Cacao Crudo - Gianduja (Nocciole non tostate) Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 1, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo 
Gianduja Nocciole non tostate) Cioccolato Fondente Bio 
Gianduja (unroasted hazelnuts) Organic Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar|
Calories: 153.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - sample from Cacao Crudo
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Cacao Crudo

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate, Nuts and More Theme Week.

Today's Gianduja Nocciole non tostate (unroasted hazelnuts) Cioccolato Fondente Bio (Organic Dark Chocolate) (bar) from Cacao Crudo (Roma, Italy) had a clean, green aroma with a date/raisin-like sweetness and very faint tangy, sweet green banana (fruit) cacao notes. 

This organic, dark chocolate was delightfully creamy--and fairly pliable, so do store in a cool place, out of direct sun. It had a thick, very smooth chocolate hazelnut spread-like consistency, only much better (in my opinion). It wasn't overwhelmed by sugar(s), and contained no oils or other additives you might find in a jar of most chocolate and nut spreads.

The unroasted, ground hazelnut paste contributed a very mild nutty flavor (as did the 50% unroasted cacao from Peru). The fully integrated nut + cacao flavor blend was subtle and pleasing. 

Cacao Crudo has continued to prove that unroasted cacao can be rich, enjoyable and interesting. And with the right cacao, raw chocolate can achieve a subtle complexity just as wonderful as bolder roasted varieties. 

Based on tasting their chocolate, the makers have a deep understanding of flavor preservation. If you choose a beautiful heritage (Criollo) cacao, brimming with gentle fruit and cream flavors, the last thing you'd want to do would be to over-roast or over-process this cacao, as you'd lose these prized, subtle flavor notes. 

The "more" today is a bonus entry that will follow this one...another great chocolate and hazelnut bar from this same chocolate maker.

Ingredients: "Organic, not roasted cacao Criollo beans paste (50%), not roasted Tonda Gentile Romana hazelnut(s) paste (30%), organic, concentrated coconut flower sap."