Well-Traveled Treats

Time was not on my side. Mere days before departing for my two month stint in Hawaii, a generous package from Dear Coco landed on my doorstep, over a half dozen glossy chocolate bars embellished with huge chunks of amber brown toffee. These were no ordinary candies, boasting flavors as wild as curry and wasabi, each one inspired by various cuisines across the globe. Despite my voracious sweet tooth, I couldn’t have possibly eaten them all before jetting off, but there was no way I could leave them behind. Somehow it seemed fitting that such a worldly collection of chocolates should accompany me on this exciting adventure. After ejecting shoes and shampoo from my overstuffed suitcase (you know, the less important things) I miraculously made enough space to squeeze in the whole range of treats. Sure, I bore a striking resemblance to Cousin Itt for a full day or two, but any cosmetic sacrifice was worth it.

Boasting eight unique varieties, there truly is something to suit all tastes in this powerful lineup. A brief overview of the creative flavor options wouldn’t truly do these innovative chocolate creations justice. Sharing a peek at my tasting notes is the only way to properly explain these treats, since complete sentences seem to fail me when faced with such intense chocolate treasures.

Sidama (coffee toffee with Buunni Ethiopian coffee beans and sea salt):

• Whole coffee beans! Not fooling around here
• Aroma of freshly brewed coffee erupts from the package as soon as the seal is broken
• A must for mocha-lovers
• Dark, smoky chocolate is a match made in heaven with those warm, roasted coffee notes
• Sweet, crunchy toffee makes the perfect counter point
• Caramel incorporates a symphony of burnt sugar flavor to round the whole bar out
• Utterly addictive, not to mention highly caffeinated
• I feared that the whole beans would be off-putting, but they meld beautifully- Not at all gritty like ground beans can become

Savanah (pie spiced toffee with roasted pecans and sea salt):

• The toffee is absolutely divine! I would gladly eat that alone, and by the handful
• Delicately balanced yet warmly spiced, the salt is really bumps the flavor up to a whole new level
• Toffee really is the star here, with pecans lending their nutty essence and crisp bite
• The chocolate, while snappy, rich, and deep, is really the backup singer to this melody, emerging with a smooth baritone once the high notes have melted away

Barcelona (roasted almond toffee and sea salt):

• The most tame, traditional of all offerings
• Not really sure what makes it so distinctly “Barcelona”
• Solid rendition of the classic chocolate/toffee combination
• Toffee really holds its own against the dark chocolate, both share about equal time in the spotlight
• Nicely snappy, crisp and crunchy throughout
• Liberal use of salt makes flavors pop
• Something that everyone would enjoy, very agreeable; no doubt a crowd pleaser

Shanghai (chinese five spice toffee with roasted white sesame seeds and sea salt):

• Especially thick, crunchy slabs of toffee chunks
• Lovely licorice-driven spice; gentle yet persistent
• Sesame seeds really do get lost in the mix
• Seeds look nice and are conceptually sound, but don’t contribute discernible flavor or texture
• Very good, just not exceptional like the others

Oaxaca (Mexican cinnamon and smoky hot pepper toffee with roasted pepitas and sea salt):

• Toffee has taken on a distinctly red hue from the pepper
• Gentle warmth from the cinnamon lures you in, but the fiery aftertaste of cayenne bites back with a vengeance
• Definitely has a kick, but isn’t overly aggressive
• Spice adds flavor without so much heat that it would make me hesitate to break off a second (or third, or fourth) piece
• May take you by surprise, but there are no alarm bells going off here
• Pepitas are overshadowed by the bold toffee
• One for you thrill-seekers and hot sauce-lovers out there

Madras (sweet curry toffee with roasted sunflower seeds and sea salt):

• Golden-yellow colored toffee chunks
• Notes of coriander and cumin come through most clearly, but are soft and subdued
• Not the least bit hot; Spice adds a certain je ne sais quoi, an undefinable complexity
• Doesn’t ring quite true as the madras curry powder I know and love, but it’s certainly a tasty riff on the flavor.
• Love the addition of sunflower seeds. An unexpected addition that really pulls the bar together with a nutty, toasted undercurrent

Istanbul (cinnamon toffee with rosewater, roasted walnuts and sea salt):

• Sings with sweet cinnamon!
• Brighter pops of clove follow, adding excitement and energy to each bite.
• Rosewater is an intriguing addition, but is sadly smothered by the stronger spices
• Occasionally, if you’re really looking for it, you might get the faintest hint of something floral… But that might also be imagined
• If rosewater hadn’t been listed on the label, I would have never guessed

Tokyo (ginger toffee with crispy rice and sea salt):

• Definite zing to the toffee
• Bright, almost floral/citrus-y ginger
• Very vibrant and fresh
• Deep dark chocolate balances out the high notes
• Rice crisps lighten the toffee just a touch, but are barely noticeable
• All you taste is ginger and crunch, but there could be far worse things of course
• A fairly straight-forward combination that’s still a nice change of pace
• Any easy leap for anyone looking for something slightly different

No matter your location or destination, any one of these stellar confections can instantly transport you to a whole new world of flavor. There isn’t a single dud in the whole bunch, but don’t just take my word for it. There’s good reason why all eight are available as a neatly bundled gift pack!