Saett & Salt Sukkuladi - Rjomasukkuladi (bar) - Dec. 13, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Saett and Salt Sukkuladi

(Sweet and Salt Chocolate)

Rjomasukkuladi 

(Milk Chocolate)

Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 275 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: 1,750 ISK for 1 bar (145 Icelandic Kronur = $1 USD)

Purchased from: Blaa Lonid HF (Blue Lagoon) cafe/shop, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Iceland Theme Week, featuring chocolate bars, confections and beverages made in Iceland, from a variety of chocolate makers and chocolatiers.

Today's Milk Chocolate bar was handmade by Elsa Gugga of Saett and Salt Sukkuladi (Sweet and Salt Chocolate) in Westfjords, Iceland.

Aroma notes for this bar included: rich milk chocolate, faint salt/savory, faint caramel and vanilla.

Texture: thick, creamy, almost velvety melt and mouthfeel.

The flavor was a bit too sweet for me; but it was satisfying, with nice milk/cream and a faint sparkle of sea salt and caramel. The touch of salt (from Saltverk) was just right--not enough to overwhelm, but enough to help balance the sweetness.

Saltverk (also located in far West Iceland, in the Westfjords area, where today's chocolatier is based) produces mineral-rich, flake sea salt.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cream, milk powder, cocoa butter, sugar, vanilla, soya lecithin, flake salt from Saltverk.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and soy. "May contain nuts in trace amounts."

*The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa located in Southwest Iceland. This popular destination spot is surrounded by a lava rock field. When we visited, the dark lava rocks were limned with white frost crystals. The landscape was one of fire and ice punctuated by geothermal plant steam and the aquamarine colors of the warm Blue Lagoon. Very scenic.

Isey Skyr - Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Skyr - Dec. 13, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Isey Skyr
Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Skyr 
Good - Good +
Weight: 6 oz. (170 g.) in one container
Calories: 173 calories (estimate) in 1 container
Cost: 232 ISK (approx.) (145 ISK (Icelandic Kronur) = $1 USD)
Purchased from: Bonus (store), Reykjavik (Harbor area), Iceland 

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

Today's Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Skyr was from Isey Skyr (Reykjavik, Iceland).

Skyr is an Icelandic cultured dairy product that is high in protein. It is similar to Greek-style yogurt in the U.S., but it's less tart and has a thick, almost silky texture and creamy flavor. (The heirloom Icelandic cultures used to make skyr are said to date back several centuries.*)

I enjoyed the skyr offerings in Iceland--none more so than a bowl in a small restaurant in the middle of the countryside. After that experience, I bought four types of skyr for a side-by-side breakfast tasting--including this Isey Skyr single-serving container with chocolate.

This skyr (made with skimmed milk) was flavored with dark chocolate and vanilla. Small chocolate flavored pieces/flecks contributed light chocolate chip type flavor. And faint vanilla added warmth and implied sweetness.

 Overall, this skyr was creamy and smooth and not too sweet (thank you).

See the next two posts for the 2nd (lunch) and 3rd (dinner) chocolates I also enjoyed today (Dec. 13, 2022).

Ingredients: Skimmed milk, chocolate chips (3%) (cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar), corn starch, binder (pectin), flavoring, sweetener (sucralose, acesulfame-K), vanilla bean, skim bacteria.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. Does not contain wheat. (Contains artificial sweeteners: sucralose, acesulfame-K.)

Note: This post was delayed due to international travel in Iceland and elsewhere.

* Isey Skyr uses the "original Icelandic skyr cultures from MS Iceland Dairies," a large dairy co-op with more than 500 farms.

OmNom Chocolate - "Ram" and "Octopus" Chocolate Ice Cream desserts - Dec. 12, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

OmNom Chocolate
"Hruturinn" (Hrutur = Ram) Ice Cream dessert

Good ++ 

Weight: Medium cup (weight unknown)

Calories: (unknown) 

Cost: 1190 ISK (Icelandic Krona) (about 145 ISK = $1 USD)

Purchased from: OmNom Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Shop, Reykjavic, Iceland

OmNom Chocolate

"Kolkrabbinn" (Kolkrabbi = Octopus)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: Medium cup (weight unknown)

Calories: (unknown)

Cost: 1190 ISK (Icelandic Krona) (about 145 ISK = $1 USD)

Purchased from: OmNom Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Shop, Reykjavic, Iceland

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

This evening's two fantasy ice cream desserts were created by OmNom Chocolate (Reykjavik, Iceland). (Together these ice cream desserts formed the second of two chocolate items featured today. See previous post for the morning chocolate.)

