Jolly Llama - Vanilla Fudge Sundae Cones - Oct. 29, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Jolly Llama
(Casper's Ice Cream)
Vanilla Fudge Sundae Cones 
Good - Good +
Weight: 4.75 fl. oz. (140 mL) (100 g.) / 14.25 fl. oz. (421 mL) in total package/box of 3 cones
Calories: 290 calories in 1 cone
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package/box of 3 cones 
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Waffle Week, including a lot of chocolate and waffle cone items.

Today's Jolly Llama dairy-free and gluten-free Vanilla Fudge Sundae Cones were from Casper's Ice Cream (Richmond, UT).

The subtle aroma of these cones conjured up memories of ice cream, chocolate and cake.

This individually-wrapped cone (1 of 3 in a box) offered an attractive array of textures: fudge-y and crispy chocolate elements; relatively creamy frozen vanilla filling, and a crunchy "ice cream"/frozen dessert cone.

A plug of chocolate at the bottom of this sweet, vanilla and chocolate sundae cone helped prevent drips and provided a last blast of rich, chocolate-y flavor--a fun and functional touch.

Ingredients: Non-dairy frozen dessert (water, stabilizer (tapioca syrup solids, dextrose, pea protein salt, locust bean gum, guar gum), cane sugar, coconut oil, natural flavor); gluten free cone (rice flour, brown sugar, corn starch, tapioca starch, cellulose, natural flavor, salt, soy lecithin, vegetable oil shortening (may contain one or more of the following: canola oil, coconut oil, modified palm oil, soybean oil, and soy lecithin (an emulsifier), vanilla extract); chocolate variegate (cane sugar, water, chocolate liquor, cocoa (processed with alkali), corn starch, natural flavors, salt); chocolate drop (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier), vanilla extract).

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy and coconut." "Manufactured on shared equipment with products that contain milk, peanut, tree nut, wheat and egg ingredients."

Jolly Llama - Caramel Chocolate Chip Cone - Oct. 28, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Jolly Llama 
(Casper's Ice Cream)
Caramel Chocolate Chip Cone 
Good - Good +
Weight: 4.75 fl. oz. (103 g.) / 14.25 fl. oz. (421 mL) in total package/box of 3 cones
Calories: 320 calories in 1 cone
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package/box of 3 cones 
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Waffle Week, including several waffle cone items.

Today's Jolly Llama gluten-free and dairy-free Caramel Chocolate Chip Cones were from Casper's Ice Cream (Richmond, UT). 

This gluten-free and dairy-free cone had appealing layered textures (creamy, chocolatey and crunchy) and different flavor elements (chocolate dairy-free frozen filling, and chocolate and caramel, surrounded by a sweet, crispy cone. The chocolate frozen filling portion was very (convincingly) similar to ice cream.

It was sweet, as expected. So no surprises there. The ingredients list (below) was quite long--often the case for dairy and gluten substitute items in the U.S. But, it was nice to know there are treats like this that exist for those who have dietary restrictions. 

Ingredients: Non-dairy frozen dessert (water, stabilizer (tapioca syrup solids, dextrose, pea protein, salt, locust bean gum, guar gum), cane sugar, coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, natural flavor), gluten-free cone (rice flour, brown sugar, corn starch, tapioca starch, cellulose, natural flavor, salt, soy lecithin, vegetable oil shortening. May contain one or more of the following: canola oil, coconut oil, modified palm oil, soybean oil and soy lecithin), xanthan gum), chocolate flavored coating (sugar, coconut oil, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), chocolate liquor, sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier), vanilla extract), chocolate drop (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier), vanilla extract), caramel variegate (cane sugar, water, coconut oil, Non-GMO corn starch, salt, pectin).

Allergen-related information: Contains soy and coconut. Manufactured on shared equipment with products that contain milk, peanut, tree nut, wheat and egg ingredients.

Birch Benders - Chocolate Chip Waffles - Oct. 27, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Birch Benders 
Chocolate Chip Keto Toaster Waffles
Good +
Weight: 2.96 oz. (84 g.) / 5.92 oz. (168 g.) in total package of 6 waffles
Calories: 270 calories in 3 waffles
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package of 6 waffles
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Chip Keto Toaster Waffles were manufactured in Belgium for Birch Benders (Denver, CO). The self-described "micro-pancakery" offers pancake and waffle mixes and frozen waffles. 

These gluten-free chocolate chip waffles--sweetened with erythritol and stevia--were substantial and filling (primarily due to relatively high levels of protein and fiber). And, happily, these were not too sweet.

