The Organic House - Vegan Turtle(s) - July 26, 2025

The Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Vegan Turtle(s)
(Tortue Vegetalienne) 

Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 8 oz. (226.4 g.) in total bar
Calories: 320 calories in 50 g. (2 pieces)
Cost: $13.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Organic House, online order

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

Today's package of Vegan Turtle(s) was from The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada).

Aroma and flavor notes for these 70% dark chocolate-enrobed pecan turtles included: dark chocolate, sweet botanical/green (maple syrup, coconut flower nectar, brown sugar) and pecans.

Texture: a satisfying blend of smooth chocolate, smooth brown sugary caramel, and softly crunchy pecan halves. The caramel wasn't corn-syrup, pull your dental fillings out caramel. It was a much less sticky form of caramel, formed from natural sugars. I liked that.

I enjoyed this blend of balanced and flavorful, high-quality and organic ingredients (pecans, chocolate, choice of less processed sugars).

Maker's tasting notes/description: "Toasted pecans mixed with a vegan caramel covered in a 70% dark chocolate."

Ingredients: Organic pecans, Organic cacao beans, Ontario maple syrup, Organic almond butter, Organic cacao butter, Organic vanilla, Organic sea salt. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains Almonds, Pecans...May contain: Cashews, Hazelnuts, Oats, Pistachios...Made in a facility that uses tree nuts"

 

The Organic House - Pecan Chocolate Brittle with 70% dark chocolate - July 25, 2025

The Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Pecan Chocolate Brittle with 70% dark chocolate  (bar)

Good ++
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total package
Calories: 480 calories in 1 package
Cost: $9.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Organic House, online order

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

Today's Pecan Chocolate Brittle with 70% dark chocolate was from The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada).

Aroma notes included: subtle chocolate, nuts (pecans) and brown coconut sugar/maple sugar/date.

I enjoyed the texture: It had different levels of soft crunchiness. It was not too brittle and hard, and not too soft and crumbly. (Reading that this thoughtfully-created confection contained maple sugar and coconut nectar explained the taste and textures I liked.)

I liked the blend of authentic flavors and textures in this substantial "brittle" more than I expected. The pecan halves (and other organic ingredients) were of good quality; and the brown "brittle" was tasty--and not as over-sweetened as I was expecting (thank you). 

The smaller amounts of dark chocolate added richness and depth. The pecans were the star of the show; and rightly so. Last, but not least, the very judicious use of sea salt (not too much, not too little) also enhanced/elevated this sweet, nutty blend.

Maker's tasting notes/description: "Toasted pecans layered with vegan butter toffee topped with 70% dark chocolate and sea salt."

Ingredients: "Ontario maple syrup, Organic pecans, Organic cacao beans, Organic coconut flower nectar, Mineral water, Organic cacao butter, Organic sea salt, Organic vanilla beans, Organic unrefined coconut oil (organic expeller pressed unrefined virgin coconut oil)"

Allergen-related information: "Contains Pecans...May contain Almonds, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Oats, Pistaches...Made in a facility that uses tree nuts."  

The Organic House - Hazelnut Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar) - July 24, 2025

The Chocolate of the Day

The Organic House
Hazelnut Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar)

(Chocolat Aux Noisettes 55% Cacao)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 3/5 bar (in 30 g. serving)
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Organic House, online order

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

Today's Hazelnut Chocolate 55% Cacao (bar) was from The Organic House (Burlington, ON, Canada).

The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Maya Mountain Cacao in southern Belize.

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate; sweet green/botanical/brown coconut sugar/honey/date/; and smooth (hazelnut butter-like) nuttiness.

Balanced and flavorful, I enjoyed the rich, creamy hazelnut butter-like texture. This 55% bar was sweet, but the sweetness level was moderated a bit by the cacao, the hazelnuts and by the use of coconut flower nectar. 

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Buttery notes of chocolate, hazelnut, honey, raisins and pineapple."

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, Organic cacao butter, Organic hazelnuts, Organic coconut flower nectar. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains Hazelnuts. May contain: Almonds, Cashews, Oats, Pistaches"

The Xocolate Bar - Rocky Road (bar) - July 23, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Xocolate Bar
Rocky Road (bar) 
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

Today's Rocky Road (bar) was from The Xocolate Bar (Berkeley, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes included: relatively bold but smooth dark chocolate; sweet candied pecans; and soft bites of small, sweet marshmallows. All infused with subtle vanilla. 

