Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Loco for Coco Chocolate Bar - Mar. 30, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Dude, Sweet Chocolate
Loco for Coco Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: .775 oz. (22 g.) / 1.55 oz. (44 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Dude, Sweet Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Flowers and Honey Theme Week.

Today's "Loco for Coco" Chocolate Bar ("toasted coconut, honey crystal made where there are nuts") offering was from Dude, Sweet Chocolate (Dallas, TX).

Aroma notes included: roasted cacao (dark chocolate) with nutty, subtle honey-floral and very faint vanilla notes. 

Texture: This relatively thick bar had a hearty, almost stone-ground yet smooth, rich chocolate texture and mouthfeel, with a generous helping of tiny crunchy flecks.

Flavor notes included: hearty dark chocolate, with alluring, complex flavor inclusions. The light-colored flecks yielded flickers of buttery, coconut, honey, and barely detectable sea salt sparkles. 

I enjoy and appreciate well-executed layered and/or progressively unfolding flavor notes; and almost always find this approach more enjoyable than fully blended (or overly homogenized) flavors. 

If you prefer nutty peanut butter vs. smooth peanut butter; layered cakes or parfaits; complex flavor pairings; or the occasional chocolate with intact cacao nibs, you might like this flavorful bar.

Ingredients: Republica del cacao 68% Nutty chocolate (cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla beans), coconut, honey, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: None listed on package. 

Gnosis Chocolate - "Immunity" chocolate heart + Persian Love Cake - March 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Gnosis Chocolate 
"Immunity" chocolate heart 
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in total piece/heart
Calories: 77 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: N/A - included with larger shipment
Purchased from: Gnosis Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Flowers and Honey.

Today's "Immunity" (solid chocolate) heart was from Gnosis Chocolate (Astoria, NY).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, warm spice, and very faint herbs and mushroom.

This heart-shaped (individually-wrapped) chocolate had a pleasing aroma, flavor and texture/melt.

Flavor notes included: chocolate, warm spices (cinnamon, ginger, clove), and very faint herbs and mushroom. The warm spices extended into the finish.

Persian Love Cake
I paired this chocolate with a slice of gluten free, Persian Love Cake--made with almond flour, warm spices (cinnamon, cardamom) and rose water, and beautifully adorned with rose petals and chopped, green pistachio nuts.

Jcoco - 61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate - Mar. 28, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Jcoco
61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $3.49 (estimate) for 1 small bar
Purchased from: jcoco/Seattle Chocolate, online order 

Welcome to Day #3 of a Chocolate and Floral Series, including bars and confections with floral/flower-related ingredients.

Today's jcoco 61% Orange Blossom Espresso in Peruvian dark chocolate (bar) was made in Seattle, WA. (The jcoco brand is part of Seattle Chocolate Company, Seattle, WA.)

Aroma notes included: chocolate, orange blossom and ground coffee.

Texture: smooth chocolate with a very slight coffee grit.

Flavor notes included: relatively sweet, smooth dark chocolate (ganache); floral (orange blossom), warm spice, and coffee. 

This small bar was colorfully wrapped and is also available in a 3-bar pack.

Ingredients: 61% cacao dark chocolate (cracked cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin), coconut oil, decaffeinated espresso, orange oil, black tea powder, cloves, sea salt."

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

Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Flower Child Truffles - March 27, 2024

Chocolate of The Day

Dude, Sweet Chocolate
Flower Child Truffles
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) / 3.6 oz. (103 g.) in total cylinder
Calories: 93 calories (estimate) for 1 truffle
Cost: $12.00 for 1 container of 6 truffles
Purchased from: Dude, Sweet Chocolate (online order)

Welcome to Day #1 of Floral Chocolate Series.

Today's Flower Child Truffles were from Dude, Sweet Chocolate (Dallas, TX). I love Chef Katherine Clapner's exploration of flavors -- from roasty and nutty to floral, and everything in between--with product names like "Crack in a Box" (chocolate bark squares) that will make you smile, because their descriptions are funny, and mostly true.

Aroma for these Flower Child truffles included: orange blossom, chocolate (brownie), jasmine, bergamot and very faint vanilla.

Tasting notes included: dark chocolate, and a floral explosion of orange blossoms (neroli), jasmine blossoms (think jasmine infused tea), and bergamot (think Earl Grey Tea) -- everywhere, all at once.

If you like floral flavors like I do, you'll appreciate this dose of floral gunpowder (embedded in a high-end chocolate) experience. 

Floral flavors (often more volatile and easily lost during processing) are often shunted to the back room, to be seen (read about) but not heard (or tasted). Not so today! 

