Showing posts with label No vanilla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No vanilla. Show all posts

Tuesday 30 July 2019

Grenada Chocolate Company - 100% Dark Chocolate

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

100% Dark Chocolate
Main ingredients are cocoa beans.
Cocoa content: minimum 100% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

The Grenada Chocolate Company Ltd, Hermitage, St Patrick, Grenada, The Caribbean

Packaging

The 85g chocolate bar is wrapped in aluminium paper and a paper sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a distinct red hue on the surface and at the edges.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

The chocolate has light smell but this comes with intense cocoa aromas and dark bitterness. There also some fruity notes reminiscent of honeydew melons.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate is initially very tough and solid. It slowly melts into an dispersing find liquid while its melting surfaces become slightly rough.

Taste

The initial taste is an intense bitterness with some tobacco-ish notes in the front and almost charred flavours at the rear of the mouth. The bitterness remains but fruity flavours of melon develop next to a very intense cocoa flavour. There is no sourness and only a very mild astringency despite the intense bitterness.

Aftertaste

The chocolate almost remains present on the tongue. Its aftertaste is dominated by the slowly fading bitterness. Intense cocoa are at the rear of the mouth at the palate.

Summary

This is a very intense and dark chocolate with flavours of tobacco. This emphasises the dark flavours of the cocoa. The flavours remain clear without any warm flavours of nuts or roast. It has no sourness and a very mild astringency.

Verdict

The chocolate brings out the dark, tobacco like flavours of the cocoa. It is very intense and bitter without showing sourness. It is very well crafted with a very good melt. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 837, best before 11/01/2020, tasted 14&28/07/2019

Tuesday 9 July 2019

Bonnat Chocolatier - Selva Maya

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Selva Maya
Main ingredients are cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar.
Cocoa content: minimum 75% cocoa.

Manufacturer

Bonnat Chocolatier, BP 48, 8 cours Sénozon, 38502 Voiron Cedex, France

Packaging

The 100g chocolate bar is covered in aluminium paper and a paper envelope.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a red hue at its edges.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

The smell is clear and light cocoa aroma with some ripe fruit and sugar. As the chocolate gets warmer, the cocoa becomes more intense.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate feels very hard initially. It melts into a very fine liquid almost without becoming sticky or soft or transition.

Taste

The initial flavour is comparably bitter. Intense dark cocoa flavours with noticeable astringency develop as the chocolate melts. These are accompanied by a little fruity sourness. The slightly toasty and woody cocoa flavours are mainly in the centre and rear of the mouth. Some sour berry fruits are noticeable on the top the front of the mouth. The flavours are intense but contained and delicate. Astringency is very mild and only builds up over time.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is mainly cocoa flavour towards the rear of the mouth that develops into some fruity notes.

Summary

This has a very good melt and mouthfeel. It has delicate flavours that emphasise the darker chocolate flavours with some sweetness and sour-ish notes.

Verdict

This is a very well crafted dark chocolate with a very good melt. It comes with delicate yet intense cocoa flavours. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: A, best before 04/2020, tasted 26/05&02&16/06/&07/07/2019

Wednesday 24 April 2019

Artisan du Chocolat - Dark chocolate 100%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Dark chocolat 100% cocoa
Main ingredients are cocoa beans.
Cocoa content: 100% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

Artisan du Chocolat, 89 Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1 8DA, United Kingdom

Packaging

The 45g chocolate bar is sealed in transparent plastic wrap and wrapped in a cardboard.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a red hue.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear 'click' sound.

Smell

The chocolate has only a little smell. The aromas are reminiscent of the roast of nuts or oak wood and have hints of fermented tea and metal. As the chocolate warms in the hand, it releases warming, intense cocoa aromas.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate initially feels cold with a solid, smooth surface. The surface of the chocolate becomes softer and creamy as it slowly dissolves. It melts into a very fine, velvety and creamy liquid.

