White Label Chocolate - Mexico Almendra Blanca 74% (bar) - Mar. 4, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

White Label Chocolate
Mexico Almendra Blanca 74% (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate (pop-up), Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's Mexico Almendra Blanca 74% (bar) was produced and distributed by White Label Chocolate (factory in Watsonville/ currently with pop-up location in Santa Cruz, CA).  

This bar was made with single origin "Almendra Blanca" (single variety Carmelo) cacao that was grown on a family-run farm (Finca Frida Estate), in the Soconusco region (in the southwestern corner of Chiapas), Mexico.

Almendra Blanca ("white almond" in English), is a lighter colored cacao bean that creates a slightly lighter hued chocolate. Today's bar had the appearance of a vibrant, almost ruddy, dark milk chocolate--or a cup of hot, authentic drinking chocolate.

Aroma notes for this bar included: rich, warm drinking chocolate.

Texture: well-tempered, smooth and uniform, creamy texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (rich, warm drinking chocolate); diffuse warm spices and tart-sweet berries; subtle nut (green walnuts in syrup); and barely detectable pepper.

I enjoyed the complex, bright, rich chocolate-y flavor notes in this well-executed bar.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Brown Spice, Nutty, Cocoa, Red Berry, Walnut Skin"

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: (None found/listed on package.)

*The cacao harvest season was Fall 2022; Batch #MX7420241028NF*

White Label - Trinidad Garcia Estate 72% (bar) - May 7, 2024

 Chocolate of the Day

White Label
Trinidad Garcia Estate 72% (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: Missing information
Purchased from: White Label/Mutari - Santa Cruz

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Virtual Caribbean Cruise Theme Week.

This Trinidad Garcia Estate 72% dark chocolate (bar) was from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz/Watsonville, CA).

This cacao was grown on the Garcia Estate in Trinidad--sourced from producer Joseph Garcia. (The cacao was harvested in the 2019 season, fermented for six days inside wooden fermentation boxes, and dried for 8 days using raised beds.)

Aroma and flavor notes for this smooth, even-textured bar included: dark chocolate (dark ganache), herb/spice (very faint star anise), very faint botanical/floral (vanilla-tobacco).

This bar had a natural sweetness to it and an interesting, balanced and subtle complexity.

Maker's tasting notes: "Nutty, Sweet, Tabacco, Floral"

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: (none listed)

Mutari Chocolate - Tranquilidad, Heirloom, Wild Bolivia 72% (bar) - Nov. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari Craft Chocolate
(White Label/Single Origin Chocolate)
Tranquilidad, Heirloom, Wild Bolivia 72% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's White Label Tranquilidad, Heirloom, Wild Bolivia 72% (bar) was from Mutari Craft Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA). 

The Beniano cacao used to make this bar was from the Tranquilidad Forest Estate, managed by Volker Lehmann, in the Beni Department of northern Bolivia.*

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: naturally sweet, pleasing cocoa, very faint molasses, very faint dried fruit (raisin, peach), and ultra faint graham cracker.

This well-tempered bar had a smooth texture and a creamy melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (smooth, rich chocolatey, (warm cocoa, brownie)) with naturally sweet notes (very faint honey, sweet molasses, very faint sweet nut); and very faint dried, iron-rich fruit (raisin, dried plum). 

This chocolate had a very pleasing, nuanced, chocolate-y flavor. It possessed a rich aroma and flavor complexity, while also being relatively low in bitterness. The choice of 72% cacao seemed just right.

Today's Tranquilidad Heirloom Wild Bolivia chocolate (made with rare Beniano beans**) reminded me of other Criollo/heritage cacao-based chocolate bars: subtle, rich, layered flavors that were gentle, but transporting. 

Chocolates made with heirloom and heritage cacao beans make up a small fraction of the world's bars. Many thanks to all those who were part of growing the cacao, bringing the cacao to market, and making and distributing this special, small batch, bean-to-bar chocolate.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Raisin, Tabacco, Nutty, Chocolate Base"

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter

Allergen-related information: 

*Bolivia is about the size of Texas and California combined, and cacao growing regions are often in very remote areas. The Beni Department alone (in northern Bolivia) is close to the size of the Western U.S. State of Idaho.

