Dark Chocolate Strawberry Fantasy: Search for a Beautiful Strawberry Chocolate Recipe

[lirruping]

Once, many years ago, I had an incredible, dark--yet just a bit creamy--chocolate-strawberry e-juice created by a company, which AFAIK no longer exists: Nicquid.

It was 2014 and I had just moved from the East Coast to the Caribbean and quit smoking around the same time. I started DIY shortly after, but pre-fab diy supplies were non-existent where I was and hard to order by mail on my little sub-island of PR. Since then, I've been trying on/off to create a deliciously worthy dark chocolate/bright strawberry recipe.

I've used FA Cocoa and FA Chocolate, sometimes spiked with a tiny bit of AP and myriad creams on different tries. I've even used TFA Chocolate and Double Chocolate, but both tasted more tootsie roll-esque than I wanted. I tried Cap Chocolate Fudge Brownie on a lark. That particular flavor was about as far from what I was looking for as I can imagine.

I've found a few chocolates I think might work--perhaps in concert with fa choc and cocoa, and possibly Capella hot cocoa: Hangsen Chocolate Cream and VTA Dark Chocolate. <-- these last two, based on single flavor tests, might be part of the solution.

Below is what I have available for strawberries. I have some strawberry combinations I feel would fit the bill for the "perfect" bright strawberry flavor to cut through a rich, dark chocolate to create the flavor I'm hankering for, but would be thankful for any suggestions for any aspect of my fantasy recipe.

Feel free to message me with your ideas if you prefer and thanks so much for reading.

Juicy Strawberry (FA)
Shisha Strawberry (INW)
Strawberries and Cream (TPA)
Strawberry (FLV)
Strawberry (LB)
Strawberry (FA)
Strawberry (Ripe) (TPA)
Strawberry (TPA)
Strawberry Cheesecake (LB)
Strawberry Shortcake (Organic) (NF)
Strawberry, Wild (Tino D`Milano) (Inawera)
Sweet Strawberry (Cap)
Sweet Strawberry (Molinberry)

 

[wildgypsy70]

Once, many years ago, I had an incredible, dark--yet just a bit creamy--chocolate-strawberry e-juice created by a company, which AFAIK no longer exists: Nicquid.

It was 2014 and I had just moved from the East Coast to the Caribbean and quit smoking around the same time. I started DIY shortly after, but pre-fab diy supplies were non-existent where I was and hard to order by mail on my little sub-island of PR. Since then, I've been trying on/off to create a deliciously worthy dark chocolate/bright strawberry recipe.

I've used FA Cocoa and FA Chocolate, sometimes spiked with a tiny bit of AP and myriad creams on different tries. I've even used TFA Chocolate and Double Chocolate, but both tasted more tootsie roll-esque than I wanted. I tried Cap Chocolate Fudge Brownie on a lark. That particular flavor was about as far from what I was looking for as I can imagine.

I've found a few chocolates I think might work--perhaps in concert with fa choc and cocoa, and possibly Capella hot cocoa: Hangsen Chocolate Cream and VTA Dark Chocolate. <-- these last two, based on single flavor tests, might be part of the solution.

Below is what I have available for strawberries. I have some strawberry combinations I feel would fit the bill for the "perfect" bright strawberry flavor to cut through a rich, dark chocolate to create the flavor I'm hankering for, but would be thankful for any suggestions for any aspect of my fantasy recipe.

Feel free to message me with your ideas if you prefer and thanks so much for reading.

Juicy Strawberry (FA)
Shisha Strawberry (INW)
Strawberries and Cream (TPA)
Strawberry (FLV)
Strawberry (LB)
Strawberry (FA)
Strawberry (Ripe) (TPA)
Strawberry (TPA)
Strawberry Cheesecake (LB)
Strawberry Shortcake (Organic) (NF)
Strawberry, Wild (Tino D`Milano) (Inawera)
Sweet Strawberry (Cap)
Sweet Strawberry (Molinberry)

With what you have strawberry-wise, I’d go FA strawberry and FA juicy. I love that combo. Juicy is bright, sweet and relatively stand alone. The addition of Red Touch brings the realism of a strawberry.

