Libeert - Vietnam 73% Dark Origin Chocolate (bar) - May 19, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Libeert 
Vietnam 73% Dark Origin Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.35 oz. (40 g.) / 2.7 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226.6 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Vietnam Theme Week, and Day #1 of VXYZ Theme Week, featuring chocolate items with origins and flavor inclusions that begin with the letters V,X,Y and/or Z--for example, Vietnam and vanilla.

Today's Vietnam 73% Dark Origin Chocolate (tablet/bar) was manufactured by Libeert s.a. (Comines, Belgium). The company produces a variety of chocolates including classic, organic, and single origin bars.

This chocolate had an alluring true chocolate (dark chocolate mousse) with a hint of warm vanilla. The aroma, melt, flavor were well-executed, well-mannered and very smooth. The texture was creamy.

In addition to rich, dark hot cocoa flavor, there was a very subtle fruit sweetness (very faint sweet tangerine/sweet lemon) throughout, and a bit of woodsy earth in the latter half.

Like most of the other Vietnam single origin bars featured this week, today's chocolate was made using Trinitario variety (of cacao). In the maker's words, single origin/variety choices like this can yield a "bouquet of flavors." 

This Trinitario bar offered a bit of boldness with layered flavors--rather than the very subtle, delicate notes of a Criollo cacao, and the more uniformly dense, dark boldness of a Forastero variety of cacao. Trinitario cacao has the potential to offer some of the best of both ends of this spectrum.

The maker's tasting notes: "A robust dark chocolate made of Trinitario cocoa beans with a genuine earthy taste. The distinct acidic cocoa flavour is enriched with delicate hints of citrus, wood and tobacco."

Ingredients: Chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, natural vanilla flavor; cocoa solids 73% minimum.

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, soy, almonds, hazelnuts, pecan nuts, wheat and egg."

Christopher Elbow - Vietnam - 72% Dark (bar) - May 18, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Christopher Elbow Craft Chocolate
Vietnam - 72% Dark (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 2.296 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in approx. 1/2 bar 
Cost: $9.95 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Christopher Elbow, online order

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

Today's Vietnam 72% Dark (bar) was crafted by Christopher Elbow Chocolates (Kansas City, MO).

Elbow offers a variety of chocolates and confections, including a line of single origin chocolate bars. The cacao used to make this bar was from Dak Lak Province, in the Central Highlands of Vietnam (north of Lam Dong Province).

Elbow's description read as follows: "The small batch chocolate is carefully crafted from bean to bar and refined to bring forth the unique flavors of the region from which it came."

Aroma: dark chocolate, light molasses spice, sweet fruit (red raspberry, tangerine), freshly baked bread and butter/cream, chocolate cake.

The flavor notes included smooth dark chocolate (dark chocolate cake), with a subtle natural fruit sweetness (faint raspberry jam and light banana). The texture had a bit of mild astringency (perceived dryness, graininess) about 20 seconds after taking a bite. Overall this bar provided a very pleasing tasting experience.

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter  

Belvie Chocolate - Chile Pepper Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (Ben Tre) (bar) - May 17, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Belvie Chocolate Maker
Chile Pepper Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (Ben Tre) (bar)
Good + 
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 208.8 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.75 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

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

Today's Chile Pepper Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao Ben Tre (bar) was made in Vietnam by Belvie Chocolate Maker (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). 

Belvie Chocolate offers a variety of chocolate bars made with (Trinitario) fine cacao from different regions of Vietnam. This Ben Tre origin cacao chocolate was flavored with chile pepper.

Belvie Chocolate's description read as follows: "Origin Ben Tre is wedged between the two main branches of the Tien Giang River, Mekong River Delta, this province is generally flat, with complex river systems, fresh water and alluvial soil. The chocolate original from this region has a complex aroma of mixed citrus and undertones shot through with a darkly bitter, hint (of) coffee."

