International Chocolate Awards 2015

Today the International Chocolate Awards announced the 2015 world winners.

WORLD WINNERS

Best In Competition
Rogue Porcelana

Dark
GOLD: Rogue Porcelana
GOLD: SOMA Porcelana
SILVER: Bonnat Vale do Juliana
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Bonnat) Chuno 70% Double Turned
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Bonnat) Chuno 70% Triple Turned
SILVER: Marou Tien Giang 70%
SILVER: Pacari Lacumbia 70%
SILVER: Pacari Montubia 70%
SILVER: Pacari Raw 70%
SILVER: SOMA CSB Chama
BRONZE: Amano Chuao
BRONZE: Bonnat Haiti
BRONZE: Dick Taylor Madagascar Sambirano

High Percentage
GOLD: Friis-Holm (Bonnat) La Dalia 85%
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Bonnat) La Dalia 100%

Micro-batch Dark
GOLD: Cacao Hunters Arhuaco 72%
SILVER: Cacao Hunters Arauca 70%
SILVER: Duffy's Honduras Indio Rojo
SILVER: Hummingbird Hispaniola 70%
SILVER: Omnom Madgascar 66%
SILVER: Pump Street Bakery Grenada 70%
BRONZE: Pump Street Bakery Madagascar Criollo 74%

Alternative Sweetener Dark
BRONZE: Starchild Wild & Raw

Americas Finalists

Dark
Amano Chuao
Amano Dos Rios 70%
Amano Porcelana 70%
AMAZ Amazonas 67%
Cacaosuyo Piura Select
ChocXO Camino Verde Ecuador 72%
ChocXO Tres Rios Peru 68%
ChocXO Yaguachi 70%
Dick Taylor Dominican Finca Elvesia
Dick Taylor Madagascar Sambirano
Franceschi Canoabo 70% 2015
Franceschi Choroni 70% 2015
Franceschi Ocumare 70% 2015
Franceschi Rio Caribe 60% 2015
Franceschi Sur del Lago 60% 2015
Marou Lam Dong 74%
Marou Tien Giang 70%
Marou Treasure Island 75%
Pacari Esmeraldas 60%
Pacari Lacumbia 70%
Pacari Manabi 65%
Pacari Montubia 70%
Pacari Raw 70%
Pacari Tangara 70%
Ritual Mid Mountain Blend
Rogue Jamaica
Rogue Porcelana
Rogue Tranquilidad
SOMA Porcelana
SOMA CSB Chama
SPAGnVOLA Dominican Republic 70% Single Estate
SPAGnVOLA Dominican Republic 75% Single Estate
SPAGnVOLA Dominican Republic 80% Single Estate
TCHO Bright

High Percentage
Marou Tan Phu Dong 85% (Heart of Darkness)
Palette de Bine Camino Verde Ecuador 85%
Ritual Ecuador 85%

Micro-batch Dark
Brasstown Ecuador 75%
Cacao Hunters Arauca 70%
Cacao Hunters Arhuaco 72%
Cacao Hunters Sierra Nevada 64%
Cacao Hunters Tumaco 70%
Dandelion Oko-Caribe, Dominican Republic
Fresco 224 Dominican Republic 72%
Hummingbird Hispaniola 70%
Hummingbird Reserva Zorzal 70%
Madre Likao Kula Farm, Kona HI
Millcreek Cacao Roasters 70% Pure Dark
Palette de Bine Lam Dong Vietnam 72%
Sirene Guatemala 73%

Rough/Textured Dark
Cacaosuyo Batanero

Alternative Sweetener Dark
Palette de Bine ”Bines à l’érable” San Juan Estate Trinidad 70%
Starchild Wild & Raw

European Finalists

Dark
Åkesson’s 75% Criollo Madagascar Ambolikapiky 75%
Bodrato Ecuador 75%
Bonnat Cacao Real del Xoconuzco
Bonnat Cuba
Bonnat Dark Organic
Bonnat Haiti
Bonnat Maragnan
Bonnat Vale do Juliana
Friis-Holm Barba 70%
Friis-Holm Chuno 70% Double Turned
Friis-Holm Chuno 70% Triple Turned
Friis-Holm Johe 70%
Friis-Holm La Dalia 60%
Friis-Holm La Dalia 70%
Friis-Holm Medagla 70%
Friis-Holm Nicaliso 70%
Friis-Holm Rugoso 70%
Morin Nicaragua Chuno 70%

