Chapter Twenty-Three: Chocolate Amatller Ghana 85%

This week's bar is a Spanish brand from Barcelona: Chocolate Amatller Single Origin Ghana 85%.  We chose this bar because it was a new brand which we had not yet sampled.  We like that it has a high percentage of cacao with the added bonus of being single origin; however, it was not fair trade or organic.

Tasting No. :21

Chocolate Amatller Single Origin Ghana 85%

Initial Impressions:

This bar is quite brown in comparison to the base bar.  The aroma is particularly earthy with notes of coconut.  Both the bite and the snap are much firmer than the base bar.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – Mild vanilla

Middle – Walnut, Straw

After – Truffle, Walnut

Texture:

This bar's texture reminded us of Laura's all-time favorite: the Russian bar.  It was not acidic at all.

Overall:
This bar is true in cacao flavor, lacking sweetness.  The base bar is much sweeter; so much so that the base bar almost tastes like a Hershey's bar in comparison. However, as much as this bar is dry and does not easily melt in your mouth it is also dense and quite satisfying. Like the Trader Joe's bar we tried last week, it only had three ingredients but this bar was much more satiating.

Rating: 8.5 /10

*Notes:

Purchased at World Market

Price range under $5

Next week we’ll be sampling our first Vietnamese single origin bar.  Don’t forget to check in to see what we have to say!

For now savor: “Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment.” - Catherine Aitken

Chapter Ten: The Return of Taza

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

Taza Organic 80% Cacao Nib Crunch

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.

Chapter Six: French Artisan Bar

We were surprised and delighted to receive 3 chocolate bars to sample for Gaby’s birthday a few weeks ago.  For the next few weeks, we will be reviewing these.  This week, we have a 73% bar from France.  It is a handmade, artisanal brand from the Southwestern region.  The cacao beans were sourced from Ecuador, Ghana, and New Guinea.  Remember, just because beans aren’t single origin doesn’t mean a chocolate bar’s quality should be dismissed!

Tasting No.: 4

Bovetti Chocolatier, Dark Chocolate with Coconut, 73% (we couldn't find this exact bar on Amazon, but this one with Jasmine flowers looks divine!)

Initial Impressions:

As you can see in the photo above, the Bovetti bar is solid and dense looking.  It has a rich, earthy smell with notes of coconut.  The color is very dark, not at all red like the base bar.  The snap on this bar is firmer than the base bar, but still soft.  It is a very thick bar of chocolate, at least 25% thicker than the Guittard bar.  The underside of the bar showcases a robust coating of coconut flakes, which stand out in beautiful, stark contrast to the rich, dark tones of the chocolate.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – Vanilla, nutty

Middle – Dairy

After – Earthy, coconut

Texture:

The first bite of this is firm and it quickly begins to melt in your mouth.  It then becomes smooth and enveloping, like a comforting hug. Pleasant bits of coconut add a chewy dimension towards the finish of the bite, making it a subtle and complimentary addition. 

Overall:

The coconut in this bar harmonizes with the chocolate and is neither overpowering nor absent when tasting.  The chocolate is rich and indulgent, reminiscent of velvety drinking chocolate.  This bar is much more satisfying than our base bar and supremely comforting.  A warning: you won’t be able to stop after one square of the Bovetti Dark Chocolate with Coconut bar.

Rating: 8.5/10

*Notes:

Purchased at Central Market

Price range under $10

Stop by next week, when we review a minimally processed, stone ground, organic bar crafted in Massachusetts! 

For now savor: “Like love, chocolate is always a delight to receive or to give.” – Mary Jane Finsand