Trader Joe's - Dark Chocolate Mango & Passion Fruit Creme Thin Cups - July 30, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Trader Joe's 
Dark Chocolate Mango & Passion Fruit Creme Thin Cups
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 7.04 oz. (200 g.) in total package 
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving (6 pieces)
Cost: $4.29 for 1 large package
Purchased from: Stoked Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate & Passion Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Mango & Passion Fruit Creme Thin Cups were a product of Slovakia.

Aroma and notes included: dark chocolate, tropical fruit (mango, other) and very faint wood (cedar) and black pepper. (The initial black pepper note (which I didn't mind) dissipated after the package was left open for just a few minutes.)

Texture: firm dark chocolate cups filled with a softer "creme" fruit-flavored filling 

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (chocolate-y, wood, nut) and tropical fruits (mango, passion fruit, and faint sweet citrus). There was a pleasant mango note in the finish.

I appreciated that the dark chocolate had some subtle flavor complexity and that it wasn't too sweet. (Thank you!) And the fruit creme filling was balanced (interesting, tropical fruits without being too sweet or tart). I liked the thin chocolate cups (more dark chocolate this way).

A note of caution: These thin cups were "loose" in a generously-sized bag, i.e. they were not individually wrapped. Great for families or putting out on a plate for large gatherings; but, as with any chocolate, don't leave the package in a car or in direct sun. They might melt a bit and fuse together.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Unsweetened Chocolate, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin [Emulsifier], Natural Vanilla Flavor), Sugar, Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel Oil, Palm Oil), Whole Milk Powder, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid (Acidulant), Sunflower Lecithin (Emulsifier), Beta-Carotene (Color).

Allergen-related information: Contains Milk. "May Contain Soy, Almond, Cashew, Hazelnut, Pecan, Pistachio."

Moonstruck - Fruity Dark Chocolate Blueberry Passion Fruit (bar) - July 29, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Moonstruck
Fruity Dark Chocolate Blueberry Passion Fruit (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market, San Jose, CA 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate & Passion Fruit Week. Yesterday completed Chocolate, Fire & Passion Week, and this week features cacao + passion fruit--two South American* natives.

After being awe-struck by the sight of a beautiful full moon last night, this "Moonstruck" bar with passion fruit seemed perfect.

Today's "Fruity Dark Chocolate Blueberry Passion Fruit" (bar) was manufactured by CW Moonstruck LLC (Portland, OR). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: slightly sweet and fruity, balanced dark chocolate with chocolate-y (dark ganache) notes was a bit darker and richer with the dried blueberries--and was brightened and warmed a bit by subtle passion fruit and vanilla.

I liked that this chocolate wasn't too sweet. The fruit flavors and vanilla were subtle, balanced and blended well together with the dark chocolate.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin [emulsifier], natural vanilla flavor), Dried Blueberries (wild blueberries, sugar, citric acid, sunflower oil, natural flavor), Passion Fruit powder.

Allergen-related information: Contains Soy (lecithin). "Manufactured on shared equipment. May contain traces of milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanuts, sesame and tree nuts."

*Passion fruit is native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Also known as Passiflora edulis, and by many other names worldwide: e.g., maracuja in Brazil, maracuya in Mexico, Colombia & Peru; lili'koi in Hawaii; and frutto della passione in Italy.

Vixen Chocolate - The Heart Flight (3 dark chocolate hearts: Desert (Peru), Forest (Uganda), and Island (Vanuatu)) - July 28, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Vixen Chocolate
The Heart Flight
Desert - Sechura Desert Peru - 73% Dark - Good ++
Forest - Semuliki Forest Uganda - 73% Dark - Good ++
Island - Malekula Island Vanuatu 72% Dark - Good ++ 
Weight: .0.77 oz. (22 g.) in total tin of 3 hearts 
Calories: 119 calories (estimate) for 3 hearts
Cost: $22.00 for 1 tin of 3 hearts
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Fire & Passion Theme Week, part of a month long series of chocolates with tie-ins to the elements: earth, water and fire.

