Dark Star
by Lillie Belle
Impact
Takes the "La Red Eye", as far as chocolate flights go, back from the tropics to the northern latitudes.
After some bumping right after takeoff & banging amidst minor turbulence, this hits the tarmac hard.
With recovery, however, comes a general acceptance of the frequent flyer miles for the next dark star adventure.
Appearance -- / 5
| Color: | darker side of medium brown |
| Surface: | flaked, dusted & pocked |
| Temper: | wax shine |
| Snap: | a Lillie Belle specialty; yet another on-the-mark bullet |
Aroma -- / 10
ferment tang still encrusting around sopping mango -> the rest lies reclined as arid plantain & dried date atop fused cocoa-wood
Mouthfeel -- / 15
| Texture: | light frame |
| Melt: | liquifies |
Flavor -- / 50
a date with sapote -> jabs a stick on the tongue (tannic wood) & beats all the sweet fruit away in flavor of a new sensation in chocodom: tamarind-tar -> goes down uncured tobacco leaf -> coffee rebound -> black outs (rather sweetly / remarkably) on raisin + molasses
Quality -- / 20
A prototype hot off the grill... literally. Rough roast (though Jeff Shepherd of Lillie-Belle professes ~275ºF) to match this label's gen'l approach of 'home-ground chocolate'.
Somewhat perilous, even for an 80%.
Naturally stamina is expected in this percentage class.
Less expected: how it regains its poise (somewhat) after that mid-palate collapse which points to good breeding in DR's gene pool. Specifically, the La Red mixed-cultivars by a co-op near Nagua, a coastal cocoa redoubt in Maria Trinidad Sanchez, that DirecTrades with Taza, Mast Bros., & the Chocolate Alchemist (who supplied Raaka's raw version). This particular seed allotment comes via Atlantic Cocoa.
ING: cocoa mass, sugar
Reviewed October 13, 2011
Somewhat perilous, even for an 80%.
Naturally stamina is expected in this percentage class.
Less expected: how it regains its poise (somewhat) after that mid-palate collapse which points to good breeding in DR's gene pool. Specifically, the La Red mixed-cultivars by a co-op near Nagua, a coastal cocoa redoubt in Maria Trinidad Sanchez, that DirecTrades with Taza, Mast Bros., & the Chocolate Alchemist (who supplied Raaka's raw version). This particular seed allotment comes via Atlantic Cocoa.
ING: cocoa mass, sugar
Reviewed October 13, 2011