** Beniano cacao is grown in the Beni Department of northern Bolivia, adjacent to wild forests of cacao that date back thousands of years. Evidence to date (2015 study) has suggested that wild cacao trees first evolved in present day South America approximately 10 million years ago--long before the first humans arrived. 

White Label - Philippines Kablon Farms 74% (bar) - May 6, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

White Label
Philippines Kablon Farms 74% (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and the Philippines Theme Week.

Today's Philippines Kablon Farms 74% (bar) was from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA*). 

The chocolate maker used (Trinitario variety) cacao from Kablon Farms to make this three-ingredient dark chocolate.

Aroma notes for today's 74% cacao chocolate included: rich, deep chocolate (drinking chocolate, chocolate malt) and subtle brown sugar.

The chocolate flavors were balanced with faint, fleeting herbal; bright, diffuse, natural (fruit, light spice, brown sugar) sweetness; and last but certainly not least, satisfying true chocolate (rich hot chocolate, chocolate malt) notes--that extended into the finish.

Maker's tasting notes: "Deep rich chocolate, brown sugar, slightly nutty"

Ingredients: "Cacao Bean, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter"

Allergen-related information: (No information listed on packaging.)

*The previous Santa Cruz, CA, retail location has changed. The company is currently manufacturing chocolate in Watsonville, CA. 

Mutari White Label Chocolate - Honduras La Masica 74% - Mar. , 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari - White Label Chocolate 
Honduras La Masica 74% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's White Label Chocolate Honduras La Masica 74% (bar) was made and hand-wrapped in Santa Cruz, CA. (The company has since moved its manufacturing space down to Watsonville, CA.)

The cacao (2015 Harvest, La Masica, Honduras) used to make this bar was thoughtfully sourced from producer FHIA by White Label's chief chocolate maker, who "is honored to (support/be able to work with) small family farmers" and co-ops in equatorial regions.

Fundacion Hondurena de Investagacion Agricola (FHIA) is a non-profit that works to support sustainable agriculture and cacao in Honduras.

Aroma notes for this two-ingredient chocolate included: a very gentle, complex and appealing bouquet of fruit (peach, plum, fig jam, very faint cherry), very faint and diffuse molasses and warm spice, very faint and diffuse floral (apricot blossom, orchid, honey).

Flavor notes included: true chocolate (brownie, dark chocolate ganache, cookie), cream**, diffuse fruit (stone fruit), very faint warm spice, and faint (balanced) earth.

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Organic sugar

Allergen-related information: (No allergens listed in ingredients; no additional facility/allergen-related information listed on packaging.)

**There was no cream or dairy ingredients in this chocolate.

White Label Chocolate - Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar) - Oct. 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label Chocolate
Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information; part of a large, multi-bar purchase
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA) 

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week.

Today's Vietnam Ben Tre 72% (bar) was from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA*).

Ben Tre Province is located in the Mekong River delta area of southern Vietnam, southwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: faint warm spice and molasses, cocoa and dried fruits (date, raisin, prune).

The well-tempered chocolate had a smooth texture and even melt.

Flavor notes were relatively complex and interesting and included: green, molasses, spice (star anise), and dark chocolate (ganache) -- flavors that mellowed and became more integrated in the finish.

Maker's tasting notes: "Brown spice, raisin, molasses"

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging.)

*Note: Mutari Chocolate, the cozy, single story retail store on Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz that served drinking chocolates, confections, and chocolate bars, closed shortly after this Vietnam bar was purchased (Feb. 2022), due to a large multi-story building project in that location. The company is planning to re-open at another location.

White Label - Uganda Semuliki Forest 72% (bar) - July 30, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label 
Uganda Semuliki Forest 72% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA 

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

Today's White Label Uganda Semuliki Forest 72% dark chocolate (bar) was made in Santa Cruz, CA. 

