Gianduja
by Holy Cacao
Impact
DOUBLE QUIK REVIEW
The Book of Duja... Gianduja that is.
Anyone who thinks the C-spot® is mental ought to check out Scott of DallasFood.org's 35-part series on gianduia. It takes 'in-depth' to the deepest level.
As he himself rationalizes: monomania hasn't been considered a legitimate mental health diagnosis in over a century.
Or, for more direct insight, just digest this 2-piece collection of 1 Dark Chocolate Gianduja (56% cacáo-content) & 1 Milk Chocolate Gianduja (36% cacáo-content).
Better yet, multi-taskers: read the series & eat these at the same time. Appreciation... multiplied.
NOTE: the following review covers both bars, sequenced from Dark to Milk, the preferred order of professional session chocolate (funny how few "pros" realize this), sampling bitter / darker pieces first, before moving down into sweeter levels because the undue influence of sugar can de-sensitize the papillae of taste receptors. For general audience chocolate flights, the opposite applies -- going from sweet to bitter -- in order to meet public expectations, avoid palate shock, & expand thresholds thru acclimatization. The overall rating & metrics (upper right) reflect their composite average.
The Book of Duja... Gianduja that is.
Anyone who thinks the C-spot® is mental ought to check out Scott of DallasFood.org's 35-part series on gianduia. It takes 'in-depth' to the deepest level.
As he himself rationalizes: monomania hasn't been considered a legitimate mental health diagnosis in over a century.
Or, for more direct insight, just digest this 2-piece collection of 1 Dark Chocolate Gianduja (56% cacáo-content) & 1 Milk Chocolate Gianduja (36% cacáo-content).
Better yet, multi-taskers: read the series & eat these at the same time. Appreciation... multiplied.
Appearance 3.6 / 5
| Color: |
DARK BAR -- filbert brown (the skin of); MILK BAR -- pink filbert |
| Surface: |
DARK BAR -- molten; MILK BAR -- cratered & pocked |
| Temper: |
DARK BAR -- obsidian shine; MILK BAR -- a mess (plastic wrapper transfer) |
| Snap: |
DARK BAR -- whop-bop; MILK BAR -- splunges into a porous edge-wall |
Aroma 8.8 / 10
DARK BAR -- yes, hazelnut, but decidedly balanced by cocoa..., preciously, even perfectly so
blooms a sweep-spot of hibiscus marshmallow (lovely)
intriguing for 56% cacáo-content
MILK BAR-- cream-duja; another evenly proportioned scent
blooms a sweep-spot of hibiscus marshmallow (lovely)
intriguing for 56% cacáo-content
MILK BAR-- cream-duja; another evenly proportioned scent
Mouthfeel 12 / 15
| Texture: |
DARK BAR -- thick paste ala some 100s MILK BAR --powder keg |
| Melt: |
DARK BAR -- time warp; MILK BAR -- nicely auto-corrects |
Flavor 44.6 / 50
DARK -- straight on hazelnuts-over-chocolate with a significant sugar back push -> tropical fruit punch from behind
MILK -- traditional almost-Belgian smooth praline style; very 2-dimensional.... only at the very tail a fruit node, gleaned in the Dark 56% version, peeks thru the heavier components whence the best of all worlds occurs -- nut, dairy & fruit -- for a truly superb finish
MILK -- traditional almost-Belgian smooth praline style; very 2-dimensional.... only at the very tail a fruit node, gleaned in the Dark 56% version, peeks thru the heavier components whence the best of all worlds occurs -- nut, dairy & fruit -- for a truly superb finish
Quality 15.7 / 20
DARK -- Quite a revelation. Strong integration highlighted by a Texture with virtually no grain to it (rare for so much sugar).
MILK -- hazelnut ganache in a bar.
A generally well-executed & paired exposé on Gianduia -- a Dark & a Milk -- calibrated carefully for the consumer market. Together they wrap the tongue up good into knots of flavor.
Their differences are somewhat narrower than their percentages give off (the formulations belie a 20% differential in cacáo-content when accounting for total sugars [sucrose & lactose], nut paste, & cocoa butter). And while perhaps less unctuous & rich in oils, as well as ultra-freshness of Italian gianduias, Holy Cacáo delivers a friendly & accessible package utilizing a cacao that cuts thru without competing against the sum flavor but compliments it instead.
Reviewed December 10, 2013
MILK -- hazelnut ganache in a bar.
A generally well-executed & paired exposé on Gianduia -- a Dark & a Milk -- calibrated carefully for the consumer market. Together they wrap the tongue up good into knots of flavor.
Their differences are somewhat narrower than their percentages give off (the formulations belie a 20% differential in cacáo-content when accounting for total sugars [sucrose & lactose], nut paste, & cocoa butter). And while perhaps less unctuous & rich in oils, as well as ultra-freshness of Italian gianduias, Holy Cacáo delivers a friendly & accessible package utilizing a cacao that cuts thru without competing against the sum flavor but compliments it instead.
Reviewed December 10, 2013