Palo Santo—the sacred wood. In French, it is also called “Mexican lemon wood.” It is a tree found in Latin America, particularly in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Its aromatic and spicy essence is used as incense. Its traditional use, which dates back to the Incas, was to ward off negative energies. I find it interesting that, all over the world—across civilizations separated by an ocean—similar scents were associated with the sacred.
A fairly thin bar with a smooth surface: this design complements the refined flavor profile of this chocolate. What stands out first is a woody flavor—the scent of freshly cut wood, whose fibers form a soft fuzz that makes it smooth to the touch. Deeper notes reveal hints of tobacco and mushrooms, and if you let it linger in your mouth long enough, you can detect a subtle hint of black cherry acidity.
“Hoy es un gran día,” it says on the packaging when you pull back the cardboard flaps. Today is a great day. That’s exactly the feeling this magnificent chocolate evokes, with its rich notes of red wine and cranberries. It’s a chocolate for celebrations.
The packaging is beautifully crafted and original, folded in origami style, with pretty designs. The bar itself is a disc with wavy edges, like a flower. This presentation is meant to reflect the prestige of Steben Gavino, an Ecuadorian named Spain’s best chocolatier in 2021
Here’s something interesting. Yes, it’s 100% chocolate… but it’s not what you’d think! It’s 100% cacao, but Galletti uses cacao pulp to sweeten its chocolate. It’s still cacao, right?