Review: Moho Dark 67%

Richard's Rating: 5.5

chocolate maker Moho bar Dark 67% region Belize plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 67g ~ 2.3oz cocoa solids 67% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $4.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, uneven shape, uneven sheen, scuffing aroma roast (smoke, tobacco), earth (must) snap hard taste roast (cocoa), sweet, earth, tannin, fruit melt less smooth length short finish tannin, slightly bitter, slightly ashy

Moho is a single origin bean to bar chocolate maker based in New York, but with strong ties to the Moho river valley of Belize. Not only do they source their cacao beans from small local farmers through Moho River Cacao, but Jeff Pzena also co-owns Cotton Tree Lodge there, which hosts educational chocolate weeks. Moho River Cacao handles all of the fermentation and solar drying of the cacao for quality and consistency.

The current Moho Chocolate Company was previously Moho Cocoa, and the Dark 67% reviewed here had the old Moho Cocoa label. Moho is in the process of phasing out these 2.35 ounce bars and instead making 100 gram bars. They make flavored chocolate bars in addition to their Dark 67% and Plain Dark 72% (which we'll review next).

As explained on their website, Dark 67% was crafted from 8 parts cocoa beans, 5 parts sugar, and 2 parts cocoa butter. Jeff confirmed that they make their cocoa butter from the same Belize cacao beans.

The 2.35 ounce bar came as a single slab wrapped in foil-sided wax paper inside a paper sleeve. There was no production or best before date.

Dark 67% had a medium-dark brown color that was slightly redder than Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The bar was uneven, with one side slightly wider than the other. The surface was smooth, but had an uneven sheen and some scuffing. The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma was roasted and earthy. The roast included both smoke and tobacco scents; the earth was musty.

The chocolate had a roast taste, too, but it was cocoa rather than smoky and tobacco. The taste was sweet and tannin, and had additional flavors of earth and fruit.

The melt was less smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted about 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The finish was tannin, slightly bitter, and slightly ashy.

It appears you can still purchase Dark 67% online for $4.50 on the Moho Cocoa website.

Ranking: best Venezuela single origin chocolate

Here are my personal ranking results from four rounds of tasting most of the Venezuela single origin chocolate bars we have reviewed. We did not include Venezuelan Chuao or Porcelana chocolate in this ranking. They were ranked separately, as can be seen on our Chocolate Rankings page (which contains all of our rankings with current information).

I liked all of these chocolates, so being near the middle or bottom of this list does not mean the chocolate wasn't good, only that I thought the ones above it were better. Note also that the qualities of each chocolate differ, and you might prefer the flavor, aroma, or texture of a lower ranked chocolate to that of one ranked higher. Click on a name to see a detailed review of that chocolate bar.

Patric Rio Caribe Superior Amano Montanya Amano Ocumare Amedei Cru Venezuela L'Amourette Carenero Superior Rogue Rio Caribe Michel Cluizel Concepcion Amano Cuyaga Bonnat Puerto Cabello Valrhona Palmira L'Amourette Chocolat Noir Bonnat Hacienda El Rosario Escazú Carenero Venezuela Dandelion Venezuela E. Guittard Sur del Lago Moonstruck Venezuela Chapon Venezuela

Review: L'Amourette Chocolat Noir

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker L'Amourette bar Chocolat Noir region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring bourbon vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $4.80

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, glossy, scoring, text imprints, bubbles, adhered bits aroma roast (smoke), earth, floral, sweet, acidic, dairy (butter), spice snap medium hard taste sweet, fruit (citrus, orange), roast (hint of coffee), nut, acidic, bitter melt smooth length medium finish sour, somewhat bitter

L'Amourette is the brand under which chocolate maker Andre V began selling his bean to bar chocolate bars this year. He crafts three unflavored single origin Venezuela dark chocolate bars, including Carenero Superior that we reviewed last week. L'Amourette is in the process of having their chocolate bars certified fair trade.

Chocolat Noir was made from cacao beans from the Rio Caribe region of Venezuela. The 75% cocoa solids included separately sourced cocoa butter. Additional ingredients were cane sugar, bourbon vanilla beans, and soy lecithin. L'Amourette's website indicated that the chocolate was conched for 36 hours.

