Hogarth - Ecuador Hacienda Victoria Single Estate 85% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hogarth Chocolate Makers
Ecuador Hacienda Victoria Single Estate 85% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++ 
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.)/ 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 205.8 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Ecuador Single Estate 85% (bar) was made by Hogarth Chocolate Makers (Nelson, New Zealand). This was one of two Hogarth Ecuador bars enjoyed this week. (See tomorrow's entry for the Hogarth 100% bar).

The Arriba Nacional (variety of cacao) beans used to make this chocolate were from Hacienda Victoria, a single estate farm established in 2011 in (Cerecita, Guayas) Ecuador, not far from the coast (Pacific Ocean).*

Aroma notes for this "intense dark chocolate" made with Arriba (Nacional) cacao included: slightly bitter dark chocolate (think dark porter/stout if you're a beer drinker); very faint green; molasses; coffee; wood (very faint cedar); barely there green/dried banana; faint, fleeting balanced earth (peat); and very faint sourdough bread...And that was just the aroma.

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap in a cool room. It was relatively smooth and creamy, and I was waiting for some astringency, but it never really happened. 

This 85%er had all the flavor, but none of the flinch (at least for ultra-dark fans like me).

Flavor notes included: deep rich, well integrated, ultra-dark chocolate flavor(s), with much less sour and bitter aspects than expected. There was a bit of fruit (citrus, tropical, cacao fruit pulp) sweet-tartness, but it was balanced and subtle. For those who love bold, balanced taste, this was a great ultra-dark bar.

Maker's comments: "...you can expect a smooth but strong cocoa with a hint of citrus."

Ingredients: "Cocoa Solids 85% (Cocoa Beans, Cocoa Butter*^), Sugar* 15% (* = Organic; ^ = Fair Trade)

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Milk and Nuts."

*Cacao trees are native to South America and grow up to 20 degrees North and 20 degrees South of the Equator in South (and Central) America. 

The name "Ecuador" means Equator in Spanish. The Equator runs east-west through Northern Ecuador. The country's privileged geographical position has made its long history as a cacao-growing country possible. 

No surprise that chocolate makers seek out prized heritage/ancient varieties of cacao found in Ecuador (and neighboring countries adjacent to/part of the Amazon Basin). Arriba Nacional (and other criollo ("native") cacao varieties) are found in Ecuador. And Hacienda Victoria owners are dedicated to growing and preserving Arriba Nacional cacao.

Amano Artisan Chocolate - Guayas River Basin, Ecuador (bar) - Dec. 20, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Amano Artisan Chocolate
Guayas River Basin, Ecuador (bar)
Good ++ - +++
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 202 calories in 1 (40 g.) serving
Cost: $9.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Guayas River Basin, Ecuador (bar) was made by Amano Chocolate Company (Orem, UT). 

Aroma notes for this 70% single origin dark bar included: dark chocolate with green (faint green banana), maple, wood, faint black pepper, and dark berry (ripe blackberry and pomegranate).

Smooth melt and texture with a very faint, fleeting, fruit astringency.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate with sweet green, lightly smoked maple syrup, wood (cedar) shavings, and fruit (green dried banana, dark ripe berry). 

I loved the balanced complexity of the aromas and flavors in this 70% dark chocolate. It was a masterful rendition, capturing the best of this unique Guayas, Ecuador (Nacional variety) cacao.

Amano Maker's Tasting Notes: "This chocolate has a rich chocolate flavor with notes of green bananas, smoke, and blackberries."

Ingredients: "Cocoa Beans, Pure Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Whole Vanilla Beans"

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Peanuts, Tree Nuts and Milk Products"

A. Morin - Pure Origine Noir 100% Equateur Esmeralda (bar) - Dec. 19, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

A. Morin  
Pure Origine Noir 100% Equateur Esmeralda (bar) 
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .586 oz. (16.6 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 106 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

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

Today's A. Morin Pure Origine 100% Ecuador Esmeraldas (bar) was from SAS Chocolaterie A. Morin (Donzere, France). The company has been passed from father to son for generations (dating back to 1884).

Esmeraldas is a coastal province in northwestern Ecuador, where the Esmeraldas River joins the Pacific Ocean. Home to Ecuador's main seaport, Esmeraldas is also known for its white sand beaches and tropical climate.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate ice cream, drinking chocolate, earthy fudge brownie.

Texture: This chocolate had a smooth, even melt and thick creamy mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: Smooth but hearty bouquet of pure chocolate flavors followed by balanced bitter, and relatively subtle sour (for 100% cacao) notes. The finish was long and satisfying with a return to smooth dark chocolate ice cream, creamy dark chocolate mousse, and faint dark chocolate malted milk notes. (Note: there were no dairy or malt ingredients.)

The lack of sugar in any 100% cacao bar (with no added sugar) might be too much for those with a sweet tooth. I found this 85% bar flavorful, delicious and satisfying. After slowly savoring 4 squares (1/6 of this bar) I was in chocolate heaven. This French chocolate definitely belongs in a 100% tasting flight.

Ingredients: Cocoa beans from Ecuador* (Organic)

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of milk, nuts and sesame."

