Review: Zotter Labooko Brasilien 70%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Zotter bar Labooko Brasilien 70% region Brazil plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients salt list price 3,35€

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance relief, imprints, textured top aroma earth (hay), spice (anise), sweet (molasses) snap hard taste roast (cocoa), earth, fruit (raisin, blackberry, pear), sweet (molasses, honey) melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat sour, somewhat salty

The Labooko line of Austrian chocolate maker Zotter includes more than a dozen unflavored single origin chocolates. Labooko products come as a package of two individually wrapped 35 gram bars.

The ingredients of Brasilien were 70% cocoa solids (cocoa mass plus added cocoa butter), raw cane sugar, and salt. All of the ingredients other than salt were certified organic and fair trade. The cacao for this chocolate was sourced from Brazil and fermented and dried there by the Vronski and Monta families.

The two bars were wrapped in gold foil-sided wax paper and each glued into a fold of the the heavy outer paper wrapper. The best before date was February 1, 2014. Unfortunately, I did not photograph the bars for this review.

The bars had a relief of "zotter" on a small smooth upper portion and imprints of "Labooko" and stylized cacao pods (one of which was covered in writing) on a textured lower portion. The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012) color.

Brasilien had a hard snap. The aroma contained earth, spice, and sweetness. The earth scent was primarily hay. The spice included anise. The sweetness reminded me of molasses.

The taste began with a cocoa roast and some earthiness. Fruit flavors developed, including raisin, blackberry, and pear. The chocolate tasted sweet, with a mixture of molasses and honey flavors.

The melt was more smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was somewhat sour and somewhat salty.

You can purchase Labooko Brasilien 70% online for 3,35€ directly from Zotter.