The packaging is clearly homemade, comprised of a standard box with a large menu-like sticker pasted on the top, displaying the photos and names of the various truffles. As these are organic, I expect the packaging to be more on the simple side. Once you open the box, the assortment of truffles is interesting, as each is topped with hint of what flavors await inside. Each truffle is clearly hand rolled instead of being dipped on an assembly line. Some of the combinations listed on the box top are creatively unique including cardamom-ginger, anise, coconut curry and cherry-chipotle.

Unfortunately, two of the flavors are spicy mint and peppermint. Neither are wrapped and their flavor contaminated at least half of the truffles in the box. It is a tough thing to manage, as the flavor of mint and chocolate go so nicely together, but the pungency of the mint is almost always detrimental to the other members of the assortment. After trying several like the milk framboise and the green tea, we were discouraged to find mint was all we could taste in the more subtle truffles. The texture of these was somewhat clay-like and not the least bit like ganache inside. We decided to write about the few that had flavors strong enough to withstand the mint?s lure.

The three flavors we were able to review are espresso, coconut curry and lavender. The espresso had a nice crunchy texture as a result of being rolled in espresso grounds, and a pleasantly smooth center. I had high hopes for the coconut curry as I am a devote of both flavors separately, but was disappointed in the truffle?s lack of spicy conviction. The curry was not very strong, and unfortunately the coconut, while toasted, was not very moist or fresh tasting. I am not a fan of lavender as a scent, but this truffle surprised me with its enjoyable flavor and texture. The flavor was agreeably balanced and the texture though a bit grainy, melted nicely in the mouth.

The ingredients used are pure, and organic where possible. Sweet Earth has some creative ideas for flavors, and there are a few bright spots in the box. Were the mint flavors to be segregated better, there might be other truffles worthy of note in the box, but it was difficult to tell today.

Maker Notes:

A delicious assortment contrasting our 72% bittersweet chocolate high in antioxidants with fillings that are likewise rich in nutrients: Creamy blueberry, cranberry, or green tea fillings are rich in flavenoids. Hazelnuts and almonds have high vitamin E content. And candied ginger, well, we consider it a "spice of life". Rich in zingiberone, it is the perfect, hot foil to bittersweet's dark richness. All ingredients are organically certified and the chocolate is Fair Trade-certified as well. You won't find another chocolate assortment like it on the planet. Earth, that is.

The simple but pleasing packaging seems to fit with the organic angle of these chocolates. Six dark chocolate enrobed bonbons in the box for $9.50. The bonbons have a mahogany sheen and interesting shapes, but there is some noticeable bubbling on the surfaces. Unlike their truffles that come with a menu-like photo, there is no guide to the flavors in this assortment.

As best I can tell, the six flavors are ginger, cranberry, hazelnut, marzipan, green tea and blueberry. Both the ginger and marzipan were dry inside, almost crumbly, and the enrobing was too thick on the bottom, making it difficult to bite into without the entire bonbon falling apart. The marzipan had a distinct almond extract taste as opposed to the taste of freshly ground almonds. The cranberry and blueberry each had nice pieces of dried fruit inside, but the surrounding fondant was very sweet and without much flavor. The green tea was rather non-descript and if not for the distinct green hue, I am not sure I would have been able to identify it. The enrobing on this was well proportioned and the filling was smooth. Last was our favorite, the hazelnut chocolate.
Full of nicely toasted fresh hazelnuts tightly enrobed in dark chocolate, this was a welcome change from the too sweet fondants of the others.

You will find these chocolates in the Splash Café in San Luis Obispo, squeezed into a corner of the café which is mostly a bakery with deli offerings. As I attended Cal Poly, I was very excited to see artisan chocolates had made their way to SLO town. The focus of the company seems to be very much on using wholesome ingredients, organic where possible, and on promoting Fair Trade chocolate. Noble ideas, and hopefully over time the flavors of the candies will continue to evolve.

Maker Notes:
A delicious assortment contrasting our 72% bittersweet chocolate high in antioxidants with fillings that are likewise rich in nutrients: Creamy blueberry, cranberry, or green tea fillings are rich in flavenoids. Hazelnuts and almonds have high vitamin E content. And candied ginger, well, we consider it a "spice of life". Rich in zingiberone, it is the perfect, hot foil to bittersweet's dark richness. All ingredients are organically certified and the chocolate is Fair Trade-certified as well. You won't find another chocolate assortment like it on the planet. Earth, that is.