Manoa Chocolate - Chocolate Macadamia Spread - Aug. 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
Chocolate Macadamia Spread
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 9 oz. (255 g.) in total bar
Calories: 185 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. serving
Cost: $15.00 for 1 jar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order

Aloha, and welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's jar of Chocolate Macadamia Spread was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI).

Aroma and flavor notes for this thick and smooth, fudgey dark chocolate spread included: mild nutty coconut graham cracker cookie, thick, rich dark chocolate ganache, very faint sweet green (freshly picked green sugar cane stalks, sweet green seed butter, green floral-vanilla), and very faint, fleeting buttered Boston brown bread (a steamed, moist bread containing molasses, cornmeal and raisins).

This was a skillfully executed blend of ground macadamia nuts (1st ingredient listed)--that gave this spread a very subtle, nuanced nutty background flavor--and ground cocoa nibs (the 2nd ingredient listed) that contributed rich, nuanced dark chocolate ganache-forward flavor. 

The sweetener: organic cane cane sugar yielded more flavor depth than processed sugar. Add coconut oil and a judicious dose of sea salt, and you have a flavorful, high-end chocolate spread that captures the spirit of Hawaii. As the label suggested: "Spread the Aloha."

Enjoy this spread on a croissant, toast, between cake (or dessert parfait) layers. Fold it into a smoothie or ice cream sundae. Make your own chocolate-filled sandwich cookie. Or eat it plain while you're dreaming of your next trip to Hawaii. There are no wrong answers here.

Note: Manoa also offers chocolate covered mac nuts and rum chocolate covered mac nuts.

Ingredients: Hawaiian macadamia nuts, cacao nibs, organic cane sugar, coconut oil, cocoa powder, sea salt

Allergen-related information: Contains nuts (macadamia nuts). 

Check Manoa website or contact them for allergen-related details. This week's (2022) KoHana Rum 75% Dark Chocolate bar had this label: "Manufactured by Manoa Chocolate Hawaii...(in) Kailua, HI...This facility also processes milk, wheat, peanut, walnut, cashew, pecan, coconut, macadamia (and) hazelnut."

Manoa Chocolate - Kohana Rum 75% Hawaii Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 28, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
Kohana Rum 75% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order

Aloha, and welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Kohana Rum 75% Hawaii Chocolate (bar), made with Hawaii grown cacao, was created by Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI) in collaboration with Hawaii rum distiller, Ko Hana, using Hawaii cacao.

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate (in order of appearance) included: aromatic sweet liquor (rum) and chocolate (dark chocolate, dark ganache). The texture was even, light and creamy. 

Chocolate flavor notes included spiked dark chocolate mousse, faint diffuse sweet fruit and brown sugar, very faint pleasing vanilla-like floral spice, and faint wood tones (similar to the oak casks used to age "sweet" bourbon whiskey).

This Manoa Chocolate Hawaiian chocolate had rich, nuanced liquor and smooth dark chocolate flavors. Going slightly darker with a 75% cacao (vs. 70% cacao) base worked very nicely with the inherently sweet (rum and cacao) flavors. This high-end rum and chocolate pairing in a single bar would also make a nice gift, or special bar to share with friends.

Manoa maker's description: "We collaborated with local rum distiller Ko Hana to create this bar. Ko Hana Agricole Rum is meticulously crafted from farm to bottle. They grow single varietal sugar canes that are hand harvested, pressed to juice and then distilled to perfection--resulting in one of the world's finest pure cane rums."

Ingredients: Rum soaked cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter 

Allergen-related information: "Vegan chocolate" "Manufactured by Manoa Chocolate Hawaii...(in) Kailua, HI...This facility also processes milk, wheat, peanut, walnut, cashew, pecan, coconut, macadamia (and) hazelnut."

Manoa Chocolate - Hawai'i Island Kealakekua 70% (bar) - Aug. 27, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
Hawai'i Island Kealakekua 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order

Aloha, and welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Hawai'i Island Kealakekua 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI). 

Kona lies on the west side of Hawai'i island, aka the Big Island, that is hotter and drier than the Hilo/east side of the island). The sloped spot has rich volcanic soil and there are several small farms growing coffee and cacao, with the help of irrigation, in this region.

Aroma notes for this Hawai'i dark chocolate (in order of appearance) included: fermentation (fruit vinegar, raisin)--a note that receded after the bar was opened for a few minutes, dark chocolate (ganache), nutty green, faint, sweet wood, and faint, fleeting, fertile ranch earth notes. 

The texture was even, light and creamy with a very, very faint fruit astringency at the end.

Chocolate flavor notes included dark chocolate mousse, honey, tart melon and citrus, light lemon and nut shortbread cookie, pleasing botanical green (sweet green seed, vanilla-like floral spice), and very faint (and balanced) light, garden green earth notes.

This was another Manoa Chocolate Hawaiian chocolate bar this week (the second featured with Hawai'i Island grown cacao), with rich chocolate flavor that had nuanced depth. 

This balanced, bold chocolate with subtle fruit, nut and green notes was well-crafted and approachable, with a friendly array of island plantation notes. Most of these Manoa bars this week ended with a very slight, balanced earth note toward the end--although each of these earth notes had a very slightly different earth "hue."

Manoa maker's description: "...Kealakekua is hot and dry. Normally, cacao trees would be unable to survive the harsh lava field conditions, but with irrigation they thrive." (Notes: fruity, nutty, fudgey, citrusy)

Manoa suggested beverage pairings: Wine: Gamay; Beer: Brown Ale; Liquor: Islay Scotch

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter 

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes milk powder and nuts."

