Jangala Cacao & Selva - 70% Lavender Dark Chocolate with Pollen, Fennel (bar) - June 28, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Jangala Cacao & Selva
70% Cacao Lavender Dark Chocolate with Pollen, Fennel (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 98 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Bienvenidos a (Welcome to) Day #9 of Chocolate and Floral Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate & Mexico Theme Week.

Today's  Jangala Cacao & Selva 70% Cacao Lavender Dark Chocolate with Pollen, Fennel (bar) was made by Jangala Frutos De La Tierra S. de R.I. de C.V. (San Cristobol de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico). southern Mexico.

The company specializes in single origin Mexican cacaos with a deep appreciation of--and connection to--the farmers and jungles (selvas) essential to sustainable production. To create chocolate like today's bar, they worked with "fermented native cacaos..."Criollos and Trinitarios from Soconusco."

Aroma and aroma notes included: dark chocolate, lavender, fennel and faint honey (pollen). 

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with finely and carefully ground/dried botanical elements (lavender buds, fennel seeds, bee pollen) pressed into the back of the bar--creating an attractive, enchanted garden/forest pattern and feel.

I enjoyed the well-executed and balanced aroma and flavor elements in this bar; the short list of quality ingredients; and that the floral and herbal inclusions imparted an authentic texture and taste, without being too large or pokey. Right in the Goldilocks zone.*

"Aromatic notes: chocolate, lavender, fennel, floral."

"Organic Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, bee pollen, dehydrated fennel, dehydrated lavender flower."

Allergen-related information: None listed on package.

*To describe something as being in "the Goldilocks zone" means that it's just right. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too hard, not too soft. Not too big, not too small....And these references come from a European folk tale which--in the modern version--features a young girl (Goldilocks) who enters the home of three bears in a forest, while the bears are out on a walk. She then proceeds to try out their porridge, chairs and beds, finding ones (belonging to the youngest bear) that are just right for her. 

Cuna de Piedra - 73% Mexican Cacao from Comalcalco with Hibiscus Flowers (bar) - June 27, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Cuna de Piedra
73% Mexican Cacao from Comalcalco with Hibiscus Flowers (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 100 calories in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $10.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Floral Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate & Mexico Theme Week.

Today's 73% Mexican Cacao from Comalcalco with Hibiscus Flowers Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Cuna de Piedra* (Monterrey, NL, Mexico).

The company is an "homage to Mexican Cacao." And the cacao used to make this bar was from the Comalcalco, Tabasco region in southeastern Mexico. (The cacao beans chosen were part of the "Rainy Season Harvest 2024".)

To this cacao, the makers added bits of sun-dried hibiscus flowers--that were harvested by indigenous community members who have been cultivating the "creole Hibiscus tree(s)"** (introduced by the Spanish) for centuries. These two flavors were showcased effectively in this three-ingredient chocolate.

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: dark chocolate and faint, tart floral (hibiscus).

The lightly sweetened dark chocolate and the ruby-hued hibiscus flower bits pressed across the back of the bar tasted authentic; and it was interesting to taste the hibiscus flowers without a lot of sugar. (Normally, hibiscus drinks (like Jamaica) here in northern California are very sweet.)

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Cane sugar, Sundried Hibiscus flowers.

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

*The company name Cuna de Piedra translates to "cradle of stone," which immediately made me think of women grinding roasted cacao beans into a paste using a stone metate and mano (grinding stone) in the jungles of Central America.

** This hibiscus variety was "originally introduced by the Spanish galleons on the Pacific route from Manila to Acapulco, and is known for being particularly robust and aromatic." 

Mama Ganache - Aztec Chocolate 70% Cocoa (bar) - June 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mama Ganache
Aztec Chocolate 70% Cocoa (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $N/A gift from a friend
Purchased from: Gift from a friend 

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Floral Theme Week; and Day #2 of Chocolate & Mexico Theme Week. Like yesterday's Aztec bar, vanilla added sweet, warm and mellow floral notes to today's chocolate.

Today's Aztec Chocolate 70% Cocoa (bar) with vanilla and spices was from Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates Inc. (San Luis Obispo, CA)--and was made with "ethically sourced ingredients." 

Aroma notes for this bar included: subtle dark chocolate and vanilla.

