White Label Chocolate - Uganda Semuliki Forest 100% (bar) - July 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label 
Uganda Semuliki Forest 100% (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA 

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

Today's White Label Uganda Semuliki Forest 100% dark chocolate (bar) was made in Santa Cruz, CA. 

This micro-batch bar was crafted using Forastero variety cacao grown on small farms in (Bundibugyo) Uganda.*

Aroma notes for this ultra-dark bar included: dark fruit (plum, purple/red grape) and true chocolate (deep, dark cocoa). 

This 100% cacao chocolate had a creamy smooth melt and texture.

Overall this bar had densely dark, relatively bitter and intense chocolate flavor. 100% (unsweetened) Forastero variety cacao beans can feel a bit intimidating (a bit like walking through a thick forest at night, with no light or sugar plum fairies in sight), and this bar was not for those with a sweet tooth. 

But, the taste also had some subtle complexity to it--most notably similar dark fruit notes (purple/red grape and dried plum) that were in the aroma, as well as a very faint, very fleeting (and not unpleasant) light savory greens note (cooked wood sorrel with salted butter).

Maker's tasting notes: "Goji berries, grape, deep cocoa"

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging that I could find.)

*The Forastero (Upper Amazon and Amelonado) cacao used to craft this chocolate was grown in Uganda by many farmers (smallholder farms of 1-3 acres), and harvested in the 2017/2018 season. The producer was Latitude Trade Co., a fermentation facility and organization that works directly with farmers. White Label is committed to transparent sharing of information and "beyond fair trade cacao."