Chocolate University Online Blog
The Stash Tea Company makes a trio of “dessert teas”; chocolate hazelnut, vanilla cream, and almond cream. These teas are made with decaffeinated black tea.
I drank my chocolate hazelnut tea one afternoon when I was “in the mood for something.” I didn’t actually know what I was in the mood for, but since I didn’t have my usual chocolate pick me up handy, I thought this tea might do the trick.
It did. I brewed the tea until the cup had a dark, rich brown color. The aroma of this tea was wonderful! Both the chocolate and hazelnut aroma were strong and enticing. I hoped the flavor was going to be as good as the smell.
I was not disappointed. The taste was true to the aroma.
At first, the hazelnut was the only flavor note I could taste and I was momentarily disappointed that the chocolate wasn’t going to come through. But it did present itself at the end, and the finish was chocolatey.
I did not add any sugar or milk to my first cup because I wanted to taste the tea without distraction. My next cup was a different experience completely since adding a little sugar and milk really made the chocolate and hazelnut flavors pop!
I wonder what it tastes like as iced tea?
On the Stash Tea website, there is a Knowledge Center. This was my favorite part of their website. I learned about the history of tea, terminology used in tea tasting, and tea’s benefits in health and nutrition.
Did you know that all tea; white, green, oolong and black, originates from one small flowering evergreen bush in China? And that Green tea contains large amounts of antioxidants, vitamin B and folic acid? There’s more, but you can find out for yourself at www.stashtea.com. Don’t forget to check out the recipes for Tea Smoothies!
I’m looking forward to more cups o’ tea.
Available from Amazon.com: Stash Premium Decaf Chocolate Hazelnut Tea, Tea Bags, 18-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: hazelnuts, not quite chocolate, Stash Tea Company, tea
A couple nights ago my teenage daughter had a craving for chocolate cake. Although this sounded good to me too, we had one big obstacle in our way–no working oven. Our oven called it quits one week earlier and we had not replaced it yet.
The next day, with chocolate cake still on my mind, I looked up dessert recipes for the crock pot, microwave, grill, Nesco Roaster, anything that did not require baking it in an oven. To my surprise, I found A LOT of recipes out there using alternate cooking devices.
Eventually, I found a recipe for a one-minute microwaveable chocolate cake in a mug.
The recipe is simple, fast, and you can customize it any way you want. You just mix up the basic ingredients in a medium-sized coffee mug, microwave for one minute, top with whatever toots your horn and EAT!
The chocolate cake had excellent texture and flavor, although the chocolate impact was a bit too mild for my liking.
Instead of trying to figure out how to make the cake more chocolatey, I concentrated on the toppings and that took care of the problem! My daughter chose chocolate ice cream sprinkled with chocolate chips and I chose mint chocolate chip frozen yogurt. Both were absolutely outstanding choices, and we highly recommend them.
Needless to say, we completely satisfied our craving for chocolate cake.
Curious for more?? Make sure you come back to read Wednesday’s blog where I will reveal the recipe!
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: chocolate cake, microwave
I recently attended an outdoor BBQ and at the “drink station” was a pitcher of ice water with an assortment of small bottles sitting next to it. Each bottle had a dropper style lid and inside was flavored liquid sweetened with stevia. The host encouraged me to create my own sugar-free beverage.
 I was intrigued, of course, and poured myself a glass of water. Then, as instructed, put 6 to 8 drops of liquid flavoring into my glass. This was a starting point as more can be added according to individual preference.
I chose the chocolate raspberry. And? Delicious!
I thought the chocolate was a little subdued with the raspberry coming through a bit stronger, but the flavor was very “natural” tasting and not too sweet or syrupy. I found it very refreshing. I wish I had added just one or two drops more to see if that brought out extra chocolate flavor.
SweetLeaf brand liquid stevia is an all natural sweetener. I read that, “…at only a penny per drop, you can easily dress up water, coffee, tea, yogurt, cocktails, whip cream, smoothies, ice cubes, and nearly anything else you can dream up. A great replacement for sodas and soft drinks for your kids (and adults)!”
Chocolate raspberry was just one of many flavors offered. You can choose from rootbeer, grape, cinnamon, lemon ,toffee, vanilla, orange, and many more.
There are a number of online sources, from the manufacturers own site at www.buywisdom.com, to a stevia information site www.stevia.com that also leads into an online store.
