Momotombo - Toffee with cacao nibs - April 5, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Momotombo Chocolate
Toffee with cacao nibs
Weight: 3 oz. (84.9 g.) / 20.9 oz. (591.47 g.) in total package of two bars
Calories: 450 calories (estimate) in 3 oz. (84.9 g.) serving of slices
Cost: $25.00 (estimate) for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Nicaragua Theme Week, which fell on a weekend. A Passover and Easter weekend. Instead of chocolate bunnies, eggs and chicks, this year we celebrated with this rich offering from The Chocolate Garage and Momotombo Chocolate (Managua, Nicaragua).

This generous, foot long package contained two generously sized bars of buttery toffee with cacao nibs. Just one bar was enough to slice up and share with a large group of family and friends.

I managed to enjoy several slices. Probably a bit too much. But, the toffee and the cacao nibs had a soft crunch and were buttery, nutty, flavorful and delicious.

Momotombo - Caribbean Butter Toffee - April 4, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Momotombo Chocolate
Caribbean Butter Toffee
(Toffee de mantequilla con especies del caribe)
Good +
Weight: 1.548 oz. (43.8 g.) / 4.65 oz. (131.6 g.) (estimate) in total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 233 calories (estimate) in 5 pieces (1/3 box)
Cost: $22.00 for 1 box of 15 pieces
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

I felt like I was on a tropical vacation eating these Caribbean Butter Toffee chocolates from Momotombo Chocolate (Managua, Nicaragua).

Eastern Nicaragua borders on the Caribbean Sea, and like many of its Latin American neighbors shares a Caribbean influence. The chocolate covering came from Nicaraguan cacao, and the toffee was infused with Caribbean inspired spices: cloves, cinnamon and pimienta de Chiapas.*

Both the Nicaraguan chocolate around the toffee and the spices were wonderful.

*Pimienta de Chiapas is a spice that grows on a tree. Its dark, aromatic peppercorn-like berries are used in foods and for medicinal uses. The tree's leaves are sometimes used to make a tea.

Momotombo - Tropicality chocolates - April 3, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Momotombo Chocolate
Tropicality chocolate(s)
Good +
Weight: 4.4 oz. (124.5 g.) in total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 638 calories (estimate) in 15 pieces (1 box)
Cost: $22.00 for 1 box of 15 pieces
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Nicaragua Theme Week.

This 15-piece box of "Tropicalidad" (Tropicality) chocolates from Chocolate Momotombo (Managua, Nicaragua) contained rich, layered flavors.

At the heart of each chocolate covered, bean-shaped confection, was a center full of authentic, tropical fruit: moist dried banana, passion fruit, and pineapple.

Momotombo - Quetzal chocolates - April 2, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Momotombo Chocolate
Quetzal chocolates
Good+
Weight: 4.3 oz. (121.7 g.) in total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 620 calories (estimate) in 15 pieces (1 box)
Cost: $22 for 1 box of 15 pieces
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

It's difficult to find Nicaraguan chocolate in the U.S., so I'm happy live near The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA). They carry a full line of Momotombo chocolates (including some made just for the Garage). I purchased several for this theme week.

Carlos Mann at Momotombo works to honor and preserve fine Nicaraguan cacao, and also provides training to locals who work in the company's small artisan factory.

Momotombo's Quetzal* chocolates, like yesterday's Fiery Jungle Queen chocolates, came packaged 15 bean-shaped, chocolate covered pieces to a box.

I was surprised when I bit into the first piece. Instead of a soft or gooey center like you might find in other confections or filled chocolates, a tiny shower of seeds (chia, sesame, linseed (aka flaxseeds)) and coconut tumbled out. This unique, malty flavored seed mix was very satisfying -- and was refreshingly cereal-like and un-sweet. I found myself eating the whole box for breakfast. Expensive breakfast, but I'd like to think one that a quetzal bird might approve of.

*The Quetzal bird was a sacred symbol to the Aztecs and Maya peoples. The Resplendent Quetzal (one of five species of  Quetzal (part of the Trogon family) in Central America) is said to be one of the most beautiful birds in the Americas. This bird with bright green plumage can be found in the cloud forests (tree canopies) of Nicaragua and neighboring countries.

Momotombo - Fiery Jungle Queen - April 1, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Momotombo Chocolate
Fiery Jungle Queen chocolates
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.48 oz. (41.9 g.) / 4.45 oz. (125.9 g.) in total box of 15 pieces
Calories: 222 calories (estimate) in 5 pieces
Cost: $22 for 1 box of 15 pieces
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Nicaragua Theme Week.

Today's box of 15 Fiery Jungle Queen chocolates, crafted by Chocolate Momotombo (Managua, Nicaragua), was a jolly roller coaster of jungle flavors. A blend of coconut, chile, peanut, with a hint of tamarind and lemon was stuffed into each chocolate covered, bean-shaped confection.

Momotombo* chocolates are made with cacao beans from Nicaragua.

*Momotombo is a volcano-mountain in Nicaragua. 

Trader Joe's - Venezuela Passport bar - March 31, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Venezuela 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $9.99 for larger tasting pack
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the final day (Day #10) of an extended Chocolate and Venezuela Theme Week.

Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) does a good job of sourcing high-quality, reasonably priced chocolate for their customers in the U.S. And, if you like single origin bars, the company's Trader Joe's Chocolate Passport, an annual tasting pack of several bars from different cacao-growing regions, is something to be celebrated.

Each year this set of bars are slightly new, reflecting the subtle variances of cacao harvests at different farms and plantations worldwide.

The Trader Joe's Venezuela 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar was relatively mild and almost honey-sweet (when compared to other Venezuela 70% cacao bars this week). The tasting notes on the label indicated: "hints of floral and dried grasses." This bar was glossy and smooth and easy to enjoy.

L'Amourette - 100% Venezuela bar - March 30, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

L'Amourette Chocolatier
100% Venezuela bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 171 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (14.1 g.) serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

Nothing says intensity like a 100% cacao Venezuela bar made with cacao mass and cocoa butter (and, in this case, a hint of vanilla bean) -- where no sugar has been added.

The chocolate maker(s) at L'Amourette Chocolatier (San Francisco, CA), used Carenero Superior (Trinitario) cacao beans in this single origin bar.

The glossy Vegan, Soy and Gluten-free bar was rich (with cocoa butter) and had the same oxymoronic sounding "smooth but bitter" earth description that I used with three other Venezuela bars this month. Some regions have more of this more intense flavor profile than others. It lacks some of the brighter fruit (citrus), berry, or floral, notes that are found elsewhere.

Thank you to Kathryn for tasting collaboration.