Luisa Abram Chocolates - Cupuacu Dragees Covered with 70% Cacao Chocolate - Nov. 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram Chocolates
Cupuacu Dragees Covered with 70% Cacao Chocolate
Good ++
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) / 4.23 oz. (120 g.) in total package
Calories: 266.4 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $25.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate & Fruits Theme Week(s), featuring chocolates with wide variety of fruit flavor inclusions.

Today's Cupuacu Dragees Covered with 70% Cacao Chocolate were from Luisa Abram Chocolates (Sao Paolo, Brazil).

Aroma and flavor notes included: rich, tart-sweet, tropical fruit (fragrant, slightly fermented cacao pulp* syrup; pineapple; mango, rum raisin, mangosteen) and dark chocolate (dark cocoa and fruit).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate coating with a nice, slow melt and chewy bits of fruit.

I loved the tart-sweet vibrancy of the cupuacu fruit--the star of the show. And the dark chocolate (dark, smooth cocoa) coating that covered the fruit pieces was a great, complementary match. I enjoyed savoring each piece slowly.

Ingredients: "Cupuacu, Cacao, Organic Sugar, Cacao Butter and Cocoa Powder" 

Allergen-related information: (Translated by me into English; apologies if there are errors.) "May Contain Traces of Milk, Brazil Nuts, Portuguese Peanut (Amendoim), Hazelnuts, Almonds, Cashew Nuts, Macadamia Nuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachio Nuts, and Chestnuts." "Gluten Free. Made in a Facility That Handles Milk and Nuts."

*Cupuacu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a relative of cacao (Theobroma cacao). Both originated in northern South America (Amazon River basin). These species originated over 12 million years ago; and were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago.

Luisa Abram - 81% Rio Cassipore (bar) - Nov. 17, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram
Rio Cassipore 81% (bar)
Good + - Good ++  
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 255 calories in 1 small bar (1/2 package)
Cost: $11.00 for 1 package of 2 small bars
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week. This week has included five bars made entirely in Brazil, with cacao grown in Brazil.

Today's Luisa Abram Rio Cassipore (Cassipore River) 81% chocolate was made by the Abram family (Familia Abram Banks Ltda., Sao Paolo, Brazil).

Like yesterday's 70% version of this Rio Cassipore wild cacao chocolate from the same maker, today's 81% sibling came packaged with two individually wrapped smaller bars, which I really liked. This choice allows chocolate lovers to better share chocolate with others and/or to save some for later while keeping aroma and flavor notes intact.

Both Luisa Abram Cassipore River 70% and 81% cacao offerings had a similar (just-opened) aroma of bold dark chocolate with tart peaty, subtle green, and dark chocolate (roasted cacao nibs) notes.

Interestingly the texture was slightly less creamy, but felt smoother and lacked the bit of astringency of yesterday's 70% version.

Both bars were low in bitterness. And, as with yesterday's 70% bar, after about 20 minutes, the aroma (and flavor) in this 81%er mellowed. The dark chocolate notes softened (more subtle nut and faint baked brownie was revealed). And the green and woodsy, acidic (peat) notes dissipated, making this a relatively friendly, approachable 80%+ dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: "Wild cocoa mass, organic cane sugar and Amazonian cocoa butter."

Allergen-related information: Gluten free. "Made in a facility that handles milk and nuts."  

Luisa Abram - Rio Cassipore 70% (bar) - Nov. 16, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram
Rio Cassipore 70% (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 221 calories in 1 small bar (1/2 package)
Cost: $11.00 for 1 package of 2 small bars
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week. Happily, this extended week includes bars made with cacao grown in Brazil, and at least three bars made entirely in Brazil.

Today's Luisa Abram Rio Cassipore (Cassipore River) 70% (bar) was made by the Abram family (Familia Abram Banks Ltda., Sao Paolo, Brazil).

The initial (just-opened) aroma of this wild cacao bar held the promise of a relatively bold dark chocolate with hearty (faintly peaty), subtle green and dark chocolate (freshly ground cacao nibs) notes. 

After about 20 minutes, the aroma mellowed so that the dark chocolate notes moved in the direction of baked brownies; and the green and woodsy peat notes quieted as well.

Texture: The melt seemed relatively rapid--transforming to a lush, creamy texture. And there was a faint astringency at the end.

The flavor, once it settled down, was tamer (a bit blander) than the initial (just-opened) aroma. The bitterness level was quite low. After about 20-30 seconds there was a brief, fun chocolate echo/uptick in the finish.

Ingredients: "Wild cocoa mass, organic cane sugar and Amazonian cocoa butter."

Allergen-related information: Gluten free. "Made in a facility that handles milk and nuts."

