The Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company is a bit unusual in that not only do their cacao beans come from Africa, but their chocolate is also processed there. So this is bean to bar — completely within Ghana which they say results in higher wages for not only factory workers, but also local farmers.
Upon opening the package, I found that there was significant bloom on the bar, as you can see from the photo. In addition, when I broke off a piece it came away with a nice snap but as I bit down on it, it nearly shattered. I think that I would have rated this chocolate higher if not for these characteristics.
The taste of the bar, however, was quite nice. At first I was hit with the taste of pepper and spice. This gave way to a hint of cinnamon which, as the chocolate very slowly began to melt, turned to a bit of sweet ripe fruit while still maintaining a background of spice. The lingering flavor is coffee. The chocolate was a bit dry, taking a long time to melt, on the tongue and not entirely creamy or smooth.
Overall, I was impressed with the flavor of this bar, but not the texture. As I was writing this review, I did a little web search on Omanhene and it appears that the cocoa — used to make hot cocoa and mochas is well regarded and used by quite a few respected coffee shops. Perhaps I’ll have to give it a try one day.
I think Pete purchased my bar for me, but I have no idea where. You can purchase the chocolate as well as cocoa mixes through the Omanhene website.