Zaini - 80% Extra Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 15, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zaini
80% Extra Dark Chocolate (bar)

(80% Cioccolato Fondente Extra)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (30 g.) of bar
Cost: $2.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Buona giornata (good day) and Welcome to Day #9 of European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week(s) Today we sample chocolate from, and imagine a virtual visit to northern Italy.

First virtual stop: Milan, for lunch (saffron risotto), chocolate dessert at chocolate cafe CioccolatItaliani, and a walk. This financially prosperous, relatively conservative looking city is full of great art and a few notably flamboyantly gothic buildings. 

I imagined gawking up at the huge Milan Cathedral, aka "Il Duomo." One of the largest cathedrals in Europe, it can hold 40,000 people (most of my home town). 

Next stop, sampling Zaini chocolate. Founder Luigi Zaini established a factory in Milan more than a century ago (in 1913).

Zaini 80% Extra Dark Chocolate

Today's 80% Dark Chocolate (bar), from Luigi Zaini S.p.A. (Milano, Italia), had a soft, sophisticated aroma with a whisper of brandy + bourbon cocktail* in a sea of hearty, smooth and sweet dark chocolate. (There was no alcohol* listed in ingredients.) Other aroma notes (all well-balanced) included: faint green, vanilla (vanilla marshmallow and a barely there trace of vanilla tobacco smoke)) and very faint molasses. I enjoyed this rich bouquet of scents.

The well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap; and the texture was smooth, with an almost milky mouthfeel. The taste was deep, dark and smooth. This 80% chocolate was too dark and dense to compare it with ultra-dark brownie or chocolate mousse, but it radiated a "true" satisfyingly cohesive yet complex, chocolate experience. Suave, well managed forest and earth notes added complexity and depth. 

This chocolate was made in Italy, using "cocoa from West Africa." (I'm guessing Forastero cacao variety.) The result was well executed deep cocoa flavor. Not too bitter, relatively low in acid (for an 80%er), full flavored, and not too sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: Chocolate liquor (liquor does not mean alcohol here*), sugar, lowfat cocoa powder, soy lecithin (emulsifier), natural vanilla flavor. 

Allergen-related information: "May contain: milk, almonds and hazelnuts."

Blanxart - 82% Congo Mountains of the Moon single origin (bar) - Jan. 14, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Blanxart
82% Congo Mountains of the Moon Single Origin, Organic (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1.06 oz. (30 g.) (9 squares) of bar
Cost: $7.49 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Nugget Markets, Tiburon, CA (Thank you Don!)

Buenos dias (good day), and welcome to Day #8 of European Chocolate Holiday Theme Week, where we're experiencing several European countries, via chocolate. 

Today's featured bar enabled virtual travel to Barcelona, Spain. (And, for those in California, scroll down to read about a "real" visit to a local Basque restaurant for additional chocolate fun.)

The 82% Congo (Mountains of the Moon) single origin, organic dark chocolate bar was made from bean to bar in Barcelona by Blanxart (San Joan Despi, BCN, Spain). 

Because of the proximity to African cacao growing countries, many European makers obtain their cacao from Africa. Blanxart chocolate makers crafted this 82% single origin bar using Forastero variety cocoa beans ("selected from small farm cooperatives") from Congo. 

The "Mountains of the Moon" name in the bar's title refers to the Rwenzori Mountains located between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the more temperate foothills surrounding this range, cacao and other crops are grown.

This bar had a dark chocolate aroma with smooth, faint umami (salt caramel, leather and light earth/clay, barely there roasted greens) and clean mineral notes.

The Forastero cacao used yielded bold, deep hearty chocolate flavor (as this variety typically does). However, even at a high cacao percentage (82%),* the flavor profile also had nicely balanced complexity, including true chocolate (toasted brownie) notes and (half-way in) an up-tick of bright fruit, including berry (red raspberry to ripe blackberry/black raspberry, and sweet black currant) and very faint citrus (sour lemon to very sweet pink grapefruit) notes. 

This multi-faceted, sophisticated chocolate was relatively low in bitterness (for an ultra-dark Forastero bar) and had a balanced level of acidity. The bold chocolate flavors tapered down softly (as if to take a bow) into a clean finish.

Blanxart tasting notes for Mountains of the Moon cacao: "...red fruits, citrus..."

Ingredients: "Cocoa 82% minimum. Organic cocoa, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter."