High Percentage
Åkesson’s 100% Criollo Madagascar Ambolikapiky
Friis-Holm La Dalia 85%
Friis-Holm La Dalia 100%
Hotel Chocolat Honduras, Mayan Red 100%
Naive Madagascar Extra Dark
Rózsavölgyi Trincheras 95
Timo A. Meyer 95% Venezuela

Micro-batch Dark
Ara Chocolat Porcelana 70%
Chocolate Tree Peru Marañón 69%
Duffy’s Honduras Indio Rojo
Duffy’s Nicaragua Chuno
Duffy’s Nicaragua Nicaliso
Guido Castagna Raw Venezuela
Guido Castagna Raw Madagascar
Omnom Madagascar 66%
Pump Street Bakery Grenada 70%
Pump Street Bakery Madagascar Criollo 74%
Rózsavölgyi Porcelana

Rough/Textured Dark
Donna Elvira Modicana 70% Madagascar
Donna Elvira Modicana 70% Peru Piura

Review: Amano Dos Rios

Richard's Rating: 9.0

chocolate maker Amano bar Dos Rios region Dominican Republic plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $6.95

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate appearance smooth, imprints, scoring, scuffing, uneven sheen aroma fruit (bergamot, orange), earl grey, floral (jasmine), roast, dairy snap hard taste earl grey, fruit (tangerine, orange), floral (jasmine), tannin, spice, sweet, nut, roast melt smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, slightly acidic

Prior Reviews
2012 Review

Best Prices Online
$4.95 on sale directly from Amano
$6.99 at Caputo's
$6.99 at Chocolopolis

Northwest Chocolate Festival Awards

The awards were announced tonight for the 2015 Northwest Chocolate Festival. There were three judged categories (Single Origin, Milk Chocolate and Inclusions) and three non-judged awards.

In the judged Single Origin category, the winners were:

• 1st: Fruition Hispaniola 68% (Dominican Republic)
• 2nd: Dick Taylor Bolivia Alto Beni 70%
• 3rd: Amano Guayas 70% (Ecuador)

In the judged Milk Chocolate category, the winner was:

• Sirene Guatemala

In the judged Inclusions (flavored chocolate) category, the winners were:

• 1st: Fruition Bourbon Aged Dark Milk 61%
• 2nd: Amano Red Raspberry
• 3rd: Fruition Brown Butter Milk 43%

They also gave out non-judged awards:

• Lifetime Achievement: Bill Fredericks, the Chocolate Man
• Mott Green Sustainability: Emily Stone of Maya Mountain Cacao, Cacao Verapaz, and Uncommon Cocoa Group
• Founder's Choice: Dick Taylor Bolivia Alto Beni 70%

You can still buy tickets for this weekend online ($30 for full day) or at the door ($20 for afternoon starting at 12:30 p.m.) at Pier 66 (the Bell Harbor Center) in Seattle.

Academy of Chocolate 2015 Awards

The London Academy of Chocolate released their ridiculously large number of award winners for 2015.

They had two bean to bar dark chocolate categories: under 80% and at least 80%.

GOLD under 80%
Åkesson's Madagascar 75% Criollo
Amano Ocumare 70%
Bar au Chocolat Dominican Republic 70%

SILVER under 80%
Åkesson's Bali 75% Trinitario
Bar au Chocolat Madagascar 70%
Castronovo Colombia Sierra Nevada 72%
Chocolat Madagascar Fine Dark 65%
Chocolat Madagascar Organic Fine Dark 70%
Dick Taylor Madagascar Sambirano
Green & Black's THIN Dark 70%
Hotel Chocolat 70% Saint Lucia Rabot Estate Bord du Lac
Pump Street Bakery Grenada 70% Crayfish Bay Estate
Pump Street Bakery Madagascar Criollo 74% Åkesson's Estate
Red Star Duffy’s Honduras Indio Rojo 72%
SPAGnVOLA Nigeria 70% Oda Cocoa Estate
SPAGnVOLA Dominican Republic 70% Single Estate