I think I have some experimenting to do this summer! Let me know your creative uses for liquid stevia by commenting below.
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: flavors, raspberry, stevia extract, sweeteners
 The Terravita Chocolate Company is a Polish chocolate manufacturer making some uniquely flavored chocolate. I recently tasted the 77% Orange and Chili Dark Chocolate.
The Terravita line of dark chocolate uses 77% cocoa as a bold, chocolate base. The added, exotic flavor combinations include orange peels and chili, as well as coffee and cardamom.
What I like most about the orange and chili combination is the intense chocolate and orange up front when you first bite into it, and then just when you think you have finished, the heat from the chili kicks in. It is a pleasant finish albeit a surprise!
The orange peels are tiny and chewy and flavorful–just the way I like them. The most impressive thing about his bar is the powerful impact of the chocolate at 77%. (The Lindt Intense Orange is very good, but the chocolate cocoa content is 47% and thus more subdued.)
The website for TerraVita is very interesting. It is in Polish and built for entertainment. Check it out–www.terravita.pl.
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: chili, Cocoacara, dark chocolate, orange peel, Terravita
The Equal Exchange Co-op sells organic, fair-trade, premium chocolate bars. The chocolate is purchased from small-scale farmers and their families. The chocolate is made in the Swiss tradition from co-operatives in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, and Ecuador.
You can go online to buy their products but chances are you will see them being sold as fundraisers for faith-based organizations, at community events, holiday bazaars and fairs, and even in farmers’ markets.
 I was given a mini-sized 55% dark chocolate bar for a tasting sample at a volunteer fair last week. It was delicious! (I bought a full-size 71% dark for later!)
I’m impressed with the outstanding flavor from the Equal Exchange chocolate. The bar was a blend of Dominican and Peruvian chocolate with a velvety smooth texture packing a bold, intensely chocolate punch. The lingering finish was nutty with a hint of spice and vanilla.
I’m impressed with the positive impact Equal Exchange is having on food, families, and our global environment.
I’m impressed with the assortment of chocolates and other consumables they offer and have been offering for over 20 years. Their commitment to quality products, fair trade practices, and future vision for sustainable agriculture is solid.
You’ll be impressed, too. Check out their website: www.equalexchange.coop. And, don’t forget to enjoy the chocolate – it’s really good!!
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: dark chocolate, Dominican, Equal Exchange, fair trade, Peruvian
Rooibus (Rooibos) tea (pronounced roy-bos) means “red bush” in Afrikaans. Rooibus is herbal, caffeine-free, and contains powerful antioxidants. It is also lower in tannins than green or black tea.
Rooibus is grown only in a small area of South Africa. It is slowly becoming more popular in the U.S. for the health conscious.
 I recently bought a specialty Rooibus tea from a company called Christiani-Tea. I chose a flavor infused tea called Chocolate Mint. The ingredients are organic Rooibus, organic cacao nibs, and organic peppermint leaf. Added to those main flavor ingredients are apple and orange peel.
The combination? Wow! Absolutely delicious.
This tea was naturally sweet with a slightly nutty flavor which I understand comes from the Rooibus. The chocolate and peppermint complemented each other without dominating the overall tasting experience.
The chocolate mint makes this perfect for dessert. It’s just like sipping a Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie but without the calories!
To learn more about this tea, visit the website www.christiani-tea.com.
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: antioxidants, mint chocolate, nibs, peppermint, rooibus, tea
I remember a certain look on my babies’ faces after they finished filling their tummies with milk. Their sleepy smiles were a mixture of deep satisfaction and complete happiness. Life was good.
 I think I had a similar look on my face one evening while enjoying a molten chocolate lava cake for dessert. After finishing our meals at a local restaurant (D Mo’s Pasta & Chop House at The Clarke Hotel), my husband suggested we try this dessert. Ah, life was good.
Chocolate lava cake, or molten chocolate cake as it is sometimes called, is a flourless cake/soufflé/hot fudge creation sent down from heaven.
Actually, the credit for who invented the chocolate lava cake is in dispute. A U.S- based chef that claims to have at least popularized it, says he pulled a chocolate sponge cake from the oven before it was done and found that although the center was still runny the texture and flavor were excellent. I love it when mistakes like that happen!
As you can see (your mouth is watering), the chocolate is dark, decadent, and flowing with warm, liquid chocolate from the middle. (Well, you can’t see the liquid chocolate in the photo, but you can imagine it.)