This micro-batch bar was crafted using Forastero variety cacao (Upper Amazon and Amelonado) grown on small farms in (Bundibugyo) Uganda near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Aroma notes for this chocolate included fermentation (sweat), very faint stone fruit (apricot/nectarine), berry, and green floral (matcha green tea, vanilla), and chocolate (ganache).

This 72% cacao bar had smooth texture and flavor, that included true chocolate (ganache/mousse) diffuse and well-balanced subtle fruit acidity (berry, stone fruit) light, mellow bitterness, and barely detectable earth and roasted notes.

The sweetness level was about right for my taste. Good choice using a very slightly higher cacao percent (72% cacao vs. 70% cacao), as this chocolate seemed on the naturally sweet side. (Any more sugar, and cacao flavor nuances start to get lost.) 

The maker's tasting notes read as follows: "Goji berries, deep cocoa, vanilla," 

Cacao harvest took place during the 2017/2018 growing season; and producer Latitude Trade Co. worked with local farmers on fermentation.

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging that I could find.)

White Label Chocolate - Uganda Semuliki Forest 100% (bar) - July 29, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label 
Uganda Semuliki Forest 100% (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA 

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

Today's White Label Uganda Semuliki Forest 100% dark chocolate (bar) was made in Santa Cruz, CA. 

This micro-batch bar was crafted using Forastero variety cacao grown on small farms in (Bundibugyo) Uganda.*

Aroma notes for this ultra-dark bar included: dark fruit (plum, purple/red grape) and true chocolate (deep, dark cocoa). 

This 100% cacao chocolate had a creamy smooth melt and texture.

Overall this bar had densely dark, relatively bitter and intense chocolate flavor. 100% (unsweetened) Forastero variety cacao beans can feel a bit intimidating (a bit like walking through a thick forest at night, with no light or sugar plum fairies in sight), and this bar was not for those with a sweet tooth. 

But, the taste also had some subtle complexity to it--most notably similar dark fruit notes (purple/red grape and dried plum) that were in the aroma, as well as a very faint, very fleeting (and not unpleasant) light savory greens note (cooked wood sorrel with salted butter).

Maker's tasting notes: "Goji berries, grape, deep cocoa"

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging that I could find.)

*The Forastero (Upper Amazon and Amelonado) cacao used to craft this chocolate was grown in Uganda by many farmers (smallholder farms of 1-3 acres), and harvested in the 2017/2018 season. The producer was Latitude Trade Co., a fermentation facility and organization that works directly with farmers. White Label is committed to transparent sharing of information and "beyond fair trade cacao."

White Label - Salted Brown Butter Milk 58% (bar) - July 28, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label 
Salted Brown Butter Milk 58% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ Missing information
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA 

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

Today's White Label Salted Brown Butter Milk 58% dark chocolate (bar) was made in Santa Cruz, CA.* The company is committed to transparent sharing of information and "beyond fair trade cacao." 

This micro-batch bar--and Good Food Awards Winner--was crafted using Forastero variety cacao, grown on small farms in the Semuliki Forest, close to Bundibugyo, in Western Uganda near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Aroma notes for this chocolate included: light caramel, milk chocolate, and very faint buttered and salted sauteed green vegetables (celery, green beans).

The texture was unique and almost sinfully addictive. The bar had a luxurious creamy melt and thick velvety (authentic butter) mouthfeel. It was so rich, it was like gnawing softly on a sweet stick of firm, room temperature butter that just happened to have chocolate in it too. 

Flavor notes included balanced, ultra-creamy milk chocolate with sparkles of salt. Brown sugar and browned butter resulted in rich flavor depth; although some of the cacao nuances may have been muffled a bit by the butter. There was also a brief, fleeting, very faint green  (light, almost floral, pleasing green tea) note in the finish.

This 58% cacao chocolate was, happily, not overly sweet (thank you!); and yet there was enough sugar, salt and fat(s) to trigger addiction-level cravings. Warning: You may find yourself eating more than you planned. (You'd think after 15 years of chocolate, I would be immune to this; but this is not the case.)

