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

International Chocolate Awards 2014 World Winners

The International Chocolate Awards finally published the 2014 world winners and here are the results for the unflavored dark and high percentage bars:

Dark
GOLD: Pacari Montubia 70%
SILVER: Pacari Raw 70%
SILVER: Bonnat Kaori
SILVER: Pacari Piura Quemazon 70%
SILVER: Cacaosuyo Lakuna
SILVER: Pacari La Cumbia 70%
SILVER: Pacari Tangara 70%
BRONZE: SOMA Peru Nacional
BRONZE: Friis-Holm Johe 70% (Bonnat)
BRONZE: Friis-Holm Nicaliso 70% (Bonnat)
BRONZE: Omnom Madgascar 66%

High Percentage
GOLD: Marou Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris
SILVER: Pacari Raw 85%
SILVER: Pacari Raw 100%

International Chocolate Awards 2014 European Semi-Final Winners

The International Chocolate Awards announced the 2014 winners of the European semi-finals. Here are the unflavored dark chocolate bar winners. National awards were given when at least 10 entries from a country were submitted in the category.

Europe
GOLD: Bonnat Kaori
GOLD: Friis-Holm Johe 70%
SILVER: Friis-Holm Nicaliso 70%
SILVER: Friis-Holm Chuno Triple Turned 70%
SILVER: Bonnat Libanio
BRONZE: Åkesson's Bali Sukrama Farms
BRONZE: Red Star Duffy's Honduras Indio Rojo 72%

High Percentage
GOLD: Åkesson's Madagascar Ambolikapiky 100%
BRONZE: Francois Pralus Le 100% Madagascar

National
BRITAIN GOLD: Red Star Duffy's Honduras Indio Rojo 72%
FRANCE GOLD: Bonnat Kaori

Note that Åkesson's chocolate is made by Pralus and Friis-Holm chocolate is made by Bonnat.

International Chocolate Awards 2013 World Final Results

The International Chocolate Awards have national and regional semi-final competitions throughout the year, followed by a world final in October in London. Below are the World Final winners in the unflavored dark chocolate bar category. You can also read results in all categories.

WORLD GOLD: Pacari Piura Quemazón 70%
WORLD SILVER: Patric Piura 67%
WORLD SILVER: Pacari Raw 70%
WORLD SILVER: Patric Madagascar 67%
WORLD SILVER: Bonnat Juliana
WORLD SILVER: Friis-Holm Nicaliso 70%

Pacari Piura Quemazón 70% was also recognized with special awards of Gold Chocolate Maker, Gold Growing Country, Gold Directly Traded, and Gold Organic.

International Chocolate Awards 2013 Europe 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 Europe semi-finals were published this month, and here are all of the winners in the unflavored dark chocolate bar category.

GOLD: Bonnat Cacao Cusco
SILVER: Friis-Holm Barba 70%
SILVER: Bonnat Juliana
SILVER: Bonnat Porcelana
SILVER: Red Star Honduras Indio Rojo
SILVER: Friis-Holm Nicaliso 70%
NOMINATION: Bonnat Chuao
NOMINATION: Dolci Libertà Madagascar 68%
NOMINATION: Friis-Holm Medagla 70%
BRITAIN GOLD: Red Star Honduras Indio Rojo
DENMARK GOLD: Friis-Holm Barba 70%
FRANCE GOLD: Bonnat Cacao Cusco
SWITZERLAND GOLD: Idilio No. 1 Porcelana Criollo Puro

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: Bonnat Équateur

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Équateur region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown texture smooth, scoring, text imprint, slight scuffing, slightly uneven sheen, tiny bubbles aroma roast (tea, cocoa), earth, floral, sweet (honey), fruit (fig) snap hard taste earth, roast (tea), sweet (caramel, honey), fruit (berry, fig), tannin melt smooth length short finish somewhat tannin, slightly sour

French chocolate maker Bonnat makes single origin Équateur with cacao from Ecuador. The ingredients and proportions are Bonnat's typical ones: 75% cocoa solids (cacao beans plus added cocoa butter) and 25% sugar.

The big 100 gram bar was scored into 32 small pieces around a central block with the "BONNAT Voiron" imprint. It came wrapped in foil-sided wax paper inside a paper sleeve. The best before date was August 2013 (Lot A).

Équateur had a medium-dark brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012) color. The surface of the bar was smooth with slight scuffing and a slightly uneven sheen. There were some tiny bubbles present. Unfortunately, it arrived broken (along the second vertical scoring line, as seen in the photo above). The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma consisted of roast, earth, floral, sweet and fruit scents. The roast was a combination of tea and cocoa. The sweetness smelled of honey. The fruit seemed to be a dried fruit, most like that of fig.