The chocolate cake is a perfect combination of dense and springy texture. Surrounded by whipped cream, a chocolate drizzle, strawberry on the side, and a mint leaf with a dusting of powdered sugar on top, it was simply an unforgettable experience.
I forgot to mention that my husband and I split the chocolate lava cake. That’s a choice that I vow never to do again.
Next time, the whole thing is mine!
Categories: chocolate review, fun chocolate facts
Tags: chocolate cake, chocolate dessert
Godiva chocolate makes three varieties of Gems™, individually wrapped bon bons.
I just finished eating a dark chocolate French Vanilla Truffle Gem described on the package as a dark chocolate with a creamy french vanilla filling. The filling is a vanilla cream center like a butter cream only sweeter. This filling is thinner than frosting but the texture and consistency reminds me more of frosting than a smooth melting truffle.
These should NOT be called truffles.
The dark chocolate is medium in intensity but does not overcome the sweetness. After the initial bite, it is almost as if the chocolate wasn’t even there to begin with–it disappears too quickly. The cream filling takes a while to melt in the mouth and is somewhat sticky (a bit cloying like honey), but it is smooth.
As you can tell, I was not impressed. But, I am used to mediocrity coming from the grocery store products of Godiva. I imagine the Godiva name and the flashy gold packaging still impresses some people, but that won’t last long.
Godiva Chocolatier was founded in 1926 in Belgium and was known for premium chocolates attracting attention from the rich and famous in Paris and New York. It was sold to Campbell foods and then to the Turkish Yıldız Holding company in 2007. I think the glamour is gone.
What do you think? I’d like to know if you think the Godiva line of chocolate lives up to its name and (shall I say, former) reputation?
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: chocolate truffles, dark chocolate, Godiva
 The All-Natural, 72% Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds bar is oh-so good in oh-so many ways. First of all, the flavor is excellent. The chocolate is bold with soft earthy notes. These flavors blend perfectly with the chewy cranberry pieces and crunchy almond bits.
Endangered Species brand chocolates promotes awareness and conservation of at-risk species of animals. This particular variety (cranberries and almonds) is surrounded by a wrapper that, when you read the inside, increases your knowledge about the struggles of the Gray Wolf.
A chocolate purchase from Endangered Species means you are not only encouraging conservation efforts of various animals around the world but also supporting a source of chocolate grown from ethically traded cacao farms.
Aside from the educational efforts of this chocolate company, they make great tasting chocolate! And isn’t that ultimately what it’s all about? I mean, if you want to support saving endangered animal populations you could just make a monetary donation to your favorite charity. But instead, you buy their product and you have certain expectations about it. Well, you won’t be disappointed! And you won’t break the bank either. I bought my bar at the local grocery store for $2.82 (their website says it retails for $2.99).
For more information, visit their website at www.chocolatebar.com
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: almonds, cranberries, dark chocolate, Endangered Species
I didn’t know that there were “Irish style” chocolates until I saw a box of chocolates from Grandessa. This box claimed an Irish assortment of filled milk, white, and dark chocolate. To satisfy my curiosity, I bought a box.
The chocolates are uniquely shaped in a square “cup” that holds caramel, lemon meringue, and strawberry truffle. The molded piece is open at the top. The Caramel Sensation is a smooth caramel inside a milk chocolate cup sprinkled with dark mini chocolate chips on the top. The Lemon Supreme is also inside a milk chocolate cup sprinkled with crystalline sugar on the top. And the Sumptuous Strawberry is dusted with a sweet red powder and tucked inside a white chocolate cup.
I thoroughly enjoyed the caramel, but the strawberry was way too sweet. I liked the lemon, and had forgotten how delicious citrus and chocolate combinations are together. I would have preferred a dark chocolate cup with the lemon, but the milk chocolate was mild and slightly fruity and blended very well as a whole.
The caramel in the caramel cup was smooth and butter. The dark chocolate chips added a more intense chocolate note to the mix without bringing any bitterness or aftertaste in the finish.
I don’t really believe that these chocolates represent some sort of Irish tradition of chocolate making. I think the marketing of these chocolates (suspiciously on sale in the States for St. Patrick’s Day) was to give it an Irish spin.
At least they were good, in spite of the marketing fluff!
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: caramel, dark chocolate, Grandessa, lemon, milk chocolate, strawberry, white chocolate
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