Chocolopolis Third Anniversary and Golden Tickets

During their anniversary celebration in July, Chocolopolis places golden tickets in three bars of chocolate in their store. Buying one of the bars with a golden ticket inside wins the buyer one free chocolate bar of their choice each week during the subsequent year! As you know if you're a regular reader, winning one of those golden tickets is what inspired me to begin my exploration of artisan chocolate and this blog.

So, if you live in the Seattle area and haven't yet been to Chocolopolis, then this is the month to go and buy some great chocolate (and maybe find a golden ticket). Throughout the year, Chocolopolis has weekly Thursday evening (5 to 9 p.m.) free happy hour chocolate tastings.

During this third anniversary celebration, they also have many other special events:

• Saturday, July 16th, 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.: chocolatier Christopher Elbow shares samples of his truffles.
• Tuesday, July 19th, 7 p.m.: U.W. professor Kristy Leissle (a.k.a. Dr. Chocolate) talks about slavery in the cacao trade.
• Wednesday, July 20th, 1 p.m.: Chocolopolis chocolatiers demonstrate
  tempering chocolate.
• Tuesday, July 26th, 7 p.m.: Kate Selting talks about her experience as a Peace Corps volunteer supporting Panama cacao farming.
• Wednesday, July 27th, 1 p.m.: Chocolopolis chocolatiers demonstrate
  making ganache.
• Saturday, July 30th, 3 to 5 p.m.: Rob Anderson, founder of local Washington chocolate maker Fresco, shares samples of his new Venezuelan Chuao.

Here's a full list of events.

Sale: 15% off Michel Cluizel chocolate plus upgrade to 2-day shipping

This week World Wide Chocolate has 15% off Michel Cluizel chocolate (through July 18th). Use coupon code SPECIAL15 during checkout for this 15% discount. Note that every three months or so, they seem to offer 20% off Cluizel chocolate, so if you're not in a hurry, you might consider waiting.

In addition, for all orders, your shipping method will automatically be upgraded from UPS Ground to UPS 2nd-Day Air if your destination is beyond two days for UPS Ground transit (choose UPS Ground as your shipping method).

They are still continuing their 25% off Zotter chocolate sale (coupon code ZOTTER25). Here is the complete list of their special offers.

If you are purchasing multiple chocolate brands, World Wide Chocolate has their more or less normal offers are:

• 5% off all orders: 1day5-0
• 10% off orders of $40 or more: 1day10-40
• 15% off orders of $90 or more: 1day15-90
• 20% off orders of $250 or more: 1day20-250
• 25% off orders of $600 or more: 1day25-600

If you are only making a small order, then you might consider waiting until they have their 10% off all orders deal (about twice per year, or 10% off $25 or more about every three months).

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

Between May and September, World Wide Chocoloate also includes free warm weather packaging of a reusable frozen gel pack inside insulated container (usually an additional $6.99), which protects your chocolate for about 48 hours.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Currently shipping is free on orders over $200. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Review: Mast Brothers Madagascar

Lindy's Rating: 7.5 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 7.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Madagascar region Madagascar plantation Somia cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 72% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma fruit (berry), citrus, earth, spice, roast snap hard taste fruit (lime, cherry, raspberry), sweet, earth, roast, tannin melt smooth length short finish somewhat tannin

This is the last of the six bars that Michael brought us from the Mast Brothers factory in Brooklyn.

Mast Brothers made their Madagascar bar with cacao from the Somia Plantation in the Sambirano Valley of Madagascar. The chocolate was made from 72% cacao and 28% cane sugar. The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil, and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. The production date of the bar we reviewed was 15 May 2011.

The color of Madagascar was a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). As with other Mast Brothers bars, the surface was imperfect, with variations in sheen. The bar had a hard snap.

The aromas of this chocolate were citrus and a red fruit that was a berry. In addition, I smelled scents of earth and some spice and Lindy detected a roast.

Madagascar had a typical citrus taste that came in the form of lime, as well as a red fruit that Lindy tasted as cherry and I thought was raspberry. With 28% sugar, the chocolate was, not surprisingly, sweet. As with the aroma, Lindy experienced a roast flavor and I noticed an earthiness. There was also a tannin flavor.

The chocolate had a generally smooth melt. The length was short, at around 15 seconds. The final aftertaste was somewhat tannin.

Overall, we both rated Madagascar a low ***.

You can purchase Mast Brothers Madagascar online for $8.50 in the contiguous U.S. from French Broad Chocolates or for £8.95 in the U.K. from The Chocolate Society.

Review: Mast Brothers Dominican Republic

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

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

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Dominican Republic region Dominican Republic plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 74% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast (tobacco, cocoa), fruit (cherry) snap hard taste roast (tobacco, cocoa), sweet, fruit (cherry, grapefruit), butter, hint of bitter melt smooth length medium finish slightly bitter

Mast Brothers made their Dominican Republic bar with cacao from the La Red de Guaconejo cooperative of the Dominican Republic. The chocolate was made from 74% cacao and 26% cane sugar. The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil, and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. The production date of the bar we reviewed was 28 April 2011.

Dominican Republic had a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) color. As with other Mast Brothers bars, the surface was imperfect, with variations in sheen. The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma of the chocolate was primarily roast and fruit. We clarified the roast as both tobacco and cocoa. The fruit scent smelled like cherry.

