Review: Patric Madagascar 75%

Lindy's Rating: 9.0 (previously ***)

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

chocolate maker Patric bar Madagascar 75% region Madagascar plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 65g ~ 2.3oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.99

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture matte with imprint aroma roast (cocoa), wood (cedar), fruit (citrus), earth snap hard taste citrus, berry, roast, woody, spice melt smooth length short finish slightly acidic

Patric makes two single-origin chocolate bars from beans from the famous Sambirano valley of Madagascar. One is made with 67% cocoa solids and the other is this one, made with 75% cocoa solids. Alan McClure makes his handcrafted chocolate with only cacao beans, cane sugar, and added cocoa butter.

Like his other chocolate bars, the 65 gram Madagascar 75% was enclosed in clear plastic inside a paper wrapper. The bar was a single slab with a matte finish and a large cursive "Patric" imprinted across it. The best before date was February 2012.

The color of Madagascar 75% was a medium brown Fudgesickle (PANTONE 19-1431). It had a hard snap. The chocolate gave off a cocoa roast aroma that reminded Lindy of hot chocolate. There was also a woody scent that Lindy identified as cedar. I also smelled citrus, and we both noticed some earth. The combination was lovely, or as Lindy exclaimed, "it smells amazing."

Madagascar 75% tasted fruity, with strong citrus and berry flavors. Lindy also experienced an initial slight bitterness that soon faded away. We both noticed a subtle roast that I thought might be coffee. I also tasted woody and spice flavors, though they were definitely secondary to the citrus and berry.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted approximately 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a short length. The finish was acidic. To me, the acidity was only slight; Lindy found the aftertaste stronger and described it as somewhat acidic.

Overall, we were once again impressed with Patric. I rated Madagascar 75% a solid ***; Lindy rated it a high ***, describing it as nudging her top 10, but not quite breaking through.

You can purchase Patric Madagascar 75% online directly from Patric for $7.99 or save a dollar and get it from Chocolopolis for $6.99. Note that the online description at Chocolopolis is of the previous 50 gram bar, but it is the 65 gram bar we reviewed here.