The maker's dedication to transparency could be seen in the detailed notes and cacao source facts provided (on the back of the package). The Forastero (Upper Amazon and Amelonado) Uganda cacao that was the basis for today's chocolate was grown by farmers on smallholder farms of 1-3 acres; and this cacao was harvested in 2019/2020, during the September to February growing season. The producer was Latitude Trade Co. 

Maker's tasting notes/description of this bar: "Caramel, cream, milk chocolate, salt." 

Ingredients: Cacao beans, brown sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic milk powders, browned butter, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging that I could find.) 

*Note: the White Label kitchen/small-batch factory and shop on Front Street in Santa Cruz, CA, closed earlier in 2022. Sadly, their old building (and other small businesses in the same block) looked like they were being torn down, as part of a very large mixed housing and commercial project.

As of spring 2022, White Label chocolate was being made in Watsonville, CA, and the chocolate makers are hoping to find/open a new retail location in Santa Cruz.

Mutari Chocolate - Jamaica Bachelor's Hall 72% (bar) - June 24, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari Chocolate

White Label - Jamaica Bachelor's Hall 72% dark chocolate (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 178 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA*

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

Today's White Label Jamaica Bachelor's Hall 72% dark chocolate (bar) was from Mutari Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA). 

The small batch bean-to-bar maker worked with Desmond Jadusingh at Bachelor's Hall Estate (a 1,000 acre farm in St. Thomas Parish) to craft today's single estate, single origin Jamaica bar.

This Jamaica bar had a very subtle, and very complex aroma and flavor. Notes included: a natural sweetness (honey), very diffuse fruit (berries), and very faint warm spice and very fleeting black pepper, graham cracker/cookie, and green botanical (nut, seed, fleeting vegetable/wood sorrel) notes. 

Even the true chocolate flavor in the taste (faint fudge brownie batter) seemed relatively subtle--perhaps because I was focused on identifying all the other interesting notes mentioned above that were playing hide-and-seek.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Honey, Waffer (sic), Fudge, Dried Berries"

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed on packaging.)

*Mutari Chocolate's Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, location closed in February 2022 (due to a downtown development project). The maker(s) are currently hoping to resume operations later in 2022. Their fans await.

Mutari Chocolate - White Label Chocolate Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar) - May 1, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Mutari Chocolate

White Label Chocolate - Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar)

Good +

Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 178 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 (estimate) in 1 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 77% (bar) was part of Mutari Chocolate's White Label bean-to-bar, craft chocolate collection.

This chocolate had a subtle dark chocolate aroma, with faint sweet, slightly tart, red fruit (red wine grape/raisin) notes, and barely there graham cracker and floral notes.

The bar broke with a snap at room temperature (65 degrees F.), and had a relatively smooth melt with a very slight dried fruit astringency.

Flavor notes included true dark chocolate with faint, fleeting earth and fruit yogurt notes. This 77% cacao bar was less intense/bitter than other darker chocolates approaching 80% cacao.

Three Nacional cacao hybrids from Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador, were used to make this bean-to-bar chocolate. The cacao was grown/produced (in a "wet" tropical forest area) on a single farm (Salazar Family Estate). Nacional is considered a fine flavor, heritage cacao associated with fruit, floral and herbal notes.

Maker's tasting notes: Fudge, brown fruit, honey suckle

Ingredients: Cacao bean, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: 

White Label Chocolate - India Anamalai 74% (bar) - Mar. 10, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

White Label Chocolate
India Anamalai 74% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 189 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 (guesstimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's India Anamalai 74% (bar) was from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA).

Aroma observations included: bold, acidic fruit (plums, red fruit, dates), chocolate-y, and nutty/nuts.

This well-tempered broke with a snap, and it had a smooth texture with buttery melt and flavor. There was, initially, a very slight fruit astringency toward the finish--a throat tickle that disappeared with subsequent bites.

Flavor notes overlapped closely with the (above) aroma and texture descriptions. The base (single farm, Anamalai, Tamil Nadu, India* cacao) chocolate was relatively bold and full with a notable, balanced red fruit-acidity (think red wine grapes and faint tart cherry notes in a fine red wine), tempered by a faint buttery quality/taste, and faint, fleeting nutty and tart green notes. 

