Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups + Hot Cocoa - Feb. 24, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.51 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups offering was distributed and sold by Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA).* 

Aroma notes for these dark chocolate filled cups included: dark chocolate with very faint lemon-green (oxalis, wood sorrel); mellow nut butter (almond); and very faint nut cookie.

Flavor notes included: relatively flavorful, balanced, and sweet dark chocolate (chocolate-y, dark ganache/tort); and subtle, natural almond butter filling. The two layered flavors complemented each other. The roasted almonds and milk helped mellow the chocolate and balance the sweetness.; and the vanilla flavor added a bit of sweet baked cookie warmth. 

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate Processed with Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin [Emulsifier], Natural Vanilla Flavor), Roasted Almonds, White Confectionery Coating (Sugar, Palm Kernel Oil, Nonfat Milk Powder, Whole Milk Powder, Whey Powder, Palm Oil, Soy Lecithin [Emulsifier], Natural Vanilla Flavor), Salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Almond. May Contain Traces of Egg, Sesame, Wheat, Peanut, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Coconut, Hazelnut, Macadamia Nut, Pecan, Pine Nut, Pistachio, Walnut. 

*The packaging and some of the ingredients were slightly different, but I tasted a variation on this same product almost five years ago. So I also enjoyed a homemade hot, spiced cocoa with almond and oat milk today.

 

Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds 73% Cacao - Feb. 23, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds 73% Cacao
Good ++

Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.51 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar

Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds 73% Cacao was distributed and sold by Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate; earth (light peat); faint fruit (citrus); and very faint nut (almond). 

Flavor notes for this creamy and crunchy bar included: bold, dark chocolate (chocolate-y, ultra-dark brownie, ganache); subtle earth; and chunks of almond. The almonds helped mellow the acidity and bitterness and made it taste less sweet (which I liked).

The organic, bold 73% dark chocolate tasted more like an ultra-dark (75%-80%+ cacao) chocolate. I enjoyed this aspect; and I'm guessing other dark fans will too. If your preference is for a milder chocolate, maybe not so much.

Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Cocoa Mass, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Almonds.

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

Stone Grindz - Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar) - Feb. 22, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz
Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 + shipping for 1 bar
Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Week. Day #3 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week. 

Today's Almond Butter & Black Lava Salt 80% Cacao (bar) was from Stone Grindz (Scottsdale, AZ). This small-batch chocolate maker offers a variety of single origin bars and chocolates with flavor inclusions.

The makers at Stone Grindz have been consistently churning out great small batch, bean-to-bar chocolates (bars and confections), including single origin bars and bars with flavor inclusions. The cacao used to make this bar was from northern Madagascar.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, almond butter and very faint fruit (berry, very faint date).

This almond butter bar had a very appealing creamy, almost buttery, melt and texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate fully blended/integrated with nut (almond) butter; the salt was very subtle. The end result was an enjoyable, mellow, creamy and subtly nutty chocolate that seemed rich and well-behaved for an 80% cacao dark chocolate; i.e. it was low in acidic and/or bitter notes.

The barely detectable, diffuse fruit (berry) notes from the Madagascar cacao also complemented the roasted almonds (butter) nicely.

"Maker's tasting notes and description: "Notes of silky almond butter, sea salt"..."An 80% dark chocolate ground with freshly roasted almonds (and) black lava salt. This bar is so silky and smooth you would never know it's an 80% dark!"

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cacao Butter*, Cane Sugar*, Roasted Almonds*, Sea Salt. (*Organically Farmed)

Allergen-related ingredients: (Contains nuts, almonds) "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan"

KiZE - Chocolate Sea Salt (bar) - Feb. 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

KiZE 
Chocolate Sea Salt (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Salt Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Almond Week. 

Today's KiZE Chocolate Sea Salt (bar) was from KiZE Concepts (Oklahoma City, OK).

Aroma notes included: faint chocolate (dark chocolate cookie), faint peanut butter oat cereal/cookie, and very faint peanut butter and honey sandwich.

Texture: I found this bar in the refrigerated section, and wondered if it would have a "hard" chew as a result. Answer: Nope. It had just the right amount of soft, cohesive chew. It wasn't too dry (no protein powder grit), and it wasn't crumbly. Chocolate chips added spikes of dark chocolate flavor and texture.

The flavors (chocolate, peanut butter, honey, subtle date) were pleasing, and landed this bar a spot in the Goldilocks zone. Not too much or too little of anything. It was just right. I enjoyed this bar with a handful of whole, California almonds. The perfect healthy snack duo.

I liked several things about this bar. It was: 1.) a gluten free bar with 7 grams of plant protein with great texture (not dry/gritty or too moist); 2.) well balanced: not too sweet, not too salty--and a well executed blend of chocolate, peanut butter and honey flavors; 3.) chocolate chips added extra pops of dark chocolate texture and dark chocolate flavor; and 4.) made with a relatively short list of quality ingredients.