Chocolate wise is much tougher. HS Australian could be what you’re looking for? 2014 didn’t have a lot of choice.....TFA, Caps, FA and FW, yes? But now......I think you’re on to something with the VT Dark chocolate. Most of the VT chocolates are pretty damn good. With the addition of a good cream(FA Fresh? FLV Cream? Caps Sweet?), it should work.

Wayne Walker has said over and over and he’s right......Chocolate needs sugar. He uses super sweet almost exclusively. Folkart also uses sugar.....and we both know, commercial juices have a ton of super sweet added. And the SS will also help the strawberries pop.

Good luck! It’s a great profile to pursue. I did it early on, but haven’t in a while.

Check out Folkart’s Mayan Milk. It’s goooood. I can imagine adding some strawberry to it.

 

[lirruping]

WG, yes! I looked at Mayan Milk and even got a few tips from its author. I got the VTA Dark Chocolate idea from you, I think, a while back when I first started thinking about this again. Wayne/enyawreklaw's Strawberry Mayan Milk also looks tasty (similar to original MM with the addition of Cap Strawberries and Cream). The MM would probably be a good place for me to start, something to vape and contemplate chocolates on. I did finally get the Hangsen Chocolate Cream for it.

I'm considering FA Whipped Cream (from their kitchen line, I think, so beware) with my darkest chocolate (the VTA) and some sucralose, and go from there if needed with other chocolates, creams, meringue, maybe ap--whatever--to try to get the chocolate right before I worry about fruit. FA Whipped Cream is more like a heavy cream flavor than other whipped creams I've tried and maybe it'll be the ticket.

Not that i don't like a creamy milkshake vibe--oh, I do. I'm just hoping to eventually hit a not-so-creamy chocolate at some point, one that actually tastes good. It's hard, but I haven't tried in a long time. The super sweet is a good reminder. Thanks for all the tips!

PS: Super Sweet is sucralose, right? Or don't we exactly know?

 

[wildgypsy70]

I can’t remember off the top of my head what exactly super sweet is. I think it’s a combo of things.

FA whipped Cream is available at Chefs! I just checked. So, much easier to get!

All sounds like a solid plan moving forward. The only other thing I could maybe suggest is TFA bittersweet chocolate. I just got it, so I haven’t tested it yet. Could be workable?

 

[NGAHaze]

Given the time frame, I probably give CAP Double Chocolate a whirl. It doesn't get a lot of attention but it's not bad.

Also, it is said that MF Dark Chocolate is one of, if not the, best dark chocolate flavorings available. Full disclosure, I've not tried it because it's pricey and chocolate vapes are only an occasional fancy for me but if you wanted to explore ...

 

[wildgypsy70]

Given the time frame, I probably give CAP Double Chocolate a whirl. It doesn't get a lot of attention but it's not bad.

Also, it is said that MF Dark Chocolate is one of, if not the, best dark chocolate flavorings available. Full disclosure, I've not tried it because it's pricey and chocolate vapes are only an occasional fancy for me but if you wanted to explore ...

Good call! That’s the one folkart landed on. I got it just for Mayan Milk and haven’t tested it yet.

 

[nadalama]

I was going to suggest TFA Bittersweet Chocolate. I haven't used it either - intended to, it's in my stash, and I think I ordered it, but can I put my hands on it? Noooo....

Chocolate may need butter, too, in addition to sugar, especially if you are using FA Cocoa as a base. If you were making candy at home from cocoa, you'd add milk, butter, sugar, and vanilla. The weight of milks/creams you use and the amount of sugar is going to have everything to do with the weight of the chocolate you end up with, no?

 

[lirruping]

I can’t remember off the top of my head what exactly super sweet is. I think it’s a combo of things.

FA whipped Cream is available at Chefs! I just checked. So, much easier to get!

All sounds like a solid plan moving forward. The only other thing I could maybe suggest is TFA bittersweet chocolate. I just got it, so I haven’t tested it yet. Could be workable?

TFA bittersweet is on my list for next purchase!

I have sucralose and Flavorah Sweetness. I'll eventually get Cap SS, since it seems to be everybody's go-to, but my flavor budget is gone ATM. I must've gotten fa whipped cream a long time ago when it was available at a U.S. seller - probably Bull City. It's pretty awesome, but don't see it in many recipes. May be the diketone factor.

