Chocolate of the Day
Manoa Chocolate
Hawai'i Island Kealakekua 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, online order
Aloha, and welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.
Today's Hawai'i Island Kealakekua 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, O'ahu, HI).
Kona lies on the west side of Hawai'i island, aka the Big Island, that is hotter and drier than the Hilo/east side of the island). The sloped spot has rich volcanic soil and there are several small farms growing coffee and cacao, with the help of irrigation, in this region.
Aroma notes for this Hawai'i dark chocolate (in order of appearance) included: fermentation (fruit vinegar, raisin)--a note that receded after the bar was opened for a few minutes, dark chocolate (ganache), nutty green, faint, sweet wood, and faint, fleeting, fertile ranch earth notes.
The texture was even, light and creamy with a very, very faint fruit astringency at the end.
Chocolate flavor notes included dark chocolate mousse, honey, tart melon and citrus, light lemon and nut shortbread cookie, pleasing botanical green (sweet green seed, vanilla-like floral spice), and very faint (and balanced) light, garden green earth notes.
This was another Manoa Chocolate Hawaiian chocolate bar this week (the second featured with Hawai'i Island grown cacao), with rich chocolate flavor that had nuanced depth.
This balanced, bold chocolate with subtle fruit, nut and green notes was well-crafted and approachable, with a friendly array of island plantation notes. Most of these Manoa bars this week ended with a very slight, balanced earth note toward the end--although each of these earth notes had a very slightly different earth "hue."
Manoa maker's description: "...Kealakekua is hot and dry. Normally, cacao trees would be unable to survive the harsh lava field conditions, but with irrigation they thrive." (Notes: fruity, nutty, fudgey, citrusy)
Manoa suggested beverage pairings: Wine: Gamay; Beer: Brown Ale; Liquor: Islay Scotch
Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter
Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that processes milk powder and nuts."