Libeert - Organic Chocolate Extra Dark 85% (bar) - July 12, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Libeert s.a.
Organic Chocolate Extra Dark 85% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (3 squares of) bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Dark Chocolate Theme Week, featuring 60% - 90% cacao chocolates made with a blend or cacao origins, and/or unspecified origins.

Today's Organic Chocolate Extra Dark 85% (bar) was made by Libeert s.a. (Comines, Belgium). The company produces a variety of chocolate bars (and confections), including certified organic and fair trade bars, such as this ultra-dark bar.

Aroma notes for this bold, balanced bar included deep, dense forest, dark chocolate, subtle concentrated/dried fruit (plum-prune), and very faint, clean, clay-like aromatic floral (vanilla, rose, jasmine) perfume (very light baby powder) notes.

This relatively high-cacao percent chocolate was, it almost goes without saying, not sweet (thank you). It had an even, sustained dark, roasted, earthy, fudge brownie note, and a well-managed, slightly bitter dark finish with no off-notes.

The bar had smooth texture with relatively low astringency and acid along with a mellow bitterness for an ultra-dark 85% cacao chocolate (origin unspecified). It was a great value for the price. (If I had to guess the cacao variety of this Belgian, organic bittersweet chocolate, I'd say Forastero from West Africa.) 

Pairing suggestions

If ultra-dark bars were little black dresses, I'd say this one deserves to be in daily rotation. You might even use it for baking and dress it up with some brightly colored fruits (homemade ultra dark chocolate cups filled with sliced fruits (yellow nectarine/peach) and a drizzle of raspberry liqueur/juice/jam perhaps). Or fill these dark cups with coffee ice cream and top with whiskey-soaked (or just lightly toasted) cacao nibs and almond slices.

Ingredients: Organic chocolate liquor, organic cane sugar, organic low fat cocoa powder, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla powder. Cocoa solids 85% minimum. ("Sustainable cocoa...Traded in compliance with Fairtrade standards.")

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy, almonds, hazelnuts, pecan nuts and pistachios." 

Amedei - Toscano Black Dark Chocolate Extra 90% (bar) - July 11, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Amedei srl
Toscano Black, Dark Chocolate Extra, 90% (bar)
Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Buona giornata (good day) and welcome to Day #2 of Dark Chocolate Theme Week, featuring chocolates ranging from 60% to 90% cacao, made with cacao beans from either a blend of origins, and/or from an undeclared origin. 

Today's Toscano Black Dark Chocolate Extra 90% (bar) was made by Amedei srl (in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy). The company offers a variety of bars, drops, pralines and spreads.

The aroma notes for this bar included: slight green herb (lemon balm, sour grass, oxalis/oxalic acid), and fruit (faint sweet berry and lemon), and mild hot chocolate.

The texture was uniform, with a slight astringency.

The flavor reflected some of the same aroma notes mentioned above and the bar was relatively approachable for a 90% cocoa chocolate. 

This chocolate had a mild, bittersweet chocolate flavor with medium acidity, and very faint, fleeting malt/cereal box and coffee notes.

Maker's tasting notes: "Toscano Black, the "Manifesto" dark chocolates from Amedei. These chocolates are made from a blend of Trinitario and Criollo (cacao). With different percentages of cocoa, they evoke the unique nuances of masterfully blended beans in an encounter with classic chocolate featuring a crisp cracking sound and a clean palette. Toscano Black 90% is characterized by a delicate fragrance of white flowers and is an inviting blend with the scent of hot chocolate. A discovery to taste: despite the high cocoa percentage, it is a very creamy chocolate that leaves a very clean palate at the end."

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cocoa butter, cane sugar. Cocoa minimum 90%.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of hazelnut, almond, pistachio, walnut, milk. No artificial colors or flavoring. Gluten free."

Simon Coll - 85% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) - July 10, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Simon Coll Xocolaters

(Chocolates Simon Coll S.A.)

85% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.495 oz. (42.5 g.) / 2.99 oz. (85 g.) in total bar

Calories: 255 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Nugget Markets, Tiburon, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Dark Chocolate Theme Week. This week features 60% to 90% cacao dark chocolate bars--made with blends of cacao beans, or with no origin specified.

