Crunch Time: 5 Textural Chocolate Bars to Snap, Crackle & Savor at NW Chocolate Fest
Published
28 August 2025
From puffed quinoa to wild cacao nibs, these bars don’t just melt—they move.
If you thought chocolate was just about melt, wait till you bite these.
If you think chocolate’s only about silky-smooth squares that dissolve quietly on your tongue… think again.
This year at the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025, the bars that crackle, pop, and crunch are stealing the spotlight.
Texture has always been part of chocolate:
- Early Aztec cacao drinks were gritty, foamy and thick.
- Today’s craft makers are adding crisp, roasted, puffed, and salted inclusions that disrupt the melt.
The result? Bars that feel like snacks, desserts, and full-on sensory experiences – perfect for everyone, whether you’re a crunchy nut, texture nerd, or just want something fun between smooth tastings.
5 must try crunch bars at the Northwest Chocolate Festival:
1. Quinoa Crunch 55% Milk
Maker: Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Travelling from: California, USA
Inclusion: Crisp puffed quinoa
The Vibe: Milk chocolate, but make it pop..
Why Try It?
This isn’t just a puffed-up gimmick. Light, toasted quinoa adds playful snap and subtle nuttiness that balances the rich Uganda-sourced chocolate with their award winning 55% Vanilla milk chocolate featuring Alexandre Family Farm A2/A2 whole milk.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Vanilla, toasted grain
- Flavor: Creamy cocoa, malt, subtle toast
- Texture: Crisp pops on a buttery base
Perfect For: Snacking between booths and key life moments. Easy, fun, endlessly munchable.
2. Maple & Maras Salt Chuncho 60%
Maker: Qantu
Travelling from: Canada.
Inclusion: Maras salt + maple sugar shards
The Vibe:Sweet & salty crystalline crunch
Why Try It?
Salt and sugar aren’t new to chocolate—but in this bar, they arrive as textures, not just flavors. Maple crystals and Peruvian salt flakes burst mid-melt, waking up the bar’s earthy notes.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Woodsy maple and cream
- Flavor: Salted caramel, brown sugar
- Texture: Snap, then crunch
Why we love it: A tribute to caramel fleur de sel… The sweetness of Chuncho cocoa marries perfectly with pure maple sugar and Maras fleur de sel.
3. 45% Milk Sur del Lago with Puffed Rice
Maker: Aroko Chocolate
Travelling from: Italy
Inclusion: Airy puffed rice
Flavor Personality: Italian finesse meets Venezuelan crunch
Why Try It?
Classic puffed rice gets a grown-up makeover here—nutty, toasty, and perfectly balanced in smooth Venezuelan milk chocolate.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Roasted rice and cocoa butter
- Flavor: Buttery, slightly nutty
- Texture: Light and snappy
Best For: When you want a chocolate milkshake only crunchy (and a little more grown up).
4. Macambo Nibs White Chocolate
Maker: Black Jaguar Chocolate
Travelling from: Canada
Inclusion: Wild macambo cacao nibs
The Vibe: Wild crunch meets creamy white
Why Try It?
Macambo is a cousin of cacao with extra crunch and zero bitterness. Combined with silky white chocolate, this bar feels like jungle trail mix in luxe form.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Cashew, milk
- Flavor: Creamy vanilla, crunchy nuttiness
- Texture: Bold crunch in every bit
Try This If You Want: A sweet-and-salty bar with bite. Macambo makes an awesome inclusions alongside cacao.
5. Snare Drum Bar (Nibs + 70%)
Maker: Cocoa Legato
Travelling from: Washington, USA
Inclusion: Roasted Colombian nibs
The Vibe: Percussive, punchy, bold
Why Try It?
The name says it all. This bar’s roasted nibs add a steady rhythm of crunch against deep, fudgy 70% chocolate. It’s like a jazz band in every bite.
Tasting Notes:
- Aroma: Espresso, roasted cacao
- Flavor: Fudge, toasted nut
- Texture: Dense and crunchy with every snap
Best Enjoyed: As a post-lunch bite when your palate’s ready for bass notes.
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Crunch Is the New Creamy: Why Texture Matters in Craft Chocolate
Craft chocolate is catching up with pastry and baking when it comes to intentional textures.
Just like chefs layer crumble over cobblers or seed-studded crusts over rustic loaves, chocolate makers are getting bold with inclusions that interrupt the melt in delicious ways.
These bars don’t just deliver flavor—they shift how we feel chocolate.
- A salty flake mid-bite.
- A maple crystal that dissolves like sugar snow.
- A crunchy nib that grounds the sweetness.
That’s what turns a good bar into a great one.
FAQ: Textural Bars at NW Chocolate Fest
Do textural bars contain nuts?
Some do! Always check booth signs or ask the maker. Allergens vary by bar.
Are these bars vegan?
Some (like the Cocoa Legato 70%) are dark and dairy-free. Others use milk or white chocolate.
Are nibs and quinoa healthy?
They can add fiber, minerals, and antioxidants—but they’re here for flavor and feel, not diet claims.
Planning Your Northwest Chocolate Festival Day
Here’s what you need to know to make your tasting journey smooth and satisfying:
- What: The Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025
- Location: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St, Bellevue, Washington
- Dates: October 4–5, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (both days)
- Website: nwchocolate.com
For More details:
- See our headline article here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025: The Insider’s Guide for Chocoholics
- Check out our entire section dedicated to all things Northwest Chocolate here: Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 Beanstalkr Guide
If you’re keen we’d love to see you at our session.
“Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed”. See here for details: Beanstalkr’s Session – Craft Chocolate: Flavors You Never Knew You Needed
See here for the full Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025 schedule: Northwest Chocolate Festival Schedule
Craft Chocolate, One Snap at a Time.
Texture isn’t just an afterthought—it’s a signature.
These five bars prove that crunch can be classy, creative, and just as memorable as the flavor itself.
So next time you’re at the tasting table, don’t just let it melt. Let it crackle.
Which textural bar are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments!
Want more chocolate reviews like this? Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive tasting notes, festival guides, and small-batch picks from around the globe. As always, thanks heaps for talking beans with us.
Where to next?
If you’re off to the Northwest Chocolate Festival 2025, we recommend:
And if you’re curious, we recommend:
And if you’re still not so sure, check out what events or makers are in your area:
Talk Beans with us!
Got any questions? Feedback? Want to hi say? Reach out below – we’re always happy to chat!
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