Food Review #44 Dagoba Organic Chocolate Lavender Blueberry Chocolate Bar

Oh, Dagoba Organic Chocolate. As you may know, we recently reviewed their Xocolatl, and New Moon chocolate bars. Both of them received a 10 out of 10.

How will this bar measure up? Let's find out.

There are several major differences. First is that the chocolate in this bar is different than the other Dagoba products we review previously. This bar is made with a 59% cacao content, while the other bars were made with a 74% cacao content. Therefore, this chocolate should be a bit lighter in flavor that the other bars, and should be a bit sweeter. The other difference is that this bar has lavender, and wild blueberries.

I have never before seen this combination, especially in a chocolate bar. I have not seen neither ingredient even on it's own in a chocolate bar. Dagoba Organic Chocolate is a daring chocolate company, and it seems they've taken a chance with this bar.

I had high expectations of this bar. The other Dagoba products I had reviewed previously were very, very good. Would this be as good as they were?

One concern I had was that this bar, because of the lavender; would be too much like perfume. Other products I had tried with lavender often did. I, personally, cannot stand products that taste like perfume. Another was the combination of lavender, blueberry and chocolate. Blueberry and chocolate are a good combination, but with lavender? I was uncertain about this bar, but I hoped for the best.

All Dagoba Organic Chocolate products are at least 95% organic, and are certified organic by the USDA. All of their products became Rainforest Alliance Certified in 2012. For more information of Dagoba Organic Chocolate, you can go to their site here

I gently open the package, and as I am about to open the second layer of packaging, I discover that there is some writing on the inner-side of the first layer of paper packaging. On it is a story directly from one of the founder's diaries (just as the Xocolatl, and New Moon bars had). This scored more points with me, as I love these kinds of small touches.

After I opened the second layer of packaging, I was hit with a smell of blueberries and lavender. I spotted some blueberries poking through the surface of the chocolate bar, I was happy that there were actual blueberries in this bar, instead of some blueberry essence, like some other companies may do.

Now for the taste.

As soon as I bit into this bar, I could feel a blueberry pop in my mouth. The chocolate in this bar was rich, even more so than the other bars I tried. The blueberries added a certain fruitiness, and paired perfectly with the chocolate; contrasting with the richness of the chocolate to make it a bit lighter. At first, I must admit, I did not really notice the lavender. After a bit, I began to notice it. I was surprised, as this bar did not lead with the lavender; but with the chocolate and blueberry. The lavender actually paired very well with the chocolate and blueberry, and was not perfumey at all. This made me feel relieved. Though the pairing of blueberry, lavender, chocolate may not be as famous, or as common as say, peanut butter and jelly; it should be. It is a great combination, and they all go wonderfully with each other.

This bar has a rich, and thick consistency. Even more rich than the other bars. The blueberries add a nice pop, and contribute to the texture. This bar is packed with blueberries, and you can see tons poking through the surface.

Below is a nice picture of the product from Dagoba, with a phrase I totally agree with~

This is one of the most unique products I have ever reviewed. And I must say, it is one of the best chocolate products we have reviewed so far. This is a truly original bar, and is a truly delicious bar. I highly recommend it, and I would definitely purchase it again.

Overall, our 44th Food Review, Dagoba Organic Chocolate Lavender Blueberry Chocolate Bar gets a 10 out of 10! It is available at stores across the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and more, as well as on Dagoba's online store here.

Keep coming back to All Natural Food Zone, the best food site on the internet, for more reviews of Dagoba products, and more reviews, recipes, remedies, editorials, and more.

Food Review #43 Dagoba Organic Chocolate New Moon Bittersweet Dark Chocolate Bar

Oh Dagoba Organic Chocolate, this is our second review of their fine products. Our first review of their products, the Xocolatl bar, received a 10 out of 10. As I said in the previous post, I purchased other products of theirs and I thought that their New Moon bar would be a good followup to the Xocolatl bar.

But will this bar be as good, if not better than the Xocolatl bar?

All Dagoba Organic Chocolate products are at least 95% organic, and is certified organic by the USDA. All of their products became Rainforest Alliance Certified in 2012. For more information of Dagoba Organic Chocolate, you can go to their site here

This bar is made from the same base chocolate at the Xocolatl bar. So, I had very high expectations for this product.

Not long after finishing the Xocolatl bar; I went into my cabinet and retrieved the New Moon bar. Once again, I examined the packaging. It was packaged quite nicely, the smooth paper effectively covering the bar. The bold, exotic font for the logo easily conveys the chocolate sourced from exotic locations for use by Dagoba. Now, enough already, let's open this bar!

I gently open the package, and as I am about to open the second layer of packaging, I discover that there is some writing on the inner-side of the first layer of paper packaging. On it is a story directly from one of the founder's diaries (just as the Xocolatl bar did). This scored further points with me, as I love these kinds of small touches.

