The Creator: Benns Chocolate is a brand I discovered during the Chocoa Event in Amsterdam earlier this year. Their booth seems very similar to all the others, but what they had on display is where they made a difference. Even after a full day of sampling chocolate and having a tired palate, their chocolate twinkled…
Category: Review
Review: Kilian&Close – Dom. Republik – 66% (****1/2)
The Creator: Today we take a plunge in the European chocolate scene. Many nations have been represented on this site so far, yet Germany hasn’t been featured too often. Though chocolate is a big thing in the land of premium cars and large beers, it is not the country most people will think about when…
Review: Amazing Cacao – Dark chocolate 70% Buckwheat Maca (*****)
The Creator: I’m a chocolate purist. No need to hide it. I fell in love with the amazing flavors quality cocoa and chocolate can offer to those who take the time to discover them. But the chocolate market seems to be booming with flavored chocolates and bars with inclusions. I’ve tried many, from different chocolate…
Review: Legast – Piura Pérou 70% – 2016 Harvest (*****)
The Creator: Thibaut Legast is one of the rising stars if the Belgian bean-to-bar chocolate scene. His work didn’t go unnoticed by Pierre Marcolini as he wrote his book on Belgian Chocolate – bean-to-bar generation. After a former less succesful first adventure in making chocolate from the bean, Thibaut was invited to Colombia to discover…
Review: Cédric de Taeye – Chocolate Blanc – Sel Rose de L’Himalaya (*** 1/2)
The Creator: My son (5): daddy? What are you doing? Is that chocolate? Me: Yes son, I’m preparing a review… Today I venture again in turbulent chocolate waters. We are talking about Chocolat Blanc. Yes, white chocolate! My son: Look look, daddy has chocolate! Daughter one (3): is that chocolate? Me: Yes, it is whi……
Review: Chocolatoa – Tanzania Kokoa Kamili – 80% (****1/2)
The Creator: A new year has begon. And one chocolate has to start the series of reviews of this year. Today, we turn our focus on a bright star in the Belgian Bean-to-bar scene. Chocolatoa, run by Mario Vandeneede. Recently I had the chance to visit his operation in the small village of Ruiselede, Belgium….
Review: Potomac – Upala Costa Rica 85% (****1/2)
The Creator: Ben Rasmussen, the owner and chocolate maker of Potomac Chocolate has a clear vision. He wants to make pure chocolate which highlights the unique flavors of each cocoa origin he works with. Furthermore, the American chocolate maker based in Woodbridge, Virginia – states that he makes them in an absurdly small workshop and…
Review: Legast – Tumaco Colombia 70% – 2016 Harvest (****1/2)
The Creator: Thibaut Legast is a passionate chocolate maker who first started working with the dark gold at the age of 15 in the family chocolate shop. Today he is at the helm of his operation and became a real chocolate maker by going bean-to-bar. Based in Braine-Le-Compte, situated in the Hainaut province, Thibaut works…
Review: Kuyay – Chocolate bitter 70% (****)
The Creator: When visiting the Chocolate Heaven festival in Maastricht earlier this year, I was wandering past the different booths of the chocolate sellers displaying their goods. It is always great to see all the known brands on offer, but what intrigues me during shows are the bars I don’t know. Kuyay caught my eye…
Review: El Rey – Caoba Milk Chocolate 41% (***1/2)
The Creator: The world of bean-to-bar chocolate makers includes a lot of small scale companies who produce wonderful bars with just a few dedicated people. On the other hand, there are also those who grew a large scale operation, without loosing the idea of making good chocolate from quality cocoa. El Rey is a company…