Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark Is Fun!

The Good: Good flavor, Decent ingredients
The Bad: Not exactly nutritious.
The Basics: Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark is a flavorful limited edition chocolate square worth trying and makes the consumer wish it was around year round!


I am not, honestly, a huge fan of chocolate and fruit flavors. That said, every now and then I pick something up that is fruit-flavored and chocolate and it turns out to be wonderful and I love it. Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares are one of those products!

Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark is pretty delicious and is a limited edition flavor of Ghirardelli chocolate that Ghirardelli released for Valentine's Day.

Basics

Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares are one and a half inch squares of chocolate that are about three-eighths inches thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a white and pink foil wrapper with hearts on it. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is essentially a chocolate patty which has milk chocolate on the bottom and white chocolate with Strawberry flakes in it on the upper half of the confection. In this form, the 5.4 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has thirteen squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with only thirteen squares, tends to run in the $6.00 range, before the end-of-the-season sales.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the foil wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares.

Taste

The Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark smells powerfully of strawberry. The scent is strong and inviting. There is no hint of chocolate in the bouquet of these chocolate squares.

The Strawberry Bark tastes sweet and chocolatey. The fruit flavor actually dominates the chocolate squares. The strawberry flavor is delicious and plays off the chocolate better than something like chocolate covered strawberries; there is no sourness to these chocolates, like can happen with real strawberries. The white chocolate portion of the Strawberry Bark is incredibly mild. The strawberry flavor holds its own with the milk chocolate in these chocolate squares and these taste delightful as a result.

The Strawberry Bark has a slight, very sweet, aftertaste to it that does not endure in the mouth very long after the last of these are consumed.

Nutrition

These are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Ghirardelli chocolate squares are surprisingly good, though, which is probably why they are more expensive than many mass-produced chocolates. The primary ingredients are sugar, cocoa butter and whole milk powder. Still, there is nothing unpronounceable in these candies.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares is one square. From a single square, one takes in 70 calories, with 4.5 grams of fat. There is no cholesterol and subtle amounts of sodium, Potassium and Iron. Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they are produced on the same equipment that peanuts pass over. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. The package I bought on clearance after Valentine's Day would not have expired until Halloween, had I not eaten them first. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. Given that they are individually wrapped in a very sealed package, it is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt, though, is quite a task.

Overall

Ghirardelli Strawberry Bark is a pleasant combination of chocolate and strawberry flavoring that manages to land . . . even with someone like me, who is much more of a fan of dark chocolate and mint flavors.

For other Ghirardelli products, please check out my reviews of:
Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee Chocolate Squares
Dark Chocolate With Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Squares
Intense Dark Cabernet Matinee

7/10

For other food and drink reviews, please visit my Food Review Index Page!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee Chocolate Squares Delight!

The Good: Good flavor, Good ingredients
The Bad: Not exactly nutritious, I wouldn't pay full price for them . . .
The Basics: The new, limited edition, Valentine's Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are flavorful and worthwhile!


I love Valentine's Day . . . for the after-holiday sales. I'm not a huge fan of the Hallmark style holiday (I have an anniversary to glorify my love for my wife!); so getting the treats from the holiday afterwords for half price is a much bigger deal to me than the actual Valentine's Day. This year, I stopped at Target after the holiday and I picked up a bunch of Valentine's Day candies. One of the most exciting candies I picked up this year was a bag of Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares.

Basics

Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are one and 13/16” squares of chocolate that are 1/4” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a light pink foil wrapper with gold hearts. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is essentially a white chocolate patty with tiny flecks of additives that are reminiscent of cookie pieces with the Ghirardelli symbol stamped into the top. In this form, the 4.8 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has fourteen squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with only fourteen squares, tends to run in the $5.00 range, which is not at all prohibitively priced.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the plastic wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee Ghirardelli squares smell incredibly like white chocolate. The white chocolate aroma is strong and aromatic. There is a hint of cinnamon in the scent of the Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares.

In the mouth, Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares taste potently of white chocolate. The cinnamon and caramel flavor comes out in the Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares as the white chocolate melts away. The Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares feature a crunchy additive that bears the flavor of the creme brulee; the white chocolate is smooth and creamy opposite the caramel and cinnamon crunchy pieces.

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares have a slight, sweet, milky aftertaste.

Nutrition

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are candy, so they are not intended to fill in nutritional gaps one might have. Ghirardelli chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are sugar, cocoa butter, and whole milk powder. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable, in the White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares.