Taste

The initial flavour is a slightly astringent bitterness. As the chocolate melts slowly, it unfolds very dark cocoa flavours with an edge of nuts and roast. They are accompanied by an intense but mild bitterness. Despite its intensity, the chocolate has little astringency, almost no acidity and the warm flavour of dark roasted nuts.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste lasts very long and is mainly a central flavours of cocoa and roast. A mild bitterness lingers in the mouth.

Summary

This chocolate is as intense as get it gets. It has a mild bitterness, rich flavour of cocoa and dark roast nuts. The flavours are very intense, the melt is very fine and creamy without being sticky. However, this is not for the faint-hearted, there is no sweetness, milk or dairy creaminess about it.

Verdict

This chocolate is well crafted. It has intense cocoa flavours, an intense but yet mild bitterness and a dark-ish roasty edge. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 36728, best before 12/2019, tasted 09/12/2018&22/04/2019

Tuesday 2 October 2018

R Chocolate - House Dark 70%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

House Dark 70%
Main ingredients are cocoa kernel, cane sugar, and cocoa butter.
Cocoa content: minimum 70% cocoa

Manufacturer

R Chocolate, 198 Ebury St, Belgravia, London, SW1W 8UN, United Kingdom

Packaging

The chocolate is wrapped in aluminium foil and a red paper sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a black-ish hint. The edges appear with a white shimmer. The bar has some moulding air bubbles on the surface.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

Opening the package releases an immediate cold-ish cocoa and fruity cane sugar aroma.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate melts slowly into a very fine liquid. The edges remain almost solid before melting into a liquid.

Taste

There is a brief bitter punch and an initial sweet flavour until the two mix and a more bitter, earthy flavour develops. As the chocolate melts, the fine liquid releases very warming cocoa flavours with hints of deep roasted walnuts and fruity hints of dried cherry and raisins towards the rear of the mouth. The cane sugar balances the bitterness but it may leave the feeling of sourness of the tongue.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is a mixture of some sweetness in the centre of the mouth, cocoa flavours at the rear, a subtle bitterness of roasted walnuts that is almost in the throat.

Summary

This is a very well conched dark chocolate some flavours of roasted nuts, mild bitterness, very little astringency and a balanced sweetness. The is some sourness that may tickle the tongue.

Verdict

The chocolate melts abruptly from solid to liquid without any stickiness or softness. It has flavours of roasted nuts and the bitterness of walnuts and some hints of fruity notes. There are some subtle notes of sourness that may leave a tickling flavour on the tongue. 4 Stars.

Dates

Best before 22/11/2018, tasted 09&16&30/09/2018

Tuesday 7 August 2018

Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé - Whole Ground Chocolate

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Whole Ground Chocolate
Main ingredients are cocoa beans with shell, cane sugar, cocoa butter.
Cocoa content: minimum 72% cocoa

Manufacturer

Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé Kft., Ringló út. 33, 1221 Budapest Budafok, Hungary

Packaging

The 70g chocolate bar is wrapped in quite strong parchment paper and a card board box.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with red hue. Smaller bits appear red-brown.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a very clear and abrupt snap sound.

Smell

Opening the parchment paper releases aromas of cocoa, cane sugar and fruity notes of muskmelon.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate initially feels hard and almost sharp edged. It starts melting quickly and after a short-lived sticky stage, it melts into a very fine and creamy liquid.

Taste

The initial contact has a fruity melon like flavour. As the chocolate starts melting, intense and rich but light cocoa flavours develop. The cocoa has a very mild bitterness that slowly turns into flavours of roasted nuts and caramelised, ripe fruit on top of the rich cocoa flavours.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is a fruity cocoa flavour with tiny hints of a fruity sourness.

Summary

This chocolate is dark and it has very a rich, fruit and cocoa feel. Its flavours are more fruity and light and emphasising the cocoa in the product.

