Review: Meadowlands Venezuela

Richard's Rating: 5.5

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Venezuela region Venezuela plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, scuffing, bubbles aroma roast (coffee), earth, fruit (prune) snap hard taste roast (coffee, cocoa), earth, fruit (raisin, plum, berry), peanut, sweet, bitter, slightly chalky melt smooth length medium finish bitter, slightly acidic

Meadowlands makes four unflavored single origin chocolate bars: Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Peru, and Venezuela. All of them are made from only cacao beans and cane sugar.

Venezuela came wrapped in gold foil-sided waxed paper inside a purple paper sleeve. The 2.5 ounce bar contained 70% cocoa solids and had a best before date of April 4, 2016.

The bar was scored into 24 pieces. The surface was smooth, but had an uneven sheen, scuffing, and some bubbles. The chocolate had a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The bar had a hard snap.

Fruit, mostly smelling of prune, a coffee roast, and earth were the strongest scents I noticed in the aroma.

The taste began with an earthy coffee and cocoa roast, and then fruit flavors of raisin, plum, and berry came forth. Peanut grew dominant and was present most of the time. The taste was also sweet, bitter, and slightly chalky at the end.

Meadowlands described Venezuela as "nutty overtones, hints of raisin and dried cranberry".

The chocolate had a smooth melt. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was bitter and slightly acidic.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org