Parliament Chocolate - Dominican Republic Oko Caribe 70% Cacao bar - Feb. 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Parliament Chocolate

Dominican Republic Oko Caribe 75% Cacao bar

Very Good 

Weight: .85 oz. (24.05 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48.1 g.) in total bar

Calories: 127 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.50 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Miette, Oakland, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's enjoyable Dominican Republic Oko Caribe 75% Cacao bar was from Parliament Chocolate (Redlands, CA). 

This smooth, medium-bodied (but intriguingly flavorful) dark bar had lilting hints of dried pears, dried golden plums and dried grapes.

Tasting notes on the packaging read: Red grapes, prune, honey, hibiscus and pomegranate

Zokoko - Guadalcanel Solomon Islands bar - Feb. 22, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Zokoko Artisan Chocolate

Guadalcanal - Solomon Islands bar

Good ++

Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 223.8 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $16.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Village Market, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today we're on a virtual journey, paying a visit to the South Seas to sample a Guadalcanal - Solomon Islands* 78 percent cacao dark bar from Zokoko Artisan Chocolate (Emu Heights, Australia).

This luxuriously packaged bar was made of four ingredients: cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter and sunflower lecithin.

The chocolate had a rich fragrance and dark chocolate flavor, with roasted coffee and cream notes.

*The Solomon Islands, located east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu, consist of six major islands, including Guadalcanal—and hundreds of smaller islands.

L'Amourette Chocolatier - Criollo Grenada Fine Estate 75% bar - Feb. 21, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

L'Amourette Chocolat LLC
Criollo Single Origin Grenada Fine Estate 75% bar
Good++ - Good+++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 172 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's Gold Limited Edition Criollo Single Origin Grenada Fine Estate 75% bar was made by Andre V and team at L'Amourette Chocolat LLC (San Francisco, CA).

Criollo cacao beans handled properly offer wonderful delicate, complex flavor notes. This 75% cacao Criollo bar had a lighter, more delicate fruit profile than most 75% chocolate bars. Think peach vs. dark berry fruit notes, with a touch of sweet, creamy coffee au lait.

Today's single origin bar contained just two ingredients: Criollo Grenada cocoa beans and organic sugar. And this chocolate was soy free, gluten free and vegan.

Grenada is a small island nation in the Caribbean Sea, about 100 miles north of Venezuela. Centuries ago, this was part of "Pirates of the Caribbean" territory. Pirates often absconded with alcohol and food when raiding other ships.

The Grenada Chocolate Co. - 100% Cacao bar - Feb. 20, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

The Grenada Chocolate Company

100% Cacao bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 143 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's 100% Cacao bar  from The Grenada Chocolate Company (Grenada) was made in the same country ("in-country" or "on island" in this case) where the cacao was grown. This pioneering tree-to-bar company was found in 1999.

The thick chocolate bar had a slightly graduated melt and texture (thick and creamy, then almost gummy, with a very slightly granular finish).

The dairy free, gluten free, nut free and organic bar had a subtle dark chocolate aroma, and (as one would expect from a 100% cacao bar with no sugar) some bold, dark taste with acidic/tart/sour and bitter notes, and no real "off" notes.

Chocolat Bonnat - Ceylan 75% Chocolat Noir bar - Feb. 19, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat

Ceylan 75% Chocolat Noir (Dark Chocolate) bar

Good +++ - Very Good

Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 121.2 calories in 1/5 bar

Cost: $13.00 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's Ceylan 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir (Dark Chocolate) bar was made by Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, France) and distributed by Custom Source LLC (Worcester, MA).

Every Bonnat dark chocolate bar I recall tasting has had a luscious buttery, creamy texture. This gluten free bar made with cacao beans grown in Ceylan* was no exception. It had a faint sweet leather aroma note, a rich, full chocolatey flavor, a faint sour cherry note and a slightly bittersweet finish. 

Tasting notes described this Ceylan bar has having Asian flavors. Not sure what that meant exactly. I didn't pick up any spice or other notes I associated with SE Asia chocolate or cuisine.

*The name Ceylan (Ceylon) is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean, south of India. 

The people of this island have felt the presence of European nations: first, the Portuguese in the early 1500s and then the Dutch (Dutch India Company), before falling under British rule from 1815 to 1948. 

The British brought a variety of plantation crops to grow on the island, including tea, rubber, coffee and presumably cacao. Ceylon became known for its lush tea plantations under British rule. Were it not for labor practices there, more of the people might have experienced its enchanted isle status. 

Concerns over foreign powers, and pirates in the Indian Ocean, have been a part of the region for some time. In the early 1940s Japan was said to have designs on Ceylon. And occasional incidents of piracy (e.g., raids on commercial/trading ships) in the surrounding seas continue to the present decade.

The country eventually re-gained its independence; and in 1972, it became the Republic of Sri Lanka. Ceylon has continued to be influenced by India, China and other larger trading partners as they participate in the global economy, with exports like tea, textiles, rice and other agricultural products, like cacao.

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.