Suggested wine and cheese pairings from the maker: "...Sauvignon Blanc, goat cheese and great brie (cheese)"

Ingredients: (Made with 55% Equatoriale chocolate from Valrhona, French butter and cane syrup...) and floral flavorings.

Allergen-related information: Contains dairy (butter).

Pacific Resources International - Ginger Dark Chocolate Patties Manuka Honey - Mar. 26, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Pacific Resources International

Ginger - Dark Chocolate Patties Manuka Honey 

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 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 #7 of Chocolate and New Zealand Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate, Flowers and Honey Week.

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

Aroma notes for these chocolates included: ultra-dark chocolate, honey, and very faint pollen, floral and warm spice.

The 99% cacao dark chocolate shell was thin and almost crunchy in a cool room. (Well-tempered chocolate breaks with a snap.) This outer, ebony-colored coating delivered satisfying ultra-dark flavor--and was thin enough to still showcase the generous, sticky-smooth and creamy, manuka honey center. 

Layered flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate; thick, authentic honey (with floral, pollen), and subtle, warm ginger.

What I liked. These chocolate patties had: 1.) a short list of (three) ingredients; 2.) a 99% ultra-dark chocolate coating that was refreshingly un-sugared and satisfying; a treat for dark fans; 3.) New Zealand Manuka Honey with an MGO rating* (MGO 60+); 4.) thoughtful layered flavors; and 5.) gluten free and dairy free ingredients.

Ingredients: "Manuka/Honey, 99% cocoa dark chocolate, ground ginger"

Allergen-related information: None listed. (gluten free, dairy free, Kosher Certified)

*"MGO" refers to the level of methylglyoxal (MGO), a naturally occurring compound found in manuka honey. A higher level (rating number) is often associated with stronger antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. An MGO rating of "60" means that the honey has at least 60 mg. of methylglyoxal per kilogram.

Today's rating of 60 is above what you might find in some honey's, but it's not at the upper echelon of manuka honey offerings from this company/distributor. They also sell jars of New Zealand manuka honey with MGO 200+-500 ratings. 

Whittaker's - Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in Milk Chocolate 33% - Mar. 25, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's
Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in Milk Chocolate 33%
Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 square
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and New Zealand Week.

Today's Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey in 33% Milk Chocolate bar was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand). 

This chocolate was part of NZ Artisan Collection--highlighting ingredients from different regions of New Zealand. The Nelson region is known for sunny beaches, locally grown produce, local seafood, and Manuka Honey.

Aroma notes included: milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and fruit (pear).

Texture: creamy milk chocolate and very small chewy fruit bits.

Flavor notes included: milk chocolate, sweet vanilla and honeyed pear.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate [Sugar, Cocoa Solids 33%* (Pure Cocoa Butter & Cocoa Mass), NZ Milk Powder 30%*, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour, Natural Flavour], Pear & Honey Pieces 10% [Pear Puree 33%, Concentrated Apple Puree, Invert Sugar, Sugar, Humectant (Glycerol), Manuka Honey 2.5%, Wheat Fibre, Gelling Agent (Pectin), Flavour, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid)] *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk, Soy, Wheat. "May be present: Peanuts, Tree Nuts."

Whittaker's - Sea Salt And Caramel Brittle in 33% Milk Chocolate - March 24, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Whittaker's 
Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle In Milk Chocolate 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 57.5 calories (estimate) in 1 square
Cost: $ N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Thank you Penny!)

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and New Zealand Series.

Today's Marlborough Sea Salt and Caramel Brittle in 33% Milk Chocolate square was from Whittaker and Sons LTD (Porirua, New Zealand).

This chocolate was part of the NZ Artisan Collection that highlighted flavor inclusions from different parts of New Zealand. Marlborough (on the northern end of the South Island, and one of 16 different regions/districts in New Zealand) produces wine grapes, sea salt, dairy, honey, and other products.

Aroma flavor notes included: sweet chocolate, vanilla and caramel.

Texture: smooth, creamy milk chocolate with crunchy micro bits of brittle.

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet 33% milk chocolate with vanilla; tiny bursts of crispy, toffee-like, brittle; and a subtle hint of sea salt.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate [Sugar, Cocoa Solids 33%* (Pure Cocoa Butter & Cocoa Mass), NZ Milk Powder 30%*, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Vanilla Flavour], Salted Caramel Pieces 10% [Sugar, Glucose, Salt, Clarified Butter (From Milk), Water, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Natural Flavour, Natural Color (150A)]. *Minimum Percentage.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. May Be Present: Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Gluten.