A serving of the Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares is a single square. From a square, one takes in 60 calories. There is no cholesterol and 20 mg of Calcium. There is only a negligible amount of Sodium (10 mg) and no other vitamins or minerals are truly represented!

The White Chocolate Creme Brulee squares are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they may contain trace amounts of tree nuts. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing. The bag I purchased on clearance following Valentine's Day had an expiration date of November 30, 2018.

As for cleanup, just throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places and you're done! Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt, though, is quite a task.

Overall

Ghirardelli White Chocolate Creme Brulee chocolate squares are surprisingly good, even for those who like dark chocolate, as a flavorful alternative to the norm!

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares
Cinnamon Crunch
Sublime White Vanilla Dream White Chocolate With Vanilla Beans

7.5/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2018 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Living Up On Flavor, If Not Form: Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Chocolate Squares!

The Good: Good flavor, Good aroma, Decent quantity, Good ingredients
The Bad: Brownie flavor is more of a texture than an actual flavor
The Basics: Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are flavorful for those who love mint chocolate, but those looking for a flavorful chocolate-covered brownie are likely to be somewhat underwhelmed.


When it comes to Ghirardelli chocolate squares, there is an interesting balance between flavor and gimmickry. Ghirardelli has made so many great flavors that as they try now to push the envelope, sometimes the results are more successful conceptually than in execution. Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are one such innovation. The milk chocolate and peppermint in the Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are well-executed, but the "brownie" is barely present and is executed more as a texture - crispy - as opposed to an actual flavor.

Basics

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are one and a half inch squares of chocolate that are about three-eighths inches thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a metallic red wrapper with white and red stripes. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is essentially a chocolate envelope sealing in a thin crunchy brownie center. In this form, the 5.1 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has ten squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags tends to run in the $5.00 range, which is a little more expensive than most mass-produced candies, but less expensive than many premium chocolates.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the foil wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no great secret to eating Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares. I have, for example, garnished ice cream with these squares from time to time. The mint chocolate flavor is powerful against more bland flavors, like vanilla ice cream, which is nice.

Taste

The Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie squares smell lightly minty. There is nothing distinctly chocolatey in the aroma of these chocolate squares, but the milk chocolate seems to mute the strength of the peppermint aroma.

On the flavor front, the Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are minty, sweet and creamy. The milk chocolate flavor is infused pretty delightfully with mint. The peppermint comes out in every bite; the milk chocolate itself is not distinctive enough to hold its own. Instead, the milk chocolate is much more like mint chocolate. On the other half of it, though, the brownie in the Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares manifests more as a slightly crispy texture as opposed to a rich chocolate brownie flavor. The result is that the Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie are more like mint chocolate than anything truly more complicated or interesting.

The Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares leave a sweet and minty flavor in one's mouth once they are consumed, but not strong aftertaste.

Nutrition

These are candy, so they are not expected to be overly nutritious. The Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are not nearly as bad as they could be. The primary ingredients are sugar, unsweetened chocolate and cocoa butter. There is nothing pronounable in these candies and only one recognizable preservative at the very bottom of the ingredient list.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares is considered one square. From a single square, one takes in 80 calories, including 5 grams of fat. There are 5 mg of cholesterol, 15 mg sodium, and 1 gram protein. The Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie have very minimal vitamins or minerals, only 2% RDA of Iron and Calcium. There are 8 grams of carbohydrates in each Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate square.

These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they are produced on the same equipment that peanuts pass over and may contain tree nuts. The Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie were partially produced with genetic engineering. These chocolate squares are kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares have a surprisingly short shelf life. The bag my wife bought right before Christmas (2016) had an August 11, 2017 expiration date. One assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they should not melt or go bad. Given that they are individually wrapped in a very sealed package, it is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt is surprisingly easy.

Overall

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are flavorful, but fail to execute their second promised flavor in a satisfying way. Squeezing the brownie down into the chocolate square size seems to have minimized its effective flavor and accurate texture. The Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Peppermint Brownie chocolate squares are only disappointing if one knows what they are supposed to be by their name; they taste wonderful for those who were not promised something richly chocolatey like a brownie!

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel
Cinnamon Crunch
Dark Chocolate & Strawberry

5.5/10

For other food and drink reviews, please visit my Food & Drink Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Chocolate Squares Are Good, But Not Distinctly Flavored!

