Perfect Bar - Chocolate Hazelnut Crisp bar - March 5, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Perfect Bar, LLC
Chocolate Hazelnut Crisp bar
Good++
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 330 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

This morning's Chocolate Hazelnut Crisp bar from Perfect Bar (San Diego, CA) had a wonderful aroma—similar to Nutella, the popular hazelnut spread from Ferrero (Piedmont, Italy).

This "limited batch" chocolate hazelnut bar had a satisfying chew and crispiness to it. Sadly, limited batch means you'll probably not be able to find this in stores. Too bad as this bar was quite tasty and contained enough protein to be satisfying as well.) The bar was "made with 12 grams of protein" and "20+ Superfoods."

Sweet55 - Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts bar - March 4, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sweet55

Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts bar

Good

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 bar

Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: $N/A - gift 

Purchased from: N/A - gift

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Gifts Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

Today's Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts bar was from Sweet55 (Half Moon Bay, CA) and was part of an assortment of Swiss chocolate bars with fruits and nuts.   

This bar was chock full of toasted hazelnuts. It was a bit sweet but still a lovely, enjoyable combination of creamy, milk chocolate and crunchy nuts—in a thin bar that allowed full accessibility to flavors and textures.

Thank you to the San Mateo Convention Center and Visitors Bureau for a gift of two bars from Sweet55!

Lift Chocolate - Passionfruit Caramel Kiss - March 3, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Lift Chocolate

Passionfruit Caramel Kiss

Good

Weight: .4 oz. (11 g.) in one piece

Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece, in small box

Cost: $1.62 - heavily marked down sale price (almost a gift)

Purchased from: Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Menlo Park, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Gifts Theme Week.

Today's Passionfruit Caramel Kiss was from Lift Chocolate (Boulder, CO).

This pretty pair of lips contained a soft caramel and passionfruit (puree) center with a hint of citrus (lemon liqueur). 

Sometimes a "gift" comes in the form of a fabulous discount, such as a sale price following a major holiday. Likely these luscious lips were part of a Valentines Day display. No matter. More to spend on other chocolates. Even after 12 years of a new daily chocolate, there are still so many more to try.

Chuao Chocolatier - Salted Caramels Almond - March 2, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chuao Chocolatier

joy-filled caramels

Good +

Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in package of 4 caramels

Calories: 320 calories in 4 pieces

Cost: N/A - gift

Purchased from: N/A - gift - Thank you Anne!

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Gifts Theme Week.

These "ooh aah almond" sea salt caramels were part of a Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA) family of "joy-filled caramels."

Whole crunchy almonds were surrounded by rich salted caramel and covered in dark chocolate. Great combination. It definitely worked. These disappeared in a hurry.

New flavors continue to appear each year from Chuao Chocolatier's chocolate chef (who is originally from Venezuela) and team.

Thank you Anne for your generous chocolate gifts!

Cuban handmade chocolate, drinking chocolate - Mar. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

(unidentified Cuban chocolate maker)
Chocolate ball
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 serving
Calories: 145 calories (estimate) in 1 serving
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (bought in Cuba)

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate Gifts Theme Week.

Today's ball-shaped chocolate was special. It came all the way from (Baracoa) Cuba. Thank you to Sue who gifted me with this authentic chocolate.

I shaved some of this unsweetened chocolate (from this intriguing, rustic, chocolate ball) into simmering hot water and stirred into the mixture a dash of cinnamon, a few tiny bits of roasted chile, and a few drops of honey.

I stirred this drinking chocolate in a pot over the stove almost continuously for several minutes, until a few bubbles formed on the surface and the chocolate particles seemed fully dissolved.

Notes: A piece of jicama, a very small amount of corn meal and some almonds in the pot reduced acidity a bit and gave this drinking chocolate a very slightly savory and roasted flavor. These inclusions were left behind when the hot chocolate was poured off into a cup.

I enjoyed this hot beverage without any added sugar. Some may want to add a little of their sweetener of choice (honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, etc.).

The next batch will include a few drops of Mexican vanilla extract.

Photo at top right of young Cuban woman holding chocolate ball (with cacao pods/fruits on table): Courtesy of Susan Neville, taken in Cuba. Thanks again Sue!

Auro - 64% Fine Dark Chocolate Coins - Feb. 28, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Auro
64% Fine Dark Chocolate Coins
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package
Calories: 75 calories in 1/2 oz. serving
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate Gifts Theme Week.

Today's Auro Chocolate 64% Fine Dark Chocolate Coins were produced by FODC, Inc. (Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines).

Thank you to Mike and Lawton for these high-end chocolate coins.

This chocolate had chocolatey, sweet and fruity (slight acetic acid - fruit vinegar) flavor and aroma notes.

Hacienda San Jose - 100% Dark Chocolate Los Rios Ecuador bar - Feb. 27, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Hacienda San Jose
100% Dark Chocolate Los Rios Ecuador bar
Good +++
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 57 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Gifts Theme Week.

Thank you to Mike and Lawton for their generosity in sharing this bar, which was procured at a Fancy Foods show in San Francisco.

Today's Hacienda San Jose 100% Dark Chocolate Los Rios Ecuador bar provided a wonderful flavor ride, and fulfilled a promise of what a 100% Ecuador might be.

The aroma was lovely (and worth lingering on), starting with green notes, slight floral and very light coconut notes, followed by rich freshly baked chocolate brownie aroma, that morphed into freshly baked rye, sourdough bread notes, and finally into a buckwheat pancake aroma. Lovely ride. And that was without even taking one bite.

The flavor of this chocolate was also enjoyable, especially for a 100% bar. Hundred percenters can be densely dark and impenetrable, bitter or sour. Today's bar was more approachable and friendly.

The texture was smooth, with a slightly granular texture/melt, and a balanced, very slight astringency.