Verdict

The whole ground chocolate provides a fine, rich almost creamy melt. The cocoa flavours have a distinct tropical, melon edge with notes of caramel. The chocolate emphasises a full, rich cocoa body. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: MT4404WG, best before 30/01/2020, tasted 24/06&22&29/07/2018

Tuesday 31 July 2018

Honest Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 80%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Dark Chocolate 80%
Main ingredients are cocoa beans, unrefined cane sugar.
Cocoa content: minimum 80% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

Honest Chocolate, The Woodstock Exchange, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town,7925, South Africa

Packaging

The 60g chocolate bar is wrapped in aluminium paper and a card board sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is dark red-brown with a very shiny surface.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

Opening the package releases intensive fruity cocoa aromas with hints of coffee, roasted nuts and sweetness.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate melts into a very fine liquid. Its surfaces become slightly rougher and soft when melting.

Taste

The initial flavour is sweet. As soon as the chocolate starts melting, a full cocoa body unfolds. A fruity sourness builds up that is framed by roasted nuts and a mild astringency. Later, the flavour of unripe red fruit emerges. Its sourness increases up to an almost tingling sensation. Hints of roasted nuts and bitterness develop next to the full bodied yet light, fruity and sour cocoa.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is a light fruity sourness in the centre of the mouth that is slightly tingling. There is also a mildly astringent cocoa flavours at the rear of the mouth.

Summary

This dark chocolate has a fruity and sour flavour with flavours of roasted nuts. The full bodied cocoa flavour emphasises the fruity sourness and lighter flavours of its cocoa. The astringency and bitterness are very mild making this chocolate a comparable 'light' dark chocolate.

Verdict

The chocolate is very well manufactured and melts nicely. It emphasises the cocoa's fruity flavours and showcases its complexity as each components develops one by one. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 180530-1, best before 30/05/2019, tasted 15&22&28&29/07/2018

Tuesday 29 May 2018

Paul A. Young - 100% Dark Chocolate Bar

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

100% Dark Chocolate Bar
Main ingredients are 100% Guittard dark chocolate.
Cocoa content: minimum 44% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

paul.a.young fine chocolates, 143 Wardour St, SOHO, London, W1F 8WA, United Kingdom

Packaging

The chocolate is wrapped and sealed in transparent plastic wrap.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a reddish hue at its edges.

Sound

The chocolate is hard to break but when it does, it breaks clearly in one snap.

Smell

There intensive cocoa aromas and fruity aromas of raisins.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate feels solid initially but becomes softer quickly. It feels slightly creamy and soft to touch before melting into a very fine liquid.

Taste

The chocolate requires a bit of time before it unfolds its flavours. It starts with dark cocoa flavours and a mild bitterness and astringency that are building up gradually. There is a subliminal sourness  that comes to the foreground when swallowed or moving and leaves a little sore sensation.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is mainly astringency and the hint of sourness.

Summary

This has deep and dark-ish flavours of cocoa that are very intensive. Its flavours are dominated by dark cocoa, bitterness and hints of sourness.

Verdict

The chocolate is very well conched and melts very smoothly. It emphasises the dark cocoa notes of the cocoa. However, as the astringency and bitterness are building up, they have a tendency to entirely dominate the flavour. Thus, the cocoa and possibly fruity notes are hard to detect. Also, there is a little sour note in the chocolate that leaves a sore sensation on the tongue. 4 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: S14129, best before 01/09/2018, tasted 29/04&05&27/05/2018

Tuesday 8 May 2018

Artisan du Chocolat - Date Milk

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Date Milk
Main ingredients are dried date (date, maize starch, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin), cocoa butter, dried whole milk, cocoa beans, emulsifier: soya lecithin.
Cocoa content: minimum 44% cocoa, 21% milk, no vanilla

Manufacturer

Artisan du Chocolat, 89 Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1 8DA, United Kingdom

Packaging

The 45g chocolate bar is sealed in transparent plastic wrap and packed in card board.

Look

The chocolate is light brown with white shimmer at its edges.

Sound

The chocolate initially feels softly as if won't break at all. But it does so with a snappy sound.

Smell

The smell is sugary and milky. There are light notes of cocoa.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate feels soft in the mouth. It has a somewhat sticky surface when melting. It melts into a fine liquid.

