Chapter Nineteen: Dark Chocolate Truffle

This week’s tasting is Dark Chocolate Truffle and it is yet another bar from our Trader Joe’s shopping spree, we were drawn to the “truffle” component.  We noticed that the back of the package states that it contains a minimum of 57% chocolate.

Tasting No.: 17
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Truffle

Initial Impressions:
The truffle bar was darker and browner than the base bar and the snap was notably soft, probably due to the truffle element, and yet, the bite was firm. The aroma was similar to the base bar, but slightly less acidic - almost a dry straw scent.

Flavor Profile:
Initial – dry straw
Middle – jasmine
After – blackcurrant, blackberry

Texture:
The truffle made this bar ultra-creamy, almost like a firm ganache or a thick chocolate syrup.

Overall:
We noticed that our base bar was very earthy after tasting truffle bar.  This bar tasted more expensive than it really was and we would recommend it cost-effective organic alternative to other bars that you would commonly find at a grocery store.  Although it was only 57%, we still enjoyed that it was not overly sweet and the chocolate flavor was present.

Rating: 7/10

*Notes:
Purchased at: Trader Joe’s
Price range under $3
This is a good bar that will satisfy with a single square; it’s rich but not overwhelming and is delightfully creamy.

Next week, we're excited to be tasting World Market's house brand, a dark chocolate with dried strawberry bits and sea salt.  See you then!

For now savor: “A dark-chocolate truffle melts in my mouth, and I forget about everything else...even the fact that I'm on a diet.” - Barbara Brooke

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 Eighteen: Bovetti Flourless Chocolate Cake

We were so impressed with the Bovetti bar that we tried in Chapter Six that we decided to pick up another to try this week. The Bovetti Dark Chocolate & Fleur de Sel Bar a 73% cacao bar that is fair trade with the cacao originating in Ghana, New Guinea, and Ecuador.

Tasting No.: 16

Bovetti Dark Chocolate & Fleur de Sel

Initial Impressions:

This bar had a very firm snap in comparison to the base bar.  It was not red in color, but a rich, dark brown.  The smell of this bar was different from what we expected.  Although it has caramel, we found the aroma to be distinctly tobacco, like a humidor.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – vanilla, cinnamon, molasses

Middle – chocolate bomb, pure chocolate

After – vanilla, butterscotch

Texture:

The texture of this bar was creamy, which surprised us because of the candy-like caramel morsels covering one side of the bar.  It reminded us of a dense, flourless chocolate cake.  We found it to be quite thick and enveloping.  The texture of this bar was very similar to last week’s TCHO bar, which differed dramatically from the base bar.

Overall:

Bovetti has been the star brand in our tastings thus far and we have yet to be disappointed.  This brand is one that we would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone with a craving for satisfaction.  For those that want to get lost in the moment with a single square, Bovetti is for you.  This particular bar reminded us instantly of a flourless chocolate cake, with intense chocolate flavor.  There was a subtle element of salt and the caramel came through as potent.  This bar also makes Gaby’s and Laura’s individual favorite lists.

Rating: 9/10

*Notes:

Purchased at Central Market

Price range under $10

Next week, it’s another Trader Joe’s bar!  Don’t forget to have a look!

For now savor: “In the beginning, the Lord created chocolate, and he saw that it was good. Then he separated the light from the dark, and it was better.” - Anonymous

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 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