Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate & Dark Milk Chocolate Lemongrass (squares) - Mar. 27, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Lemongrass 65% (square) - Good ++
2.) Dark Milk Chocolate Lemongrass 60% (square) - Good + - Good ++
Weight: .36 oz. (10 g.) in 2 squares / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) in total box of 48 pieces
Calories: 58.3 calories in 2 squares 
Cost: $58.50 for Assorted Dark and Dark Milk 48-piece (16 flavor) box
Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

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

Today's individually-wrapped, Dark Chocolate Lemongrass 65% and Dark Milk Lemongrass 60% chocolate (squares) was made in Maui by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao, Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador (bar)

These two lemongrass infused chocolate squares were part of a larger, 48-piece (dark chocolate and dark milk chocolate) assortment box. Each chocolate square was individually-wrapped.

Aroma and flavor notes for the dark chocolate 65% lemongrass-infused squares included: citrus, (herbal lemonade), lemongrass and relatively robust but smooth, almost creamy dark chocolate. 

The 60% dark milk version was creamier and sweeter; and the milk muted some chocolate and lemongrass flavors. (Think rich, creamy gelato.) Milk chocolate fans will enjoy this creamier taste and texture.

I enjoyed the crisper, purer flavors in the darker (65% cacao) version. 

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Cocoa Butter, Sugar, (Dark Milk square contained Milk), Natural Flavors.

Allergen-related information: Today's Dark Milk square contained Milk.  

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao, Ecuador (bar) - Mar. 26, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate
1.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++
2.) Dark Chocolate Maui Guava - 65% Cacao (Ecuador) (bar) - Good ++
3.) Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% Cacao (Ecuador) (square) - Good ++

Weight of 2 squares: .36 oz. (10 g.) for 2 squares / 8.5 oz. (240 g.) total 48-piece box
Weight of bar: .88 oz. (25 g.) in total bar
Calories: 196 calories (estimate) in 1 bar (140 calories) + 2 squares (56 calories (estimate))
Cost: $6.75 (sale) for 1 bar + cost of two squares in a larger $58.50 48-piece assortment box

Purchased from: Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao and Dark Milk Maui Guava (squares and bar) were manufactured by Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate Inc. (Lahaina, Maui, HI).

These chocolates were made in Hawaii using cacao grown in Ecuador* and Hawaiian guava essence. 

Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% (square and bar)

Aroma and flavor notes for the Dark Chocolate Maui Guava 65% Cacao Square included: smooth dark chocolate and fruity, almost floral tropical fruit (red/pink guava and strawberry guava jam). The guava was an extracted fruit essence--completely incorporated into the chocolates (rather than pieces of identifiable guava fruit).

Interestingly, the smaller (individually-wrapped) dark guava 65% square had more guava flavor than the full-sized dark guava 65% bar version. The bar had more pure dark chocolate (less guava); and the smaller, individually-wrapped square had more guava fruit flavors.

Dark Milk Chocolate Maui Guava 60% (square)

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark milk chocolate, tropical fruit (guava, berries, and guavaberries) with balanced chocolate and tart-sweet fruit flavors (ranging from guava to guavaberry, pineapple and mild herb/spice (faint eucalyptus, warm black pepper, allspice).

Overall, I liked the 1.) authentic and relatively complex guava flavors in the squares best; 2.) smooth, balanced dark flavors that weren't boring or overly sweet. (The very slightly sweeter dark milk 60% version was a true dark milk.) 

I usually don't care for "natural flavors," but today's guava flavors were an exception.

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Natural Flavors  (The Dark Milk 60% square contained Milk.)

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy (lecithin). "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy.  

*The cacao was grown on a family-owned cacao farm (Costa Esmeraldas) in a northwest coastal province in Ecuador. 

Hana Gold - 72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar) - Mar. 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hana Gold
72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hana Gold, online order

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

Today's 72% Dark Chocolate with Hana Grown Coffee (bar) was distributed by Hana Gold Farm (Hana Highway, Maui, HI).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (faint earth, hops); coffee; and very faint black olive.

Texture: soft, very briefly slightly gummy, then pleasantly creamy once melted. 

Flavor notes included: slightly earthy dark chocolate and coffee (crunchy bits of coffee bean).

The moderately complex flavors were a bit bold and earthy, but also well balanced. I liked the slightly  darker/bolder (yet also smooth) flavors in this three-ingredient bar, as well as the creamy texture that developed over the first few seconds and continued into the finish.

Ingredients: Hana Gold cacao, organic cane sugar, Hana grown coffee.

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy."

Hana Gold - 63% Dark Chocolate with Mandarin Orange (bar) - Mar. 24, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hana Gold
63% Dark Chocolate with Mandarin Orange (bar) 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. of bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hana Gold, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's 63% Dark Chocolate with Mandarin Orange (bar) was from Hana Gold Farm (Hana Highway, Maui, HI). The company is a "branch-to-bar" chocolate maker on the island of Maui. 

Hawaii has both the climate (lower latitude, and large areas with very few cold snaps) and the rich, volcanic soils--conditions that enable many working cacao farms/plantations.

