Monday, August 4, 2014

Review: Dick Taylor Madagascar Sambirano

Richard's Rating: 7.0
chocolate makerDick Taylor
barMadagascar Sambirano
regionMadagascar
plantationblend
cacao treesunknown
year2013
size57g ~ 2.0oz
cocoa solids72%
added fat(none)
sweetenercane sugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoring(none)
other ingredients(none)
list price$8.00
colormedium-light brown
PANTONE 19-1526
Dark Red Brown
appearanceimprint, smooth, uneven sheen, bubbles
aromaearth (grass), dairy (cheese), fruit, roast, spice
snaphard
tasteearth, fruit (berry, citrus, lemon), roast (cocoa), molasses, acidic, sour
meltmore smooth
lengthmedium
finishacidic, somewhat tart, somewhat sour
Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor are among the chocolate-making purists, crafting their unflavored chocolate from only cacao beans and cane sugar (with no added cocoa butter, lecithin, or vanilla).

They sourced the cacao for this Madagascar Sambirano bar from Ã…kesson. Both the cacao beans and cane sugar were organic, though the bar was not certified.

The two ounce bar came wrapped in gold foil-sided wax paper inside a paper envelope. It was a single unscored bar with Dick Taylor's intricate imprint. The best before date was August 2014 and the batch number was 13232.

The chocolate had a smooth surface, but the sheen was uneven in a couple of places and there were several bubbles from the finely detailed mold. The color was a medium-light brown Dark Red Brown (PANTONE 19-1526). The snap was hard.

Madagascar Samibrano had an aroma of earth, dairy, fruit, roast, and spice. The earth and dairy were strongest, with more distinct scents of grass and cheese, respectively.

The taste started with some earthiness before the fruit flavors of berry, citrus and lemon came forth. Cocoa roast and molasses were also present. The taste was acidic and slightly sour.

The melt was more smooth, with a slight fudginess. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was acidic, somewhat tart, and somewhat sour.

Compared with the previous version of this bar we reviewed, the melt has improved. I slightly preferred the taste of that prior incarnation, but overall, this was another great chocolate from Dick Taylor.

You can purchase Madagascar Sambirano online for $8.00 directly from Dick Taylor or for $7.49 from Caputo's.

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