Chocolate of the Day
Beyond Good
Madagascar Organic Pure Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.32 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Half Moon Bay, CA
Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week.
Today's Beyond Good Organic Madagascar Pure Dark 80% Cocoa (bar) was distributed by Madecasse LLC (Brooklyn, NY).
As with yesterday' 92% single origin Madagascar bar from the same company, the cacao was grown in Madagascar and made into chocolate in Madagascar, allowing more money to stay in the country of origin.
Aroma and flavor notes for this ultra-dark bar included: green botanical (sweet green, tree sap/syrup) dark, acidic/tart stone and dried fruits (prune, fig, candied citrus), ultra-dark chocolate blender-ized with prune-orange marmalade). Later, into the finish, the acidity mellowed and there were fainter, diffuse fruit (plum, lighter tropical (tart-sweet mango), very faint goji berry), and faint green forest.
Texturally, this chocolate had an even, smooth melt and a very slight granular mouthfeel.
The fruit acidity level was relatively high (higher than the darker, 92% version of this bar featured yesterday), the level of bitterness was balanced and not too high.
Created from only four ingredients, this dark chocolate captured lots of flavors cultivated and developed in Madagascar, where cacao was grown, fermented, dried and made into chocolate.
Beyond Good pure dark chocolates illustrate what made "in-country" chocolate can be: complex and interesting chocolate to taste and explore, with a much simplified supply chain, where cacao farmers reap more of the proceeds.
Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic sunflower lecithin (emulsifier).
Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk and tree nuts." Gluten free, soy free, vegan.