I woke up today and couldn’t wait to eat more of this chocolate bar. Throughout the photo shoot over the last few days (“photo shoot” is too strong–just remember I’m learning), I added “life and texture” to the photo by adding nibble marks to the bar. The nibbles got bigger and bigger. As I nibbled, I remembered this bar and how sensational it was when I first tasted it. I picked up this bar, and many others, at the Northwest Chocolate Festival near Seattle, WA a little over a month ago. When I was there, I met the chocolate maker of this bar and had such a good conversation with him about the bean to bar chocolate industry–where it was and where it’s going. Let me introduce you to BOHO Chocolate. Charlie Burke, founder and chocolate maker, started in the ’80’s by opening a small chain of chocolate and confectionery shops. While expanding that business and trying a little film making, he decided to challenge himself by making his own chocolate from bean to bar. He now creates award winning organic farm to table chocolate that’s socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable. Let’s talk awards. According to an AI search, since its start in 2014, BOHO chocolate has won over two dozen awards from The Academy of Chocolate, The International Chocolate Awards, and The Good Food Awards.
Now let me introduce you to BOHO’s Bolivia 70% chocolate bar. The beans are from the La Paz region of Palos Blancos, Bolivia. The cacao varieties are trinitario and nativo (wild). The beans were fermented in wooden boxes and sun dried.
Sight: well molded with sharp edges in classic design; color is a rich dark cocoa color; partially shiny finish
Sound: good snap with break
Smell: mild intensity; deep chocolate with a mild sweet fruitiness
Mouth feel: smooth texture; melts readily
Taste: starts with a fudgy chocolate flavor, then adds a mild bright fruitiness and finishes with a little raisin-y richness
Astringency: little to none
Summary: This bar has a deep chocolatey flavor that’s accented well by its mild bright fruity acidity. It’s a flavor profile that’s both mild and wonderful. I look fwd to finishing the bar. And starting another one…