Pacific Resources International - Coffee Dark Chocolate Patties Manuka Honey - Apr. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Pacific Resources International

Coffee - Dark Chocolate Patties Manuka Honey 

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.07 oz. (30.3 g.) / 5 oz. (141.5 g.) in total package

Calories: 120 calories in 3 pieces

Cost: $9.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Coffee Dark Chocolate Patties with Manuka Honey* were distributed by Pacific Resources International (Carpinteria, CA).

Aroma notes for these patties--individually swaddled in dark coffee-colored foil--included rich floral sweetness (saffron honey and other floral/botanical honey notes), bold, dark chocolate; and very faint, fleeting savory (Parmesan cheese).

Flavor notes followed the aroma notes and included: richly nuanced, sweet honey, quickly followed by bitter, unsweetened chocolate--a bold, slightly earthy, woodsy/nutty dark chocolate that lingered into the finish after the honey notes had subsided. The dark, slightly bitter notes were also joined by dark roast Arabica coffee--a flavor that surfaced in the finish, after the 99% dark chocolate melted away.

These patties were a perfect example of sweet and bitter, yin and yang, gold and ebony. The powerful, deep floral bouquet and sweetness of the Manuka honey was lovely. This honey from New Zealand, made by bees--from Manuka tree/flower nectar, is arguably one of the best on Earth. In stark contrast was the ultra-dark (99%) bitter dark chocolate. 

Both honey filling and dark chocolate had an appealingly smooth texture. The honey was silkier, and the dark chocolate was creamier.

I deeply appreciate layered flavors. And today's three-ingredient, bold honey + chocolate + coffee dessert parfait confection, delivered on this concept.

My favorite chocolates showcase a few, high-quality and well-executed flavor layers. A select few also deliver a magical resolve--from separate layers into a harmonious blend. 

In today's case, three strong flavors were well-cultivated and layered but not completely integrated. Is it fair to expect 99% harmony from a trio of flavor divas? No, it's not. Only a very few chocolates deliver both craft and magic. And this feat tends to be very flavor-dependent. 

Ingredients: "Manuka/Honey, 99% cocoa dark chocolate, arabica coffee (ground)"

Allergen-related information:  "Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Kosher-certified..."

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Cappuccino Coconut Milk 55% Cacao (bar) - Apr. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Cappuccino Coconut Milk 55% Cacao (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Cappuccino Coconut Milk 55% (bar) was from Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ). 

This coconut milk chocolate was made using cacao from Peru, and was "ground with Blue Bottle Espresso." 

Aroma notes included: coffee candy, caffe latte/cappuccino with spice (vanilla, cinnamon and caramel) and chocolate (dark coconut milk ganache, very faint earth and red berry).

The 55% chocolate had a seductive creamy melt and smooth texture. You'll be forgiven if you think this bar contained dairy milk or cream. This well-executed, award-winning, dairy-free bar fooled me.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate and sweet and flavorful coffee with cappuccino and light caramel notes. It was sweet (and addictive); but the sugar was well-balanced with the flavorful espresso coffee and chocolate--and well-integrated with the harmonious and nuanced rich mocha fiesta this bar conjured.

Maker's tasting notes: "Notes of espresso, caramel macchiato, chocolate frosting"

Ingredients: Cacao*, cacao butter*, cane sugar*, coconut*, coffee, vanilla bean*, sea salt. (*Organically farmed)

Allergen-related information: Soy free, gluten free, dairy free, vegan. (Contained coconut.)

Chocolove - Ganache & Coconut in Dark Chocolate - Apr. 14, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove
Ganache and Coconut in Dark Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total package of 2 small bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1 package of 2 small bars
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Nugget Markets, Tiburon, CA

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

Today's Ganache and Coconut in Dark Chocolate was from Chocolove (Boulder, CO).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, sweet coconut, and hot cocoa

A generous, creamy, almost buttery, soft dark chocolate (rich, dark chocolate ganache) coating enveloped a softly chewy, sweet, shredded coconut center. 

The dark chocolate was smooth, balanced and relatively uniform, with a very faint earthy fudge brownie note.

Having two smaller bars in the same package made it easy to share this with a friend. But, I also had no problem eating both pieces (considered one serving).

