Chocolate Driven

Musings about chocolate and all of its wonderful iterations.

[chocolatedriven]

Completing my origins tasting assignment for @ecolechocolat course. So fun to taste different makers with same origin. There are differences and similarities. Great way to test my palette. Of course @projet_chocolat tasting sheets are helping me take great notes. Thank you Sophia for designing these!

[chocolatedriven]

Delivery! Delivery! New bars to try. Yay!! Have you tried any of these? All South American beans.

[chocolatedriven]

Enjoying a late-ish breakfast of granola with Taza Chocolate cacao nibs. Nice chocolatey nutty crunch addition. Have you tried nibs for breakfast? Happy Monday! 🍫 🍫 🍫 #darkchocolate #cacao #nibs #granola #glutenfree #monday #breakfast #happymonday #organic #tazachocolate #chocolate

[chocolatedriven]

Yay for the weekend! I was so grateful to receive this WKND chocolate bar 72% Tanzanian cacao in the mail from Lauren. I am not that familiar with Tanzanian beans but I love it! Theres a nice chocolatey bite to it, with notes of coffee, caramel and berries. Really unique. Have you tried chocolate with Tanzania beans? Let me know in the comments below and if not go try this one ;) 🍫 🍫 🍫 #wknd #howdoyouweekend #cacao #tanzanian #denver #local #ladyboss #craftchocolate #beantobar #chocolate #darkchocolate #instachocolate #chocolates #chocolatebar

[chocolatedriven]

Chocolate peeps: I'm working on my website today. The perfectionist in me keeps putting off making it live and promoting it. Inspired to take some action today and publish. Any encouragement and positive vibes welcomed. Happy Thursday! 🙏🏼💃🏻🍫📷😊🤞 🍫 #chocolate #blogger #cacao #ladyboss #authentic #workinprogress #website #finechocolate #instachocolate #impact #local #support #craftchocolate #sustainability #farmers

[chocolatedriven]

In less than 24 hours my hubby and I have devoured this Castronovo bar. Only a few small squares remain. I don't usually enjoy "mocha" bars but this is fabulous. Creamy caramel notes with hints of coffee really compliment the bar. The chocolate is powerful but so smooth and creamy. Yum! Don't take my word for it, go buy one and try it! 😉💃🏻🍫 🍫 #instachocolate #craftchocolate #finechocolate #cacao #beantobar #florida #local #handmade #smallbiz #chocolate #coffee #mocha #colombia

[chocolatedriven]

Last weekend on our way down to Miami we made a mandatory chocolate pit stop to the wonderful @castronovochocolate shop in Stuart FL. Check out my instastory to see some of my chocolate haul. I am so grateful I got to go and briefly meet with Denise, the rockstar behind these delicious bars. Pic is from inside the shop/factory. I could've easily bought everything. We picked up truffles, bars and chocolate bar as a gift for my friend. Triple yum! I'll post more in the bars later. . . . #chocolate #craftchocolate #craft #cacao #florida #shoplocal #ladyboss #stuart #darkchocolate #smallbiz #local #latergram #nofilter #flavor #chocolatenotes #instachocolate (at Castronovo Chocolate)

[chocolatedriven]

So I'm a bit overwhelmed by this amazing Map Chocolate bar. Scent of cranberries, this 72% Vietnam Tien Giang with sugared lemon and vegan gf pink shortbread is full of intense fruity notes balanced with bits of sweet and tart. I don't think I've ever tasted anything quite like it. I believe chocolate making is an art as much as a science and the creativity in this bar is a great example of that. I love inclusion bars with texture because it creates such a unique tasting experience. And done well, the inclusion brings out the wonderful notes of the cacao. Well done Mackenzie! This bar is in its own category. Didn't mention it but the packaging is personal and well thought out. Reminds me of my childhood when I would go vintage shopping with my Mom. . . . #mapfan #mapchocolate #beantobar #smallbatch #chocolate #cacao #darkchocolate #feedyourdreams #instachocolate #craft #handmade #shoplocal #smallbiz #womeninchocolate

[chocolatedriven]