Today's The Heart Flight was created by Vixen Chocolate (Portland, OR). Vixen infuses the message of boldness and passion into their chocolates.* Their packaging is artful and memorable. (Today's black and magenta metal tin could be re-purposed to hold jewelry or other keepsakes.)

This 3-piece flight included three, faceted (gem-cut) chocolate hearts, wrapped in different colored foils (pink, green and blue, respectively) and made using cacao from three different countries: Peru, Uganda and Vanuatu. Each represented a different elemental landscape: desert, forest & island: "3 hearts + 3 origins + ONE bold tasting of place."

Desert Heart - Sechura Desert, Peru 73%

This chocolate was both balanced and bold with nuanced flavors. Chocolate-y with diffuse fruits (dried fruits, citrus). The texture: smooth, relatively creamy, satisfying dark chocolate.

Forest Heart - Semuliki Forest, Uganda 73%

Chocolate-y, relatively sweet/bright, with very faint, well-managed earth notes. The texture: smooth, relatively creamy, satisfying chocolate.

Island - Vanuatu Malekula 72%

Also, chocolate-y with a subtle lushness (sweet green; hidden fruit)--an experience I associate with a single origin/terroir chocolates. Texture: smooth, creamy. (Origin notes: "Grown on the remote island of Malekula, where volcanic soil meets ocean breeze...")

All three were well-managed and executed, and were smooth and sweet, but some individual origin notes were allowed to peek through (thank you).

Ingredients: cacao, cane sugar*, cacao butter* 417 Hz, 528 Hz, 852 Hz, LOVE. (*Organic)

Allergen-related information: (None found on small, 3-piece tin)

*And Vixen also infuses their chocolates with different sound frequencies.

Vixen Chocolate - Vanuatu 72% Dark Malekula Island (bar) - July 27, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Vixen Chocolate
Vanuatu - 72% Dark Malekula Island (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Fire & Passion Theme Week.

Today's Vanuatu - 72% Dark Malekula Island (bar) was created by Vixen Chocolate (Portland, OR). This was part of a "Terroir Magic Series" of chocolates.

"Stay Bold" (the inky black and flashy magenta foiled) a label for this bar tells us. (We will, responded the dark chocolate lovers drawn to bold flavors--and intriguing packaging.)

This bar had a subtle and smooth dark chocolate aroma, and balanced dark chocolate flavor with gently attractive succulent, sweet fruit (dragon fruit, pear/cactus pear chocolate torte) with very faint warm spice (mulled red wine), barely there earth/tobacco, and a satisfying light, lingering chocolate-y finish.

Texture: smooth, almost creamy, satisfying dark chocolate

I enjoyed this Vanuatu chocolate and its subtle lushness (hidden fruit)--an experience I associate with a single origin/terroir chocolate. And I appreciated the short list of (just three) ingredients.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "creamy and bold, with notes of sweet tobacco, worn leather, and a whisper of black fig--refined yet untamed."

Ingredients: cacao beans, cane sugar*, cacao butter*, 852 Hz, LOVE (*organic)

Allergen-related information: (No allergen-related information found on bar packaging)

Chami Cacao - 70% Cacao Aji Cayenne, Canela & Nibs de Cacao (bar) - July 26, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Chami Cacao 

70% Cacao Aji Cayenne, Canela & Nibs de Cacao (tableta)

(70% Cacao Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon & Cacao Nibs (bar))
Good ++ 
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in one serving (20 g.) of bar 
Cost: $11.80 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Fire & Passion Theme Week.

Today's Chami Cacao 70% Cacao Aji Cayenne, Canela & Nibs de Cacao (tableta/bar) was made in Bogota, Colombia.

The company's founder, Juliana, tells us the name "Chami" is "a tribute to the Embera Chami indigenous people in Colombia. It also means mountain range in their language..."

Aroma notes included: chocolate; subtle, sweet, slightly smokey chilis; and warm spice (cinnamon).

Texture: relatively smooth, chocolate base with crunchy cacao nib shards and tiny bits of chilis.

Flavor notes included: balanced cacao, chili, and cinnamon flavor blend with very faint roasted red clay/earth and a whisper of wood smoke. 