I want to research sweeteners a little better. I only started using them recently. All the prefab ones are proprietary from what I can tell. I read somewhere that FLV's was primarily stevia, but later heard that may not be the case. I've used it in three or four mixes the last few months and am not getting that stevia taste I'm familiar with from using granulated in food applications. So, my guess would be that it's a trade-secrety type combination of stuff.

I'd thought there were only a few possible ingredients for sweetening: sucralose, stevia, the dreaded dextrose (which I, personally would give a miss). It seems there are some additional chemicals around that add sweetness. I think I came across some info on those trying to look into Sugar Daddy, which a lot of people seem to like, but it seems to be mostly just guesses. Can't find my notes on that, dag nabbit! In any case, I have enough with the two I have to make a start.

 

[lirruping]

Given the time frame, I probably give CAP Double Chocolate a whirl. It doesn't get a lot of attention but it's not bad.

Also, it is said that MF Dark Chocolate is one of, if not the, best dark chocolate flavorings available. Full disclosure, I've not tried it because it's pricey and chocolate vapes are only an occasional fancy for me but if you wanted to explore ...

Glad to hear that about Cap Double Choc. I have kind of a fear of unknown chocolates. I mean, I do like tootsie rolls, but not for everything I'm not sure why FolkArt uses Cap Double Chocolate V2 in his recipe. Is it a flavor issue, or a diketone issue, I wonder.

I've heard the same as you about MF Dark Chocolate! Since I don't yet have it, with my luck, it'll be the exact thing I need
I've been meaning to get some MF flavors for like, EVER. Anybody know where the dilutions are available? Chocolate is a once-in-a-while thing for me, too. When I want it, I want it, and then I cope with the ensuing coil horror and rethink my desires... lol.

 

[lirruping]

I was going to suggest TFA Bittersweet Chocolate. I haven't used it either - intended to, it's in my stash, and I think I ordered it, but can I put my hands on it? Noooo....

Chocolate may need butter, too, in addition to sugar, especially if you are using FA Cocoa as a base. If you were making candy at home from cocoa, you'd add milk, butter, sugar, and vanilla. The weight of milks/creams you use and the amount of sugar is going to have everything to do with the weight of the chocolate you end up with, no?

Oh, I so relate to the lost flavor problem. I need a special room, dedicated to mixing, lots of awesome shelves with easily-readable labels. Is there some sort of "poor me" club I can join?

Thanks for the butter reminder. I recently bought my first butter flavor - Golden Butter. I've yet to try it. These types of flavors used to freak me out--the obviously DAP'd ones. But I've since decided that because I vape a relatively low amount and plan to use only a smidge of these types of flavors in any given recipe, I'm willing to chance it.

I do want to take it easy on vanilla when I am testing this thing, if only because a lot of creams have at least a hint of vanilla flavor in them, it seems.

 

[wildgypsy70]

Oh, I so relate to the lost flavor problem. I need a special room, dedicated to mixing, lots of awesome shelves with easily-readable labels. Is there some sort of "poor me" club I can join?

Thanks for the butter reminder. I recently bought my first butter flavor - Golden Butter. I've yet to try it. These types of flavors used to freak me out--the obviously DAP'd ones. But I've since decided that because I vape a relatively low amount and plan to use only a smidge of these types of flavors in any given recipe, I'm willing to chance it.

I do want to take it easy on vanilla when I am testing this thing, if only because a lot of creams have at least a hint of vanilla flavor in them, it seems.

Vanilla does enhance chocolates......

 

[wildgypsy70]

Glad to hear that about Cap Double Choc. I have kind of a fear of unknown chocolates. I mean, I do like tootsie rolls, but not for everything I'm not sure why FolkArt uses Cap Double Chocolate V2 in his recipe. Is it a flavor issue, or a diketone issue, I wonder.

I've heard the same as you about MF Dark Chocolate! Since I don't yet have it, with my luck, it'll be the exact thing I need
I've been meaning to get some MF flavors for like, EVER. Anybody know where the dilutions are available? Chocolate is a once-in-a-while thing for me, too. When I want it, I want it, and then I cope with the ensuing coil horror and rethink my desires... lol.

It wasn’t a diketone issue. I think Caps discontinued V1. He’s been chasing the chocolate profile for a while.

I’ve been eyeing that MF Dark chocolate for a while.........