This Non-GMO Verified dark chocolate was sweet without being cloyingly so. This also reminded me of an luxe version of a classic childhood candy bar.*

Ingredients: Dark chocolate ([Rainforest Alliance certified**] cocoa liquor, sugar, [Rainforest Alliance certified] cocoa butter, soy lecithin and/or sunflower lecithin, vanilla), organic cream (milk, gellan gum), tapioca syrup, organic coconut, dextrose, glycerin, cane sugar, organic honey, organic butter, organic palm fruit oil, organic butter oil, sorbitol, sunflower lecithin, vanilla extract.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, coconut, soy. May contain traces of wheat, eggs, peanuts or other nuts."

*Today's bar recalls several higher end dark chocolate confections filled with a coconut centers, and the Dark Chocolate Coconut Mounds candy bar--currently owned and being produced by The Hershey Company, that was a top seller during my childhood.

The Mounds candy bar was produced by Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company (starting in 1929, after buying the offering from the original entrepreneur and Connecticut candy maker, Vincent Nitido.) Decades later, Peter Paul merged with Cadbury in 1978. And Hershey purchased U.S. Operations in the late 1980s.)

** "100% of the cocoa in this product comes from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms." "Cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms is grown in ways that benefit farm families, wildlife and the environment. To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org."

Blue Stripes Urban Cacao - Whole Cacao Trail Mix Dark Chocolate Coconut - Apr. 13, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Blue Stripes Urban Cacao
Whole Cacao Trail Mix - Dark Chocolate Coconut 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1/4 cup (34 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total package
Calories: 190 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Coconut Whole Cacao Trail Mix was distributed by Blue Stripes LLC (New York, NY). 

The company produces offerings with upcycled cacao that include "the whole cacao pod" (cacao fruit, cacao beans (seeds), and cacao pod shell fiber). (They also offer cacao fruit juices, chocolate bars and granola.)

Today's certified non-GMO and vegan trail mix included dried cacao fruit (with pod fiber), chocolate covered cacao beans, and 70% dark chocolate chips. 

But, that's not all. The cacao pieces sat amidst hearty chunks of nuts (cashews, Brazil nuts), coconut, and red goji berries.

Aroma notes included: coconut, soft green, chocolate/cacao, fruit (berry), nuts, and faint cashew/nut shortbread cookie.

The texture included mostly softly crunchy items (coconut, cashews, Brazil nuts, chocolate chips). Despite relatively large pieces (good for trail eating on the go), the only items with a firmer, molar-engaging chew were the sweet, dried fruit nuggets made of dried cacao fruit and flecks of cacao pod fiber.

The biggest items in this constellation were large brown orbs composed of soft, nutty, hazelnut chocolates with crunchy, authentic cocoa bean centers.

Flavors were well balanced and mirrored the aroma notes. This was a multi-sensory cacao field trip contained in just one handful. The sweetness level was authentic. No gratuitously sugared items (thank you!). Just a bit of intermittent dried fruits and 70% dark chocolate. The minimal sugar allowed authentic, unvarnished nut and coconut flavors to shine through. The coconut flavor was natural and subtle.

But how was it as a trail mix? This engaging, cacao-filled mix delivered tasty, portable trail fuel for an active day outdoors. Yep, healthy and fun, as advertised. I could see including this trail mix in a chocolate tasting class to illustrate what "whole cacao" means and taste like.

Thank you to Blue Stripes Urban Cacao for showing us what's possible with certified, upcycled cacao--a possibility that had been discussed for years; but, as with anything new, it has taken a few pioneering companies willing to take risks, to implement new offerings (and supply chains) and successfully educate and connect with distributors and consumers. No small task.

Ingredients: Hazelnut chocolate covered cacao beans (100% cacao liquor, coconut sugar, cacao beans, hazelnut butter, cacao butter, cacao shell fiber, cacao fruit sugar, sea salt), cashews, Brazil nuts, dried cacao fruit, dried coconut, goji berries, 70% chocolate (cacao mass, coconut sugar, cacao butter).

Allergen-related information: Contains cashews, Brazil nuts, coconut, hazelnut. Allergen claims made prior to production, beware that product is produced in a facility that also processes tree nuts, soy, peanuts, milk (and) wheat. 