Texture: smooth, buttery/creamy texture, with tiny softly crunchy bits (likely chili pepper, vanilla bean or cocoa nibs) that weren't at all objectionable.

Flavor notes included: smooth, satisfying dark chocolate with subtle vanilla--and sporadic, authentic chili heat.

I enjoyed the almost silken chocolate and the comforting chocolate and vanilla blend that reminded me of drinking chocolate/rich cocoa. 

The spicy chili pepper heat that kicked in about 5 seconds after most bites livened things up considerably. I felt a tiny burn in my throat. But, I felt compelled to take another bite each time...until the bar was gone.

This chocolate might be a little spicy for some; but the flavorful spicy kick was less fire-breather and more consistent with the ancient Aztec practice of adding warm, floral vanilla and hot chili peppers to chocolate beverages. Only this chocolate was in a slightly addicting 70% cacao chocolate bar format.

Ingredients: Organic bittersweet chocolate (Organic chocolate liquor*, organic sugar*, organic cocoa butter*, & organic vanilla*), organic spices & flavors. (* Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that also processes peanuts, nuts, wheat & dairy."

Nirvana Belgian Chocolates - Organic 72% Dark Spicy Aztec Chocolate (bar) - June 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Nirvana Belgian Chocolates
Organic 72% Dark Spicy Aztec Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Wide Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Floral Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Organic 72% Dark Spicy Aztec Chocolate (bar) was made in Belgium for Belgium's Chocolate Source (Milton, MA). The company produces several Organic and Fair Trade Belgian chocolates (bars) under the Nirvana brand name.

Vanilla (from the Vanilla planifolia orchid plant) is probably the most popular floral flavor in chocolates. Vanilla and cacao are both native to the Americas; and evidence suggests that humans have been enjoying vanilla in cacao beverages for many centuries.*

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth dark chocolate (with very faint, fleeting managed earth); subtle warm spices (cinnamon), vanilla and faint nut (almond). A barely detectable chili flavor note added complementary warmth. 

This was a pleasant and appealing dark chocolate bar made with Trinitario cacao. I enjoyed the dark nutty flavor blend with authentic, subtle vanilla, cinnamon and chili (and nutmeg). The almonds and vanilla added a mellowness to the dark chocolate.

Only vanilla and chili would have been available to the early Maya and Aztec peoples, centuries ago, in what is now Mexico. Cinnamon arrived later (via Spain/Spanish trade routes), and (along with vanilla and chili) is now heavily associated with Mexican chocolate bars, beverages and confections.

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate* (unsweetened chocolate, raw cane sugar, reduced fat cocoa powder, soy lecithin as an emulsifier), Almonds*, and Spice*."

Allergen-related information: "Contains Almonds, Soy (lecithin). (* = Organic). Manufactured on shared equipment in a facility that handles milk and other tree nuts." "Suitable for vegetarians. Gluten free."

*Vanilla is native to Mesoamerica. The Aztecs are thought to have picked up the practice of blending vanilla with their chocolate beverages from the Totonacs. (The Aztecs conquered in the 1400s). I don't know how long the Totonacs were enjoying these two items together, but it's safe to say that people have been enjoying cacao and vanilla together for at least 600 years in Central America.

 

Luisa Abram Chocolates - Dark Chocolate with Jambu Flower (bar) - June 24, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram Chocolates  
Dark Chocolate with Jambu Flower (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) (per label) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 188 calories (estimate) in 1 bar (of 2)
Cost: $14.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate with Jambu Flower (bar) was made in Brazil by Familia Abram Banks Ltda. (Sao Paolo, Brazil). 

Luisa Abrams is a bean-to-bar chocolate maker whose chocolates are rich with local cacao terroir nuances and Amazonian flavor inclusions. Her flavorful bars offer rare and delicious glimpses of wild cacaos--and cacao paired with local fruits, flowers, nuts/seeds that grow nearby in Brazil.

This package contained two, individually-wrapped bars. The chocolate were thoughtfully crafted with 70% Rio Tocantins wild cacao chocolate ("which has a very citrusy profile"), Amazonian cocoa butter and jambu flower. The skillful blend of all three resulted in a skillfully constructed powerhouse of nuanced and intriguing, authentic Amazon flavors.