Luisa Abram - Rio Jurua 81% - Chocolate Brazilian Amazon Wild Cocoa (bar) - June 5, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram 
Rio Jurua 81% - Chocolate de Cacau Selvagem da Amazonia Brasileira (barra)
(Jurua River 81% - Chocolate from the Brazilian Amazon wild cocoa (bar))
Good +++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 246 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week.

Today's Rio Jurua 81% Brazilian Amazon wild cocoa (bar) was made by Luisa Abram (San Paolo, Brazil). The company specializes in bean to bar chocolate made with wild cacao from the Amazon. 

The aroma of today's bar (similar to yesterday's Rio Jurua 70% version) was subtle and multi-dimensional. Aroma notes included shifting floral notes (faint rose and pineapple scented geranium blooms), naturally sweet, refreshing/fresh mineral water, other soft floral, fruit and sweet spice (mango, lychee, licorice), and very faint, fleeting roasted green vegetable/potato chip. These notes shifted gently with every re-tasting. 

To me this flowing quality accurately captured the flavors of fresh-picked and eaten cacao fruit (pulp) that surrounds the cacao seeds/beans--flavors with descriptions that vary a lot depending on origin and variety, and often include: citrus, floral, watermelon, pineapple, and many other fruits, while still maintaining its own uniqueness.

Do eat this chocolate slowly, so you can enjoy the scent and flavor treasures that are revealed with this origin. (The visual equivalent: edible flower + green tea balls that "bloom" when hot water is poured over them. Enjoy the experience.)

This 81% cacao bar had a mild complexity and natural sweetness (the opposite of bold, earthy, roasted, bitter chocolates). Flavor notes included very subtle, complex cacao with mild fruit-floral (rose scented geranium flowers), light pineapple cream pudding, light caramelized brown sugar, and very faint vegetable (potato chip). 

I love floral aromas and flavors, and these frequently disappear with heat, longer roasting times and processing in general. So, I'd like to convey much gratitude to the maker for preserving these beautiful Amazon headwater origin notes for us to smell and taste in both Rio Jurua (70% and 81%) bars this week.

The maker's tasting notes: "Flowers in the form of chocolate. Sweetness rises to pitanga and lychee. Reminds crystallised fruits. It ends with perfumed caramel."

Ingredients: Cacao mass, organic cane sugar and cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: Does not include gluten ingredients. Made in a facility that processes/May contain traces of milk, Brazil nuts and tree nuts.

Luisa Abram - Rio Jurua 70% Brazilian Amazon wild cocoa (bar) - June 4, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram 
Rio Jurua 70% - Chocolate de Cacau Selvagem da Amazonia Brasileira (barra)
(Jurua River 70% - Chocolate from the Brazilian Amazon wild cocoa (bar))
Good +++ 
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 213 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week.

Today's award-winning Rio Jurua 70% Brazilian Amazon wild cocoa (bar) was made by Luisa Abram (Sao Paulo, Brazil). The company specializes in bean to bar chocolate made with wild cacao from the Amazon. 

The cacao used to make today's bar came from far inland of the Atlantic coast, in western Brazil along the Rio (River) Jurua--a river (with origins in the mountains of eastern Peru) that runs north through the Brazilian states of Acra and Amazonas. 

The aroma of this wild cocoa chocolate was subtle yet complex with fruit (goji berry, Inca berry), tea (orange blossom, floral oolong tea), herb (lemon balm), faint spice (saffron), vegetable (roasted potato) notes.

The flavors in this fruity, floral smooth dark chocolate included orange blossom and floral, fruit and honey; and very faint, fleeting vegetable/potato chip and brown sugar notes in the finish. This single origin dark chocolate was relatively low in acidity and bitterness making it very approachable as well as flavorful.

The sweetness level itself was also complex. Natural floral and fruit notes (and the absence of bitterness) in the cacao and the organic sugar elevated the perceived sweetness to a pleasing level.

The maker's tasting notes read as follows: "Flowers in the form of chocolate. Sweetness rises to pitanga and lychee. Reminds (reminiscent of) crystallised fruits. It ends with perfumed caramel."

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, organic cane sugar and cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: Does not include gluten ingredients. Made in a facility that processes/May contain traces of milk, Brazil nuts and tree nuts.

Luisa Abram - Dark Chocolate with Cupuacu (bar) - June 3, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram 
Chocolate Intenso Com Cupuacu (barra)
(Dark Chocolate with Cucuacu (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's Chocolate Intenso Com Cupuacu (bar) was from Luisa Abram (Sao Paulo, Brazil). The company specializes in bean to bar chocolate made with wild cacao from the Amazon. 

The aroma notes emanating from this bar included: candied cupuacu* (similar to a blend of guava, passion fruit, papaya) and bold dark chocolate.

This relatively robust but smooth dark chocolate was smooth, with the tiny squares of candied cupuacu adding chewy, dried fruit texture and pops of interesting fruit flavor that at times harmonized with the chocolate and at times provided a dynamic contrast, that I came to like more over the re-tasting experience.

