Review: TCHO Citrus

Lindy's Rating: 8.0

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker TCHO bar Citrus region Madagascar plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 58g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 67% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $5.48

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, curving lines, superficial ring aroma roast (cocoa, smoke), fruit (citrus, berry, hint of banana), sweet snap hard taste roast, fruit (citrus, lime, berry, orange, cherry, hint of banana), sweet melt smooth to more smooth length medium finish slightly acidic

TCHO makes chocolate with the goal of producing a flavor from their wheel of six primary chocolate flavors. TCHO is a U.S. bean to bar chocolate maker in San Francisco. They pride themselves on innovation and leveraging technology to make their chocolate better, and work closely with their cacao farmers to improve fermentation and drying practices.

Citrus was made with cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans. It was made with cacao from the Sambirano Valley of Madagascar. The chocolate contained 67% cocoa solids, and was certified organic by the USDA. The two ounce bar was scored in 9 pieces and came wrapped in gold-sided wax paper and packaged inside a bright yellow paper box. There was no production or best before date for the bar we reviewed, but the box did have a sticker with the number 2561.

The chocolate had a medium brown color close to Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) and a generally smooth surface that was imprinted with TCHO's intricate wavy lines. There was a superficial ring visible on the top surface, but that came off with gentle rubbing. The bottom surface revealed an apparently typical pattern from filling the mold. The bar had a hard snap.

Citrus had a nice fruity and roast aroma. The fruit was primarily citrus, with some berry and a hint of banana. The roast was cocoa and smoke. I also smelled sweetness.

After an initial roast taste, Citrus revealed many fruit flavors, including general citrus, lime, berry, orange, cherry, and just a suggestion of banana. It also tasted sweet. Lindy liked the fruit flavors, but found the taste of this chocolate "not as citrusy as [she] expected."

We didn't quite agree about the melt. Lindy found it just shy of more smooth and rated it smooth. To me, it was just beyond that threshold and felt more smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was slightly acidic.

You can purchase TCHO Citrus online directly from TCHO for $10.95 for two bars.