Taste

The chocolate has a very creamy flavour with some darker notes of fermented milk. As chocolate melts, it develops the flavour of caramelised fruit sugar with a tiny hint of bitterness. This makes the cream really heavy and dominating a slowly emerging flowery fruitnote and hints of cocoa.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is mainly an intense creaminess with some dark fruity and caramel notes.

Summary

This is a really creamy milk chocolate with caramel, fruit and some flowery notes.

Verdict

This milk chocolate has very rich cream flavours and it also develops complex flavours of caramel, fruit and hints of flower. It melts nicely without getting too sticky. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 27469, best before 08/2018, tasted 22&28/04&05&06/05/2018

Wednesday 11 April 2018

Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Pralus - 100% Criollo

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

100% Criollo
Main ingredients are cocoa beans from Madagascar, pure cocoa butter, soy lecithin.
Cocoa content: 100% cocoa

Manufacturer

Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Pralus S.A.S., 34 Rue General Giraud, 42300 Roanne, France

Packaging

The 100g chocolate bar is wrapped in aluminium foil and a paper sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown. Its surface is very shiny and its edges have light red hue.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a very clear snap sound.

Smell

The smell is light after opening the package and slowly makes it to the nose. The chocolate has clear cocoa aromas with hints of dark roast.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate feels almost buttery at the fingers and in the mouth. But it is solid and melts into a very fine liquid. The melting edges are even with only little softness before turning into a liquid.

Taste

The initial flavour is cocoa but this is quickly replaced by sourness and astringency. Fruity, almost sweet flavours of sour cherry, red berries and fig unfold. Slowly, bitter and intense cocoa flavours with hints of coffee-ish flavours unfold.

Aftertaste

After the last bit of chocolate is gone, a sensation of astringency lingers on the middle centre of the tongue. A mild bitterness emerges at the gums and the astringency fades out slowly. This is replaced by flavours of cocoa and roasted nuts.

Summary

This is a complex dark chocolate with intense cocoa flavours, astringency and very fruity notes. The fruity flavours give the chocolate light almost sweet edge.

Verdict

The chocolate is a very well conched chocolate with intense and complex flavours that unfold step by step. It emphasises the red berry notes of the pure cocoa. 5 Stars.

Dates

Best before 11/10/2019, tasted 10&11/03&10/04/2018

Tuesday 13 March 2018

Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Pralus - Tobago Estate Chocolate W.I., Roxborough

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Tobago Estate Chocolate W.I., Roxborough
Main ingredients are cocoa, sugar, pure cocoa butter, soy lecithin.
Cocoa content: minimum 70% cocoa

Manufacturer

Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Pralus S.A.S., 34 Rue General Giraud, 42300 Roanne, France

Packaging

The 100g chocolate bar is wrapped in aluminium foil and a paper sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a distinct red shimmer on all surfaces.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a very clear snap sound.

Smell

There are a lot of cocoa aromas with notes of agave and cream, as well as hints of nuts.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate initially feels very hard and solid. It melts slowly into a very fine liquid. While melting the body remains solid with clear edges between solid and liquid chocolate.

Taste

The chocolate starts with brief sweet note and a lasting more astringent coffee flavour. Dark roasted nuts and intense dark cocoa flavours develop. Lighter, more acidic flavours evolve after some time and leave hint of some sour fruity notes. The sweetness is noticeable more as a sensation than a flavour and counters the sour notes.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is mainly cocoa flavour in the middle of the mouth, with some sourness at the sides and roasted nut flavours at the rear of the mouth

Summary

This is a dark chocolate with rich and intense flavours of dark roasted nuts, coffee as well as fruity and sour notes.

Verdict

This is a very well made chocolate with very good melt. It preserves the flavours of its original cocoa and show-cases them. 5 Stars.

