Nuance Chocolate Company - Roasted Ghana Nibs 100% Pure Cacao - Aug. 15, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Nuance Chocolate Company
Roasted Ghana Nibs 100% Pure Cacao
Good +|
Weight: 1 TB serving; 8 oz. (225 g.) total package
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) for 1 TB serving
Cost: $?.?? for 1 package of cacao nibs
Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate Company, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Cocoa Nibs Theme Week, and Day #3 of Ghana and Ivory Coast Theme Week.

Today's Roasted Ghana Nibs had a faint fermented note in the aroma at the beginning, followed by pleasing roasted brownie notes.

The roasted brownie notes carried over from the aroma into the flavor. These chocolate-y cacao nibs had a nicely balanced bitterness, and a very light fibrous chew. There were no "off" notes.

 

Nuance Chocolate Company - Ghana and Nibs 70% Pure Dark (bar) - Aug. 14, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Nuance Chocolate Company 
Ghana and Nibs 70 percent Pure Dark (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 291 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate Company, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Cocoa Nibs Theme Week, and Day #2 of Ghana and Ivory Coast Chocolate Theme Week.

Together, West African cacao from Ghana and Ivory Coast dominate the world's cacao supply chain in terms of volume. Perhaps half of all chocolates being sold might fit into this theme week, but most chocolates (often blends) do not disclose the country(ies) of origin for cacao.

Today's Ghana and Nibs 70% Pure Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Nuance Chocolate Company (Fort Collins, CO). There aroma was subtle, but with rich, pure dark chocolate notes.

The Ghana Forastero cacao used to make this 70% cacao bar, combined with the maker's skills and a little sugar, yielded deep chocolatey (fudge brownie) and cherry flavor notes, with a faint hint of white grape, roasted nuts (subtle walnut, pine nut), and a very mild, balanced bitterness (think very subtle roasted coffee).

Black Forest Cake and cherry nut brownies came to mind--although this dark chocolate bar had more concentrated dark creamy and crunchy cacao flavor, and less sugar. I'll take that any day. (Although a flourless cake or brownies (with very little or no added sugar) made with this chocolate would likely make a very fine dessert.)

Ingredients: cocoa, cane sugar, cocoa butter. ("All nature and GMO-free").

Nuance Chocolate Company - Milk and Nibs 45% Cacao (bar) - Aug. 13, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Nuance Chocolate Company
Milk and Nibs 45% Cacao Nibs (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate Company, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Cocoa Nibs Theme Week, and Day #1 of Ghana and Ivory Coast Theme Week.

Why are Ghana nibs used so often as an inclusion in chocolate items? A key reason: they are known for true chocolate brownie and nut flavor notes that pair well with almost everything, 

This Milk and Nibs 45% Cacao Nibs bar from Nuance Chocolate Company (Fort Collins, CO) had a subtle, rich chocolate aroma, a creamy melt that was accented by a smattering of crunchy, nutty nibs--pieces of Forastero cacao beans grown in Ghana. 

This milky, sweet bar with a touch of vanilla* had a high-end, dark milk chocolate flavor and finish. The nibs helped balance out the sweetness level.

*Ingredients: cacao, cane sugar, whole milk solids, cocoa butte,r sunflower lecithin, vanilla beans.

Volo Chocolate - Cacao Nibs (PISA, Haiti) - Aug. 12, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Volo Chocolate
Cacao Nibs - Source: PISA, Haiti
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total package
Calories: 145 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $10.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Volo Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Cocoa Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Cacao Nibs were from Volo Chocolate (Windsor, CA). The company's two (married) chefs, Jeff and Susan Mall, have discerning palettes and hand craft, bean-to-bar chocolate bars, most with flavor inclusions. They also offered these Cacao Nibs from Haiti.

These nibs had a slight fermented (wine) aroma with deep cocoa and nut notes. (The fermented note was not noticeable when eating the nibs.)

The texture had a crunchy, roasted nut-like quality bite, followed by smooth and rich, accessible cacao chew and flavor. The flavor was consistent, with no off notes. There was also delicate, fleeting faint green-floral and marshmallow notes.

Overall, these nibs had a well-balanced, attractive cacao flavor. (I'd be happy eating these nibs a la carte. However, I'll likely try blending them with a light orange or nut infused spirit or liqueur, and various other sweet and savory dishes and bars.)

Ingredients: Source: PISA (Produits Des Iles SA) is a cocoa processor and exporter located in northern Haiti.

Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co. - 67% Cacao Nibs Chocolate (bar) - Aug. 11, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co.
67% Cacao Nibs Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 400 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA  

Welcome to Day #8 of Cocoa Nibs Theme Week. 

Today's 67% Cacao Nibs Chocolate (bar) was from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co. (Nashville, TN). 

The company, founded in 2007, describes itself as Tennessee's "first and only bean-to-bar company." The three makers (including owner Scott Witherow) turn out popular confections and small batches of bean-to-bar chocolate(s).

They slow-roast and stonegrind "select single origin beans" that are combined with pure brown sugar for a smooth and robust flavor unique to "Southern Artisan Chocolate (tm)."

Today's Cacao Nibs bar had a true chocolate aroma with faint roasted coffee and even fainter caramel notes.

The base chocolate was smooth and relatively creamy and was complemented by a crunchy constellation of roasted cacao nibs on the back side.

True chocolate flavor was amplified by chocolatey nibs. There were very faint roasted-umami and nutty notes, a rich brown sugar sweetness, and a medium acidity. (The cacao source was the Dominican Republic.)

