Exploring Chocolate

First off, a quick note to say that I’ve been away from this blog for a while because of the demands of a full time job and parenthood. Thanks for checking back and I intend to keep writing as time allows.

With that said, today I’d like to present a review of a couple high quality chocolates from Amano Chocolatier. I recently sampled Amano’s Madagascar Premium Dark Chocolate (70% Cocoa) and their Ocumare Grand Cru Dark Chocolate, also at 70% Cocoa.

First, it should be said that Amano is an award winning maker of chocolates. In 2007 they were awarded several Gold medals in the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon. They were also selected as one of 12 silver trophy finalists for Outstanding New Product at the July 2007 NASFT Summer Fancy Food Show.

So, upon trying this chocolate, I already knew I was going to be sampling something special. My expectations were high, and I was not disappointed.

Ocumare Grand Cru Dark Chocolate. Comparing this dark, bitter chocolate to a glass of rich red wine would not be inappropriate. It has the intense flavor of other chocolates I’ve tasted over 60% cacao, with the noticeable difference of intense floral tones that linger long after the first bite. In fact “winey” would be an appropriate term to describe this chocolate, as it has a lot of flavors that remind me of wine. The cacao for this chocolate comes from Venezuela. The name comes from the place where the cacao is harvested, Ocumare de la Costa, which is known for quality Criollo cacao.

The aroma is also quite pleasent. Rich and sweet, and in fact the aroma is sweeter than the chocolate itself.

On another note, I was also struck by the classy packaging. They use tiny elegant boxes rather than a paper wrapping. Included are elegant engravings. A nice touch for sure, making this chocolate an excellent gift.

Ratings:

Flavor: 9/10, bitterness of the cacao tends to dominate but overall flavor is excellent
Packaging: 10/10, Elegant. Makes for a great gift.
Aroma: 10/10, Enticing deep aroma, lightly sweet.
Overall: 9.5/10

Madagascar Premium Dark Chocolate. Like the Ocumare, this is an intense chocolate that captures the bitterness of the cacao while allowing the mouth to experience a variety of flavors at the same time. This chocolate reminded me of the times I visited a cacao plantation in the Moskito Coast of Honduras. The aroma of the freshly roasted cacao in the air, and the freshness of the flavor as we sampled raw, roasted cacao beans.

The cacao trees where this chocolate comes from originate from ancient stock from Venezeula which were transplanted to Madagascar in the turn of the century.

This chocolate is slightly milder and sweeter than the Ocumare, which makes it my favorite of the two. Not that I don’t enjoy the flavor of the Ocumare. However, I find that the lightly sweet essence of the Madagascar allows you enjoy all the flavors of the chocolate without the strong tang of the bitter that tends to linger with the Ocumare.

Aroma again is enticing and delicate. Packaging is unique and elegant. Once again, this chocolate makes me think towards next Christmas as it would make a terrific gift for the true chocolate lover.

Ratings:

Flavor: 10/10, Perfect blend of bitter, sweet, and floral
Packaging: 10/10, Elegant. Makes for a great gift.
Aroma: 10/10, Strong, deep aroma.
Overall: 10/10