Review: Mast Brothers Madagascar

Lindy's Rating: 7.5 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 7.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Madagascar region Madagascar plantation Somia cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 72% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma fruit (berry), citrus, earth, spice, roast snap hard taste fruit (lime, cherry, raspberry), sweet, earth, roast, tannin melt smooth length short finish somewhat tannin

This is the last of the six bars that Michael brought us from the Mast Brothers factory in Brooklyn.

Mast Brothers made their Madagascar bar with cacao from the Somia Plantation in the Sambirano Valley of Madagascar. The chocolate was made from 72% cacao and 28% cane sugar. The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil, and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. The production date of the bar we reviewed was 15 May 2011.

The color of Madagascar was a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). As with other Mast Brothers bars, the surface was imperfect, with variations in sheen. The bar had a hard snap.

The aromas of this chocolate were citrus and a red fruit that was a berry. In addition, I smelled scents of earth and some spice and Lindy detected a roast.

Madagascar had a typical citrus taste that came in the form of lime, as well as a red fruit that Lindy tasted as cherry and I thought was raspberry. With 28% sugar, the chocolate was, not surprisingly, sweet. As with the aroma, Lindy experienced a roast flavor and I noticed an earthiness. There was also a tannin flavor.

The chocolate had a generally smooth melt. The length was short, at around 15 seconds. The final aftertaste was somewhat tannin.

Overall, we both rated Madagascar a low ***.

You can purchase Mast Brothers Madagascar online for $8.50 in the contiguous U.S. from French Broad Chocolates or for £8.95 in the U.K. from The Chocolate Society.

Review: Mast Brothers Dominican Republic

Lindy's Rating: 8.0 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 8.0 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Dominican Republic region Dominican Republic plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 74% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast (tobacco, cocoa), fruit (cherry) snap hard taste roast (tobacco, cocoa), sweet, fruit (cherry, grapefruit), butter, hint of bitter melt smooth length medium finish slightly bitter

Mast Brothers made their Dominican Republic bar with cacao from the La Red de Guaconejo cooperative of the Dominican Republic. The chocolate was made from 74% cacao and 26% cane sugar. The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil, and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. The production date of the bar we reviewed was 28 April 2011.

Dominican Republic had a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) color. As with other Mast Brothers bars, the surface was imperfect, with variations in sheen. The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma of the chocolate was primarily roast and fruit. We clarified the roast as both tobacco and cocoa. The fruit scent smelled like cherry.

The taste of Dominican Republic was just what you'd expect from the aroma: roast, including both tobacco and cocoa flavors, and a strong cherry fruit. However, there were also grapefruit, sweetness, and butter flavors. Finally, Lindy also detected a hint of bitterness.

The chocolate had a generally smooth melt. The flavor lasted 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone, a medium length. We were left with a slight bitterness as the final aftertaste.

Overall, we liked this chocolate best among the six Mast Brothers bars we reviewed, and both rated it ***. Thanks again to Michael for bringing them from Brooklyn.

You can purchase Mast Brothers Dominican Republic online for $8.50 in the contiguous U.S. from French Broad Chocolates or for £8.95 in the U.K. from The Chocolate Society.

Review: Mast Brothers Brooklyn Blend

Lindy's Rating: 7.0 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 7.0 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Brooklyn Blend region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 74% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma floral (jasmine), roast, earth snap hard taste tart, red fruit, roast, hints of sour and earth melt smooth length short finish slightly bitter, very slightly sour

Brooklyn Blend is Mast Brothers first house blend, with cacao from multiple regions. This chocolate was made from 74% cacao and 26% cane sugar on 2 June 2011. The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil and placed inside nice heavy craft paper.

The color of this chocolate was a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). As with other Mast Brothers bars, the surface was imperfect, with swirls of slightly different smoothness and color. The bar had a hard snap.

Brooklyn Blend had an aroma of jasmine flowers and a roast we didn't identify. I also detected an earthy scent.

This chocolate had a tart flavor, along with a red fruit. We couldn't decide what red fruit, perhaps a berry or cherry. We also tasted the roast, and I experienced hints of sour and earth. Lindy remarked that she especially liked the tartness.

Although the melt began slowly, Brooklyn Blend had a smooth texture. The length was short, with the flavor lasting 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was slightly bitter and very slightly sour.

Overall, we both rated this chocolate a low ***.

You can purchase Mast Brothers Brooklyn Blend online for $8.50 in the contiguous U.S. from French Broad Chocolates or for £8.95 in the U.K. from The Chocolate Society.

Review: Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 70%

Lindy's Rating: 4.5 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 4.5 (previously **)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Grand Cru Chuao 70% region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $10.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast (smoky, cocoa), floral, spice snap hard taste fruit (berry, citrus), roast, sweet, chalky, hints of bitter and astringency melt grainy length short finish slightly tannin, slightly ashy

Like the Grand Cru Chuao 81% and the Grand Cru Chuao 76%, Grand Cru Chuao 70% was made from Criollo cacao beans from the famous Chuao region of Venezuela. Mast Brothers makes their chocolate with only two ingredients: cacao and cane sugar (in proportions of 70% and 30%, respectively, for the Grand Cru Chuao 76%). The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. It was made on 19 May 2011.

Grand Cru Chuao 70% had a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) color. As with the 81% and 76%, the surface was imperfect, with swirls of slightly different smoothness and color. The bar had a hard snap.

This chocolate gave off aromas of roast, including both smokiness and a rich cocoa. We also smelled scents of floral and spice.

The primarily flavors of Grand Cru Chuao 70% were berry and citrus, but I also tasted sweetness, roast, chalkiness, and a little astringency. Lindy noticed a slight initial bitterness.

The melt began slowly and was actually grainy, obviously worse than either the 81% or 76%, and the first bar we've ever rated below less smooth. The flavor lasted around 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a short length. The final aftertaste was slightly tannin and slightly astringent.

In the U.K. you can purchase Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 70% online for £9.95 from The Chocolate Society. Grand Cru Chuao 70% does not appear to be available online in the U.S. Mast Brothers chocolate bars are available at many retailers in New York and some others around the U.S. (here's a list on their website).

Review: Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 76%

Lindy's Rating: 7.0 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 6.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Grand Cru Chuao 76% region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 76% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $10.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast (cocoa), spice (clove) snap hard taste sour, fruit (berry), spice (clove), roast, bitter, ashy melt smooth length short finish somewhat astringent, slightly ashy

Like the Grand Cru Chuao 81%, Grand Cru Chuao 76% was made from Criollo cacao beans from the famous Chuao region of Venezuela. Mast Brothers makes their chocolate with only two ingredients: cacao and cane sugar (in proportions of 76% and 24%, respectively, for the Grand Cru Chuao 76%). The 2.5 ounce bar was scored into 32 small pieces, wrapped in gold foil and placed inside nice heavy craft paper. No number was stamped on this label, but based on the numbers stamped on the 81% and 70% bars purchased at the same time by my friend Michael (Thank you!), the bar was likely produced in May 2011.

The color of Grand Cru Chuao was a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). As with the 81%, the surface was imperfect, with swirls of slightly different smoothness and color. The bar had a hard snap. The aromas of this chocolate were primarily a cocoa roast and a clove spice.

Grand Cru Chuao 76% tasted sour, with flavors of a non-specific berry, a clove spice, roast, and ash. The roast of the 76% was stronger than that of the 81%. Lindy also found the taste slightly bitter.

The melt was smooth, much better than the 81%. The length was short, with roughly the same 10-15 seconds of flavor after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat astringent and slightly ashy, and lacked the bitter aftertaste of the 81%.

Overall, we both rated this chocolate a low ***.

In the U.K. you can purchase Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 76% online for £9.95 from The Chocolate Society. Grand Cru Chuao 76% does not appear to be available online in the U.S. Mast Brothers chocolate bars are available at many retailers in New York and some others around the U.S. (here's a list on their website).

Review: Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 81%

Lindy's Rating: 5.5 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 5.5 (previously **)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Grand Cru Chuao 81% region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year 2011 size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 81% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $10.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast, earth (must), floral, spice, hint of orange snap hard taste roast, fruit (citrus, cherry, lemon), bitter, ashy, spice, hint of sweet melt less smooth length short finish somewhat bitter, slightly astringent

As a favor to me before coming to Seattle, my friend Michael (who lives in New York) went to Brooklyn to purchase the entire line of unflavored chocolate bars made by Mast Brothers. Thanks to his generosity, this is the first of six new reviews of Mast Brothers chocolate bars.

Grand Cru Chuao 81% was made from Criollo cacao beans from the famous Chuao region of Venezuela. Made with only 81% cacao and 19% cane sugar, the 2.5 ounce bar was wrapped in gold foil and packaged by hand inside nice heavy craft paper. The bar was scored into 32 small pieces. As indicated by the number 11200511 stamped on the label, this bar was produced on 20 May 2011.

The chocolate had the color of a medium brown Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317). The surface was imperfect with swirls of slightly different smoothness and color. The bar had a relatively hard snap.

Grand Cru Chuao gave off aromas of roast, musty earth, and something floral. I also noticed a spice scent as well as a hint of orange.

Bitterness was the initial flavor, and then we tasted a strong citrus that seemed to be lemon, cherry, some roast, spice, ash, and a hint of sweetness.

The chocolate took a while to begin melting, and we judged the melt to be less smooth. The flavor lasted about 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The final aftertaste was somewhat bitter and slightly astringent.

For a Chuao, this chocolate was disappointing. Overall, we both rated it **.

In the U.K. you can purchase Mast Brothers Grand Cru Chuao 81% online for £9.95 from The Chocolate Society. Grand Cru Chuao 81% does not appear to be available online in the U.S. Mast Brothers chocolate bars are available at many retailers in New York and some others around the U.S. (here's a list on their website).

Review: Mast Brothers Madagascar

This photo copied from web (not ours).

Richard's Rating: 6.0+ (previously **+)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Madagascar region Madagascar plantation unnamed farm cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 72% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture smooth with scoring aroma fruit (red berry), spice, earth (moss) snap hard taste earth, spice, citrus (lime), berry, hint of sweet melt less smooth length short finish dry

MORE RECENT REVIEW: Mast Brothers Madagascar

Madagascar is another bar by Brooklyn chocolate maker Mast Brothers.

Thanks to Lauren Adler of Chocolopolis for the opportunity to taste this chocolate. As I mentioned in yesterday's posting, the Mast Brothers bars that I tasted had been exposed to high heat, and thus were not at their best.

Madagascar was made from organic cacao beans of a single unnamed farm in the Sambirano Valley. This bar had a surface bloom, but the inside color was a medium-dark brown Fudgesickle.

A hard snap revealed a fruit aroma of mixed red berries, as well as a spicy scent I couldn't identify and an earthiness that reminded me of moss.

The taste of this chocolate was complex, with an earthiness and some sort of savory spice before I noticed citrus that seemed to be lime, some berry, and occasional hints of sweetness.

Madagascar had a melt that was a little less smooth than typical artisan chocolates. The flavor lasted only a short time after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was merely dry.

Overall, I rated this bar a high **, but added a + because I suspect that it would be better fresh. I preferred Madagascar to Grand Cru. In any case, these Mast Brothers chocolates deserve another review with fresh bars.

On the Mast Brothers website, there is a list of retailers where you can purchase their chocolate. You can purchase Madagascar online for $8.50 in the contiguous United States at French Broad Chocolates and for £8.95 in the UK at The Chocolate Society.

Review: Mast Brothers Grand Cru

This photo copied from web (not ours).

Richard's Rating: 5.0 (previously **+)

chocolate maker Mast Brothers bar Grand Cru region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 81% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with scoring aroma spice (cinnamon, ...), earth (mold, leather) snap hard taste roast, nut, spice, hints of fruit and sweet melt smooth length short finish slightly acidic

Rick and Michael Mast are Mast Brothers, an artisan bean to bar chocolate maker in Brooklyn, New York. They hand-craft chocolate bars with organic cacao beans from individually selected farms in high quality chocolate growing regions. They make all of their chocolate from only cacao and cane sugar. Mast chocolate bars are even hand wrapped!

Although Mast Brothers has no distribution in Washington State, I was able to taste this chocolate thanks to the generosity of Lauren Adler, the owner of Chocolopolis (a fantastic Seattle chocolate store with a huge selection of artisan chocolate bars -- most of them available for purchase online in the continental US). While in Brooklyn last summer, she purchased some Mast Brothers chocolate from their factory and still had some of the Grand Cru and Madagascar bars. When I mentioned to her that I was interested in trying their chocolate, she generously offered me hers. Unfortunately, it was quite hot while she was walking around the day she purchased them (temperatures in the 90s), so the chocolate ended up blooming and this review is somewhat inaccurate due to those heat effects.

Grand Cru is made from organic cacao beans from Patanemo, Venezuela. The chocolate had a hard snap that revealed unusual striations (perhaps also due to heat exposure). The inside color was a medium brown Bracken, but could well have been distorted by the bloom, as the surface was.

This bar had a strong aroma of a complex spice, of which the only one I could identify was cinnamon. There was also an earthy smell of mold and leather that I found somewhat unpleasant. Here are the flavors I experienced: roast, nut, spice, hints of fruit and sweet. The melt was smooth, the length short, and the finish left me with a slightly acidic aftertaste.

Overall, I rated this bar **, but added a + because I suspect that it would be better fresh. I intend to taste Grand Cru again in the future, as well as the entire line of Mast Brothers pure chocolate bars.

On the Mast Brothers website, there is a list of retailers where you can purchase their chocolate. They also have a link to an online retailer that sells some Mast Brothers chocolate bars for $8.50 each, but they do not carry Grand Cru. You can purchase Grand Cru online in the UK at The Chocolate Society for £8.95.