World Market’s Dark Chocolate Ginger Wasabi
October 31, 2016
Wasabi and chocolate? I have to admit, my first thought was, “weird!” Putting wasabi and chocolate together is not something I would have thought to try.
I like wasabi, especially in microscopic amounts on my California Roll. I’m not that familiar with wasabi in terms of nuance flavors or tasting notes though, so how do I know if it pairs nicely with chocolate? Then again, how do I know it won’t?
World Market® brand chocolates has an Exotic Sea Salt line of chocolates. They say the Ginger Wasabi Dark Chocolate bar is for adventurous chocolate lovers.
Indeed. I must fall into that category because I actually tried it!
Ginger Wasabi Dark Chocolate
The aroma of the bar is powerful. Strong aromas of ginger, cocoa, and vanilla come off the bar immediately after unwrapping it. Taking the first bite is, well, I’ll have to refer back to my first thought and say it’s weird.
Salty is the first flavor to hit you. Next, chocolatey notes (I wonder what percentage the cacao is because it’s not listed on the package) and ginger.
Finally, BAM! The back of my tongue is burning and getting hotter. If wasabi has a flavor contribution, I didn’t notice. I was too busy trying to find a glass of water.
My ah-ha moment comes after I read the label. There is an unexpected ingredient - ground habanero pepper. Whew! That’s got to add to the heat.
More Than Heat - Health Benefits of Wasabi?
According to my research, wasabi, also called Japanese horseradish, is an extremely strong condiment, similar to a hot mustard. I couldn’t find anything that really describes the flavor, only words like strong, pungent, bold, and spicy. I couldn’t come up with a list of flavor notes during my tasting, either.
Since I couldn’t make any headway on discovering a wasabi flavor profile, I focused on health benefits. I mean, if I’m going to be tortured by burning pain, I might as well get something healthy out it!
One of the health benefits of wasabi includes anti-inflammatory relief for joints and muscles. It also has agents that guard against bacterial infections. Some research says it can even lessen the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
My official opinion of the Ginger and Wasabi Dark Chocolate bar is, “It’s not horrible.”
I liked the splash of sea salt, and the chocolate is very good. I didn’t like the heat.
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys spicy hot, sweet and salty foods, go for it! But if you’re like me, and you don’t like chocolate that kicks back, take a pass on this one.
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