Taza Stone Ground Organic Chocolate 87% Dark
January 11, 2016
I have reviewed many tasty chocolate bars over the years, and I rank this bar among them.
Several things make the Taza Stone Ground Organic Chocolate 87% Dark delicious and unique. For starters, it is a single origin, organic, Bolivian cacao. Next, it’s stone ground. Lastly, it’s a Direct Trade chocolate.
This is my first time tasting Bolivian grown cacao. The cocoa notes are bold, rich and earthy. There is a small burst of red fruity notes in the beginning and a strong nutty, buttery finish.
The most unusual part of this chocolate is the texture. Most chocolate is intentionally made smooth, grinding the particles very small so that it feels velvety in the mouth. The smoothness also promotes proper melting in the mouth.
This chocolate is gritty, but not unpleasantly so. There’s a great amount of flavor that is released as you chew, and the chocolate still melts nicely in your mouth.
According to the Taza website, www.tazachocolate.com, they “…make perfectly unrefined, stone ground chocolate from bean to bar….our unique chocolate-making techniques are all about minimal processing”.
They use traditional Mexican stone mills called molinos. They wish to “…preserve the bright, fruity flavors of the beans, and create a chocolate that’s bold, rustic, and satisfyingly gritty”.
Also according to the website, they were the first to create a Direct Trade cacao-sourcing program. Taza Direct Trade means they have close relationships with cacao growers to ensure quality organic beans for the consumer and better prices and higher wages for the farmers.
The Taza 87% Bolivian chocolate bar is quite good. I was surprised that I enjoyed the gritty aspect of this chocolate as much as I did. I firmly believe the stone ground process develops a “loud” and unforgettable taste experience!
If you want some for yourself, here's a link to a 10-pack on Amazon.
Enjoy!
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