Chocolate Tree - Cacao Fruit Guatemala 100% (bar) - Nov. 10, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolate Tree 
Cacao Fruit Guatemala 100% Bean to Bar (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 167 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: B&C, online order

Welcome to Day #20 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week, and Happy 7,000th chocolate day on Chocolate Banquet.*

Today's Cacao Fruit Guatemala (bar) was from Chocolate Tree (East Lothian, Scotland). This bar is part of their Bean to Bar collection "crafted from ancestral and rare cacao."

A blend of Criollo hybrids and Arriba Nacional cacao varieties were used to make this chocolate.

I love the attractive chocolate molds Chocolate Tree makers have been using for their bars. Today's pattern: interlocking birds/toucans. This dovetailed with my interest in birds and wildlife (and memories of seeing toucans in the wild in Central America).

Aroma and flavor notes included: deep, rich chocolate, and sweet, aromatic and fruity (fermented cacao pulp).

Texture: The chocolate broke with a subdued but audible snap (in a cool room); and it had a thick, creamy texture with a long, luxurious melt.

This bar yielded an intense, truly authentic 100% cacao experience--with cacao beans and cacao pulp juice. The bitterness of the high-percentage cacao was balanced by the tangy-sweet, freeze-dried cacao juice that added concentrated fruit flavor(s) and complex sweetness to this ultra-dark bar.

The three potent ingredients--pure cacao (cacao beans (solids), cacao pulp/fruit juice, and cacao butter (fat)) resulted in a tremendously satisfying bar. One small piece might be enough for many people. I loved it and ate half a bar; and felt energetic for hours. Maybe not the best chocolate to share with those who are sensitive to bitter/strong flavors. But, ultra-dark chocolate lovers should try this special bar.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Pear, Lychee, Citrus, Strawberry. Pair with: Non-Peated Whisky, Fresh Fruit" -- and "Tastes of stewed cherries, lime juice & zest, molasses, a hint of pumpernickel bread & woodsy in the long finish."

Ingredients: "Organic cocoa beans, freeze dried cacao fruit juice (30%), organic cocoa butter."

Allergen-related information: "Nuts and dairy are used in our factory."

*This Chocolate Banquet (blog) has featured a different chocolate item every day since September 11, 2006, along with occasional chats with makers and tales of chocolate art and adventures. 

Compartes Chocolatier - Orange Peel & Pink Peppercorn (bar) - Nov. 9, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Compartes
Orange Peel & Pink Peppercorn (bar) 
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 460 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $9.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes, online order

Welcome to Day #19 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week(s). Tomorrow will be the 7,000th day of Chocolate Banquet.*

Today's Orange Peel and Pink Peppercorn bar was from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes for this dark chocolate bar included: smooth, chocolate-y dark chocolate with faint fruit (lightly peppery red berry + citrus (orange)).

Texture: This well-tempered bar broke with a snap in a cool room. The ebony-hued dark chocolate was smooth with an even melt. Atop this dark field were soft and chewy, sunny and bright, candied orange peels--as well as a smattering of petite, hot pink, peppercorn pearls, with delicate papery pink skins.

The pink peppercorns had a unique authentic flavor with slightly musty, mild peppery, citrus fruit, and faint berry and almost floral notes. Pink peppercorns are the dried berries (fruits) from trees from South America (Peru and/or Brazil). They're very compatible with citrus fruits in sweet and savory dishes.

I liked the sweetness level. (It was quite sweet (no cacao percentage listed), but the sugar didn't completely overpower the citrus peel and chocolate. I loved the beautiful, sunny packaging (illustration) for this bar; with floating oranges and green leaves, blossoms and pink peppercorns -- suspended across a rosy pink, sunset-hued background. The design and the bar would be fit for any season, as a winter brightener or reminder of fabled, sunny Southern California weather that lives in our imaginations.

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla), Orange Peel (Orange, Glucose, Sugar, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sulphur Dioxide), Pink Peppercorn.

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free" "Made in a facility that handles dairy, peanuts, wheat, egg, soy, tree nuts."  

*Chocolate Banquet has featured a different chocolate item every day for over 19 years since Sept. 11, 2006.

