I remember when I was a kid, there used to be a box of chocolate covered cherries sitting by the cash register at my neighborhood market. Quite often after school, I would pay a quarter for three of those foil wrapped delights -- no kidding, three for a quarter, but even then, being used to penny candies and nickel bars, I considered these cordials to be high-end chocolates! They were so delicious. I'd have all three eaten before I made my walk home.
To this day, I still love cherry cordials, and to my delight, the art of cordial making seems to have met perfection The market offers an amazing number of delicious varieties, and of course, the assortment is as tempting as ever.
Back then we didn't know that chocolate has nutritious value; we just knew that it tastes so very good. Who would have thought that chocolate covered cherries would one day be sold in health food stores, next to chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered plumbs, chocolate covered coconut mounds, chocolate peanut butter cups, all easing our guilt over devouring these little packages of pleasure?
Not that we need any reason to say "yes" and "yum yum," but here's the latest on dark chocolate: although somewhat high in saturated fat, according to the USDA ,dark chocolate with 70-85% cacao solids is quite low in Cholesterol and Sodium. This type of chocolate is a delicious and substantial source of Iron, Copper and Manganese. Other minerals include Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, and Selenium. Not only this, but dark chocolate provides needed carbohydrates, dietary fiber, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, protein, as well as vitamin A, K, and B12. And who needs coffee? Nice doses of Caffeine and Theobromine are also present.
And what about milk chocolate? According to a recent study that appeared in the November 2016 issue of The Journal of Food Science, Rosalie Marion Bliss, formerly with the ARS Office of Communications, reports that "ARS researchers in Raleigh, North Carolina, have reported that consumers can enjoy the taste of milk chocolate that contains similar levels of plant compounds known as "polyphenols" as found in dark chocolate."
That's good news for those of us that love the taste of milk chocolate.
Of course, there are sugars and fats to consider when eating chocolate covered fruits and nuts. A bar of dark chocolate (100 grams) itself, will provide something like 66% of your daily value of total fats. That's a lot, so I know that it's wise to maintain some sense of control, especially when metabolism slows with age.
Nevertheless, we only live once, and I'm not sure if there will be chocolate covered cherries in the afterlife. It might be best to enjoy them now, while we can. Plus, t's always been the case that cherry cordials make wonderful gifts for just about any occasion, and of course, best opened in the presence of the gift giver.
Here are some dark chocolate covered cherries to look out for. All are available from Amazon, most likely with front door delivery. Remember, though, if you live in the desert or in the warmth of southern and central California, you might want to have them delivered when it's cold outside. You might be able to find them locally, too!
1. Philadelphia Candies Dark Chocolate Covered Cordial Cherries with Liquid Center
Philadelphia Candies has been manufacturing fine chocolates in Hermitage, Pennsylvania for nearly 100 years. The company was founded in 1919 and operates retail stores in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
These chocolates are not available year-round. But when they are available, you can order them from Amazon.
2. Dark Chocolate Covered Dried Montmorency Cherries
Dark Chocolate Covered Dried Montmorency Cherries. Made with cherries grown in Michigan orchards.
Order these in a four pound box at Amazon.
3. Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries
This take on the traditional chocolate covered cherries contain no artificial colors or flavors, and no Preservatives.
If you have a local Trader Joe's nearby, for a better price, go to the store for these, but if you don't, you can buy them from Amazon.
4. Harry and David Dark Chocolate Cherries
These are made from dried bing cherries. Delicious!
Order them from Amazon.
5. Chukar Cherries Classic Dark Cherries
These dark chocolate covered dried northwest cherries are gluten free.
Order them from Amazon.
6. ChocoCherries; Hand-Dipped Dark Chocolate Cherries
I bought a box of these from Whole Foods for Valentine's Day. I was surprised at how tasty they were. These dark chocolate covered cherries are made in Aragon, Spain.
I found this about them:
"The Caro brothers have been making sweet creations there for three generations. Candied fruits are famous to the region of Aragon, as is the Caro family. These dye-free cherries are macerated in sugar for one month to candy them, turning them from red to white. They are then hand-dipped in rich, dark chocolate to create a wickedly delicious treat." -- I have to agree about the creation of a "wickedly delicious treat."
There are other Delicious Dark Chocolate Covered Fruits and Nuts, too...
1. Candied Plums in Dark Chocolate
These dark chocolate covered plums are quite unique. Imported from Poland, if you've never tried chocolate covered plums, these are definitely a treat.
Order them from Amazon.
2. Brookside Dark Chocolate Covered Fruits
The solidified fruit juice centers are covered in dark chocolate and are delicious, to say the least. Brookside offers several types of fruits and nuts:
Find other Brookside dark chocolate assortments at Amazon.
3. ChocoHigos Hand-dipped Darked Chocolate Figs
I went back to Whole Foods to buy some more of the ChocoCherries made by the Caro brothers, but they had sold out. So, I tried these dark chocolate covered figs. These are also from Spain.
Enjoy!
