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, its 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, 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 the bar I couldn’t wait to eat more of–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 are fermented in wooden boxes and sun dried.
(*Disclaimer–I don’t read the packaging flavor notes beforehand so they don’t bias me but also because this year’s beans may taste subtly, or not so subtly, different from year’s prior.)
Sight: well molded with sharp edges; color is a rich dark cocoa color; love the shiny pink wrapper
Sound: clear snap when breaking the bar
Smell: deep chocolate scent with some sweet fruit
Taste: starts with a fudgy chocolate taste that turns into a bright fruitiness that finishes with a little raisin-y richness; without bitterness or vinegar flavors
Mouth feel: smooth texture
Astringency: little to none
Summary: BOHO’s Bolivia 70% bar has a flavor profile that’s mild and wonderful. I would eat it again. And again.