Ritual – Camino Verde, Ecuador 75%

Description

This is one of two dark bars made by Ritual using Ecuadorian beans. This has slightly lower cocoa content but what the bar lacks in intensity, it more than makes up for in flavour.

The chunky bar has a clean snap. As you break off a piece, inhale the floral aroma layered with jasmine, orange blossom and an earthy undercurrent. The smooth bar starts out chocolatey and a little chocolatey and sweetens to into a honeyed green note. Sugar snap peas and sweet vegetables mix with creamy, almost nutty flavour. The slightly drying finish has just a hint of astringency.

The cacao is from the Camino Verde estate. The lush plantation was recently restored and the farmers have been working hard to improve with each and every harvest. The beans are the ‘Arriba Nacional’ variety, the fine flavour cacao that Ecuador is famous for and characterised by its floral aroma.