The Good: Good flavor, Wonderful aroma, Decent quantity, Good ingredients
The Bad: Comparatively expensive, Less distinct flavor for the caramel than one might hope
The Basics: Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares are decent, but the bourbon flavor is executed more as an aroma than a fully-developed flavor in the caramel.


As autumn fades to winter and all sorts of new products are released, I find there are a few I am still catching up on. When it comes to chocolates, the last year or two has been dominated by blends of chocolate and caramel and for Ghirardelli, I was surprised to find there was an offering I missed. Girardelli produced Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares and given how much my wife loves caramel and how much I love dark chocolate, it seemed like a great fit for us. The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares are good, smell wonderful, but have a less distinct flavor than I might have hoped for. I don't drink alcohol, but the bourbon scent of the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares was potent and inviting, but it did not translate to the flavor of the caramel in any noticeable way. The result is a chocolate caramel blend that is flavorful without completely living up to its promised potential.

Basics

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares are one and a half inch squares of chocolate that are about three-eighths inches thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a metallic brown-orange (persimmon) wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is essentially a chocolate envelope sealing in a caramel filling which is quite yummy. In this form, the 6.3 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has twelve squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags tends to run in the $5.00 range. These are not cheap candies!

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the foil wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares. I have, for example, garnished ice cream with these squares from time to time. The chocolate flavor is powerful against more bland flavors, like vanilla ice cream!

Taste

The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel squares smell strongly of chocolate and bourbon. The slightly acrid smell from the chocolate is the perfect embodiment of the alcohol! There is nothing in the aroma that insinuates caramel, though the blend of the alcohol scent and the chocolate scent is very inviting!

In the mouth, the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares are sweet and chocolatey. The chocolate is dark and flavorful, without even a hint of being waxy like some mass produced chocolates are. The chocolate is sweeter than many dark chocolates, without the dryness of exceptionally dark chocolates. The caramel is sweet and slightly salty, without hints of a more sophisticated flavor to it. The chocolate overwhelms much of the caramel flavor, though the caramel sweetens the dark chocolate some. The caramel flavor is good, but not overly distinct.

The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares finish dry, as one might expect from a dark chocolate. The mildly bitter flavor does not endure in the mouth for very long after the last of it is consumes.

Nutrition

These are candy, so they are not expected to be overly nutritious. The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares are not nearly as bad as they could be. The primary ingredients are sugar, unsweetened chocolate and corn syrup. There is nothing unpronounable in these candies, though there are a couple of preservatives near the bottom of the ingredient list.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares is considered one square. From a single square, one takes in 70 calories, including 4.5 grams of fat. There is no cholesterol, 15 mg sodium, and 1 gram protein, but no vitamins or minerals (save 4% RDA of Iron) in these chocolate squares. There are 9 grams of carbohydrates in each Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate square.

These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they are produced on the same equipment that peanuts pass over. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. The one my wife bought us for Thanksgiving had a July 31, 2017 expiration date. One assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. Given that they are individually wrapped in a very sealed package, it is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt is surprisingly easy.

Overall

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel chocolate squares are very good, but if it were not for the dark chocolate coating, the caramel would make them decidedly average. As it is, they are better than most, standard, chocolate caramel treats without truly living up to a well-rounded bourbon and caramel flavor.

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Dark Chocolate Blueberry
Mocha
Double Fudge

7/10

For other food and drink reviews, please visit my Food & Drink Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2016 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Worth Trying, The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry Chocolate Squares Are A Good Blend Of Flavors!

The Good: Flavorful and fruity, Affordable, Decent ingredients
The Bad: Dry aftertaste that endures
The Basics: Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry is a delightful new flavor of Ghirardelli chocolate squares that are worth trying, even if they are not perfect.


One of the things I love about leaving my little town for events is that I often find it is a good excuse to go shopping at places I don't have locally and find things that I cannot find locally. So, when my wife and I went down state to see Doctor Strange (reviewed here!) on a decent screen, we made a point of shopping after the film. She started her holiday shopping early and she picked me up a bag of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares. The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares are quite good, even if they are a little dry.

Basics

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares are one and 3/4” squares of chocolate that are 5/16” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a metallic purple colored foil wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is a milk chocolate patty with the Ghirardelli symbol stamped into the top. In this form, the 6.3 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has twelve squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with twelve squares, tends to run in the $4 - $5.00 range, which is a good deal.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the foil wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The Dark Chocolate Blueberry Ghirardelli squares smell mostly of chocolate. The strong chocolate scent is instantly recognizable to anyone who loves chocolate with an above average cacao content.

