Chocolat Bonnat - Dark Chocolate Haiti 75% Cacao bar - Feb. 18, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat 

Dark Chocolate Haiti 75% Cacao bar

Very Good

Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 175 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's Haiti 75% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar from Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, France). This product of France was distributed by Custom Source LLC (Worcester, MA).


This chocolate had dried fruit and light spice notes. Like other Chocolat Bonnat bars, this three-ingredient (cocoa beans, cocoa butter, sugar) bar had buttery, creamy texture, and a pleasing finish.

Tasting notes on the packaging included this semi-awkwardly translated description: "...this rich and fragrant cocoa offers very chocolate flavors sliding toward a tangy citrus edge."

Perhaps the Republic of Haiti was once an enchanted isle in the distant past. It's easy to forget slavery and the violent side of piracy. Privateer Henry Morgan and other pirates once plied the waters and Morgan worked with the French. Ultimately, one positive historic development that grew out of that era was that the French brought cacao to Haiti in the early 1700s.

And, a few hundred year later, we are enjoying chocolate made from cacao raised and harvested by Haitian cacao farmers. Hurricane Matthew (2016) notwithstanding, the cacao production has been growing in recent years. Today's bar is a positive sign of what might be.

*Haiti is the western half of larger island that is Hispaniola. The eastern half is the Dominican Republic. Haitian cacao represents a fraction of the total cacao production from the total island that is Haiti and the Dominican Republic; but this may grow in the future with organizations like PISA (See yesterday's entry for more on PISA.)

The Smooth Chocolator - 70% Cacao Haiti bar - Feb. 17, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Smooth Chocolator

70% Cacao Haiti bar 

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar

Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Pirates of many ilk have sailed the seas around many island nations, including Australia and Haiti (formerly Tortuga). These two islands (OK one is an island continent) are also linked to today's chocolate.

Cocoa was planted in Haiti about 300 years ago, and may or may not have been part of pirate plunder; but it is a valuable crop in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. While not a lot of cacao grows in Australia, there are a handful of great chocolate makers there.

Today's dark, single origin 70% Cacao Haiti bar was made by The Smooth Chocolator, a small batch craft chocolate company in Geelong, Australia—using cocoa beans from PISA* in North Haiti.

This dark bar had dried fruit, chocolate, light spice/licorice and citrus notes. Tasting notes on the package read: "Grapefruit, Tobacco, Licorice."

The chocolate had a smooth even melt, and a very slightly granular texture. The finish was light and relatively fresh and attenuated fairly quickly.

*Produits Des Iles SA (PISA) is a relatively new cacao processor and exporter in North Haiti. The organization works with hundreds of cacao farmers, and has pledged to improve post harvest handling practices, which will produce higher quality cacao and, one hopes, a better market for farmers as well.

Pirate Brands - Chocolate Granola Fruit Coins - Feb. 16, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pirate Brands, LLC

Chocolate Granola Fruit Coins

Good 

Weight: .8 oz. (23 g.) / 4 oz. (115 g.) in total box of 5 bags

Calories: 80 calories in 1 bag 

Cost: $1.99 for 1 box of 5 bags

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

These pirate-themed Chocolate Granola Fruit Coins—made in Canada and distributed by Pirate Brands, LLC (Parsippany, NJ)—were small compressed disks made of dates, raisins, oats, chocolate chips, dried coconut and quinoa. Each coin had a denomination (number) stamped on it. (Date doubloons?)

"Thar be chewy!" the pirate on the label advised. Aye, indeed they were, in a good way. The oats and quinoa helped give these snack pieces shape, and balanced out the sweetness from the dates and raisins. And the chocolate chips lent a rich flavor that tied together fruit and grain ingredients.

These fruit granola snack pieces contained "no artificial colors, preservatives or flavorings."

Go Max Go - Thumbs Up Candy Bar - Feb. 15, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Go Max Go Foods LLC

Thumbs Up candy bar

Good

Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 160 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Buccaneer candy bar

Good

Weight: 2.0 oz. (57 g.) in total bar

Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.39 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's "Thumbs Up" and "Buccaneer" candy bars were distributed by Go Max Go Foods LLC (Santa Fe, NM).