BRONZE under 80%
Amano Chuao 70%
Amano Cuyagua 70%
Amano Madagascar 70%
Amano Morobe 70%
Amazona 74% El Shunté (Tiesto)
Amazona 72% Valle del Chanka (Lamas)
AQUIM Q 65%
Chocolate Tree Madagascar Sambirano 72%
Chocolate Tree Peru Marañon 69%
ChocXO Camino Verde Ecuador 72%
ChocXO Guantupi Ecuador 75%
ChocXO Tres Rios Peru 68%
Damson Ecuador 70% Los Rios
Damson Madagascar 70% Åkesson Estate
Dick Taylor Belize Toledo
Dick Taylor Ecuador Camino Verde
Doble & Bignall Raven Johe 72%
Domori Ocumare 77 Criollo 70%
Du Jour Pure 70%
Hotel Chocolat 70% Honduras Mayan Red
Idilio Origins No. 3 Selección Cata Ocumare
Idilio Origins No. 4 Carenero Urrutia Superior
NAÏVE Nicaragua Nicalizo 72%
Omnom Madagascar 66%
Original Beans Papua Kerafat
Original Beans Piura Porcelana
Pacari Esmeraldas 60%
Red Star Duffy’s Nicaragua Chuno 70%
Ritual Mid Mountain Blend
Rococo Organic Dark 65% Artisan Bar
Rozsavolgyi Madagascar Criollo 71% Åkesson Estate
Rozsavolgyi Puerto Cabello 74%
Rozsavolgyi Porcelana 71%
Tobago Cocoa Estate

GOLD at least 80%
Åkesson's Madagascar 100% Criollo

SILVER at least 80%
Papa 80% Peru
Pump Street Bakery Honduras Finca Tres Marias 80%
SPAGnVOLA Dominican Republic 80% Single Estate

BRONZE at least 80%
Bar au Chocolat Trinidad 80%
Baravelli's Madagascan Sambirano 82%
Chocolat Madagascar Fine Dark 85%
Michel Cluizel Noir Infini 99%
Domori Criollo 100% Hacienda San Jose
Hazel Mountain 87% Venezuela Bean Sur del Lago
Szanto Tibor Baracoa Cuba 88% Ocenta y Ocho

Here's a link to the full lists of 2015 Award Winners in all of the categories.

International Chocolate Awards 2014 Americas Semi-Final Winners

Last night the International Chocolate Awards published the 2014 winners of the Americas semi-finals. Here are the unflavored dark chocolate bar winners. There were many winners "due to the exceptionally high number of entries and overall standard". National awards were given "where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category".

Americas
GOLD: Pacari Tangara 70%
SILVER: Pacari Piura 70%
SILVER: Pacari Raw 70%
SILVER: SOMA Peru Nacional
SILVER: Franceschi Rio Caribe 60% 2014 crop
SILVER: Cacaosuyo Lakuna
SILVER: It's Chocolate Venezuelan Chuao 70%
SILVER: Franceschi Ocumare 70% 2014 crop
SILVER: Pacari Lacumbia 70%
SILVER: Pacari Montubia 70%
SILVER: Madre Healani Orchards, Hawi, Hawaii, Criollo
SILVER: Pacari Nube 70%
BRONZE: Franceschi Sur Del Lago 60% 2014 crop
BRONZE: Amano Chuao
BRONZE: Hummingbird Hispaniola
BRONZE: Pacari Garua 70%
BRONZE: Chocolat Madagascar Fine Dark 65%
BRONZE: Amano Montanya
BRONZE: Potomac Upala, Costa Rica 70%

High Percentage
GOLD: Marou Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris
SILVER: Pacari Raw 85%
SILVER: Chocolat Madagascar Fine Dark 85%
BRONZE: Pacari Raw 100%
BRONZE: Cicada 99% Madagascan

Rough Ground
GOLD: Taza Cacao Puro
SILVER: SOMA Old School

National
CANADA GOLD: SOMA Peru Nacional
UNITED STATES GOLD: It's Chocolate Venezuelan Chuao 70%
VENEZUELA GOLD: Franceschi Rio Caribe 60% 2014 crop
UNITED STATES SILVER: Madre Healani Orchards, Hawi, Hawaii, Criollo
UNITED STATES SILVER: Amano Chuao
UNITED STATES SILVER: Amano Montanya
UNITED STATES SILVER: Potomac Upala, Costa Rica 70%
UNITED STATES SILVER: Dandelion Ambanja, Madagascar 70%

National Rough Ground
UNITED STATES GOLD: Taza Cacao Puro

Sale: Free Shipping at World Wide Chocolate

World Wide Chocolate is running another one week promotion with free UPS Ground shipping on all orders with no minimum purchase requirement. They have a large selection with prices only slightly above lowest online retail. Free shipping is an excellent deal for small orders, and prices are already great on Amano, Amedei, Madécasse, and Potomac bars.

