Compartes Chocolatier - Pure 80% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 19, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Compartes Chocolatier
Pure - 80% Pure Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 173.3 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: CAO Chocolate, Sausalito, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Strawberries Theme Week, and Day #1 of Dark Chocolate Bar Theme Week.

This ultra-dark bar had a complex and intriguing aroma with green, true chocolate, very faint vegetable latex, balanced bitter and spice notes. There might have been a very faint green/floral note in there too; or it could have been the whisper of vanilla talking.*

The chocolate had a rapid melt, and deep roasted cacao flavor with mushroom/earth accent notes, with a fleeting fruit/honey/brown sugar sweetness.

I enjoyed the complexity; it tasted better with each bite. And it was not too sweet (thank you!).

Sweet strawberries, strawberry yogurt and strawberry cottage cheese were consumed in the same breakfast snack break.

*Ingredients: Organic Vegan Dark Chocolate 80% (Organic Cocoa Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Vanilla.

Raaka Chocolate - Pure Cacao, Strawberry and Coconut bar - Feb. 18, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Raaka Chocolate
Pure Cacao and Strawberry and Coconut bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50.1 g.) in total bar
Calories: 244 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Strawberries Theme Week.

Today's Pure Cacao, Strawberry and Coconut bar was made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

The 80 percent dark chocolate was made using un-roasted, organic cacao from Kokoa Kamili (Tanzania, Africa), and with no added sugar (thank you!). If you're open to a more intense dark chocolate  experience with a few natural flavor accents, today's vegan, gluten free and soy free, organic Raaka bar is worth trying.

In Chinese, Indian and other Asian cuisines, the five tastes that humans can sense: sweet, sour, salty/savory, bitter and spicy are thoughtfully balanced in each dish. The makers at Raaka achieved at least 3 or 4 of the 5 tastes mentioned above with the kaleidoscope of flavors present in this craft chocolate bar.

No boring, overly roasted, uniformly smooth industrial chocolate here. This chocolate had a smooth melt, and after that it was all mild spikes of different flavors. (Think Christmas "Cactus" with the pink flowers, not prickly cactus spikes.)

This ultra-dark bar might be a little strong or bitter for some. However, I found it full of complementary flavors: the natural sweet tart berry (strawberry) sweetness, a light touch of naturally sweet coconut, and dark, earthy (almost savory) and bitter flavors from the cacao. It was oddly addicting in its own way.

Ingredients: organic cacao beans, organic strawberry, organic toasted coconut, organic cacao butter

That's it - Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit Truffles - Apple + Strawberries + Dark Chocolate - Feb. 17, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

That's it Nutrition, LLC
Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit Truffles
Apples + strawberries + dark chocolate
Good
Weight: 1.83 oz. (52 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 package
Cost: $3.19 for 1 package
Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit Truffles (bites) were from That's it Nutrition, LLC (Los Angeles, CA). The company name "that's it" refers to the pared down ingredients list in their snack offerings made with plant-based, Non-GMO ingredients* free of most common allergens.

The five small "fruit truffles" in this package were made of just three ingredients: apples, strawberries and dark chocolate. A dark chocolate shell surrounded a pure fruit blend center, that was neither too dry or too moist. This refreshingly light and natural tasting vegan snack was made without preservatives, gluten or soy.

I look forward to trying the company's new Sea Salt Organic Dark Chocolate + Fig Truffles offering in the future.

*Ingredients: apples, strawberries, dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, organic sugar, cocoa butter)

Straw Propeller - Chocolate Strawberry oatmeal - Feb. 16, 2020

  
Chocolate of the Day:

Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods, Inc.
Chocolate Strawberry (oatmeal)
Good
Weight: 2.6 oz. (74 g.) in 1 cup
Calories: 280 calories in 1 cup
Cost: $3.25 for 1 cup
Purchased from: The Store House, San Francisco, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Strawberry oatmeal was distributed by Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods, Inc. (Redmond, OR).

The directions on this container suggested two ways of preparing this oatmeal: "Hot" or "Cold and Overnight." I chose the former, added hot water and gave the oatmeal a quick stir.

Chocolate chips, strawberries and beet powder morphed into a hearty, thick melange of cheerful deep pink and chocolate brown. This warm breakfast was satisfying without being too sweet (thank you!).

The oatmeal contained 8 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber, and was made using Certified Gluten Free Rolled Oats.

Clio - Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate - Feb. 15, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Clio Snack Company
Strawberry - Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

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

Today's chilled Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bar wrapped in chocolate were made by Clio Snack Company (Roselle, NJ).

The company's line of chocolate covered bars are described as: "greek yogurt (with a cheesecake texture and a sweet and tart flavor) meets chocolate in a bar." Indeed, all this was true, and the strawberry greek yogurt complemented the chocolate quite nicely.

This bar was marketed as containing "billions of probiotics" and 8 grams of protein. It was very tasty, although a bit on the sweet side for me. However, if you're looking for an elevated, gluten free dessert with some extra health benefits sprinkled in, this would be a great choice.

Note: Photos that accompany this entry have been delayed.

Strawberries and Sprinkles - Strawberries dipped in Belgian dark chocolate - Feb. 14, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Strawberries and Sprinkles
Strawberries Hand Dipped in Real Belgian Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) / 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total container of 4
Calories: 110 calories estimate for 2 strawberries
Cost: $7.99 for 1 container of 4 chocolate covered strawberries
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Happy Valentines Day and welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Strawberries Theme Week.
Roses, chocolates and red berries (heart-shaped strawberries fit right in) go together on this romantic February holiday.

Big, plump, sweet ripe strawberries hand-dipped in dark chocolate. These were as tasty as they were visually appealing.

-o-o-o-o-

I also revisited a San Francisco classic...dark chocolate truffles with a hint of burnt caramel from Recchuiti Confections (San Francisco, CA) that I found across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, CA. Fittingly, these truffles were adorned with images of this iconic bay area bridge.

Recchuiti Confections
(for COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA)
Filled dark chocolates/truffles (with Golden Gate Bridge designs)
Good +
Weight: .88 oz (24.9 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $5.50 (estimate) for 2 pieces
Purchased from: COA Chocolate, Sausalito, CA

Note: Photos have been delayed this month, but will be posted later.

Fazer Confectionery Ltd. - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar - Feb. 13, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Fazer Confectionery Ltd.
Nordi - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.12 oz. (32 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Nordi - Smooth and Rich Original Dark Chocolate bar was from Fazer Confectionery Ltd. (Ventaa, Finland).

This 70% dark chocolate bar had a pleasant, smooth, sweet milk chocolate aroma and flavor with nutty* and vanilla notes. The texture was rich, thick and smooth.

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, reduced fat cocoa powder, natural vanilla flavor. *This bar did not contain nuts.