First, a quick digression. A big Thumbs Up to all the athletes competing in this week's Winter Olympics in Korea this week.

The gluten free, vegan Thumbs Up candy bar was reminiscent of a Nestle Butterfinger bar, with a crunchy, "peanut buttery" center. Though similar, this bar had a slightly simpler ingredient list, and claimed to be made with "nothing artificial."

The second, Buccaneer, candy bar was featured on ChocolateBanquet.com (this site) a few years ago, but it was too pirate-like not to include again this week alongside its candy bar sibling. It had a creamy, almost fluffy, gooey-sweet nougat filling. (Think Mars Milky Way or 3 Musketeers bar.)

Both Go Max Go bars had a "chocolatey" coating which did contain cocoa powder, if you're wondering. The Buccaneer was bit too sweet for me, but pirates with a sweet tooth may enjoy this bar.

Lula's Chocolates - Marshmallow Treat Dark Chocolate Valentine heart

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lula's Chocolates

Marshmallow Treat Dark Chocolate (Valentine Heart )

Good +

Weight: unknown

Calories: unknown 

Cost: $6.50 for 1 package/heart

Purchased from: Lula's Chocolates, Crossroads Shopping Center, Carmel, CA

Happy Valentines Day to all who celebrate!

Today's heart-shaped, marshmallow-filled dark chocolate beauty, from Lula's Chocolates (Monterey, CA), was a perfect way to celebrate.

A fluffy, fresh-tasting marshmallow filling was encased in a generously-sized, dark chocolate heart decorated with pink decorative sugar icing. All this was wrapped in a clear wrapper with a red ribbon bow. 

The GFB - Gluten Free Bar - Chocolate Peanut Butter - Feb. 13, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

The GFB - Gluten Free Bar
Chocolate Peanut Butter bar
Good
Weight: 2.05 oz. (58 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information for 1 bar
Purchased from: missing information

Kirkland
Signature Nut bar with cocoa drizzle, sea salt
Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 211 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $ N/A (may only be available in box of 30 bars)
Purchased from: N/A - from work

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

Peanuts are legumes and not true nuts; but they're part of this theme week anyway, because of their nutty flavor.

Today's first of two items, the Chocolate Peanut Butter snack bar from the folks at The GFB - Gluten Free Bar (Grand Rapids, Michigan) had a nutty flavor and heft.*

The first ingredient listed was: "virginia peanuts," followed by organic brown rice syrup and organic dates. The "heft" in this dense, chewy (and a little crunchy) bar could be measured: 12 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.

Some of the best gluten free chocolate items, have come from founders who have food challenges themselves. The GFB - Gluten Free Bar was founded by two brothers who steer clear of gluten. This bar was gluten free, vegan Non-GMO Project Certified and soy free.

The "gluten free" part of this company brand matters. It's comforting to have a few go-to brands that someone with wheat issues can rely on without fear of having some kind of reaction. I felt so comforted I forgot I'd already tasted/featured this bar three years ago. Thus, the second item featured below.

Kirkland Signature Nut Bar

Today's second item was a Kirkland* Signature Nut Bar with almonds, cashews and walnuts with a cocoa drizzle and sea salt.

This bar was crunchy and satisfying. The nuts helped balance out the sweet. And the touch of sea salt made this a very appealing mid-afternoon snack.

*Kirkland is a brand that can be found at Costco stores. Product picture at right is from Costco website.

Second Nature Snacks - Dark Chocolate Medley with nuts - Feb. 12, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Second Nature Snacks Company
Dark Chocolate Medley
Good - Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package
Calories: 320 calories in 2 servings
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week. Chocolate "weeks" frequently extend beyond seven days as new chocolate items are discovered.

For example, today's Dark Chocolate Medley "nut lover's blend" from Second Nature Snacks Company (Madison Heights, MI) suddenly popped up on the shelves of a local store, and seemed perfect for this Chocolate and Nuts Week.

This Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten free mix was a nicely balanced blend of dark chocolate squares (large enough so that you could taste the chocolate) and crunchy nuts: almonds, cashews and pecans.

While not suitable for those with nut allergies, this snack mix was made by a company that seemed mindful of ingredients and supply chains. And, it was relatively low in sodium (35 mg. in a single 1 oz. serving).