The scent does not foreshadow the full flavor of the Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares. These chocolate squares explode with blueberry flavor the moment the chocolate shell is cracked. The dark brown, or very purple, ganache is powerfully fruity and it compliments the dry chocolate of the exterior exceptionally well. The dry chocolate and the sweet play off each other in the mouth delightfully.

There is a very dry aftertaste to the Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares that overcomes the sweet, fruity flavor of the chocolate squares.

Nutrition

The Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Ghirardelli chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are sugar, unsweetened chocolate, and high fructose corn syrup. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable in these candies.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares is considered a single square. From one square, one takes in 70 calories, 35 of those calories coming from fat. There is no cholesterol and no sodium and only trace amounts of Iron (4%) in each square.

Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant and they have allergy warnings for tree nuts and milk. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Our bag, which we just picked up today, had a November 30, 2016 expiration date. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain.

Overall

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares are one of the new flavors of Ghirardelli chocolate squares that effectively blend the promised flavors, even if the aftertaste is a little strong and enduring! Anyone who loves a good fruit and chocolate blend will enjoy the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Blueberry chocolate squares!

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Dark Chocolate With Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Squares
Mocha Chocolate Squares
Intense Dark Cherry Tango Chocolate Squares

8.5/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2016 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Not All We Hoped, Not Bad, Though: Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie Bars!

The Good: Affordable, Generally natural ingredients, Does not taste bad
The Bad: Brownie center is not overly flavorful, Weird serving size, Could always be less expensive
The Basics: Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars are a slight disappointment, though they do not taste terrible.


I am a huge fan of dark chocolate and I like a lot of Ghirardelli's products. Every now and then, I encounter one with massive potential that just does not live up. The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars are definitely in that category. As much as I love Ghirardelli's dark chocolate, the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie bar does not have a flavorful enough brownie center to be truly distinctive. The result is an unfortunately average chocolate bar.

Basics

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars are one and a half inch squares of chocolate that are about three-eighths of an inch thick and connected side by side and in rows, to form a bar of eight segments. Each bar comes unified in a foil wrapper. The foil-wrapped chocolate bar is sealed in a cardboard package.

Each chocolate bar is sold in a way that it is easy to segment and control portions. In this form, the 3.45 oz. bar, the chocolate bar represents two and a half servings. Each bar has a dark chocolate base with a soft brownie center. Each bar is stamped with the Ghirardelli logo.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the cardboard and then opening the foil wrapper from around the actual chocolate. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars.

Taste

The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie bars smell just like fresh-baked brownies, chocolatey and thick. The aroma is distinct, strong and instantly evocative of chocolate, so it completely prepares the consumer for an amazing flavor experience.

On the tongue, the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie bars taste like rich dark chocolate. The chocolate is dry and pleasant, but the brownie center to the bar only breaks through the flavor front in the last moments of consuming them. These bars have an incredibly short half-life before the sweet, dry chocolate becomes salty and dry flavored. The brownie flavor is barely realized, but the sea salt flavor truly explodes from these bars when one masticates.

This chocolate bar is ultimately dry and that is the dominant sensation that lingers in the mouth for about five minutes after it is consumed. The aftertaste is not horrible, but it does not accent any truly good flavors.

Nutrition

These are candy, so they are not healthy, but the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars are not nearly as bad as they could be. The primary ingredients are sugar, unsweetened chocolate, and milk fat. There is nothing unpronounceable in these candies and all of the ingredients could be readily identified by me.

A serving from the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars is considered three squares from the overall bar, which is a ridiculous serving size for a bar that is segmented into eight pieces. From three squares, one takes in 190 calories, including 120 calories of fat. There are 25 mg of sodium and 2 grams protein, but almost no vitamins or minerals in these chocolate bars. There are negligible amounts of Vitamin A and Calcium (2% RDA, each) and Iron (10% RDA), but not other major nutrients.

These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they contain hazelnuts and may have other tree nuts in them in trace quantities. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bars of these Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars remain fresh for quite some time. The bars we picked up during the holidays had an expiration date of October 31, 2016, had I not consumed them first! One assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, just throw the packaging away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter and you're done! Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands, though these bars do not melt as easily as less-expensive chocolates. When this chocolate melts into most fabrics, it will stain.

