Kasama Chocolate Winter's Eve (bar) + Big Train Chocolate Chai mix - Dec. 16, 2024

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
Winter's Eve (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kasama, online order

Big Train
Chai Latte (mix)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1/3 cup (51 g.) / 3.5 lbs (159 kg.) in total package
Calories: 220 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $29.51 for 1 large package
Purchased from: Amazon.com, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week.

Kasama - Winter's Eve bar

Today's Winter's Eve bar (Batch #28) was a Seasonal Release made by Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C., Canada). The dark chocolate base was made using single estate cacao beans from Costa Esmeraldas in northern Ecuador.

Aroma notes for this bar included: chocolate (hearty, roasted cacao), black licorice, and subtle chai-masala-like spices.

Maker's notes/description: "The oaky and roasty note of this cacao provide a rich-chocolaty canvas, through which each of the spices weaves its flavour threads, creating a tapestry of tastes..."

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter*, Cinnamon*, Cardamom*, Ginger*, Cloves*, Turmeric*, Black Pepper* (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

Big Train - Chocolate Chai Latte mix

Today's Big Train Chocolate Chai mix was distributed by Kerry Inc. (Beloit, WI).

This drink mix (designed to be suitable for cold and hot beverages) had a light, sweet hot cocoa aroma and sweet marshmallow hot chocolate with vanilla and very faint spices flavor. This is the kind of light, pleasant hot cocoa (using alkalized cocoa powder) that I remember sipping when I was young. 

Ingredients: Sugar, Nonfat Dry Milk, Coconut Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Cocoa Processed with Alkali), Instant Black Tea, Honey Granules (Sugar, Honey), Spice Blend (Cinnamon, Clove, Cardamom, Anise, Ginger), Sodium Caseinate (A Milk Derivative), Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mono- and Diglycerides, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Silicoaluminate (Anti-Caking Agent), Silicon Dioxide (Anti-Caking Agent), Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Cellulose Gum, Bourbon Vanilla Extract from Madagascar.

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk.

 

TCHO - Dirty Chai with Cashew Oat Milk & Espresso (bar) - Dec. 15, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

TCHO
46% Cacao Dirty Chai with Cashew Oat Milk & Espresso (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .83 oz. (23 oz.)/ 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $5.49 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's 46% Cacao Dirty Chai with Cashew Oat Milk & Espresso (bar) was from TCHO Ventures Inc. (Berkeley, CA) in collaboration with Equator Coffees 

Aroma notes in this package of three, individually-wrapped bars included: chocolate; chai spices + vanilla; and coffee latte.

Texture: very creamy and buttery with a very, very faint and fleeting astringency/powdery mouthfeel 2/3 way through.

Flavor notes for this small batch collaboration bar included: chocolate; nuts; warm, spiced coffee latte; and faint vanilla and caramel.

I liked the maker's choice of a relatively short list of Organic ingredients (44% fair trade).

Ingredients: Cacao Beans**, Cocoa Butter**, Coconut Sugar*; Gluten Free Oat Flour* (Oat Flour*, Natural Vitamin E, Cashew Butter*, Cane Sugar*, Coffee Beans**, Masala Chai* (Basil Leaf*, Assam Tea*, Cardamom*, Cinnamon*, Ginger*, Cloves*, Black Pepper*), Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin*, Vanilla Beans* (* = Organic; ** = Organic and Fair Trade Certified). 

Allergen-related information: Contained Coconut, Cashew. "May contain other tree nuts." "Certified Kosher Pareve by Earth Kosher."

ChocolateSpiel - Chai Latte (bar) - Dec. 14, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

ChocolateSpiel 
Chai Latte (bar)
Good + - ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (27 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: ChocolateSpiel, online order (Etsy)

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Chai Tea Week.

Today's Chai Latte (bar) was from ChocolateSpiel (Seattle, WA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate; ground, warm chai spices (from Aditi Chai); faint coconut milk; and nuts. The coconut milk chocolate tasted slightly acidic/harsh; but the overall bar was otherwise quite nice.

I enjoyed the pleasing creamy texture; the festive and colorful appearance of this bar--created by spatters of different colors of colored cocoa butter; the short list of ingredients; and the smaller size.

Ingredients: Cocoa, sugar, cocoa butter, coconut milk powder, chai spices from Aditi Chai, colored cocoa butter. 

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of peanut, gluten, tree nuts."

Public Chocolatory - Masala Chai 55% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 13, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Public Chocolatory
Masala Chai 55% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 168 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week, featuring chocolates with chai spice blends, bars and drinking chocolate.

Today's Masala Chai 55% Dark Milk Chocolate (bar) (Batch No. MC240406) was from Public Chocolatory (Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich, dark milk chocolate, chai tea and spices (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and possibly (smaller amounts of) anise/fennel and black pepper.

Texture: This bar had a soft, silken, luxurious fudge-y texture. 

Together, the chai masala tea flavors (that were fully incorporated into the chocolate), the milk -- that contributed to the wonderful creamy, smooth texture conveyed the essence of a cup of warm chai tea -- and the sweetness, all made this chocolate a bit addictive (more-ish).

I also appreciated the thoughtful execution and the short list of quality ingredients.

Ingredients: "Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Cacao Butter, Whole Milk Powder, Masala Chai Tea"

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. 

Intrigue Chocolate - Chai Latte - Oat Milk Dark 60% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 12, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate
Chai Latte Oat Milk Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $6.00 for 1 bar + shipping
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Chai Theme Week.

