Showing posts with label Chocolat Bonnat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chocolat Bonnat. Show all posts

Friday, December 1, 2023

Bonnat Chocolatier - Indonesia Java Milk 65% (bar) - Dec. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Bonnat Chocolatier
Indonesia Java Milk 65% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 209 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Indonesia Theme Week.

Today's Indonesia Java Milk 65% (bar) was from Bonnat Chocolatier (aka Chocolat Bonnat), based in Voiron, Isere, France. The company has been making chocolate for almost 140 years.

The cacao used to make this bar was from Java (a large island in the Indonesian archipelago), located west of Bali and south of Borneo.

Aroma notes for this bar included: bold dark chocolate and cream of rice cereal with milk, sugar and butter.

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap, and had a satisfying, creamy, buttery texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, faint grain/cereal, and very faint brown bread. The choice of a bit more cocoa butter, sugar and milk (65% cacao vs. 70% cacao dark chocolate) seemed like a good choice. The cacao was fairly bold, and seemed well managed in this bar.

Ingredients: Cocoa (Indonesie), cocoa butter, sugar, milk powder; 65% cocoa minimum.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk. 

Monday, September 25, 2023

Chocolat Bonnat - No. 3 - Les Sirenes Philippines Chocolat Noir 75% de Cacao (bar) - Sept. 24, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolat Bonnat
No. 3 - Les Sirenes Philippines Chocolat Noir 75% de Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 3.53 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150.75 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and The Philippines Theme Week.*

Today's limited edition, No. 3 - Les Sirenes Philippines Chocolat Noir 75% de Cacao (bar) was from Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron Cedex, France).

Cacao was transported to the Philippines from Mexico by Spanish galleon ships as far back as the early 1600s.

Aroma and flavor notes included: bittersweet, baked fudge brownie, subtle caramel, butter, fleeting berry, spice and nut notes. 

The texture for this three-ingredient chocolate was notable: a very creamy texture (small particle size) with a melt and mouthfeel consistent with a generous amount of high-quality, pure cocoa butter. (No emulsifiers/lecithins here.)

Ingredients: Cacao, Cacao butter, Sugar

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on wrapper)

*This is the second single origin week this year (2023) featuring cacao grown in the Philippines.

 

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Chocolat Bonnat - Madre de Dios 75% Cacao "Perou" (bar) - Apr. 16, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Madre de Dios - Chocolat noir 75% de cacao "Perou" (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 301.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Madre de Dios Chocolat noir 75% de cacao "Perou" (bar) was from Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, Isere, France).

Subtly complex and silky smooth, this bar had a creamy melt, with muted earth, jungle nut, and delicate fruit flavor notes.

Added cocoa butter gave this bar its classic Bonnat buttery texture and softly veiled fine cacao flavor. What came through was a subtle, complex Criollo-like variety cacao, dressed up in a fabulous, French silk evening gown that was easy on the eyes and palette.

This bar was also rather dear; at $18.50 (USD), I'm hoping that some of the proceeds went to help save the ancient, heritage cacao trees in this area--the Madre de Dios region in southeastern Peru that borders on Brazil and Bolivia, and that has a terrain described as low-lying Amazon rainforest.

It's easy to be smug about what needs to be done in a rainforest when you're eating chocolate in some far off, relatively prosperous northern city (that, sadly, was clear cut of its own native trees centuries ago). Kudos and best wishes to those working to preserve native strains of cacao and other rare and valuable trees and botanicals in the Amazon basin. Muchas gracias, merci and thank you to all who worked hard to produce today's great chocolate.


Thursday, March 26, 2020

Bonnat - Selva Maya 75% cacao (bar) - Mar. 25, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat 
Selva Maya 75% cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 300 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Selva Maya* 75% cacao (bar) had a light spice, fruit and very faint, fleeting green, aroma; and it was light and fruity and tasted sweeter than expected for a 75% cacao dark bar. It had a gentle complexity to it with very slight earthiness and cocoa flavor in the finish. 

The description on the packaging described the chocolate as "very balanced, fruity" and "intense but delicate." The latter phrase may sound contradictory, but it was accurate.

This three-ingredient** bar was made from "an ancient cacao"...that had been "rediscovered and rescued after many years of research and adventure in the deepest part of the Mayan territory in the heart of Chiapas" (in SW Mexico, north of Guatemala). The unique cacao origin story helps explain the relatively high price ($18.50 USD for this 100 gram bar).

* Selva Maya in English translates to: Maya Jungle
** Ingredients: "Bitter chocolate, cocoa butter, sugar"





Bonnat - Morenita 65% Mexico bar - Mar. 24, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Morenita 65% Mexico (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 167 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week, via France.

Today's French chocolate duo involved a re-tasting of a Madagascar bar from Chapon Chocolatier (France), accompanied by a Morenita 65% Mexico bar from Chocolat Bonnat (France).

