Chocolat Madagascar - Mokarana Honey Fine Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao (bar) - May 16, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Chocolat Madagascar
Mokarana Honey Fine Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao (bar)

Good ++
Weight: 1.325 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 222 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar 
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar 

Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Bees and Trees Theme Week.

Today's Mokarana Honey Fine Dark Chocolate 85% Cacao (bar)--made with Cacao Grand Cru de Sambirano--was from Chocolat Madagascar (United Kingdom). 

The company is based in the UK, but the chocolate was crafted (tree-to-bar/"in country") by Chocolaterie Robert (Antananarivo, Madagascar).

Aroma notes included: chocolate, faint spice and very faint banana bread and sweet green seed/nut.

Texture: relatively soft, velvety dark chocolate

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate fudge brownie with honey.

I enjoyed the gently complex aroma and flavor elements: fudge brownie, honey, spice, fruit (banana), and that the chocolate wasn't too sweet--or too bitter for an ultra-dark 85% cacao bar. 

Ingredients: Madagascar cocoa beans, Mokarana Honey. (Madagascar Origin)."

Allergen-related information: "May contain milk, soya & cashew nuts."

Chocolaterie Robert - Organic 70% Madagascar bar - Feb. 15, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolaterie Robert
Chocolat Madagascar Organic 70% Cocoa bar
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $N/A - part of a larger subscription box
Purchased from: Cocoa Runners (online order)

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week.

This Chocolat Madagascar Organic 70% Cocoa bar was made by Chocolaterie Robert ("Malagasy cocoa farmers and chocolatier" based in Antananarivo, Madagascar).

Cocoa beans are often shipped to Europe or North America for processing into chocolate. However, this company makes their chocolate in the same country as the beans of origin.

This particular 70% organic bar contained two ingredients: Madagascar cocoa beans and Madagascar organic cane sugar.

The bar was flavorful—with characteristic fruity Madagascar (citrus, red fruit) acidity, and a touch of balanced bitterness and earthiness.

Nutrition Facts - Theobromine
Another unique thing about this bar was the "Nutrition Facts" information posted on the back of the packaging. In addition to info about carbohydrate, protein and fat percentages—and certain mineral content (Magnesium and Phosphorus)—the amount of theobromine was listed.

Theobromine is a stimulant (similar to caffeine) found in cacao (Theobroma cacao) and chocolate. Today's (entire) bar contained 680 mg. of Theobromine (800 mg per 100 g.). For those sensitive to Theobromine, information about levels would be useful. Hats off to Chocolaterie Robert for including this.

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

Chocolaterie Robert - Nibs, Orange Brandy, Passion chocolates - December 5, 2012

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Robert Chocolatier (aka Chocolaterie Robert)
1.) Chocolat Noir aux eclats de Cacao (bar)
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Assortment Box - Individual chocolates
2.) Orangea Lait - Good - Good +
3.) Passion - Good
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $ N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift - Thank you Toni and Paul

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week. A winter waterfall hike earlier today inspired a hearty fondue dinner entree and dessert: 1.) smoked chicken, mango habanero sausages dipped in mango chutney and a sweet and spicy sauce, and 2.) a chocolate fondue with mango, fresh pineapple and other fruits.

It's December here in California, but it's mango season in Madagascar -- a large island nation known for producing fine cacao -- and home to today's chocolates. I tried several sauce/fondue combinations, before settling on a combination of mango chutney and spicy barbeque sauce, with a sprinkle of cacao nibs.

For dessert, I incorporated three different chocolates made in Madagascar, from Chocolaterie Robert, also known as Robert Chocolatier, (Antananarivo, Madagascar).

First, I melted a Chocolaterie Robert 68% cacao dark chocolate bar with cacao nibs to make a base chocolate fondue for dried mango, fresh pineapple, other fruits and candied ginger.

I also enjoyed two fruit-themed chocolates from a Chocolaterie Robert assortment box: 1.) "Orangea Lait" (cream with orange brandy, covered in dark chocolate) and 2.) a "Passion" chocolate (passion fruit paste coated with dark chocolate). The brandy infused cream center in the Orangea Lait had a slight orange and cherry flavor. The Passion chocolate with a fruit pate or jelly-like center had a very mild passion fruit taste.

Chocolaterie Robert - Caramelo - November 28, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolaterie Robert - Madagascar
Caramelo
Good - Good +
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) in 2 pieces/ 16-piece assortment box
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $ N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (Madagascar)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Caramel Theme Week.

A big thank you to Toni and Paul for this assortment box of chocolates from Chocolaterie Robert - Madagascar (Antananarivo, Madagascar).

In cacao-growing regions, cacao beans are often shipped to other countries (like Europe or the U.S.) to be made into chocolate. Therefore, it was wonderful to taste some finished chocolates made and sold in Madagascar. Chocolaterie Robert cacao is from the Sambirano River region in Northern Madagascar.

This assortment box contained several flavors, including today's Caramelo (soft caramel with Madagascan Bourbon vanilla pod and cashew nut pieces coated with dark chocolate). Other pieces contained praline, nougatine, ginger, tamarind, brandy, and other flavors.

In sampling this chocolate, and chocolate bars, from Chocolaterie Robert (originally founded by a French couple between 1937 and 1940), I couldn't help but notice what a difference a good quality vanilla makes. Madagascar is known for its vanilla, a member of the orchid family. The sweet, floral flavor of a great Madagascan Bourbon vanilla beats the heck out of lesser substitutes.