Also present was a barely there, natural, caramel warm spice sweetness (ginger cookie, brown sugar). The maker's choice to bump up the cacao percentage in this bar from 70%, to 74% cacao (i.e. more cacao, less sugar) seemed wise. A 70% cacao version might have seemed too sweet for some dark fans. The choice to add cocoa butter may have muted some of the stronger notes, making it more palatable for those who prefer less intense flavor(s). 

The end result was a satisfying, flavorful and balanced, bold dark chocolate. 

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (No information found on packaging.)

*Maker's notes included a cornucopia of information about the (Forastero and Criollo) cacao used to craft today's bar. Like the previous two 70% Anamalai Estate bars this week, the cacao was grown in the Anamalai hills (aka Elephant Mountains) of southern India. However, this expansive hilly range spans two Indian states. The cacao in today's bar was from a farm in Tamil Nadu (rather than Kerala).

White Label Chocolate - Tanzania Kilombero 68% (bar) - Nov. 5, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

White Label Chocolate
Tanzania Kilombero 68% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.14 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 171 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Africa Theme Week.

Today's Tanzania Kilombero 68% (bar) was from White Label Chocolate, purchased at Mutari Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA). Mutari offers single origin drinking chocolate and bars.

The chocolate in this White Label bar was made using Trinitario variety cacao beans (Amelonado x Nacional). This cacao was grown in a relatively wet, tropical region of Tanzania about 200 meters (approximately 656 feet) above sea level.

This dark bar was well executed and interesting. It had a chocolate aroma with fruit notes, a smooth melt, and initial creamy flavor that blossomed into full, bright tropical citrus + red sweet fruit with faint, fleeting five spice/herb/balanced earth notes.

The chocolate had a subtle, complex finish that began softly, then came subtle balanced bittersweet, and almost nutty notes. Following a few seconds of calm, there was a very tiny throat tickle of delayed sweet-sour astringency.

Maker's tasting notes: cream, nuts citrus rind

Notes about shelf life: This bar was recently expired, but seemed to have maintained good flavor and texture. I will try to re-taste a "freshly made" version of this bar in the near future. While most bars are better (less brittle, more flavorful, more attractive) before their expiration date, a few bars actually seem to benefit from some shelf time—mellowing a bit with age. 

Chocolate Storage Tips

For best results, store chocolate bars in a cool, dry place, at a consistent temperature (60-70 degrees F., or 16-21 degrees Celsius is ideal), to prevent the chocolate from going out of temper and from "bloom," which shows up as a white film or blotching on chocolates. A wine refrigerator (turned up to its higher temperature range) might also be a suitable place to store bars, as long as humidity is not too high.

Chocolate truffles and filled confections (some containing cream) have a much shorter shelf life than solid chocolate bars (often less than a week for optimal freshness), so it may be OK to refrigerate these for a short period if they are covered/well-wrapped to prevent against any condensation or absorption of other fridge flavors.

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

White Label Chocolate - Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 100% bar - Nov. 11, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

White Label Chocolate
Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 100% bar
Good
Weight: .57 oz. (16.25 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 86 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate House and Factory, Santa Cruz, CA

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

Today's White Label Chocolate Ecuador Costa Esmeraldas 100% Cacao bar was purchased at Mutari Chocolate House and Factory (Santa Cruz, CA).

This bar was more savory than sweet. It did have a fleeting fudge note, and relatively balanced bitterness all the way through that alternated with some sharper fruit acidity.

There were also very faint spice (cumin, caraway), buttermilk and salty notes in this chocolate. For those trying to get away from sweet flavors on the chocolate tasting wheel, this may be your bar.

This chocolate might be an interesting ingredient in (or shaved over) other (savory or sweet) items (mole sauce, brownies, salt caramel ice cream, pumpernickel bread and stout).

