Hu Chocolate - Salty Dark Chocolate Organic 70% Cacao (bar) - Apr. 8, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hu Chocolate
Salty - Dark Chocolate Organic 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Sea Salt. 

Today's Hu Salty Dark Chocolate Organic 70% Cacao, Vegan, Paleo bar was made in Italy and distributed by Hu Products, LLC (Austin, TX).

The company has earned a reputation for thoughtful ingredients. It has long eschewed refined/cane sugar, sugar alcohols, erythritol--choosing coconut palm sugar* instead. Also missing/avoided are potential allergens and ingredients like dairy, soy, palm oil, and lecithins (emulsifiers). And the founders were early adopters of organic and fair trade cacao and cocoa butter for their line of chocolate bars and confections.

Aroma notes for this bar included: chocolate (rich cocoa, dark drinking chocolate), faint molasses and/or coconut sugar, and very faint salt (fleeting, salted potato chip).

This Organic, Fairtrade sweet and salty chocolate had a smooth, stoneground texture and taste, and a satisfying mouthfeel (cocoa butter).

Flavor notes included chocolate (dark chocolate ganache, faint fleeting earth), faint molasses cookie, and salt. The sweetness (coconut palm sugar) was uniform; and this less refined sugar felt less "buzzy" than cane sugar.*

There was one slightly more salty bite in the bar than the others that justified the "Salty" moniker. (Often the case with salted chocolates.) Otherwise the flavors were balanced and the bar was more sweet than salty.

Ingredients: Organic, Fairtrade cacao; Organic unrefined coconut sugar; Organic, Fairtrade cocoa butter, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. May contain almond, cashews, hazelnut, pistachio, and dairy. Allergen cleans made prior to production, but beware that product is produced using equipment that also processes tree nuts, soy, dairy (and) wheat.

*Coconut palm sugar is made from coconut flower blossom sap--often hand harvested--from high up in palm tree canopies, growing in tropical locales. 

Notably, this sugar has a lower score on the Glycemic Index (than glucose or cane sugar). This is a good thing for those with insulin resistance or blood sugar management challenges. Although it must be noted there are many factors that go into blood sugar levels. E.g., a piece of fruit has high sugar levels, but may be accompanied by fiber and other nutrients.

Bottom line: with coconut palm sugar or brown sugars, you may experience a lower, or less rapid/pronounced, spike in blood sugar than you would with more processed "white" cane sugar used in most chocolates. 

My experience: coconut palm sugar feels (subjectively) like a lower blood sugar spike (up to 30-40% less) for me. And I enjoy less of a sugar buzz. Your mileage may vary.

Noi Sirius - 70% Extra Bitter Sea Salt Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 7, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Noi Sirius 
70% Extra Bitter Sea Salt Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 6 squares (29 g.) / 7.05 oz. (200 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (6 squares, 29 g.) of bar 
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

Today's 70% Extra Bitter Sea Salt Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Noi Sirius (Reykjavik, Iceland).

Iceland is about the size of Kentucky in the U.S., and has a vast and grand feel to it, in part due to its rugged climate, proximity to the sea, and hilly, volcanic terrain. Notably, it's also home to several chocolatiers and chocolate makers. 

One of the largest Iceland chocolate companies, and producer of today's traditional Icelandic chocolate bar, is Noi Sirius (founded in 1920). 

Some Iceland chocolates (and some delicious hot chocolates as well) contain Icelandic milk; and/or sea salt from local salt works.

Today's generously sized package contained two large bars--a quantity suitable for many uses, including baking chocolate or inclusion in a variety of chocolate desserts. I enjoyed eating it by itself.

Aroma notes for this 70% chocolate included: dark chocolate (faint mocha roast) and faint sea salt caramel.

Each thick, scored bar broke with a hearty snap and had a relatively smooth, uniform texture.

Flavor notes included dark chocolate and a very faint, balanced light earth and even fainter aromatic spice (black pepper, pfeffernuse cookie) note in the finish. 

This set of 70% bars was labeled as "Extra Bitter." However, I found them to be relatively low in bitterness (from a dark chocolate lover's perspective) and acidity. They did fall on the darker side in the overall line-up of the company's chocolate offerings.

I appreciated this chocolate was relatively low in sugar. And the touch of sea salt seemed just right -- not too salty, but enough to add a bit of complementary, slightly addictive sweet-and-salt, warm savory flavor.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, fat reduced cocoa powder, Icelandic sea salt (1%), soy lecithin, bourbon vanilla, cocoa dry solids minimum 70%.

