Saturday, August 29, 2015

Review: Lake Champlain Blue Bandana Guatemala 70%

Richard's Rating: 6.5
chocolate makerLake Champlain
barBlue Bandana
70% Guatemala
regionGuatemala
plantationblend
cacao treesunknown
yearunknown
size65g ~ 2.3oz
cocoa solids70%
added fatcocoa butter
sweetenersugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoring(none)
other ingredients(none)
list price$8.00
colormedium-dark brown
PANTONE 19-1431
Fudgesickle
appearancesmooth, scoring, imprints, uneven sheen, tiny bubbles
aromaroast (smoke), earth (must, grass), dairy, fruit
snapmedium hard
tasteroast (coffee), fruit (raisin, citrus), earth, acidic, sweet (molasses), tannin
meltsmooth
lengthmedium
finishtannin, somewhat acidic

Best Prices Online
$8.00 directly from Lake Champlain
$9.00 from Chocolopolis

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Review: Ritual Belize

Richard's Rating: 7.0
chocolate makerRitual
barBelize
regionBelize
plantationblend
cacao treesunknown
yearunknown
size43g ~ 1.5oz
cocoa solids75%
added fat(none)
sweetenercane sugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoring(none)
other ingredients(none)
list price$6.75
colormedium brown
PANTONE 19-1015
Bracken
appearancesmooth, scoring, uneven sheen
aromaroast (tobacco, cocoa), fruit (prune), earth
snapmedium hard
tasteroast (tobacco), fruit (prune, cherry), sweet (honey), earth, acidic
meltmore smooth
lengthmedium
finishacidic, somewhat tannin, slightly bitter, slightly sour

Best Prices Online
$6.49 from Caputo's
$6.75 directly from Ritual
$7.00 from Chocolopolis
$7.00 from The Meadow

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Review: Tejas Valero

Richard's Rating: 7.5
chocolate makerTejas
barValero
regionBelize
plantationblend
cacao treesunknown
yearunknown
size56g ~ 2.0oz
cocoa solids70%
added fat(none)
sweetenercane sugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoringvanilla
other ingredients(none)
list price$7.00
colormedium brown
PANTONE 19-1317
Bitter Chocolate
appearancesmooth, scoring, uneven sheen, bubbles
aromaroast (cocoa), spice, earth
snaphard
tastefruit (apricot, cherry), spice (pepper), sweet (honey), earth, roast, acidic, tannin
meltsmooth
lengthmedium
finishsomewhat tannin, slightly acidic

Best Prices Online
$7.00 directly from Tejas

Friday, August 14, 2015

Review: Dandelion Maya Mountain, Belize

Richard's Rating: 6.5
chocolate makerDandelion
barMaya Mountain
regionBelize
plantationblend
cacao treesunknown
year2014
size56g ~ 2.0oz
cocoa solids70%
added fat(none)
sweetenercane sugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoring(none)
other ingredients(none)
list price$8.00
colormedium brown
PANTONE 19-1012
Dark Brown
appearancesmooth, imprints, scoring, scuffing
aromaearth (must), floral, roast (cocoa), sweet (honey), nut
snaphard
tasteearth (straw), fruit (pineapple), sweet (honey), spice (cinnamon), roast (cocoa), acidic
meltsmooth
lengthlong
finishsomewhat acidic

Best Prices Online
$8.00 directly from Dandelion (sold out)
$9.00 from The Meadow

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Zotter Labooko Belize Special 72%

Richard's Rating: 7.0
chocolate makerZotter
barLabooko
Belize Special
regionBelize
plantationblend
cacao treesunknown
yearunknown
size70g ~ 2.5oz
cocoa solids72%
added fatcocoa butter
sweetenercane sugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoring(none)
other ingredientssalt
list price€3,50
colormedium brown
PANTONE 19-1012
Dark Brown
appearancesmooth, textured, imprints, adhered bits
aromaspice (fennel), earth, roast (malt)
snaphard
tastelicorice, roast (cocoa), earth, spice (pepper, fennel), fruit (cherry)
meltmore smooth
lengthmedium
finishslightly bitter

Best Prices Online
€3,50 directly from Zotter
$5.95 from Zotter USA
$7.49 from NewLeaf

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

SOMA Black Science Bachelor's Hall Jamaica

Richard's Rating: 7.5
chocolate makerSOMA
barBlack Science
Bachelor's Hall
regionJamaica
plantationBachelor's Hall
cacao treesTrinitario
year(unknown)
size25g ~ 0.9oz
cocoa solids70%
added fatunknown
sweetenerunknown
emulsifierunknown
flavoringunknown
other ingredientsunknown
list priceN/A
colormedium brown
PANTONE 19-1317
Bitter Chocolate
appearancescoring, imprints, smooth, adhered bits, bubbles
aromaearth, nut sweet, fruit
snapmedium hard
tastesweet (honey), fruit (raspberry), nut, earth, dairy (butter)
meltsmooth
lengthlong
finishsomewhat tannin, somewhat acidic

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Review: Rogue Jamaica

Richard's Rating: 7.5
chocolate makerRogue
barJamaica
regionJamaica
plantationBachelor's Hall
cacao trees(unknown)
year2014
size60g ~ 2.1oz
cocoa solids75%
added fat(none)
sweetenercane sugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoring(none)
other ingredients(none)
list price$16.00
colormedium brown
PANTONE 19-1317
Bitter Chocolate
appearanceglossy, smooth, uneven sheen
aromaearth (grass), spice, roast (tobacco, cocoa, smoke)
snaphard
tasteroast (tobacco, cocoa), fruit (tropical), spice, woody, nut, sweet
meltcreamy
lengthlong
finishtannin, slightly sour

Best Prices Online
$16.00 directly from Rogue

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Review: Ritual Balao

Richard's Rating: 6.5
chocolate makerRitual
barBalao
regionEcuador
plantationCamino Verde
cacao treesunknown
yearunknown
size43g ~ 1.5oz
cocoa solids75%
added fat(none)
sweetenercane sugar
emulsifier(none)
flavoring(none)
other ingredients(none)
list price$6.75
colormedium-dark brown
PANTONE 19-1015
Bracken
appearancesmooth, scoring, uneven sheen
aromaearth (burlap), floral, spice
snapmedium hard
tasteroast (tea, cocoa), earth (burlap), fruit (blackberry), tannin
meltmore smooth
lengthmedium
finishtannin, slightly acidic

Best Prices Online
$6.49 from Caputo's
$6.75 directly from Ritual
$7.00 from Chocolopolis
$7.00 from The Meadow