The latter Chocolat Bonnat dark milk bar had the heavenly buttery, creamy texture, melt and mouthfeel that Bonnat bars often have. And the smooth rich flavor was lovely too with a light hint of caramel.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Chocolate Bonnat - Cote d'Ivorie Chocolat Noir 75% Cocoa (bar) - Nov. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Cote d'Ivorie - Chocolat Noir 75% Cocoa (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 242.42 calories in 40 g. of bar
Cost: $8.95 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)*

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Africa Theme Week.

Today's Cote d'Ivorie 75% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, gluten free bar, was from Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, France).

Most of world's cacao used to make chocolate comes from Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivorie) and Ghana. And yet today's bar was/is one of the few (branded) single origin Ivory Coast chocolate bars to be found.

The smooth chocolate had true deep dark, uniform chocolate flavor with a hint of dairy/cream (there was no added dairy product in this bar) and very faint, fleeting green/coconut note. It had a creamy melt and texture** and was not too sweet (thank you).

*Note: This bar is currently sold out on Chocosphere.com

**Ingredients: cocoa beans, cocoa butter and sugar. Chocolat Bonnat bars are known for their creamy texture, achieved through technique and with added cocoa butter.

Copyright 2019. Unauthorized use of the text and/or images from this site, www.ChocolateBanquet.com, is a copyright violation.





Sunday, January 20, 2019

Chocolat Bonnat - Piura Blanco Perou 75% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar - Jan. 20, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat
Piura Blanco Perou 75% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar
Good +++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

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

Today's Chocolat Bonnat Piura Blanco Perou 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir (Dark Chocolate) bar was made with Criollo cacao ("white beans") from the Piura cacao-growing region in northwest Peru.

This bar had a smooth, creamy melt and texture, notes of complex fruit (including citrus, tart stone fruit, berries) and a hint of coffee.*

*Chocolate maker's tasting notes read: "lightly acidulated and fruity flavors"

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Chocolat Bonnat - Cacao Cusco Perou 75% Dark bar - Jan. 19, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Cacao Cusco Perou 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir bar
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

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

Today's Chocolat Bonnat Cacao Cusco Perou 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir bar was made with cacao grown in the Amazon region of  Peru.

This bar had a clean aroma and flavor with fruit and green coconut notes*, and
a creamy melt and texture—characteristic of many Bonnat chocolate bars.

*The maker's notes also listed notes of sugar cane.





Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Chocolat Bonnat - Ceylan 75% Chocolat Noir bar - Feb. 19, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Ceylan 75% Chocolat Noir (Dark Chocolate) bar
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 121.2 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $13.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's Ceylan 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir (Dark Chocolate) bar was made by Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, France) and distributed by Custom Source LLC (Worcester, MA).

Every Bonnat dark chocolate bar I recall tasting has had a luscious buttery, creamy texture. This gluten free bar made with cacao beans grown in Ceylan* was no exception. It had a faint sweet leather aroma note, a rich, full chocolatey flavor, a faint sour cherry note and a slightly bittersweet finish. 
Tasting notes described this Ceylan bar has having Asian flavors. Not sure what that meant exactly. I didn't pick up any spice or other notes I associated with SE Asia chocolate or cuisine.

*The name Ceylan (Ceylon) is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean, south of India. 

The people of this island have felt the presence of European nations: first, the Portuguese in the early 1500s and then the Dutch (Dutch India Company), before falling under British rule from 1815 to 1948. 

The British brought a variety of plantation crops to grow on the island, including tea, rubber, coffee and presumably cacao. Ceylon became known for its lush tea plantations under British rule. Were it not for labor practices there, more of the people might have experienced its enchanted isle status. 

Concerns over foreign powers, and pirates in the Indian Ocean, have been a part of the region for some time. In the early 1940s Japan was said to have designs on Ceylon. And occasional incidents of piracy (e.g., raids on commercial/trading ships) in the surrounding seas continue to the present decade.

The country eventually re-gained its independence; and in 1972, it became the Republic of Sri Lanka. Ceylon has continued to be influenced by India, China and other larger trading partners as they participate in the global economy, with exports like tea, textiles, rice and other agricultural products, like cacao.









Sunday, February 18, 2018

Chocolat Bonnat - Dark Chocolate Haiti 75% Cacao bar - Feb. 18, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat 
Dark Chocolate Haiti 75% Cacao bar
Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week.

Today's Haiti 75% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar from Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, France). This product of France was distributed by Custom Source LLC (Worcester, MA).


This chocolate had dried fruit and light spice notes. Like other Chocolat Bonnat bars, this three-ingredient (cocoa beans, cocoa butter, sugar) bar had buttery, creamy texture, and a pleasing finish.

