Lolli & Pops - Chocolate Tiles, Caramel Cappuccino - Oct. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Lolli and Pops
Chocolate Tiles - Caramel Cappuccino Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 8.4 oz. (240 g.) in total package of 16 Tiles
Calories: 160 calories in 2 tiles 
Cost: N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend 

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

Today's Caramel Cappuccino Dark Chocolate Tiles were manufactured for Lolli and Pops (San Francisco, CA).

The two individually wrapped tiles (squares) represented one of 8 flavors contained in a larger package of 16 Tiles (2 of each flavor).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, caramel, mocha and very faint vanilla.

Texture: A thin dark chocolate shell surrounded an even thinner caramel filling layer. There was just enough separation between the two elements to create pleasingly layered flavors--that were also very compatible with each other.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, caramel, mocha latte, and faint vanilla.

Ingredients: Note: because these two squares were part of an 8 flavor assortment pack, and the very long list of ingredients was a summary of all the flavors, I was unable to separate ingredients that applied just to this flavor. (Dark chocolate used contained chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla flavor).

Allergen-related information: Contains: Milk and Soy, and may contain Wheat, Peanuts and Tree Nuts. Please visit www.lolliandpops.com. 

Theo Chocolate - Organic Coffee and Cream Cups 45% Milk Chocolate - Oct. 3, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Coffee and Cream Cups 45% Milk Chocolate (Cups)
Good +
Weight: 1.3 oz. (36 g.) in 1 package of 2 pieces/cups
Calories: 230 calories in 1 package of 2 pieces/cups
Cost: $1.19 for 1 package (sale)
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Organic Coffee and Cream Cups 45% Milk Chocolate were distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA).

These heart-shaped milk chocolate cups were similar to, but different than, yesterday's Organic Coffee and Cream 45% Milk Chocolate bar. Both were from Theo Chocolate. The ingredients were slightly different, and yesterday's bar was more coffee-forward in taste and texture. 

Aroma notes for today's cups included: milk chocolate and very faint (barely detectable) coffee.

Both the outer milk chocolate covering and the filling had a uniformly soft, buttery melt and mouthfeel. The (cup's) outer shell was slightly firmer; and the filling was slightly silkier.

Flavor notes included: creamy milk chocolate shell and milk chocolate ganache (filling)--with gently infused coffee flavor.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans*+, Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Coffee-Infused Coconut Oil* (Coconut Oil*, Coffee*+), Whole Milk Powder*, Ground Vanilla Bean*. (* Organic, + Fair Trade)

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

Theo Chocolate - Organic Pacific Northwest Coffee and Cream 45% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 2, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Pacific Northwest Coffee and Cream 45% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: (Missing information)

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

Today's Organic, Fair Trade Pacific Northwest Coffee and Cream 45% Milk Chocolate (bar) was from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). The outer wrapper contained cartoon icons (bear, fish jumping out of water, coffee pot, mountains, tent, etc.) of outdoor living and coffee loving in the Northwest U.S.

The company was one of the first chocolate makers to offer organic and fair trade-certified chocolates in the U.S.; and is "Fair For Life" Fair Trade Certified.

Aroma notes included: fresh coffee, coffee toffee, and dark milk chocolate.

This 45% milk chocolate had a pleasant, thick and creamy texture and melt, and barely detectable, finely ground coffee particles.

Flavor notes included: rich and creamy mocha latte--with identifiable dark milk chocolate and roasted coffee constituents, that were also well balanced, blended and complementary.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate* (Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Cocoa Beans*+, Whole Milk Powder*), Ground Coffee Beans*+. (*Organic, +Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. Made on equipment that also processes wheat and tree nuts and in a facility that handles peanuts, eggs, and sesame. *Organic +Fair Trade (Contains 80% Fair Trade Ingredients)

Theo Chocolate sources their cacao from several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Auro Chocolate - Mocha Crunch 55% Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee (bar) - Oct. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Auro Chocolate
Mocha Crunch 55% Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Mocha Crunch 55% Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee (bar) was produced by Auro Chocolate (Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Mocha (bar) included: Rich dark chocolate; fragrant, freshly ground coffee; very faint sweet green botanical and red berry; and a slightly creamy nut butter finish.

The texture was a blend of smooth dark chocolate and crunchy bits of coffee bean.