Overall

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Brownie chocolate bars are good, but the more I had them, the more I found myself wishing Ghirardelli had made them with dark chocolate. That said, they are worth hunting down, clearance or not!

For other Ghirardelli Chocolate reviews, please check out:
Dark Chocolate With Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Squares
Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares Intense Dark Cherry Tango
Sublime White Vanilla Dream White Chocolate With Vanilla Beans Chocolate Squares

5/10

For other chocolate reviews, please visit my Chocolate Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2016 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate With Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Squares Are An Interesting Diversion!

The Good: Flavorful, Reasonably priced, Decent ingredients
The Bad: Dark chocolate flavor does not assert itself right away, Bitter aftertaste
The Basics: Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel is all right, but not much to write home about!


After a few months of going through chocolates that my wife gave me for the winter holidays, I have hit the end of the collection she gave me! The last of the bunch is the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel flavor chocolate squares she gifted me. Sea Salt Caramel seems to be one of the more trendy flavors of late and unfortunately, Ghirardelli's blend of it with dark chocolate is not enough to truly bowl over those who love dark chocolate. Even so, the blend of the caramel and dark chocolate is enjoyable enough to be worth trying (if not stocking up on!).

Basics

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares are one and 3/4” squares of chocolate that are 5/16” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a metallic light blue foil wrapper. Despite the negative environmental impact of the individual wrappings, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is a dark chocolate patty with the Ghirardelli symbol stamped into the top. In this form, the 5.32 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has twelve squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with twelve squares, tends to run in the $5.00 range, which is an impressive deal.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the foil wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel Ghirardelli squares smell buttery, like caramel. Despite being dark chocolate, the coating seems to bear only the scent from the inside of the square and not the chocolate. The dark chocolate aroma is without scent compared to the sea salt caramel from the inside of the square.

The Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares are surprisingly sweet. The chocolate tastes much more like dark chocolate until the square's surface is broken. The flavor is then overwhelmed by salt. The salty flavor of the caramel manages to bring out a hint of dark chocolate in the envelope that seals in the caramel. After the salt flavor passes, there is a buttery sweet flavor that asserts itself.

There is a very sweet aftertaste to the Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares that does not endure very long in the mouth before a bitter flavor from the dark chocolate takes over. The bitterness lasts for about two minutes after one is done consuming it.

Nutrition

The Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Ghirardelli chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are sugar, unsweetened chocolate, and corn syrup. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable in these candies.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares is considered a single square now. From one square, one takes in 70 calories, 40 of those calories coming from fat. There is a subtle amount (1% RDA for the serving) of cholesterol and 30 mg (1% RDA) sodium, as well as trace amounts of Iron (4%) and a single gram of protein.

Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Our bag, which I was given back in December, had a September 30, 2015 expiration date. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain.

Overall

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt Caramel chocolate squares are an interesting new flavor of Ghirardelli squares, but they are not exceptional, just generally all right, which is unfortunate for such a great brand as Ghirardelli.

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Cinnamon Crunch Chocolate Squares
Mocha Chocolate Squares
Intense Dark Cherry Tango Chocolate Squares

6/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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More Average Than Impressive, Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel Bars Still Satisfy!

The Good: Good taste, Affordable, Generally natural ingredients.
The Bad: Weird serving size, Could always be less expensive
The Basics: Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars are very average in their flavor, which makes them feel a little overpriced.


Every once in a long while, a really good company produces something that ends up as a bit more mediocre than it ought to be, especially for its price. Ghiradelli, I have found, usually has pretty strong hits or misses, with very little in between. And yet, the Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars seem to be much more in the middle. They are good, but because they are more average, they seem a little closer to “overpriced,” as opposed to a value for their quality. Even so, they are good enough for me to be thrilled when I find them on sale.

Basics

Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars are one and a half inch squares of chocolate that are about one-quarter of an inch thick and connected side by side and in rows, to form a bar of eight segments. Each bar comes unified in a foil wrapper. The foil-wrapped chocolate bar is sealed in a cardboard package.

Each chocolate bar is sold in a way that it is easy to segment and control portions. In this form, the 3.5 oz. bar, the chocolate bar represents two and a half servings. Each bar has a dark chocolate base with a soft caramel center. Each bar segment is stamped with the Ghirardelli logo.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the cardboard and then opening the foil wrapper from around the actual chocolate. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars.

