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 Twenty-Two: Trader Joe's 72% Belgian Dark

This is yet another bar from our Trader Joe’s shopping spree; we promise we’re almost finished with the tastings!  Trader Joe’s 72% Cacao Belgian Dark Chocolate Bar is fair trade and organic, but not single origin.  It is made in Belgium.  The first thing that drew us to this bar was the fact that it only had three ingredients (all organic): cocoa mass, cane sugar, and cocoa butter.

Tasting No. :20 

Trader Joe’s 72% Cacao Belgian Dark Chocolate

Initial Impressions:

This bar has a much stronger scent than the base bar and reminds us of burnt coffee.  It is also much darker brown in color.  The snap is soft in comparison; the bite is even softer.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – Coffee, Smoke

Middle – Walnut

After – Cooked vegetation

Texture:

Smooth, velvety texture

Overall:

This bar was quite acidic and intense, while the base bar is much drier.  We like that it only has three ingredients and is far better than other Trader Joe's bars we have tried, however, we wouldn’t buy it for ourselves again.  We agree that it tastes like a quality bar but we don’t necessarily care for the flavors or high acidity.

Rating: 5/10

*Notes:

Purchased at Trader Joe’s

Price range under $3

Join us next week for our review on a Ghana single origin bar.

For now savor: "As with most fine things, chocolate has its season. There is a simple memory aid that you can use to determine whether it is the correct time to order chocolate dishes: any month whose name contains the letter A, E, or U is the proper time for chocolate." - Sandra Boynton

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 Twenty-One: Cacao Market Mayan

Welcome back!  We took a much needed break to work on our other projects and are excited to share with you our most recent tasting adventure.  Laura recently found herself at Mayan History exhibit and decided to purchase a bar of chocolate from the museum gift shop.  It is actually a bar from the US, made in the Mayan style.  Cacao Market NYC’s Maya Honduran chocolate bar is sourced from a single origin, Honduras, and is 70% cacao.  It does not include any additional sugar.

Tasting No. :19
Cacao Market NYC Maya Honduran Chocolate

Initial Impressions:

This bar is much darker than our base bar, with a similar smell but slightly sweeter.  It is more red than the base bar, with an acidic, earthy smell.  The snap we considered more of a tear because it was so soft in comparison to the base bar and all the other bars we’ve reviewed thus far. The soft firmness was reminiscent of a warm cookie.

Flavor Profile:

Initial – overwhelming earthiness

Middle – nut, banana

After – soil

Texture:

The texture of this bar was unlike any bar before it.  It most closely resembled clay.

Overall:

It was apparent to us that there is no additional sweetener in this bar.  It tasted rustic and unrefined, like it did come from the Old World.  It is a chocolate we think would be better appreciated and highlighted if it were included in a recipe as opposed to eating it on its own.  The cacao used in this bar comes from an ancient species of cacao tree: the Honduran Cacao Trinitario which is known for its mild and distinct taste.  Ultimately, we both appreciated the opportunity to try such a unique bar with a rich history.  As always, we like that it’s fair trade, environmentally sourced, and are impressed that the company works directly with Honduran farmers to ensure a fair living wage.

                                                     Rating: 2/10

*Notes:

Price range under $7

Next week, it’s back to another Trader Joe’s bar.  Join us! 

For now savor: “I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process...it may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?” – Unknown

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.