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich, tart sweet dark chocolate (bold, very slightly earthy/peaty--but nicely balanced--cacao) with pieces of tart, sweet, authentic (and delicious) mandarin orange.

Texture: relatively smooth texture, with (three+ pieces) of wonderfully thin, chewy orange. 

I liked the 1.) balanced, robust dark and the high-quality chocolate, 2.) perfectly thin, chewy pieces of  authentic mandarin orange, and 3.) short list of ingredients.

Ingredients: "Hana Gold cacao, organic cane sugar, Mandarin oranges"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy."

 

Hana Gold - 72% Dark Chocolate Maui Made (bar) - March 23, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hana Gold
72% Dark Chocolate Maui Made (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. of bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hana Gold, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's 72% Dark Chocolate "Maui Made" (bar) was distributed by Hana Gold Farm (Hana Highway, Maui, HI).

Aroma and flavor notes included: deep dark chocolate with diffuse, balanced fruit and forest notes. I could almost taste (or at least the chocolate conjured up notions of) slightly earthy (peaty/amended) volcanic soils in the greener parts of Hawaii.

Texture: soft, initially very slightly gummy, texture with a creamy and light mouthfeel once melted. 

I liked this bold but balanced 72% dark chocolate. Dark fans will appreciate the less sugary taste and the slightly earthy but smooth dark complexity. Like many two-ingredient bars you get more unadulterated cacao flavors and a sense of cacao origins (terroir, fermentation, grower and maker choices).

Ingredients: Hana Gold cacao, organic cane sugar.  

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that... processes nuts, dairy, soy.

 

Hana Gold - 51% Milk Chocolate with Hana Banana (bar) - Mar. 22, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Hana Gold
51% Milk Chocolate with Hana Banana (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in total bar
Calories: 241 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hana Gold, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Gold Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's 51% Milk Chocolate with Hana Banana (bar) was distributed by Hana Gold Farm (Hana Highway, Maui, HI).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and light banana.

Texture: soft, initially almost gummy, texture with a creamy and light mouthfeel once melted.

Flavor notes included: slightly fruity, rich, sweet, dark and milky/creamy chocolate--with thin, crunchy banana slices of dried banana.

This sweet, balanced dark milk chocolate bar still had some pleasing, mild complexity (very slightly fruity cocoa, banana, vanilla). That is, the higher percentage of sugar and milk (51% vs. 70%) in this bar did not eclipse the other/more subtle flavors.

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic cane sugar, cocoa butter, whole and skim milk, whey, soy lecithin, vanilla, organic dried banana.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy (lecithin). "Made in a facility that also processes nuts, dairy, soy.

Anthon Berg - Golden Jubilee Selection: 1.) Matusalem Gran Reserve Rum; 2.) Famous Grouse; 3.) Sobieski Vodka - Mar. 21, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Anthon Berg 

Golden Jubilee Selection
1.) Matusalem Gran Reserve (rum) - Good ++
2.) Famous Grouse (Scotch whisky) - Good ++
3.) Sobieski Vodka - Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.69 oz. (48 g.) in 3 bottles / 2.2 lbs. (1 kilogram) in total 64-pc. Golden Jubilee Selection box
Calories: 216 calories (estimate) in 3 bottles 
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend (Thank you Joe-Ming!)

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

These spirits-filled chocolate bottles were from Anthon Berg (Ballerup, Denmark). This Danish chocolatier (now a division of Toms International) has a history that stretches back to 1884.

Today's three foil-wrapped chocolate bottles were part of a deluxe, 64-bottle Anthon Berg Golden Jubilee Selection, that were housed in an attractive, large gold package (box). The filled chocolate assortment featured several well-known spirits/liqueurs fillings from different countries.

Matusalem

The 50% dark chocolate "bottle" enclosure had a smooth dark milk chocolate* taste with a creamy melt and mouthfeel. 

Matusalem is a premium Caribbean rum produced in the Dominican Republic.

The Matusalem Gran Reserva liquid (syrup) filling was authentic, with pleasing almost whiskey-like caramel and vanilla, along with very faint and rich wood/oak and stone fruit notes.

Famous Grouse

Famous Grouse is a brand of blended Scotch whisky(s) produced in Scotland.

Sweet, creamy and aromatic dark milk chocolate surrounded a generous sip of sweet, boozy, rich and smooth single malt Scotch flavor.

Sobieski Vodka

The well-tempered, creamy dark milk bottle-shaped exterior contained a sweet and "clear" boozy dose of vodka, with a clean finish.

The chosen dark chocolate couverture complemented all the spirits-based fillings in the Golden Jubilee flavors I tasted.

*Note: Today's chocolates did not list milk in their ingredients list; they are 50% dark chocolates--despite my repeated descriptions of these chocolates having the smooth, creamy taste and texture of a dark milk chocolate.

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa mass**, cocoa butter**, water, spirits 6% (whiskey, liqueurs, cognac, whisky, vodka, liqueur (coconut), rum), natural orange flavor (Cointreau(R)), 0.8%, flavoring. (Minimum 50% cocoa solids in dark chocolate.)

** = Rainforest Alliance Certified

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. May contain traces of milk and tree nuts.