Taste

The Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars smell fairly strongly of cocoa. The aroma is distinct, but not overwhelming. The result is an inviting foreshadowing of a chocolate that should be dark, but still sweet.

Fortunately, in the mouth, the Dark & Caramel bar lives up to the promise of its scent! The chocolate is dry and only has a hint of sweetness to it. The chocolate is not so dry and forceful to be at all offputting and it is certainly not sweet enough to be mistaken for milk chocolate. Still, the caramel then blends with the dry dark chocolate with an explosion of buttery sweetness. The result is a good blend of a true, dark chocolate and a caramel flavor that makes it very palatable (especially to those who are used to cheaper chocolates).

This chocolate bar leaves a mild, dry taste in the mouth that only lasts for about two or three minutes after the last piece is consumed.

Nutrition

These are candy, so they are not healthy, but the Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars are not nearly as bad as they could be. The primary ingredients are unsweetened chocolate, sugar, and corn syrup. There is nothing unpronounable in these candies and most of the ingredients could be readily identified by me.

A serving from the Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars is considered three squares, which is a ridiculous serving size for a bar that is segmented into eight pieces. From three squares, one takes in 180 calories, including 110 calories of fat. There are 30 mg of sodium and 2 grams protein, but almost no vitamins or minerals in these chocolate bars. There are negligible amounts of Calcium (2% RDA) and Iron (10% RDA), but not other major nutrients.

These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they contain trace amounts of hazelnuts (they are the second to last ingredient in these bars. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bars of these Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars remain fresh for quite some time, making them a decent treat to stock up on! One assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands, though these bars do not melt as easily as less-expensive chocolates. When this chocolate melts into most fabrics, it will stain.

Overall

Ghirardelli Dark & Caramel chocolate bars are good, but they are a somewhat pricier alternative to a very basic chocolate and caramel bar. In other words, this is a good treat, but not a superlative one.

For other Ghirardelli Chocolate reviews, please check out:
Dark Chocolate With Truffle Filling Chocolate Squares
Cinnamon Crunch Chocolate Squares
Mocha Chocolate Squares

6.5/10

For other chocolate reviews, please visit my Chocolate Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate With Truffle Chocolate Squares Are A Perfect Superchocolate Treat!

The Good: Delicious, Affordable, Decent ingredients
The Bad: None!
The Basics: Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle is one of the perfect Ghirardelli chocolate squares well worth stocking up on!


When it comes to the Ghirardelli chocolate squares that I frequently review, there are remarkably few that have garnered a perfect rating. For Christmas, my wife picked me up some new (to me) dark chocolate squares and I was exceptionally pleased to discover that one of them was perfect. That was the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle flavor chocolate squates. The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares are a truly perfect chocolate square and they are one that is well worth stocking up on!

Basics

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares are one and 3/4” squares of chocolate that are 5/16” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a metallic eggplant colored foil wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is a milk chocolate patty with the Ghirardelli symbol stamped into the top. In this form, the 4.78 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has eleven squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with eleven squares, tends to run in the $5.00 range, which is an impressive deal.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the foil wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The Dark Chocolate with Truffle Ghirardelli squares smell strongly of chocolate. The strong chocolate scent is like a concentrated milk chocolate aroma. The scent is not like one of dark chocolate, but rather like a powerful, sweet chocolate that is super-concentrated.

The sweetness of the scent is not indicative of the flavor of the Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares. These chocolate squares have a flavor that is far stronger than the aroma would indicate. The dark chocolate exterior is not at all bitter, but it is concentrated in a way that is delightful and does not diminish the concentrated chocolate flavor. As the outer sweet coating melts away on the tongue, the center of the chocolate square bursts forth with a sweet and cocoa-filled truffle center. The center is dark and enjoyable and sweet!

There is a very sweet aftertaste to the Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares that completely eliminates any hint of the bitterness of the forceful dark chocolate for these squares.

Nutrition

The Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Ghirardelli chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are sugar, unsweetened chocolate, and milk fat. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable in these candies.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares is considered a single square now. From one square, one takes in 80 calories, 50 of those calories coming from fat. There is a subtle amount (1% RDA for the serving) of cholesterol and no sodium, as well as trace amounts of Iron (4%).

Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they have hazelnuts. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Our bag, which my wife gave me as a Christmas gift, had a September 30, 2015 expiration date. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain.

