This morning I tried my second bar of Amano Chocolate. The Madagascar bar is just as good as the Ocumare though I hesitate to say better than because you saw how much I loved the Ocumare!

The bar is packaged the same as the Ocumare – a nice cardboard box and gold foil with two ounces of beautiful dark chocolate inside. The bite is a satisfying snap and then you’re hit with a nice fruity flavor though there’s no fruit – it’s the Madagascar beans. My first impression was cherry which I found very pleasant. Though neither bar is as creamy as a milk chocolate, they’re also not as brittle and chalky as other darks I’ve tried. They actually melt very smoothly in your mouth if you can manage to leave it alone for that long!

I actually let each of my girls try a square (the sacrifices you make as a mom, etc). One of my twins, age 7, said it tasted like red in her mouth and when I asked her to clarify she said she could taste “some kind of fruit.” I led her a bit by asking if it could be cherry, and she said yes, that was it. All three (ages 7 and 9) asked for more, which is a big win for dark chocolate in my book!

I love how different these two bars are even though you’d expect them to be pretty much the same. They’re excellent proof that the beans make the bar and the flavor, and I highly recommend both of them. Thank you, Art, for some excellent chocolate!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Amano site: The history of the company, their very well-deserved awards, and employment opportunities. You can even see Art talking about and making his chocolate over at Youtube!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

I had the good fortune of being contacted by Art Pollard of Amano Chocolate not too long ago asking if I’d mind reviewing some chocolate. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you my answer.

Art sent me two different bars: the Ocumare Grand Cru Dark Chocolate (70% cacao), and the Madagascar Premium Dark Chocolate (also 70% cacao). I’ve tried the Ocumare so far and will write about the Madagascar later today or tomorrow.

The bars are packaged in a slim, attractive box and each weighs two ounces. I realized while I was opening it that there are few things more satisfying than opening little boxes when you know something you love is inside. But I digress. The chocolate itself was wrapped in gold foil which I always appreciate since I use that to help me break off pieces without anything falling.

The Ocumar is the kind of bar I wish were available close by, though my waistline would disagree (you can order online, of course!). It’s the kind of bar I wish you could make people who only buy Hershey eat and say “THIS is what chocolate tastes like!” I also want to just say “this was so good!” but what kind of review is that? But yes, the chocolate is good. It’s bitter of course, but smooth, and after a minute in your mouth you get a very faint smokey flavor with light fruit hints, though there are no fruits in the bar.

Now, one of my favorite parts about receiving these bars was discovering that they’re being manufactured in my little hometown of Orem, Utah (though truth be told it’s not so small anymore!). And I still have family there. LOTS of family. Family who I know would be more than willing to send me chocolate if I let them keep some for themselves, so it’s safe to say I’ll be throwing some more business Art’s way!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes