Friday, April 2, 2021

Friis Holm - La Dalia 100% (Nicaragua bar) - Apr. 2, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Friis-Holm Chokolade
La Dalia 100% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $20.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Nicaragua Theme Week.

Today's La Dalia 100% (bar) was from Friis-Holm Chokolade (Hvalso, Denmark).

La Dalia is a largely rural area (that includes a town) in Nicaragua (near Matagalpa and Jinotega). The sub-tropical forests and volcanic soils in this hilly region are well-suited for growing cacao trees. 

Nicaragua is one of several cacao cradle/origin countries in Central America. Cacao has been cultivated and appreciated here for centuries. Happily, a handful of dedicated farmers and fermenteries have connected with skilled artisan chocolate makers around the world in recent decades--resulting in some great chocolates.

This aroma of this bar had light, pleasant notes of concentrated/dried fruits, raw sugars, nuts, dark chocolate and very faint, freshly mowed sweet, green grass.

The creamy, rapid melt and velvety smooth texture were enjoyable and luxurious.

Over time, the brain learns to be prepared for the surprising disconnect between the sweet aroma and the bitter taste of unsweetened, 100% cacao chocolates. Added cocoa butter* can help cushion the blow.

The flavor of this unsweetened, 100% cacao bar was like landing on a large, silk cushion--which is to say, it wasn't as bitter as expected. The deep, roasted cacao bitter flavor in this two-ingredient bar did surface but it was steady and balanced; there was no scary spikiness to it. 

*Ingredients: Cacao beans, cocoa butter.


Triangle Roasters - Nicaragua - 70% Nicaragua La Colonia (bar) - Apr. 1, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Triangle Roasters
Nicaragua - 70% Nicaragua La Colonia (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48.11 g.) in total bar
Calories: 265 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Nicaragua Theme Week.

Today's 70% Nicaragua La Colonia (bar) from Triangle Roasters (Philadelphia, PA) was well executed and complex. Its shimmering aroma and flavor notes held my attention, and sparked joy, from start to finish. 

The aroma was delightfully multi-layered with very faint green tea latte, light sponge cake, brown sugar, light spice (cinnamon, vanilla), subtle fruit (goji berry, golden raisin) notes. A few minutes later there was a very faint umami/savory (leather, mushroom) note.

The bright chocolate flavor was fruit-forward (ripe boysenberry--a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry) with a fleeting but balanced earthy nut (walnut) note. A pleasant fruity tartness bloomed (into tart cherry) after the first chew and lingered into the long finish, that ultimately ended with a polite, earthy nut note. 

The maker's notes read as follows: "toffee, blackberry, hazelnut."

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar.


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...