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, nuts and soy." (Organic, certified by CCPAE.)

Basque Cuisine and Marquise au Chocolat 
I imagined a (virtual) walk through Barcelona today to taste the flavors of cacao, passing examples of Gaudi's colorful sculptural architecture along the way, and enjoying great food (and chocolate). One could easily spend a week in this one Catalan city alone.

Within many European countries, regions holds delicious secrets. Both the Catalan region in the south of Spain (Mediterranean coast) and Basque region in the north (on the Cantabrian Sea) share a border with France. Early proximity to ports and prosperous cities enabled access to cacao and a variety of culinary influences; and the results can still be enjoyed today.

In the interest of virtually visiting northern Spain, I made a "real" visit to Le Chalet Basque (San Rafael, CA). The small restaurant offered authentic Basque dishes with a heavy French influence. I enjoyed a piece of their Marquis au Chocolat dessert, to go, after a long walk by the San Francisco Bay. If you're not familiar with this chocolate creation, think: a cross between a cognac flavored, chilled chocolate mousse and the best dark chocolate gelato/ice cream you've tasted. It was heaven in a take-out box. 

*Note: Percentages listed on chocolate packaging do not always correlate with flavor in the way that people expect. Variations in flavor can be due to variety of cocoa beans used, amounts of added cocoa butter or cocoa solids/cocoa powder, and other factors. There may also be minor differences in labeling requirements and terminology in different countries.

Bouchard Belgian Chocolate - Dark Caramel Sea Salt 72% Cacao - Jan. 13, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Bouchard Belgian Chocolatier
Dark Caramel Sea Salt 72% Cacao (pieces)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 16 oz. (455 g.) in total package of 90-93 pieces
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (6 pieces)
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package of (approx. 90-93) pieces
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Hallo (hello) and Welcome to Day #7 of European Chocolate (Virtual) Vacation Theme Week, with a (virtual) stop today in Belgium.

Today's Dark Caramel Sea Salt 72% Cacao (pieces) were from Belgian chocolatier Bouchard B.V. (Ghent, Belgium). 

Ghent is a city that is steeped in history and has its own culinary specialties. In my imagination, I strolled along canals, admired stone and brick buildings. (The well-preserved gild houses are a reminder of prosperity achieved centuries ago when the area was a hub for manufacturing, trade and finance.) I stopped for a hot bowl of waterzooi (fish soup similar to a chowder), enjoyed cuberdons (raspberry filled candies), and read about Floralien, a large flower celebration/show (April-May 2022). And, of course, I sampled some chocolates.

Dark Caramel Sea Salt 72% Cacao dark chocolate pieces

These individually-wrapped Belgian chocolate pieces had a subtle dark chocolate aroma. I took a few pieces along for a (real) walk today by the water. They were a perfect, transportable snack and were easy to share with others as well.

The small pieces (finely ridged rectangles with rounded corners) were thin enough to afford quick access to flavor. Each piece broke with a firm snap at room temperature (68 degrees F.).The smooth dark chocolate base contained tiny, crunchy sweet and salty crystals--just the right size to add flavor interest, but not too overwhelming in any given bite.

Flavor notes included: rich, dark chocolate (72% cacao) interspersed with very light malt, salt and caramel and very faint nutty flavors. 

The overall taste was relatively smooth, balanced and satisfying. And these petite dark pieces were not overly sweet (thank you).

Ingredients: Unsweetened chocolate, sugar, glucose syrup, cream, sea salt, butter, low fat milk powder, sunflower lecithin, salt. 

Allergen-related information: "Contain milk." "Produced in a facility that also uses eggs, soy and tree nuts." "Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Kosher Dairy"

Valrhona - Oriado 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)

 Chocolate of the Day

Valrhona 
Oriado 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.25 (US) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Bonjour and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week, including (virtual) visits in France.

Today's Oriado 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Valrhona (Tain L'Hermitage, France). Valrhona, founded by a pastry chef in the early 1920s, has continued to produce chocolate in the Rhone Valley in southeastern France since then. (In 1989 they opened a pastry and chocolate school.) 

As part of a virtual visit to the historic village of Tain, I (virtually) enjoyed a nice soup and lunch, a glass of Chauteuneuf-du-Pape,* and a chocolate dessert after a nice long walk past old stone buildings and up a hill with vineyard and river views. 