I appreciated the stoneground-like texture and the feeling of the place or origin when I ate this chocolate. (Do savor slowly to fully enjoy this and other single origin dark chocolates.) I could taste the fresh cacao nibs, chilis, spices and raw sugar that had been mindfully ground together--a process that maintained more of their authentic flavors. The cacao nibs added more cacao flavor depth to this 70% cacao bar.

This chocolate wasn't too sweet (thank you), too bitter, or too smoke-y. There was some roasted chili heat (more in some bites than others); but it wasn't enough to stop me from enjoying more of it. For me, a dark chocolate lover who loves origin stories, this landed in the Goldilocks zone. It was just right.

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Organic raw cane sugar, cayenne pepper, cinnamon & cacao nibs.

Allergen-related information: (None found on packaging.)

Vixen Chocolate - Rising Phoenix 71% dark + spicy hibiscus (bar) - July 25, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Vixen Chocolate
Rising Phoenix - 71% dark + spicy hibiscus (bar) 
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $22.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Fire & Passion Theme Week.

Today's "Rising Phoenix" 71% dark + spicy hibiscus (bar) was from Vixen Chocolate (Portland, OR).

"From the fire comes rebirth" the packaging for this chocolate tells us. (And spicy flavors can also warm and cheer our hearts.) 

Aroma notes for this bold bar included: chocolate, come hither red floral-tart-sweet red grape (wine), warm spice, and fresh, mineral notes.

Texture: smooth chocolate base, with tiny, slightly crunchy chili bits and possibly candied hibiscus bits.

Flavor notes included: smooth chocolate base, with tart-sweet floral (hibiscus), warm spices (balanced spicy cinnamon, very light chili).

I enjoyed the balanced, bold flavors; unique, intriguing complexity; and slightly smokey, tasty, restrained chili fire. I felt like I enjoyed a perfect marriage of smooth dark chocolate with spicey Jamaica (the bright red beverage made with hearty, red hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flowers, aka roselle or sorrel).

Maker's Tasting Notes: "dark chocolate laced with bold chilies and vibrant hibiscus--forged in the fire--blooming unapologetically" ("Infused with Solfeggio Sound Frequencies" -- 417 Hz)

Ingredients: cacao beans*, cane sugar*, cacao butter*, hibiscus, guajillo chile, royal cinnamon, chipotle chili, 417 Hz, LOVE (*organic)

Allergen-related information: No information found on bar packaging

Cacao Laboratory - Fire - 100% Ceremonial Grade Cacao, turmeric & black pepper (bar) - July 24, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Cacao Laboratory
Fire - Ceremonial Grade 100% Cacao with turmeric and black pepper (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.176 oz. (33 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate, Fire & Passion Theme Week.

Today's Fire - 100% Cacao, turmeric and black pepper (bar) was manufactured by Cacao Lab Inc. (Kingston, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was sourced from Manabi, Ecuador.

Aroma notes included: bold, slightly bitter dark chocolate; wood (cedar); pepper; and spices (turmeric)

Texture: relatively smooth, with no objectionable spice (turmeric or black pepper) "grit".

Flavor notes included: ultra-dark chocolate with woody, earthy and spiced (black pepper, turmeric) bitterness that--while it might be initially off-putting to some--I found oddly appealing. 

The bitterness receded for me with each small nibble, until all I was tasting was a satisfying blend of dark chocolate, turmeric and black pepper at the end. 

I really enjoyed the opportunity to slow down and savor a small quantity of high-quality chocolate with very concentrated flavors in just two small squares. I did not miss the lack of sugar; but, I suspect many people will.* So, be advised; but try a small bite anyway. 

If you love authentic, highly concentrated flavors; you'll love this experience.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Earth, aromatic spice"

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao*, turmeric*, black pepper* (*=organic)

Allergen-related information: (None found on packaging)

*If you've never tried 100% cacao chocolate, your brain may be surprised, i.e. it may be wired to expect sugar when you take a bite of chocolate. The good news, there is no "more-ish" urges to keep eating the whole bar; and it becomes clear those urges are driven by added sugar(s).