Hershey's - Mint Sticks - June 27, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

The Hershey Company
Hershey's Sticks
Mint
OK + - Good
Weight: .39 oz. (22 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) total package
Calories: 60 calories in 1 stick

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Dark Chocolate with White Mint Filling
OK + - Good
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.)/ 6.9 oz. (195 g.) total package
Calories: 70 calories in 1 square

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week -- a very extended week indeed.

Today I reached way back into the chocolate vault to grab two different mint chocolates from large chocolate companies -- Hershey and Ghirardelli.

Both packages contained individually wrapped single servings of chocolate. The first was a "Hershey's Sticks" Mint flavored item, advertised as having only 60 calories per stick. This stick was a bit sweet for me, but I liked the smaller, sealed serving. Not everyone wants to eat or carry around a full chocolate bar; and these individual packets also keep one's purse free of chocolate meltage on a hot day.

The second item was a Dark Chocolate with White Mint Filling square from Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA). This conveniently sized, mint-filled chocolate square was part of a larger line of individually wrapped, flavored chocolate squares that the company produces.

Rademaker - Mint Chocolate Sticks - June 26, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Rademaker BV
Chocolate Sticks - Mint
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .22 oz. (6.25 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) in total package
Calories: 32.6 calories in 2 sticks
Cost: $ (information not available)
Purchased from: (information not available)

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week.

These small, slender Mint Chocolate Sticks from Rademaker (Holland) were packed with peppermint taste and were crunchy perfection. I enjoyed these more than certain after-dinner patty style mints.

Rademaker has been making Dutch chocolates since 1867. This particular box was imported by Dorval Trading Co., a third party, into the U.S.

Liz Lovely - Triple Chocolate Mint Cookie - June 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Liz Lovely
Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Mint Cookie
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3.17 oz. (90 g.) in 1 cookie
Calories: 190 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $2.50 for 1 cookie
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

This Triple Chocolate Mint Cookie from Liz Lovely (Waitsfield, VT) had a nice, slightly crunchy chew, with plenty of chocolate and peppermint flavor.

The cookie held together well (sometimes crumbling is an issue with gluten-free cookies) and I felt like I was eating a "real" cookie.

Liz Lovely makes gluten free and vegan cookies in Vermont's Green Mountains. This cookie was also dairy free, egg-free, pareve and Non-GMO.

Hagensborg - Truffle Pig Dark Peppermint bar - June 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hagensborg Chocolates
Truffle Pig Dark Peppermint bar
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175 calories (estimate) in 2/3 bar
Cost: $ (not known)
Purchased from: information lost to the sands of time

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week. As I previously explained, I'm taking liberties with the term "Week," and I'm stretching one theme week into, well, two weeks (14 days).

I considered re-titling Chocolate and Mint Theme Week to Chocolate and Peppermint Theme Week, as almost all the chocolates this past week or so have contained peppermint (with the exception of an absinthe chocolate).

So, back to the actual chocolate...This silky smooth Truffle Pig Dark Peppermint bar from Hagensborg Chocolates (Burnaby, BC, Canada) was cleverly made of three chocolate pigs stuck together, each with a different expression. I ate two of them. The aroma of peppermint wafted through the air when I opened the packaging. The bar had remained fresh tasting after spending a considerable time wallowing in my "chocolate vault" in the back room.

Thank you pigs; and thank you to Hagensborg for creating such entertaining lively pig characters -- such as the one stepping out with the scarf pictured on this wrapper. Other illustrated pigs frolic and recline in chocolate.

Chocolove - Peppermint in Dark Chocolate bar - June 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolove
Peppermint in Dark Chocolate bar
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) total bar
Calories: 80 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Paradise Foods, Corte Madera, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week.

I enjoyed this creamy, semisweet (55% cocoa) Belgian chocolate bar from Chocolove (Boulder, CO). Each small bite was suffused with natural tasting peppermint oil.

Chocolove offers a bonus with each bar they sell; they include a free love poem. "Bound for your distant home" by Alexander Pushkin was printed on the inside of this wrapper. One lover dreams of being reunited with another. Thankfully, the chocolate and peppermint swaddled in this poem are successfully united in this bar.

Christopher Elbow - No. 8 Peppermint bar - June 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Christopher Elbow
No. 8 Peppermint bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $ (lost info)
Purchased from: CocoaBella, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week(s). In case you're wondering why there are 8 days in this theme week, I should explain. Due to the bounty of mint chocolate items accumulated, I'm planning to create a 14-day chocolate and mint fiesta.

A tiny riot of embedded peppermint candy bits brightened up this No. 8 Peppermint offering from Christopher Elbow, adding some crunchy texture to this 61% dark chocolate bar.

NuGo - Mint Chocolate Chip bar - June 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

NuGo Nutrition
Mint Chocolate Chip bar
Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.66 (sale price) in total bar
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week.

This Mint Chocolate Chip bar from (made for) NuGo Nutrition (Oakmont, PA) was made with Non-GMO protein, and was certified gluten free, vegan and pareve.

I would rate this NuGo Dark bar slightly higher than most gluten-free protein and/or snack bars I've tasted. The flavors and textures were fairly well balanced. The chocolate and peppermint tasted natural with the right level of sweetness (for my taste); and the bar had a mild crunchy, chewy texture -- without being starchy, dry or overly sweet and sticky as some snack bars can be.

NuGo Nutrition is affiliated with/part of Lifestyle Evolution Inc. (Bars are made in the U.S., but label did not state who made this particular product.)