Chapter Seventeen: TCHO's Chocolatey Explosion

We found this week’s bar again at World Market; we love the diverse selection there! TCHO is a brand based in Berkeley, California, and we selected the Dark Chocolate bar.  It is 70% cacao and the beans are from Ghana.  However, the package did not indicate it was single origin.  We do like that there is a ‘best by’ date on the package because stale chocolate can be a problem! 

 

Tasting No. :15
TCHO Dark Chocolate 70% "Chocolatey"

Initial Impressions:

This bar is much darker than the base bar, with brown tones.  The base bar is red toned. It smells much milder than the base bar, and is also slightly sweeter.  There is a note of acidity in the base bar that is not present in the TCHO bar.  They have almost the same firmness in snap, with the base bar being only slightly firmer.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – caramel, vanilla

Middle – musk, molasses

After – malt, musk

Texture:

Right away, we both concluded this bar has a soft bite.  There is an instant smoothness as it melts over your tongue; almost like a thick chocolate syrup.  It is reminiscent of drinking chocolate or also brownie batter. When you bite into it there is a powerful chocolate explosion of flavor in your mouth.  It bursts almost like a filled bar would.  

Overall:

Even though this bar has the same percentage of cacao, we found it to be much sweeter than the base bar.  There is no notable acidity in this bar, which makes it robustly indulgent with chocolate flavor.  It made both of our favorites list.  This bar would be an excellent choice for sating an intense chocolate craving, or might be complemented well with a citrus fruit, such as a tangelo.  We believe adding a touch acidity while enjoying this bar would enhance the flavor, although not much enhancement is needed.  In one word, it’s superb.

                                                     Rating: 9/10

*Notes:

Purchased at World Market

Price range under $4

Check back next week when we’ll be tasting another bar from Bovetti, the impressive French artisanal brand originally reviewed here.

For now savor: “Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.” – Joanne Harris, Chocolat