Review: E. Guittard Tsaratana

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Guittard bar Tsaratana region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 61% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $2.89

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with signature imprints, scoring, bubbles, scuffing aroma roast (cocoa), vanilla, fruit (coconut), sweet (hint of caramel), nut snap hard taste floral, roast (cocoa), sweet, vanilla melt more smooth length medium finish slightly acidic, very slightly bitter

E. Guittard makes three dark chocolate bars with blends of cacao beans: Nocturne with 91% cocoa solids, Quetzalcoatl with 72% cocoa solids, and this bar: Tsaratana with 61% cocoa solids.

The ingredients of Tsaratana were cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla beans. The two ounce bar was scored into 12 pieces, each with the E. Guittard signature imprint. It came enclosed in brass foil inside a paper outer wrapper. The best before date on the bar I reviewed was July 2013.

The color of the chocolate was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface was smooth, but there was a bit of scuffing and a few bubbles. The bar had a hard snap.

Tsaratana had an aroma that reminded me of an Almond Joy® bar from my childhood: a cocoa roast with sweet coconut, vanilla and nut. I also smelled a hint of caramel in the sweetness.

The taste was floral with cocoa roast and vanilla flavors. It wasn't especially sweet at the beginning, but grew to be very sweet by the end.

The chocolate had a more smooth melt. The length was medium, with the flavor after the chocolate was gone lasting 25 to 30 seconds. The finish was slightly acidic and very slightly bitter.

Tsaratana surprised me with a nice aroma, a pleasant simple flavor, great melt and solid length. If you like chocolate this sweet, this is one you should try, and it's a bargain for the price.

You can purchase Tsaratana online for $2.89 directly from Guittard, or for $2.50 from Chocosphere.