9th & Larkin – Tien Giang, Vietnam, Dark 70%

About the bar

This dark 70% bar from 9th & Larkin has notes of black treacle and molasses, with a lovely hit of astringency and blackcurrant. We also detected a touch of balsamic richness, and a juicy acidity – this bar has very well-rounded flavour experience!

About the maker

Lan and Brian, the founders of 9th & Larkin, come from non-food backgrounds – Lan was an analyst and Brian an engineer – but both share a deep love for good food and handcrafted products. Their journey into chocolate making began as an adventurous kitchen experiment at home, driven by their passion for cooking. In 2017, they officially launched 9th & Larkin, with Lan leaving her job to become a full-time chocolate maker. The name “9th & Larkin” holds personal significance for the pair, as it represents the two streets in San Francisco where they spent a lot of their time together during their early relationship. 9th & Larkin’s mission is to create high-quality chocolate that feels like a personal gift, bringing joy to those who buy them.

The beans

The province of Tien Giang is located in the Mekong River Delta. Growing in fertile alluvial soil and influenced by the tropical monsoon climate, Tien Giang offers an ideal environment for cacao cultivation. Although cacao was first introduced to Vietnam in the 19th century, it has only recently gained recognition due to the rise of craft chocolate. Once the cacao has been harvested, the pods are split open with machetes, and the beans are then fermented in wooden boxes and dried on bamboo racks.

Allergens*

May contain milk, may contain nuts

Ingredients

68% cacao beans, 30% sugar, 2% cocoa butter

*Allergen advice: We directly import, and purchase, all products from independent makers and have these shipped by our partner warehouse (which is not certified allergen-free), and so we cannot guarantee that any product will be allergen-free. Even where an allergen is not listed, products may have been produced, shipped, or stored in facilities which handle allergens.

If you would like further information about a specific product, please contact us on [email protected] or contact the maker directly.