This was a nicely executed chocolate with well-balanced flavor. And even though this was a 67 percent cacao bar (i.e. lower than 70 percent), and contained a rich-flavored sugar* it was not too sweet (thank you!).

*Ingredients: Cacao beans, brown sugar, roasted cacao nibs

Ancestral Roots - Organic Cacao Nibs - Aug. 10, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Ancestral Roots

Organic Cacao Nibs

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total package

Calories: 130 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving

Cost: $7.99 (estimate) for 1 package

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Cocoa Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Ancestral Roots Organic Cacao Nibs were distributed by OMG! Food Company LLC (Los Angeles, CA).

These unroasted, unsweetened* cacao bean pieces had rich cacao (faint brownie), clean and clear (fresh) green and fermented aroma notes. 

Unroasted (and "raw"), but lightly fermented and dried, cocoa nibs are the least processed form of chocolate most people will have the opportunity to sample. (Cacao beans (actually seeds) plucked out of freshly harvested cacao fruit/pulp contain more tannins and are relatively bitter. Fermentation and drying breaks down tannins, making the cacao beans more edible.)

Fermentation...how and why it matters

Fermentation happens naturally with most fruits. And cacao beans are seeds from cacao fruits. One reason why you don't see fresh cacao fruit (pods) in local markets (unless you live in Hawaii or a country located near the Equator) is that cacao fruit starts to ferment very quickly after it's harvested--resulting in a short shelf life.

Fermentation temperatures for raw cacao are controlled to help preserve nutritional content and more delicate cacao flavors (e.g. floral notes) that may be lost with higher heat. (Antioxidant levels can drop more than 40 percent with high temperatures associated with fermentation and roasting in the chocolate-making process.)

Back to the nibs

Back to the nibs...Today's cacao nibs had an unroasted green freshness, and a resilient, crunchy, uniform texture and nice clean "bite," indicative of quality beans, careful drying and humidity control, and good storage and sorting.

The flavor included even, clean/clear lightly fermented, green cacao notes. There were no off notes. (Off notes can occur if beans aren't carefully sorted and an inferior bean piece slips through before/as nibs are created.) The finish was clean, clear and subtle as well.

Cacao Nibs and food and dessert pairing considerations

Roasted nibs tend to have a richer, roasted flavor, but unroasted cacao nibs have their own charm. When I think of roasted nibs, I think of red wines, fall and winter, and grilled items. When I think of unroasted/raw nibs, I think of white wines, spring greens and summer fruits. It's similar to espresso and coffee, where roasting conjures up different flavors.

I enjoy roasted cacao nibs over conventional baked brownies with bolder flavor (and roasted nibs soaked in whiskey over vanilla ice cream). Unroasted nibs might be better with a light spring salad accented with flowers and fresh green pea shoots and a glass of chilled white wine grape juice; or a light vanilla cream/custard topped with fresh peach and strawberry. 

Either way, cacao nibs offer a lot of flavor with no added sugar, all with just one ingredient.

*Ingredients: "Certified Organic Cacao Nibs (Theobroma cacao)." 

Laboratorio Artigianale - Raw Organic Chocolate - Pink Himalayan Salt and Cacao Nibs (bar) - Aug. 9, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo S.r.l. 
Raw Organic, Artisan Chocolate
Pink Himalayan Salt and Cacao Nibs (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Cocoa Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Raw Organic Chocolate Pink Himalayan Salt and Cacao Nibs bar was made in Italy by Cacao Crudo S.r.l.* (Roma (Rome), Italy) and imported to the U.S. by Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods (Seattle, WA).

This 75% cocoa raw chocolate bar was made using ground Criollo cacao, a heritage variety of cacao famous for its delicate, varied flavors (with notes of stone fruits like peach, fresh plum, and caramel, cream). True to its description, this bar had a friendly dark chocolate aroma and a subtle complexity with light green and light concentrated/fermented fruit-floral notes (Ecuador Arriba cacao like but with something more).

 Criollo cacao manages to be at once light and delicate and rich and complex. And not roasting these Criollo beans helped to preserve some of these more delicate flavors.

The sweet (concentrated coconut flower sap) and salt (Himalayan pink rose salt) flavors were nicely balanced and restrained, allowing the natural Criollo cacao flavors to shine through. (There were only 5 grams of total sugars in 1/2 bar.) The use of Criollo cacao nibs (that added bits of texture) and Criollo cocoa butter** helped reinforce this flavor profile.

*Prodotto In Laboratorio Artigianale; Lavorato A Freddo in Tutte Le Fasi

** Cocoa beans are about half fat, and can be separated into ivory colored cocoa fat (aka cocoa butter) and darker cocoa solids. Some cocoa beans are "leaner" than others, and may benefit from added fat to give it a creamier mouthfeel and melt. In fact, many makers do add cocoa butter for creamier texture (and occasionally to muffle stronger, rougher flavor elements). But if they have a small bean batch size, they may need to obtain additional cocoa butter from a another source.

Cocoa butter has a milder flavor profile than the darker cocoa solids, but it can influence the overall taste (and texture) of finished chocolate--which is one reason why cocoa butter sourcing and processing also matters. 

Some intrepid makers press their own cocoa butter from the same batch of cocoa beans used for cocoa solids/mass to ensure they have a uniform, undiluted single origin flavor profile. And when you have really great cocoa beans, great cocoa butter enhances the goodness.

Ingredients: Organic unroasted cacao Criollo beans paste, organic concentrated coconut flower sap, organic cacao Criollo butter from not roasted beans, organic not roasted cacao Criollo nibs (5%), Himalayan rose pink salt (1.5%).