The Livin' La Vida Low Carb Bar, 60% Raspberry Dark


I am a huuuuuge Jimmy Moore fan. Since I'm a low-carbing chocolate fan, too, I couldn't wait to try the bar Jimmy conspired with Coeur D'Alene's LowCarb Specialties to create. Since raspberry follows mint in my favorite chocolate pairings category, I couldn't be more excited. Now let us keep in mind that I'm a DARK dark fan, normally displeased by chocolate below a 70% level. I'm also a serious anti-fan of oligofructose which causes me no end of tummy troubles. I'm partaking of it today because I can afford to stay in for the remainder of the day. I hope I'm not still feeling ill tomorrow. :)

Nutritional data: 250 calories, 24g fat, 22g carbs with 12g fiver 8g erythritol for a net of 2g, 3g protein

Source: CarbSmart

Presentation: This is soooo cool! Jimmy's pic is on the wrapper. I'm so proud of him. I love this guy. He couldn't give more of himself or be more genuine and sharing than he is. Just love 'im to bits. Okay, the interior wrapper is ChocoPerfection's typical crimson foil with paper interior wrapped (not sealed) around the chocolate bar. The bar itself is 5" by 1.25" with a depth of about .33". ChocoPerfection has divided it into 5 squares alternately decorated with horizontal stripes or a double fleur de lis. Much fancier than my last CP bar!

Scent: It smells super sweet and suffused with raspberry, not unlike Boehm's chocolate shop used to smell when I was little. Smells like chocolate candy! :) A

Taste: Oh my, this is really sweet, but with the inclusion of the raspberry it works so very well! As a dark chocoholic's fix, no, this would never work, but as a raspberry chocolate candy-lovin' fiend's treat, this just rocks my happy world. Ohhh, I am having serious joy. There's enough chocolate power accompanying the berry flavor that I feel like doing a little dance. I've missed raspberry chocolate so! I actually think this is every bit as much fun as Godiva's dark raspberry--and this is healthy! So as a dark dark bar for dark chocolate obsessives? This would never work and would get a C at best. But for a low-carbing chocolate lover seeking a sweet treat? A.

Texture: It's cool from sitting on my winter-chilled front porch, so that may affect things... It snaps cleanly and easily. I'm able to bite into it with ease.

It's creamy, but you can definitely feel the oligofructose fiber as superfine grit in the mix. This does not, however, affect the enjoyment. I think CP has refined their process because this has a much better texture than my last CP bar. For a chocolate connoisseur? C. For a low-carb chocolate treat? B.

Aftertaste: Raspberry and a coffee-like flavour. There's a wee hint of something chemical, but it's not powerful. C.

Satiety: Can't properly say at present, but I suspect A.

Overall: As an elite dark chocolate, no, I won't even issue such a grade because it would be like grading our family dog by the same criteria as a show dog--it's not the point. But at its aim to be a superb, healthful, great-tasting low-carb chocolate: A.

Really Surprised How Impressed I Am,
~L