The chocolate tasted of earth, a tea roast, sweetness and fruit. The fruit flavors included berry and fig. I tasted both caramel and honey in the sweetness. There was some tannin present as well.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted about 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving Équateur a short length. The finish was somewhat tannin and slightly sour.

You can purchase Bonnat Équateur online for $8.45 in the U.S. from Chocosphere or for £4.95 in the U.K. from either Chocolate Trading Co. or Mortimer & Bennett.

Sale: 20% off Bonnat, Guittard, Lake Champlain chocolate

Sales this week at World Wide Chocolate include 20% off Bonnat, Guittard and Lake Champlain chocolate using coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (through February 21).

They are also continuing several of their 15% off sales by nationality:

• Amano, Blommer, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Patric, Potomac, Scharffer Berger, Taza, and Vermont Nut Free chocolate using coupon code AMERICAN15
• Cacao Barry, Bonnat, Bernard Castelain, Michel Cluizel, Yves Thuries, Francois Pralus, and Valrhona chocolate using coupon code FRENCH15
• Divine, Hachez, and Viviani chocolate using coupon code GERMAN15
• Amedei, Domori, L'Artigiano, Maglio, Slitti, and Venchi chocolate using coupon code ITALIAN15

You can view the full list of promotions here.

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

In addition, the first 30 buyers to add "Free Michel Cluizel Squares" in the Comments field during checkout will receive 5 free bite-size 5 gram chocolate squares of Michel Cluizel chocolate.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 20% off Guittard, 15% off nearly all other chocolate brands

This week World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Guittard and Valor chocolate using coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (through December 19).

They have 15% off many other chocolate brands by nationality (also through December 19), including:

• Amano, Blommer, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Patric, Scharffer Berger, and Vermont Nut Free chocolate using coupon code AMERICAN15
• Becolade, Cafe-Tasse, Callebaut, Cavalier, Chocolove, Côte D'Or, Dolfin, Galer, Godiva, and Nirvana chocolate using coupon code BELGIAN15
• Cacao Barry, Bonnat, Bernard Castelain, Michel Cluizel, Yves Thuries, Francois Pralus, and Valrhona chocolate using coupon code FRENCH15
• Amedei, Domori, L'Artigiano, Maglio, Slitti, and Venchi chocolate using coupon code ITALIAN15

Finally, if you want to mix and match chocolate of multiple nationalities, you can use coupon code take5 to get $5 off a purchase of $30 or more, or coupon code take10 to get $10 off a purchase of $60 or more. These two coupon codes may end today.

As a bonus treat during checkout, the first 30 buyers to add "Free Michel Cluizel Squares" in the Comments field will receive 5 free bite-size 5 gram chocolate squares of Michel Cluizel chocolate.

World Wide Chocolate has some additional promotions available on other chocolate products.

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 15% off Bonnat, Cluizel, Pralus, Valrhona, and more!

World Wide Chocolate has 15% off French chocolate, including Cacao Barry, Bonnat, Bernard Castelain, Michel Cluizel, Francois Pralus, Yves Thuries, and Valrhona chocolate this week (through December 12th). Use coupon code FRENCH15 during checkout for this discount.

Other promotions include:

• 20% off Ghirardelli and Lindt using coupon code SPECIAL20
• 15% off Becolade, Cafe-Tasse, Callebaut, Cavalier, Chocolove, Côte d'Or, Dolfin, Galler, Godiva and Nirvana using coupon code BELGIAN15 (only valid through tomorrow)
• additional promotions can be found here
  

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

In addition, the first 100 buyers to add "Free T-Shirt" in the Comments field will receive a large size WWC t-shirt.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Review: Bonnat Trinité

Lindy's Rating: 5.0 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 5.5 (previously **)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Trinité region Trinidad plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma floral, roast (coffee), earth (must), hint of sweet snap hard taste citrus (grapefruit), roast (smoke, coffee), earth, nut, bitter, hint of sweet melt more smooth length short finish bitter

Bonnat Trinité was made from cacao beans from Trinidad. They probably used Trinitario cacao beans, but I did not get any confirmation of this. Trinité was a typical Bonnat chocolate, made with 75% cocoa solids from cacao, cocoa butter, and sugar. Formed into their traditional 100 gram bar, with the "BONNAT Voiron" imprint in the center and scored into 32 other pieces around it, Trinité was wrapped in silver foil inside a white paper sleeve. The best before date was July 2012.

