Kind - Dark Chocolate Almond Oatmeal - Mar. 25, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Kind LLC 
Dark Chocolate Almond Oatmeal
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) / 9 oz. (258 g.) in total box of 6 packets
Calories: 170 calories in 1 packet
Cost: $1.99 for 1 box of 6 packets 
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and NOPQ Theme Week, featuring chocolate items with flavor inclusions or origins that begin with the letters N, O, P and/or Q. (More Oats today.)

Today's Dark Chocolate Almond Oatmeal was from Kind LLC (New York City, NY). Kind has been most well-known up until now for its whole nut and fruit snack bars (with relatively short ingredients lists). Some contain chocolate. They've recently expanded into cereals.

This warm, creamy, smooth oatmeal was full of oaty goodness and two great, complementary flavor inclusions. The gluten-free, whole grain oats were blended with sliced, roasted/toasted almonds and small chunks of semi-sweet dark chocolate. 

The single-serving packets (6 to a box) made this a good choice for a portable and easy-to-make breakfast on the go. I added hot water, waited a minute, and stirred. The melted dark chocolate pieces gave this hot cereal a subtle, uniform, authentic chocolate flavor and a subtle ebony hue.

Each packet of oatmeal contained 5 grams of protein, and was high in fiber, making it filling enough to tide one over until lunch.

Ingredients: "Oats, almonds, semi-sweet chocolate (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), cane sugar, sea salt, natural flavor."

Allergen information: "Contains almonds and soy. May contain tree nuts."

Endangered Species - Oat Milk + Dark Chocolate 55% (bar) - Mar. 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Endangered Species
ONE - Oat Milk + Dark Chocolate 55% cocoa (bar)
Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA  

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and NOPQ Theme Week, where chocolate items with flavor inclusions or origins that start with the letters N, O, P and/or Q are featured.

Today's ONE Oat Milk + Dark Chocolate 55% cocoa (bar) was from Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC (Indianapolis, IN). The company offers a wide selection of chocolate bars with flavor inclusions; and a portion of net profits from chocolate sales (10% from this bar) are set aside to help "save our wildlife."

Oats and oat milk (and coconut) have become popular non-dairy add-ins/alternatives for chocolate bars in recent years. Oats, rice and other cereal grains can also help tame or mellow certain bitter, or ultra-dark cacao flavor notes.

This relatively thick, well-tempered bar had an aroma with dark chocolate and oat cereal/granola notes. 

Their texture was uniform and relatively smooth, with a very faint, barely detectable graininess/dryness (from the finely ground oats I'm guessing).

The flavor was quite even, with dark, dense (Forastero cacao variety-like) and sweet chocolate notes (enhanced by a touch of vanilla); hints of oat cereal and malt; and a very faint, flicker of nuttiness (roasted hazelnut) in the finish. 

This bar tasted like it was made using a heavily roasted, deep, dark and bold cacao, which made it taste darker than most 55% bars usually taste. (It could easily pass as a 65% or even a 70% chocolate.) Both the bold cacao and higher sugar levels (than, say, a 70%+ chocolate) were somewhat muted by the oats. 

Ingredients: Chocolate liquor,* cane sugar,* cocoa butter,* whole grain oats, soy lecithin, vanilla.* 

Allergen information: "Contains soy. Produced on equipment that also processes products containing milk, peanuts and tree nuts."

*"Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards." The bar was also Non-GMO Project Verified. 

Rowe of Venice - Cacao Nibs superfood snack - Mar. 23, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Rowe of Venice 
Cacao Nibs superfood snack
Good ++
Weight: .75 oz. (21.25 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 80 calories in 1/2 package 
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: FarmFresh to You CSA box, add-on item 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and NOPQ Theme Week, in which chocolate items are featured with flavor inclusions and origins that begin with the letters of N, O, P and/or Q.

Today's organic, Cacao Nibs raw, vegan superfood snack squares were from Rowe of Venice (Los Angeles, CA).

Cacao nibs are the essence of cacao. They are pieces of cacao bean used to make chocolate. And as long as they are high-quality (well sorted) nibs, they are great a la carte too. They add true chocolate (brownie), almost nutty, and occasionally fruity/fermented flavor--as well as a soft, crunchy texture to any chocolate item. 

This was absolutely true for today's Cacao Nibs "superfood snack." The small squares were peppered with nibs, and offered a super-sized, substantial, satisfying tasting experience. (*The fact that they were made with organic ingredients was an added bonus.)

These squares had a rich, authentic cocoa and coconut aroma, and flavor. The nibs, together with cocoa powder, created divinely true cacao/chocolate flavor with very slight earth, cream and fermented flavor notes. 

