Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Cocoavia Chocolate AlmondsI’ve avoided Cocoavia since it was introduced last year. There’s something disconcerting about selling candy as health food in my mind. I don’t disagree that things like chocolate can have beneficial elements in them, but the fat and calories and lack of other positive characteristics makes it seem like we’re kidding ourselves when we believe that chocolate is good for us. But all things in moderation, eh? I’ve only seen the bars at the store, so I wasn’t particularly interested in what appeared to be a Dove bar with a lot of health benefits. But then I found a product I hadn’t seen before, Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds. Inside this large but light box are five one ounce packets of dark chocolate covered almonds. I usually buy Trader Joe’s mix of dark & milk chocolate covered almonds, but these were in individual packets, which is a nice feature and a quick glance at the box showed that they were even fortified with extra vitamins and minerals. Each packet has an ounce, which is about 13 chocolate covered almonds. The package is appealing, with luxurious dark colors and some sassy photos of the candy within. The chocolate is glossy and dark though it doesn’t really smell very compelling. It melts readily on the tongue and though the package says semisweet, it’s not sticky, sickly sweet at all and buttery smooth. It has a nice smoky and complex flavor without much acidity. There’s a little floral note to it that gave it a little lightness. The almonds are superb, crunchy and fresh and a decent size. I was really surprised at how good these were. Though I still don’t subscribe to the whole “eat these for a healthy heart” thing, I will definitely finish the box. The packages provide a good degree of portion control and each bag is only 140 calories. It also offers 3 grams of fiber and protein, 20% of your calcium, 4% of your iron and 10% of your Vitamin E, Folic Acid, B6, Vitamin C and B12. The almonds contain essential fatty acids and of course the chocolate has cocoa flavanols that recent studies are showing can have a positive effect on cardiovascular disease risks. Even though there are all these things on the box and the marketing that are saying how healthy these are, I’d prefer to think that they’re at least not a detriment to your health when eaten in responsible quantities. So, if you’re on a restricted diet and are looking for a little treat that won’t throw you off whack, I’m a huge believer in the nut and chocolate combo as a satisfying sweet. (Not nearly as bad for you as, say, a dish of ice cream.) The benefit over any old chocolate covered nuts is this proprietary Cocoapro (tm) process that’s supposed to pack more flavanols in there that can lower bad cholesterol levels. The price is, well, pricey (about $16 a pound) but try to find them on sale.
POSTED BY Cybele AT 6:24 am |
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I would try these, actually, simply for the portion control. Those tubs of Trader Joe’s goodies are like an evil vortex that keeps sucking your hand in.
Tell me about it. I buy them for my husband to take to the office and 9 times out of 10 I’ve opened the tub before I even give it to him that evening. The TJS almonds are irresistable.
OOooooo! I haven’t see these yet! I’ve only encountered the chocolate bars (the crispy rice one is the best IMO) and the snack bars (which I thought tasted awful).
Thanks for giving them a chance Cybele!
Dark chocolate is like the pomegranate of the candy world. If someone created a dark chocolate covered pomegranate, it would be the most antioxidant packed snack EVER. I should patent that.
I prefer a drier, matte chocolate coating instead of a slick, glossy one, but the portion control looks interesting. And yes, I know I could do that myself when I buy bulk dark chocolate almonds. Don’t hate the lazy!
Jess - I know what you mean, I really like the cocoa covered ones that they have in bulk, but they’re terrible for eating at the office (I always seem to get cocoa on me).
Marvo - you’re definitely onto something there! You make it, I’ll review it.
Sera - glad to hear about the snack bars, they just looked wrong in the store (like they’re trying too hard).
Karen & Eliza - the only thing we can do to protect ourselves is get one of these jars that shocks you if you try to take the candy out.
it seems that have been dicontinued. I can’t find them online or in any store. Help help help. If I am right, please write to cocoavia as I have done
where can I buy cocoa Via choc cov almonds in New Jersey???????
Please rush answer!
Quick Terri ... go to this web page:
http://cocoavia.com/store_locator/default.aspx
It looks like 7-11 stores carry them (in the individual packets).
If I’m not mistaken, I’m pretty sure I saw these at Wal-Mart and Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Good Luck,hope you find them.
Where can I buy’s these ccoccoavia choc. almonds? in southern california?
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