Myracle Kitchen - Chocolate Coconut Bytes - Apr. 12, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Myracle Kitchen 
Chocolate Coconut Bytes 
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (30 g.) / 3.17 oz. (90g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Today's Myracle Kitchen Chocolate Coconut Bytes were a product of Sri Lanka and distributed by Nurture Brands LLC (Larchmont, NY). (Certified B Corp.)

Aroma and flavor notes for these light, petite disc-shaped treats included: sweet coconut and cocoa.

The perfectly light and crunchy texture of these "byte" sized pieces easy to eat (and somewhat addictive). And the balanced flavors (sweet, authentic coconut accented with cocoa) were appealing as well. 

Ingredients: Organic coconut, organic coconut sugar, organic coconut nectar, organic cocoa powder, organic tapioca starch, sea salt.  

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. Made at a facility that also processes milk and sesame. ("Organic, Gluten free, no dairy ingredients")

Koolfi Creamery - Dark Chocolate Dairy-Free Chocolate frozen dessert w/ Organic Coconut milk - Apr. 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Koolfi Creamery
Dark Chocolate Dairy-Free Chocolate frozen dessert with Organic Coconut milk
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1/4 container (118.2 mL) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories:  (No information listed)
Cost: $12.99 for total container
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Dairy-Free Chocolate frozen dessert made with Organic Coconut milk was created by Koolfi Creamery (San Leandro, CA).

The company is a local (San Francisco Bay Area), small batch frozen dessert maker (ice creams and vegan/dairy free (coconut milk-based frozen desserts), that offers a variety of India-inspired flavors (mango lassi, kheer rice pudding, cardamom, kulfi, and many more).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Dark Chocolate vegan frozen dessert included: dark cocoa (powder), and it had both a smooth texture and a very slight graininess.* 

Ingredients: Organic coconut milk (coconut, water), organic brown rice syrup, sugar, maltodextrin, Dutch processed cocoa powder, chocolate (cacao beans, sugar, sunflower lecithin, vanilla), dextrose, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, Himalayan pink salt

Allergen-related information: "Coconut. Product is made on equipment that processes milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, soy"

*It was not clear whether this batch may have acquired this slight graininess from the ingredients (cocoa powder?), or whether it was process, storage or transport related, e.g. a slight melting and re-freezing again before I bought it. The other (five) ice cream flavors I've tried from this same company (all very good, none with cocoa powder/chocolate) were creamy and smooth and did not have this textural characteristic.

Zazubean - Buff'd Strong Chocolate with Coconut Sugar 90% Cacao (bar) - Apr. 10, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Zazubean Organic Chocolate
Buff'd Strong Chocolate with Coconut Sugar 90% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Missing information

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, featuring chocolates with coconut sugar, milk, and meat inclusions.

Today's Buff'd Strong Chocolate with Coconut Sugar 90% Cacao (bar) was manufactured (in Switzerland) for Zazubean Organic Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C., Canada).

Aroma notes included: light citrus (lemony green herb, oxalis), faint vanilla coconut graham cracker.

This well-tempered bar had a relatively thick, almost creamy smooth, texture and an attractive, rich, semi-bitter flavor (like a good cup of roasted coffee). 

The 90% ultra-dark bar was, as expected, not too sweet (thank you!). A light touch of coconut sugar provided sweetness. And chocolate flavor notes included very faint, balanced earth and very faint, diffuse red fruit (berry) notes.

Certified organic and fair trade (made with "100% Fair Trade certified ingredients"*), this chocolate will appeal to ultra-dark chocolate fans who enjoy a smooth sophisticated blend, made with a short list of thoughtfully specified ingredients. (Cacao beans are sourced from "Dominican (Republic), Ecuador and Panama.")

*Ingredients: Organic, Fair Trade cocoa mass; Organic and Fair Trade cocoa butter; Organic and Fair Trade coconut blossom sugar; Organic and Fair Trade vanilla

Allergen-related information: (Contained coconut.) May contain milk, tree nuts and peanuts. Gluten free, soy free, vegan, kosher and "paleo friendly."