Saturday, April 23, 2022

Kaitxo - Txokolate Con Leche - Regaliz y Violetas - Apr. 23, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Kaitxo
Txokolate Con Leche - Regaliz y Violetas
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 2.4 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Txokolate Con Leche Regaliz y Violetas (Milk Chocolate Liquorice and Violets) bar was made in Spain by Kaitxo Kraft Basque Txokolate (Balmaseda, Spain).

Chocolate almost always has an international story to tell. This bar included ingredients from at least two different continents. European licorice is some of the best--made from licorice root from Europe and Asia. Edible violets/viola flowers can be found in Europe, North America and elsewhere. And the cacao used to make this bar was grown in Peru, according to the packaging.

The chocolate smelled at its best and most intriguing after being open for a few minutes. (Like some fine wines, some higher-end, craft and single origin chocolates can benefit from being allowed to "breathe" a bit after first being opened.) Aroma notes included: chocolate (clay soil, light nut and wood, chocolate-y), light floral (violet, vanilla) and very faint herbal (root) notes. 

Smooth, creamy milk chocolate was punctuated by crunchy, sugary violet flower (candied violet) bits.

This milk chocolate bar had a pleasing, harmonic complexity. Skillfully made, the sweet slightly earthy, nutty chocolate was balanced by the somewhat "darker" licorice (liquorice) root flavor and brightened by the subtle floral notes from the candied violets. A faint hint of uplifting vanilla added warmth. 

The end result was a subtle undulation of flavors that served as a fitting celebration of spring, temperate rain forests, gardens, and chocolate + botanical blends--all on my list of favorite things. 

This bar would also be a fun gift, especially for those who appreciate flavors like root beer and authentic licorice root. The licorice was important, but relatively subtle and well-managed in this bar.

Ingredients: Sugar, powdered milk, cacao, cacao butter, emulsifier (soya lecithin), vanilla extract, liquorice (2%), and violets (1%).

Allergen-related information: "May contains (sic) traces of peanuts, tree nuts and soy, wheat and milk products."


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