The full 100 gram bar was scored into ten substantial pieces, each with an imprint of the L'Amourette name inside a stylized heart. The bar came wrapped in magenta-colored foil inside a paper box. The best before date was 10 December 2012.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was nicely smooth and glossy, with some tiny bits of chocolate adhered. There were a few tiny bubbles present. The snap was medium hard.

The aroma was a smoky roast, with earth and floral scents. It was also sweet and somewhat acidic, with a dairy scent that smelled like butter. I noticed spice as well.

Chocolate Noir tasted sweet and fruity, the latter of which developed into a citrus and then orange flavor. There were additional flavors of nut and roast with a hint of coffee. Underlying them all was acidity and some bitterness.

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

Although not as impressive as Carenero Superior, this was another good new chocolate from L'Amourette. Priced at only $4.80 for a 100 gram bar, it's a bargain, too.

You can purchase Chocolate Noir online for $4.80 directly from L'Amourette.

Event: Seattle Chocolate Salon on Sunday

The fifth annual Seattle Chocolate Salon will take place this Sunday, May 6th, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center on Pier 66 (2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121).

While this event lacks the educational opportunities and variety of chocolate makers of the Northwest Chocolate Festival, it is still a good way to sample lots of quality chocolate. Some of the makers who will be present include Amano, Pacari, Taza, and Theo.

Here's a link to additional information and a schedule of the six presentations.

Tickets may be purchased online in advance for $21.39 ($11.19 for children 6 to 12), or at the door for $25.00.

Sale: Ghirardelli chocolate bars $1.50 at Walgreens

Walgreens has a sale on Ghirardelli chocolate bars through Saturday, May 5th, at the price of 2 for $3. You must buy two to get this price (single bar sale price is $1.99).

This offer is available both online and in stores (I've confirmed it in a local Seattle store).

Review: L'Amourette Carenero Superior

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker L'Amourette bar Carenero Superior region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring bourbon vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $5.00

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture smooth, glossy, scoring, text imprints, bubbles aroma roast (coffee), earth, sweet, wood, floral spice, fruit (blueberry) snap medium hard taste roast (cocoa), sweet (honey), earth, wood, fruit (blueberry, cherry), vanilla melt smooth length long finish somewhat sour, somewhat bitter

French chocolatier Andre V handcrafts bean to bar chocolate in San Francisco as L'Amourette. L'Amourette began selling chocolate bars this year, and makes three unflavored single origin Venezuela dark chocolate bars. The cacao they use is fair trade, and L'Amourette is in the process of having their chocolate bars certified.

The ingredients of Carenero Superior were cocoa beans, cocoa butter, cane sugar, bourbon vanilla beans, and soy lecithin. The chocolate contained 75% cocoa solids, but the added cocoa butter was not made from the same cacao beans. The generous 100 gram bar was scored into ten substantial pieces, each with an imprint of the L'Amourette name inside a stylized heart. The bar came wrapped in black-sided foil inside a paper box. The best before date was November 2012.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown color that was closest to Fudgesickle (PANTONE 19-1431), but darker and browner. The surface was nicely smooth and glossy. There were some tiny bubbles present. The snap was medium hard.

Carenero Superior had a complex aroma that included a coffee roast, earthy and woody scents, sweetness, something floral, spice, and a fruit scent that smelled to me like blueberry.

The taste began with a sweet, earthy, cocoa roast before revealing woodiness and fruit flavors including blueberry and cherry. A vanilla flavor was also present. The sweetness reminded me of honey.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted a remarkable 40 to 45 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a long length. The final aftertaste was somewhat sour and somewhat bitter.

I was impressed by this new chocolate from L'Amourette, and at only $5 for a 100 gram bar, it may have the lowest price per ounce on our Best Chocolates Overall list.

You can purchase Carenero Superior online for $5.00 directly from L'Amourette.

Ranking: best raw chocolate

Here are the ranking results from three rounds of tasting the raw chocolate bars we have reviewed.

Pacari Raw 70% Stirs the Soul Honey Dark Chocolate Conspiracy Dark Bar (note: grainy bits) Fearless Dark as Midnight Pacari Raw 85% Stirs the Soul ORIGINS Madagascar Stirs the Soul ORIGINS Ecuador Stirs the Soul Dark Stirs the Soul Blissful Dark Gnosis Dazzling Dark Fine & Raw 78% Gnosis Simplicity

Notes
Clicking on a name above will take you to the detailed review of that chocolate bar.
To see updated information and other rankings, go to our Chocolate Rankings page.