I haven't enountered a "new" chocolate in quite some time for two reasons: one, I'm swamped with life and school and don't have time to seek them out and two, I think I'm actually edging close to having tried all the ones that are accessible to me.

That's okay.

Even though I haven't been able to review new-to-me chocolates much lately, I've never strayed from my cacao obsession. Pure unsweetened chocolate is my hedonistic treat each Saturday and Sunday. (Weekdays, I just have whatever is handy/inexpensive/leftover.) And my palate has continued to evolve and find new joy in bars I formerly found so-so or challenging.

My love for La Maison du Chocolat and L'Artisan du Chocolat continues to grow. Their pure bars are excursions to heaven.

But what has surprised me is my increasing appreciation for bars I once dropped into my to-be-melted-and-combined-with-mint-and-erythritol bag. Tastes that were once too harsh for me have become ones I can enjoy.

Vintage Plantations pure bar never delighted me before today. This morning I find myself just loving it. It may have taken a hefty number of months for me to transition away from a sugar-eater's palate, but here I am. And it's a happy place indeed.

Love Ella Fitzgerald. Love chocolate. Love sunshine.

Life Is Good.

~L