Tasting notes on the packaging included this semi-awkwardly translated description: "...this rich and fragrant cocoa offers very chocolate flavors sliding toward a tangy citrus edge."

Perhaps the Republic of Haiti was once an enchanted isle in the distant past. It's easy to forget slavery and the violent side of piracy. Privateer Henry Morgan and other pirates once plied the waters and Morgan worked with the French. Ultimately, one positive historic development that grew out of that era was that the French brought cacao to Haiti in the early 1700s.

And, a few hundred year later, we are enjoying chocolate made from cacao raised and harvested by Haitian cacao farmers. Hurricane Matthew (2016) notwithstanding, the cacao production has been growing in recent years. Today's bar is a positive sign of what might be.

*Haiti is the western half of larger island that is Hispaniola. The eastern half is the Dominican Republic. Haitian cacao represents a fraction of the total cacao production from the total island that is Haiti and the Dominican Republic; but this may grow in the future with organizations like PISA (See yesterday's entry for more on PISA.)






Monday, October 30, 2017

Chocolat Bonnat - Kaori Bresil 75% bar - Oct. 30, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat
Kaori Bresil Chocolat Noir 75% bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 301 calories (estimate per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of South American Chocolate Theme Weeks.

Today's Kaori* Bresil Chocolat Noir (Dark Chocolate) 75% bar was from Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, France).

Bonnat bars featured in the past have all had a creamy, buttery melt and texture, and this three ingredient bar (cocoa, cocoa butter and sugar) was no exception.

The chocolate had a hint of slightly green (light/bright green foliage, green tea), almost floral aroma; and it had uniform, "soft and sunny" smooth authentic chocolate flavor.

*Kaori is the name of a Japanese family that cultivates cacao in Brazil. In Japanese the name means scent or fragrance, and can also refer to fabric weaving. This definition may not be directly related to today's bar, but it fits.


Saturday, October 1, 2016

Bonnat - Puerto Cabello 75% Noir bar - Oct. 1, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat
Puerto Cabello 75% Cacao Chocolat Noir bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Bienvenue a (Welcome to) Day #8 of French Chocolate Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Venezuela Theme Week.

Chocolat Bonnat (Bonnat Chocolatier) of Voiron, France has been making chocolate since 1884. Their historic crest is printed on the packaging.

Today's Bonnat Puerto Cabello 75 percent Cacao Chocolat Noir (dark chocolate) bar was made with cacao beans from the north coast of Venezuela.

The best bean-to-bar chocolate made from Venezuela cacao is complex, intriguing and full of rich flavor(s). The aroma of this bar was elegantly dark, slightly sweet, fruity, almost floral. And, like most Bonnat bars, the melt was creamy, almost buttery, and the texture very smooth.

The tasting arc was rich and exciting as each flavor layer unfolded: dried fruits, rich dark chocolate brownie, earth, even a slight nuttiness. There was one earthy flavor note I didn't care for quite as much, but otherwise this chocolate was fabulous and designed "To Be Enjoyed."

This French dark bar contained just three ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cocoa Butter and Sugar, and was gluten free.








Monday, February 8, 2016

Chocolat Bonnat - Trinite 75% dark bar - Feb. 7, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Trinite dark chocolate bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 176 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.95 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere (online order)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Some Enchanted Islands Theme Week.

Today's bar was made with cacao grown in Trinidad (of Trinidad and Tobago). We're still in the Caribbean, but this two-island nation is located southeast of the DR (where we were yesterday)—closer to South America

Trinite is the French translation of Trinidad. The Trinite 75% Cacao bar was from French chocolatemaker, Chocolat Bonnat (Voiron, France).

I ordered this bar from Chocosphere. Their tasting notes for this bar included: "Bonnat Trinite 75% Bittersweet Chocolate bar... Bursting with the Antilles sunshine..., its flavor becomes more and more pronounced as the chocolate melts in your mouth. A "must" in the line of great cocoas. Kosher pareve..."

This Bonnat Trinite bar had a very pleasing chocolate aroma—with well-integrated cocoa, fruit, and island spice notes. The first taste was slightly "darker" than I expected, given the relatively light, sweet aroma, but gradually unfolded to have rounder, rich notes. Added cocoa butter gave the bar a slow, thick, creamy melt that may have made this unfolding more gradual.

Our next stop in our island-themed tour will be a few thousand miles west. So, imagine if you will that we're boarding a virtual private jet to fly over the Panama Canal, and across the great, wide Pacific Ocean, to taste two bars from Papua New Guinea over the next few days.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.





Saturday, December 12, 2015

Chocolat Bonnat - M. Libânio 75% dark bar - Dec. 12, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat
M. Libanio "Bresil" 75% bar
Good++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/3 bar (12 squares)
Cost: $12.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week.

