Review: L'Amourette Chocolat Noir

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker L'Amourette bar Chocolat Noir region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring bourbon vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $4.80

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, glossy, scoring, text imprints, bubbles, adhered bits aroma roast (smoke), earth, floral, sweet, acidic, dairy (butter), spice snap medium hard taste sweet, fruit (citrus, orange), roast (hint of coffee), nut, acidic, bitter melt smooth length medium finish sour, somewhat bitter

L'Amourette is the brand under which chocolate maker Andre V began selling his bean to bar chocolate bars this year. He crafts three unflavored single origin Venezuela dark chocolate bars, including Carenero Superior that we reviewed last week. L'Amourette is in the process of having their chocolate bars certified fair trade.

Chocolat Noir was made from cacao beans from the Rio Caribe region of Venezuela. The 75% cocoa solids included separately sourced cocoa butter. Additional ingredients were cane sugar, bourbon vanilla beans, and soy lecithin. L'Amourette's website indicated that the chocolate was conched for 36 hours.

The full 100 gram bar was scored into ten substantial pieces, each with an imprint of the L'Amourette name inside a stylized heart. The bar came wrapped in magenta-colored foil inside a paper box. The best before date was 10 December 2012.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was nicely smooth and glossy, with some tiny bits of chocolate adhered. There were a few tiny bubbles present. The snap was medium hard.

The aroma was a smoky roast, with earth and floral scents. It was also sweet and somewhat acidic, with a dairy scent that smelled like butter. I noticed spice as well.

Chocolate Noir tasted sweet and fruity, the latter of which developed into a citrus and then orange flavor. There were additional flavors of nut and roast with a hint of coffee. Underlying them all was acidity and some bitterness.

The melt was smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was sour and somewhat bitter.

Although not as impressive as Carenero Superior, this was another good new chocolate from L'Amourette. Priced at only $4.80 for a 100 gram bar, it's a bargain, too.

You can purchase Chocolate Noir online for $4.80 directly from L'Amourette.

Review: L'Amourette Carenero Superior

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker L'Amourette bar Carenero Superior region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring bourbon vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $5.00

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture smooth, glossy, scoring, text imprints, bubbles aroma roast (coffee), earth, sweet, wood, floral spice, fruit (blueberry) snap medium hard taste roast (cocoa), sweet (honey), earth, wood, fruit (blueberry, cherry), vanilla melt smooth length long finish somewhat sour, somewhat bitter

French chocolatier Andre V handcrafts bean to bar chocolate in San Francisco as L'Amourette. L'Amourette began selling chocolate bars this year, and makes three unflavored single origin Venezuela dark chocolate bars. The cacao they use is fair trade, and L'Amourette is in the process of having their chocolate bars certified.

The ingredients of Carenero Superior were cocoa beans, cocoa butter, cane sugar, bourbon vanilla beans, and soy lecithin. The chocolate contained 75% cocoa solids, but the added cocoa butter was not made from the same cacao beans. The generous 100 gram bar was scored into ten substantial pieces, each with an imprint of the L'Amourette name inside a stylized heart. The bar came wrapped in black-sided foil inside a paper box. The best before date was November 2012.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown color that was closest to Fudgesickle (PANTONE 19-1431), but darker and browner. The surface was nicely smooth and glossy. There were some tiny bubbles present. The snap was medium hard.

Carenero Superior had a complex aroma that included a coffee roast, earthy and woody scents, sweetness, something floral, spice, and a fruit scent that smelled to me like blueberry.

The taste began with a sweet, earthy, cocoa roast before revealing woodiness and fruit flavors including blueberry and cherry. A vanilla flavor was also present. The sweetness reminded me of honey.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted a remarkable 40 to 45 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a long length. The final aftertaste was somewhat sour and somewhat bitter.

I was impressed by this new chocolate from L'Amourette, and at only $5 for a 100 gram bar, it may have the lowest price per ounce on our Best Chocolates Overall list.

You can purchase Carenero Superior online for $5.00 directly from L'Amourette.