Description
ABOUT THE BAR
A darker version of their 70% – we detected similar hints of spice and liquorice but with a great deal intensity. The treacle and burnt sugar flavours are more muted in this bar.
ABOUT THE MAKER
Luisa Abram is a chocolate maker that dedicates itself to sourcing micro-lot, wildly grown cacao from the Amazon Rainforest. The chocolate is made small-scale in São Paulo, Brazil by the Abram-Banks family: Luisa, Andre, Mirian and Andrea. The family take a very hands-on approach to chocolate-making, controlling and overlooking every stage of the process, from the harvesting of the cacao to the finished bar and logistics. This explains why the chocolate tastes so good and so personal at the same time – quality is very important to Luisa Abram.
ABOUT THE BEANS
Just before graduating in Gastronomy from Universidade Anhembi Morumbi in São Paulo, Luisa made the first of many trips to the Amazon Rainforest. On that first occasion, she returned with 20 kg of dry and fermented cacao and began testing for the production of her first chocolate bar; Rio Purus. Grown by Cooperar, a cooperative with around 300 members, the wild cacao beans flourish on the banks of the Purus River. After improving quality and productivity by providing simple training for the farmers, production has increased and the cooperative now produces around 10 to 12 tonnes of fine quality cacao.
Farrah L. –
Great
Matthew W. –
The melt of this bar is slow. Unhurried, the flavour builds. First an earthiness, then the dark fruits and liquorice. Slowly melting away with a slight astringency and lingering taste.
The same qualities are there as in the wonderful 70% bar, but here they seem blended into a long, meandering flavour journey. Quite a different experience. It is a small bar, but a corner is all that’s required to enjoy its delights, so it has lasted for several days. A bar to be savoured not devoured.