Today's Chai Latte Oat Milk Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar) was made and distributed by Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA). This bar was inspired by the maker's favorite Indian restaurants in Seattle.

Origin story: The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Uganda, Rwenzori, Kisinga microlot (Type: "Mostly Trinitario and Amelonado; Harvest Year: 2022).

Aroma notes included: chocolate and a rich blend of authentic chai tea with warm spices (cloves, star anise, cinnamon, spice cookie and more. (Note: there was no star anise listed in the ingredients.)

Texture: smooth, well-tempered dark chocolate with a pleasing creamy melt, followed by a very slight, fleeting, astringency/fine powder (that could have been very tiny oat milk and/or tea/spice particles. It did not take away from the tasting experience.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (chocolate-y, dark ganache)

I liked many things about this bar. First, I really felt like I was enjoying a great cup of chai tea--with the added flavor(s) of a great dark chocolate. The flavors were well balanced and the sweetness level was just about perfect for a chai tea. 

I also liked the thoughtful, short list of quality ingredients, the lack of emulsifiers or other additives, and the use of raw cane sugar. (I also liked that there was a little black pepper, ginger, fennel pollen and sea salt added--in amounts that were so subtle, you might not be able to identify them...You just know you like the whole blend.)

Makers tasting notes/description: "...sweetened with raw cane sugar, softened by gluten-free oat milk powder, emboldened by Assam black tea, and spiced with some of India's most iconic flavors."

Ingredients: Roasted cacao nibs, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, oat milk powder (oats), black tea, green cardamom, cloves, cassia cinnamon, black pepper, ginger fennel pollen, sea salt. (The maker's Batch # for this bar was: 000000052324)

Allergen-related information: Vegan, no dairy, no soy, no gluten. 

    

Ritual - Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) + Intrigue - Fernet Branca Truffle - Dec. 11 , 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $11.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Intrigue Chocolate
Fernet Branca Truffle
Good ++
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) in 1 truffle / for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories for 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week, featuring two chocolates -- a gin-infused bar, and an Italian liqueur-inspired truffle.

Ritual Chocolate

Today's Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was made by Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT), using Barrel Aged Alpine Distilling Gin from Alpine Distilling (Park City, UT). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: authentic, fragrant and floral (lavender) botanical gin (with juniper) and dark chocolate.

The juniper and lavender both contributed fairly strong flavors--as did the sweet-tart acidity (citrus) taste and astringency in this dark chocolate It was interesting to try this very flavorful blend. However, for those who don't care for gin/juniper and/or lavender, you may find the intersection of all these bold flavors a little overwhelming. 

Maker's tasting notes: Juniper, Lavender, Cardamom, Orange Peel

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Juniper Berries, Lavender, Alpine Distilling Gin 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes Wheat, Tree nuts"

Intrigue Chocolate - Fernet Branca* Truffle

Today's Fernet Branca* flavored chocolate truffle was created by Intrigue Chocolate (Seattle, WA). It was part of a larger assortment of different truffles.

This individually-wrapped, square dark chocolate truffle had pleasing, authentic mint and herbal (light liqueur) notes, including a slightly mellow richness--likely due to the practice of aging this liqueur in oak barrels. The creamy soft truffle (with a rich, buttery melt) was dusted with a generous amount of cocoa powder. 

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (as described in the truffle name).

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy, Soy. 

*Fernet Branca is an Italian amaro liqueur made with "27 herbs from 4 continents" that's often served as an after-dinner digestif or before-meal appertif. 

Some ingredients said to be part of this recipe include: aloe, angelica, camomile, cardomom, cinchona, gentian, iris, myrrh, peppermint and rhubarb. (Some sources also say it may contain chocolate.) The base is distilled grape spirits.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 10, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Fruition, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week. (Note: this post is likely not appropriate for children. This bar contains alcohol and some adult cocktail references.)

Today's Gay Bar 69% Cacao Boozy Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Fruition Chocolate Works (Shokan, NY).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, and a slight boozy richness and fullness (think oak barrel, citrus, cherry, whiskey, vermouth -- in other words, something like a Manhattan (cocktail) fully incorporated into a smooth, rich dark chocolate.

Flavor notes took the aroma notes (listed above) one step further--with the dark chocolate (Peru (pangoa) + Colombia (tumaco) taking center stage. There was also a pleasing, lingering, slightly boozy (sweet, layered whiskey cocktail with cherry), buttery and very smooth oak finish. (Note: there was no dairy butter in this bar.)

Disclosure: I do very much enjoy dark chocolate and whiskey pairings. In skilled hands, fine quality dark chocolate + spirits and oak barrel/seasoned wood produces some very appealing results. The vermouth, cherries and bitters were well-balanced and well-integrated, and these ingredients conveyed the whole cocktail concept very nicely. I loved the layered flavors in this bar that harmonized so well together.

What's behind the name "Gay Bar" other than the play on words? The packaging features a large, glittering, red (big apple) disco ball--part of a club scene with happy, diverse patrons (cartoon characters of bear, deer, beaver cartoon). "...a portion of the proceeds from each Gay Bar sold will benefit Hudson Valley organizations working to better the lives of Upstate New York's vibrant LGBTQ+ community."

Ingredients: "cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, rye, vermouth, cherries, bitters"

Allergen-related information: "may contain traces of milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame"