Friday, March 31, 2017

Arete - Viet Nam Tien Giang 73% dark bar - Mar. 31, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Arete Fine Chocolate
Viet Nam Tien Giang 73 percent Dark Chocolate bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 172.5 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week.

Today's Viet Nam Tien Giang 73 percent Dark Chocolate bar was artfully made by David and Leslie Senk of Arete Fine Chocolate (Milpitas, CA), a small batch, bean-to-bar maker in the Silicon Valley area.

They named their company Arete, and the definition (excellence, virtue, striving to meet one's fullest potential, reaching for the stars) does seem to be a great fit. The chocolate offerings they have carefully crafted—including today's Vietnam (or Viet Nam) dark bar—are proof of that.

I could eat this bar on a regular basis very easily. The aroma was very pleasing with delicate, naturally sweet citrus, floral and fruit notes. The melt and texture were even and smooth.

The bar had a light green, forest* in spring flavor with mild dried fruit and faint raisin toast notes, with a clean finish.


Note: Arete recently began offering a Viet Nam Lam Dong 73 percent dark chocolate, single origin bar. I look forward to trying this bar in the future.

*It may have been my imagination, but the aroma reminded me of the lovely citrus, floral highlights in Juniper Ridge Douglas Fir tea. New growth, or tips, appear at the end of Douglas Fir branches in the spring and are quite tasty. You might be surprised by their delicate flavor. 

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