Mirzam Chocolate Makers - 85% Dark Chocolate from Cuba bar - July 3, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mirzam Chocolate Makers
Kakaw Manufacturing Co. LLC
85% Dark Chocolate from Cuba bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.236 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 148 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Island Nations Theme Week. The focus this week is on chocolate made with cacao grown in island nations, such as Grenada, The Philippines, Fiji and, in today's case, Cuba.

Many of these countries have been gradually increasing their exports of high-end cacao beans and could be poised to increase their market share in the future; but have also faced challenges.*

Today's Mirzam Chocolate Makers 85% Dark Chocolate from Cuba bar was manufactured by Kakaw Manufacturing Co. LLC (Dubai, UAE). The cacao used to make this bar was likely grown in Cuba's Baracoa* area, a coastal area on the eastern end of this island nation.

This well-balanced and well-crafted ultra dark bar had an even, smooth melt, and had a smooth, complex bold flavor with light bitterness and relatively low acidity, light musk, red fruit, earthy dark chocolate flavor with subtle green, spice, floral and nutty flavor notes.

The finish had a mild touch of astringency. The chocolate was refreshingly not too sweet (expected for an 85% bar), but also we were grateful that the maker did such a nice job with other aspects as well.

*Baracoa is a city in the Guantanamo Province in eastern Cuba that is favorable for cacao cultivation. Unfortunately, this area is also susceptible to hurricane damage, affecting people and cacao production. Best wishes for calm weather this season.

Cuban handmade chocolate, drinking chocolate - Mar. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

(unidentified Cuban chocolate maker)
Chocolate ball
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) in 1 serving
Calories: 145 calories (estimate) in 1 serving
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (bought in Cuba)

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate Gifts Theme Week.

Today's ball-shaped chocolate was special. It came all the way from (Baracoa) Cuba. Thank you to Sue who gifted me with this authentic chocolate.

I shaved some of this unsweetened chocolate (from this intriguing, rustic, chocolate ball) into simmering hot water and stirred into the mixture a dash of cinnamon, a few tiny bits of roasted chile, and a few drops of honey.

I stirred this drinking chocolate in a pot over the stove almost continuously for several minutes, until a few bubbles formed on the surface and the chocolate particles seemed fully dissolved.

Notes: A piece of jicama, a very small amount of corn meal and some almonds in the pot reduced acidity a bit and gave this drinking chocolate a very slightly savory and roasted flavor. These inclusions were left behind when the hot chocolate was poured off into a cup.

I enjoyed this hot beverage without any added sugar. Some may want to add a little of their sweetener of choice (honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, etc.).

The next batch will include a few drops of Mexican vanilla extract.

Photo at top right of young Cuban woman holding chocolate ball (with cacao pods/fruits on table): Courtesy of Susan Neville, taken in Cuba. Thanks again Sue!

ChocolateBet: December 30, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/6 bar
Alter Eco
Dark Chocolate Velvet bar
Very Good
Weight: .583 oz. (16.5 g.) in 4 squares / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 88 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - obtained from Alter Eco, at a benefit event

I toyed with the idea of having a Theme Week(s) around Chocolate and paper, cloth or concept art in 2010. I could not find seven different items under this category for a full 7-day theme week. However, I did find a few wonderful chocolate-related things to share today, Day #7 of Chocolate and Something Different Theme Week.

First, a bar from Alter Eco -- a maker of Fair Trade Certified bars made from cacao beans from El Ceibo Cooperative in Bolivia. Alter Eco also sells quinoa (and a chocolate bar with quinoa), sugar, rice, coffee and olive oil. I hope to visit them in their San Francisco facility one day soon. Their Dark Chocolate Velvet bar (Velvet is a type of fabric/cloth, no?) contained a "delicate touch of milk" -- giving this bar a sweet, smooth milk chocolate mouth feel and taste. This bar is also GMO Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free and contains no emulsifiers.

* * * * * * * *

"Enjoy Revolution" Project - Liudmila and Nelson

The second item I'd like to share today is a concept for a series of chocolate bars by Cuban artists Liudmila and Nelson. It's a chocolate bar that, for now, exists on paper, and in a photograph below.

The husband and wife team have imagined chocolate bars (made with Cuban chocolate), with wrappers inspired by billboard and revolutionary images from different parts of Cuba (photographs from their "Cuban Landscapes" series). Above is an example of an image from their "Enjoy Revolution" project. I hope we will be able to see, and taste, the manifestations of this creative concept in the new year (2011).

ChocolateBet: July 3, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
Patisserie Chocolaterie Pralus s.a.s.
Cuba Trinitario 75% cacao
Very Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 grams)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 260 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for total bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, in San Francisco, CA

Nice, smooth flavors, especially if you have the discipline to warm the chocolate a bit first. Once again, I am traveling vicariously through chocolate...eating chocolate from more places than I have actually visited in this world. Maybe I'll catch up one of these days. Until now, I feel fortunate to be able to sample such a great variety of chocolate near where I live.