Brazilian jambu flowers have been described as: slightly spicy, medicinal, numbing, and like a gingery blueberry with tannic fruit-like astringency. They can be found in traditional dishes in northern Brazil, and are consumed medicinally. 

I found the very slightly numbing quality (earning the nickname for jambu flower as the toothache plant) was quite mild. It was similar to a milder version of the Sichuan green peppercorn's tingling quality.

Complex aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate; refreshing diffuse and bright (sweet-tart) fruity floral; and a complementary blend of sweet green intriguing botanical syrups, spiced with fruits (prickly pear, pineapple, guava, orange, date, fig) and hibiscus.

Texture: smooth and hearty, with the exception of one or two tiny/fine grit pieces (likely from either cacao bean nibs or jambu).

I loved the wild cacao 70% dark chocolate; the subtle warmness of the organic sugar; and the bold sweet-tart floral and fruit flavors with citrus (orange, almost kumquat), ripe guava and sweet green (green fig, green nut, sweet green/young walnuts in syrup) notes. 

Ingredients: "Cocoa Mass, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter and jambu flower.", Dates*, Cacao Butter*, Bee Pollen, Rose Petals, Lavender (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: "

Fossa Chocolate - Gardenia Flower Green Tea (bar) - June 23, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fossa Chocolate
Gardenia Flower Green Tea (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 273 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $13.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order

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

Today's Gardenia Flower Green Tea (bar) was from Fossa Chocolate (Singapore). It was the part of the company's impressive Tea Collection.

Fossa makers chose a "...floral and mild Peruvian cacao from Puerta Pulache, Piura..." for this refreshing gardenia green tea bar. In a multi-step process...

Aroma notes for this bar included: subtle dark milk chocolate and come hither floral and green tea notes. The carefully nested process of flavor development in this bar was impressive: 

"Green teas from the "Fuding Da Bai cultivar were infused with Gardenia flowers from Qianwei country in Sichuan using a traditional floral infusion method -- fresh flowers are layered over tea leaves in a laborious process that is repeated seven times to achieve complex yet delicate floral candy sweetness."

 And of course the tea was then integrated into the Peruvian cacao which had its own, albeit mild, naturally floral cacao notes.

Texture: creamy and smooth with a quiet whisper of green tea astringency.

Flavor notes included: smooth, creamy and addictive dark milk chocolate infused with authentic and beautiful floral (gardenia) green tea notes. Just a faint whisper of green tea astringency.

I really enjoyed the upbeat gardenia tea blend; the choice of complementary cacao; the creamy texture and the subtle and harmonious complexity. And, like all the bars Fossa's Tea Collection that I've tried, I appreciated the thoughtful sourcing of ingredients and skillful balance and execution of the finished product. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Candy-like florals with lingering umami and a creamy mouthfeel"

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, tea leaves"

Allergen-related information: "Contains dairy. Produced in a facility that processes nuts."

The Organic House - Lavender & Maple 70% Cacao (bar) - June 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Lavender & Maple 70% dark chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 198 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Lavender & Maple 70% dark chocolate (bar) was made by The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada). The company produces a variety of bean-to-bar chocolates--including many with flavor inclusions and/or maple sugar from Ontario, Canada.

The Bon Bulak cacao (from Kablon Farms) used to make this bar was from the Philippines.

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate; maple; and clean, faintly fragrant lavender.

Texture: broke with a well-tempered snap first thing in the morning (65 degrees F.), and was smooth and creamy when warmed to 70 degrees (F.). All flavor inclusions were completely incorporated into the 70% dark chocolate. There was no maple sugar or floral grit, or any off-putting or astringent components.

Flavor notes included: an elegant blend of dark chocolate with a wonderful, balanced flux of lavender floral, maple and refreshing sweet fruit (purple/red grape).

I really liked the complementary flux of high-quality flavors including the culinary lavender and the subtle petit verdot grape note. I appreciated the short list of quality and organic ingredients; and I enjoyed the maker's tagline: "Let your taste buds travel."

Maker's tasting notes: "Porcini, sage, lilac, petit verdot" (Petit verdot is a purple wine grape.)

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, Ontario maple sugar, Organic maple sugar, Culinary lavender

Allergen-related information: "May contain: Cashews, Hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios"