Chocolate of the Day: Continental Best
Vanuato Kakaw
Dark Chocolate bar
Good
Weight: 1.41 oz. (4 squares) (40 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 4 squares of bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Stars USA, online orderWelcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.
Today's Vanuato Kakaw Dark Chocolate bar (made in Mexico). Cacao has been enjoyed in Mexico since the time of the olmecas (Olmec people) in the years between 5,000-400 B.C.
The 60% Cacao dark chocolate was relatively smooth and sweet with a light vanilla* and spice note. (There was vanilla added to this bar, but the light "spice" note was from the cacao.)A few squares of this bar could be enjoyed as an a la carte snack, or melted to make a traditional corn and chocolate beverage, or even a Mexican-inspired fondue base.
However, today, flecks of this bar were mixed in with some ice cream with vanilla, coffee and spices, including allspice.**
*The original inhabitants of Mexico enjoyed cacao with spices, flowers, maize and other items in beverages and dishes with stone ground cacao. Vanilla orchids/beans would also have been available to early Mexican peoples as well as cacao.
**Allspice is native to southern Mexico and Central America and is a spice still used by Maya people when making cacao beverages and confections.
