Original Beans - Zoque 88% "Spirited" Dark Chocolate (bar) - Mar. 27, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Original Beans B.V. 

Zoque 88% "Spirited" Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 205 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $7.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Hola y bienvenidos (Hello and welcome) to Day #4 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Zoque 88% "Spirited" Selva Zoque, Mexico, Dark, Organic, Vegan (bar) was from Original Beans B.V. (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). This chocolate had bold earthy, dried fruit (dried fig, dried banana), and slightly bitter flavor and finish. I enjoyed the lack of sugar; although some might like a pinch more cane sugar to brighten this up. Tasting notes on the package read: tropical lychee and coconut.

The ultra-dark chocolate was made using Tabasqueño cacao, and supports local Zoque and Tzotzil tribes--who live largely in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas in Mexico, and who have had some relationship with cacao for approximately 4,000 years.

Michel Cluizel - Plantation Mokaya Organic 66% Mexico (bar) - Mar. 26, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Michel Cluizel
Plantation Mokaya Bio/Organic Chocolat Noir 66% (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.46 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week--and the third French chocolate bar made from Mexican-grown cacao.

Today's single origin (Mexico) Plantation Mokaya Organic 66% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Michel Cluizel (Damville, France).

This bar had an aroma with chocolate fudge brownie, dried fruit (prune), clean green and very faint pleasant/aromatic vanilla tobacco notes. The melt was even and smooth and the texture was slightly silky and buttery.

The flavor was relatively sweet (but not overpoweringly so) 66% cacao chocolate with balanced earth, true chocolate and mellow dried fruit flavor and finish.

The bar contained three ingredients: "Fine cocoa from the Mokaya Plantation" (located in the Province of Chiapas, in SW Mexico); "Pure cocoa butter;" and "Bourbon vanilla pod."

Bonnat - Selva Maya 75% cacao (bar) - Mar. 25, 2020

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Bonnat 

Selva Maya 75% cacao (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar

Calories: 300 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $18.50 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Selva Maya* 75% cacao (bar) had a light spice, fruit and very faint, fleeting green, aroma; and it was light and fruity and tasted sweeter than expected for a 75% cacao dark bar. It had a gentle complexity to it with very slight earthiness and cocoa flavor in the finish. 

The description on the packaging described the chocolate as "very balanced, fruity" and "intense but delicate." The latter phrase may sound contradictory, but it was accurate.

This three-ingredient** bar was made from "an ancient cacao"...that had been "rediscovered and rescued after many years of research and adventure in the deepest part of the Mayan territory in the heart of Chiapas" (in SW Mexico, north of Guatemala). The unique cacao origin story helps explain the relatively high price ($18.50 USD for this 100 gram bar).

* Selva Maya in English translates to: Maya Jungle

** Ingredients: "Bitter chocolate, cocoa butter, sugar"

Bonnat - Morenita 65% Mexico bar - Mar. 24, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolat Bonnat
Morenita 65% Mexico (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 167 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Madagascar Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Mexico Theme Week, via France.

Today's French chocolate duo involved a re-tasting of a Madagascar bar from Chapon Chocolatier (France), accompanied by a Morenita 65% Mexico bar from Chocolat Bonnat (France).

The latter Chocolat Bonnat dark milk bar had the heavenly buttery, creamy texture, melt and mouthfeel that Bonnat bars often have. And the smooth rich flavor was lovely too with a light hint of caramel.

MIA Chocolate - Baobab and Salted Nibs bar - Mar. 23, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

MIA Chocolate
MIA Baobab and Salted Nibs bar
Good +
Weight: 1.325 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

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

Today's MIA Baobab and Salted Nibs bar was from MIA Chocolate (London, UK) and was made in Africa (Madagascar).

This unique, well-tempered 65% dark chocolate bar was a blend of smooth chocolate and slightly chewy and crunchy texture from cacao nibs* pressed into the back of the bar. (Sea salt added to the nibs was very minimal.) The chocolate had a slightly acidic (Vitamin C/citrus) flavor that I'm assuming came from baobab powder.

Madagascar is home to the tall, bulbous-shaped baobab tree, also known as the tree of life. The fruit of this tree, like cacao, is contained in relatively large, tough/fibrous pods. Like cacao, baobab fruit pulp and ground seed powders are edible and have a citrus flavor. Neither fruit can be easily found supermarket outside their country of origin. So, to be able to taste the two in a chocolate bar is a rare opportunity and invites curiosity.

*Ingredients: Cocoa mass, cane sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa nibs 4%, baobab powder 2%, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), sea salt (less than 1%).

** Both cacao and baobab are members of the malvaceae (mallows) family--along with okra, cotton, hibiscus, molokhia, marsh mallows and durian. Boabab trees can store water and provide nutrition in dry climates and gave traditionally been used as a medicinal plant as well.

MIA Chocolate - 75% Dark Chocolate bar - Mar. 22, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

MIA Chocolate
75% Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.325 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $6.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

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

Today's 75% Dark Chocolate bar was from MIA Chocolate (London, UK), and was made in Africa.

This bar had a slightly reddish hue, a warm spice aroma, and a smooth, gradual melt. The chocolate flavor had bright, red berry (raspberry), tart fruit notes with balanced citrus (sweet and mild pink grapefruit) acidity and a faint sparkle of sweetened fruit yogurt. These color and flavor characteristics are often associated with fine flavored Madagascan cacao.

The emblem you may see on the MIA* bar packaging (bottom right corner) is that of a Sankofa bird. (Sankofa roughly translated means to "go back and get it." And the "it" in this case may refer to beneficial knowledge that may otherwise be forgotten.)

This African metaphorical symbol, with roots in Ghana, is associated with applying lessons learned from the past to future endeavors, in order to make positive progress. True to the company's tagline "Food with Thought," this bit of wisdom is something we all might benefit from.

*The MIA in MIA Chocolate, a brand name and social concern, stands for Made in Africa. The organization fairly sources premium cacao from the island nation of Madagascar; and the cacao used to make today's bean-to-bar offering came from a single region--presumably near the Sambirano (River) Valley in NW Madagascar, where cacao is known for its reddish color and "fruity" flavor profile. 

MIA Chocolate - Candied Orange Dark Chocolate bar - Mar. 21, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

MIA Chocolate
Candied Orange Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa bar
Good ++
Weight: 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 400 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ 6.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com (online order)

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

Today's Candied Orange Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa bar was from MIA Chocolate (London, UK), and was made from bean-to-bar in Africa (Madagascar).

This bar was a blend of pleasing 65% dark chocolate interspersed with authentic-tasting soft pieces of flavorful candied orange. (And both chocolate and fruit were flavorful and sweet, but not too sweet; thank you!)

Madagascan cacao is known for bright fruit with balanced citrus flavor notes. And the cacao in this bar complemented the candied orange bits nicely.

*MIA (Made in Africa) is a brand affiliated with KuanZa Ltd. (London, UK). Founder Brett Beach was also a co-founder of Madecasse (now known as "Beyond Good by Madecasse" in Brooklyn, NY) another bean-to-bar chocolate (and vanilla) company operating in Madagascar.