*Ground almonds added protein. And nibs, nuts and coconut all contributed some natural plant fat/oils. A little fat and protein makes chocolate snacks more filling, and more satisfying than items that are high in sugars or carbohydrate content. For me, this holds true whether I'm on a walk in the hills, or sitting around indoors.

Last, but not least, these agave nectar-sweetened snack squares weren't too sweet (thank you!).

*Ingredients: "Organic almonds, organic unsweetened shredded coconut, organic cacao powder, organic raw blue agave nectar, organic raw cacao nibs, organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, Himalayan Pink Salt. Gratitude."

Valrhona - Noir Orange Flavored Chocolate 56% Cacao - Mar. 22, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Valrhona Chocolate

Noir (Dark) Orange-Flavoured Chocolate 56% Cacao (block) 

Good +

Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 7.06 oz. (200 g.) in total bar/block

Calories: 230 calories in 1 segment of bar

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and NOPQ Theme Week, where chocolates with flavor inclusions and origins starting with the letters N, O, P and/or Q.

Today's Noir Orange Gastronomie (Baking) Chocolate 56% Cacao (block) was from Valrhona Chocolate. Varhona has been producing premium chocolate in the small village of Tain-l'Heritage, France, in a wine-growing region near Lyon, since 1922.*

This smooth, dark chocolate was perfumed with a balanced, natural orange aroma. A hint of vanilla added warmth, for eating and baking. And, happily, it was not too sweet for a 56% cacao chocolate (thank you!). 

When I started my Chocolate Banquet journey in 2006, I noticed I was gravitating more toward baking, i.e. less sweet, chocolate. There were fewer dark chocolate options back then. French chocolate had a certain cachet; and Valrhona chocolate was one of the first dark chocolates I remember really liking.

Today's orange-flavored French chocolate offered both a pleasing, high-end eating and baking/dessert experience. This would be great choice for chocolate mousse (regular or non-dairy versions), brownies (regular or gluten-free versions), melted over ice cream or in a smoothie, drizzled over a croissant or crepe, made into chocolate fondue, etc. 

The chocolate had a uniform undercurrent of rich, velvety, sophisticated, true chocolate (dark chocolate fudge brownie) from start to finish. The orange evolved during the tasting experience, from neroli (orange blossom)-like scent, to a slightly tart-sweet, true orange citrus flavor finish.

Ingredients: "sugar, cocoa beans, cocoa butter, emulsifier (soy lecithin), orange flavor, natural vanilla extract."

Allergen information: "This product might contain traces of nuts, milk and egg proteins, gluten and peanut."

*I remember as a child growing up in the U.S. in the 1900s, Valrhona chocolates, and French chocolates in general, were spoken about with great reverence.

My young siblings and I were chocolate monkeys back then. I can remember climbing up on the counter to investigate baking chocolate in the cupboards above. Most of the American baking chocolates were too bitter. But, Swiss-processed (alkalized) varieties were more approachable. A few pieces of the dark stuff would fuel tree-climbing, bicycling and swimming adventures for hours in the summers. 

And, for outdoor sun protection and trips to the beach, squares of ivory-colored cocoa butter were rubbed on and applied. The smell was heavenly, even if these 100% cacao fat squares weren't particularly edible. 

Chocolarder - Millot Farm - 80% Dark Chocolate Sambirano Valley, Madagascar (bar) - Mar. 21, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolarder

Millot Farm - 80% Dark Chocolate Sambirano Valley, Madagascar (bar)

Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 198 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $9.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week.

Today's Millot Farm 80% Dark Chocolate Sambirano Valley, Madagascar (bar) was from Chocolarder (Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom).

Chocolarder crafts single origin bars, from bean-to-bar, using single estate/plantation cacao(s) from countries including Venezuela, Java, Madagascar, Peru and the Dominican Republic. And they also offer small batch bars with intriguing flavor inclusions (gorse flower, cinnamon toasted cacao nibs, Cornish honeycomb), as well as confections.

The company's Millot Farm Madagascar 80% chocolate bar today was made using cacao grown on a Malagasy farm (established in 1904, that also produces spices and essential oils) located in the Sambirano Valley in northwest Madagascar, a region known for great cacao, like today's "fine flavour" Trinitario hybrid cacao strain that originated in Java.

This bar had aroma notes that included: deep dark chocolate, green sencha (roasted brown rice) tea, wood, brown sugar and very faint spice.

