Chapter Sixteen: Guittard 85% Clair de Lune

This week we decided to try another bar from Guittard; we love our base bar and thought it would be interesting to compare it with a bar from the same chocolatier.  This bar is also Blend No. 49, but is 85% and has no added cocoa butter.  It is from the same three areas: Central America, South America, and the Caribbean and is also fair trade (which we love!).  This bar is called Clair de Lune which means moonlight in French.

Tasting No. : 14

Guittard 85%, bittersweet, blend no. 49, Clair de Lune

Initial Impressions:

Much firmer bite and snap than base bar.  It is not as creamy, and drier which is probably due to there being no added cocoa butter.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – earthy, soil

Middle – cherry, raisin

After – vanilla, coffee, musky

Texture:

Dry, creamy near the end as it starts to warm up in your mouth to release the flavors.

Overall:

A rich, dark chocolate, not a bar to eat all at once but one to savor slowly, one piece at a time.  This would be delicious when paired with a full bodied red wine.

Rating: out of 7.5/10

*Notes:

Purchased at World Market

Price range under $5

Next week, we’re excited to try our first bar from TCHO.  See you then!

There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate. - Linda Grayson

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 Fifteen: Coconut Caramel

We obtained the Dark Chocolate Coconut Caramel bar as a part of a chocolate shopping frenzy at Trader Joe’s.  In light of our recent tasting of the Black Salt Caramel bar, we’re excited to try another caramel filled option.  Like all chocolate bars from Trader Joe’s, this is another budget friendly choice.

Tasting No.: 13

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Bar: Coconut Caramel

Initial Impressions:

The snap was firmer than the base bar due to the squares not being completely filled with caramel.  The golden brown caramel quickly oozed out and was a thin consistency.   The chocolate was slightly less red than our base bar but the most striking feature was the strong toasted coconut scent.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – burnt molasses, salt

Middle – burnt coconut

After – burnt rose

Texture:

While we found the coconut flavor to be overwhelming, the coconut shavings made for a pleasant textural element.  The packaging mentioned cacao nibs which could be adding to the texture experience, but they were difficult to distinguish. 

Overall:

For being the same percentage as the base bar, it was sweet to the point of being sickly sweet.  Between the amount of corn syrup and sugar and the strong coconut flavor, it was almost too much for us. We finally concluded that this bar is more of a candy bar than a chocolate bar.

Rating: 3/10



*Notes:

Purchased at Trader Joe’s

Price range under $3

This bar isn’t going to satisfy your chocolate craving, dark chocolate lovers should look elsewhere.  It is an adventurous combination to taste if you’re looking for a sugar fix but if it's coconut you're after we highly recommend the Bovetti bar from Chapter 6.

Next week we'll be tucking into another Guittard bar, see you then!

For now savor: “The Duchess set about studying Annette and shortly found her adversary's tragic flaw. Chocolate.”  William Goldman – The Princess Bride

Chapter Fourteen: Milkboy Essential Pine Oil

We were lucky to find this week’s bar while on a trip to our favorite grocer.  It is an unusual combination of 60% dark chocolate infused with essential pine tree oil.  Milkboy is a Swiss brand committed to sustainable sourcing, being both UTZ certified and from sustainable sources.

Tasting No.: 12

Milkboy Switzerland 60% Cocoa with Essential Pine Tree Oil  

Initial Impressions:

The color of this bar is quite different from the base bar, which is significantly darker and redder. It has a fragrant pine scent when snapped, while the base bar is much sweeter. The snap is firm, about the same as the base bar, with the bite being firm as well.

 Flavor Profile:

Initial – vegetative, tobacco

Middle – spicy, black pepper

After – spicy, pine, black pepper, vanilla

Texture:

For having such a strong flavor profile, the texture of this bar is surprisingly smooth and enveloping.  

Overall:

Sweeter than base bar but the strong flavors make it quite enjoyable even though the cacao content is lower. Laura liked it enough to add it to her list of favorites; she will definitely be eating this one again and said it reminds her of hot cocoa at Christmas time.

Rating: 8/10

*Notes:

Purchased at Central Market

Price range under $6

Next week we will be returning to another coconut bar.  Join us! 

For now savor: “Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.” - Judith Viorst

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.