Thursday, March 26, 2015

Cacao de Origen - Macuare 82% bar - Mar. 26, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cacao de Origen
Macuare 82% bar
Good ++
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1.6 oz. (45.28 g.) (estimate) in 1 pouch with 2 bars
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. (14.1 g.) piece
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Cacao de Origen is bean-to-bar chocolate at its most specific -- created with beans from single region and plantation, these bars are all from Venezuela (and are hard to get in the U.S.).

Chocolate experts at Cacao de Origin + Chloe Doutre-Roussel formulated this slim pair of bars (two in one package/pouch) with two ingredients: 1.) Macuare cacao beans from Arturo Samana, Miranda, Venezuela, and 2.) sugar.

This Macuare 82% dark bar was darker than most single origin bars (less sugar), and was a merry-go-round of interesting flavors. It started with an intriguing aroma -- floral, salty earth, leather. The tasting experience unfolded in a unique, complex, but balanced, way. For example, there were also some slight bitter notes, but all these flavors were somehow kept in balance. There was just the right amount of sugar -- enough to add some brightness, but not enough to interfere with or mask the complex range of dark flavor notes.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Venezuela Theme Week.

Cacao de Origen - Chuao 75% bar - March 25, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cacao de Origen
Chuao 75% bar
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.65 oz. (46.6 g.) (estimate) in total pouch of 2 thin bars
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Venezuela Theme Week.

Chuao is a small coastal village in Aragua,Venezuela, with a large reputation in the chocolate world. The coastal town has scenic mountains and beaches; and the "sea-locked" Aragua valley that extends back from the Caribbean Sea is known for its cacao plantation(s) and reputation for excellent Criollo cacao beans.

Today's Cacao de Origen Chuao 75% single origin bar was made using cacao beans from Hacienda de Chuao/"Tisano The Cacao Company." This limited edition bar was produced in/by Hacienda La trinidad (Caracas, Venezuela).

This Chuao bar stood out from other Venezuela bars this week; it had a much brighter, citrus fruit flavor profile from the first bite.

Like yesterday's Cacao de Origen Agua Fria dark bar (from the state of Sucre), this Chuao bar was made with just cacao beans and sugar. Nothing else. So, the flavors shone through more clearly, for better or for worse. (In this case, better.) There were no additives, emulsifiers or extra sweeteners to hide behind.




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