Review: Cacao Sampaka La Joya

Richard's Rating: 8.0

chocolate maker Chocovic bar La Joya region Mexico plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €9.30

color medium-light brown PANTONE 19-1331 Madder Brown texture smooth, semi-glossy, uneven sheen aroma spice (cinnamon), fruit (raisin, prune, berry), roast snap hard taste spice (chili pepper), sweet, fruit (citrus, raspberry, lime), roast (tobacco), sour melt smooth length medium finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

La Joya is another single origin chocolate made from Mexican cacao by Spanish chocolate maker Chocovic for Cacao Sampaka. Thanks to the reader who informed us about Chocovic. We previously reviewed Xoconusco. Sampaka also sources cacao from other more traditional origins, but we haven't reviewed any of their other single origin chocolate bars.

The cacao beans for La Joya are not merely single origin, but also come from a single plantation, La Joya, in Tabasco Mexico. The beans are labelled Criollo Blanco, suggestive of a porcelana variety with white cacao beans.

Made with 70% cocoa solids (cocoa mass and added cocoa butter), the chocolate also contained sugar and soy lecithin. The paper box included two unscored 50 gram bars sealed in plastic and had an opening through which you could see the chocolate inside. The bars were separated with a thin sheet. The batch number was 110506 and the best before date was October 2013.

The color of La Joya was a medium light brown Madder Brown (PANTONE 19-1331). The top surface of each bar was smooth and semi-glossy, with a text imprint of "CACAO SAMPAKA". The sheen was uneven, with just a few tiny bits of adhered chocolate. The snap was hard.

The chocolate gave off an aroma of spice, fruit, and some roast. The spice included a scent of cinnamon. The fruit was a combination of a raisin, prune and berry.

La Joya's taste began with some spice and sweetness. The spice flavor included chili pepper. Fruit then came forth, with flavors of citrus, raspberry, and lime. I also tasted a tobacco roast and some sourness.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted about 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone, reaching a medium length. The final aftertaste was somewhat sour and slightly acidic.

You can purchase La Joya online directly from Cacao Sampaka for €9.30 in Spain, or from Caputo's for $13.99 in the United States.

Review: Cacao Sampaka Xoconusco

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Chocovic bar Xoconusco region Mexico plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €6.75

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, semi-glossy, uneven sheen, adhered bits aroma roast (cocoa), spice, fruit (date, berry), nut, sweet snap hard taste fruit (blackberry), roast (cocoa), nut (hazelnut), sweet (marshmallow) melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, somewhat acidic, and slightly sour

Spanish chocolatier Cacao Sampaka sells several single origin chocolate bars, including two I purchased from Chocolopolis. Note that Sampaka chocolate is produced by Chocovic (thanks to the reader who shared this information). Although Sampaka also makes chocolate from cacao of more typical origins, both of these bars happen to be made with cacao from Mexico. The cacao for Xoconusco came from Xoconusco in the state of Chiapas.

This chocolate contained 70% cocoa solids. Added ingredients were sugar, cocoa butter, and soy lecithin. Two unscored 50 gram bars were sealed in plastic inside a paper box (with an opening through which you could see the contents). The bars were separated with a thin sheet. The batch number was 110390 and the best before date was September 2013.

Xoconusco had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The top surface of each bar was smooth and semi-glossy, with a text imprint of "CACAO SAMPAKA". The sheen was uneven, and there were a few adhered bits of chocolate and a tiny bit of scuffing. The snap was hard.

Opening the sealed plastic unleashed a rich aroma of roast in the form of cocoa, along with spice, fruit, nut and sweetness. The fruit scent contained date and berry.

The taste began with a blackberry fruit flavor that soon dissipated behind a cocoa roast. A nutty flavor, with hazelnut in particular, developed, along with a marshmallow sweetness.

The melt was more smooth. The length was medium, with chocolate flavor lasting about 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat tannin, somewhat acidic, and slightly sour.

You can purchase Xoconusco online directly from Cacao Sampaka for €6.75 in Spain, or from Caputo's for $11.99 in the United States.