As I open the second layer of the packaging, the chocolate starts to come into site. The bar is divided into long sections; each with an artfully carved "Dagoba" logo on the front of each section. The chocolate's smooth surface only further eludes to what the product is described on the packaging as "rich dark chocolate".

As I bite into the bar, the texture is smooth and rich, full-bodied and thick.

And now for the taste.

The flavor of this chocolate is intense. The dark chocolate in this bar is rich and full flavored. At first, the flavor was mainly of the rich, 76% cacao content rich dark chocolate. But after a few seconds, notes of coffee, vanilla, and other flavors arrive on my palate. It quickly becomes apparent that unlike many chocolate bars, this bar does not purely taste of only chocolate; but has many various notes. I didn't like very much dark chocolate before Dagoba, often times dark chocolate was bitter and flavorless. Not with Dagoba. They have once again, shattered both my expectations and my beliefs. Will I still eat milk chocolate? Yes. But, will I eat more dark chocolate? Yes, much more. Dagoba's New Moon Bittersweet 74% chocolate bar has truly changed my outlook on chocolate. Dagoba chocolate, it seems, has changed my life. It has enlightened me, regarding dark chocolate. I am looking forward to trying more Dagoba products, and making more reviews of their products.

Enough of this, how did it do?

Food Review #43 Dagoba Organic Chocolate New Moon Bittersweet Dark Chocolate bar gets a 10 out of 10. Perfect for your love or for yourself, it is great for any day! It is available at stores across the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and more, as well as on Dagoba's online store here. This chocolate is a great chocolate for everyday, and would be perfect in a Easter basket. For those of you that don't like spicy things; don't fret, try this bar. It has a delicious, rich taste, and is a great everyday bar, with an extraordinary taste. I highly recommend this product, and it is one of the most delicious chocolate products I have reviewed yet.

Keep coming back to All Natural Food Zone, the best food site on the internet, for more reviews of Dagoba products, and more reviews, recipes, remedies, editorials, and more.

Food Review #42 Dagoba Organic Chocolate Xocolatl Dark Chocolate

Do you want some spice in your life?

No, love is not my expertise, but food, especially chocolate; is. I hope you do have some spice(or a special someone) in you life, but if you don't (or you just want some more), Dagoba Organic Chocolate's Xocolatl Dark Chocolate bar may do the trick.

All Dagoba Organic Chocolate products are at least 95% organic, and is certified organic by the USDA. All of their products became Rainforest Alliance Certified in 2012. For more information of Dagoba Organic Chocolate, you can go to their site here.

On one of my recent trips to my local natural foods store, I spotted a large variety of Dagoba products on the store's shelves. Though I decided purchased other Dagoba products as well, the Xocolatl flavor stuck out to me the most, and I decided it would be the first Dagoba product we would review.

As soon as I returned home, I rummaged through the bags, and searched for the Xocolatl bar. As soon as I found it I felt an urge to open it instantly; eating it within seconds. I calmed myself, and I examined the packaging. It was packaged quite nicely, the smooth paper effectively covering the bar. The bold, exotic font for the logo easily conveys the chocolate sourced from exotic locations for use by Dagoba. Now, enough already, let's open this bar!

I gently open the package, and as I am about to open the second layer of packaging, I discover that there is some writing on the inner-side of the first layer of paper packaging. On it is a story directly from one of the founder's diaries (I later discovered that most bars do have this). This scored further points with me, as I love these kinds of small touches.

As I open the second layer of the packaging, the chocolate starts to come into site. The bar is divided into long sections; each with an artfully carved "Dagoba" logo on the front of each section. The chocolate's smooth surface has dozens of cocao nibs poking through the surface of the bar.

As I bite into the bar, the texture is smooth and rich, full-bodied and thick.

And now for the taste.

The flavor of this chocolate is intense. The dark chocolate in this bar is rich and full flavored. The chiles add a delicious bit of spice, while the cacao nibs contrast with their crunch. This combination creates a unique, yet delicious flavor. At first, the flavor was mainly of the rich, 76% cacao content dark chocolate and the cocao nibs; with the chiles providing warmth. But after a few seconds, the chiles begin to turn up the heat, though the bar leads with the chocolate flavor. I have tried other chocolate with chiles or peppers before, and they were awful. This shattered my belief that chile and chocolate should not mix together, if done correctly like Dagoba Organic Chocolate has done, it is a delicious combination. This seems to be the closest chocolate bar product in the market to the ancient Aztec xocolatl chocolate drink. But better, much better

If you want some spice in your life, Food Review #42 Dagoba Organic Chocolate Xocolatl Dark Chocolate bar which gets a 10 out of 10, will do the trick! Perfect for your love or for yourself, it is great for Valentine's Day or any day! It is available at stores around the world and on Dagoba's online store here.

