OmNom Chocolate - Milk of Madagascar 45% bar - May 5, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

OmNom Chocolate
Milk of Madagascar 45% bar
Good +
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Village Market Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA


Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Africa Theme Week. We're starting in Eastern Africa (with Madagascar) and moving West.

Today's OmNom Chocolate Milk of Madagascar 45% cacao bar was made in Reykjavik, Iceland.*

The bar had a subtle milk chocolate aroma and a slight fruit/berry smell and flavor to it. However, the bright red berry taste (typical of Madagascar cacao) was muted somewhat, by the addition of milk (Icelandic milk powder in this case). The fruit notes did however re-surface in a pleasing way from bite to bite.

There were also pleasant caramel and brown butter flavor notes. The texture was quite smooth, almost creamy. Added (sunflower) lecithin, made the mouthfeel a bit "gummier," which is not uncommon.

*People often ask if, after almost 4,000 chocolates, I'm running out of new chocolates to try. The short answer is no. Chocolate is a sought-after sweet in almost every country; and I've only tried chocolates from 53 countries so far. That leaves dozens more countries to investigate. 

Fresh Coast Chocolate Co. - Madagascar 70% Dark bar - May 4, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fresh Coast Chocolate Co.
Madagascar 70% Dark handcrafted bar
Good+++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Africa Theme Weeks.

We're continuing our exploration of chocolate made with Madagascar-grown cacao today, with this Madagascar 70 percent Dark bar from Fresh Coast Chocolate Co. (Traverse City, MI).

Fresh Coast strives to work with the "finest ethically-traded and sustainably-grown cacao." The beans for today's two-ingredient bar (cacao beans and organic cane sugar) came from the Sambirano Valley in Madagascar.

The bar's aroma was full of "singing" red berries, and the promise of tart sweet fruit often associated with Madagascar. (I'm also reminded of the smell of fresh berry jam cooking on a stove.) The melt and texture were quite smooth (especially given there didn't appear to be any added cocoa butter).

The maker's tasting notes list included: berry, dried fig and espresso. I didn't pick up on the espresso, but did taste some subtle, warm, dark roast notes.

The flavor and texture of this Good Food Awards winner was smooth and even, with no off notes.

The Smooth Chocolator - 72% Madagascar bar - May 3, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Smooth Chocolator
72% Cacao Madagascar bar
Good ++++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Chocolate and Africa Theme Weeks. Over the next few weeks, we'll be virtually traveling across this great continent, from east to west, sampling a new chocolate made with African cacao each day.

Let's start our journey in Madagascar, a sizable island nation off the coast of Eastern Africa, also known for its fine cacao with red fruit notes and often a lighter/redder color.

Today's award-winning* 72 percent Cacao Madagascar bar was made (bean-to-bar) by The Smooth Chocolator (Australia)—from cacao beans grown at Akesson's organic estate in the Sambirano Valley area of Madagascar. Akesson's supplies several chocolate makers with beans.

However, even if different chocolate makers are using the same harvest and/or batch of cacao grown on the same land, each maker's finished chocolate will taste slightly different. This is due to the many choices and decisions made during the rather long process of making chocolate.

Tasting notes printed on the packaging for today's bar promised hints of raspberry and plum. And, in fact, this attractively designed and functionally (resealable) packaged bar delivered a very nice tart ripe plum and red raspberry ride.

It began with a complex red fruit and fig aroma and moved on to a satisfying tasting experience. There was a touch of spice flavor at the beginning, and lush plum and red berry fruit all the way through, including a lingering red fruit finish.

*This 72 percent Madagascar bar from The Smooth Chocolator earned both International Chocolate Awards Asia-Pacific 2016 Gold, and International Chocolate Awards Americas 2016 Silver.

Paleo Baking Co. - Paleo Chocolate, Paleo Banana mixes - May 2, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Paleo Baking Company Inc
Paleo Chocolate - Cake and Muffin Mix
Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) for 1/2 muffin / 7.3 oz. (208 g.) in total dry mix
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) in 1/2 large muffin (1/2 was chocolate); 500 calories (estimate) total muffin
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package of mix
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Berkeley, CA

Paleo Baking Company Inc
Paleo Banana - Bread and Muffin Mix
Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) for 1/2 muffin / 8.9 oz. (253 g.) in total dry mix
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) in 1/2 large muffin (1/2 was banana); 500 calories (estimate) total muffin
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package of mix
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Berkeley, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

It's very hot outside—not exactly the best weather for baking and heating up the kitchen. However, it was great for solar cooking in the backyard. And that worked well for today's two paleo mixes from Paleo Baking Company Inc. (Seattle, WA).

Several muffins and cakes were made with these Chocolate and the Banana paleo mixes. Both were moist and honey-sweetened with natural chocolate and banana flavor, respectively. Honey gave the muffins/cakes some caramel-like sweetness. (Organic, unrefined coconut oil was used, so there was also a slight hint of warm coconut flavor throughout.)