Compartes Chocolatier - Dark Chocolate Fruits - Pomegranate, Golden Raisins, Blueberries, Orange Slice & Pear - Nov. 8, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Compartes Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Fruit Assortment
Weight: Unknown. Total box estimate: (>1.57 lbs. (715.3 g.)
Calories: 380 calories (estimate) in 5 pieces
Cost: $74.00 for 1 box of 16+ pieces
Purchased from: Compartes, online order

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Week.

Today's eye-catching matte black box of jewel-colored dark chocolate covered/dipped fruits were from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA). The company produces a wide variety of chocolate bars with different flavor inclusions, confections and chocolate gifts.

Three of today's five chocolate + fruit confections were composed of fruit pieces atop dark chocolate cups: 1.) Pomegranate, 2.) Golden Raisins and 3.) Blueberries. 

The last two were larger fruit pieces dipped in dark chocolate: 4.) a chocolate dipped Orange Slice and 5.) a dark chocolate dipped pear "spear." 

These five flavors were part of a larger "medium" sized dark chocolate + fruits assortment box. 

Aroma notes included: smooth, chocolate-y dark chocolate with very faint fruit (red berry). The orange piece had a citrus fragrance. The pear piece was very subtle.

Texture: varied by fruit item. The chocolate cup bases on the first three items were fairly substantial. These smooth, thick dark chocolate cups were topped with authentic, ruby-hued fresh pomegranate seeds, with little white pips at the centers; moist, chewy golden raisins and softly chewy blueberries. 

The orange slice and the pear spear were made of larger pieces of fruit. The fruits were sweet; but authentic. The little bursts of fruit flavor from the pomegranate seeds was pure bright-tart red berry/pomegranate. 

My favorite (and most fruit-flavorful) piece was the dark chocolate dipped orange slice. (Although I did not taste the dark chocolate dipped apricot piece, I'll bet that one was very tasty and tart-sweet too.)

This stylish, mixed dark assortment of chocolate dipped and covered fruit pieces was attractively presented in the black box; the contrast with the black box (and dark chocolate) really made the bright, authentic fruit colors pop and shine--wow factor for a gift box.

Ingredients: "Dark Chocolate (Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin as an Emulsifier, Vanilla)... May Contain Apricot, Orange, Pear, Pineapple, Peach, Raisin, Ginger, Mango, Kiwi, Goji Berries, Cherries, Cranberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Acai, Papaya, Cocoanut, Lemon, Dates, Apple, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sulphur Dioxide.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles Milk, Wheat, Peanuts, Egg, Soy, Tree Nuts, and Sesame."  

Beyond Good - 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate and Rum Raisins (bar) - Nov. 7, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Beyond Good
70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate and Rum Raisins (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.79 (sale price) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Beyond Good 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate and Rum Raisins (bar) (Microbatch No. 4) was produced in Madagascar with Ugandan cacao, and distributed by Madecasse LLC (Brooklyn, NY).

The company makes small-batch bean-to-bar chocolates using cacao from Madagascar and Uganda. For today's bar, the makers sourced Trinitario cocoa from "a dedicated co-op (of cacao farmers) in Uganda."

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and gentle rum raisin.

Texture: pleasing smooth texture with a luxurious, buttery melt.

Flavor notes included: roast-y, smooth dark chocolate with authentic rum-flavored raisins.

I enjoyed the subtle flavors in this 70% cacao bar--that could have been an overpowering chocolate, but was thoughtfully assembled and executed. I also liked the sweetness level. The raisins were sweet, without being overly so. The rum flavoring was enough to add interest and warmth, but it didn't obscure other flavors.

And, who could I turn down a chocolate that "saves lemurs" in Madagascar?

Maker's description: "A new twist on an old classic. Raisins are marinated in rum for 24 hours, then added to the chocolate. This keeps the raisins plump and full of flavor. The sweetness of the raisins complements the richness of the chocolate."

Ingredients: "Cocoa Beans*, Cane Sugar*, Dried Raisins (Raisins, Sunflower Oil), Cocoa Butter*, Sunflower Lecithin (Emulsifier), Natural Rum Flavor. (* Organic Ingredient)"

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of tree nuts, milk and sesame."

Luisa Abram Chocolates - Cupuacu Dragees Covered with 70% Cacao Chocolate - Nov. 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram Chocolates
Cupuacu Dragees Covered with 70% Cacao Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) / 4.23 oz. (120 g.) in total package
Calories: 266.4 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $25.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week(s), featuring chocolates with wide variety of fruit flavor inclusions.