Dates

Best before 23/07/2018, tasted 14/01&18/02&10/03/2018

Tuesday 17 October 2017

Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé - Trincheras 95%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Trincheras 95%
Main ingredients are Trincheras cocoa beans, cocoa butter, cane sugar. No vanilla.
Cocoa content: minimum 95% cocoa

Manufacturer

Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé Kft., Ringló út. 33, 1221 Budapest Budafok, Hungary

Packaging

The 25g chocolate bar is wrapped in quite strong parchment paper and little card board box.

Look

The chocolate is very dark red-brown with a lighter red-brown hue at the edges.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear and edgy snap sound.

Smell

The chocolate has a rich and warm cocoa smell with hints of hazel and grass. As chocolate warms in the hand, some darker notes of oak unfold. The grass aromas slowly develop into a more flowery note of dried fruit.

Mouthfeel

The thin chocolate bar melts quickly into a very fine liquid. The solid part becomes softer.

Taste

The chocolate unfolds a dark-ish and intense cocoa flavour. Its astringency and bitterness are mild and almost tickle the tongue. Flavours of smoke and roast build up. The last bit ends in an almost fruity sweet kick of dried fruit.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is cocoa flavour with notes of roasted nuts and wood. It lingers at the front of the mouth and on the tongue. After a few minutes, the aftertaste moves slowly towards the rear of the mouth, has few more fruity hints and slowly fades out.

Summary

This is a very dark chocolate with intense cocoa flavours, notes of wood, smoked and roasted nuts and a noticeable but mild astringency and bitterness. It ends in a little kick of dried fruit. Small pieces of chocolate are very intense already.

Verdict

This is a very well made chocolate with intense and complex flavours that unfold over time and remain present for several minutes even with tiny pieces of chocolate. The cocoa has an interesting astringency and bitterness. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: T4229, best before 30/04/2018, tasted 17/09&08&15/10/2017

Thursday 15 June 2017

Original Beans - Piura Porcelana cocoa nibs

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Piura Porcelana cocoa nibs (Peru)
Main ingredients are cocoa beans.
Cocoa content: minimum 100% cocoa solids.

Manufacturer

Original Beans, Keizergracht 452, 1016 GD Amsterdam, Netherlands
But the packaging indicates that the product was actually made in Switzerland.

Packaging

The 150g cocoa nibs are wrapped in a paper bag with an inner lining from transparent plastic.

Look

The cocoa nibs are dark brown from the outside. The edges are very light brown and almost appear white-ish.

Sound

The nibs break with clear crackly sounds.

Smell

The cocoa nibs have an intense cocoa smell with aromas of nuts, roast, wood and light floral notes.

Mouthfeel

The nibs have an even surface feeling that initially feels cold. The nibs are brittle and crunchy.

Taste

The nibs have a nutty cocoa flavour with roast, dry wood and hints of roasted walnuts. A little astringency and bitterness unfold over time.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is dominated by the cocoa's darker flavours of roast, dry wood and a little bitterness.

Summary

These cocoa nibs have an intense cocoa smell. The flavour is mainly cocoa, wood and roasted nuts. Their astringency and bitterness are very mild. Their flavour is not heavy and dark. It comes with finer and lighter flavours.

Verdict

The cocoa nibs have an intense smell of cocoa with dry wood and nuts that is lifted with floral notes. Their flavours are dominated by cocoa, dry wood and roasted. The nibs have no acidity and very mild bitterness and astringency. Thus, finer flavours can shine through and make the nibs lighter and more subtle than other products. 5 Stars.

Dates

Best before 11/11/2018, tasted 25/05&03&13/06/2017

Tuesday 14 March 2017

Feodora - Sahne-Mocca-Chocolade (Superior ceamy mocca chocolate)

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Sahne-Mocca-Chocolade (Superior ceamy mocca chocolate)
Main ingredients are sugar, cream powder (26%), cocoa beans, cocoa butter, coffee (2.2%) and emulsifier rape lecithins.
Cocoa content: minimum 32% cocoano vanilla

Manufacturer

Feodora Chocolade GmbH & Co. KG, 28199 Bremen, Germany

Packaging

The 100g chocolate bar is sealed in aluminium foil and a paper wrap.