This sweet chocolate (sugar was the number one ingredient), was balanced by the rich, nuanced dark flavors of high-quality cacao and coffee.

Ingredients: Cane sugar, cacao mass, cacao butter, Arabica coffee, soy lecithin (emulsifier)

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy. This product is manufactured in a facility that processes other products which may contain milk, oats, tree nuts, and peanuts."

Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory Inc. - 90% Dark Chocolate Philippines (bar) - Sept. 30, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory Inc. 
90% Dark Chocolate Philippines (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.52 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's 90% Dark Chocolate Philippines (bar) was manufactured by Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory Inc. (Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, Philippines), using cacao grown in the Philippines.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and subtle fruit (dark, sweet cherry, peach, mango).

The texture was thick and smooth.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (ultra-dark, dark chocolate cake with bittersweet chocolate frosting). Yes there was bitterness, but it was tolerable and it didn't block the appealing rich dark chocolate cake flavor. The maker's notes (below) may sound frightening, but (dark mythical creatures not withstanding) it rings true." The ultra-dark bitterness does not stop you from wanting to taste that chocolate cake and faint fruit.

Maker's tasting notes/description: "Black as midnight on a moonless night when aswangs* and manananggals* roam free, this chocolate bar makes true chocolate lovers quiver with glee. The bold yet delightful bitterness that is accompanied by a delicate fruitiness is enough to make the toughest man scream in relish--just ask your friendly neighborhood tikbalangi.*

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Sugar

Allergen-related information: "Processed in a facility that also processes peanuts and other tree nuts."

*Aswangs are evil, shape-shifting creatures in Filipino folk culture. Manananggals are vampire-like creatures that can separate their upper bodies from their lower bodies. And a tikbalang is a half human-half horse creature, similar to a centaur in Greek mythology.

Ranger Chocolate Co. - Kablon Philippines Dark Chocolate 75% (bar) - Sept. 29, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Co.

Kablon Philippines Dark Chocolate 75% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 349 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Philippines Theme Week, featuring several chocolate bars made from cacao grown in the Philippines.

Today's Kablon Philippines Dark Chocolate 75% (Batch 1) (bar) was distributed by Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). Kablon Farms (Davao, Philippines)-- owned by the Pantua family--grows a mix of Criollo variety cacao and more modern cacao hybrids.

Aroma and flavor notes included: bold, balanced drinking chocolate with a very faint (and well balanced) bitterness; very diffuse sweet fruit(s); subtle spices (warm spices, star anise); and very faint molasses cookie. The texture was smooth. 

I appreciated the well-executed complexity in this flavorful dark chocolate.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "graham cracker, cinnamon, nutmeg, molasses, peanut butter"

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic sugar 

Allergen-related information: Manufactured in a facility that uses gluten, egg, milk, and tree nut ingredients. ("Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free")

Puchero - Philippines 75% Mana Single Origin (bar) - Sept. 28, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Puchero 
Philippines 75% Mana Single Origin (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 207.5 calories for 1/2 bar 593 calories in 100 g of bar 
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and The Philippines Theme Week.

Today's Philippines 75% Mana Single Origin (bar) was made from bean-to-bar by Puchero* (Valladolid, Spain).

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (rich drinking chocolate with a light, balanced bitterness); tropical fruit (sweet, ripe mango; mangosteen); very faint fermentation (fruit, red wine grape); faint, fleeting spice (black pepper); and very faint white floral (orchid).

This upbeat, flavorful dark chocolate reminded me of a festive glass of dark sangria with tropical fruits. It was a celebration of single origin, Trinitario (cacao variety) flavor. I associate Trinitario with its bright fruit flavors. The Mana cacao (from the Philippines, used to make today's chocolate) "consists of 5 selected Trinitario varieties."** 

Maker's tasting notes: "A bright and balanced profile with a cascade of flavours: tropical fruit, bergamot and fresh flowers."

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter.

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of nuts, milk and gluten

*Tostarix S.L. (Spain)

**Trinitario cacao(s)--thought to be a cross of Forastero and Criollo cacaos--have some of the boldness of a Forastero, but with bright/tart fruit and sometimes other nuanced (stone fruit, gentler, honied) notes of a Criollo heritage variety cacao.