The aroma of this single terroir bar included mild, dark chocolate and a faint, almost bitter pepper note. The first bite yielded an a relatively light and fluffy, creamy melt.

The initial flavor was pleasant mild, dark chocolate with light fruit and a slight earthiness in the finish. The chili* pepper fire kicked in and escalated 4-5 seconds after putting it my mouth, and bloomed to a balanced burn level (and throat warmer)--after I'd already chewed and started to swallow this chocolate. (The chili heat started to subside in about 4 more seconds.)

Tip: Have a banana or glass of milk on hand if you're sensitive to spicy foods, or want a palette pause before going back for a second or third bite of this spicy chocolate.

Ingredients: "Cacao and cacao butter 70%, cane sugar 30%, chili"

Allergen-related information: "Gluten free; Dairy free; May contain traces of nut(s)."

*The type of chili pepper was not specified, so I can't tell you whether this chocolate bar was infused with Bird's Eye, Thai, Hanoi Market, or another Vietnamese pepper; but those who appreciate foods with a moderately spicy kick may enjoy this bar.

 

Belvie Chocolate - Don Duong Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao Lam Dong, Vietnam (bar) - May 16, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Belvie Chocolate Maker
Don Duong Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 229.2 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.25 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

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

Today's Don Duong Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao Single Plantation, Lam Dong Province (bar) was made in Vietnam by Belvie Chocolate Maker (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). 

Belvie Chocolate offers a variety of chocolate bars made with (Trinitario) fine cacaos, purchased from cacao farmers located in different regions of Vietnam. This bar was crafted using cacao grown on a single plantation, in Lam Dong province in the Central Highlands.

All the Belvie bars I have sampled this week have been full of interesting flavors. No dull darks here. 

This 72% cacao dark chocolate had an aroma and flavor with pleasing fruit (fig filled butter cookie, peach jam), very faint green, true chocolate (dark chocolate torte with warm spices) and soft waves of balanced, loamy earth notes. It was relatively low in acid and bitterness, and had a pleasant, clean finish. 

Belvie Chocolate's tasting notes read as follows: 

"Taste and Flavour: Dusky, cloves and some stone fruit. Great balance and complexity, long and wonderful finish."

Ingredients: "Cacao and cacao butter 72%, cane sugar 28%"

Allergen-related information: "Gluten free; Dairy free; May contain traces of nut."

 

Belvie Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 90% Cacao Ben Tre (bar) - May 15, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Belvie Chocolate Maker
Dark Chocolate 90% Cacao Ben Tre (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 260 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.75 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

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

Today's Dark Chocolate 90% Cacao Ben Tre (bar) was made in Vietnam by Belvie Chocolate Maker (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). 

Belvie Chocolate offers a variety of chocolate bars made with (Trinitario) fine cacaos, purchased from cacao farmers located in different regions of Vietnam.

Belvie Chocolate's description read as follows: "This bar is made of some exceptional selected and handpicked beans from a small single plantation in Ben Tre, Vietnam, on the border of Ham Luong river in Mekong Delta. Cacao trees are planted together with durian (fruit) trees."

The complex aroma notes of this single terroir bar included: bold dark chocolate, a slight savory (potato chip) note at the beginning; fleeting green floral; butter; faint cocoa, fruit and caramel; and an uptick of clean light green.

Texture: This chocolate was "Stone ground and conched for 72 hours, continuously in small batches," and had a relatively smooth, thick, substantial mouthfeel.

Flavor/tasting notes: bold dark chocolate with green; roasted, balanced bitterness (burnt toast); citrus acidity (grapefruit)/balanced, subtle, tart-sourness (with a hint of natural fruit sweetness) that lingered a bit toward the end. Relatively clean finish given these bold flavors.

For those that like bold, roasted, ultra-dark bars, this deserves a spot in a tasting flight.

Ingredients: "Cacao 90%, cane sugar 10%"

Allergen-related information: "Gluten free; Dairy free; May contain traces of nut(s)."

 

Belvie Chocolate - Dark Milk Chocolate 55% Coffee + Nibs (bar) - May 14, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Belvie Chocolate Maker
Socola Caphe Sua Da (bar)
Dark Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Coffee + Nibs (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 226 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.25 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocosphere.com, online order

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

Today's Dark Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao Coffee (Socola Caphe) + Nibs (bar) was made in Vietnam by Belvie Chocolate Maker (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). 

Belvie Chocolate offers a variety of chocolate bars made with (Trinitario) fine cacao(s), from different regions of Vietnam. Some of these bars, like today's, highlight local flavor inclusions like Vietnamese coffee.

Belvie Chocolate's description read as follows: "This chocolate made of the beans from Dong Nai province, a highly inland area underlaid by volcanic rock, supports cacao plantations on its low-lying slopes as well as its valey (sic). A little coffee added to show typical Vietnamese taste."

This single terroir, dark milk chocolate successfully evoked Vietnamese coffee: a robust, but sweet and creamy beverage make with condensed milk.

Aroma: The aroma notes: sugars (caramel, powdered sugar, marshmallow) and a very light sweet coffee/tea aroma.

Texture: The chocolate's texture was a blend of thick, smooth and creamy, with crunchy, mild cacao nibs (pieces) on the back of the bar.

Flavor: This sweet dark milk bar had uniform smooth, mild but rich dark, almost fruity, chocolate flavor with a hint of caramel.

Ingredients: "Cacao and cacao butter 55%, cane sugar 25%, milk powder 20%, coffee"

Allergen-related information: (none listed)

  

Belvie Chocolate - Good Morning Vietnam 70% Coffee (bar) - May 13, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Belvie Chocolate Maker
"Good Morning Vietnam" 70% Cacao Coffee Chocolate (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.41 oz. (40 g.) / 2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225.2 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 (+ shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's "Good Morning Vietnam" 70% cacao Coffee Chocolate (bar) was made in Vietnam by Belvie Chocolate Maker (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). 

Belvie Chocolate offers a variety of chocolate bars made with (Trinitario) fine cacaos, purchased from cacao farmers located in different regions of Vietnam. Some of these bars, like today's highlight local, specialty flavor inclusions, like coffee.

Belvie Chocolate's description read as follows: "This bar is a perfect combination of the two local specialties from Lam Dong province in Vietnam. Our flavorsome chocolate from Lam Dong 70% single terroir and the K'HO Arabica coffee grown by the K'Ho tribes on the Langbiang mountain, one of the best coffee(s) in South East Asia."

The aroma and flavor of this single terroir bar included complex dark chocolate and coffee notes. It had almost a spicy sweet aroma; and the amounts and varieties of the coffee and cacao were nicely balanced to allow the nuances of both to come through. 

The relatively bold chocolate had a very faint, fleeting savory vegetable (potato) note at the beginning, followed by true chocolate with a bit of fruit, and loamy earth notes.

The coffee was flavorful with a moderate amount of fruit acidity and perhaps a bit of natural bold, roasted sweetness (grilled/caramelized pieces of chocolate cake) and a trace of sweet nuttiness (although the subtler nuances were difficult to distinguish from the chocolate). The coffee notes were most present in the first few bites, but yielded subtle flavor(s) throughout the tasting experience.

Ingredients: "Cacao and cacao butter 70%, cane sugar 30%"

Allergen-related information: "Gluten free; Dairy free; May contain traces of nut"

*Vietnam is the world's second largest coffee exporter, and most of the country's coffee is grown in the Cental Highlands of southern Vietnam (near where cacao is grown). 

The K'ho people are an ethnic minority living primarily in the Lam Dong province in the Central Highlands of southern Vietnam, known for its coffee. While most coffee grown in Vietnam is Robusta, the coffee the K'ho tribe cultivates is more typically Arabica--the variety featured in today's "Good Morning Vietnam" chocolate.