Look

The chocolate is light  to middle brown.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a thuddy sound and the breaks have an uneven surface shimmering in very light brown.

Smell

The chocolate smells of cream and hints of sweetened roasted coffee.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate melts evenly into a fine liquid. However, it can be become a sticky liquid when melting all the way.

Taste

The chocolate has flavours of coffee, cream and sweetness.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is mainly of sweetness, cream and some coffee flavours.

Summary

This is a creamy chocolate with coffee flavours. The sweetness is present but not excessive.

Verdict

The chocolate has some cream and mocca/coffee flavours with a strong but not excessive sweetness. It initially melts finely but may become sticky. There are no or very little cocoa flavours. 2 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 367412, best before 15/03/2017, tasted 05&12/03/2017

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Wohlfahrt - 2081

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Wohlfahrt - 2081 (dark whole milk chocolate)
Main ingredients are cacao mass, raw cane sugar, cacao butter and whole milk powder.
Cocoa content: minimum 81% cocoa solidsno vanilla

Manufacturer

Wohlfarth Schokolade, Choriner Straße 37, 10435 Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany

Packaging

The 45g chocolate bar is wrapped and sealed in transparent plastic wrap.

Look

The chocolate is very shiny, dark brown with hints of red.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

The smells of cacao and milk with clearly distinguishable sugar note.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate has a smooth surface but when melting it feels as if there was a fine texture on its surface. It melts quickly into a very fine liquid.

Taste

The initial flavour is a very mild sweetness. After starting to melt, the chocolate unfolds a more darker cacao flavour with a distinct bitterness of roasted coffee. The rich, bitter cacao notes are nicely supported by a mild, almost sublime sweetness and hints of milk that pop up every now and then.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is mainly a mild bitterness of cacao, roast and coffee flavours.

Summary

This chocolate tastes more like a dark chocolate than a milk chocolate. Its bitterness has some coffee notes and it has a mild bitterness that combines nicely with the sweetness.

Verdict

This chocolate has an interesting and rich complexity providing changes as it melts. 5 Stars.

Dates

Best before 12/2016, tasted 05&26/11/2016

Tuesday 29 November 2016

Pana Cacao - Eighty (Dark chocolate)

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Eighty
Main ingredients are cacao (butter and powder), dark agave nectar.
Cocoa content: minimum 80% cocoa solidsno vanilla

Manufacturer

Pana Cacao, 15 Albert St, Richmond, VIC 3121, AUSTRALIA

Packaging

The 45g chocolate bar is wrapped in aluminium paper and a cardboard box.

Look

The chocolate is dark brown with a distinctive red hue at its edges.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a thud sound.

Smell

Opening the packaging initially releases a cacao aroma but there is a strong sweet and fruity smell.

Mouthfeel

The surface of the chocolate feels very smooth and even initially. However as the chocolate melts in the mouth, it feels slightly rough and textured. The chocolate melts slowly into a very fine and smooth liquid. But surface of the remaining chocolate chunk feels rough and may give rise to the false impression of a floury liquid.

Taste

The chocolate has a dark cacao flavour with hints of a nicely balanced bitterness and astringency. There is a distinct and subtle sweetness that combines with the dark cacao into a smooth and almost velvety taste. After a little while, the bitterness develops notes of roasted nuts.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is a strong cacao flavour that spreads everywhere and notes of the distinct sweetness of the cacao. The cacao notes towards the rear of the mouth remain more present as time passes.

Summary

This chocolate has a distinct sweetness that combines nicely with the dark, bitter and nutty notes of the cacao. It melts slowly into a fine liquid although its surface can feel rough and textured.

Verdict

The chocolate has an usual and nicely warming rich combination of cacao, bitterness and sweetness. It emphasises the cacao quality of the product. When melting, the surface of the chocolate can feel slightly rough and create the false impression of a product that melts into a floury liquid. 4 Stars.

Dates

Best before 08/11/2016, tasted 05&20&26/11/2016