Review: Bonnat Porcelana

Lindy's Rating: 9.5 (previously ***)

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

chocolate maker Bonnat bar Porcelana region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma earth (grass), fruit (berry), spice, hint of sweet snap hard taste fruit (citrus, berry, raisin), roast (malt, toast), dairy (butter), sweet melt more smooth length medium finish slightly acidic, slightly bitter

Bonnat Porcelana is another bar from the French chocolate maker with 75% cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sugar. It was made with Porcelana cacao beans from Venezuela. Wrapped in silver foil and package in a paper sleeve, this 100 gram bar was formed as normal for Bonnat bar, with a "Bonnat Voiron" center imprint and scored into 32 small pieces around it. The best before date was September 2011.

This is our second review of Bonnat's Porcelana bar. You can read the first review here.

The color of Porcelana was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The bar had a hard snap. The chocolate gave off a strong earthy aroma of grass. We also smelled a berry fruit and some spice. Lindy also detected a hint of sweetness. It was a nice aroma.

Porcelana tasted primarily of complex fruit (citrus, berry, and raisin), and roast (malt and toast) flavors. I also experienced something dairy that reminded me of butter, as well as some sweetness.

The melt was more smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting roughly 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was both slightly acidic and slightly bitter.

Overall, Porcelana was very good. We both rated it ***, and it remained on Lindy's list of favorite chocolate bars. It didn't quite break onto mine. This chocolate won a silver at the European Semi-Final of the 2012 International Chocolate Awards.

The price of this already expensive bar has increased about 10% in the past year. You can purchase Bonnat Porcelana online in the U.S. from Chocolopolis for $21.95.