Casa Bosques - Pure Dark Chocolate 74% Organic Cacao Criollo Chiapas, Mexico - Mar. 2, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Casa Bosques
Pure Dark Chocolate 74% Organic Cacao Criollo Chiapas, Mexico (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: DeLaurenti (store), online order 

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Pure Dark Chocolate 74% Organic Cacao Criollo Chiapas, Mexico (bar) was from Casa Bosques (New York, NY and Mexico City).* 

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate and faint chili and olive.

Texture: smooth

Flavor notes included: bold dark chocolate with relatively high acidity (tannic acids, bark).

I liked that this 74% cacao ultra-dark bar wasn't too sweet. It may be too strong for some, but it was fun to try something with deep, dark authentic forest and fermentation flavors. I also appreciated that there were no emulsifiers or artificial ingredients. 

Instead the process of chocolate making (from reading information on the Casa Bosques website) is considered a creative endeavor and might include small amounts of ingredients like blue corn, various plants, preserved lemon, etc.

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan and Organic." "Handcrafted in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nut, dairy."

*Casa Bosques is a project by Rafael Prieto, founder and creative director of Savvy Studio. Cacao/ingredients are obtained from "small ranches in Mexico." 

Chocolat Bonnat - Kuna Balam Mexique 75% Cacao (bar) - Mar. 1, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolat Bonnat
Kuna Balam Mexique 75% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 301.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $21.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week. 

Today's Kuna Balam Mexique 75% Cacao (bar) was from Maison Bonnat Chocolatier (Voiron Cedex, France). The family-owned company has been in the chocolate business since 1884.

Aroma notes for this special limited edition chocolate (made with Mexican Cacao) included: authentic, classic dark chocolate, subtle fruit (cherry) and very faint roasted cacao/mocha and balanced forest.

There was a story in French about the wildlife (jaguar) on the cacao plantation, on the back of the bar, that is worth re-telling in short form.*

This bar had a smooth, uniform and satisfying (almost buttery) texture.

Flavor notes included: deep dark chocolate fudge cake and creamy dark frosting; fudge brownies; slightly acidic dark chocolate ice cream. 

I liked the deep, classic chocolate-y flavor(s) -- produced with just three ingredients. The natural sweetness/fruit level was fairly high, making this seem "sweeter" than 75% cacao. The smoothness and sweetness will appeal to those who shy away from higher percentage dark chocolates.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Fruity aromas with fruity and woody flavors"

Ingredients: "Cacao, cacao butter, sugar"

Allergen-related information: Peanut Free, Sesame Free, Gluten Free,...Kosher..."May Contain Traces of Milk and Tree Nuts" 

*"The story of Kuna Balam tells of the intention to protect the birth of a young jaguar in the Mexican jungle within Bonnat's family plantation. In order to not disturb his coming into the world, part of the plantation has been closed. After he left, they realized that old and special cocoa trees dotted this part of the plantation and they decided to make a chocolate celebrating this extraordinary event.

Ranger Chocolate Co. - Mexico Soconusco Dark Chocolate Bar 70% - Feb. 28, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Co.
Mexico Soconusco Dark Chocolate Bar 70%
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 349 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week. It's always a pleasure to return to the Americas, where cacao originated. 

Today's Mexico Soconusco 70% Dark Chocolate Bar was from Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR). The Soconosco region is "the birthplace of cacao in Mexico, where they've been growing this crop for 4,000 years..."

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate (rich drinking chocolate); fruit (mango, wine grape juice/white raisin); diffuse warm spice; very faint botanicals (faint peppercorn); and very faint, fleeting, warm apple cider in the finish.

Texture: well-tempered and executed bar with smooth and satisfying texture.

I liked everything about this well-executed chocolate. I enjoyed the balanced, deliciously hearty yet smooth, cacao aroma and flavor complexity...the fruit, spice and other subtle flavors in this bar. I also appreciated the texture and the sourcing of the short list of ingredients.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "juicy mango, grapefruit, white grape, juniper"

Ingredients: "organic cacao, organic sugar"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free"

 

 

Zoe's Chocolate Co. - Peanut Butter Love Bugs - Feb. 27, 2025

Chocolate of the Day 

Zoe's Chocolate Co. 
Peanut Butter Love Bugs
Good + - Good ++
Weight: (unknown)
Calories: (unknown)
Cost: $11.00 + shipping for 1 box of 2 pieces/bugs
Purchased from: Zoe's Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Peanut Theme Week.

Today's Peanut Butter Love Bugs were from Zoe's Chocolate Company (Frederick, MD).

