Republica del Cacao - Single Origin 75% Fine Cacao - Dark Chocolate with Raw Sea Salt
Salt is known to have several effects.
Republica del Cacao - Single Origin 75% Fine Cacao - Dark Chocolate with Quinoa
Quinoa is a cereal from Latin America that comes in small circular grains. While some put puffed rice in their chocolates, Republica del Cacao chose to stay local. So in this chocolate, we find dried quinoa seeds. Since quinoa has a rather weak taste, especially when it is dry, the interest is more in the texture than in the flavor. The taste of this chocolate is very classic Republica del Cacao, it’s probably their “basic” dark chocolate, the one used for chocolates with other ingredients. That doesn’t mean it’s not good! With a high concentration of cocoa, it’s a pretty aggressive chocolate, with a woody taste and a touch of bitterness at the end. The quinoa is mostly there for the texture, which adds crunch when you start a square, and stays in your mouth once the chocolate has melted on your tongue, to make the pleasure last by bursting those little grains between your teeth.
Republica del Cacao - Single Origin 75% Fine Cacao - Dark Chocolate with Lemongrass
The hierbaluisa is an aromatic plant of South America, also called verbena of Peru whose taste resembles very much the citronella. In this chocolate, the taste of cocoa rather intense at the beginning quickly settles in the background. It then complements the tangy and lemony taste of the aromatic herb. The interactions between the two flavors make for complexity, to the detriment of the cocoa taste. I have a mixed relationship with hierbaluisa. On the one hand, it reminds me of the citronella candles we used when I was a kid to chase away mosquitoes. Not the best memory. On the other hand, it takes me back to Vilcabamba, Ecuador, when to warm up in front of the sunset, we drank a tea with hierbaluisa directly from the garden, with a little sugar; the drink was delicious, and the moment unforgettable.
Republica del Cacao - Single Origin 75% Fine Cacao - Dark Chocolate with Hot Peppers
Don’t let your guard down because it’s chocolate, and often hot pepper chocolate is just a little extra flavor. When Republica del Cacao says “Hot pepper”, that’s really what it means. Don’t be fooled by a little piece of the bar that doesn’t look any different than any other bar. You’ll notice it when you bite into this square that contains a few dry pepper seeds. It’s surprising, the first time.
Republica del Cacao - Single Origin 51% Fine Cacao - Dark Milk Chocolate with Hot Peppers
Yes, there is also a milk chocolate version! For the dark chocolate review, see here. What more can I say, except that it is a bit sweeter, but just as spicy, as the 75% version.