Chapter Thirteen: Passionfruit & Plantain

We’ve been eyeing these filled bars for a while now and decided to take a break from our typical tastings to try two filled bars from World Market with absolutely no idea of chocolate percentage.  Since they differ so much from our base bar, we thought it was best to compare these to one another rather than using our usual method.  The bars are Dark Chocolate with Passion Fruit Filling and Dark Chocolate with Caramelized Plantain Filling.

Tasting No.: 11

Dark Chocolate with Carmelized Plantain Filling

Dark Chocolate with Passion Fruit Filling

Initial Impressions:

Very firm snap, thick squares, the color of the chocolate was so similar that it leads us to believe that they used the same chocolate for both bars.  The plantain bar smells spicy while the passionfruit smells acidic, both have a firm bite.

Plantain Flavor Profile:                            Passionfruit Flavor Profile:

Initial – fruity                                             Initial – lemon

Middle – caramel banana bread              Middle – passionfruit

After – plantain, apple                              After – fruit preserve

Texture:

After the initial firmness of the chocolate, the filling was the consistency of fruit preserves.  The chocolate itself was smooth.

Overall:

Much like the Coconut Caramel bar that we'll review in a few weeks, these bars are more of a candy bar where the chocolate acts as a vessel or binding ingredient for the focal point, the fillings.  This was cemented by our struggle to truly taste the chocolate because the fillings were so prominent. While we enjoyed these bars, we feel they are more for nibbling and sharing with a large group of people rather something you’d eat by yourself; this is also due to the filling making these bars not an easy item to tote around.

Rating: 5/10

*Notes:

Purchased at: World Market

Price range under $3

These are good bars to have in place of a dessert; share them at a potluck or at your next gathering of friends.

Would you ever think to pair pine tree oil with chocolate?  Check in next week to read our adventures with this unique chocolate combination.

For now savor: “Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.” Judith Viorst – Love & Guilt & The Meaning of Life

Chapter Twelve: Haut Chocolat

We bought the Vosges Haut Chocolat 70% Black Salt Caramel Bar honestly for the packaging.  After reading a little more about this brand, we were excited to partake of the tasting adventure laid out on the back of the packaging which asked us to breathe, see, smell, snap, and taste as a part of the total experience of the bar.

Tasting No.: 10

Vosges Haut Chocolat 70% Black Salt Caramel Bar

Initial Impressions:

For being a filled bar, there is still a substantial snap which then turns into goo.  The caramel aroma was pleasantly prominent but not overwhelming or cloying.  It was darker and browner when compared with our base bar; the caramel was a deep, burnt orange.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – citrus

Middle – caramel, butterscotch, butter

After – burnt, smoke

Texture:

This bar was creamy and silky smooth, the chocolate melted into the caramel which was perfectly proportioned.  The black salt used in this bar is from the ocean surrounding Hawaii and contains volcanic charcoal which lends to the burnt smokey flavor that reminds Gaby of flan.  It was difficult to compare it with our base bar since it was a filled bar.

Overall:

We both enjoyed this bar thoroughly, but agreed that it wasn’t an everyday sort of bar.  This is the perfect bar when you’re in the mood for some gooey delight but we typically prefer a solid chocolate bar to fulfill our cravings.  This would make a nice gift, but be sure to keep it cool or it will melt!

Rating: 7.5/10

*Notes:

Purchased at World Market

Price range under $7

This bar will satisfy a sweet tooth like no other.  Eat it with some strong black tea to cut the sweetness.

Next week we’ll be tasting another filled bar; this one is passionfruit!

For now savor: “Researchers have discovered that chocolate produced some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana. The researchers also discovered other similarities between the two, but can't remember what they are.” – Matt Lauer, NBC’s Today Show

This bar was 63% fairly traded.  Remember, fairly traded chocolate is a responsible way to support farmers by ensuring that the chocolate that you consume has been bought for a fair price.  By choosing to purchase fair trade chocolate, you can honor the cocoa tree growers and support their way of life which in turn leads to better chocolate.