Fleeting Floral
I have many memories of 65% to 75% Ecuador bars with subtle floral and green notes. However, this week has been filled with ultra-high percentage bean-to-bar chocolate made from cacao grown in Ecuador. (Five of seven bars contained greater than 90% cocoa, including one 102% bar (with nibs)—a new high percentage record for an individual bar.) So, there was only a fleeting aroma or taste of floral or green notes this past week.

Floral notes are also some of the most delicate and volatile, and may disappear during a prolonged conching (grinding of beans into chocolate) process.

The differences in aroma and flavor notes of course are also the result of the farm (terroir), fermentation, roasting, and many decisions made when crafting chocolate from bean to bar.

White Label Chocolate - Peru Ucayali 80% bar - May 12, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

White Label Chocolate

Peru Ucayali 80% bar

Good +

Weight: 1.148 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.29 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 172 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

This Peru Ucayali 80% bar was from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA)

This ultra dark bar had a balanced, complex and interesting tasting art. The chocolate had a slight green aroma, dark chocolate fudge-y and earth notes, with hints of dried fruit.

There was a very slight graininess in the tail end, but the texture was smooth otherwise.

The cacao used to make this bar was grown in Peru from a 2016 Harvest. The Ucayali region is in the Amazon rainforest area of inland Peru.

White Label Chocolate - Sea Salt and Roasted Nib 70% bar - March 1, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

White Label Chocolate

Sea Salt and Roasted Nib 70% bar 

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.32 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar

Calories: 198 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's White Label Chocolate Sea Salt and Roasted Nib 70% bar represented what has become a classic combination of flavors and textures in the craft chocolate industry.

A dark chocolate bar base (with a touch of sugar and sea salt) was studded with nibs—the crunchy essence of cacao. The cacao beans used to make this bar were from the Dominican Republic and the nibs came from Venezuela. 

The resulting savory-sweet dark bar had notes of true chocolate, yellow fruit (banana, golden raisins), and a fleeting trace of light floral and spice.*

The cocoa nibs made this a less sweet chocolate than one might expect for a 70% cacao bar. This may delight those who like darker bars and slightly vex those who like sugar, to provide the entire, conventional sweet and salty snack experience.

The sparkles of sea salt and crunchy nibs were balanced and fairly uniform (a hard thing to achieve when applying salt crystals and nibs by hand), and there were no off notes.

Thank you to the chocolate makers in Santa Cruz. They've created a series of thoughtful, single origin bars and a welcoming retail space with high-end drinking chocolates and other items.

*Tasting Notes printed on the packaging: Chocolate, Vanilla, Banana, Salt

White Label Chocolate - Madagascar Sambirano Valley 68% bar - Feb. 28, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

White Label Chocolate 

Madagascar Sambirano Valley 68% bar

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) /2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar

Calories: 172 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Purchased from: Mutari Chocolate, Santa Cruz, CA 

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate, Enchanted Islands and Pirates Theme Week. Once again, a seven-day week has turned into a two weeker. 

But this theme week(s) wouldn't be complete without a chocolate made with cacao from Madagascar—an enchanted isle full of baobob trees, lemurs, vanilla, cacao, black pepper and pirates.

Yes, this enchanted island also has had problems with maritime skullduggery in the past. But, while that is interesting, let's focus on today's Madagascar Sambirano Valley 68% bar from White Label Chocolate (Santa Cruz, CA)—made from Trinitario and Criollo cacao beans grown in Madagascar (2015 Harvest).

Unwrap this bar and hold it up to the light at different angles and you'll see the red hue that's associated with Madagascan cacao. Try this bar and you'll taste citrus tart fruit, red berry and acidity, flavors common with Madagascar bars. There was also a very slight black pepper note with this bar.

Tasting notes for this bar read as follows: Roasted nuts, ripe red fruit, raspberry.

I was fortunate to visit the factory and store (Mutari Chocolate in Santa Cruz, CA), where the company's bean-to-bar single origin bars are made. The makers at White Label offer a tour and tasting options (flights of drinking chocolates) to customers. Bars can also be ordered online.

Thank you to the staff and founders/owners for taking a moment away from important roasting and retail activities to say hello. Look forward to coming back for a tasting.