 

[lirruping]

Anyone have thoughts about Acetyl Pyrazine and Chocolate? I learned about it ages ago via HIC posts, and the recipes I use of Hic's that included it--in small amounts--were great. But I never hear about it in more recent chocolate recipes. There are so many cheesecake, cookie and biscuit type flavors around now that I guess they can be a stand-in for straight AP some of the time...

 

[lirruping]

It wasn’t a diketone issue. I think Caps discontinued V1. He’s been chasing the chocolate profile for a while.

I’ve been eyeing that MF Dark chocolate for a while.........

Ok, so an availability issue on the Caps Double Chocolate V1! Good to know.
I have never had a big issue with Cap Version 2's (tho i know some others definitely have), so if it turns out that's all that's available, I'll grab it when I finally do my next order. I'm thinking post-xmas : /

 

[nadalama]

@lirruping

If you find the "poor me" club, let me know and I'll join too!

Maybe try a good marshmallow (FA) instead of sweetener? I vape a lot of chocolate, and for the most part really do not have coil-gunking horrors, but maybe the reason is that I almost always use marshmallow instead of sweetener.

I'll know soon, because I have a new mix that has chocolate and super sweet in it. Will have to pay extra attention to the coil in that rig.

I love Caps Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Different strokes, as they say... It's entirely possible that I have plebian taste in chocolate. I can admit that, knowing myself as I do...

Oh, by the way, Wayne says he thinks Flavor West's sweetener is the best. It's sucralose, according to ELR.

 

[hellcatrydr]

One more vote for TFA bittersweet here.

 

[lirruping]

@lirruping

If you find the "poor me" club, let me know and I'll join too!

Maybe try a good marshmallow (FA) instead of sweetener? I vape a lot of chocolate, and for the most part really do not have coil-gunking horrors, but maybe the reason is that I almost always use marshmallow instead of sweetener.

I'll know soon, because I have a new mix that has chocolate and super sweet in it. Will have to pay extra attention to the coil in that rig.

I love Caps Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Different strokes, as they say... It's entirely possible that I have plebian taste in chocolate. I can admit that, knowing myself as I do...

Oh, by the way, Wayne says he thinks Flavor West's sweetener is the best. It's sucralose, according to ELR.

I didn't mean to dis cap chocolate brownie. Honestly, I'm as much of a philistine as the next guy. I'm happily vaping a mother's milk variation right now!

Good to know that sucralose can get the job done maybe as well as any other sweetener. FA Marshmallow is a great idea--thanks. Oh, and yes--I've been on the lookout for a good poor-me club and will keep you posted, but so far none will have me: obviously they're threatened by what would be my immediate ascendancy to the role of president. I can whine like nobody's business

 

[lirruping]

It occurred to me we're chatting about recipes some might not be familiar with - I'm just posting them here from my notes:

Mayan Milk [chocolate milk] by folkart
RECIPE NOTES HERE: https://alltheflavors.com/recipes/129931
See also Strawberry Mayan Milk by enyawreklaw
(won BEST recipe of 2018 on DIY or DIE)

Butterscotch (FA) 1
Chocolate Cream (HS) 0.75
Cream (FLV) 1
Double Chocolate V2 (CAP) 1.5
Meringue (FA) 2
Super Sweet (CAP) 0.75
Vanilla Ice Cream (LB) 1
------------------------------------------
Strawberry Mayan Milk by enyawreklaw
https://alltheflavors.com/recipes/137461#strawberry_mayan_milk_by_enyawreklaw

0.75 (HS) Chocolate Cream
1.5 (CAP) Double Chocolate V2
1 (FA) Meringue
6 (CAP) Strawberries And Cream
0.75 (CAP) Super Sweet
1 (LB) Vanilla Ice Cream

 

[wildgypsy70]

Any luck yet, @lirruping ? I’ve been debating the profile for a few days now. I think I’m gonna try my hand at it. I’m gonna mix the Strawberry Mayan Milk first.....it looks pretty solid.

 

[lirruping]

WG, I'm sorry to say I've been whelmed with family stuff last few weeks and have gotten close to nowhere on this. I've single tested VT Dark Choc and am encouraged by its potential.... that all for nodw. Thanks for taking an interest. I look forward to any innovations from you!

 

[wildgypsy70]

WG, I'm sorry to say I've been whelmed with family stuff last few weeks and have gotten close to nowhere on this. I've single tested VT Dark Choc and am encouraged by its potential.... that all for nodw. Thanks for taking an interest. I look forward to any innovations from you!