A light scattering of small chocolate chips added a chocolate-y rich accent flavor. (Optional: Top with some 100% dark chocolate chips/shavings (with maple extract perhaps) instead of sugary syrup for amped up chocolate flavor.)

Depending on how these frozen waffles are defrosted and heated, the texture can be soft, with a light chew, or a bit crispier. 

Ingredients: Eggs, high oleic sunflower oil, dark chocolate chips (unsweetened chocolate, erythritol, cocoa butter, stevia extract, sunflower lecithin), organic coconut flour, cassava starch, tigernut flour, buttermilk powder, leavening (monocalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate), skim milk yogurt powder (skim milk, cultures), psyllium husk powder, spice.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: egg, milk, coconut."

 

Raaka Chocolate - Waffle Cone 61% Cacao Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 26, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate

Waffle Cone 61% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar

Calories: 121 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Uganda Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Waffle Week.

Today's Waffle Cone 61% Cacao Dark Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was grown in the Semuliki Forest region of Uganda.

Layered flavors

Instead of bits of waffle (ice cream cone) embedded in the chocolate, there was a broad strip of (gluten free) waffle cone adhered to the back of this bar, offering a sweet (but not too sweet) thin layer of contrasting flavor. 

Separating the dark chocolate and waffle cone elements allowed for layered flavors in the tasting process and made it easier to pick out flavors in the the underlying 61% dark chocolate. (It was also possible to break off a piece of chocolate from the non-waffle cone covered edge to taste that separately.)

Aroma and flavor notes included dark chocolate; diffuse fruit; warm spice (cinnamon, hot fruit compote spices); faintly soap-like plant and sweet green nut cookie; and authentic, faintly earthy and floral vanilla bean. 

The dark chocolate had an even melt and smooth, balanced dark flavor. And the thin waffle cone layer added a light wafer-like texture with a very subtle crunchy chew. The thoughtful stacking (vs. homogenizing) of authentic flavors made this novelty bar blend a success.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, gluten free waffle cone (organic cane sugar, organic coconut oil, organic apple puree, organic rice flour, organic brown rice flour, organic tapioca flour, organic millet flour, organic flax seed meal, organic arrowroot powder, organic baking powder, organic inulin, xanthan gum), organic cacao butter organic vanilla bean

Allergen-related information: Certified Organic; vegan, gluten free, soy free

(I also recommend trying Raaka Chocolate's Maple Dark 75% (Uganda) cacao baking chocolate pieces, featured on October 21, 2021; and yesterday's slightly richer, Raaka Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% (bar)--that was similar to today's bar, but the waffle piece/layer contained cacao as well.

 

Raaka Chocolate - Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% (bar) - Oct. 25, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate

Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good ++

Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar

Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Uganda Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Waffle Week.

Today's Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% Cacao Dark Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

It's unusual to find a "fun" single origin dark chocolate bar. If an artisan chocolate maker is laser focused on developing and featuring flavor nuances present in a small batch of single origin (and/or single variety or harvest) cacao beans, this maker likely, understandably, will hesitate to muffle these flavor nuances with additional ingredients. 

Today's offering not only evokes scenes of summer chocolate ice cream cones at the beach, but also amps up these conjured memories with a high-quality, flavorful deep, dark chocolate made from African cacao grown in the Semuliki Forest region of Uganda.*

An aesthetically-pleasing, broad strip of chocolate (gluten free) waffle cone was adhered to the back of this bar, offering a sweet (but not too sweet) flavor inclusion. Separating the two elements allowed for layered flavors in the tasting, and made it easier to enjoy the underlying 61% dark chocolate. (It was possible to break off a piece of chocolate from the non-waffle cone covered edge to taste that separately.)

Aroma and flavor notes included dark chocolate, diffuse fruit (spiced peach and berry compote/jam), warm spice (cinnamon) and authentic, faintly earthy and floral vanilla bean. 

The dark chocolate had an even melt and smooth, balanced deep dark flavor quality (richer than most 61% cacao chocolates). And the thin waffle cone layer added a light wafer-like texture with a very subtle chew. The thoughtful stacking (vs. homogenizing) of flavors made this blend a success.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, gluten free waffle cone (organic rice flour, organic brown rice flour, organic tapioca flour, organic millet flour, organic cacao powder, organic coconut oil, organic cane sugar, organic apple puree, organic flax seed meal, organic arrowroot powder, organic inulin, xanthan gum), organic vanilla

Allergen-related information: Vegan, gluten free, soy free

*Uganda is the becoming more well-known for single origin cacao, thanks in part to work being done in-country to reward (better pay, support) farmers to obtain premium cacao. In 2019, Uganda was the sixth largest cacao-exporting African nation (behind Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone).

