We decided to try
another Taza bar this week to rate some of their other offerings. Because of the company’s commitment to
sustainability and fair trade practices, we felt compelled to give their
products another chance. This week, we
picked up their Cacao Nib Crunch. It is
an 80%, organic stone ground chocolate bar. You can read our first post about Taza's Sea Salt & Almond bar here.
Tasting
No.: 8
Initial
Impressions:
The bar is much more red than our base bar, surprising
because it has a higher cacao content.
There are visible nibs throughout the bar, although they seem to only be
sprinkled. The stone ground process
leaves the end product with a lot visible texture and crystallization. This bar has an earthy smell similar to soil
after rain and reminiscent of cocoa powder for baking. This is far earthier than the base bar’s
scent profile. The snap of this bar is
firm and satisfying.
Flavor
Profile:
Initial – extremely nutty
Middle – sweet, coffee, acid
After – smoky vanilla
Texture:
The
only way to describe this bar is hearty and substantial. The grittiness and nibs were something we
really enjoyed and a totally different tasting experience from the base bar.
Overall:
The deep earthy smell of this bar
evokes a feeling of being in nature. To
us, it is an homage to the roots of chocolate; going back to the source, how chocolate was first eaten. The base bar is much sweeter and smoother, while
this bar’s sweetness builds with every bite.
We thoroughly enjoyed this bar and were pleased that this tasting changed
our opinion of this brand's chocolate.
Rating: 8.5/10
*Notes:
Purchased at Central Market
Price range under $5
We imagine this bar
pairing well with a steaming cup of black tea.
Next week we’ll be
trying another bar from Trader Joe's - be sure to check back!
For now savor: “Chocolate knows no boundaries;
speaks all languages; comes in all sizes; is woven through many cultures and
disciplines...it impacts mood, health, and economics, and it is a part of our
lives from early childhood through the elderly years.” – Herman A. Berliner, Chocolate: Food of the Gods
Remember,
fairly traded chocolate is a responsible way to support farmers by ensuring
that the chocolate that you consume has been bought for a fair price. By
choosing to purchase fair trade chocolate, you can honor the cocoa tree growers
and support their way of life which in turn leads to better chocolate.
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