Use coupon code FREESHIPPING during checkout. This offer is valid through Monday, April 7th. It has been two months since they last ran this free shipping offer.

Sale: Free Shipping at World Wide Chocolate

World Wide Chocolate has free UPS Ground shipping available on all orders with no minimum purchase requirement. They have a big selection and even though their prices are typically a little higher than the least expensive online chocolate retailers, free shipping is a great deal for small orders.

In particular, this is an excellent opportunity to pick up some chocolate bars from Amedei, Madécasse, and Potomac. World Wide Chocolate has competitive prices for these makers even without a sale, so free shipping makes them a bargain. Amano would usually be on that list as well, but they are currently sold out.

Use coupon code FREESHIPPING during checkout. This offer is valid through Monday, February 10th. It has been roughly a month since they last ran this free shipping offer.

Sale: Free Shipping at World Wide Chocolate

World Wide Chocolate has free UPS Ground shipping available on all orders with no minimum purchase requirement. They have a big selection and even though their prices are typically a little higher than the least expensive online chocolate retailers, free shipping is a great deal for small orders.

In particular, this is an excellent opportunity to pick up some chocolate bars from Amano, Amedei, Madécasse, and Potomac. World Wide Chocolate has competitive prices for these makers even without a sale, so free shipping makes them a bargain.

Use coupon code FREESHIPPING during checkout. This offer is valid through Sunday, January 12th.

Sale: Free Shipping at World Wide Chocolate

World Wide Chocolate has free UPS Ground shipping sale on all orders with no minimum purchase requirement. Even though their prices are typically a little higher than the least expensive online chocolate retailers, free shipping is a great deal for small orders.

This is also an excellent opportunity to pick up your favorite Amano, Amedei, Madécasse, Patric, and Potomac chocolate bars. World Wide Chocolate has competitive prices for these makers even without a sale, so free shipping makes them a bargain.

Use coupon code FREESHIPPING during checkout for this free shipping offer. This code is valid through Monday, October 14th has been extended through Monday, November 25th.

International Chocolate Awards 2013 Americas Semi-Finalists

The International Chocolate Awards have national and regional semi-final competitions throughout the year, followed by a world final in October in London. The full results of the Americas semi-finals were just published, and here are the winners in the unflavored dark chocolate bar category.

AMERICAS GOLD: Pacari Raw 70%
AMERICAS SILVER: Patric Madagascar 67%
AMERICAS SILVER: Pacari Piura Quemazón 70%
AMERICAS SILVER: Pacari Guayacán 70%
AMERICAS SILVER: Patric Piura 67%
AMERICAS SILVER: Grenada 60%
ECUADOR GOLD: Pacari Raw 70%
USA GOLD: Patric Madagascar 67%
USA SILVER: Patric Piura 67%
USA SILVER: Amano Chuao 70%
USA SILVER: Askinosie Cortés, Honduras 70%
USA SILVER: Tejas Capistrano
USA SILVER: Dandelion Papua New Guinea 70%
VENEZUELA GOLD: Franceschi Canoabo 2013
NOMINATION: Amazona Peru 73%

Academy of Chocolate 2013 Awards

The London Academy of Chocolate released their award winners for 2013.

Here are the winners in the bean to bar dark chocolate category:

GOLD:
Amedei Blanco de Criollo
Amedei Cru Madagascar
Bar au Chocolat Chiapas, Mexico 70%
Bar au Chocolat Sambirano Valley, Madagascar 70%
Original Beans Beni Wild Harvest 60%

SILVER
Akesson's Madagascar
Amano Chuao
Amedei 9
Amedei Toscano Black 63%
Hotel Chocolat Rabot Marcial 70%
Marou Tien Giang 70%
Michel Cluizel Mokaya 66%
Potomac San Martin 70%
Tabago Estate 70%

BRONZE
Marou Ben Tre 78%
Oialla Dark 72%

Here's a link to the full lists of 2013 Award Winners in all of the categories.

Sale: Free Shipping at World Wide Chocolate

World Wide Chocolate is offering free UPS Ground shipping on all orders (no minimum purchase) through Tuesday, April 30th. While their prices are typically higher than the least expensive online chocolate retailers, free shipping more than makes up for this if you have a small order.