Today's 85% Dark Chocolate bar was made in Spain by Chocolates Simon Coll S.A. (Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, Barcelona, Spain). The company's chocolate-making roots stretch back several generations to 1840. (The company also acquired the historic Spanish Chocolate Amatller brand in 1972.)

The aroma and flavor notes in today's ultra-dark, gluten-free chocolate bar included: green; fresh ripe banana and light molasses/brown sugar spice (banana licuado); nut (walnut); and a balanced, slightly green, bittersweet dark chocolate (earthy fudge brownie).

This chocolate was relatively smooth/uniform in texture and flavor, yet managed to have satisfying complexity.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, fat reduced cocoa powder, emulsifier (soya lecithin) and flavouring (vanilla). Cocoa solids 85%.

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy. May contain traces of milk, hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds." 

Kind - Coffee Hazelnut plant-based frozen dessert + new-o-politan combo - July 9, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Kind

Coffee Hazelnut Coffee Plant Based Creamy Frozen Dessert

Good +

Weight: 1/3 cup (62.5 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container

Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 serving

Cost: $7.99 for 1/2 serving

Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Fruit and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Coffee Hazelnut (with cocoa powder and chocolate flavor) plant-based, frozen dessert was from Kind LLC (NY, NY). 

Made with pear juice, almonds, hazelnut and coconut and other Non-GMO ingredients. The result, from this company that has specialized in fruit and nut snacks, was flavorful and almost surprisingly creamy. 

This frozen dessert was a member of an updated Neopolitan-like ice cream trio...that also included Strawberry Ice Cream from Acme (Petaluma, CA), and Blue Jasmine ice cream from Tin Pot Creamery (San Carlos, CA).

The three scoops were topped with nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds) and single origin dark chocolate shavings.

Kind's Coffee Hazelnut flavor was slightly tart, sweet, with the balanced bitter flavor of coffee + nut (hazelnut). Cocoa (powder, flavoring) and sweet coffee added traces of rich mocha to this smooth, yet relatively bold flavor blend.

Ingredients: Pear juice (from concentrate), water, almonds, sugar dried tapioca syrup, hazelnuts, tapioca syrup, coconut oil, coffee, cocoa powder, gum acacia, sea salt, chocolate natural flavor, soy lecithin, carob bean gum, tara gum, guar gum, pectin, salt, sunflower lecithin. 

Allergen-related information: Contains almonds, hazelnuts and soy.

Dick Taylor - Blackberry Bergamot 65% Belize (bar) - July 7, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor
Blackberry Bergamot 65% Belize (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Fruit and Flowers Theme Week. 

Today's Blackberry Bergamot 65% Belize (bar) was handcrafted by Dick Taylor in Eureka, CA.

Not surprisingly, the aroma and flavor notes for this dark chocolate bar were fruit (dark berry, citrus) forward.

However, the concentrated, dark, earthy berry notes (from dried blackberries) melded seamlessly with the 65% Belize chocolate so that the "dark" fruit (blackberries and prunes with orange peel and molasses) notes--as well as the whisper of bergamot*--could easily be mistaken for naturally occurring aromas and flavors in a single origin cacao dark bar. 

Normally this is not the case. Items added as flavor inclusions stand out either visually (pressed onto the back of the bar, or visible in the middle) or on one's palette. So, this fruit and floral bar (which actually made the chocolate taste a bit darker/heartier vs. lighter/sweeter) was a bit of a magic trick.

The texture was fairly smooth, except for an occasional blackberry seed, and the finish was relatively clean, with a very faint blackberry fruit and citrus acidity.

Maker's tasting notes read as follows: "Sweet, dried blackberries and a hint of bergamot oil are mixed into our silky 65% dark chocolate from Belize. The blend of bergamot and berries creates a perfect balance of citrus and floral notes, complimenting the lightness of this chocolate."

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic dried blackberries, organic cocoa butter, bergamot oil.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes milk, tree nuts, wheat and peanuts."

