Helados La Neta - Chocolate con Canela - Feb. 28, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Helados La Neta

Chocolate con Canela

(Chocolate with Cinnamon Ice Cream)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 2/3 cup (158 mL) / 14 oz. (414 mL) in total container

Calories: 210 calories in 1 serving (2/3 cup)

Cost: $2.49 for 1 container

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market,  

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

Today's Chocolate Ice Cream with Cinnamon was from Helados La Neta (Marietta, GA). The company, part of the High Road family* offers ice creams with Mexico-inspired flavors (like Horchata, Avocado and Lime, Mexican Vanilla and today's Chocolate with Cinnamon).

Cacao, vanilla, allspice, as well as many chilies and other spices originated in the Americas. But, the Spanish introduced cinnamon to Mexico. Today, imported cinnamon can be found in a variety of savory and sweet dishes across Mexico and the Americas, including hot cocoas, drinking chocolate, postres and helados (desserts and ice creams). 

Today's creamy ice cream had lush, authentic chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla flavors, with rich spiced chocolate notes that lingered into the finish.

Great flavors. I would definitely buy this again. 

Maker's description: "Like the real chocolate beverage you used to drink at abuelita's (grandmother's) house...Think Mexican drinking chocolate -- a dense chocolate ice cream with a spicy cinnamon finish"

Ingredients: Milk, cream, cane sugar, cocoa powder, dextrose, cinnamon, Mexican vanilla extract, sea salt, guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum.

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk....Made on equipment that also processes soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts."

*The High Road family of brands also includes High Road Ice Cream (and cookies) and Ciao Bella Gelato and Sorbetto. The company (started by chefs) creates craft ice creams "at scale" (i.e. at a higher volume than small batch specialty makers), and they also are engaged in private label business.

Oodaalolly Chocolate - Pumpkin Five-Spice Milk Chocolate bar - Feb. 27, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Oodaalolly Chocolate

Pumpkin Five-Spice Milk Chocolate (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 0.88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar

Calories: 141 calories (estimate) in 1 bar

Cost: $5.00 in total bar

Purchased from: Oodaalolly, online order

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

Today's Pumpkin Five-Spice Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Oodaalolly Chocolate (El Cerrito, CA). Oodaalolly founder, Hernan Lauber, creates small batch chocolates using Philippine cacao (and Philippines-inspired flavors) and family Swiss chocolate making techniques.

Five-spice blend (also known as Chinese Five Spice powder) is associated with savory and sweet dishes across Asia and some Pacific Islands. The five spices include: star anise, cloves, Chinese (cassia) cinnamon bark, fennel seeds and Sichuan (aka Szechuan) peppercorns. (Regional blends may include other ingredients (e.g. Mandarin orange peel)).

Aroma notes for today's milk chocolate bar included subtle spice (star anise, followed by mild clove, cinnamon, vanilla, and barely there fennel and pepper). This bar had a generous amount of cocoa butter which added to the creamy melt and texture.

The powdered pumpkin added a sweet vegetable note (think pumpkin pie) that was very complementary with the balanced spice blend. As with the aroma (above), the star anise was slightly more prominent. 

Skillfully balanced, compatible flavor elements led to a pleasing (and slightly addictive) chocolate. The pumpkin and spices created depth/interest and helped prevent the milk chocolate from seeming overly sweet. Last but not least, vanilla contributed a baked goods-like warmth (along with raw sugar) and pie-like flavor.

Maker's tasting notes: "Creamy milk chocolate, five-spice powder, and real pumpkin come spectacularly together in this limited-edition release of Oodaalolly's twist on a classic Autumn flavor."

Ingredients: "Cocoa butter, raw cane sugar, whole milk powder, Philippine cacao, pumpkin powder, five-spice (star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seed, sichuan pepper), and vanilla."

Allergen-related information: (Contained milk.) No allergen-related information found on label.

Earth Echo - Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend - Feb. 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Earth Echo LLC
Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 level scoop (7.88 g.) / 8.34 oz. (236.4 g.) in total package
Calories: 35 calories in 1 level scoop 
Cost: $59.95* for 1 package (less $8.99 discount) + $9.95 shipping = $60.91
Purchased from: (Earth Echo ad - online order)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Cacao Bliss Superfood Elixir Blend was manufactured for Earth Echo LLC (Evergreen, CO).

