Review: Francois Pralus Caracas

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

Richard's Rating: 6.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Pralus bar Caracas region Ghana, Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees Forastero, Trinitario year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €4,00

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma sweet, earthy, spice, hint of smoke snap hard taste sweet, fruit (coconut), almond, hint of tart melt smooth length short finish very slightly acidic

Caracas is a misleading name for this chocolate bar from Pralus. It is not a single-origin bar from Venezuela, as it includes beans from Ghana. The Trinitario label is also misleading, as this chocolate is made from a mixture of both Forastero and Trinitario cacao beans.

Pralus Caracas is made of 75% cocoa solids, sugar, added cocoa butter, and soy lecithin. This bar was packaged as usual for Pralus chocolate bars: paper wrapper over gold foil-covered chocolate. The 100 gram bar we reviewed had a best before date of 6 August 2011.

The bar was scored into 24 small pieces and one large piece (that is the same size as 8 small ones) with the "Pralus" imprint. The color of Caracas was a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). It had a hard snap.

This chocolate had aromas of sweetness, some earthiness, and a spice that I thought might include cinnamon. Lindy also noticed a hint of smokiness.

Caracas tasted sweet, and included flavors of fruit, coconut, almond, and a hint of tartness. Lindy playfully described it as the "Almond Joy" chocolate due to the coconut and almond flavors, even though it tasted nothing like Almond Joy candy.

The melt was smooth, and the length short. The finish was not bitter, with the aftertaste being only very slightly acidic. Overall, Lindy rated Caracas a low *** and I rated it a high **.

You can purchase Pralus Caracas online directly from Pralus for €4,00, or from Chocolopolis for $9.50.