Monday, May 18, 2015

Lillie Belle Farms - Perfect Illusion 65% bar - May 18, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lillie Belle Farms
Perfect Illusion 65% bar
Good++
Weight: 2.06 oz. (57.75 g.) / 2.75 oz. (77 g.) in total bar
Calories: 309 calories (estimate) in 3/4 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Lillie Belle Farms, Central Point, OR

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Lillie Belle Farms' (Central Point, OR) makes bars and confections. The company's Perfect Illusion 65% Bean-to-Bar Dark Chocolate bar was crafted with just two ingredients (cocoa beans and sugar) using "rare White Beans from the remote valleys of Peru."

The maker description states that these mysterious (organic, fair trade) white beans "...are so special that we had to promise not to reveal exactly how we got them..."

The white beans have mild but complex flavor and seem to lack the bitter grapefruit twist that some other Peruvian beans seem to have. More cacao trees with fruit containing these white beans have been planted in the last several years; but it can take five years or more before harvests from trees become reliable/bountiful.

So, we may be seeing and tasting more of these beans in our chocolate in the future; but, in the meantime we can enjoy bars like this one.

So, how was it?

This very thick, gluten-free and vegan bar was well tempered and broke with a hard snap. It was smooth throughout the tasting experience, albeit with a slightly slower melt due to the bar's thickness. As the flavors were released they were varied and subtle -- with hints of dried fruit, cafe mocha/latte (there was no milk in this bar), and molasses. The bar was intriguingly complex; but no one flavor note jumped out as being too strong or visible. It all was unfolding slightly below the surface.

"Is it an illusion? Or is this just the best chocolate you have ever eaten?" the bar's packaging notes ask the reader? I don't know. You'll have to try this Good Food Awards winning bar to decide.




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