Today's Cupuacu Dragees Covered with 70% Cacao Chocolate were from Luisa Abram Chocolates (Sao Paolo, Brazil).

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich, tart-sweet, tropical fruit (fragrant, slightly fermented cacao pulp* syrup; pineapple; mango, rum raisin, mangosteen) and dark chocolate (dark cocoa and fruit).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate coating with a nice, slow melt and chewy bits of fruit.

I loved the tart-sweet vibrancy of the cupuacu fruit--the star of the show. And the dark chocolate (dark, smooth cocoa) coating that covered the fruit pieces was a great, complementary match. I enjoyed savoring each piece slowly.

Ingredients: "Cupuacu, Cacao, Organic Sugar, Cacao Butter and Cocoa Powder" 

Allergen-related information: (Translated by me into English; apologies if there are errors.) "May Contain Traces of Milk, Brazil Nuts, Portuguese Peanut (Amendoim), Hazelnuts, Almonds, Cashew Nuts, Macadamia Nuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachio Nuts, and Chestnuts." "Gluten Free. Made in a Facility That Handles Milk and Nuts."

*Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a relative of cacao (Theobroma cacao). Both originated in northern South America (Amazon River basin). These species originated over 12 million years ago; and were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago.

Crow & Moss Chocolatery - Apple Crumble 38% Oat Mylk Crumble - Nov. 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Crow & Moss Chocolatery 
Apple Crumble 38% Oat Mylk Crumble (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 380 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Crow & Moss, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week(s). As is often the case on Chocolate Banquet, a 7-day theme "week" often spills over into multiple weeks. Apple, Banana, Cupuacu...there are so many great chocolate and fruit combinations.

Today's Apple Crumble 38% Oat Mylk Crumble (bar) (Batch No. 610) was made by Crow & Moss Chocolate (Petoskey, MI). The company is a chocolate maker + bakery ("chocolatery").

When I see "38% cacao" on a bar, my expectations are not high. Chocolates that below 40% cacao can taste bland and overly sweet. Not so today. The company produces a variety of chocolates and baked goods, and both (chocolate making and baking) skills were on display with today's bar.

Aroma notes included: raisin cinnamon bread toast and baked apple/fresh apple crumble.

Texture: smooth oat mylk chocolate was studded with tiny honey-sweetened topping of apple bits and small oat pieces. Some bits had a delicate crunch; and all seemed to be in the Goldilocks zone (just right). There were no bits that were too tough/hard, nor were there any soggy bland bits. 

Flavor notes for this dairy-free and gluten-free bar included: very light "milk" chocolate; pieces of bright, tart-sweet apple and oat bits in every bite; and a light touch of cinnamon.

I enjoyed this gently complex, blend of authentic flavors in this bar--that could serve as an a la carte dessert, or served with other desserts.

Ingredients: Chocolate: Cacao Blend, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (Pisco, Peru), Oat Flour*, Apple*, Granola Topping: Quick Oats*, Coconut Oil*, Honey, Salt, Cinnamon*. (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Dairy Free.

Fruition Chocolate Works - Passion Fruit Pop Dark Milk with Elderflower 66% (bar) - Nov. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Fruition Chocolate Works
Passion Fruit Pop Dark Milk with Elderflower 66% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Village Market, S.F. Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week.

Today's Passion Fruit Pop Dark Milk with Elderflower 66% (bar) was crafted at the Fruition Chocolate Works (workshop) in Shokan, New York.

Cacao beans for this bar were from D.R. (Duarte) & Bolivia (Itenez).

Aroma and flavor notes included: relatively subtle/smooth dark chocolate, tart sweet fruit (berry, passion fruit) slightly earthy berry floral.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate, subtly punctuated by popping candy. 

The very slight crackle and fizz of the popping candy uplifted the tart sweet passion fruit flavor, added a little pizzazz to the whole bar.

I liked the interplay between the relatively dark 66% cacao dark chocolate; the touch of tart-sweet passion fruit--that made its presence known without dominating the other flavors; and the slightly earthy-berry floral richness of the elderflower liqueur infusion. I appreciated the authentic flavors. And the popping candy made me smile.

Ingredients: "Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, Whole Milk Powder, Dried Passion Fruit, Elderflower Liqueur, Popping Candy (Sugar, CO2), Sunflower Lecithin" (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Milk. May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Eggs, Soy, Sesame."