Today's M. Libanio "Bresil" 75% cacao bar was made by Chocolat Bonnat (France). Chief chocolate maker, Stephane Bonnat, is the chief bean-to-bar maker who carefully selects cacao beans to make a variety of creamy and flavorful single origin bars.

I was able to purchase two of Bonnat single origin Brazil bars (online) from Chocosphere (Tualatin, OR). Today's bar was the second of the two. (See yesterday's post for information on Bonnat's Vale do Juliana 75% bar.)

M. Libanio is the name of a plantation located in a coastal area of the state of Bahia, in Eastern Brazil.

Today's bar had faint coffee, spice and fruit aromas, creamy smooth texture, and a rich (complex but smooth) dark flavor.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Chocolat Bonnat - Vale do Juliana Bresil 75% bar - Dec. 11, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat
Vale do Juliana "Bresil" 75% bar
Good++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/3 bar (12 squares)
Cost: $12.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week.

Today's Vale do Juliana "Bresil" 75% cacao bar was made by Chocolat Bonnat (France). I was able to purchase two of these single origin Brazil bars (online) from Chocosphere (Tualatin, OR).

Vale do Juliana is the name of a fazienda (farm) located in the heart of coastal area Pratigi (in the municipality of Igrapiuna), in the state of Bahia, in Eastern Brazil. Chocolat Bonnat bars are known for their creamy texture and good flavor.

Today's bar had a faint aroma, a very creamy smooth texture, and a great tasting arc. The description printed on the bar's packaging reads: "This chocolate will offer the delicate fruity scents of earth and enthusiasm of character of the men who work." OK, maybe this description is not the best translation from French into English

People sometimes ask me how I evaluate chocolate. Great aroma, texture, flavor are all important. A great tasting arc is another answer I give. A fine chocolate is not overly homogenized; but rather it will give you a great ride, where beautifully complex flavors unfold, generally over a 10-15 second timeframe.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Bonnat - Los Colorados Equateur 75% bar - July 14, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat / Bonnat Chocolatier
Los Colorados Equateur (Ecuador) 75% de cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) piece of bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #10, the last day of an extended Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Los Colorados Equateur (Ecuador) tablette (bar) was made by Chocolate Bonnat (Voiron, Isere, France).

Bonnat is a business with a strong family history in chocolate. Felix Bonnat established a chocolate shop back in the1880s in the French town of Voiron. And the family tradition continues today. The current Maitre Chocolatier (head chocolatier) is Stephane Bonnat.

The company has produced at least 10 single origin chocolates, including today's Ecuador bar.*

This 75% cacao bar was made in France, with unroasted cacao beans shipped in from Ecuador -- from the Santa Domingo de Los Colorados region, so named because of the local colors there associated with the Tsachilas people, who dye their hair (and clothes) with plant materials (achiote and other natural colors).

SOMAChocolate.com
The bar's aroma was subtle and pleasing. One of the Bonnat hallmarks was apparent with the first bite of this bar -- a buttery, creamy texture and melt combined with good flavor (flavorful and balanced dried fruit, floral notes and cream). I also get a tiny whiff of floral-banana-marshmallow with many Ecuador bars, including this one. The overall flavor was quite good and without strong bitterness.

I enjoyed a similar 75% dark Ecuador from Bonnat last year, but the packaging was a different color, the bar title was different; and it's likely the harvest year was slightly earlier. So I don't think this was a repeat.

Just in case, I had a second single origin chocolate today, albeit not from Ecuador. (They were single origin truffles from SOMA Chocolatemaker (Toronto, Canada).) It was fruity and sweet and creamy and quite good. (The tasting notes mentioned wild raspberries and wildflower honey.)

*I was first introduced to Bonnat chocolate bars by Sunita de Tourreil, owner and chocolate curator extraordinaire at The Chocolate Garage (Palo Alto, CA). The creamy, buttery texture and smoother taste of these bars was a nice complement to some of the strong, bold flavors of craft bars emerging from the wave of new American makers several years ago. Thank you Sunita.


Monday, July 30, 2012

ChocolateBet: July 30, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Bonnat Chocolatier
(aka Chocolat Bonnat)
Surabaya Chocolat au lait bar
Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 173 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.00 total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Milk Chocolate Theme Week. The choice of the day was the Surabaya Chocolat au lait (milk chocolate) bar from Bonnat Chocolatier (Voiron, Isere, France, since 1884), with cocoa from three origins: Asfarth, Java and Surabaya, Indonesia.

This attractively packaged bar was "65% de cacao." Once again, a shorter ingredient list correlated with higher quality. The four ingredients were: cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar and milk powder. The consistency was in the "European style" --  that is, possessing a pleasing, creamy smooth mouth-feel. Because cocoa was the first ingredient (ahead of cocoa butter and sugar) there was a hint of richer chocolate aroma and flavor than is often detectable in overly sweet bars. Vive le chocolat.



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