Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate, based in Eureka, California, is renowned for its meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to producing exceptional bean to bar chocolate.
This bar features cacao sourced exclusively from Fazenda Camboa, a single estate in Bahia, Brazil. Fazenda Camboa stands out as Brazil's largest organic cacao farm, emphasizing sustainability and traditional farming methods. With over 250 hectares of cacao trees, this estate produces high-quality cacao that reflects its unique terroir, characterized by a tropical climate, fertile soils, and a commitment to organic cultivation.
Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar.
Batch Number: 24207
The bar opens with fruity and spicy aromas, hinting at its complexity.
At the palate, the primary cacao flavor is bold and intense, supported by beautifully layered secondary notes:
Citrus notes: cedar, grapefruit, lime.
Unique fruitiness: honeyberry honeysuckles (a dark blue, antioxidant-rich fruit with flavors resembling blueberries with hints of raspberry and black currant).
Subtle sweetness: fresh figs.
Spiced depth: ginger and licorice.
Nutty tones: black walnuts.
In the aftertaste, the spices (ginger and licorice) and black walnuts become more prominent, accompanied by a lingering pink grapefruit astringency, leaving a balanced, memorable impression.
Visual Appearance (4/4): Glossy, uniform, and well-tempered: the bar radiates quality, perfectly reflecting the meticulous craftsmanship Dick Taylor is known for.
Snap (1/1): sharp and clean, a hallmark of expertly crafted dark chocolate.
Touch (Tactile Attributes)
Fineness (4/4): Smooth, with imperceptible particles that melt effortlessly.
Texture (8/8): Creamy and full-bodied, enveloping the palate in a luxurious sensation.
Astringency (3/5): Noticeable yet balanced, adding character without overwhelming.
Roundness (7/7): Intense and engaging, leaving a rich, lasting impression on the palate.
Melting Point (3/5): Quick and pleasant, enhancing the sensory experience.
Flavor Profile and Aftertaste
Primary Cacao Flavor (8/10): Deeply robust and captivating, drawing you in with its intensity.
Secondary Pleasant Flavors (12/12): Vibrant and layered, with complementary notes adding complexity.
Unpleasant Secondary Flavors (0/-5): None.
Overall Aromatic Quality (5/5): Richly aromatic, showcasing excellent balance and depth.
Aftertaste (5/5): Lingering notes of spices and nuttiness leave a memorable finish.
Taste (Gustatory Attributes)
Sweetness (6/6): Barely sweet, staying true to its origin and cacao variety.
Bitterness (3/6): Balanced and harmonious, without overpowering the profile.
Acidity (4/6): Vibrant and well-integrated, adding a refreshing complexity.
Harmony and Gustatory Pleasure (10/10): Exceptionally well-rounded and thoroughly enjoyable.
Final Sensation (5/5): This bar delivers a consistently high-quality and remarkable tasting experience, reflecting Dick Taylor’s skill and commitment to showcasing the nuances of single-estate cacao.
Total Score: 88/100
This score places the Dick Taylor Brazil Fazenda Camboa 75% bar in the "Excellent" category. This chocolate bar showcases the chocolate maker's meticulous craftsmanship and the remarkable purity of its two-ingredient recipe: organic cacao and organic cane sugar. Sourced from the Fazenda Camboa estate in Bahia, Brazil, the bar captures the unique character of single-estate cacao, offering a balanced and memorable tasting experience that reflects its origin.
Personal Reflection
This Brazil Fazenda Camboa bar is and will remain, one of my all-time favorites. Dick Taylor consistently delivers a tasting experience that is both reliable and impressive, year after year.
It’s a bar I can confidently recommend, perfectly highlighting the exceptional qualities of Brazilian cacao.
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