Aroma notes for these heart-shaped pair of ladybug-like Love Bugs included: chocolate and peanut butter (peanut butter cup).

A thin, velvety coat of dark chocolate--decorated with an attractive, rose and pink hued (colored white chocolate) pattern--surrounded a smooth, sweet peanut butter center.

Flavor notes included: a blend of classic, chocolate and peanut butter cup flavors.

I liked: the appearance and classic peanut butter cup flavors. The love bug confections, designed to look like festive ladybugs, were cute. I was less excited about the long list of ingredients that included artificial colors. But, overall these were tasty treats.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla), Milk Chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla), White Chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla), Organic Peanuts, Salt. Decorations: Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Full Milk Powder, Sunflower Lecithin (emulsifier). Titanium Dioxide, Rice Starch, FD&C Blue #1, Blue #2, Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5. 

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts, Milk. "Made in an environment where peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, dairy and eggs are used"

Nutsola - Dat Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Dark Chocolate (bar) - Feb. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Nutsola 
Dat Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 350 calories in 1 bar
Cost: Pricing not available for a single bar; (I paid $56.00 for 1 of a box of 8 bars)
Purchased from: Nutsola, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Peanut Theme Week.

Today's Dat Chocolate Organic Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Nutsola LLC (Livingston, NJ).

Aroma notes included: bold (slightly bitter, but balanced) dark chocolate and faint nut.

Texture: relatively smooth dark chocolate and a filling of ground peanuts (peanut butter)

Flavor notes included: bold but balanced dark chocolate with faint umami/savory peanut. Because of the lack of added sugar (dates were used to lightly sweeten this chocolate), this bar tasted like a higher percentage (80%) dark chocolate. 

I liked 1.) the short list of quality (Organic and gluten-free) ingredients, 2.) how the peanut butter balanced and mellowed the dark chocolate); and 3) the hearty chocolate flavor that wasn't too sweet (thank you!). 

Sugar can be valuable to balance bitterness in some chocolates; but I can do without a sugar buzz. (I also enjoy balanced bitter and umami flavors.) Nutsola co-founders, Adam and Michael, created this date-sweetened chocolate with "clean ingredients" and with more fiber "to slow down sugar absorption." The company produces a variety of "no added sugar" bars.

Ingredients: "Organic Cacao, Organic Date, Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Sea Salt"

Allergen-related information: "Contains Peanuts. May contain occasional pits. Shares Equipment with Products Containing Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Milk, Egg and Wheat."

Chocolove - Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar) - Feb. 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolove
Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.29 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Salted Peanut Butter in Milk Chocolate (filled bar) was from Chocolove ("Made in Boulder, CO with Belgian Chocolate").

Aroma notes included: rich milk chocolate, faint nut (peanut butter) and warm vanilla.

The thick creamy milk chocolate bar contained a creamy peanut butter filling--making for a hearty, substantial bar.

A generous helping of sweetness and a little salt helped tipped this bar into the addictive snack zone; but when it comes to peanut butter chocolate confections I may eat more due to the tie to childhood chocolate candy memories. That happened today.

Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter**, Milk, Cocoa Liquor**, Soy Lecithin and/or Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla), Peanut Butter (Dry Roasted Blanched Peanuts), Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Organic Butter Oil, Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin. 

** Rainforest Alliance Certified

Allergen-related information: Contains: Peanuts, Milk, Soy. Made in a facility that also processes eggs and tree nuts.

Nomolotus - Truvani "The Only Bar" Organic, Gluten Free (bar) - Feb. 24, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Truvani
The Only Bar Organic, Gluten Free (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Truvani* "The Only Bar" Organic, Gluten Free (bar) was manufactured for Nomolotus, LLC (Las Vegas, NV).

Aroma notes included: chocolate brownie cookie.

Texture: light and compact fudge brownie (softer) cookie chew with tiny (cacao nib and peanut?) bits.

Flavor notes included: light fudge brownie with very subtle date and peanut butter notes. 

I liked the: 1.) emphasis on authentic chocolate flavor (cacao nibs and cocoa); 2.) relatively lightness of the other flavor elements--including the light but complex sweetness (it wasn't too sweet or date-y); 3.) overall chocolate brownie flavor and texture; and 4.) relatively short list of quality, authentic/organic ingredients. 

Ingredients: Organic Dates, Organic Peanuts, Organic Maple Syrup, Organic Peanut Flour, Organic Cacao Nibs, Organic Cocoa, Organic Peanut Oil, Sea Salt, Organic Coconut Oil

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

*Truvani is a registered trademark of Nomolotus LLC.