Manoa Chocolate - Hawai'i Island Kona 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 26, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
Hawai'i Island Kona 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order

Aloha, and welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Hawai'i Island Kona 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI). 

Kona lies on the west side of Hawai'i, aka the Big Island. The sloped spot has rich volcanic soil and is dotted with several small farms growing coffee, fruit and cacao.

Aroma notes for this Hawai'i dark chocolate included: clean, sweet green (nut, seed, stalks, floral, sugarcane,), faint green coconut, tart green citrus (lemongrass) and light almond.

The texture was lovely with an even, light, creamy (almost fluffy) mouthfeel. It was both rich and light at the same time, a little bit liked some whipped buttery mousses.

Chocolate flavor notes included dark chocolate mousse, honey, fruit (green melon), light citrus shortbread, and very faint (and balanced) light, loamy green earth notes.

Like the other Manoa Chocolate Hawaii-born chocolate bars this week, this one had rich chocolate flavor with nuanced depth. 

This slightly bolder chocolate with was well-crafted and approachable, with a friendly array of subtle green, island plantation notes. Like the other Manoa bars, it ended with a very slight earth note toward the end (as the others had despite slightly different cacao blends/origins). 

Manoa maker's notes: "The Likau Kula Farm in Kona is one of our oldest sources of Hawaiian cacao. In 2019 at the largest chocolate festival in the world, the Salon Du Chocolat in Paris, these Hawaiian grown beans from Kona won top 15 best flavored cacao in the world." (Notes: nutty, floral, fudgey)

Manoa suggested beverage pairings: Wine: Pinot Noir; Beer: Summer Ales; Liquor: Bourbon

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter 

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes milk powder and nuts."

O'ahu Island Waimanalo 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 25, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
O'ahu Island Waimanalo 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order

Aloha, and welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's O'ahu Island Waimanalo 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI). 

The cacao beans used to make this bar were grown on the makers' farm on O'ahu--making this not just single origin, bean-to-bar chocolate, but also single island, tree-to-bar chocolate from Hawaii. It was exciting to taste this. It's quite an accomplishment for those few makers in the U.S. (almost all in Hawaii) who have the work ethic, desire and know-how to pull this off.

Aroma notes included: green (maple), fermentation (fermented, bright fruit - grapes, goji berries, faint pineapple and even fainter sweet tangerine), followed by sweet green dark chocolate again.

The flavor notes resembled the aroma notes listed above. In addition, there were lots of rich, smooth chocolate notes (fudge brownie), more bright, naturally sweet and nuanced layers of fruit, and faintly green/maple, sweet earth notes.

Manoa maker's description: "Waimanalo is a small town just 15 minutes from our Kailua based factory. It is home to our very own cacao farm, a parcel with about 130 mature cacao trees. In 2021 we had three bountiful harvests from this orchard, providing us with enough cacao to make the first Single Origin Waimanalo Bar -- grown and made by us!"

Manoa suggested beverage pairings: Wine: Dry Rose; Beer: Berry Lambics; Liquor: Gin

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter 

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes milk powder and nuts."

Manoa Chocolate - Goat Milk 69% Dark Milk Chocolate - Aug. 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
Goat Milk 69% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order

Aloha, and welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Goat Milk 69% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI). 

The initial (just-opened) aroma for this bar was relatively strong with some goat (lightly gamey, waxy, milky) and dark milk chocolate notes. 

For more sensitive palettes, I recommend letting this creamy, buttery chocolate "breathe" a little after unsealing the inner wrapper. (The aroma settled down, mellowing very nicely after about 30 minutes.) 

The texture was luxurious and lovely, and the chocolate flavor had some depth with fun, fleeting fruit notes (some berry, some yellow stone fruit, some tropical), lush true chocolate (brownie, dark ganache) and very faint earth.

What a fun and special bar to try. It was a whisker under 70% cacao, but not too sweet. Thank you Manoa!

Manoa maker's description: "This bar has a unique flavor that reminds us of a dark chocolate cheesecake. With only 20% sugar and 11% goat milk powder, it has both the characteristics of a bold dark chocolate and the rich creaminess of a milk chocolate."

Manoa suggested beverage pairings: Wine: Sauvignon Blanc; Beer: Nitro Stout; Liquor: Rye Whiskey.

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter and goat milk powder.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. "Made in a facility that processes milk powder and nuts."

Maverick Chocolate - Big Island Hawaii Dark Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 23, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Maverick Chocolate Co.
Big Island Hawaii Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Big Island Hawaii Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Maverick Chocolate Co. (Cincinnati, OH). 

The aroma notes (in order of appearance) for this Big Island dark bar included: fermentation (very faint fruit/grape vinegar), smooth dark chocolate, fruit (tart sweet berries, stone fruit (subtle honey-ed nectarines and peaches, mango)) and warm spice. 

Note: the fruity fermentation aroma note(s) were balanced and not objectionable, and receded a bit after the inner sealed packaging had been open for several minutes. This aspect added a little extra oomph to a solidly pleasant, uniform, relatively thick and smooth 70% dark chocolate bar.

The flavor notes for this chocolate, that broke with a well-tempered snap, mirrored the aroma notes above (with fewer faint fermentation notes and more rich chocolate notes).

This Good Food Awards winner (2018) provided some fuel for imaginary virtual travel. It was an enjoyable bar to sample, and less expensive than jumping on a plane to visit the Big Island.

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans (100% Hawaiian), organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and milk products due to shared equipment. Soy free. Vegan."