Review: Michel Cluizel Concepcion

Lindy's Rating: 7.5

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Michel Cluizel bar Concepcion region Venezuela plantation Concepcion cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 66% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring bourbon vanilla other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text and image imprints, scoring aroma floral, earth (moss), roast (coffee), fruit (raisin), sweet snap hard taste sweet (honey, caramel), fruit (raspberry, hint of citrus), roast melt smooth length medium finish very slightly astringent

French chocolate maker Michel Cluizel has five plantations from which they make their single origin 1er Cru de Plantation bars. One of those plantations is Concepcion in the Barlovento valley of Venezuela.

Concepcion was made with 66% cocoa solids (cocoa beans and cocoa butter), with the addition of cane sugar and Bourbon vanilla pod. The 70 gram bar was imprinted with text and cacao pods as shown above, scored into 15 pieces, and wrapped in gold foil. The enclosing paper box was stamped with a best before date of 23 March 2012.

The color of the chocolate was a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The bar had a hard snap.

Lindy noticed an initial floral aroma that I missed. We both experienced the scents of earth, a coffee roast, and raisin. I also smelled sweetness. Lindy clarified the earth aroma as mossy.

Concepcion tasted sweet, with the flavors of honey and caramel. Fruit in the form of raspberry and a hint of citrus was also present. I tasted a cocoa roast as well.

The melt was smooth, and the length was medium with the flavor lasting 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was slightly astringent.

You can purchase Michel Cluizel Concepcion online for $5.95 in the U.S. from Chocosphere, or for £3.95 in the U.K. from Chocolate Trading Co.