Ingredients: Peanut Butter, Honey, Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Dates, Chocolate Chips (Cocoa Liquor, 

Allergen-related information: Contains Peanuts, Tree Nuts (Coconut). 

Scharffen Berger - "Breaks" Salted Almond Bark - Oat Milk Chocolate with Coconut Sugar - Feb. 20, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Scharffen Berger 
"Breaks" Salted Almond Bark - 43% Cacao Oat Milk Chocolate with Coconut Sugar
Good ++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) / 4.5 oz. (128 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 4-piece serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Salt Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Today's "Breaks" Salted Almond Bark, made with 43% Cacao Oat Milk Chocolate and Coconut Sugar, was manufactured by Scharffen Berger* Chocolate Maker (Ashland, OR). This was one of 4 flavors in the company's Breaks oat milk chocolate product family.* 

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate, coconut/brown sugar, and very faint (barely detectable) sweet oatmeal with nuts (almonds). 

The generous field of tiny, crunchy bits of almond harmonized well with the 43% cacao dark oat milk chocolate in these bark pieces. The choice of coconut sugar (and very faint vanilla) added some pleasant warmth and flavor depth (memories of sprinkling brown sugar on hot oatmeal). The salt was subtle, and helped balance the sweetness.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Oat Powder (Oat Flour), Coconut Sugar, Almonds, Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla Bean.

Allergen-related information: "Contains Almonds, Coconut." "Processed in a Facility That Processes Tree Nuts and Dairy."

*The three other Scharffen Berger 43% cacao oat milk "Breaks" flavors include: Gluten Free Pretzel Bark (featured previously), Salted Sunflower Seed Bark and Coconut and Quinoa Bark.

Copper Kettle Co. - Dark Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt - Feb. 19, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Copper Kettle Co.
Dark Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 16 oz. (448 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 1 serving (2 pieces) 
Cost: $N/A gift from friends
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friends

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

Today's Copper Kettle Co. Dark Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt were manufactured by CandyCo (Lindon, UT).

Aroma notes for these individually-wrapped chocolates included: subtle dark chocolate and very faint (barely detectable) tart sweet green (wood sorrel, oxalis); and almost undetectable, very diffuse fruit (dried fruit and very faint coconut.

A smooth dark chocolate coating surrounded an even smoother, dark chocolate ganache ("melt-away centers").

Flavor notes included: satisfying chocolate-y, smooth (tasting and textured) dark chocolate with small upticks of sea salt and very faint warm, dark chocolate fudge with vanilla.

What I enjoyed: this dark chocolate confection 1.) wasn't too sweet; 2.) had a smooth, textural dark chocolate gradient (from outer shell to generous center); and 3.) had a relatively short list of ingredients.*

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor*, Sugar, Cocoa Butter*, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Flavor), Coconut Oil, Sea Salt. (*Rainforest Alliance Certified. Find out more at ra.org)"

Allergen-related information: Contains: "Coconut, Soy. May Contain Traces of Milk, Eggs, Almonds, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Pecans, Pistachios, Wheat."

*Some chocolatiers have never put artificial preservatives, colorings, emulsifiers, gums or "Natural Flavors" in their chocolates. Happily, more chocolatiers now offer bars and confections with a shorter, simpler or less processed list of ingredients, as more customers are avoiding extra ingredients in their food, and chocolates.

jcoco - Mango Plantain 47% Cacao (bar) & Edamame Sea Salt 47% (bar) - Feb. 18, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day 

jcoco
Mango Plantain 47% Cacao Peruvian milk chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: jcoco, online order

jcoco
Edamame Sea Salt 47% Cacao Peruvian milk chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: jcoco, online order

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

Today's jcoco Mango Plantain 47% Cacao and Edamame Sea Salt 47% Cacao Peruvian milk chocolate bars were from Seattle Chocolate Company (Seattle, WA).*

Mango Plantain (bar)

Aroma notes included: sweet milk chocolate and subtle, diffuse tropical fruit(s).

Texture: chewy dried mango and crunchy bits of plantain chips in a creamy smooth milk chocolate base.

Flavor notes included: creamy, sweet milk chocolate and hints of dried tropical fruit (dried mango) and plantain chips. Subtle sea salt helped balance the sugar content of the 47% milk chocolate.

Edamame Sea Salt (bar)

Aroma: sweet milk chocolate with very faint, diffuse, aromatic and almost perfumed (tropical) fruit. 

Texture: a blend of creamy milk chocolate and toasted edamame with a soft crunch.

Flavor notes included: sweet, creamy milk chocolate and salted, toasted edamame (young, more tender soybeans). The salt in the edamame provided a welcome counterbalance to the sugar/sweetness of the chocolate for me.

*The jcoco brand (created in 2012) and line of bars are part of Seattle Chocolate Company. A portion of the sales of jcoco bars go toward feeding people in need. (The company describes the jcoco line as: "Chocolate that feeds"...the farmer, your neighbor and yourself.)