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

Srsly Chocolate - Sal De Rey 70% Dark (bar) - Apr. 6, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Srsly Chocolate
Sal de Rey 70% Dark (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Srsly Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

Today's Sal de Rey 70% Dark (bar) was from Srsly Chocolate Inc. (Austin, TX).

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate included: chocolate, dried fruit (raisin, date, plum), sweet green herbal spice and faint licorice, and very faint molasses. 

(After last week's largely tamed yet dark and impenetrable Forastero-style cacao flavors from Ghana, one good whiff of this chocolate lit up my Trinitario hybrid variety cacao radar. (Fruit! There are fruit trees and other botanicals in this sunlit jungle.)

Relatively thick, this bar broke with a well-tempered, audible snap. The texture was fairly smooth (almost creamy) with a brief bit of fleeting (fruit) astringency.

Made with Dominican Republic cacao (that was stone ground in Texas) and a constellation of small, glistening Texas salt crystals* this chocolate sparkled with well-executed, balanced, big flavors.

The fruit and other aroma notes (hinted at above) also revealed themselves in the taste (fruit salad with sweet orange, watermelon, mango, passion fruit, banana, dried fruits); and the dark chocolate flavor bloomed into something wonderful. (Have you ever tried a fresh tropical fruit and watermelon salad with a pinch of sea salt? Maybe a little chili and salt?)

Back to the seductive, sweet, salty, and satisfying chocolate that had the rich flavor of a fine drinking chocolate...Yes, this bar would be at home on a fruit and/or cheese plate, or grated over a dessert. (Sea salt dark chocolate mousse or brownies anyone?) But, to fully appreciate the nuanced, fruity cocoa complexity in this 70% dark chocolate with sea salt, enjoy it all by itself first.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, hand harvested Texas salt

Allergen-related information: "Made in a factory that processes milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts and wheat"

 *Maker's notes: "This bar celebrates Texas salt. We hand harvested salt from the bank of an ancient salt lake in the Rio Grande Valley...The unique minerality of this Texas salt accentuates the bright fruit notes of the chocolate." (Yes, it does.)

Theo & Philo Chocolate Factory - 60% Dark Chocolate with Green Banana Chips + Pink Salt (bar) - Apr. 5, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory
60% Dark Chocolate with Green Banana Chips + Pink Salt (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .795 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 111 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

Today's 60% Dark Chocolate with Green Banana Chips + Pink Salt (bar) was from Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory, Inc. (Manila, Philippines).

Aroma notes for this bar included: soft fruit (tropical, banana), subtle chocolate, and mild, sweet floral (vanilla, coconut).

Layered bits of green banana chips in lush 60% dark chocolate created a satisfying, softly crunchy (starchy, crispy) texture. The sweet-salt balance was in the delicious and addictive range.

This chocolate bar made with cacao from the Philippines reminded me of a very enjoyable, rich chocolate cookie (lacy, buttery dark chocolate and almond florentines) or a tropical island chocolate profiterole. Delicate but also rich, crunchy and delicious.

Understated aroma and flavor notes were elegantly complex and authentic and not boring.

Ingredients: Cacao beans, sugar, banana, cocoa butter, coconut oil, Himalayan salt.

Allergen-related information: (Cotained coconut.) Processed in a facility that also processes peanuts and other tree nuts.

Endangered Species - Oat Milk Sea Salt + Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Endangered Species Chocolate
Oat Milk Sea Salt + Dark Chocolate 75% Cocoa (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $3.86 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

Today's Oat Milk Sea Salt + Dark Chocolate 75% Cocoa (bar) was created by Endangered Species Chocolate, LLC (Indianapolis, IN).

The company has donated a portion of their net proceeds* to causes that help preserve wildlife for many years, and continues to do so. (Inside the leopard print-adorned wrapper surrounding today's bar was additional information on the endangered Amur Leopard, and more info. about organizations they support.)

Aroma notes for this oat milk chocolate bar included: dark chocolate (faintly roasted), deep dark Forastero-variety like cacao). Very faint notes included: floral perfume (vanilla), citrus (lemon green (oxalis)), and cookie/biscuit.

This dark chocolate bar broke with a hard snap (in a cold room), and the flavor notes mirrored the dark chocolate aroma notes listed above. 

The oat milk showed up a bit in the finish (as a faint, fine oat particle grittiness); but was not really detectable until this point. 

The oat milk may also have mellowed the 75% dark chocolate flavors (there was relatively low bitterness, acidity for such a dark tasting chocolate); and the sugar taste as well. (It was not overly sweet; thank you.)