World Wide Chocolate is a good place to buy Amano, Amedei, Madécasse, Patric, and Potomac chocolate bars, as their prices are competitive even without a sale.

Use coupon code FREESHIPPING during checkout for free shipping through Tuesday, April 30th.

2013 Good Food Awards for Chocolate

The Good Food Awards published their winners for 2013. The following unflavored bars won awards in the chocolate category:

Amano Chuao
Dandelion Sambirano, Madagascar
Fresco Papua New Guinea 220
Patric Madagascar 67%
Patric Madagascar 75%
Ritual Costa Rica
Ritual Madagascar
Rogue Hispaniola
Rogue Rio Caribe
Rogue Sambirano

The links above go directly to our associated detailed chocolate bar review.

International Chocolate Awards 2012 Winners

The World Final of the 2012 International Chocolate Awards took place last week in London and the results have now been published. Here are the winners in the unflavored dark chocolate bar category (with cacao origin).

Overall Winners
GOLD: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
SILVER: Pacari 70% Piura-Quemazon (Peru)
SILVER: Amano Cuyaga 70% (Venezuela)
SILVER: Amano Chuao 70% (Venezuela)
SILVER: Michel Cluizel Los Anconès (Santo Domingo)
SILVER: Domori Guasare (Venezuela)

Special Awards
GOLD Chocolate Maker: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Growing Country Chocolate: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Directly Traded Cacao: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Organic: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Best Cacao Source: Pacari 70% Piura-Quemazon (Peru)

You can see the full results here on the International Chocolate Awards website.

International Chocolate Awards 2012 Semi-Finalists

The International Chocolate Awards have national and regional semi-final competitions throughout the year, followed by a grand final this year in London in October. The results of the last of those competitions have been published, and here are all of the winners in the unflavored dark chocolate bar category (along with cacao origin).

Americas (full results)
GOLD: Pacari 70% Piura-Quemazon (Peru)
SILVER: Amano Cuyaga 70% (Venezuela)
SILVER: Franceschi Canoabo (Venezuela)
SILVER: Fresco 212 (Dominican Republic)
SILVER: Pacari 70% Nube (Ecuador)
SILVER: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
ECUADOR NATIONAL GOLD: Pacari 70% Nube (Ecuador)
UNITED STATES NATIONAL GOLD: Amano Cuyaga 70% (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Amano Chuao 70% (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Amano Ocumare 70% (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Amma 60% (Brazil)
WORLD FINALIST: Franceschi Sur Del Lago (Venezuela)

Europe (full results)
GOLD: Michel Cluizel Los Anconès (Santo Domingo)
SILVER: Bonnat Porcelana (Venezuela)
SILVER: Domori Guasare (Venezuela)
SILVER: Original Beans Beni Wild Harvest 66% (Bolivia)
FRANCE GOLD: Michel Cluizel Los Anconès (Santo Domingo)
ITALY GOLD: Domori Guasare (Venezuela)
SWITZERLAND GOLD: Idilio No. 2 Selección Amiari Merideña (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Domori Apurimac (Peru)
WORLD FINALIST: Menakao 72% (Madagascar)

Review: Amano Madagascar

Richard's Rating: 9.0

chocolate maker Amano bar Madagascar region Madagascar plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $6.95

color medium-light brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture smooth with text imprints, scoring aroma roast (tobacco, cocoa), fruit (berry), spice (vanilla, hint of cinnamon) snap medium hard taste sweet, fruit (citrus, orange, lime, berry, strawberry, raspberry), vanilla, roast melt more smooth length medium finish slightly acidic, slightly sour

U.S. chocolate maker Amano makes eight single origin dark chocolate bars, one of which is Madagascar. The cacao beans for this chocolate came from the renown Sambirano Valley of Madagascar.

The ingredients of Madagascar were the same as Art Pollard's other chocolates: cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter made from the same cacao beans, and vanilla beans. He also used the same ratio of 70% cocoa solids.

The two ounce bar was scored into 15 pieces, each with an imprint of the company name and emblem. It came wrapped in gold-sided foil and packaged inside a glossy paper box. A sticker on the back of the box identified lot number 3/4/90E and a best before date of October 2013.

Madagascar had a medium-light brown Fudgesickle (PANTONE 19-1431) color. The surface was smooth, with some barely noticeable scuffing. The snap was medium hard.

