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…
Category: Review
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…
Review: Menakao – Dark Chocolate 72% (****)
The Creator: This is the first rerun review of a chocolate bar on my website. There are so many chocolate makers out there and so many amazing chocolate bars to be discovered, but just like falling in love for the very first time, the first one will always remain lively in your memory. And it…
Review: Nearynógs – Dominican Republic Hispaniola 72% (****)
The Creator: Northern Ireland, a name inspiring thoughts of wild rocky coast, lush green pastures and grey, rainy skies. Yet it is also home to a bean-to-bar chocolate maker! Nearynógs. Started in 2011 as a way to fun a charity trip to the slums of New Dehli – India, the company quickly expanded and started…