Zing Bars - Chocolate Hazelnut Vitality bar - March 9, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Zing Bars

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Vitality bar

Good

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $2.19 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Menlo Park, CA

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

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Vitality bar from Zing Bars (Seattle, WA)

This chocolate covered bar was a combination of chopped hazelnuts, almonds with a "hint of coconut and dark chocolate." It had a slightly chewy, substantial texture; and it contained 10 grams of plant-based protein (primarily from rice and pea protein). And it wasn't too sweet (thank you).

All Zing Bars are certified gluten free.

Caffarel - Creamy Gianduia Chocolate bars - March 8, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Caffarel Chocolate
Gianduia 1865 - Creamy Dark Gianduia Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.34 oz. (38 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 3 squares
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Caffarel Chocolate
Gianduia 1865 - Creamy Gianduia Chocolate (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.34 oz. (38 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 220 calories in 3 squares
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

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

Happily, today is another double hazelnut day, with not one, but two Gianduia bars from Caffarel Chocolate* (Turin, Italy).

Both were velvety blends of chocolate and finely ground hazelnuts with a satisfying, creamy mouthfeel and melt. (And both were labeled gluten free.) The dark chocolate version was, as expected, a little darker in color and flavor.

*Caffarel was founded in the 1800s in northern Italy. Operations continue in Turin, Italy; and the company is now a subsidiary of Swiss chocolate giant, Lindt and Sprungli.

Caffarel - milk and dark gianduia chocolates - March 7, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Caffarel
Creamy Gianduia Pralines
Good
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g.) / 4.41 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 5 pieces
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Caffarel
Piemonte Gianduia assortment milk and dark with Italian hazelnuts
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.37 oz. (39 g.) / 4.41 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 240 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

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

What's better than an Italian chocolate with hazelnuts? Two different Italian chocolates with hazelnuts.

Both these individually-wrapped chocolates had a great nutty aroma and flavor. But the highlight was the creamy melt and mouthfeel, characteristic of gianduia from northern Italy, made with chocolate and finely ground hazelnuts.

The Piemonte pieces also included Italian hazelnuts which helped balance out the sweetness and created a pleasing textural contrast between creamy and crunchy.

Caffarel began making chocolate in northern Italy (Turin) in the 1820s. The company still maintains operations there. However, it is now a subsidiary of Swiss chocolate maker Lindt and Sprungli.

Ghirardelli - Intense Dark Hazelnut Heaven bar - March 6, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ghirardelli Chocolate
Intense Dark Hazelnut Heaven - Dark Chocolate with Roasted Hazelnuts bar
Good
Weight: 1.34 oz. (38 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving (3 sections of) bar
Cost: $2.50 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

Intense Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven - Dark Chocolate with Roasted Hazelnuts bar was manufactured by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (San Leandro, CA).

This bar was part of the "Intense Dark" family of dark chocolate bars produced by Ghirardelli. Today's Hazelnut Heaven flavor was a relatively new addition to the lineup.

The large, slim, Intense Dark Chocolate bar (with deeply roasted nibs) contained bits of crunchy, roasted hazelnuts. The marketing pitch: "A little sophisticated, a little nutty, this is the perfect bar for dreamy picnics and elegant nibbling." It was a bit sweet. (There was no percentage listed; I'm guessing in the sixties.) The bar had a balanced roasted mocha and roasted hazelnut flavor and finish.

This bar contained no gluten containing ingredients. Ghirardelli is working to remove gluten from their chocolates and hope to make almost all products gluten free by the end of next year (2020).

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.