Chocolate of the Day
Chocolate Tree
Cacao Fruit Guatemala 100% Bean to Bar (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 167 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: B&C, online order
Welcome to Day #20 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week, and Happy 7,000th chocolate day on Chocolate Banquet.*
Today's Cacao Fruit Guatemala (bar) was from Chocolate Tree (East Lothian, Scotland). This bar is part of their Bean to Bar collection "crafted from ancestral and rare cacao."
A blend of Criollo hybrids and Arriba Nacional cacao varieties were used to make this chocolate.
I love the attractive chocolate molds Chocolate Tree makers have been using for their bars. Today's pattern: interlocking birds/toucans. This dovetailed with my interest in birds and wildlife (and memories of seeing toucans in the wild in Central America).
Aroma and flavor notes included: deep, rich chocolate, and sweet, aromatic and fruity (fermented cacao pulp).
Texture: The chocolate broke with a subdued but audible snap (in a cool room); and it had a thick, creamy texture with a long, luxurious melt.
This bar yielded an intense, truly authentic 100% cacao experience--with cacao beans and cacao pulp juice. The bitterness of the high-percentage cacao was balanced by the tangy-sweet, freeze-dried cacao juice that added concentrated fruit flavor(s) and complex sweetness to this ultra-dark bar.
The three potent ingredients--pure cacao (cacao beans (solids), cacao pulp/fruit juice, and cacao butter (fat)) resulted in a tremendously satisfying bar. One small piece might be enough for many people. I loved it and ate half a bar; and felt energetic for hours. Maybe not the best chocolate to share with those who are sensitive to bitter/strong flavors. But, ultra-dark chocolate lovers should try this special bar.
Maker's Tasting Notes: "Pear, Lychee, Citrus, Strawberry. Pair with: Non-Peated Whisky, Fresh Fruit"
Ingredients: "Organic cocoa beans, freeze dried cacao fruit juice (30%), organic cocoa butter."
Allergen-related information: "Nuts and dairy are used in our factory."
*This Chocolate Banquet (blog) has featured a different chocolate item every day since September 11, 2006, along with occasional chats with makers and tales of chocolate art and adventures.
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