The taste of Dominican Republic was just what you'd expect from the aroma: roast, including both tobacco and cocoa flavors, and a strong cherry fruit. However, there were also grapefruit, sweetness, and butter flavors. Finally, Lindy also detected a hint of bitterness.

The chocolate had a generally smooth melt. The flavor lasted 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone, a medium length. We were left with a slight bitterness as the final aftertaste.

Overall, we liked this chocolate best among the six Mast Brothers bars we reviewed, and both rated it ***. Thanks again to Michael for bringing them from Brooklyn.

You can purchase Mast Brothers Dominican Republic online for $8.50 in the contiguous U.S. from French Broad Chocolates or for £8.95 in the U.K. from The Chocolate Society.

Review: Mast Brothers Brooklyn Blend

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

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

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Brooklyn Blend region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 74% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma floral (jasmine), roast, earth snap hard taste tart, red fruit, roast, hints of sour and earth melt smooth length short finish slightly bitter, very slightly sour

Brooklyn Blend is Mast Brothers first house blend, with cacao from multiple regions. This chocolate was made from 74% cacao and 26% cane sugar on 2 June 2011. The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil and placed inside nice heavy craft paper.

The color of this chocolate was a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). As with other Mast Brothers bars, the surface was imperfect, with swirls of slightly different smoothness and color. The bar had a hard snap.

Brooklyn Blend had an aroma of jasmine flowers and a roast we didn't identify. I also detected an earthy scent.

This chocolate had a tart flavor, along with a red fruit. We couldn't decide what red fruit, perhaps a berry or cherry. We also tasted the roast, and I experienced hints of sour and earth. Lindy remarked that she especially liked the tartness.

Although the melt began slowly, Brooklyn Blend had a smooth texture. The length was short, with the flavor lasting 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was slightly bitter and very slightly sour.

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

You can purchase Mast Brothers Brooklyn Blend online for $8.50 in the contiguous U.S. from French Broad Chocolates or for £8.95 in the U.K. from The Chocolate Society.

Review: Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 70%

Lindy's Rating: 4.5 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 4.5 (previously **)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Grand Cru Chuao 70% region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $10.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast (smoky, cocoa), floral, spice snap hard taste fruit (berry, citrus), roast, sweet, chalky, hints of bitter and astringency melt grainy length short finish slightly tannin, slightly ashy

Like the Grand Cru Chuao 81% and the Grand Cru Chuao 76%, Grand Cru Chuao 70% was made from Criollo cacao beans from the famous Chuao region of Venezuela. Mast Brothers makes their chocolate with only two ingredients: cacao and cane sugar (in proportions of 70% and 30%, respectively, for the Grand Cru Chuao 76%). The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. It was made on 19 May 2011.

Grand Cru Chuao 70% had a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) color. As with the 81% and 76%, the surface was imperfect, with swirls of slightly different smoothness and color. The bar had a hard snap.

This chocolate gave off aromas of roast, including both smokiness and a rich cocoa. We also smelled scents of floral and spice.

The primarily flavors of Grand Cru Chuao 70% were berry and citrus, but I also tasted sweetness, roast, chalkiness, and a little astringency. Lindy noticed a slight initial bitterness.

The melt began slowly and was actually grainy, obviously worse than either the 81% or 76%, and the first bar we've ever rated below less smooth. The flavor lasted around 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a short length. The final aftertaste was slightly tannin and slightly astringent.

In the U.K. you can purchase Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 70% online for £9.95 from The Chocolate Society. Grand Cru Chuao 70% does not appear to be available online in the U.S. Mast Brothers chocolate bars are available at many retailers in New York and some others around the U.S. (here's a list on their website).

Review: Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 76%

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

Richard's Rating: 6.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Grand Cru Chuao 76% region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 76% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $10.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast (cocoa), spice (clove) snap hard taste sour, fruit (berry), spice (clove), roast, bitter, ashy melt smooth length short finish somewhat astringent, slightly ashy

Like the Grand Cru Chuao 81%, Grand Cru Chuao 76% was made from Criollo cacao beans from the famous Chuao region of Venezuela. Mast Brothers makes their chocolate with only two ingredients: cacao and cane sugar (in proportions of 76% and 24%, respectively, for the Grand Cru Chuao 76%). The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. No number was stamped on this label, but based on the numbers stamped on the 81% and 70% bars purchased at the same time by my friend Michael (Thank you!), the bar was likely produced in May 2011.

The color of Grand Cru Chuao was a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). As with the 81%, the surface was imperfect, with swirls of slightly different smoothness and color. The bar had a hard snap. The aromas of this chocolate were primarily a cocoa roast and a clove spice.

Grand Cru Chuao 76% tasted sour, with flavors of a non-specific berry, a clove spice, roast, and ash. The roast of the 76% was stronger than that of the 81%. Lindy also found the taste slightly bitter.

The melt was smooth, much better than the 81%. The length was short, with roughly the same 10-15 seconds of flavor after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat astringent and slightly ashy, and lacked the bitter aftertaste of the 81%.

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

In the U.K. you can purchase Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 76% online for £9.95 from The Chocolate Society. Grand Cru Chuao 76% does not appear to be available online in the U.S. Mast Brothers chocolate bars are available at many retailers in New York and some others around the U.S. (here's a list on their website).