Look! It’s a Bean to Bar Chocolate
August 19, 2010
Bean to bar means quite literally that the product was manufactured from the roasting and grinding of the bean to the tempering and packaging of the chocolate.
What’s so special about claiming to be bean to bar?
Many chocolates are made by purchasing already made chocolate couvertures that get melted down and used for coating or molding into truffles, pralines, or chocolate bars. While there is certainly nothing wrong with buying pre-made chocolate, there are advantages to controlling each step of the process.
Bean selection is critical from a quality standpoint. Cocoa beans that are fermented properly will contain the best flavors to come out during roasting. Creating proprietary bean blends will provide a distinct flavor for the companies’ products.
Roasting beans in-house will ensure a consistent signature flavor profile, and mixing and refining to formula specifications will make smooth, sophisticated chocolates.
Boasting a bean to bar product is something not all chocolate makers can claim. These companies have the strong belief that the quality of their chocolate is the best it can be when they control the entire process from bean to finished product.
You be the judge. Here is a small list of bean to bar chocolate companies to get you started on your tasting journey.
Valrhona
Hachez
Amedei
Cadbury
Nestle
Lindt
Scharffen Berger
Divine
Equal Exchange
Green & Black’s
- BarkThins Dark Chocolate Coconut with Almonds - May 22, 2020
- Endangered Species Cacao Nibs + Dark Chocolate Review - May 15, 2020
- Mr. Dot Bar Review - May 7, 2020
VERY INTERESTING. Do not remember hearing about that before. That helps explain why some of those are my favorite chocolates. But it doesn’t explain why the one I like least is also on that list.