Super Bowl Recipes~ #3 Big Game Punch

Super Bowl XLVII is here! Every occasion needs a delicious, special punch to go with it, but especially the Super Bowl! The recipe below is one of the best, easiest-to-make, delicious punches in existence. This delicious punch is perfect for any occasion, and especially the big game, Super Bowl XLVII. This punch serves 16, and you may simply divide the recipe by half, double it, or even triple it and it will make 8, 32, or 48 servings, respectively. For a twist on this punch, you can even substitute ginger ale for lemon-lime soda. And remember to only use sodas that don't have HFCS! A flavorful, colorful and economical non-alcoholic punch for any occasion, this delicious punch's recipe is below in both USA and Metric measurements.


Ingredients

USA

• 3 (12-ounce) cans frozen raspberry juice
• 1 ( 12-ounce) can frozen lemonade
• 144 ounces (2 six-packs) ginger ale or lemon-lime soda (such as Reed's, 365 Everyday, Sierra Mist)
• 5 pounds ice
• 1 navel orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 lime, sliced into rounds
• 1 pound strawberries, sliced

Metric

• 3 (1.020 kilograms) can frozen raspberry juice
• 340.19 grams can frozen lemonade
• 4.26 litres (2 six-packs) ginger ale or lemon-lime soda (such as Reed's, 365 Everyday, Sierra Mist)
• 2-2.5 kilograms ice
• 1 navel orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 lime, sliced into rounds
• 453.59 grams strawberry, sliced


Directions

In a large punch bowl, combine frozen juices with ginger ale and stir until juice is dissolved. Add ice. Garnish with sliced orange, lime, raspberries and strawberries* (*Optional).

Super Bowl Recipes~ #2 Über Buffalo Chicken or Chicken Wings with Ultimate Bleu Cheese Dip

Buffalo wings, a classic dish. This delicious dish is popular for any occasion, but especially sports games. Many experts estimate that over 1 billion wings shall be eaten on the day of Super Bowl XLVII, a truly staggering number! Many loves wings, especially buffalo. However, many, like me; like boneless buffalo chicken. This is the reason why we have created a recipe for this super bowl classic; our Über Buffalo Chicken or Chicken Wings with Ultimate Bleu Cheese Dip is the best buffalo chicken wing, and blue cheese dip recipe out there. Recognizing the growing trend in Thai chicken wings, we have included a sauce for them as well. You may use the same recipe for those as you would with the buffalo chicken, only the sauce is different.

Additionally, our Ultimate Bleu Cheese Dip recipe is a perfect accompaniment with our chicken recipe. Loaded with tons of bleu cheese, this can also be used as a salad dressing, sauce, and more. It is perfect with many different things, and for me personally; has become a highly popular condiment. Enjoy the recipe below, and we hope that you will make it for the big game.


Ingredients

USA

• 3 pounds chicken wings, drumsticks, or boneless skinless breasts
• 1 1/2 cups hot sauce (such as Frank's)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun spice
• 1/2 tablespoons cayenne pepper powder
• 3/4 tablespoon garlic powder
• Oil (Peanut, soybean, safflower, or similar), preferably non-GMO or organic, for frying
• Buffalo Sauce, recipe follows
• Thai Dipping Sauce, recipe follows

Metric

• 1.36 kilograms chicken wings, drumsticks, or boneless skinless breasts
• 355 ml hot sauce (such as Frank's)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons (metric) Cajun spice
• 1/2 tablespoons (metric) cayenne pepper powder
• 3/4 tablespoon (metric) garlic powder
• Oil (Peanut, soybean, safflower, or similar), preferably non-GMO or organic, for frying
• Buffalo Sauce, recipe follows
• Thai Dipping Sauce, recipe follows


Directions

Combine hot sauce, and Cajun spice, pepper and garlic powder. Mix well and cover wings. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep sided pot to 350°F (177°F).
Remove wings from marinade and drain off excess moisture. Add wings carefully and in batches to hot oil, it splatters. Cook until crispy about 10 minutes. Toss half of chicken in the buffalo sauce, and the remaining half in the Thai dipping sauce. If you wish, you may only create one of the sauces, and just double the recipe for said sauce. You may also use sauce(s) as dipping sauce for the chicken. Serve with Ultimate Bleu Cheese Dip, and celery if you wish.


Buffalo Sauce

USA

• 8 tablespoons softened butter
• 8 tablespoons hot sauce

Metric

• 8 tablespoons (metric) softened butter
• 119 millilitres hot sauce

Combine butter and hot sauce. Whisk until blended.

Thai Dipping Sauce

USA

• 1 cup Sweet Chili Sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Metric

• 237 ml Sweet Chili Sauce
• 1 tablespoon (metric) soy sauce

Mix chili and soy sauce until well blended.

Ultimate Bleu Cheese Dip

USA

• 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• Juice of 1/4 lemon, or to taste
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Metric

• 118.30 millilitres blue cheese, crumbled
• 59 millilitres buttermilk
• 59 millilitres sour cream
• 59 millilitres mayonnaise
• Juice of 1/4 lemon, or to taste
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

In a small bowl, stir to combine all ingredients. Serve with Über Buffalo Chicken or Chicken Wings.