Chocolarder - Gold Frankincense & Myrrh chocolate 72% (bar) - Mar. 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolarder
Gold Frankincense & Myrrh chocolate 72% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.24 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 196 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Gold Frankincense & Myrrh 72% chocolate (bar) was from Chocolarder (Falmouth, Cornwall, U.K.).

This seasonal bar was made from bean-to-bar using Peruvian cacao, tree resins from the province of Kenitra in Morocco, and gold leaf. 

For all its shimmering beauty, gold is an inert element that imparts no flavor that I'm aware of. However, this dark chocolate was dressed for an evening out, with sparkling flecks of gold (very thin gold leaf/foil pieces) carefully placed in a chocolate mold so that on the finished bar, the gold pieces adorned the company name ("Chocolarder") and some cocoa pods.* 

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate; faint diffuse fruit (mild citrus (sweet orange or mild tangerine); and pine or herb-like, aromatic resins (frankincense and myrrh). There was also a very faint (barely detectable but pleasing) cherry cola with sweet herbs soda note in the finish.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Warming aromas of orange and pine needle with undertones of red fruit and green apple."

Ingredients: "Cocoa beans, unrefined raw sugar, cocoa butter infused with Frankincense and Myrrh, 23ct gold leaf"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a factory that also handles dairy and tree nuts."

*Typically flavor inclusions are sprinkled on the "back" of a bar, and it was impressive to have all these elements present on one side. Extra luxe (and extra time and care too I imagine).

John Kelly - Dark Chocolate Fudge Bourbon Truffle Fudge Bar - Mar. 13, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

John Kelly

Dark Chocolate Bourbon Truffle Fudge Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 264 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $ Missing information 
Purchased from: Village Market, S.F. Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 

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

Today's Dark Chocolate Bourbon Truffle Fudge Bar, from John Kelly Chocolates (Los Angeles, CA) was swaddled in gold foil.

This gold ingot of a bar offered a hearty, sweet, rich, and very slightly boozy (Knob Creek) Kentucky Straight Bourbon chocolate tasting experience with a rich (buttery) smooth fudge-y texture.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Semi-sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor Processed With Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin {Emulsifer}, Natural Flavor), Evaporated Milk (Milk, Dipotassium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Vitamin D3), Unsweetened Chocolate, Butter (Pasteurized Cream, Salt), Dark Chocolate Flavored Confectionery (Sugar, Palm Kernel and Palm Oil, Cocoa Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Demineralized Whey Lactose {Milk}, Soy Lecithin {An Emulsifier}, Vanilla Extract), Natural Flavor, Tapioca Syrup, Invert Sugar Syrup, Knob Creek Bourbon (Less than 1% Alcohol by Volume), Natural Flavors, Kosher Salt

Allergen-related information: Contains: Milk and Dairy, Soy

Cuna de Piedra - 85% Mexican Cacao (Soconusco, Chiapas) (bar) - Mar. 12, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Cuna de Piedra
85% Mexican Cacao (Soconusco, Chiapas) (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 2/3 bar
Cost: $10.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's 85% Mexican Cacao (Soconusco, Chiapas) bar was from Cuna de Piedra (Monterrey, N.L, Mexico).

The cacao used to make this chocolate was from the 28-member RAYEN co-operative in Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico. Harvest information: "Dry Season, Harvest 2022"

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with spice, diffuse fruit and floral including red fruit (red berry, candied watermelon, kiwi, citrus), and very faint, fleeting lemon cookie and cream.* The very subtle floral notes reminded me of wild orchids, very faint jasmine, honey, and other tropical flowers.

This ultra-dark 85% bar had substantial and balanced, natural fruit sweet-tartness (relatively bright, candied fruits)--the opposite of the heavier "brown" dried fruits often found in darker, denser chocolates. It was also one of the most subtle and complex 85%ers I've tasted. Taking that one step further, it was one of the more interesting and unique chocolates I've ever tasted. 

And I do mean that in a very good way. The very nuanced flavors in this chocolate (created from just two ingredients) were complex and special.

The bars from southern Mexico this week have provided a form of virtual travel. You won't find these on store shelves, as most of these are micro-batch, limited edition bars. Thank you to all the growers and makers who made these amazing chocolates possible.

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Cane sugar.

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that processes wheat, milk, soy, peanuts, tree nuts and eggs."

*Some heritage and Criollo cacaos are known for their more delicate fruit and cream notes. There were no dairy ingredients in this bar.

Theo Chocolate - Organic Sweet & Spicy 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Theo Chocolate
Organic Sweet & Spicy 55% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.4 oz. (39.5 g.) / 2.8 oz. (79 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar (~213 cals in 1/2 bar)
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week. 

This bar was not from Mexico; but it did contain the southwest trifecta of chocolate flavor inclusions: chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon* and cayenne pepper. 

Today's Organic Sweet & Spicy 55% Dark Chocolate (bar) was distributed by Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA). This was a special gift from a friend who lives in Arizona. (Thank you Joy!)

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, sweet dark chocolate (dark chocolate cookie), interspersed with tiny crunchy bits of sweet brittle; and sparkles of warm spice (cinnamon) and occasional, tiny spikes of cayenne pepper heat.