This chocolate had a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color and a hard snap. The aroma was a combination of floral, roast, and earth. We didn't identify the floral scent, but agreed that the earth was a must. I smelled the roast as that of coffee and also detected a bit of sweetness.

The taste included flavors of citrus, roast, and some earth. Some bitterness was also present, as well as a hint of sweetness. The citrus revealed itself over time as a yellow grapefruit flavor. I identified the roast as smoke and coffee. Lindy also tasted a roasted nut.

Trinité had a melt that was more than just smooth. However, Lindy found a hard, crunchy granule in each of the two pieces she tasted. The flavor lasted only about 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The finish was bitter, and not just a little.

You can purchase Bonnat Trinité online for $7.85 in the U.S. from Chocosphere (though they are temporarily out of stock) or for £4.95 in the U.K. from Mortimer & Bennett.

Review: Bonnat Porcelana

Lindy's Rating: 9.5 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 8.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Porcelana region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma earth (grass), fruit (berry), spice, hint of sweet snap hard taste fruit (citrus, berry, raisin), roast (malt, toast), dairy (butter), sweet melt more smooth length medium finish slightly acidic, slightly bitter

Bonnat Porcelana is another bar from the French chocolate maker with 75% cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sugar. It was made with Porcelana cacao beans from Venezuela. Wrapped in silver foil and package in a paper sleeve, this 100 gram bar was formed as normal for Bonnat bar, with a "Bonnat Voiron" center imprint and scored into 32 small pieces around it. The best before date was September 2011.

This is our second review of Bonnat's Porcelana bar. You can read the first review here.

The color of Porcelana was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The bar had a hard snap. The chocolate gave off a strong earthy aroma of grass. We also smelled a berry fruit and some spice. Lindy also detected a hint of sweetness. It was a nice aroma.

Porcelana tasted primarily of complex fruit (citrus, berry, and raisin), and roast (malt and toast) flavors. I also experienced something dairy that reminded me of butter, as well as some sweetness.

The melt was more smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting roughly 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was both slightly acidic and slightly bitter.

Overall, Porcelana was very good. We both rated it ***, and it remained on Lindy's list of favorite chocolate bars. It didn't quite break onto mine. This chocolate won a silver at the European Semi-Final of the 2012 International Chocolate Awards.

The price of this already expensive bar has increased about 10% in the past year. You can purchase Bonnat Porcelana online in the U.S. from Chocolopolis for $21.95.

Review: Bonnat 100% Cacao

Lindy's Rating: 7.5 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 7.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar 100% Cacao region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma fruit (pineapple), spice, roast, floral snap hard taste roast, nutty, bitter, dairy melt creamy length short finish somewhat bitter

Bonnat 100% Cacaco is another bar made only of cacao, with extra cocoa butter for smoothness. It was presented as typical for Bonnat: a 100 gram bar formed with the "Bonnat Voiron" center imprint, scored into 32 small pieces around it, wrapped in silver foil, and packaged in a paper sleeve (that had a bold red color). The best before date was July 2012.

100% Cacao had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color and a hard snap. The chocolate gave off a fruit aroma that Lindy identified as pineapple, along with scents of spice, roast, and something floral.

We both tasted flavors of roast and nut. Lindy found the taste bitter, but to me, it was only slightly so. The chocolate also had a dairy flavor for me.

After a somewhat slow start, the melt became nicely creamy. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was a moderate bitterness.

Bonnat 100% Cacao was fairly good other than the bitter finish, but we both prefer Pralus Le 100% for a chocolate made wholly of cacao. If you're willing to compromise to 99%, Cluizel Noir Infini is another option. Here's a link to all of the 100% bars we've reviewed.

You can purchase Bonnat 100% Cacao online in the U.S. from Chocosphere for $7.85.

Review: Bonnat Puerto Cabello Venezuela

Lindy's Rating: 7.0 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 7.0 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Puerto Cabello region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma roast (cocoa), berry (strawberry), earth (soil), sweet snap hard taste fruit (berry), roast (coffee), nut melt more smooth length short finish slightly acidic

Bonnat Puerto Cabello is a single origin bar from Venezuela. The chocolate was made from 75% cocoa solids, with added cocoa butter and sugar. The 100 gram bar was formed, wrapped, and packaged as normal for Bonnat. It had a best before date of June 2012.

This bar had a hard snap. In addition to an initial cocoa roast aroma, Cabello gave off scents of berries that we identified as strawberry, an earthiness reminiscent of soil, and some sweetness.