The pink Himalayan salt added an extra flavor accent that complemented the dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate, non-dairy and vegan fans who don't care for overly sweet chocolates and like supporting good causes are most likely to appreciate this bar. 

This chocolate bar does not contain milk; but there may be traces of milk in the manufacturing process.

Ingredients: Chocolate (chocolate liquor, cane sugar, cocoa butter, whole grain oats, soy lecithin, vanilla), pink Himalayan salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains soy. Produced on equipment that also processes products containing milk, peanuts and tree nuts.

*Ten percent of net proceeds are donated. "Endangered Species Chocolate partners with non-profit wildlife and conservation organizations that are making a measurable and significant difference," such as National Forest Foundation, The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, and Wildcats Conservation Alliance.

Letterpress - Ashanti Ghana Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Apr. 3, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Letterpress Chocolate LLC
Ashanti Ghana Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Ghana Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week. 

Today's Ashanti Ghana Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Letterpress Chocolate LLC, a small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Los Angeles, CA.

Ashanti, a cocoa growing region in Ghana, has experienced slave labor and low prices for farmers. To help ensure higher payments to these farmers, Letterpress worked with The Ghana Cocoa Board (and paid above commodity prices) when they obtained the cocoa used to make today's chocolate.

Aroma notes included: chocolate (brownie, dark chocolate sauce/ganache) and very faint citrus (lemon herb, oxalis).

This well-tempered bar had a smooth, almost velvety, chocolate-y texture and melt.

The flavor was satisfying chocolate brownie flavor with a very light touch of sea salt. The brownie-forward flavor was not terribly complex; however, the chocolate flavor was rich, lovable, well-balanced, well-executed, and with no off-notes.

The sweetness level was average for a 70% cocoa chocolate (fairly sweet for ultra-dark fans, but not overwhelmingly so). This was a slightly addictive, salted brownie treasure.

Maker's tasting notes: salted brownie, graham cracker

Ingredients: Cacao beans, certified organic unrefined cane sugar, certified organic cocoa butter, sea salt

Allergen-related information: Processed in a facility that also processes nuts and dairy.

MIA - Ghana Gold - Sea Salt and Cocoa Nibs Dark Chocolate 73% Cocoa (bar) - Apr. 2, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

MIA
Ghana Gold - Sea Salt and Cocoa Nibs Dark Chocolate 73% Cocoa (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Ghana Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week.

Today's MIA Ghana Gold - Sea Salt and Cocoa Nibs Dark Chocolate Chocolate 73% Cocoa (bar) was a product of Ghana and distributed by Kuanza Ltd. (London, UK).

MIA chocolate bars don't just contain cacao grown in Africa. Their finished chocolate is made in two African countries (Madagascar and Ghana). Only a small percent of chocolate bars are made from bean to bar in Africa.*

This Sea Salt and Nibs chocolate was part of the company's "Ghana Gold" series of bars (announced in 2022) made with Ghana cacao.*

Aroma notes included: chocolate (sweet cocoa), faint citrus (lemony herb, oxalis), and even faint cookie (graham cracker and coconut shortbread cookie).

The well-tempered smooth chocolate had a relatively slow, even melt (eaten in a cool room) and was interspersed with small crunchy flecks of cocoa bean (cocoa nibs). 

Flavor notes included rich cocoa (faint roasted mocha latte with a twist of lemon peel). The citrus was slightly sweet and had a mild tartness (faint lemon acidity and faint bitterness).

Too much salt can overpower more delicate cacao notes. That was not a problem with this relatively mild sea salt and nibs chocolate. If anything, a bit more cocoa (e.g. deep, dark brownie-ness) and sea salt might've helped to balance the inherent sweetness--that was relatively high for a 73% cacao chocolate with cacao nibs. (In defense of choices made with this bar, U.S. foods tend to have a lot of salt and sugar. You can always add salt if you need more. But, overly salty chocolate is very hard to fix.) 

Fans of less intense dark chocolate will enjoy the lighter touch this bar offers.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cane sugar, cocoa nibs (7%), cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), salt (less than 1%). Minimum cocoa solids: 73%.

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

*MIA is a brand of Kuanza Ltd. (I'm guessing that MIA might stand for Made in Africa, but I could be mistaken.) While Africa produces the bulk (approximately 70%) of the world's cacao, only about 1% of finished chocolate is produced in Africa. 

Making finished chocolate "in country" (Ghana in this case) allows cacao farmers and producer communities to benefit from proceeds that normally flow out of Africa and into manufacturing centers in other nations.