This was, just as advertised, sweet and spicy chocolate with a touch of vanilla and warming spices. I liked the relatively short list of Organic and "Fair for life" (Fair Trade) ingredients, and the addition of a crunchy element (brittle).

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate* (Cocoa Beans*+, Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Butter*+, Ground Vanilla Bean*), Brittle* (Sugar*, Rice Syrup*, Coconut Oil*, Sea Salt, Baking Soda), Cinnamon*, Cayenne*. 

(*Organic, +Fair Trade - Contains 89% Fair Trade Ingredients)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that also process (sic) milk, peanuts, and tree nuts."

*Cinnamon may not be native to the Americas, but in just a few centuries it became firmly embedded in Mexico and the U.S. culinary (and chocolate) offerings.

Michel Cluizel - Coffee (Origin Chiapas, Mexico) 70% Chocolat Noir (bar) - Mar. 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Michel Cluizel 
Coffee (Origin Chiapas, Mexico) 70% Chocolat Noir (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 195 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sigona's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Coffee (Origin Grand Cru Chiapas, Mexico) 70% Organic Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Michel Cluizel (Paris, France).

The coffee used to make this bar was from Chiapas, Mexico; and the cacao was from Guayas, Ecuador.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, coffee and very faint citrus and olive.

Texture: smooth and uniform with a very faint astringency in the finish.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, rich but smooth coffee, and very slight (well-balanced) earth and almost undetectable olive and citrus (mild, sweet orange).

I found this to be a wonderful "sipping" chocolate--that could be savored slowly with a friend. It wasn't too sweet (thank you!), allowing one to appreciate the short list of quality, Organic ingredients.

Ingredients: cocoa from origin Guayas* (Ecuador), cane sugar*, coffee beans*, cocoa butter*

Organic Dark Chocolate (70% of cocoa minimum) and Coffee from Mexico (9% minimum)

Allergen-related information: Product made in a workshop using shelled tree nuts, milk, gluten.

Pinwheel Craft Chocolate - 70% Dark Mexican Hot Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 9, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Pinwheel Craft Chocolate
70% Dark Mexican Hot Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 326 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Pinwheel Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Dark Mexican Hot Chocolate (bar) was made by Pinwheel Craft Chocolate (Eagle Mountain, UT), using beans sourced from Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico.

Aroma and notes for this bar included: bright, clean subtle but rich dark chocolate; cinnamon spice cookie/crispy toffee (with a touch of butter and salt); faint ginger and vanilla; and a bit of spicy cayenne pepper heat. 

Texture: smooth and creamy with small pieces of crunchy, crispy cinnamon-spice buttery toffee.

I appreciated that everything in this bar seemed thoughtfully arranged, relatively subtle, balanced and expertly-executed; and that this chocolate was yet another/different take on Mexican hot chocolate (cinnamon, vanilla and pepper(s) with chocolate). 

Two different kinds of cinnamon (Saigon, Ceylon) and two different peppers (ancho and cayenne) helped broaden the spice flavor profile--all without dominating the single estate (in Tabasco) cacao-based chocolate too much. 

The cacao used in all three of the Pinwheel bars this past week was very special, and difficult to describe. It had the subtlety of a Criollo cacao, and unique, clean/pure notes. 

Maker's tasting notes: "We crafted this delicious bar to capture all the cozy richness of a favorite beverage, Mexican Hot Chocolate..."

Ingredients: Spiced Chocolate (Cacao beans, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, Saigon cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon, ancho chili, ginger, cayenne pepper) Toffee (cane sugar*, Kerry Gold grass-fed butter, Mexican vanilla extract, baking soda, salt (* = organic ingredients)

Allergen-related information: (While not listed on label, the following was printed on other bars from this maker from the same order: "Made on shared equipment that processes nuts and dairy") 

Pinwheel Craft Chocolate - 70% Dark Tabasco, Mexico (bar) - Mar. 8, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Pinwheel Craft Chocolate
70% Dark Tabasco, Mexico (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 326 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Pinwheel Chocolate, online order

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

Today's 70% Dark Tabasco, Mexico (bar) (Batch #23041) was made by Pinwheel Craft Chocolate (Eagle Mountain, UT).

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate milk, fruit (cherry and cherry blossom; peach and persimmon tea); caramel almond latte; balanced forest and fruit teas (with light tannins); and very faint clay/clean mineral. 

I could taste the terroir, the cacao, the soils, the fermentation. And it was good. I don't remember any bar quite like this. Virtual travel in a bar for certain. But also a truly unique and wonderful chocolate.

Texture: creamy, smooth, almost like dark milk chocolate tea (but there was no milk).

I enjoyed the intriguing, balanced and very complex bundle of wide-ranging (and authentic-tasting) flavors in this bar. I kept thinking of different teas (oolong persimmon tea anyone?) when I ate this chocolate. Saying there were faint tea-floral and stone fruit flavors don't begin to do justice to this single origin, single estate bar.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "...It has a complex and unique flavor that defies description. We are honored to make chocolate from these special beans."

Ingredients: Cacao beans, cane sugar*, cocoa butter* (* = organic ingredients)

Allergen-related information: Made on shared equipment that processes nuts and dairy