Starting my Monday with @palettedebine 70% Haiti bar that won Gold in 2016 International Chocolate Awards Americas. So happy to finally try this bar. Wow. Love the packaging, mold, aroma, flavor. All around deliciousness. Today's story has more pics of the bar. Yummy! . . . #happymonday #morning #chocolate #darkchocolate #smallbatch #craftchocolate #finechocolate #cacao#beantobar #instachocolate #instagood #yummy

[chocolatedriven]

Tasting a new maker and bar today by @forevercacao. Have tried this one? I think this is the first bar with coconut sugar and coconut milk that I've tasted. I smell the coconut but the taste is still super chocolatey despite it's 55%. Yummy! I posted some more pics on my instastory. Thanks for following along as I eat my way around the world of chocolate. 🙏🏼🍫💃🏻🌎🍫😋 . . . #chocolate #chocolatefan #vegan #raw #forevercacao #sustainablefarming #origin #cacao #milkchocolate #wales #uk #smallbatch #healthysweets

[chocolatedriven]

Afternoon chocolate fix and a new bar from my 2beans stock up. Have you had tried this one by Vintage Plantations? Mine is bloomed but I like the bits of dried raspberries. Its my preferred fruit pairing with dark chocolate. . . . #darkchocolate #chocolate #beantobar #sustainablefarming #farmer #cacao #cocoa #vplantations #vintage #plantations

[chocolatedriven]

It's a tea and chocolate morning on this chilly day in the sunshine state. Picked up this @rococochocolates during my recent trip to 2beans in NYC. This is how I enjoy white chocolate, with subtle but distinct inclusions. Have you tried this cardamom and white chocolate bar? Yummy! . . . #craftchocolate #artisanchocolate #whitechocolate #spice #cardamom #teatime #morning #chocolate #floridaliving #home #workingfromhome (at Rococo Chocolates)

[chocolatedriven]

Its always fun to try bars that have unique inclusions. These bars take that idea and create new flavors and textures combinations, reminding me how baking (cookies and bread) connects well with chocolate. Do you have a favorite? Any you want to recommend? . . . #darkchocolate #chocolate #cacao #beantobar #craftchocolate #instachocolate #morning #sundayfunday #limitededition #bakery #finechocolate #dicktaylor #pumpstreetbakery #patric

[chocolatedriven]

Weather dropped quite a bit over the weekend and my husband said "let's make the Carl hot chocolate!". How could I say no? So much excitement I didn't film it but it was so delicious. Loved watching him melt and then pop open with the cocoa powder and marshmallows. My husband ate Carl's hat before we melted him down and said it was good too. So happy I bought two so we have another to get us thru the rest of January. . . . #hotchocolate #chocolate #craftchocolate #handmade #cocoa #cacao #artisanchocolate #snowman #floridaliving #babyitscoldoutside #warmup

[chocolatedriven]

Made my first cup of hot chocolate at home since the weather dropped considerably for Florida standards. Picked this one from Chocolat Modern at 2beans on my last NYC visit. I over did it with the portion but it sure tasted sweet and chocolatey! I enjoy a good simple hot chocolate. Anyone else try this before? . . #hotchocolate #instachocolate #finechocolate #cocoa #sweets #winter #floridaliving #cool #warmup #chocolate #drinkingchocolate (at Chocolat Moderne New York)

[chocolatedriven]

New bar from Manoa thanks to my latest Cocoa Runners delivery. Such a delicious bar! Bright fruity notes reminds me of @chocolategreenz from Grenada. Anyone else notice the resemblance? Really delicious! Amazing to think this comes from Hawaii. Would love to go visit someday. . . . #cocoarunners #beantobar #craftchocolate #hawaii #instachocolate #sweet #usa #cacao #manoa #darkchocolate (at Manoa Chocolate Hawaii)

[chocolatedriven]

Late afternoon chocolate fix by @akessons_organic which is another bar from my Cocoa Runners delivery. I am not that familiar with Brazilian cacao, this is I think the second bar I've tried with Brazilian beans. First was by @harpermacaw which I enjoyed. This one is also good, kinda smokey. Anyone else try this bar? . . . #brazilian #cacao #forastero #beantobar #craftchocolate #chocolate #finechocolate #instachocolate #afternoon #sweet