Chapter Eleven: Trader Joe's Cacao Dark

What’s not to love about Trader Joe’s, they have all the basics: wine, cheese, and of course, chocolate!  We were lucky enough to receive the Trader Joe’s 72% Cacao Dark chocolate bar for free from a lovely cashier who wanted to support our bar hopping, she said it was a favorite amongst chocolate loving patrons.  This bar typically comes in a pack of three, making it even more of a sweet deal.

Tasting No.: 9

Trader Joe’s 72% Cacao Dark

Initial Impressions:

The bar is almost the same shade as the base bar, only slightly more brown.  The snap is firm, and the chocolate becomes chalky looking at the breakpoint.  The scent is an intense chocolate when compared with the much milder aroma of the base bar.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – hazelnut, walnut

Middle – tobacco

After – soil, truffles

Texture:

This bar was surprisingly rich in flavor, moving from nutty to vegetative ending on earthy notes.  However, despite its robust flavor profile, there’s undeniable chalkiness that makes for a very dry bar when contrasted with the creamy texture of our base bar.

Overall:

Considering the price and quality of this bar, we would probably repurchase it when a chocolate craving strikes.  This isn’t a gourmet bar, but could be a good grab and go option that doesn’t break the bank.

Rating: 7/10

*Notes:

Purchased at Trader Joe’s

Price range under $2

This is a sturdy little bar that you can slip into your purse or keep in your desk drawer for a little nip.

Next week we’ll be tasting our first filled bar, this one with caramel and black salt.  See you then!  

For now savor: “Seven days without chocolate makes one weak.” – author unknown

Chapter Ten: The Return of Taza

We decided to try another Taza bar this week to rate some of their other offerings.  Because of the company’s commitment to sustainability and fair trade practices, we felt compelled to give their products another chance.  This week, we picked up their Cacao Nib Crunch.  It is an 80%, organic stone ground chocolate bar.  You can read our first post about Taza's Sea Salt & Almond bar here.

Tasting No.: 8

Taza Organic 80% Cacao Nib Crunch

Initial Impressions:

The bar is much more red than our base bar, surprising because it has a higher cacao content.  There are visible nibs throughout the bar, although they seem to only be sprinkled.  The stone ground process leaves the end product with a lot visible texture and crystallization.  This bar has an earthy smell similar to soil after rain and reminiscent of cocoa powder for baking.  This is far earthier than the base bar’s scent profile.  The snap of this bar is firm and satisfying.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – extremely nutty

Middle – sweet, coffee, acid

After – smoky vanilla

Texture:

The only way to describe this bar is hearty and substantial.  The grittiness and nibs were something we really enjoyed and a totally different tasting experience from the base bar. 

Overall:

The deep earthy smell of this bar evokes a feeling of being in nature.  To us, it is an homage to the roots of chocolate; going back to the source, how chocolate was first eaten.  The base bar is much sweeter and smoother, while this bar’s sweetness builds with every bite.  We thoroughly enjoyed this bar and were pleased that this tasting changed our opinion of this brand's chocolate.

Rating: 8.5/10

*Notes:

Purchased at Central Market

Price range under $5

We imagine this bar pairing well with a steaming cup of black tea.

Next week we’ll be trying another bar from Trader Joe's - be sure to check back!

For now savor: “Chocolate knows no boundaries; speaks all languages; comes in all sizes; is woven through many cultures and disciplines...it impacts mood, health, and economics, and it is a part of our lives from early childhood through the elderly years.” – Herman A. Berliner, Chocolate: Food of the Gods

Remember, fairly traded chocolate is a responsible way to support farmers by ensuring that the chocolate that you consume has been bought for a fair price.  By choosing to purchase fair trade chocolate, you can honor the cocoa tree growers and support their way of life which in turn leads to better chocolate.