The chocolate had a slow start, but then released flavors of fruit as berries, a roast that I experienced as coffee, and some nuttiness. Lindy also noticed a brief initial bitterness that went away.

The melt was smoother than normal, which we rated as more smooth. The length of Cabello was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting only about 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was slightly to somewhat acidic.

Overall, we both rated this chocolate as a low ***.

You can purchase Bonnat Puerto Cabello online for $7.85 from Chocosphere.

Review: Bonnat Libânio Brésil

Richard's Rating: 8.0 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Libânio region Brazil plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1518 Puce texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma earthy snap hard taste earthy (moss), sweet, fruit, hint of mold melt smooth length medium finish very slightly acidic

Bonnat Libânio is a single origin bar from Brazil. As with other Bonnat bars, this chocolate was made from 75% cocoa solids, with added cocoa butter and sugar. The 100 gram bar was in Bonnat's typical form, with their imprint on the larger middle piece and scored into 32 small pieces around it. The bar arrived broken into three pieces (which you can see in the picture above, if you look carefully on the right side of the full-size image).

Libânio was the third colorfully wrapped new Bonnat bar that Lauren, Emily, and I tasted together. This chocolate had a light medium-dark brown Puce (PANTONE 19-1518) color. The bar had a hard snap that was a little brittle (spreading tiny chocolate shards when broken).

The only blatant aroma from this bar was an earthiness. The chocolate had a similar earthy flavor that Lauren quickly identified as mossy. We also tasted sweetness and some fruit. A subsequent piece revealed a hint of mold in the earthiness in addition to the mossy flavor.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor after the chocolate was gone lasted longer for Libânio than either Cusco or Cuba, remaining for 20 to 30 seconds, and thus a medium length. The finish was not bitter, only very slightly acidic.

Even lacking a complex aroma, Libânio seemed the best among these three bars and I rated it ***.

You can purchase Bonnat Libânio online for $12.25 from Chocosphere.

Review: Bonnat Cuba

Richard's Rating: 6.5 (previously **)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Cuba region Cuba plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma coconut, roast (cocoa), hint of nut snap medium hard taste sweet, roast, fruit (cantaloupe), hint of nut melt smooth length short finish slightly bitter

Bonnat Cuba is a single origin bar from (surprise) Cuba. As with other Bonnat bars, this chocolate was made from 75% cocoa solids, with added cocoa butter and sugar. The 100 gram bar was in Bonnat's typical form, with their imprint on the larger middle piece and scored into 32 small pieces around it.

Cuba was the second colorfully wrapped new Bonnat bar that Lauren, Emily, and I tasted together. The color of the chocolate was similar to the Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) of Cacao Cusco, with a slightly darker brown. It also had a medium hard snap.

The primary aromas from this bar were coconut and a roast in the form of cocoa. Lauren also smelled a hint of nut.

Cuba took several seconds before the chocolate melted enough to release any flavor, but then we tasted sweet and roast, as well as a fruit that I experienced as cantaloupe. There was a hint of nut in the taste as well as the aroma.

After the slow start, the melt was smooth. The length was short, and the finish was noticeably less bitter than the Cusco bar.

Overall, I found Cuba better than Cusco, but it was not interesting enough to rate ***, so I rated this bar a high **.

You can purchase Bonnat Cuba online for $12.25 from Chocosphere.

Review: Bonnat Cacao Cusco Pérou

Richard's Rating: 5.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Cacao Cusco region Peru plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma roast, earth, hints of fruit and nut snap medium hard taste roast, sweet (burnt caramel), bitter melt smooth length short finish somewhat acidic, bitter

Lauren Adler of Chocolopolis gave me the opportunity to try this chocolate, along with two others from Bonnat, that she was considering for her store. Joining us was Emily, a staff member at the store.

In a change from its former use of traditional white and pale-colored paper, Bonnat has introduced bolder colors for these wrappers, such as the green of this one. We all liked the change.

Bonnat Cacao Cusco is a single origin bar from Peru. As with other Bonnat bars, this chocolate was made from 75% cocoa solids, with added cocoa butter and sugar. The 100 gram bar was in Bonnat's typical form, with their imprint on the larger middle piece and scored into 32 small pieces around it.

The color of this bar was a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). It had a medium hard snap. The chocolate gave off a roast aroma, and we also clearly smelled earth. Other scents were less obvious, but we noticed hints of nut and fruit.

Cacao Cusco's flavor was a similarly strong roast. There was also a sweet taste of burnt caramel and an underlying bitterness.

