Valentine's Day is a day that very few people get through without enjoying some chocolate.
Leave it to Valentine's Day to bring me back to the blog. I have been doing lots of chocolate things this past year: purchasing, researching, eating, tasting, rating. I just haven't pulled it together on the blog end for a while. I absolutely could not let the all important chocolate holiday VALENTINE'S DAY go by without an effort to guide you to make better chocolate choices. Chocolate can be shared with SO MANY PEOPLE on Valentine's Day! Do you ever get overwhelmed in that seasonal aisle, trying to make smart chocolate purchases? A few weeks ago, I spent some time at Central Market both at the seasonal display and the standard chocolate aisle (4a), the birthplace of my chocolate journey. I did the work for you (and for my hubby). This guide is geared mostly toward those who are within distance of a Central Market in the Puget Sound region, however, most of these items can be found nationally and some globally-you'll just have to do a little research to see where they are carried near you (or shoot me an email, I would be happy to do the research for you! thechocolateaisleATgmail.com.) Save yourself and your loved ones decision-making crisis'--share and follow my guide.
1. Seattle Chocolates Seasonal Truffle Bars – $2.99/bar at Central Market – these bars have the CUTEST names: JUST FOR YOU! Sea Salt Caramel Milk Chocolate Truffle Bar, TALL, DARK and DELICIOUS Crunchy Cocoa Nib Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar, PINK BUBBLY Bubbly Raspberry Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar. They are sure to put a smile on anyone's face and even cheer up an angsty teen or a lonely friend.
for the appreciator of fine chocolate
2. Marou Single Origin Bars – $7.49/bar at Central Market – ALSO, NUT AND DAIRY FREE! – I discovered Marou a few years ago at a tasting at Chocolopolis and they make fantastic chocolate in Vietnam. Single origin bars are made with cocoa that was harvested from the same origin. Mass market chocolate is made with poor quality blended beans to cover up the off-flavors. Bars made from beans of a single origin have strong and unique flavor notes which truly makes chocolate an art and eating it an experience. I was so excited to see this year that Central Market carries 5 bars from this chocolate maker:
TREASURE ISLAND – We guarantee you a
unique sensory experience with subtle notes of liquorice and spice in this
extremely delicate 75% chocolate made with cacao growing in very small
quantities on Tan Phu Dong island in the middle of the Mekong river.
DAK LAK 70% – A spectacularly spicy 70% bar with strong,
earthy tones, made with cacao selected from the highland district of Ea Kar in
Dak Lak province.
TIEN GIANG 80% – This chocolate is
high in spice, tobacco and nutty flavours and showcases Marou’s dedication
to exceptional design as recognised by London’s Wallpaper magazine.
DONG NAI 72% – This chocolate is made
with cocoa that is produced at MAROU’s own cacao fermentation and drying
station near Cat Tien Natural Park in Dong Nai province, making it a very rare
‘pod-to-bar’ chocolate. This chocolate is mild with surprising notes of spice.
TIEN GIANG 70% – A chocolate made
with cocoa that is grown by farmers of the Cho Gao Cooperative in the Mekong
Delta: this full-bodied chocolate is characterized by unique notes of fruit and
honey.
3. Original Beans Single Origin Bars – $5.79-6.79/bar at Central Market – My discovery of Original Beans is the same as with Marou. And I was equally excited to see these three bars grace the shelves of aisle 4a at Central Market this past year.
for the kids
EDEL WEISS 40% Organic white chocolate without vainilla, Yuna River
Valley, Dominican Republic
ESMERALDAS MILK 42% Organic milk chocolate from world-renowned
Arriba cacao, Pacific Cloudforest, Esmeraldas Ecuador
PIURA PORCELANA 75% Organic dark chocolate from ultra-rare white
cacao, Piura River Valley, Peruvian Andes
for the kids
4. Theo Chocolate Kids Crunch Bars – $1.99/bar at Central Market, 1.39/bar on Amazon PrimeNow – I know how much these are on Amazon PrimeNow because I add them to my order to reach my $20 minimum on occasion. They are marketed for kids I guess, but I think they are the perfect size! They all have quinoa and brown rice in them which gives an awesome crunchy texture and adds some nutritional value. I can never decide which bar is my favorite. There is RASPBERRY, ALMOND and BANANA. They are all soooooo good. So ditch the $1.50 heart shaped boxes of terrible chocolate and get the kids one or two or three of these. Or one for them, and two for you. I won't judge.
for the one with expensive taste
6. FRAN'S Salt Caramels – $26.49/large square wrapped box, $11.99/7pc wrapped box, $10.79/7pc regular box-not wrapped; at Central Market – These caramels are a GREAT alternative to random assortments of chocolates. You don't have to take a bite of each one before you decide which ones to devour and which ones to throw away. I taste tested them a few weeks ago to see if I had a preference between the Smoked Sea Salt or Gray Sea Salt. I couldn't decide. They are both excellent.
for the one with an adventurous palate
7. Raaka gift subscription – $19.95 and up at raakachocolate.com; 15% off 3, 6 or 12 month subscriptions with discount code BEMINE15 will arrive by 2/14 if ordered by code expiration 2/10 – I got one of these subscriptions for Christmas and it is super awesome! Raaka is a unique chocolate maker in that they do NOT roast their beans. The chocolate is raw. This makes the texture a little grittier/less smooth than you might be used to but also allows for intense flavors. I am so excited for the next few months of my subscription! Who doesn't love a good subscription?
8. Chuoa Chocolatier assorted bars – $4.99/bar at Central Market – these are some of my favorite everyday chocolate bars. They have such a nice balance of quality chocolate and conventional/traditional chocolate texture and flavor. I love the chunkiness of the inclusions. My favorite flavors are POTATO CHIP, POP CORN POP and OH MY S'MORES.
Now go get yourself and your loved ones some fabulous chocolate and cross that Valentine's Day shopping OFF your list!
Cheers!
