Beekman 1802 - Goat Poop (Dark Toasted Almonds) - Feb. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Beekman 1802
Goat Poop - (Dark) Toasted Almonds
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total container
Calories: 230 calories in 1 serving 
Cost: $28.00  
Purchased from: Beekman 1802, online order

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

Today's Deep Dark Toasted Almonds were part of a six-flavor assortment* of "Goat Poop" chocolate covered confections--from Beekman 1802 (Sharon Springs, NY). These chocolates were housed in a sunny yellow, cylindrical tin decorated with images of the dark and milk chocolate coated rounds/ovals within.

Aroma notes included: subtle chocolate, faint caramel, and very faint nut.

Each Toasted Almond piece had a generous coating of Belgian chocolate that surrounded a crunchy whole toasted almond. Flavor notes included sweet dark chocolate; faint caramel, butterscotch and malt; and authentic almond (nut). Some of the more subtle (caramel/butterscotch-like) notes may have come from other flavors in the tin.

Ingredients: Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Belgium Unsweetened Chocolate, Whole Milk Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Butteroil, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Dry Roasted Almonds.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Tree Nuts (Almonds). Other pieces/flavors (all packed together in assortment tin) also contain hazelnuts and wheat. "May contain Sulphites, Eggs, Peanuts"...and Tartrazine, aka FD&C Yellow (color).

* Other flavors included: Roasted Hazelnuts, Maple Malted Milk Balls, While Chocolate Sugar Cookies, Sea Salt Caramels, and Butterscotch Pretzel Poppers.

Fuel4Ever - Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar - Feb. 26. 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fuel4Ever
Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar
Good+ - Good ++
Weight: 1.9 oz. (54 g.) 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Almond Collagen Protein Bar was manufactured for Fuel4Ever (San Jose, CA).

This dark chocolate-hued protein bar was dense, chewy, and chocolate-y, and flecked with small almond bits. 

Flavor notes included: sweetened cocoa; mild, diffuse and very faint fruit (date)); and subtle, mellow, nut (almond) butter (number one ingredient).

I liked that this Chocolate Almond bar contained 14 grams of protein*--great for someone wanting/needing to boost their protein intake. (Most protein bars contain closer to 9-12 gram of protein.)

The sweetness level was relatively high; although the bar contained only 5 Net Carbs. It was sweetened with Allulose**. I would've preferred a bar with 1/3 of this level of sweetness (and less allulose; but I prefer less sugar(s) in chocolate and dessert items, so others may feel differently.

Ingredients: "Almond Butter, Protein Blend (Bovine Collagen Peptides, Almond Protein Powder), Chicory Root Fiber, Allulose, Cocoa Powder, Almonds, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, MCT Oil (From Coconut), Kale, Spinach, Monk Fruit Extract, Stevia Leaf Extract."

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds, Coconuts). May contain traces of: Peanuts, Eggs, Soy, Milk, Wheat, Sesame, and other Tree Nuts.

*Protein sources: Bovine collagen protein and almond protein

**Allulose is a naturally occurring (lower calorie) sugar that occurs in very small amounts in plants (figs, raisins, wheat, molasses, maple syrup). It can be commercially produced from corn or sucrose.

LOVO Almond Milk Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day 

LOVO Almond Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving (9 pieces)
Cost: $5.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's LOVO Almond Milk Chocolate (bar) was manufactured in Switzerland for Radically Good Food Co. (Toronto, ON, Canada).

Very faint aroma notes for this 100% plant-based bar included: sweet dark chocolate, malt and nuts. 

Texture: thick, creamy melt (soft, almost sticky caramel); and creamy, uniform texture.

Flavor notes included: very sweet, creamy, somewhat diluted chocolate (hot cocoa with an alternative milk, very faint almond milk); and very faint (barely detectable) warm spice (gingerbread) in the long, sweet finish. At the very end, I tasted a very tiny, fleeting hint of almond (milk); but otherwise it was difficult to detect any almond or nut-milk flavor.

This was a smooth, creamy, dairy-free (plant-based) chocolate confection made with just five ingredients. It was a bit too sweet for me (sugar was the number one ingredient); but this bar will appeal to those with a sweet tooth, and milk chocolate fans who wish to avoid dairy (milk, cream).

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa mass*, cocoa butter*, organic almonds, sunflower lecithin, organic vanilla extract. (*Rainforest Alliance Certified. "Find out more at ra.org.")

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. Produced on equipment that also processes products containing milk, coconut, hazelnuts and peanuts.

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).