Lake Champlain Chocolates - Peppermint - 70% Cocoa Plant-Based Truffle Bar - Dec. 26, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Lake Champlain Chocolates
Peppermint - 70% Cocoa Plant-based truffle bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1 package of 2 bars
Cost: $3.00 for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Lake Champlain, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate Truffle Bars Week.

Today's Peppermint 70% Cocoa Plant-Based Truffle Bar was from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT). 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (dark chocolate fudge) and peppermint.

The texture for this filled dark chocolate bar was smooth with a slightly creamier interior (dark truffle ganache-like filling).

Flavor notes included: smooth, fudge-y, dark chocolate and authentic peppermint. 

Ingredients: "*Dark Chocolate (*Chocolate Liquor, *Sugar, *Cocoa Butter, *Cocoa Powder, and *Vanilla Extract), *Rice Syrup, *Coconut Cream (*Coconut and Water), and *Peppermint Oil. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Coconut). May Contain Traces of Milk, Other Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Soybean, and Wheat. 

Trader Joe's - Organic Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar - Dec. 25, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Trader Joe's 
Organic Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar 
Good ++
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.51 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 total bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate Truffle Bars Week. And Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. 

Two chocolates were enjoyed today: 1.) homemade bean-to-confection chocolate (made from cacao pods from Ecuador) (see separate entry for that)...and 2.) this Organic Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA).

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate (appealing malted dark chocolate milk, very faint diffuse fruit). 

The texture was pleasant, rich melt and creamy texture.

Flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes above, but even more chocolate-y (drinking chocolate, chocolate torte, dark chocolate ganache), with faint fleeting (balanced) earth notes.

Ingredients: Organic Cocoa Mass, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Oil Blend (Organic Hi-Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Canola Oil, and/or Organic Safflower Oil).

Allergen-related information: May Contain Milk, Soy, Wheat, Peanut, Almond, Cashew, Coconut, Hazelnut, Pecan.

Seattle Chocolate - Spicy Hot Chocolate dark chocolate truffle bar - Dec. 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Seattle Chocolate Company
Spicy Hot Chocolate dark chocolate truffle bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - holiday gift from family member
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Megan (thank you!)

Happy Holidays and welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate Truffle Bar Week. The year (2023) is ending on a soft, sweet and occasionally spicy note. 

Today's Spicy Hot Chocolate dark chocolate truffle bar was from Seattle Chocolate Company (Seattle, WA). The company has been offering a variety of chocolate truffle bars for many years. This one was part of a holiday-themed series. Today's wrapper was adorned with two monkeys in a lush green jungle canopy wearing Santa hats, harvesting hot peppers. One is also enjoying a white ceramic cup of spicy hot chocolate.

Aroma notes for this Spicy Hot Chocolate bar included: rich hot dark (drinking) chocolate with cinnamon and faint salt/savory and barely detectable vegetable/pepper notes; and faint vanilla.

The flavor notes for this smooth textured and flavored bar delivered on the promise of the aroma notes (above)--with a deeper dive into sweet and spicy dark chocolate. Cinnamon and vanilla added warmth, and cayenne pepper added a little kick--enough to add flavor, not enough to set off any fire alarms. Just right for me...a warm chocolate experience on a winter-y Christmas Eve.

Ingredients: "dark chocolate (cocoa mass*, cane sugar, cocoa butter*, organic soy lecithin, natural vanilla), non-hydrogenated coconut oil, sea salt, organic vanilla, cayenne pepper, cinnamon."

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy and coconut. This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, and wheat products."

Seattle Chocolate - Candy Cane Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar - Dec. 23, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Seattle Chocolate
Candy Cane Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $N/A - gift from family member
Purchased from: N/A - gift from Megan (thank you!)

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate Truffle Bars Week.

Today's Candy Cane Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar was from Seattle Chocolate Company (Seattle, WA).

What is a chocolate truffle bar? Some of this week's truffle bars have a softer filling (ganache). Others, like those offered from Seattle Chocolate Co. bars offer a more uniform bar-like texture, but have sweet, filled chocolate truffle-like flavor(s). 

Aroma and flavor notes for today's Candy Cane dark truffle bar included: aromatic peppermint candy and smooth dark chocolate with very faint sweet lemony herb (wood sorrel, oxalis) and very faint and well-balanced earth--enough to give it a little bold flavor (and contrast with the sweet peppermint), but not enough to be that noticeable.

I enjoyed the crunchy peppermint candy (candy cane) bits embedded in the smooth, creamy dark chocolate. 

This peppermint + dark chocolate (aroma, texture and flavor) blend evoked memories of Christmas candy canes and winter holiday peppermint bark.

It was sweet, and there was a slightly addictive more-ish quality to it. So be forewarned if you have a sweet tooth and you plan on having "just one" bite.

Ingredients: "Dark chocolate (cocoa mass*, cane sugar, cocoa butter*, organic soy lecithin, natural vanilla), candy cane (cane sugar, rice syrup, colors (red cabbage and purple carrots), pure peppermint oil), non-hydrogenated coconut oil, pure peppermint oil." (* = Rainforest Alliance Certified)

Allergen-related information: "Contains soy and coconut. This product is manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, and wheat products."