Overall

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate with Truffle chocolate squares are one of the new flavors of Ghirardelli chocolate squares most worth trying and bulking up on. Perfection is a rare thing, but with the Dark Chocolate With Truffle chocolate squares get it!

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Cinnamon Crunch Chocolate Squares
Mocha Chocolate Squares
Intense Dark Cherry Tango Chocolate Squares

10/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Flip It Over! The Secret To Enjoying Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch Chocolate Squares Is In Starting With The Top!

The Good: Amazing flavor (for most of the treat!), Wonderful ingredients
The Bad: Somewhat waxy milk chocolate half, Not exactly nutritious.
The Basics: The new Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares are one of the best, most intriguing flavors to hit the market in years!


For my last birthday, my wife treated me to several gifts which have since been doing a good job of expanding my waistline! She seems to know how to tap into the inner glutton in me and I’m thrilled that she loves me despite my willingness to mow down on virtually any delightful treats she sends my way. One of the gifts that has been a real hit with me was an unlikely one: Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares. I am not, traditionally, a fan of white chocolate, but Ghirardelli gets it absolutely right with the Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares. In fact, it is the white chocolate and cinnamon-filled side of these treats that makes them worth trying, not the milk chocolate bottom portion!

Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares are an unlikely winner, but they are also one that comes with eating instructions (from me!). To get the most out of them, they need to be flipped over on the tongue, so the white chocolate half hits the tongue first. As well, this is a chocolate treat that benefits from being chewed as opposed to letting it linger in the mouth and savor it away.

Basics

Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares are one and 13/16” squares of chocolate that are 1/4” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a copper-colored foil wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is essentially a half milk chocolate/half white chocolate patty with the Ghirardelli symbol stamped into the top. In this form, the 4.57 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has eleven squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with only eleven squares, tends to run in the $5.00 range, which is not at all prohibitively priced.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the plastic wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The Cinnamon Crunch Ghirardelli squares smell beautifully and appropriately like cinnamon; unwrapping one is to unleash a burst of cinnamon scent that is uncompromising and inviting!

On the tongue, Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares taste initially bland; like a milk chocolate square that is utterly unremarkable. However, when the milk chocolate melts away, the cinnamon and white chocolate explode with flavor. For that reason, I recommend starting with the flavorful side; flip the Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares over as you put them in your mouth. Doing that, one gets an instantaneous sweet burst of creamy white chocolate and cinnamon. As the white chocolate melts, it flavors the milk chocolate “bottom” and carries the cinnamon flavor through the entire treat.

The Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares finish with a zesty, slightly peppery flavor and as such it was utterly unsurprising to find that red peppers are an ingredient in this treat! The Cinnamon Crunch squares have a slightly sweet, surprisingly hot aftertaste to them. That aftertaste is cut instantly with coffee or lingers in the mouth for about ten minutes after consumption for those who don’t drink coffee!

Nutrition

The Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares are candy, so they are not intended to fill in nutritional gaps one might have. Ghirardelli chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are sugar, cocoa butter, and whole milk powder. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable, in the Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares is a single square (finally, Ghirardelli encourages us not to be gluttonous!). From a square, one takes in 70 calories, with 40 of those calories coming from fat. There is a subtle amount (1% RDA for the serving) of cholesterol and 2% of the RDA of Calcium. While there is a gram of protein in these treats, there is only a negligible amount of Sodium (10 mg) and no other vitamins or minerals are truly represented!

The Cinnamon Crunch squares are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they may contain trace amounts of tree nuts. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, just throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places; don’t litter! Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt, though, is quite a task.

Overall

Flip them over, masticate and enjoy! Ghirardelli Cinnamon Crunch chocolate squares are a worthwhile addition to Ghirardelli’s chocolate square line-up!

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Mocha
Intense Dark Cherry Tango
Sublime White Vanilla Dream White Chocolate With Vanilla Beans

7/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Coffee And Chocolate And (Close Enough To) Perfection! Ghirardelli Mocha Chocolate Squares!

The Good: Delicious, Affordable, Decent ingredients, Good aftertaste
The Bad: Could stand to be darker chocolate . . .
The Basics: Ghirardelli Mocha is an amazing new flavor of Ghirardelli chocolate squares that is a perfect addition to the Ghirardelli chocolate line!