*Bergamot is in the citrus family and the rind is used to flavor Earl Grey and Lady Grey tea (and perfumes). It's zest is aromatic with citrus and floral notes.

Hemp Love - Lavender Sea Salt and Hemp Seed Crunch (bar) - July 8, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Hemp Love

61% Cacao Lavender Sea Salt and Hemp Seed Crunch (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 300 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Fruit and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's 61% Lavender Sea Salt and Hemp Seed Crunch Organic Vegan Chocolate (bar) was manufactured for Hemp Love (Malibu, CA). 

The company incorporates hemp seeds (a food relatively high in protein and rich in Omega 3 as well as Omega 6 essential fatty acids) in their line of chocolate bars.

The aroma notes for Lavender Sea Salt bar included: floral (authentic, aromatic lavender buds) sweet dark chocolate and very faint vanilla.

This smooth, sweet dark chocolate had a mild crunchiness (hemp seeds) and occasional tiny sparkles of sea salt.

Flavor notes included smooth, sweet dark chocolate (cake) with lavender, vanilla and judicious salt notes. The bar had a pleasing, light lavender finish.

Lavender pairs very nicely with vanilla (creating a warm, invigorating* floral blend). When these two are joined with chocolate and sea salt and the hemp seeds, and angels started to sing. Some flavor sums are greater than their individual parts. 

The lavender sea salt provided the piney-floral, perfumed (some say soap) lavender flavor, and helped balance the sweetness.

Where's the fruit one might ask, given this week's chocolate, fruit and floral theme?

Bonus pairing: Alec's Honey Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream

Sweet tart, dark and slightly earthy blueberries play well with lavender and vanilla flavors (and chocolate). I amped up the lavender today by pairing the featured Hemp Love chocolate bar with a scoop of Honey Blueberry Lavender organic ice cream from Alec's Ice Cream (made in Petaluma, CA). The end result: harmony and bliss in the chocolate + fruit + floral universe. 

Ingredients: 61% dark chocolate (organic evaporated cane juice, organic cocoa paste, organic cocoa butter, organic ground vanilla), organic hemp seed, organic evaporated cane juice, organic lavender salt (sea salt, organic lavender oil, organic lavender flower).

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a Kosher vegan facility. Equipment shared with peanuts/tree nuts and soy. Ingredient suppliers may share equipment that could result in trace amounts of dairy protein."

*Disclaimer: I'm a lavender and floral flavor fan. Lavender (a member of the mint family) and chocolate are examples of foods that can be both relaxing and stimulating at the same time. 

Said to reduce stress and anxiety, a small handful of tiny, purple lavender flower buds (and a tiny rosemary sprig) thrown into a pot of simmering water can de-stress an entire room and/or perk up drab days fairly quickly. 

Hemp Love - 61% Cacao Orange/Vanilla and Hemp Seed Crunch (bar) - July 6, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Hemp Love

61% Cacao Orange/Vanilla and Hemp Seed Crunch (bar)

Good +

Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar

Calories: 340 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Fruit and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's 61% Orange/Vanilla and Hemp Seed Crunch Organic Vegan Chocolate (bar) was manufactured for Hemp Love (Malibu, CA). 

The company incorporates hemp seeds (a food relatively high in protein and rich in Omega 3 as well as Omega 6 essential fatty acids) in their line of chocolate bars.

The aroma notes for Orange Vanilla bar included: natural orange soda, sweet dark chocolate and very faint vanilla.

This smooth, sweet dark chocolate had a light, almost whipped, crunchy texture with uniform, melded smooth orange and vanilla flavor.

Flavor notes included smooth, sweet dark chocolate (cake) with orange and vanilla (frosting) notes. The bar had a light, lingering finish. 

Ingredients: Organic dark chocolate (organic cocoa liquor, organic evaporated cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla), organic evaporated cane sugar, organic hemp seed hearts, organic orange oil, organic vanilla.

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a Kosher vegan facility. Equipment shared with peanuts/tree nuts and soy. Ingredient suppliers may share equipment that could result in trace amounts of dairy protein."