 

Hogarth Chocolate Makers - 100% Hacienda Victoria, Ecuador (bar) - Dec. 22, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hogarth Chocolate Makers
100% Hacienda Victoria - Ecuador (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.)/ 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 211 calories in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's 100% Hacienda Victoria, Ecuador (bar) was made by Hogarth Chocolate Makers (Nelson, New Zealand), and enjoyed in a wonderful coffee house.

Hacienda Victoria (named for the founder's wife, Victoria) is located in the central coastal area of Ecuador. This single estate farm is located inland from the Rio Guayas (Guayas River) in an ideal location for growing cacao.*

The texture for this bar was fairly thick and creamy, and there was a faint, well-managed astringency. 

Aroma and flavor notes for this 100% cacao bar included: appealing deep ultra-dark chocolate; faint roasted coffee and wood; complex but well-balanced lush forest and earth notes; faint and fleeting freshly baked bread; and dried, slightly tart/sweet-sour fruit (faint pomegranate, blackberry and dried plum when first unwrapped and cacao fruit pulp with tart citrus later). 

There were some bold but balanced bitter and sour (think beer) notes in this single ingredient bar. This 100%, unsweetened chocolate may not be for the faint of heart. But, I enjoyed it. (I recommend trying the Hogarth 85% Hacienda Victoria Ecuador bar if you love exploring dark cacao flavors, but need a little sugar.) 

Maker's comments: "...We have used our Hacienda Victoria Arriba Cacao from Ecuador so you can expect a smooth but strong cocoa hit, with a hint of citrus."

Ingredients: "Directly Traded Ecuador Cocoa Beans (100%)."

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Milk and Nuts."

*Cacao trees are native to South America, and grow up to 20 degrees North and 20 degrees South of the Equator.

The Equator runs east-west through Northern Ecuador. ("Ecuador" translates to Equator in English.) And the country's privileged geographical position has made its long history as a cacao-growing country possible. 

Hacienda Victoria owners are dedicated to growing and preserving Arriba Nacional cacao, part of a lineage of prized heritage cacao varieties in South America.

Hogarth - Ecuador Hacienda Victoria Single Estate 85% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hogarth Chocolate Makers
Ecuador Hacienda Victoria Single Estate 85% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.)/ 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 205.8 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Ecuador Single Estate 85% (bar) was made by Hogarth Chocolate Makers (Nelson, New Zealand). This was one of two Hogarth Ecuador bars enjoyed this week. (See tomorrow's entry for the Hogarth 100% bar).

The Arriba Nacional (variety of cacao) beans used to make this chocolate were from Hacienda Victoria, a single estate farm established in 2011 in (Cerecita, Guayas) Ecuador, not far from the coast (Pacific Ocean).*

Aroma notes for this "intense dark chocolate" made with Arriba (Nacional) cacao included: slightly bitter dark chocolate (think dark porter/stout if you're a beer drinker); very faint green; molasses; coffee; wood (very faint cedar); barely there green/dried banana; faint, fleeting balanced earth (peat); and very faint sourdough bread...And that was just the aroma.

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap in a cool room. It was relatively smooth and creamy, and I was waiting for some astringency, but it never really happened. 

This 85%er had all the flavor, but none of the flinch (at least for ultra-dark fans like me).

Flavor notes included: deep rich, well integrated, ultra-dark chocolate flavor(s), with much less sour and bitter aspects than expected. There was a bit of fruit (citrus, tropical, cacao fruit pulp) sweet-tartness, but it was balanced and subtle. For those who love bold, balanced taste, this was a great ultra-dark bar.

Maker's comments: "...you can expect a smooth but strong cocoa with a hint of citrus."

Ingredients: "Cocoa Solids 85% (Cocoa Beans, Cocoa Butter*^), Sugar* 15% (* = Organic; ^ = Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Milk and Nuts."

*Cacao trees are native to South America and grow up to 20 degrees North and 20 degrees South of the Equator in South (and Central) America. 

The name "Ecuador" means Equator in Spanish. The Equator runs east-west through Northern Ecuador. The country's privileged geographical position has made its long history as a cacao-growing country possible. 

No surprise that chocolate makers seek out prized heritage/ancient varieties of cacao found in Ecuador (and neighboring countries adjacent to/part of the Amazon Basin). Arriba Nacional (and other criollo ("native") cacao varieties) are found in Ecuador. And Hacienda Victoria owners are dedicated to growing and preserving Arriba Nacional cacao.

Amano Artisan Chocolate - Guayas River Basin, Ecuador (bar) - Dec. 20, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Amano Artisan Chocolate
Guayas River Basin, Ecuador (bar)
Good ++ - +++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 202 calories in 1 (40 g.) serving
Cost: $9.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Guayas River Basin, Ecuador (bar) was made by Amano Chocolate Company (Orem, UT). 

Aroma notes for this 70% single origin dark bar included: dark chocolate with green (faint green banana), maple, wood, faint black pepper, and dark berry (ripe blackberry and pomegranate).

Smooth melt and texture with a very faint, fleeting, fruit astringency.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate with sweet green, lightly smoked maple syrup, wood (cedar) shavings, and fruit (green dried banana, dark ripe berry). 

I loved the balanced complexity of the aromas and flavors in this 70% dark chocolate. It was a masterful rendition, capturing the best of this unique Guayas, Ecuador (Nacional variety) cacao.

Amano Maker's Tasting Notes: "This chocolate has a rich chocolate flavor with notes of green bananas, smoke, and blackberries."

Ingredients: "Cocoa Beans, Pure Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Vanilla Beans"

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts and Milk Products"