And how did today's featured Valrhona Oriado bar taste?

The cacao used to make this Valrhona Oriado bar was a blend of cacaos "sourced directly" from Peru and the Dominican Republic. (Fairly traded content: 99.6%.)

Aroma notes for this bar included: balanced tart citrus herbal green (oxalis,** sorrel, sour grass), chocolate cake and cocoa with vanilla marshmallow. (The citrus green note tended to recede a bit following each initial exposure, allowing the cocoa and vanilla notes to become more prominent.) 

This well-tempered chocolate broke with a firm snap. And the melt and texture were even and uniform.

The flavor notes were consistent with the aroma notes (above), with more pronounced rich, sweet chocolate (dark fudge cake) taste--and a pleasant red berry/blackberry note that blossomed about mid-way through. 

Flavors were well balanced, and relatively complex. Vanilla added a bit of mellow warmth (with very faint, fleeting vanilla tobacco smoke, earthy and leather notes) and implied (chocolate baked goods) sweetness. The flavors lingered a bit into a relatively clean finish. 

Overall this was an easy-to-like dark chocolate that was complex enough to be interesting, but well managed--making it well-suited to eating, as well as baking, chocolate confections, dark chocolate frosting/icing, or pastry making in general.

Maker's tasting notes: "Balanced, vanilla, sweet"

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa minimum, pure cocoa butter). Cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla extract. Milk (Made in a facility that uses milk). 

Allergen-related information: "Milk (Made in a facility that uses milk). May contain: gluten, nuts, soya." "May contain wheat, soy, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, chestnuts, coconut and/or all their derivatives."

*Wine grapes associated with the Rhone Valley in France (not far from Valrhona HQ) include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier and Roussanne. 

Chateauneuf-du-Pape (translated: "Pope's new castle") is a blended wine unique to a very specific region (Chateauneuf commune area) in southeastern France--about 1.5 hours drive south of Tain L'Hermitage. 

This wine is typically a "blend" of three grape types/colors: black grapes (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and perhaps Cinsault, Counoise, Muscadin, Vaccarese, Terret Noir, Picardin Noir, Picpoul Noir), yellow grapes (Claret, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Buorboulenc, Picpoul and Picardin), and pink grapes (Picardin Gris, Clairette Rose, Grenache Gris and Picpoul Rose). 

**Note: oxalic acid is a natural component of cacao and can contribute to "citrus" notes being attributed to some chocolates.) 

Valrhona - Abinao 85% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 11, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Valrhona 
Abinao 85% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.50 (US) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Bonjour and welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week. Today's bar brings us (virtually) to France.

Today's Abinao 85% Cacao Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Valrhona (Tain L'Hermitage, France). Valrhona was founded by a pastry chef in the early 1920s. The company has continued to produce chocolate in the Rhone Valley near Lyon, in southeastern France since then. (In 1989 they opened a pastry and chocolate school.) 

As part of a virtual visit to the historic village of Tain, I'm enjoying a virtual drive through the wine country, admiring the rolling vine-covered green hills and views of the Rhone River. Also on the menu: an imaginary lunch at a brasserie and a local trail hike, after a stop at Valrhona.

And now on to tasting today's featured Valrhona bar...

Source-related text on the Valrhona Abinao bar packaging read: "100% of our cocoa is traceable from the producer." (While the country of origin was not specified for this Abinao bar, online research turned up the following: a blend of Forastero cacao(s), from Africa.) 

Aroma notes for this bar included: green, earthy, nutty, faint maple/brown sugar, and very faint floral, clean mineral and wood forest notes.

This well-tempered, attractively designed chocolate bar broke with a clean snap. It had an even melt and texture, with a slight tannic astringency beginning about 3/4 way through.

The flavor notes were consistent with the aroma notes above, with more pronounced rich chocolate-y (dark fudge brownie) taste. Flavors were well balanced, well managed and relatively complex and interesting. A moderate amount of smooth bitterness made it interesting and not too sweet (thank you). Vanilla added a bit of floral spice warmth and implied (chocolate baked goods) sweetness. The flavors lingered a bit into a relatively clean finish. 

If I were a pastry chef or chocolatier, and I wanted to rely on a sophisticated ultra-dark chocolate without deep dark surprises, I would likely enjoy working with this Abinao 85% chocolate. It also was pleasant to eat and relatively easy to pair with other foods and beverages.