This 80% cacao chocolate was made with less sugar (less than a 70% cacao bar, that might be 30% sugar). It wasn't too sweet (thank you)!* 

I applaud the chocolate makers this week who were bold enough to go with 80%+ cacao Madagascar bars. Great choice for this origin. (Note: Chocolarder also offers a 74% Ottange Farm, Madagascar bar if you're looking for an interesting side-by-side tasting pairing.)

The first bite of this two-ingredient bar was full of pleasing dark chocolate flavor. I enjoyed this chocolate's light, balanced fruit (golden raisin, and aromatic, sweet white wine grape) flavor notes. There was also a faint, fleeting tart sweet stone/red fruit astringency, and a balanced, very faint, woodsy earth tone/note. 

 

The makers' tasting notes read as follows: "Bursting with tart cherry and sweet raisin flavours with hints of sandalwood."

Ingredients: cacao beans, unrefined raw sugar

Allergen information: "Made in a factory that also handles tree nuts."

*Why does the sugar content matter? Sugar can amplify or obscure/overpower certain cacao flavors in chocolate. Madagascar-grown cacao is known for its very bright, tart-sweet fruit (typically citrus and berry) flavors that blossom with, or soon after, the first bite. (Now, think fresh berry lemonade with a little white grape and maybe some orange, grapefruit, peach and cherry juices thrown in. And imagine adding 30% sugar. Do your teeth hurt yet?). 

I'm here for the cacao, and not the sugar; and I love experiencing (Sambirano Valley's) Malagasy cacao fruit notes with a bit less added sugar. Anyone who has slowly savored the flavors in a ripe mango, or peach, or has enjoyed the fruit pulp that surrounds cacao seeds/beans, will know what I mean. 

Fjak Sjokolade - Single Origin 70% Mork (Dark) Madagascar (bar) - Mar. 20, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade 
Single Origin 70% Mork (Dark) Madagascar (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.87 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 295 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $9.50 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week.

Today's Single Origin 70% Mork (Dark) Madagascar small batch chocolate (bar) was handcrafted, from bean-to-bar, in (Hardangerfjord) Norway by the maker(s) at Fjak Sjokolade. 

The organic cacao used to make this bar was from Akesson's Bejofo Estate in the Sambirano Valley in northwestern Madagascar.

A wealth of enjoyable aroma notes over a period of minutes included: dried fruits: (fig, date, raisins), fleeting fermentation, sweet cocoa, whipped cream, and spice cake.

The melt and texture: smooth, even, thick, and almost creamy with a light, tart astringency. (My teeth also felt the presence of citric/citrus acid, tannins* and sugar in many of this week's fruity Madagascar chocolate bars.) 

Flavor notes included satisfying chocolate flavor, a blend of acidic fruits (sweet lemon, sweet cranberry, cacao pulp, faint sweet-tart melon, tart cherry), and subtle hints of cream and earth. Late in the post-finish there was a brief, fleeting sparkle of dried plum and goji berry notes. 

All these tart sweet fruit notes made this bar taste more like a sweeter, 60% or 65% cacao, bar.  Again, a relatively common experience with Madagascar bars. 

Fjak maker's tasting notes read as follows: "Bold dark chocolate with rich notes of black cherry and citrus."

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, cane sugar and cocoa butter;" Allergen notes: "Processed in a facility that handles nuts, dairy and gluten"

*Tannins are polyphenolic compounds that have health properties; but they can also be bitter and astringent (dry mouthfeel, slightly grainy coating on teeth), and can cause an upset stomach if consumed in excess. Tea, coffee, wine, chocolate, fruits and berries (unripe bananas and  persimmons, grapes, cranberries, blueberries), and certain leaves and spices, all contain relatively high levels of tannins.

Christopher Elbow - Madagascar 70% dark (bar) - Mar. 19, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Christopher Elbow Chocolates
Madagascar 70% dark bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.95 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Christopher Elbow, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week.

Today's Madagascar 70% bar was from Christopher Elbow Chocolates (Saint Louis, MO).

The organic cacao used to make this bar was from the Akesson Estate in the Sambirano Valley in northwest Madagascar, known for great cacao. 

The initial aroma: sweet white, aromatic dessert wine (Gewurztraminer) and very faint maple syrup, followed by a slight shift toward brown sugar and fruit notes. 

The flavor notes were more complex. Traces of the (above mentioned) sweet aroma notes bloomed into tart sweet fruit (white grapes, nectarine, tart cherry, faint citrus), chocolate, faint earth and cream. There was a slight (persimmon) astringency; and a honeyed white grape/fruit note lightly lingered into the finish. 

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, cacao butter