Friday, July 2, 2010

ChocolateBet: July 2, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/3 bar
Republica del Cacao
Single Origin Dark Chocolate Bar - Ecuador
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .586 oz. (9.3 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 85 calories (estimate)
Cost: $misplaced info
Purchased from: misplaced info

Part of the fun of single origin bars is the story that comes with the chocolate. For the last two days, I tasted single origin chocolates from Venezuela; and now I've moved southwest to Ecuador. This particular 67% (cacao solids) bar was made from Arriba cacao beans from the Del Oro province, near the coast of Ecuador. The bar's label states that the chocolate was harvested and produced in Ecuador.

And now for the story part: According to the packaging, "The origin of (the name) 'Arriba' goes back to the XIX century, when a Swiss Chocolatier, traveling on the Guayas River (in Ecuador), impressed by the aroma, asked workmen unloading cacao sacks from a boat, where does the cacao aroma come from? They answered 'de rio arriba' or 'from up the river.'"

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Single Origin Theme Week, with a focus on South America.

ChocolateBet: July 1, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
.75 oz.
Il Cioccolato di Pasticcione
Le Monorigini (single origin) bar from Venezuela
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in 1 bar (estimate)
Calories: 108 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - Thank you Rick!
Purchased from: Il Cioccolato di Pasticcione - dal 1937; shop in Rome, Italy

I love finding bars with no sugar. Smooth and dark, this fondente extra, 100 percent cacao bar, senza zucchero (with no sugar), had a little bit of a flavor arc (which I like). I didn't get a lot of distinct, sharp or unique notes that might help me immediately recognize the country of origin (Venezuela). However, I am not a super-taster (yes, they exist), and I also didn't taste this side-by-side with any other similar bars, which might have been helpful.

I believe this chocolate may have contained a bit of cocoa butter and a hint of vanilla. However, the mention of the aroma of vanilla listed on the label could have been meant as a tasting note rather than a literal description of contents. Perhaps someday I will fly over to Rome to ask the shopowners.

Thank you to Rick who kindly sacrificed this chocolate bar for the cause, meaning this bar's appearance on Day #2 (July 1) of Chocolate and Single Origin Theme Week.
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