut.

The Taza process for their chocolate was described on their website. Inspired by Mexican stoneground chocolate, the company used/uses similar equipment (Oaxacan stone mills or molinos) to grind and partially refine their cacao beans into a paste that was used hundreds of years ago for cacao consumption in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.

So, yes, Taza chocolates do have "rustic, bold flavor and texture." You might learn to appreciate this authentic flavor over time. Just don't expect super creamy sweet European style chocolate when you first try it.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week.

Note: early cacao/chocolate was consumed as a beverage; and Taza chocolate can be nice melted in hot chocolate as well.

Macadamia Nut Rice Crisps - Jan. 28, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Explore Vietnam (brand)
Milk Chocolate Macadamia Nut Rice Crisps
OK + - Good
Weight: .276 oz. (7.8 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) total box of 18 pieces
Calories: 42.6 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $9.00 total box of 18 pieces
Purchased from: Duty Free Shop, Hanoi Airport; Hanoi, Vietnam

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week.

These "Explore Vietnam" milk chocolates (manufactured by Hawaiian King Candies in Hawaii) were molded into smallish, peanut butter cup-shaped confections -- with bits of hazelnut and rice crisps in them instead of peanuts and peanut butter.

I've done my best to explore Vietnam this past week, and to look for chocolates with both nuts and rice (crisps) or rice flour/crepes. This may sound like an odd flavor trio, however, I've had no trouble finding chocolates with nuts + rice (in some form).

I also sampled some fairly fresh, lightly sweetened mochi (made with rice and filled with red bean or fruit paste, or sometimes chocolate flavoring), with chopped peanuts, and some local ice cream. More on that later.

Today's Explore Vietnam box was adorned with a large color photo of Halong Bay in central Vietnam, a popular tourist location. A boat tour is one of the best ways see some of the more than 1,600 towering "karst"/limestone (sea stack-like) islands in Halong Bay. Having visited this site this week, I can say that it's worth a visit.

Mark + Milk Chocolates - Jan. 27, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Dai Hien Tam Co., Ltd
Mark and Milk Chocolate

1.) Milk Chocolate with Cashew Nuts
(So Co La Sua Nhan Hat Dieu)
OK - OK+
Weight: .141 oz. (4 g.) in 1/2 piece / 4.233 oz. (120 g.) total box of 15 pieces
Calories:  20.51 calories (estimate) in 1/2 piece
Cost: 140,000 Vietnamese Dong (VD)
Purchased from: roadside shop between Danang and Hanoi, Vietnam

2.) Milk Chocolate with Lotus Seeds
(So Co La Sua Nhan Hat Sen)
OK+ - Good
Weight: .141 oz. (4 g.) in 1/2 piece / 4.233 oz. (120 g.) total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 21.4 calories (estimate) in 1/2 piece
Cost:  140,000 Vietnamese Dong
Purchased from: roadside shop between Danang and Hanoi, Vietnam

As mentioned in earlier posts this week, I've been hunting for local chocolates in Vietnam. I've had a hard time finding chocolates that weren't produced elsewhere. Happily, these two "Mark and Milk" milk chocolates were produced by Dai Hien Tam Co., Ltd (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).

These chocolates were molded into the shape of traditional conical straw hats. Many farmers wear these hats in rice paddies, and on the streets selling produce in Cambodia and Vietnam and other parts of Asia. A tip of the hat to hard-working farmers everywhere.

Cashew nut bits flavored the first box of chocolates, and large pieces of ("vacuum fried") lotus seed accompanied the second collection. This was the first time I'd tasted chocolates with lotus seeds, fried or otherwise, so this was a treat. The lotus seeds had a pleasant, subtle flavor with a soft crunch.

As today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Nut and Rice Theme Week, I ate these chocolates with some rice and sesame crackers, and I enjoyed these flavors together.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Taza Chocolate - Crispy Crunch bar - Jan. 26, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Taza Chocolate
Crispy Crunch bar
OK+ - Good
Weight: .85 oz. (24 g.) total mini bar
Calories: 127 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $2.25 in 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Nuts and Rice Theme Week.

This organic, stoneground chocolate mini bar from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) was embedded with brown rice crisps that were flavored with a hint of molasses.

To maximize the crunch factor, I ate this bar with nuts -- almonds from California, and cashews from Vietnam. (Lightly salted, roasted peanuts would have worked well too.) The bean-to-bar stoneground chocolate was rich in flavor, but a little less creamy than other chocolate, so the nuts (and the rice) helped balance and round out the taste profile and mouthfeel.

Due to travel, photos will be delayed. 

Romanze Rice + Hazelnut bars - Jan. 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Romanze Luxury Chocolate
Milk Choco with Rice + Hazelnut (bar)
OK+ - Good
Weight: .265 oz. ( 7.5 g.) / 5.8 oz. (165 g.) total package of 15 small bars
Calories:  40 calories
Cost: 170,000 Vietnamese Dong (VD)
Purchased from:  small shop in Danang Airport, Vietnam

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Nuts and Rice Theme Week.

These bite-sized Romanze "Milk Choco" with Rice + Hazelnut bars were a bit like a Nestle Crunch bar, but with tiny bits of hazelnut added.

I've been trying chocolates from Vietnam this past week. Many of the ones I've found in small shops and mini marts have actually been from Malaysia.* Today's set of 22 diminutive Romanze bars were manufactured in Malaysia for LB International Ltd.

*Note: The exception so far has been Marou Chocolate (Ho Chi Minh City) single origin, bean-to-bar chocolate bars from southern Vietnam.