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I’ve skipped the last couple of Thursdays because, well, life kinda got in the way. But I’m back and it’s December. That means it’s Holiday season. I’m trying really hard to get into the spirit of the month, even though I’ve been grumpy and “ba-hum-bug” this past week. So here we go.

Music of the season that makes me happy and totally perks me up come from the album “A Christmas Gift For You“. This album is a classic and I hope you enjoy some of the tunes I selected.

Posted via email from bigepaz is eileen

Note to self – next time I visit Seattle, I must include in my itinerary a Theo Chocolate Factory tour!

Last time I ate a bar that was more than 90% cacao, I almost melted it for baking. When I found this bar at Sur La Table, the “Limited Edition” sticker caught me hook, line and sinker. I fall for that kind of branding all the time! But I also love Venezuelan Chocolate.

First – a little bit about Theo Chocolate (and straight from their website):

“We are proud to be the first roaster of Fair Trade Certifiedâ„¢ cocoa beans and the only roaster of organic cocoa beans in the United States“.

Okay – conscientious and different. It bodes well for the environment and our tummies. But what about the taste?

I can tell you that the bar itself smells fabulous. Once you bust open the wrapping, a rich, deep chocolate aroma lingers close by. It’s a fairly thin bar, with a healthy snap. The aftertaste is coffee-like – heavy and satisfying.

Sugar-fiends might balk at its lack of sweetness, but most dark chocolate lovers will enjoy the lack of harsh bitterness in this high percentage bar. Though the company says otherwise, I believe that you have to already have an appreciation for dark chocolate to understand its greatness.

Price: $5.95
Rating: 5 cacao beans out of 5

The 72% cacao mass attracted me to this particular bar. But I’ll admit, I wasn’t impressed on my first bite. Still, I kept it around and on the 3rd try I’ve decided this is a good bar.

It’s not sweet, and it reminds me slightly of baking chocolate. For me, its got a husky, wood-like quality – definitely earthy.

This chocolate bar doesn’t want your approval. It stands on its own and doesn’t really give a shit what you think. It’s rough on the edges, but has a soft heart.

If you can take it, buy it and see what you’re worth.

Cacao Beans: 4 out of 5
Price: $2.99

This one is for those who like their chocolate chunky. It has a healthy snap and you get a real nice dose of the chocolate on the first bite. It’s very clean and solid. I liken it to the workmen’s chocolate bar. It’s definitely earthy and dense, and for whatever reason the sugar really overpowers.

Joseph Smith Confections is based in San Francisco and has grown since the early 1980’s to have a highly reputable reputation, especially with chocolate novices like me.
This chocolate bar is like Drew Barrymore. Solid, grows on you, cute, very likable, but not quite an Oscar winner. Is that how you would describe Drew?

I wouldn’t rush out to buy it, but I wouldn’t turn it down.
Purchased at Piedmont Grocery

Price: $1.99 (good deal!)

3 cacao beans out of 5

Yes, apparently it’s really absinthe. The novelty of absinthe got me to buy it, but unfortunately it took me months to finish it.

Honestly, on my first bite I was mortified. I couldn’t get past the bad aftertaste. I’m not a fan of black licorice and that’s the lingering flavor you’ll taste – which is not a bad thing if you are a fan of black licorice.

The chocolate itself was pretty waxy and has a sharp snap. I bought this from Bittersweet, but you can check it out online here.

Price: $4.99

Cacao beans: 1 out of 5

Smooth, light and rich. That’s pretty much all that needs to be said about this chocolate. However, that doesn’t really do it justice.

When you take a bite, it’s like slicing butter at room temperature.

There’s just a hint of the champagne to balance out the chocolate packed into this truffle. Inside is a dark chocolate filling that is just as airy and light as the rest of the truffle.

Thanks Charisse!

Rating: 5 cacao beans out of 5

I always want to like every chocolate I eat. I even expect to like every chocolate I eat. However, that doesn’t always happen.

This chocolate comes from Venezuela. Inside the wrapper, you find this declaration:

“Venezuelan cacao is the most aromatic and flavorful in the world, period.”

I have tried other Venezuelan chocolate that holds up to this statement. Just not this time.

Its taken me three days to finally put my thoughts on this bar in this blog. It does smell really, really, really good. In the looks department, it’s matte and has a healthy snap. So far, so good, right?

Unfortunately, the good stops there. Maybe I had high expectations, but the taste was just average to me. It’s a little dry and flat. I’ve pretty much tasted this before in a bag of semisweet chocolate chips from Ghiradelli or Nestle. I don’t hate it, but there’s nothing new a revolutionary about it. I won’t say that’s it’s “blah”, but there’s nothing that sets it apart from your average chocolate. It’s a basic dark chocolate and that’s not a bad thing.

Price: $4.95

Rating: 2 out of 5 cacao beans

From a distance I swear it looks like the brown one says “M Dork”. Maybe that’s what I am for reviewing this item, but hey, it’s chocolate!

I have to say the first bite didn’t exactly rock my world. But (as a dark chocolate lover), I will buy this pack of M&M’s before I buy the original.

You know those semi-sweet chocolate chips you can buy in a bag for use in chocolate chip cookie batter? Well, that’s the taste you get within that familiar shell. I’m not sure what percentage of chocolate is in each morsel, but it can’t be more than 68%.

It’s fun for any M&M fan, but dark chocolate fans may be slightly disappointed. At least it’s cheap!

Price: $.50

Rating: 3 out of 5 cacao beans