Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Mashpi Chocolate - 65% Cacao Chocolate (mini bar) - Oct. 8, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
65% Cacao Chocolate (Mini bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .212 oz. (6 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total pack of 10 Mini bars
Calories: 35 calories in 1 mini bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 pack of 10 Mini bars
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's 65% Cacao Chocolate mini bar was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV). It was part of a larger 10-bar variety assortment.

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma." 

Aroma and flavor notes for this chocolate included: rich, smooth dark chocolate with fruit (cacao fruit pulp syrup + very faint brown sugar).

Texture: pleasantly smooth dark chocolate with an attractive melt.

I loved the complex, bright and almost earthy sweetness (think sweet potato/yam + citrus, melon, mango and maple syrup brownies). Cacao fruit (pulp that surrounds the seeds) flavors vary a lot, depending on the cacao variety, ripeness and origin/where it was grown. It can taste like many other tropical fruits melded together, like watermelon candy; and/or, like today, its very unique self. 

This 65% Masphi dark chocolate would be great in a side-by-side chocolate tasting, if for no other reason to enjoy the range of sweet, cacao fruit notes, and the relatively low level of bitterness.

I appreciated: the short list of (just three) authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: Cacao mass, raw sugar cane, cacao butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)   

Mashpi Chocolate - Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar) - Oct. 7, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The Ecuadorian Nacional Cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma" grown in Ecuador.

Aroma and flavor notes for this 80% cacao chocolate included: rich, dark, (chocolate-y) chocolate with  sweet green (botanical, almost floral), diffuse tropical fruit (cacao fruit pulp) and balanced, slightly woody/nutty, toasty cacao nibs. It had a pleasant, clean finish with a very faint, doubly dark chocolate cookie/brownie--made with brown sugar--taste.

Texture: smooth, chocolate-y texture. 

Relatively low in bitterness and acidity, this dark chocolate was full of balanced cacao flavor(s) and gentle complexity. 

I enjoyed tasting both yesterday's Mashpi 80% bar with unroasted cacao (which had more nuanced sweet green, maybe a little clay and less nutty/toasty notes) as well as today's 80% bar made with (roasted) cacao. 

Today's bar had a flavor profile similar to Mashpi's dark chocolate bar with cacao nibs, but with a smoother texture. (The nibs were fully ground/incorporated in this version.) I found this Ecuadorian cacao (and this batch/lot) to be very friendly and tasty.

I appreciated the short list of (just two!) authentic and quality ingredients; as well as the company's thoughtful commitment to and practice of regenerative agriculture.

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.) 

*The vast majority of the world's chocolates are made with roasted cacao, so you'll rarely see the word "roasted" mentioned on the packaging or list of ingredients (because it's assumed the cacao was roasted). Happily a few makers include information on cacao roast profiles. (Usually said makers have experience roasting coffee, or have customers who appreciate these details).

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