I recently had the good fortune to have been contacted by Amano Chocolate, who wanted to know if I’d like to sample their bars. I took a quick look at their website and liked what I saw, so I I emailed them back and a short time later samples of their Madagascar and Ocumare chocolate arrived in my mailbox.
First a little about Amano Chocolate — they are bean to bar which gives their chocolate a truly unique flavor. They use vintage equipment to manufacture their chocolate, which I think is awesome. And they also work directly with the growers. All of this reminds me of my favorite coffee company — Intelligentsia Coffee.
Now for the bars. . .
Amano Madagascar — This bar is pictured above, but both bars were quite pretty — glossy, dark and aromatic. The chocolate is 70% cacao (as is the Ocumare). On first bite, the chocolate has a lovely snap, but melts quickly and is nice and smooth on the tongue. It’s a very bright bar — fruity with a touch of citrus tempered by a slight coffee flavored bitterness. I loved this bar! It’s one that I could see eating every day.
Amano Ocumare — This bar is equally as beautiful and has the same cacao percentage as the Madagascar, but it is a completely different bar. At first smell, you are inundated with a intense spiciness. As you place the chocolate on your tongue and allow it to melt, the intense and complex flavor is really lovely. I tasted tobacco, leather and pepper as well as a touch of ripe fruit. Overall there was a prevailing smokiness. Wow — if you are looking to try some single origin chocolates, give this grand cru a taste!
The thing I like about Amano is that even someone who hasn’t tasted a lot of different chocolate will immediately be able to see how unique two chocolates can be after tasting these bars. I look forward to seeing what other bars they come up with in the future!
I received my bars from Amano to sample, but you can purchase them at their website.