Review: Lillie Belle Farms Perfect Illusion 65%

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Lillie Belle Farms bar Perfect Illusion 65% region Peru plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2012 size 77g ~ 2.7oz cocoa solids 65% added fat (none) sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $8.00

color light brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture smooth, relief, bubbles aroma floral, earth, spice snap hard taste floral, sweet (caramel), nut (cashew), fruit (blueberry), earth, roast (cocoa) melt smooth length short finish tannin, somewhat acidic, somewhat sour

Lillie Belle Farms crafts a delicious collection of chocolate products and a few years ago began making bean to bar chocolate. In addition to Dark Star 80% and Purple Haze 75%, maker Jeff Shephard created Perfect Illusion 65%.

Perfect Illusion was made with certified fair trade and organic cacao from Peru. Although Jeff won't reveal the exact source of these cacao beans, he described them as "white beans", so presumably they are the Porcelana-like variety that has been found in Peru. The only other ingredient in this pure chocolate was sugar.

Inside a paper wrapper, the unscored 2.7 ounce bar came wrapped in gold-sided-foil. There was no production or best before date on the wrapper. Note that this bar was purchased at the Northwest Chocolate Festival.

Perfect Illusion had a light brown Fudgesickle (PANTONE 19-1431) color. The top surface had the "Lillie Belle Farms" and two flower relief on a matte finish. The relief had several small bubbles. The bar had a hard snap. The aroma of the chocolate contained scents of flowers, earth, and spice.

The initial taste was floral, followed quickly by a caramel sweetness. I tasted flavors of nut in the form of cashew and of fruit in the form of blueberry. Also present were earthiness and a cocoa roast flavor.

The chocolate had a smooth melt. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was tannin, somewhat acidic, and somewhat sour.

Although it was sweeter than I prefer, with it's interesting caramel, blueberry, and cashew flavor, I liked Perfect Illusion most among the chocolate bars from Lillie Belle Farms. You can now find it on our Best Chocolates Overall page.

In 2012, this chocolate won a Good Foods Award. You can purchase Perfect Illusion 65% online directly from Lillie Belle Farms for $8.00 or from Chocolopolis for $7.99.