Marketed online, this organic, dietary supplement powder was designed to be mixed in with cold or hot liquids, including water, alternative milks, and/or hot chocolate or coffee. 

The dry, powdered blend contained "superfoods"** and spices that included cinnamon, black pepper fruit, sea salt and turmeric. (Lucuma and mesquite added mild, mellow sweetness.***)

Aroma notes for this powdered blend (mixed with water) included: chocolate, coconut and faint root/herb.

The texture was smooth and satisfying once thoroughly stirred and incorporated. There were no vegetable gums or other common additives (emulsifiers, stabilizers) often added to similar beverages (thank you!). (Note: If you prepare a cold beverage with this mix, and let it sit for a long period, it's a good idea to re-stir, unless you enjoy more layered flavors.)

Flavor notes included cocoa and salt with faint coconut and subtle root/herb and warm spice. There was a relatively subtle, balanced and fleeting cacao bitterness in the after-taste, but it mellowed quickly. (When I re-tasted this later I also enjoyed a bit more of a mildly spicy, authentic cinnamon flavor.)

This mix was sweetened with coconut sugar and monk fruit extract and it was not too sweet (thank you). This would make a potentially tasty addition to a hot or cold beverage or possible ingredient in homemade cacao treats/confections.****

This blend was made using (raw) "ceremonial grade cacao." This description refers to a "less processed" forms of cacao (e.g. unroasted or lightly roasted cacao, but not heated/fully ground (made into) chocolate). The cacao country of origin was not specified on the package/labeling.

Ingredients: Organic cacao bean powder, organic MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil powder, organic coconut (flower blossom) nectar powder, organic cocoa (bean) powder, organic turmeric root powder, Himalayan sea salt, organic cinnamon bark powder, organic monk fruit extract, organic lucuma fruit powder, organic mesquite pods powder, organic black pepper fruit powder.

Allergen-related information: (Couldn't find on packaging.) "Gluten Free, Non Dairy, USDA Organic, Soy Free, Non GMO"

*The price per ounce/gram for this all-organic product was much higher than most comparable product on the market that I could find; however, it was also made with relatively expensive ingredients.

**Note: I was not able to (nor did I seek to) confirm claims of "superfoods," or claims related to weight loss that accompanied some of the product's testimonials by users.

***Lucuma is a South American tree fruit often used in powdered form in food supplements. Its flavor is often described as sweet, with butterscotch, sweet potato, maple, or tropical fruit/mango notes. 

Mesquite powder is made from ground seed pods of the mesquite plant/tree and is used as a mild sweetener and/or flour.

**** Product disclaimer printed on the back of this package: "Do not use if you are pregnant, nursing, or are under the age of 18. 

Zotter - Gingerbread - Dark Chocolate with spiced filling (bar) - Feb. 25, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter
Gingerbread - Dark Chocolate with spiced filling (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Gingerbread - Dark Chocolate with spiced filling (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Cape Coral, FL).

The aroma for this organic bar included slightly boozy, spicy (star anise, gingerbread) and chocolate notes.

A thin, dark chocolate shell gave way to a very flavorful, velvety, jammy center (filling) with some chewy textural elements (that felt like coconut shreds, but in fact were thin tender, citrus peel shreds, and very tiny nut bits).

The concentrated, rich, spice fruitcake layer included fig and orange jam, ginger cake and a whisper of rum.

Yes, this bar was sweet; but the rich dark chocolate (and maybe the touch of alcohol) helped balance the sweetness in this complex spice bar.

Ingredients: Organic, fair trade cocoa mass; organic and fair trade cane sugar; gingerbread: 12% (rye flour, sugar, lemon peels, orange peels, corn syrup, eggs, honey, butter, milk, hazelnuts, walnuts, cinnamon, gingerbread spices, raising agent: sodium bicarbonate, pimento, nutmeg); organic and fair trade cocoa butter; milk; organic and fair trade rum; organic marzipan (organic almonds, organic sugar, organic invert sugar syrup); organic hazelnuts; honey; organic glucose syrup; dry whole milk; organic fair trade toasted coconut; dry skim milk; organic gingerbread spice (0.2%); organic cinnamon; salt; organic soy lecithin; organic, fair trade dark brown cane sugar; organic vanilla bean powder; organic cardamom; organic star anise. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains eggs, milk, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, coconut, soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts, peanuts and sesame."

Fruition Chocolate - Cinnamon Maple Bourbon 65% (bar) - Feb. 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate
Cinnamon Maple Bourbon 65% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 172 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Limited Release Cinnamon Maple Bourbon 65% (bar) was made by Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

This tasty bar had rich, layered flavors including rich milk chocolate, caramel and faint echoes of an aged bourbon cask. (Cocoa nibs used to make this bar were aged with cinnamon and "locally distilled" bourbon.)

The choice of (Tree Juice brand) maple sugar made in the Catskill mountains of New York (vs. cane sugar) and cinnamon, added warmth and flavor depth. (And, like many other high-quality dark milk chocolate bars, this one was mildly addictive.)

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, organic maple sugar, whole milk powder, organic cocoa butter, bourbon, cinnamon

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk. May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts and wheat."

Wildwood Chocolate - Cardamom and Honey Caramel with Sea Salt (bar) - Feb. 23, 2022

Chocolate of the Day 

Wildwood Chocolate

Cardamom and Honey Caramel with Sea Salt (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.176 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 182 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar

Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend ($12.75 on website)

Purchased from: N/A - gift from friend (thank you Wendy!)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Spices Weeks.

Today's Cardamom and Honey Caramel with Sea Salt (bar) was from Wildwood Chocolate (Portland, OR). The company offers chocolates inspired by nature in the Pacific Northwest; e.g. this bar was embossed with an attractive fern pattern.

Instead of spice, the aroma of this honey caramel filled bar had notes of chocolate sandwich cookies and milk and faint caramel. The (cardamom) spice was in the core--part of a thin layer of cardamom seasoned honey caramel--surrounded by 70% dark chocolate.

Breaking off a piece of this bar resulted in a thin gooey sheet and tendrils of caramel (that may be softer on a warm day). I'd advise dividing this bar into bite-sized pieces on a plate, or eating this chocolate with a napkin.

The smooth dark chocolate lacked identifiable cacao flavor notes. The caramel center added a pleasing mild, authentic cardamom spice flavor, and was relatively sweet. Although the salt helped balance this sweetness. 

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, sugar, soy lecithin, vanilla), cane sugar, cream (milk), honey, rice syrup, butter, vanilla extract (vanilla, alcohol), sea salt, cardamom seeds.

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy and milk. May contain traces of the following if not listed above due to shared equipment: tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and eggs."

Black Mountain Chocolate - Big Winston Ginger with Chilis on Goat Milk Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 22, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Black Mountain Chocolate

Big Winston Ginger with Chilis on Goat Milk Chocolate (bar)

Good +++

Weight: 1.6 oz. (45.25 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90.5 g.) in total bar

Calories: 263 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar (+ $12.55 for shipping)

Purchased from: Black Mountain Chocolate, online order

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

Today's "Big Winston"* Chocolate Bar--Crystallized Ginger with Bold and Spicy Chilis on Goat Milk Chocolate--was created by the team at Black Mountain Chocolate (Winston-Salem, NC).

This large bar had an inviting, rich milk chocolate aroma with faint warm spice notes.

The well-executed bar broke with a snap this cool February morning, and yielded a lush blend of creamy milk chocolate with tiny bits of plump, softly chewy crystallized ginger.

The luxe flavor blend was divine, with spiced toffee, caramel and ginger notes and a judicious chili after-glow (spicy uptick that did not overwhelm). The goat milk seemed to add an extra creamy caramel dimension to this milk chocolate spice bar, and a silken embrace around the potentially brasher chili and spice flavors.

I enjoyed this flavorful, rich milk chocolate made with well-balanced, high-quality ingredients. This chocolate was easy to appreciate and fun to taste, without too much sugar or chili fire. Perfect winter warmer; this bar would be great to share with others anytime. Warning: mildly addictive.

Maker's tasting notes: "...The warmth of crystallized ginger and chilies on this bar is cooled by our goat milk chocolate..." 

Ingredients: Dark chocolate (Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, whole powdered goat milk (goat milk, Vitamin D3, folic acid), organic cocoa butter, organic non-GMO sunflower lecithin), crystallized ginger (organic ginger, organic sugar), crushed cayenne peppers, ancho chili powder. 

Allergen-related information: (None found on label.) (Contained goat milk.)

*Black Mountain Chocolate notes: "The Big Winston name is a nod to the historic tobacco warehouse that now houses our Chocolate Factory." As of this post (2/22/22), today's ginger and chilies bar was one of four goat milk-based Big Winston bars that were offered on the company's website.