Sunday, November 20, 2016

Frederic Blondeel - Peru Brutus 75% bar - Nov. 20, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Frederic Blondeel
Peru Brutus 75% bar - VIII Tablette
Good ++
Weight: .79 oz. (22.5 g.) / 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 119 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draeger's, San Mateo, CA

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

Today's bar made with Peuvian cacao was made by Frederic Blondeel Belgium.* The Peru Brutus 75% bar (VIII Tablette) was one of ten single origin bars from the company—and one of three Peru 75% bars (or tablettes).**

This bar had a faint, pleasant green aroma and flavor that unfolded into a smooth dark chocolate with fruit notes.

However, what was most remarkable was the stone-ground texture. I am used to biting into Belgian and Swiss bars that are super smooth (where the chocolate has been conched/ground for days, creating a tiny particle size and creamy texture).

The sophisticated, more traditional European packaging and bar appearance fooled me (despite the stone-ground seal). I was not expecting rustic, crystal-like texture. This bar was truly crunchy and full of flavor, with an even melt, smooth dark flavor and a clean finish.

Most chocolatiers buy their chocolate in blocks from larger, bean-to-bar chocolate makers, melt them down and mold them into bars and confections. However, Frederic Blondeel Chocolatier is a bean-to-bar chocolatier who starts with the bean—and roasts their own cocoa beans. (Blondeel grew up in a coffee roasting family.) The chocolate maker also controls how they process the bean and so can make stone-ground or finer-ground chocolate as they please.

*Frederic Blondeel also has a Hong Kong office.
** The three Peru single origin bars were: today's Brutus Peru 75% bar (Tablette VIII) with "high acidity, very powerful, distinctive aromas;" the Peru 75% (Tablette VII) with "high acidity, notes of flowers, long finish"; and a new raw Peru 75% bar.




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