The chocolates featured as part of an Uganda-themed week (Oct. 18-26, 2021), on this Chocolate Banquet site, have all been quite good--with deep, dark chocolate-y flavor; subtle hints of faintly tart-sweet fruit and occasional warm spice; and very faint, balanced earth. 

(I would also recommend trying Raaka Chocolate's Maple Dark 75% cacao (Uganda) baking chocolate pieces, featured on October 21, 2021.)

Latitude Craft Chocolate - Rwenzori 80% Uganda (bar) - Oct. 24, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Latitude Trade Company Ltd.

(Latitude Craft Chocolate)

Rwenzori 80% Uganda (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order (and Latitude via Chocolopolis.com)

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

Today's Rwenzori 80% (Uganda) (bar) was from Latitude Craft Chocolate / Latitude Trade Company Ltd. (Kampala, Uganda).

The cocoa used to make Latitude chocolate is sourced from several hundred certified organic farmers in Uganda. Latitude purchases cocoa "face-to-face at the farms," often at village collection points in rural areas.

Aroma and flavor were similar and included attractive, true deep, dark chocolate, light/diffuse red fruit (berry) and faint light earth, followed by an isolated, faint, sparkle or two of faint, tropical fruit.*

The melt and texture were fairly thick and creamy. (I was surprised to learn that there was no added cocoa butter--a testament to the fact that some cocoa beans have a naturally-occurring, higher cocoa fat/butter content. Beans with more fat are sometimes found when cacao is grown at higher, cooler altitudes and/or further away from the Equator) 

The (drum) roasting and refining/conching choices seemed thoughtful. Nothing too wild left in the results; but the smooth flavor(s) that were developed (or that remained) added a bit of complexity. 

The overall flavor was quite smooth, sophisticated, almost subdued, for an ultra-dark bar. There were no sharp off-notes. This 80% chocolate contained deep cocoa (brownie) notes in the background; and the finish was fairly clean and subtle. Some of the best flavor qualities of Forastero and Trinitario are evoked here. 

The cacao had a balanced, almost restrained, bitterness and a fair amount of natural sweetness. However, this ultra-dark bar was not too sweet. (Thank you to Latitude for offering this 80% cacao version.)

Maker's notes: "A dark daredevil with a fruity twist...This bolder, older sibling to our (70%) Semuliki bar. This is a darker chocolate with notes of bright fresh fruits."

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, cane sugar

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles tree nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts and soy."

*This tropical fruit note was only tasted in a later, re-tasting today, a few hours after I'd enjoyed some pawpaw fruit, so this could have been a prior fruit-influenced sparkle. I'd earlier (yesterday as part of a Chocolopolis.com Latitude remote bar tasting) also picked up a very faint green, molasses note, which did not show up in today's re-samplings. 

Latitude Craft Chocolate - Bukonzo Coffee Uganda (bar) - Oct. 23, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Latitude Trade Company Ltd.
Bukonzo Coffee Uganda (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.235 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Bukonzo Coffee Uganda (bar) was from Latitude Craft Chocolate (Latitude Trade Company Ltd.) (Kampala, Uganda).*

Uganda is in the geographic sweet spot for growing coffee and cacao, and is perhaps more well-known for the former. The country is the second largest producer of coffee (behind Ethiopia) in Africa; and exports include Arabica as well as Robusta varieties.

Both coffee and cacao can be found growing in the Rwenzori Mountains area of southwestern Uganda (close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo).

The aroma of today's coffee infused bar was a blend of sweet, dark chocolate and subtle roasted coffee notes. And the melt and texture were creamy and smooth.

This chocolate tasted sweet and bright with balanced acidity; and had a faint, pleasing almost floral (vanilla-hazelnut) upbeat note in the finish. The coffee was present without being overwhelming.

Tasting notes: "A breakfast alternative...Single-origin Ugandan arabica coffee from the Rwenzori Mountains delivers the punch in this pleasantly bitter, bright and nutty bar."

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, cocoa butter, cane sugar, roasted coffee

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles tree nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts and soy."

*Latitude is a Certified B Corporation actively involved in direct trade in Africa. The company sources the cocoa in their chocolate bars "from over 1,000 certified organic farmers in Uganda, purchasing face-to-face at the farms." Their supplier program offers "training, a premium price, insurance, and microfinance to support farm households..."