Review: Cacao Sampaka La Joya

Richard's Rating: 8.0

chocolate maker Chocovic bar La Joya region Mexico plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €9.30

color medium-light brown PANTONE 19-1331 Madder Brown texture smooth, semi-glossy, uneven sheen aroma spice (cinnamon), fruit (raisin, prune, berry), roast snap hard taste spice (chili pepper), sweet, fruit (citrus, raspberry, lime), roast (tobacco), sour melt smooth length medium finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

La Joya is another single origin chocolate made from Mexican cacao by Spanish chocolate maker Chocovic for Cacao Sampaka. Thanks to the reader who informed us about Chocovic. We previously reviewed Xoconusco. Sampaka also sources cacao from other more traditional origins, but we haven't reviewed any of their other single origin chocolate bars.

The cacao beans for La Joya are not merely single origin, but also come from a single plantation, La Joya, in Tabasco Mexico. The beans are labelled Criollo Blanco, suggestive of a porcelana variety with white cacao beans.

Made with 70% cocoa solids (cocoa mass and added cocoa butter), the chocolate also contained sugar and soy lecithin. The paper box included two unscored 50 gram bars sealed in plastic and had an opening through which you could see the chocolate inside. The bars were separated with a thin sheet. The batch number was 110506 and the best before date was October 2013.

The color of La Joya was a medium light brown Madder Brown (PANTONE 19-1331). The top surface of each bar was smooth and semi-glossy, with a text imprint of "CACAO SAMPAKA". The sheen was uneven, with just a few tiny bits of adhered chocolate. The snap was hard.

The chocolate gave off an aroma of spice, fruit, and some roast. The spice included a scent of cinnamon. The fruit was a combination of a raisin, prune and berry.

La Joya's taste began with some spice and sweetness. The spice flavor included chili pepper. Fruit then came forth, with flavors of citrus, raspberry, and lime. I also tasted a tobacco roast and some sourness.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted about 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone, reaching a medium length. The final aftertaste was somewhat sour and slightly acidic.

You can purchase La Joya online directly from Cacao Sampaka for €9.30 in Spain, or from Caputo's for $13.99 in the United States.

Sale: 20% off at World Wide Chocolate

Through Tuesday, February 19th, World Wide Chocolate is having a nearly storewide sale for 20% off all chocolate makers other than Amedei. There is no minimum purchase requirement, but shipping prices are significant.

Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout.

World Wide Chocolate ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Check their shipping policies for additional information and pricing.

Review: Cacao Sampaka Xoconusco

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Chocovic bar Xoconusco region Mexico plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €6.75

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, semi-glossy, uneven sheen, adhered bits aroma roast (cocoa), spice, fruit (date, berry), nut, sweet snap hard taste fruit (blackberry), roast (cocoa), nut (hazelnut), sweet (marshmallow) melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, somewhat acidic, and slightly sour

Spanish chocolatier Cacao Sampaka sells several single origin chocolate bars, including two I purchased from Chocolopolis. Note that Sampaka chocolate is produced by Chocovic (thanks to the reader who shared this information). Although Sampaka also makes chocolate from cacao of more typical origins, both of these bars happen to be made with cacao from Mexico. The cacao for Xoconusco came from Xoconusco in the state of Chiapas.

This chocolate contained 70% cocoa solids. Added ingredients were sugar, cocoa butter, and soy lecithin. Two unscored 50 gram bars were sealed in plastic inside a paper box (with an opening through which you could see the contents). The bars were separated with a thin sheet. The batch number was 110390 and the best before date was September 2013.

Xoconusco had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The top surface of each bar was smooth and semi-glossy, with a text imprint of "CACAO SAMPAKA". The sheen was uneven, and there were a few adhered bits of chocolate and a tiny bit of scuffing. The snap was hard.

Opening the sealed plastic unleashed a rich aroma of roast in the form of cocoa, along with spice, fruit, nut and sweetness. The fruit scent contained date and berry.

The taste began with a blackberry fruit flavor that soon dissipated behind a cocoa roast. A nutty flavor, with hazelnut in particular, developed, along with a marshmallow sweetness.

The melt was more smooth. The length was medium, with chocolate flavor lasting about 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat tannin, somewhat acidic, and slightly sour.

You can purchase Xoconusco online directly from Cacao Sampaka for €6.75 in Spain, or from Caputo's for $11.99 in the United States.