OmNom Chocolate (in the Reykjavik Harbor/Marina area) expanded their bean-to-bar chocolate factory offerings when they added special ice cream treats and festive yellow outdoor picnic tables during the Covid pandemic. Their creative ice cream desserts tie in with their chocolate bars. (Most of their chocolate packaging features stylized illustrations of different Arctic animals/wildlife.)

Side note: More reasons to like Iceland...People in Reykjavik like chocolate, and they also have no problem enjoying ice cream in December, a month when the sun is visible for only 4-5 hours per day. (I agree; ice cream is great any time of year, even if you're eating it inside, while peering out a window at the icy cold and dark outdoors.)

Hruturinn (Ram)

Hands down my favorite. The Ram sundae-style dessert contained ice cream and the classic (candy bar) elements of chocolate and nuts (peanuts, almonds) and caramel aroma, texture and flavors.

Toasted and caramelized peanuts were covered in Madagascar milk chocolate. And it also contained almond butter.  This flavorful dessert was likely inspired by the OmNom Sea Salted Almonds bar (adorned with the same geometric illustration of a ram).*

Kolkrabbinn (Octopus)

The "Octopus" dessert leveraged the OmNom Lakkris (licorice) and raspberry white chocolate bar's strengths. Outstretched (very edible) creamy, raspberry licorice octopus "arms" extended beyond the cup's outer edges making for a fun presentation. 

This licorice and red berry flavored dessert was further enlivened by sweet and tart chewy raspberry gummy candy pieces.

Ingredients: (No ingredients were listed on dessert cups, but helpful staff answered questions, and the list(s) may be available upon request.)

Allergen-related information: Both these desserts contained dairy, but were gluten free.

Note: The post for these desserts was delayed due to international travel in Iceland.

*There are many sheep in Iceland, approximately 1.2 sheep for every 1 person. Iceland is one of several countries in the world with more sheep than people. (Quick fun fact: Mongolia has 4.5 sheep for 1 person.) And yes, Australia and New Zealand have more than their share as well. Wales clocks in at 3 sheep per person. Source: Jan. 2022 article on  https://www.entegra.com.au/which-country-has-the-most-sheep/

Noi Sirius - Milk Chocolate Praline Caramels with Sea Salt - Dec. 12, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Noi Sirius
Milk Chocolate Praline with Caramel and Sea Salt (Noa Konfekt)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .89 oz. (25.2 g.) / 1.48 oz. (42 g.) in total box of 5 pieces
Calories: 125 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: 899 ISK (Krona) for 1 box of 5 pieces
Purchased from: Kr (store), Vik, Iceland

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

This morning's Milk Chocolate Praline with Caramel and Sea Salt confections were from Noi Sirius (Reykjavik, Iceland). The box of 5 pieces came neatly packaged, and with a cover photo of two Arctic foxes.

(See next post for chocolate ice cream desserts enjoyed later this same day (in the evening) in Reykjavik.)

Each of these oval-shaped confections was topped with a tiny raised image--in the shape of the county of Iceland.

Aroma notes included: sweet milk chocolate and caramel.

The texture: soft, flowing (liquid), light golden caramel encased by a layer of smooth milk chocolate.

Flavor notes included: balanced confectionery levels of sweet milk chocolate, caramel, and faint salt.

Ingredients: Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, emulsifier (soya lecithin), bourbon vanilla. Cocoa dry solids min. of 37%), caramel filling (33%) (sugar, glucose syrup, water, vegetable oil (palm kernel), whole milk powder, molasses, table salt, flavours, invertase, emulsifiers (soya lecithin), acid regulator (E501), acid (E296)).

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. "Produced in a factory which works with milk, soya, tree nuts and wheat."

Note: This post was delayed due to international travel in Iceland, and travel within the U.S.