Flavor notes: The fairly intense, earthy dark chocolate had medium acidity with a touch of fruit. The cupuacu pieces contributed pops of complex sweet and sour candied fruit flavor -- that also had fleeting boozy, fermented, woodsy evergreen/pine and apricot and pineapple notes.

Ingredients: Cacao mass, cupuacu candy, organic cane sugar and cocoa butter.

Allergen-related information: Does not include gluten ingredients. Made in a facility that processes/May contain traces of milk, Brazil nuts and tree nuts.

*Cupuacu is a fruit (Theobroma grandiflorum) that shares some traits with cacao (Theobroma cacao). Both originated in South America and grow in Brazil and have pods that contain large seeds that are surrounded by pulpy light colored fruit. 

Cupuacu fruit is used in a variety of desserts.  The candied fruit is made from a white pulpy fruit inside of a pod...and is a member of the cacao family??

Luisa Abram - Tocatins River Wild Cocoa Brazilian Amazon 81% (bar) - May 30, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Luisa Abram

Chocolate de Cacau Selvagem da Amazonia Brasileira - Rio Tocantins (barra)

(Chocolate made with wild cocoa from the Brazilian Amazon, Tocantins River (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total bar

Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 package (1 of 2 small individually wrapped bars)

Cost: $10.00 for 1 of 2 bars in package

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Brazilian Amazon Tocantins River 81% dark bar was made by Luisa Abram (Sao Paolo, Brazil). The company specializes in bean-to-bar chocolate with wild cacao from the Amazon.

Aroma: dark chocolate with green, citrus (lemon) herbal notes (lemon balm, sour grass*)

fleeting, faint fruit notes (dried green banana, dried persimmon) 

The aroma notes above implied some astringency; however, the texture and flavor were only mildly so, and in a pleasing and interesting way.

The cacao seemed to have a natural sweetness (or absence of bold bitterness); and the opportunity to go with the higher-percentage 81% cacao version of this chocolate was much appreciated. The maker's choices honored and harnessed the natural sweetness without extra sugar. (Thank you!)

This package contained, two individually-wrapped smaller bars, making it very easy to share with others, or to keep a fresh (unopened) portion for later. I liked that.

Ingredients: cacao mass, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter 

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that handles milk and brazil nuts.

*Sour grass is a wild, edible plant with a lemony and/or Vitamin C tartness to it. Also known as lemon "sorrel" or lemon clover and yellow upright oxalis, part of the tart flavor comes from oxalic acid. 

For those with kidney/kidney stone issues, you may have been told to limit consumption of plant foods that contain high levels of oxalic acid, such as rhubarb, spinach, beet greens and other greens, certain nuts (almonds)--and, sadly dear friends, cocoa powder and dark chocolate.

So it's possible I was tasting cacao that was naturally higher in oxalic acid today (thus the sour grass aroma). But, this is speculation on my part. The amount of oxalate content varies widely in cocoa.

Methods of farming, fermention, drying, processing and other factors can all influence oxalate content in cocoa, as this study published in ResearchGate in 2016, shows.

Luisa Abram - Chocolate Da Amazonia Brasileira Cacau Selvagem 81% - Rio Acara (Acara River) bar - Oct. 18, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Luisa Abram

Chocolate Da Amazonia Brasileira Cacau Selvagem 81% - Rio Acara (Acara River) bar

Good ++

Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in total package of 2 bars

Calories: 180 calories (per label) in 1 oz. (28 g.) piece (about 2/3 of 1 bar)

Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Brazil Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Da Amazonia Brasileira Cacau Selvagem 81% - Rio Acara (Acara River) was crafted by Luisa Abram (Sao Paulo, Brazil).

Following a series of single estate bars from Arcelia Gallardo at Mission Chocolate is another bar (package of two, individually-wrapped bars actually) made in Brazil (from wild harvested cacao) from intrepid cacao hunter and chocolate maker, Luisa Abram. 

Abram has chosen to focus on wild-grown cacao, usually found by rivers in the Amazon rainforest, on trees growing under canopy shade of larger trees, rather than cacao grown on large farms/plantations.

Abram created this bar with "81% cacao fairly traded from riverside communities who obtain their (cacao) fruits from native trees along the Rio Acara (Acara River), in the Brazilian Amazon Forest."

This unique, two-ingredient* bar had a vegetative, slightly woody and earthy green, and roasted coffee, aroma. It had a bold, yet smooth dark flavor, and a slightly astringent/grainy texture and finish. Re-tasting this complex chocolate a moment later yielded more layers: more bold chocolate flavor along with faint green coconut, earth, cream and citrus fruit notes.

*Ingredients: cocoa mass and organic cane sugar

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