Maker's tasting notes: "Bittersweet, woody, raw cocoa" "...Powerful and tannic dark chocolate." "Abinao 85% emphasizes a specific bitterness and exceptional long-lasting flavors."  

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa minimum, pure cocoa butter). Cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla extract. Milk (Made in a facility that uses milk). 

Allergen-related information: "Milk (Made in a facility that uses milk). May contain: gluten, nuts, soya." "May contain wheat, soy, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, pecans, walnuts, chestnuts, coconut and/or all their derivatives."

Giraudi - Pistacchi Sicilia Latte 36% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Giraudi S.r.l.
Pistacchi Sicilia - Latte 36% E Pistacchi Sicilia Intere Tostate
Sicilian Pistachio Milk Chocolate 36% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.)/ 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 273 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from family (Thank you David)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from family (Andronico's, Los Altos, CA)

Welcome to Day #4 of European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week.

Today's Sicilian Pistachio - Milk Chocolate (36%) and Whole Toasted Sicilian Pistachio (bar) produced by Giraudi S.r.l. (Castellazzo Bormida (AL), Italy) was made in Italy and imported into the U.S. by Manicaretti (Oakland, CA). 

This chocolate was part of a family of Giraudi milk chocolate (36% cocoa) and dark chocolate (61% cocoa) bars with nuts. (Other flavors include hazelnut and almond versions of these bars.) 

Today's thick, sweet and creamy milk chocolate bar was studded with whole, toasted Sicilian pistachio nuts. Rich sweet chocolate flavor was nicely balanced by a healthy serving (20% of bar content) of these softly crunchy green nuts; and an upbeat touch of vanilla added sweet baked goods-style warmth.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, powdered whole milk, cocoa paste. Emulsifier: soy lecithine, natural vanilla flavour. Cocoa min. 36%), Pistachios from Sicily (20%). 

Allergen-related information: Contained: milk, soy (lecithin), tree nuts (pistachios). "It may contain traces of "other fruit with shell," sesame and peanuts." "Senza glutine - Gluten Free"

Giraudi - Mandorle Italia Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate (bar) - Jan. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Giraudi S.r.l.
Mandorle Italia - Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate
Italy Almond - Milk Chocolate 36% with Whole Toasted Italian Almond (bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 577 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from family (Thank you David)
Purchased from: N/A - gift from family (Andronico's, Los Altos, CA)

Welcome to Day #3 of European Chocolate Vacation Theme Week.

Today's Mandorle Italia - Latte 36% E Mandorle Italia Intere Tostate (bar) produced by Giraudi S.r.l. (Castellazzo Bormida (AL), Italia) was made in Italy and imported into the U.S. by Manicaretti (Oakland, CA). 

This chocolate was part of a family of Giraudi milk chocolate (36% cocoa) and dark chocolate (61% cocoa) bars with nuts. (There are also hazelnut and pistachio versions of this bar.) I first became acquainted with Giraudi through their gianduja*/gianduia and gianduiotti (creamy and delicious Italian hazelnut chocolate) confections. 

Today's gluten free, thick, sweet and creamy milk chocolate bar embedded with whole crunchy almonds delivered. Rich sweet chocolate flavor was well balanced by a healthy serving (30% of content) of whole, toasted almonds and an upbeat touch of vanilla.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, powdered whole milk, cocoa paste. Emulsifier: soy lecithine, natural vanilla flavour. Cocoa min. 36%), Italian almonds (30%). 

Allergen-related information: Contained: milk, soy (lecithin), tree nuts (almonds). "It may contain traces of other fruit with shell, sesame and peanuts." "Senza glutine - Gluten Free"

*Gianduja is a northern Italian classic that came about in the 1800s as a result of war-time rationing during the reign of Napolean. (Cocoa was in short supply and was blended with hazelnut.) 

This heavenly chocolate and nut blend is now enjoyed in many parts of Europe and beyond. Turkey may be the world's largest producer of hazelnuts, but Italy can lay claim to creating gianduja--and the first versions of Nutella more than 170 years ago.

Nutella is a popular, sweetened (hazelnut, palm oil and skimmed milk) spread that may contain (depending on the country where it's distributed) less than 10% cocoa solids. It was first introduced in the 1960s by Ferrero S.P.A. (Italy). Giraudi offers their version of a chocolate and hazelnut spread.