The two flavors also blended well together. Variations of chocolate-banana blends made included: a marbled banana and chocolate cake; a half chocolate and half banana cake; a chocolate-banana yin and yang muffin; etc.

What was wonderful was what was missing in these gluten-free mixes. No vegetable gums, preservatives, refined sugar, or other ingredients that one occasionally pays for later. It felt different (more authentic/clean?) making and eating these baked goods.

Living Intentions - Cacao Crunch, Banana Hemp cereals - May 1, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Living Intentions

• 1/4 cup Cacao Crunch Activated Superfood Cereal - Good + 
• 1/4 cup Banana Hemp Activated Superfood Cereal - Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1/2 cup (45 g.) for two cereals / 9 oz. (255 g.) total for each package
Calories: 184.5 calories in 1/2 cup serving (mix of 2 cereals)
Cost: $5.69 each x 2 (for 2 different packages of cereal)
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Berkeley, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

I occasionally mix cereals together to create new flavor combinations. Happily, Living Intentions (Point Richmond, CA) offered both a Cacao and a Banana cereal as part of their Activated Superfood* line, that I thought might be suitable for mixing.

Today I tried both the Cacao Crunch Activated Superfood Cereal and the Banana Hemp Superfood Cereal from Living Intentions.

Both were organic, probiotic, buckwheat-based and gluten-free cereal alternatives with several inclusions. The list of added herbs (+ cacao) and/or greens making these cereals "super" was so impressive I thought I might explode from healthiness...or transform into a super hero. I wasn't sure which.

Fortunately, I had nothing to fear. Each of these flavors was very lightly sweetened (not overly sweet—thank you!) and had a pleasant taste and texture. These had just the right amount of crunch (not too firm, not too crumbly) and were enjoyable plain, or with milk of choice.

The Cacao Crunch was cocoa colored and had a mild cacao almost malty flavor and a satisfying crunch. The Banana Hemp had a light beige-green tinge, contained naturally sweet raisins (sultanas) and had a very subtle banana flavor. And the two blended very nicely together in one bowl.

*Superfoods are generally edible items that contain beneficial nutritional properties, such as high levels of anti-oxidants and/or vitamins/minerals. "Activated" was defined by the company as food that is at "its highest nutritional potential." For example, a combination or organic, sprouted ingredients and added "CFUs (colony forming units) of friendly probiotic cultures (that support friendly bacteria and yeasts)"..."to support immune health and start your day off right."

The Cacao Crunch cereal contained maca root, astragulus, reishi and live probiotics. The Banana Hemp cereal contained spirulina, chlorella, dandelion and live probiotics.

Safeway - Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream - Apr. 30, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Safeway Signature Select
Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup (33 g.) / 1.5 Quarts (1.42 Liters) in total container
Calories: 95 calories in 1/4 cup serving // 465 cals. (estimate) for 1 small banana split
Cost: $3.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

One can't have a banana theme week without at least one banana split with chocolate ice cream. Today's split featured: vanilla, walnut and Extreme Moose Tracks chocolate ice creams, walnut pieces, a cherry and, of course, a banana.

What is Moose Tracks? In the mid-1990s, Moose Tracks Fudge* became popular as part of an ice cream flavor of the same name.

The original Moose Tracks ice cream was made of vanilla ice cream, Moose Tracks Fudge and peanut butter cups. Today's Safeway's Signature Select Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream ups the chocolate ante and is made with a chocolate ice cream base with fudge cups and pieces of Moose Tracks Fudge.

*The folks at Denali Flavors, Inc. (Michigan) have expanded the Moose Tracks line to include ice creams, cheesecakes and milks.

New Barn - Banana Chocolate Chip AlmondCreme - April 29, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

New Barn
Banana Chocolate Chip AlmondCreme
Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup (59 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container
Calories: 80 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $missing information for 1 container
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

A few years ago, New Barn (Healdsburg, CA) introduced organic "Almondmilk," a non-dairy almond-based beverage, without all the flavorings, preservatives and carrageenan found in most other almond "milks."

Sounds good. Most people where I live enjoy food items with a shorter, healthier ingredients list. But, did they have offerings with chocolate?

The company followed that up by introducing a line of AlmondCreme frozen desserts. This non-dairy alternative to ice cream takes their Almondmilk story one step further.

They took their Almondmilk and added organic sugar and egg. And, to today's Banana Chocolate Chip flavor, they also added organic banana and chocolate chips. (They also have a chocolate flavor made with TCHO chocolate.)

Today's frozen dessert had subtle natural banana flavor with tiny hints of chocolate. Garnish with a few nuts, and bon appetit.

Or, use this AlmondCreme as a basis for cold smoothie drinks or shakes. One can amp up the creaminess and fruit flavor by throwing a scoop of this AlmondCreme in the blender with a real banana or two and a few nuts and cocoa nibs.