Libeert Belgian Chocolate Creators - Ecuador 71% Dark Origin Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 30, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Libeert s.a. - Belgian Chocolate Creators
Ecuador 71% Dark Origin Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.35 oz. (40 g.) / 2.7 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 255 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Ecuador 71% Dark Origin Chocolate (bar) was from Libeert s.a. - Belgian Chocolate Creators (Comines, Belgium).

Belgian chocolates have been made from cacao blends (no origin listed), and/or been made with West African cacao (where most of the world's supply is currently grown).

However, a larger number of Belgian chocolate bars are now available made with cacao from other/single origins, including Central and South America.

This thin bar had a slightly buttery melt, and cocoa/true chocolate, light floral, fruit, earth and nut notes. A balanced, subtle bouquet of flavors.

The maker's description read: "Roasted cocoa with...hints of humus and flowers." 

Palette de Bine - Equateur Esmeraldas 75% bar - Aug. 29, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Palette de Bine
Equateur Esmeraldas 75% (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.235 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 185 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Equateur Esmeraldas 75% bar was from Palette de Bine (Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada).

In art, a wood palette might be used to mix paints that are applied to a surface to create a finished work of fine art. One could draw an analogy here and apply it to chocolate. Or, a literal translation of the company name, would be "palette of good." Either way...

This bar was shaped like a wood plank and had an appealing true chocolate flavor throughout, with balanced fruit (peach/nectarine with a touch of raspberry), an upbeat floral note, and a faint nuttiness.

There was a very, very slight astringency/graininess in the texture toward the finish, but the bar was very well crafted overall. Together, these flavors and textures created a fine, finished piece.