The melt was smooth, unsurprising given Bonnat's liberal use of extra cocoa butter. The length was short, leaving a somewhat acidic and bitter aftertaste.

You can purchase Bonnat Cacao Cusco online for $12.25 from Chocosphere.

Store: Chocolopolis

As you've no doubt read in previous postings, Chocolopolis was the store that introduced me to artisan chocolate and inspired me to create this blog. The owner, Lauren Adler, is not only an enthusiastic and educated chocophile, but also extremely generous and interested in sharing her passion for chocolate. All of the staff that I've met at the store in Seattle have been friendly and helpful, providing information for the novice and expert alike. At the same time, when they haven't known something, they admitted it and offered to try to find out.

Chocolopolis has many events, including weekly happy hours during which you can taste chocolate for free. They also have a frequent bar club, in which you receive one bar free for every 10 different chocolate bars you buy.

chocolate store	Chocolopolis
website	http://www.chocolopolis.com
address	1527 Queen Anne Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 United States
phone	(206) 282-0776
hours	Mon-Wed	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
	Thu-Sat	11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
	Sun	11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
online shopping	yes, click here
shipping area	continental United States click here for more information
warm weather shipping	yes, with gel packs
chocolate makers	Amano Amedei Askinosie Bonnat El Ceibo Michel Cluizel Coppeneur Claudio Corallo Dandelion Domori Escazú Fearless Fine & Raw Fresco Grenada E. Guittard Kallari Lillie Belle Farms Madécasse Chocolat Moderne Moonstruck Olive & Sinclair Original Beans Pacari Patric François Pralus Republica del Cacao El Rey Ritual Rogue Santander Snake & Butterfly Taza Theo Valrhona Venchi Waialua Estate
special deals & events	frequent bar club weekly happy hours tasting events
last updated	Febrary 24, 2012

In addition to stocking over 200 different chocolate bars, Chocolopolis carries a variety of chocolate truffles by multiple chocolatiers and several other items for chocolate lovers (drinking chocolate, books, gifts, etc.)

Chocolopolis also opened a temporary second store at the Bravern in Bellevue for the winter holidays, but it is still open.
  Address:
     700 110th Ave. NE, Suite 192,
     Bellevue, WA 98004
  Phone: (425) 453-0776
UPDATE: The last day the store at the Bravern will be open is April 30th.

Sale: Michel Cluizel 20% off, Bonnat 15% off, Pralus 15% off

World Wide Chocolate is having a few sales through March 28th, including

• 20% off Michel Cluizel chocolate.
  For this discount, use coupon code CLUIZEL20 during checkout.
• 15% off Bonnat, Cafe-Tasse, Pralus, Vintage, and Vivani chocolate.
  Coupon code TRY15.

They also have a few other sales going on, and their normal specials:

• 5% off all orders: 1day5-0
• 10% off orders over $25: 1day10-25
• 15% off orders over $75: 1day15-75
• 20% off orders over $275: 1day20-275

Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Shipping is free on orders over $150.

Here are direct links to World Wide Chocolate:

• complete list of special offers
• all Michel Cluizel products
• Michel Cluizel single plantation bars
• World Wide Chocolate shipping information

Review: Bonnat Hacienda El Rosario

Lindy's Rating: 6.0 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 6.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Hacienda El Rosario region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma fruit (berry), earthy (wet musty), spice (clove) snap hard taste fruit (berry, watermelon, hint of citrus), sweet melt smooth length minimal finish very slightly bitter

Bonnat Hacienda El Rosario is made simply from Venezuelan cacao beans, cocoa butter, and sugar. The 100 gram bar is scored into 32 small pieces and one larger center piece imprinted with "BONNAT VOIRON" (Voiron is the home city of this French chocolate maker). Rosario contains 75% cocoa solids, and its color was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015).

The aroma contained an earthy scent that Lindy described as "wet musty" (in contrast with the dry musty aroma of the Godiva Extra Dark Santo Domingo) and fruit, which we both experienced as a non-specific berry. In addition, I noticed a spice that seemed similar to clove.

Rosario's flavor was a mix of fruit, with both berry and watermelon, as well as just a hint of citrus. To me, this chocolate also tasted sweet. This chocolate had a nice melt and was smooth. It's length, however, was disappointing, with the flavor lasting only a few seconds (and thus in the minimal category). The final aftertaste was only a very slight bitterness.

Overall, we both rated Bonnat Hacienda El Rosario a high **. Some additional information about this particular bar is that it was marked as Lot A, best before January 2012. You can purchase it online at Chocolopolis for $9.99.