No worries at all! Curious, mostly. I was looking at the Strawberry Mayan Milk.....is that what you’re looking for or are you looking for chocolate dipped strawberries? I’m thinking there might be a difference. I haven’t figured out what it is yet, but I’m working on it.

 

[lirruping]

No worries at all! Curious, mostly. I was looking at the Strawberry Mayan Milk.....is that what you’re looking for or are you looking for chocolate dipped strawberries? I’m thinking there might be a difference. I haven’t figured out what it is yet, but I’m working on it.

I'm not at all averse to the chocolate milk idea, but yes, my fantasy is a dark chocolate with bright strawberry notes--which I've only ever experienced in a vape once, from a company that AFAIK no longer exists (Nicquid).

The last time I gave it a real effort was more than three years back, using what I had at the time: FA Chocolate, FA Cocoa, tfa Strawberry and Strawberry Ripe and a few different creams (fresh, vienna, tfa sweet, cap sweet) and a tiny bit of ap. I made some variations that were vape-able, but most of what I made was kind of muddy/dirty... Or, at best, too creamy/milky. Let's say: not quite right for what I was trying for

Now, I have a few more options (Including HS Chocolate Cream and VT Dark Chocolate, tfa Double Chocolate Clear, caps double chocolate, called for in the FolkArt on ATF Mayan Milk recipe was unavailable except in V2).
I shy away from DX and V2 due to bad experiences with butyric acid. Basically, I haven't given it a good, sustained second try yet. Now I know from reading (as opposed to good testing) that I need sugar, limited cream and probably butter in the chocolate I want. As far as AP, I'll have to see how that goes. No recent recipes I can find use it in this context, but I remember it working wonderfully to make things fuller and sweeter; it was just not exactly what I was looking for in this case.

OK, here is partly what I was working from. It's an old HIC (HeadinClouds) recipe which should still be here, complete with notes:

http://vapingunderground.com/threads/hics-3-milky-musketeers.30662/#post-365995

HIC's 3 Milky Musketeers recipes:

2% FA Chocolate
1% FA Marshmallow [try oba-oba]
1% FA Caramel [.5 fa + 1% tfa caramel candy]
1% FA Vienna Cream
0.5% FA Meringue
0.5% FA Torrone
0.5% FA Cocoa
0.25% TFA acetyl pyrazine

 

[wildgypsy70]

I'm not at all averse to the chocolate milk idea, but yes, my fantasy is a dark chocolate with bright strawberry notes--which I've only ever experienced in a vape once, from a company that AFAIK no longer exists (Nicquid).

The last time I gave it a real effort was more than three years back, using what I had at the time: FA Chocolate, FA Cocoa, tfa Strawberry and Strawberry Ripe and a few different creams (fresh, vienna, tfa sweet, cap sweet) and a tiny bit of ap. I made some variations that were vape-able, but most of what I made was kind of muddy/dirty... Or, at best, too creamy/milky. Let's say: not quite right for what I was trying for

Now, I have a few more options (Including HS Chocolate Cream and VT Dark Chocolate, tfa Double Chocolate Clear, caps double chocolate, called for in the FolkArt on ATF Mayan Milk recipe was unavailable except in V2).

I shy away from DX and V2 due to bad experiences with butyric acid. Basically, I haven't given it a good, sustained second try yet. Now I know from reading (as opposed to good testing) that I need sugar, limited cream and probably butter in the chocolate I want. As far as AP, I'll have to see how that goes. No recent recipes I can find use it, but I remember it working wonderfully to make things fuller and sweeter; it was just not exactly what I was looking for in this case.

OK, here is partly what I was working from. It's an old HIC (HeadinClouds) recipe which should still be here, complete with notes:

http://vapingunderground.com/threads/hics-3-milky-musketeers.30662/#post-365995

HIC's 3 Milky Musketeers recipes:

2% FA Chocolate
1% FA Marshmallow [try oba-oba]
1% FA Caramel [.5 fa + 1% tfa caramel candy]
1% FA Vienna Cream
0.5% FA Meringue
0.5% FA Torrone
0.5% FA Cocoa
0.25% TFA acetyl pyrazine

I have some ideas....I’m going to start working on it tonight. I’ll let ya know about progress......