Pascha 85% Chocolate Chips
July 3, 2017
Once upon a time, when I was working at a large chocolate manufacturer, I created chocolate chip formulas. Formulas are based on adding ingredients together until they total 100%. A semi-sweet chocolate chip has to contain a minimum of 35% chocolate liquor or cacao mass (by law) so a typical chocolate chip formula might look like this:
Endangered Species Dark Chocolate with Cherries
June 26, 2017
Chocolate and cherry have a long history together. Case in point, chocolate-covered cherry cordials. At least one brand, Cella’s, started making chocolate cherries in 1864 (although large scale production didn’t start until around 1929).
The bar I’m reviewing today is made by Endangered Species brand and is NOT a cherry cordial. It does, however, have that same great taste combination. This is a 72% dark chocolate with bits of dried cherries.
Maca Dark Chocolate by Simple Truth Organic
June 19, 2017
This chocolate bar is a 71% dark chocolate with maca added. The brand is Simple Truth Organic, and it’s found in Kroger stores and manufactured in Switzerland.
After tasting a number of milk chocolates for the Milk Chocolate Lover’s series, I’m happy to be back to the dark chocolate reviews. This chocolate welcomes me back wonderfully.
5 Trends in the Chocolate Business
June 15, 2017
Business success comes from having an edge over your competitors. Though, in the global industry of the chocolate market, reportedly worth $98.3 billion or more, how does a chocolate business find opportunities to get ahead?
My Chocolate Fountain Adventure
June 12, 2017
My son graduated from college a couple weeks ago. Earlier, during the party planning stage, he informed me that he’s not really into cake for dessert (what!?). Sweets, he said, are more my style.
So, when it came to figuring out what to serve, I was looking for easy, delicious, fun, and well, not the typical decorated sheet cake.
While different ideas kept floating around the edges of my thoughts (but not really impressing me), my mom suggested a chocolate fountain. Hmm. That had appeal. What could be easier than self-service dessert? And what could be more fun and delicious than a cascading wall of chocolate with endless dipping treats?
Perugina Milk Chocolate with Almonds
June 5, 2017
Milk Chocolate Lovers Series, part 7: Perugina Milk Chocolate with Caramelized Almonds
Welcome to the last review in the Milk Chocolate Lovers series. There are so many milk chocolates out there it's impossible to cover them all. My goal was to review milk chocolates that are commonly found and easy to purchase.
Ritter Sport Fine Milk Chocolate
May 29, 2017
Milk Chocolate Lovers Series, part 6: Ritter Sport Fine Milk Chocolate
Ritter Sport is a pretty familiar chocolate brand world-wide. That’s not surprising since they’ve been around for more than 100 years! Founded in 1912, the Ritter family has owned and operated the chocolate company, and today, selling chocolates in 100 countries around the globe.
As part of the current Milk Chocolate Lover’s blog series, I’m tasting Fine Milk Chocolate from their Classic line. This bar has a cacao percentage of 35 and is sourced from Ecuador.
Green & Black’s Organic Milk Chocolate
May 15, 2017
Milk Chocolate Lovers Series, part 5: Green & Black’s Organic Milk Chocolate
Green & Black’s has long been one of my favorite chocolate brands. They make a superb 85% dark chocolate! Of course, in keeping with my current Milk Chocolate Lovers theme, I’m reviewing their 34% organic milk chocolate. No added nuts or toffee pieces. No distractions. Just pure milk chocolate.
The Dillon Bar – Pure Milk Chocolate Vanilla
May 8, 2017
Milk Chocolate Lovers Series, part 4: The Dillon Bar - Pure Milk Chocolate Vanilla
I have previously blogged about the Wisconsin based Dillon’s Chocolates back in June of 2016. I reviewed several different varieties of their Wisconsin Bar. Now, I’m taking a look at their Dillon Bar - a much larger, more standard sized chocolate bar (3.5 oz.).
Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar
May 1, 2017
Milk Chocolate Lovers Series, part 3: Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar
Lindt & Sprüngli (most commonly known as Lindt) is an international company selling chocolate products around the world in more than 80 countries. They are a bean to bar manufacturer going all the way back to 1845 with founder David Sprüngli-Schwarz and his small confectionery shop in Zurich's Old Town.
In 1949, Lindt's Master Chocolatiers created the Lindor recipe. An outer chocolate shell wrapped around a melt-away center. Lindor is one example of a chocolate truffle.