Life's Nuts Cacao Goji

Life's Nuts Cacao Goji is a snack mix from Esplanda, and the name points to a nut-based blend built around cacao and goji berries. The pack details don't list a nut variety, cacao form, weight or nutrition panel, so check the label for those. Mixes in this style usually set the bitter, earthy depth of cacao against the tart, slightly chewy sweetness of dried goji. Expect that contrast to work against the richness of the nuts. Eat it at room temperature, straight from the bag or a small bowl. Cold dulls cacao's aroma and can make dried fruit stiff. A mix like this suits a measured handful rather than a full bowl, because the bittersweet cacao and the tartness of the berries show up best in small bites. Keep it sealed and out of heat and direct sun, since cacao and nuts both pick up off flavors from warmth and air. For pairings, the cacao-and-berry profile fits drinks with some roast or acidity. Black coffee, espresso or a lightly roasted tea all echo the cacao's bitterness. A cup of green or hibiscus tea picks up the goji's tartness. For something stronger, styles like a port-style fortified wine, a robust red, or an aged rum are worth trying. Their dried-fruit and cocoa notes tend to line up with this kind of mix, though that comes from the category and not from this product's own profile. If you serve it alongside drinks, a small ceramic dish or a shallow bowl works better than a glass. It also suits a cheese board, next to firm aged cheeses and a few squares of dark chocolate. It also works as an ingredient. Chop a spoonful over plain yogurt or oatmeal, fold it into a trail mix with plain roasted nuts to soften the sweetness, or scatter it over a simple baked fruit dessert for crunch and a cocoa edge.