There are two flavors that are indispensible to me: dark chocolate mint and coffee/chocolate. When coffee flavoring is put in chocolate, it seems to be almost universally marketed as “mocha.” Ghirardelli has finally put forth an offering to satisfy my second flavor love: Mocha chocolate squares. Continuing their trend of making exceptional new flavors, the Mocha chocolate squares are a milk chocolate chocolate square with a cookie center whereby the squares derive their mocha flavor. The Ghirardelli Mocha chocolate squares are a near-perfect chocolate square; the only thing that could conceivable make them better would be if Ghirardelli produced them with dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

That said, Ghirardelli Mocha chocolate squares are the best new Ghirardelli square that I’ve tried in months!

Basics

Ghirardelli Mocha chocolate squares are one and 13/16” squares of chocolate that are 1/4” thick. Each of the squares comes individually wrapped in a metallic bronze-tan foil wrapper. It is worth noting that while I usually rail against the environmental impact of such things, it is hard to imagine Ghirardelli chocolate squares not wrapped. This keeps each one clean, unmelted and intact.

Each chocolate square is a seamless square that is a milk chocolate patty with the Ghirardelli symbol stamped into the top. In this form, the 5.54 oz. bag, the individually-wrapped chocolate squares are packaged together in a thick foil paper bag. This size has thirteen squares and the thick foil paper bag does little to protect the squares. The bag is not resealable, though this matters very little considering that the chocolate squares do not go bad as they are individually wrapped.

One of these bags, even with thirteen squares, tends to run in the $5.00 range, which is a great deal.

Ease Of Preparation

These are candy, so preparing them is as simple as opening the bag and then opening one of the plastic wrappers around the actual chocolate square one wishes to eat. There is no grand secret to eating Ghirardelli Mocha chocolate squares. That said, they do need to be kept comparatively cool or these squares will melt.

Taste

The Mocha Ghirardelli squares have an aroma of sweetened coffee and chocolate that entirely foreshadows the flavor of the mocha flavoring inside the milk chocolate wrapper. The mocha flavoring is strongly a scent reminiscent of a medium-blend coffee, without any acidic aspect to the scent.

The sweetness of the scent is mirrored in the flavor of the Mocha chocolate squares. These chocolate squares are very sweet and as the chocolate melts away from the cookie center, the coffee flavor of the Mocha takes over the palate. The combination of the exceptionally sweet chocolate and the mocha cookie center is delightful.

There is a very sweet aftertaste to the Mocha chocolate squares that lasts for about ten minutes after one is done eating them.

Nutrition

The Mocha chocolate squares are candy, so it is tough to look at these for something nutritious and then blame them for not being healthy. Ghirardelli chocolate squares have decent ingredients, though, which is probably why they are so expensive. The primary ingredients are sugar, cocoa butter, and unsweetened chocolate. There is nothing unpronounceable, nor unrecognizable in these candies.

A serving of the Ghirardelli Mocha chocolate squares is considered a single square now. From one square, one takes in 80 calories, 50 of those calories comng from fat. There is a subtle amount (1% RDA for the serving) of cholesterol and only 10 mg of sodium, as well as trace amounts of Iron (2%) and Calcium (2%).

Honestly, these are candy and anyone looking to them for actual nutrition needs to get a reality check. These are not Vegan-compliant, nor are they recommended for anyone with a nut allergy as they may contain trace amounts of tree nuts and hazelnuts. They are, however, kosher.

Storage/Clean-up

The bags of these Ghirardelli Mocha chocolate squares remain fresh for quite some time. Our bag, which my wife gave me as a birthday gift, had a January 31, 2015 expiration date. Given that it is chocolate, one assumes that if they are kept in a cool, dry environment they will not melt or go bad. It is hard to imagine just what it would take for these to go bad outside melting and refreezing.

As for cleanup, I applaud those who actually throw the wrappers away in socially appropriate places, as opposed to litter. Outside that, there is no real cleanup needed, unless one is eating them in a hot environment. In that case, it is likely one would need to wash their hands. If these chocolate squares melt into most fabrics, they will stain. Getting them to melt, though, is quite a task.

Overall

Ghirardelli Mocha chocolate squares are wonderful and well worth picking up. Ghirardelli keeps coming out with brilliant new flavors and Mocha is one that should definitely endure . . . at least until they come out with dark chocolate mocha!

For other Ghirardelli chocolate squares reviews, please check out:
Intense Dark Cherry Tango Chocolate Squares
Sublime White Vanilla Dream White Chocolate With Vanilla Beans Chocolate Squares
Double Fudge Chocolate Squares

9/10

For other candy reviews, please visit my Candy Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2014 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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