This bar was an aggregation of smooth, crunchy, and soft textures. It was part dark chocolate and part confection with the candied nuts and marshmallows.  

I liked that the (fair trade 70%) dark chocolate helped moderate the sweetness.

Maker's tasting notes: "...crunchy, chewy, salty and sweet...a classic reimagined"

Ingredients: "fair trade dark chocolate* (cacao,* sugar,* sunflower lecithin), pecans, sugar, tapioca syrup, carageenan (sic), soy protein, canola oil, natural vanilla flavor, salt." (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Nuts.

 

SunRidge Farms - Mexican Style Chocolate Almonds - July 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

SunRidge Farms
Mexican Style Chocolate Almonds
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) (1/4 cup) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (1/4 cup)
Cost: $6.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Nuts Theme Week.

Today's Mexican Style Chocolate Almonds with Cinnamon, Cayenne & Vanilla were manufactured by SunRidge Farms (Royal Oaks, CA).*

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet, dark milk chocolate and spices (Ceylon cinnamon, vanilla, cayenne pepper). I admit I prefer Cassia (Saigon) cinnamon from Vietnam rather than Ceylon cinnamon. 

Texture: smooth chocolate coating surrounded crunchy whole almonds.

I liked the textural balance between smooth and crunchy; and the idea of Mexican chocolate. Somehow the combination of spices reminded me of cinnamon toast or apple turnover with some mild heat. That's not a bad thing; but I'm a big fan of the "other" cinnamon--the bolder, (some say more bitter) Cassia cinnamon from Vietnam. Everything else about these almonds seemed just fine.

Ingredients: "Mexican Style Chocolate Coating (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, milk, cinnamon, soy or sunflower lecithin [an emulsifier], cayenne pepper, vanilla extract), Dry Roasted Almonds, Pure Food Glaze."

Allergen-related information: "Contains Almonds, Milk, Soy. Manufactured on shared equipment with peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and sesame."

*The company gets extra points in my book as their facility uses renewable energy (solar and wind) to run their operations. And that includes "3000+ solar panels."

That's All - Dark Chocolate Knafe Crunch (bar) - July 21, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

That's All
Dark Chocolate Knafe Crunch (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62.2 g.) in total bar
Calories: 341 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $13.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's handmade Dark Chocolate Knafe Crunch (bar) from That's All (San Jose, CA)

This bar was a tribute to the Dubai chocolate bars popular on social media in recent years that contain pistachios and knafeh/kataifi/kadayif (shredded, thin phyllo dough pastry sheets) -- often with tahini (ground sesame).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with appealing sweet, nutty and very faint coconut notes.

Texture: smooth, firm dark chocolate coating surrounded a soft, ground pistachio nuts (salted pistachio butter) filling that was also crunchy and flavorful thanks to popped quinoa, sesame (tahini) and coconut.

Flavor notes included: a pleasing blend of dark chocolate layered with pistachio nut butter and other complementary flavors and complementary creamy and crunchy textures.

I also appreciated the short list of quality ingredients and being able to try a gluten-free version of a "Dubai Chocolate"-inspired filled bar. 

Ingredients: 70% Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin), Salted Pistachio Butter, Popped Quinoa, Tahini (Sesame), Coconut Sugar.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Pistachio, Sesame & Coconut (sugar)"

Xocolatl - "Go Nuts" - 68% Dark Chocolate, Roasted Almonds & Vanilla-Infused Sea Salt (bar) - July 20, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Xocolatl 
"Go Nuts" 68% Dark Chocolate, Roasted Almonds & Vanilla-Infused Sea Salt (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.6 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl, online order 

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Salt Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate & Nuts Theme Week.

Today's "Go Nuts" 68% Dark Chocolate, Roasted Almonds & Vanilla-Infused Sea Salt (bar) was made from bean-to-bar by Xocolatl LLC (Atlanta, GA).

Aroma notes included: rich dark chocolate with appealing nutty notes.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, and a softly crunchy field of chopped nuts (on the back of the bar).

Flavor notes included: smooth but relatively rich dark chocolate, nuttiness from chopped almonds, with a subtle hint of salt and vanilla.

I loved the nuts (almonds); the gentle dose of salt; and the overall tasting experience.

Ingredients: Cacao, Cane Sugar*, Almond* (tree nut), Cocoa Butter*, Sea Salt, Vanilla (* = organic)

Allergen-related information: Contains Almonds. "Made on equipment that processes soy, wheat, peanuts & tree nuts (almond, hazelnut, pecan)." Vegan.