We’ve mentioned NewTree Chocolate before, the Belgian chocolate with the healthy twist. I picked this NewTree Belgian Biscuit 65% Cocoa dark chocolate bar and bought it before I even noticed its impressive list of health benefits. This particular bar has flax seeds (touted as a source of Omega 3), three times more fiber than similar chocolate bars, and 30% less sugar. I just bought it because it had a picture of cookies on the front.
So it’s healthy. But how does it taste?
I have said before that I’m a huge fan of coffee. I recently received some CaffeMallows for review… they are a mashup of gourmet marshmallows and a cup of coffee. The packaging boasts that they are a “pop-in power coffee shot.” Caffeine and marshmallows? What could possibly go wrong?
I sampled each of three flavors, Mocca Mallows, Java Mallows, and Coffee Mallows:
Packaging: Cello bag with label. Has a Stickybits barcode which you can use with the Stickybits App.
Looks like: A 2″ brownie square
Smells like: Rich, sweet coffee-cocoa smell
Feels like: Squishy, springy when I pinch it
Boasts: A Real Espresso & Cocoa Blast
But how does it taste?
When you think of dark chocolate additives, spicy chocolate isn’t so far-fetched. Cranberries with chocolate is not uncommon, but chocolate+chili+cranberries is definitely unique. Jersey Devil Chocolates boast a 54% cacao dark chocolate bar that includes dried cranberries and chipotle chili. Why cranberries? Because New Jersey (where the company is based) is the 2nd highest producer of the fruit, and the legendary Jersey Devil reportedly lurks in the South Jersey Pine Barrens where the cranberries are grown.
It’s not often that I get to review a local candy but I got an email recently from a chocolate company that just happens to be local to me – Red Light Chocolates. After a couple of emails, I was in possession of a beautiful box of their artisanal chocolates to try.
Red light Chocolates use the finest, freshest ingredients they can find. All of their flavorings are natural – pure fruit purees, organic mint leaves, and Madagascar vanilla beans to name a few. All of their artisanal chocolates are handmade in small batches. They don’t use preservatives, so they encourage you to enjoy the chocolates within two weeks of receiving them. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?
In the new year, I am resolving to eat less candy. Or, maybe I’ll just eat better candy. More adult-sounding candy, whose packaging uses words “dark” and “nib.” Candy that sounds like a luxurious decadent indulgence, but is only one calorie per piece. Move over Tic Tacs. There’s a new girl in town and her name is Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Nibs. She’s small, dark, low-calorie, and alllll chocolate. First, let me introduce you to cocoa nibs. If you’re not familiar, a nib is the kernel of unprocessed cacao bean, after the husk has been removed. In a way it’s like a chocolate nut – sorta.