Review: Nova Monda Green Label 75% Nicaragua

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Nova Monda bar Green Label 75% region Nicaragua plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2012 size 53g ~ 1.9oz cocoa solids 75% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $5.99

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown texture smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, adhered bits aroma earth, spice, roast, sweet snap medium hard taste earth, sour, spice, acidic, fruit (raisin, hint of cherry), sweet (molasses) melt smooth length long finish somewhat sour, somewhat bitter, somewhat acidic

Nova Monda makes three single origin unflavored chocolate bars: Purple Label 70%, Green Label 75%, and Gold Label 80%. Purple and Green are made with cacao from Nicaragua; Gold is made with cacao from Ecuador. Nova Monda participates in direct trade with farming cooperatives and supports sustainable cacao growing.

Green Label 75% is the first bar we've reviewed made with Nicaraguan cacao. The cacao bisiesto beans were grown near La Dalia. Green Label was made with 75% organic cacao and 25% organic cane sugar. Although both ingredients were organic, the bar was not certified. Nova Monda's website indicated that the cane sugar was evaporated cane juice.

The 52.7 gram (1.86 ounce) bar was scored into a dozen pieces. It came wrapped in gold foil sided wax paper in a paper sleeve. The best before date was October 2013.

The color of Green Label was a medium brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012). The bar had a smooth surface with an uneven sheen and some adhered bits of chocolate. There were also barely noticeable bubbles in several corners of the pieces. The snap was medium hard.

Green Label had an aroma of earth and spice. I smelled secondary scents of roast and sweetness.

The chocolate tasted initially of earth, sourness, and spice. I then experienced some acidity that gave me the odd sensation of carbonation. As Green Label melted, fruit flavors of raisin and a hint of cherry were revealed, along with a molasses sweetness.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted about 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a long length. The finish was somewhat sour, somewhat bitter, and somewhat acidic.

Overall, I found the flavor and carbonation sensation interesting, and the length was remarkably long. However, I didn't like the aftertaste. I expect to try Green Label again next year, if only to check if that sense of carbonation is still present.

You can currently purchase Green Label 75% online directly from Nova Monda for $4.99, a $1.00 discount from their regular $5.99 price.

Sale: 15% off Madécasse

Madécasse is having a Valentine's sale for 15% off their chocolate in the U.S. with a minimum purchase of $17.

Use coupon code 13vday15 during checkout.

Review: Nova Monda Gold Label 80% Ecuador

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Nova Monda bar Gold Label 80% region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2012 size 53g ~ 1.9oz cocoa solids 80% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $5.99

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1314 Seal Brown texture smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, bubbles, adhered bits aroma floral, dairy, earth, roast snap hard taste floral, woody, earth, sweet, sour, acidic, fruit (banana, berry), wine melt smooth length medium finish sour, tannin

Nova Monda makes primarily jar chocolate, but in 2011 they began making chocolate bars. They currently make three single origin unflavored chocolate bars: Purple Label 70%, Green Label 75%, and Gold Label 80%. Purple and Green are made with cacao from Nicaragua; Gold is made with cacao from Ecuador.

Gold Label 80% was made with cacao beans from a cooperative in Punta Galera in the Esmeraldas province of Ecuador. The beans were roasted at a facility in Ecuador, and Nova Monda bought the nibs and liquor for their chocolate. Although they purchased after roasting, Nova Monda was involved with the fermenting, drying, and roasting processes for their cacao.

According to the wrapper, Gold Label contained 80% cacao and 20% cane sugar. Nova Monda's website indicated that the cane sugar was evaporated cane juice. Both ingredients were organic, though the bar was not certified.

The unusual size 52.7 gram (1.86 ounce) bar was scored into 12 pieces. It came wrapped in gold foil sided wax paper in a paper sleeve. The best before date was October 2013.

The chocolate was a medium-dark brown Seal Brown (PANTONE 19-1314) color. The bar had a smooth surface with an uneven sheen and several bubbles. There were also adhered bits of chocolate on the bar. The snap was hard.

Floral, dairy, and earth scents were present in the aroma. I also smelled some roast.

Gold Label tasted floral, woody, and earthy. I experienced sweetness, sourness, and acidity. As the chocolate melted, fruit flavors of banana and berry developed, along with a wine flavor. I tasted none of the roast from the aroma. This chocolate was likely made with a light roast.

The chocolate had a smooth melt, nearly more smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was sour and tannin.

You can currently purchase Gold Label 80% directly from Nova Monda for $4.99, a $1.00 discount from their regular $5.99 price.