I'm really getting into 100% cacao chocolates recently; so far I've tried The Grenada Chocolate Company's 100% bar which is one of my favourites, plus the various varieties in Hotel Chocolat's range as well as the Rococo Plus Noir Que Noir which were all very lovely.
Whilst ordering from chocoaltiers.co.uk recently I decided to try something new and went for this Madagascar Depuis 1940, which sounded a bit milder than most 100% bars judging by the reviews. I'm glad I did as it turned out to be very delicious, almost usurping The Grenada Chocolate Company as one of my favourites!
Firstly I have to say I liked the packaging design, it's simple but elegant. Unwrapping the foil (yes, some chocolate companies still use foil!) revealed a glossy bar divided into small chunks; the perfect size for savouring in small mouthfulls.
Taking my first bite I was surprised by how soft and smooth the chocolate was; it melted very easily on the tongue without any chalkiness. I allowed it to melt in my mouth rather than chew it, and it revealed a rich yet creamy cocoa flavor. As others have said it's more reminiscent of 60% dark chocolate than 100%, which isn't a bad thing at all - there's no bitterness or harshness to put off anyone new to 100% cacao chocolates. I enjoyed the bar with a cup of coffee which was the perfect partner.
Overall, a very tasty bar which I would recommend if you fancy exploring the "dark side" of chocolate! I will definitely buy this again and am seriously considering the couverture block containing several 100g bars...but I'm not sure I could stop myself from eating them all!
RATING: 9 out of 10.
Price: £4.45
Available from: chocolatiers.co.uk
Suitable for vegetarians?: Yes.
Allergy Info: Gluten free, may contain traces of soya.
