Sunday, September 8, 2013

Francois Pralus Caracas bar - Sept. 8, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Francois Pralus
Caracas Trinitario 75% bar
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (12.6 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 66 calories (estimate) in 4 small squares (1/8 bar)
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

There is a lot to like about the smooth, European-style, chocolate from Francois Pralus (Roanne, France). Unlike some, more rustic (cocoa beans + sugar) single origin dark chocolate bars, today's bar had a buttery mouthfeel - thanks to a bit of added cocoa butter and non-GMO soy lecithin.

Other contributing factors to a smoother texture lie in decisions made in the chocolate-making process.  Conching chocolate for long periods, yields a smaller ground cacao bean particle size. However, this extra processing may also allow certain volatile flavor compounds to escape, so care must be taken.

Today's Caracas 75% bar made with beans from Venezuela, had both smoothness and relatively robust flavor that I associated with Trinitario cacao beans from South America.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Venezuela Theme Week. 
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