 

Omnom Chocolate - Peru 100% (bar) - Dec. 11, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Omnom Chocolate 

Peru 100% (bar)

Good + 

Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar

Calories: 194.4 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Limited Edition Peru 100% bar* was designed and made by OmNom Chocolate (Reykjavik, Iceland), using Gran Nativo Blanco cacao beans.

Aroma notes for this single origin, single ingredient ultra-dark chocolate included: 

hearty, ultra-dark chocolate; very faint, fleeting clean mineral (clay); natural sweetness; very faint sweet green (herbal/floral); and faint, fleeting freshly baked bread (yeast, fermentation).

The texture was relatively smooth with faint astringency/tannins.

Flavor notes: balanced bitter and sour notes (think sour+bitter ale with a complex but pleasing flavor profile); ultra-dark dense chocolate; very faint naturally sweet, green herbal/floral.

Like many 100% (unsweetened) chocolate bars, this may be a bit strong even for dark chocolate lovers. But this one also had its own special charms and belongs in a 100% tasting flight. 

I braced myself for bolder flavor, taking a tiny nibble first. And even as I was thinking this may be too much, I was enjoying the lack of sugar and all the subtler notes. The bitter/sour notes faded. Then I found myself wanting to go back and take a few more bites.

Ingredients: Peruvian Gran Nativo Blanco Cocoa Beans

Allergen-related information: "Designed and made in Iceland, in a facility that handles nuts, dairy and gluten."

Note: The post for this entry was delayed due to international travel in Iceland. And, yes, I did buy this Limited Edition Peru 100% OmNom (crafted in Iceland) bar in the U.S. and then traveled to Iceland with this chocolate with me in my chocolate suitcase--back to its place of "birth" to kick-off Chocolate and Iceland Week. (This 100% Peru bar was no longer available at the OmNom Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Store in Reykjavik.)

Pascha - 55% Cacao Barely Dark, Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Pascha 
55% Cacao Barely Dark, Organic Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .95 oz. (27 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 4 pieces (1 serving) of bar
Cost: $2.39 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 55% Cacao "Barely Dark" Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) was a product of Peru and distributed by Pascha Chocolate Company (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Aroma notes for this sweet, dark chocolate Peru bar included: sweet herbal + green floral; faint brown sugar and molasses; dark chocolate (dark ganache); and very faint dried fruit and licorice herb.

The texture was relatively smooth with a very faint graininess (more similar to stoneground chocolate than fruit astringency). 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (dark ganache (truffle filling), dark chocolate cookie); faint nut (walnut brownie); sweet, slightly floral herb; and faint licorice herb. (There were no walnuts or herbs in this bar.)

This certified Organic, sweet, dark chocolate bar with interesting and balanced complexity was made in Peru. And the chocolate liquor and cocoa butter used to make this chocolate were from Rainforest Alliance Certified (www.ra.org) farms.

Ingredients: Organic cane sugar, organic chocolate liquor, and organic cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: "Made in an allergen-free facility...No peanuts, no nuts, no gluten, no egg, no wheat, no soy, no dairy, no emulsifiers"

Note: This post was delayed due to international travel.

 

Pascha - 85% Cacao Very Dark Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Pascha Chocolate Company 
85% Cacao Very Dark Organic Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .95 oz. (27 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 4 pieces (1 serving) of bar
Cost: $2.39 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's 85% Cacao Very Dark Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) was a Product of Peru and distributed by Pascha Chocolate Company (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Aroma notes included: fragrant sweet green herb; earth; dried fruits (date, fig); maple sugar; brown sugar; graham cracker; very faint fleeting menthol (Pine Sol cleaner); woodsy; and almost nutty (walnut).

The texture of this high-percentage bar was creamy smooth, fudgey chocolate with a very slight astringency.

Flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes listed above, with more dark chocolate (ultra-dark chocolate fudge)--more similar to a 75% than 85% cacao dark chocolate. This Peru bar had interesting complexity and was low in bitterness.

Ingredients: Organic chocolate liquor, organic cane sugar and organic cocoa butter. (UTZ certified cocoa.)

Allergen-related information: "Completely free from the 8 major allergens"

Note: This post was delayed due to international travel.