The aroma contained scents of tobacco and cocoa roast, along with a berry fruit, and a strong vanilla. I also smelled a hint of cinnamon..

I initially tasted sweetness, and then the chocolate revealed a lovely combination of fruit flavors: citrus that was more orange than lime along with berry that was a combination of strawberry and raspberry. Vanilla was also clearly evident over a mild roast flavor.

The melt was just a bit better than smooth and into the more smooth category. The flavor after the chocolate was gone lasted 30 to 35 seconds, giving it a medium length. The finish was slightly acidic and slightly sour.

Overall, other than being a bit too sweet for my palate, this chocolate was great in nearly every way. I was so impressed that, after taking my initial tasting notes, I followed up with a comparative tasting against our two top-ranked Madagascar chocolates (Rogue Sambirano and Patric Madagascar 75%), and Amano Madagascar came out best! It just missed making it onto my list of 10 favorite chocolate bars, and is currently ranked 11. Madagascar won a Gold award in 2009 from the Academy of Chocolate, and it was clearly well-deserved.

Madagascar is not currently available directly from Amano, but you can purchase it online for $6.95 from New Leaf or for $6.99 from Chocolopolis or World Wide Chocolate.

Review: Amano Morobe

Lindy's Rating: 7.5

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Amano bar Morobe region Papua New Guinea plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $6.95

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprints, scoring, bubbles, curved bottom aroma roast, floral, earth, fruit (citrus), hint of dairy snap medium hard taste earth, fruit (citrus, grapefruit, lime, blackberry), roast (smoke), sweet melt smooth length medium finish slightly acidic, hint of smoke

Art Pollard found the cacao beans for this chocolate in the southernmost part of Papua New Guinea, and tried many variations of roasting temperatures and times, and conching temperatures and times, to discover how best to release the flavors of these beans.

Amano Morobe contains 70% cocoa solids (cacao beans and added cocoa butter from the same beans) plus cane sugar and whole vanilla beans. The two ounce bar was scored into 15 pieces, each with an imprint of the company emblem and name.

The bar came wrapped in gold-sided foil in a glossy paper container. A small sticker was printed with lot 3/4/92B and a best before date of May 2013.

Morobe had a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was smooth, with some tiny bubbles on the top. The shape of the bar, however, was uneven, with the bottom surface curved so that the middle part was thinker than the edges. Perhaps due to insufficient time before cooling? The bar had a medium hard snap.

The aromas of Morobe included roast, floral, earth, and a citrus fruit. I also smelled a hint of dairy.

The chocolate first tasted of earth and then fruit, primarily citrus, but also berry. We identified the citrus as grapefruit and lime and the berry as blackberry. The other prevalent flavor was a smoky roast. I experienced sweetness as well.

Morobe had a smooth melt. Its length was medium, with the flavor after the chocolate was gone lasting 20 to 30 seconds. The final aftertaste was slightly acidic with a hint of the smoky roast.

You can purchase Morobe online for $6.95 directly from Amano for delivery to the U.S. or Canada. If you want to combine it with the purchase of another brand of chocolate, you can buy it for $6.95 from NewLeaf Chocolates or for $7.00 from The Meadow.

Review: Amano Dos Rios

Lindy's Rating: 9.5

Richard's Rating: 9.5

chocolate maker Amano bar Dos Rios region Dominican Republic plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $6.95

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprints and scoring aroma earl grey, fruit (bergamot, orange), floral (jasmine), dairy (cream), roast, spice (clove), astringent snap hard taste earl grey, sweet, fruit (orange, tangerine, clementine), floral (jasmine), tannin, dairy, spice, nutty melt smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, very slight orange

MORE RECENT REVIEW: Amano Dos Rios

The cacao beans for this chocolate were discovered in the Dominican Republic. They had such unusual flavors that Art Pollard arranged to purchase them all for Amano.

As with his other chocolates, Art added cane sugar, cocoa butter from the same cacao beans, and whole vanilla beans to make Dos Rios. It has 70% cocoa solids. The two ounce bar was scored into 15 pieces, each with an imprint of the company name and emblem. The bar was wrapped in gold-sided foil and came packaged in a glossy paper box. A sticker indicated lot 3/4/88F and a best before date of June 2013.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was great other than some minor scuffing (appears worse in full size photo). The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma of Dos Rios was powerful, unique, and compelling. Lindy and I both immediately thought of earl grey tea (and she exclaimed "Oh, my god!") Fruit scents of bergamot and orange as well as a jasmine floral scent were strongest, but we also smelled dairy in the form of cream, roast, and a spice I identified as clove. Lindy described the combination of orange and cream scents as that of a 50-50 bar. I also noticed some astringency in the aroma.

