Kilian & Close Dom. Republic 66%
Loma Quita Espuela - Dom. RepubliC - 66% - Kilian & Close - Batch 2022-02-20
Cacao origin:
Local cacao variety from Loma Quita Espuela (nature reserve on the island)
Ingredients:
Cocoa beans, coconut blossom sugar, coconut milk powder, cocoa butter
Other facts:
Made in Germany (Hover Chocolates GmbH, Waren (Mürlitz)), BMEL seal for organic farming and cooperation with various farmer cooperatives, plus the special: all chocolates from K&C are vegan certified, they use e.g. coconut milk and coconut blossom sugar.
https://www.shop.kilian-close.com/
Beautiful, simple cardboard packaging with gold lettering and all info well sorted on the front and back, reminiscent of "minimalist" craft coffee packs. Can be closed in a bit complicated manner, but then firmly resealed via a paper fold reminiscent of dovetails in carpentry. The bar itself lies in a transparent plastic packaging. Divided into different sized squares and rectangles, with logo print in the middle rectangle, classic satin finish, high quality workmanship.
Breaks very straight, from the sound rather dull and soft, feels directly oily / greasy. Fingerprints also get on it quickly, does not bother me, but interesting compared to other bars. Very classic dark brown without special tint.
Nose:
In the nose noticeably the coconut as a milk substitute in the two different ingredients, with another K&C it wasn’t nearly as pronounced as here, coconut flakes, macadamia, light butter, vanilla, latte macchiato, something gently malty
Taste:
Even before it melts an impression of already long fermented fruits, as soon as the creamy melting starts comes really a bang of fruit acid as I rarely had until now and also going in this direction almost rotten raspberries and sour cherries, in between quite clearly almost to charcoal roasted coffee beans, quite the expressive bar here, pink grapefruit, sorrel, later also malt
Finish:
The cocoa beans in now lightly roasted form come back, bit like the chocolate in most chocolate crossaints, which has something dark, mocha-like and slightly burnt. Toasted coconut flakes, raspberries now already more "normal"/fresh and just slightly overripe, not overacidified or completely fermented, cherry, young plum, medium to long
Comment:
Somewhat unique character, the nose could almost be a white chocolate with coconut in it, the contrast of overly sour, red fruits and roasting in the mouth then, the finish really nice and more balanced, overall something for already advanced fans of chocolate, but not bad in general. If you get used to it, it is already on the second tasting much more pleasant and somewhat rounder.
