Unfortunately, I've just finished working my way through a huge selection box of milk chocolate naughtiness. Well, you've got to give into temptation now and again! So, a piece of dark chocolate is required to put me back on that righteous path to saintliness! So, what could be better than starting the New Year with a rare Porcelana from Venezuela, produced by Valrhona!
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| El Pedregal - Venezuela |
Valrhona - a name that conjours up 'quality'. They are obsessive about making a limited range of products and in comparison to the industrial giants of chocolate, only make a few thousand tons of chocolate each year. It is a little known fact that Valrhona is a subsidiary of Bongrain, a French food conglomerate that is worth billions. If you want to learn more about Valrhona I suggest you buy, Chocolate - A bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light by Mort Rosenblum available on Amazon.
The Chocolate: This particular bar is made from very special, rare, Porcelana cocoa, a form of Criollo cocoa. An almost extinct type of cocoa known for its great flavours.
In comparison to the Gran Couva that I tried recently it has a much fruitier taste and acidity that bounces off your tongue. It is also very creamy in texture and has a liquorice hint at the end, not that I could taste it. The flavour is far more intense and long lasting than the Gran Couva which was fairly 'earthy' in flavour and rather short lived.
Overall a delicious bar of chocolate beating the Gran Couva by a country mile! I award this bar 9/10. You'll have to save your pennies though as this bar is £5.95 for 75g.