Pinwheel Chocolate - 56% Classic Milk Chocolate Camino Verde, Ecuador (bar) - Dec. 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Pinwheel Chocolate 
56% Classic Milk Chocolate Camino Verde, Ecuador (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Pinwheel Chocolate, online order 

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

Today's 56% Classic Milk Chocolate Camino Verde, Ecuador (bar) was handcrafted from bean to bar by Pinwheel Chocolate LLC (Eagle Mountain, UT).

Aroma notes included: rich, yummy dark milk chocolate and caramel. The cacao used to make this chocolate was from Camino Verde, a privately owned cacao fermentary in Duran (near Guayaquil) in southwestern Ecuador.*

Texture: creamy texture, melt and mouthfeel.

Flavor notes included: pure, smooth dark milk chocolate (chocolate-y, hot chocolate/drinking chocolate with cream), melded with chocolate cream caramel.

Dark milk chocolate lovers will really enjoy this bar. It's also a great winter, comfort food and treat.

Maker's tasting notes: "We've blended rich, brownie-flavored cacao with pure organic whole milk for a taste that reminds you of your favorite childhood chocolate, but with no weird ingredients...What we taste: hot chocolate, whipped cream, childhood :)"

Ingredients: "Cacao beans*, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, whole milk* (* organic ingredients)"

Allergen-related information: "Made on shared equipment that processes nuts and dairy"

*Camino Verde (literal translation: the "green road") cacao is known for fudge, almond and floral notes.

J. Street Chocolate - Camino Verde, Ecuador 72% (bar) - Dec. 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

J. Street Chocolate
Camino Verde, Ecuador 72% (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 136 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: J. Street Chocolate, online order

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

Today's single origin, bean-to-bar Camino Verde, Ecuador 72% chocolate was made by J. Street Chocolate (San Francisco, CA).

Aroma notes included: subtle dark sweet chocolate with faint earthy notes.

Texture: well-tempered, this bar broke with a hard snap in a cool room; and it had a uniform texture and melt.

Flavor notes included: relatively bold, earthy chocolate (loam, buttermilk), with light, balanced sour and bitter earth notes. 

Maker's tasting notes: "Notes of rich cocoa, brioche bread, and elderflower"

Ingredients: "cacao nibs from Camino Verde in Ecuador*, cane sugar*, less than 1% cocoa butter*" (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: organic ingredients; no other notes listed. (Made in a home kitchen.)

Monsoon Chocolate - Esmeraldas Ecuador 75% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Moonsoon Chocolate
Esmeraldas Ecuador 75% Dark Chocolate (bar) 
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.465 oz. (41.5 g.) / 2.93 oz. (83 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 227 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

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

Today's Esmeraldas Ecuador 75% Cocoa Dark Chocolate (Batch No. 17) (bar) was distributed by Monsoon Chocolate, LLC (Tucson, AZ).

Aroma notes for this bar included: dark chocolate, faint fruit (green fig, green apple), and spice (light saffron, floral).

Texture: This bar broke with a hard snap in a cool room, and had a smooth, uniform texture.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (brownie), faint, diffuse dried fruit, and very faint brown sugar. In the finish: chocolate with very faint, fleeting rice, light wood (oak), (cereal grass) stalks, light citrus (orange + floral/vanilla). 

This chocolate was relatively low in bitterness and acidity, and had a gentle complexity. I recommend eating this bar slowly to catch some of the faint, almost ghost-like flavors (all friendly, nothing scary) that may turn up.

Naturally sweet. Great choice to go with a slightly higher cacao percentage (75% vs. 70%). It seems 70% might have been a bit too sweet.

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (* Certified Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles tree nuts, wheat, milk, eggs and peanuts. May not be suitable for people with allergens to these foods." 

Stone Grindz Chocolate - Ancient Ecuador 85% (bar) - Dec 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Stone Grindz Chocolate
Ancient Ecuador 85% (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Stone Grindz, online order

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

Today's Ancient Ecuador 85% (bar) was made from bean to bar by Stone Grindz Chocolate (Scottsdale, AZ).

This award-winning chocolate was crafted using cacao from Hacienda Victoria (Cerecita, Ecuador). The cacao beans are "ancient heirloom varietal dating back thousands of years, making this bean very rare."

Aroma notes for this ultra-dark chocolate included: deep, dark chocolate and very subtle, smooth earth (very faint loam) and mineral (very faint chalk).

This well-tempered bar broke with a hard snap in a cool room. The texture was uniform and smooth with a very faint astringency. Stone Grindz chocolate makers selected a "light roast and a heavy conche to give it clarity of flavor unmatched at this percentage." (More gentle roasting can preserve more volatile flavor elements present in complex, heritage cacaos; and longer conche time can create a pleasant creamy texture.)

Flavor notes included: dark fudge brownie; earth (light loam); very faint (barely there) dried fruit (black fig, pomegranate) and cinnamon toast; and roasted nut/seed/malt. Not too sweet, tart or bitter, this 85% ultra-dark bar will interest dark chocolate enthusiasts. 

Eat slowly to enjoy some of the more fleeting flavor notes and to enjoy the unexpected creaminess (dark chocolate buttermilk ice cream) toward the finish, that became more obvious after the first (i.e. subsequent) bite.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Chocolate Ice Cream, Roasted Peanut"

Ingredients: (Ecuadorian) Cacao*, Cacao Butter*, Cane Sugar* (* = Organically Farmed)

Allergen-related information:  "Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan"