Description
TASTING NOTES
This intense yet buttery 100% chocolate is mixed with roasted nibs, adding a bit of crunch to the supremely smooth chocolate. A thick, slow melt gradually reveals notes of roasted nuts, with subtle hints of coffee and raisins. No added sugar means this bar has the intense, almost savoury flavour we love in 100% bars, and the addition of a little extra cocoa butter reduces any bitterness and mellows out the tannins to create a very approachable 100% cocoa bar.
ABOUT THE MAKER
Bertil Åkesson is one of the true heroes of the bean-to-bar market. He has pioneered the direct sale of his single-estate beans to over 300 chocolate makers all over the world and has crafted his own range of award-winning bars. Born to a Swedish diplomat father and a French mother, Bertil grew up in Madagascar, where his family settled in the 1970s. His father established a number of cocoa and spice plantations on the island, which Bertil has since expanded.
In April 2009, Bertil Åkesson and his Brazilian partner, Dr. Angelo Calmon de Sa, purchased the Fazenda Sempre Firme estate in Bahia, Brazil. Known as “paraíso”, or “paradise”, to the locals, this 120-hectare cocoa plantation lies in the middle of the Mata Atlantica, the wild forest in southern Brazil famed for its extraordinary biodiversity. Parasinho, the traditional variety of cocoa grown there, gives all of Åkesson’s Brazilian chocolate a deep earthy quality enriched with fruity and woody notes.
Michael T. –
Having tried quite a few 100% brands and varieties, including the delicious Åkesson’s red box Madagascar version I have to say this has been one of my least favourites. I found it intense but lacking in any sort of pleasant flavour. I also noticed that the expiry date was imminent, so maybe this bar just wasn’t from a fresh batch. But I won’t be buying this again.
Julie M. –
Really enjoyed this… nutty, coffee flavours and the crunchy pleasant texture of the cacao nibs made it feel like a chocolate nut bar. Only bad thing is that I ate it a little faster than planned.
Tzvi S. –
Good bar. I felt the texture was a bit waxy.
Farrah L. –
Smooth, hard to believe it’s 100%. Earthy, tobacco flavour with a hint of sweetness and a perfect crunchy texture. This bar is full of unexpected flavours. So good.