Dos Rios tasted much as is smelled, with the immediate flavor of earl grey. Sweetness followed, with a range of orange flavors, including tangerine and clementine. The jasmine floral was also present in the taste, as was tannin. In addition, I tasted the dairy and spice from the aroma, as well as unexpected nutty flavor.

The melt was smooth. The length was medium, with the flavor lasting 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat tannin, with just a hint of orange.

Overall, Dos Rios was a spectacular chocolate, with a remarkable and complex aroma and flavor. Lindy and I both put this chocolate on our lists of favorites. This chocolate also won one of the Silver awards from the Academy of Chocolate in 2011.

You can purchase Dos Rios online for $6.50 directly from Amano for delivery to the U.S. or Canada. If you want to combine it with the purchase of another brand of chocolate, you can buy it in the U.S. for $6.99 from Chocolopolis or World Wide Chocolate.

Review: Amano Guayas

Lindy's Rating: 7.0

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Amano bar Guayas region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $6.95

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprints and scoring, tiny bubbles aroma roast (smoke), floral, earth snap medium hard taste floral, sweet, woody, fruit (apricot, berry), vanilla, tannin, roast (smoke) melt smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, very slight fruit

Art Pollard, the founder of U.S. chocolate maker Amano, has built direct relationships with the farmers from whom he buys the highest quality cacao. In several cacao growing regions, including Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia, finding great cacao has become more difficult due to substantial plantings of a more productive but lower quality hybrid cacao called CCN-51. I'll write more about hybrids, and some of the insights Art Pollard shared about them at the most recent Northwest Chocolate Festival keynote.

For his Guayas bar, Art found farms in the Guayas river basin of Ecuador with only Nacional cacao and paid premiums well above fair trade prices to compensate the farmers for the higher quality cacao. Before selling this chocolate, he returned to Ecuador with the first bars and shared them with the farmers who grew the cacao.

As with all Amano chocolate, Guayas was made from cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter from the same cacao beans, and whole vanilla beans, at least 70% of which were cocoa solids. The two ounce bar was scored into 15 pieces, each with an imprint of the company name and emblem. The bar was wrapped in gold-sided foil and came packaged in a glossy paper box with a slip of paper listing Amano's other chocolates and a list of awards. A sticker indicated lot 3/4/72F and a best before date of August 2013.

The color of the chocolate was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface had a few small bubbles in some of the top corners of the pieces and was slightly scuffed in places (looks much worse in the full size picture than in person), but was otherwise excellent. The bar had a medium-hard snap.

Guayas gave off a mild aroma of a smoky roast, floral, and earth. I thought at one point I smelled a scent of berry, but couldn't confirm it.

The taste was much more interesting, with floral, sweet, woody, fruit, and vanilla flavors. We both identified the fruit flavor as apricot, and I tasted some berry as well. The smoky roast we smelled was still there, but less obvious behind the other flavors. Lindy clearly tasted tannin, which I had completely overlooked until she pointed it out.

The chocolate had a smooth melt. The flavor lasted about 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, just enough to qualify for a medium length. The final aftertaste was somewhat tannin, with just a slight suggestion of fruit.

Every Amano chocolate we've reviewed so far has rated 7.0 or higher, and thus made it onto our Best Chocolates Overall page, and Guayas is no exception. However, we both felt it wasn't as good as some of their other bars, such as Chuao, Montanya, Ocumare, and Dos Rios. Guayas won one of the 2012 Good Food Awards.

You can purchase Guayas online for $6.50 directly from Amano for delivery to the U.S. or Canada. If you want to combine it with the purchase of another brand of chocolate, you can buy it in the U.S. for $6.99 from Chocolopolis or World Wide Chocolate.

2012 Good Food Awards for Chocolate

This weekend the Good Food Awards announced their winners for 2012. The following won awards in the chocolate category:

Amano Guayas
Dandelion Costa Rica
Escazu Costa Rica
Fresco 214
Lillie Belle Farms Perfect Illusion
Patric Signature 70%
Rogue Sambirano
Theo Theo and Jane Goodall 70%

The links above go directly to our associated detailed chocolate bar review.