Darks
by Jordi's
Impact
Barsmiths… they're coming out of the woodwork from all corners of the Earth now.
Meet Jordi's, the Czech Republic's first modern-era artisan chocolate maker. Doubtful that it will be the last or the only.
Compared to the rest of the premium niche, Jordi's strikes out on an independent path. It currently eschews the "single-origin" fetish & just presents chocolate-based goods, including some blends.
Nothing fancy. Very workmanlike.
The following details a Chocolate Trifecta –- three reviews in one:
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda (Chocolate-covered Cocoa Seeds)
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend (Unsweetened 100% cacáo-content)
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic (Rustic Dark)
the C-spot®still maintains its actual sampling policy of only ‘1-a-Day’ in order to obtain an accurate & thorough gauge on a chocolate; as well as to avoid inevitable palate fatigue which occurs with multiple samples in a compressed time session (no matter what "miracle palate cleanser" may be invoked). For the sake of publishing efficiency, they’re consolidated into this single review. The overall rating & metrics (upper right) reflect a composite average of each bar's individual measures.
Meet Jordi's, the Czech Republic's first modern-era artisan chocolate maker. Doubtful that it will be the last or the only.
Compared to the rest of the premium niche, Jordi's strikes out on an independent path. It currently eschews the "single-origin" fetish & just presents chocolate-based goods, including some blends.
Nothing fancy. Very workmanlike.
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda (Chocolate-covered Cocoa Seeds)
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend (Unsweetened 100% cacáo-content)
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic (Rustic Dark)
the C-spot®still maintains its actual sampling policy of only ‘1-a-Day’ in order to obtain an accurate & thorough gauge on a chocolate; as well as to avoid inevitable palate fatigue which occurs with multiple samples in a compressed time session (no matter what "miracle palate cleanser" may be invoked). For the sake of publishing efficiency, they’re consolidated into this single review. The overall rating & metrics (upper right) reflect a composite average of each bar's individual measures.
Appearance 4.1 / 5
| Color: |
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda: golden brown Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend: about as brown as it comes Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic: pitch brown |
| Surface: |
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda: dusted Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend: signature mold that bleeds thru & ghosts on the backside Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic: welted / pelted; grease splatter |
| Temper: |
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda: super matte Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend: minor albedo Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic: uneven |
| Snap: |
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda: n/a Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend: full-throated as expected for an unsweetened Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic: snub |
Aroma 8.6 / 10
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda:
plastic hangover probably from the packaging
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend:
inky stalwart chocolate, of solid cocoa foundation, with leather & black fig overtones
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic:
marshmallow rose & candied FXs ala Tahitian vanilla with its cherry component
at such a phenomenal level as though artificially scented
plastic hangover probably from the packaging
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend:
inky stalwart chocolate, of solid cocoa foundation, with leather & black fig overtones
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic:
marshmallow rose & candied FXs ala Tahitian vanilla with its cherry component
at such a phenomenal level as though artificially scented
Mouthfeel 11.4 / 15
| Texture: |
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda: very pliable Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend: medium paste with a stray Nib fragment or two Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic: granulated |
| Melt: |
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda: n/a but, due to soft consistency, hydrates well Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend: forget setting the alarm clock Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic: dissolves on contact |
Flavor 40.2 / 50
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda:
nuts & Nibs -> coffee -> grape gum -> watery flavors of all the above (strange) to a dilute fruit juice
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend:
quick & brief marshmallow flees into unsweetened dry cocoa powder without disappearing completely -> fungi / soil / fertilizer all checked by a generous cocoa butter cuff -> rear minerals, light metal, just a dusting of rust -> back bitter (pretty tolerant) -> evasive chocolate impressions -> the marshmallow apparition continues to lurk (thankfully) along with dirty nuts (almonds, walnut, & ground nuts) -> coffee stemwinder
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic:
instant orchid blossoms -> vanilla cookie -> vanilla with a cherry inflection
very little else
nuts & Nibs -> coffee -> grape gum -> watery flavors of all the above (strange) to a dilute fruit juice
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend:
quick & brief marshmallow flees into unsweetened dry cocoa powder without disappearing completely -> fungi / soil / fertilizer all checked by a generous cocoa butter cuff -> rear minerals, light metal, just a dusting of rust -> back bitter (pretty tolerant) -> evasive chocolate impressions -> the marshmallow apparition continues to lurk (thankfully) along with dirty nuts (almonds, walnut, & ground nuts) -> coffee stemwinder
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic:
instant orchid blossoms -> vanilla cookie -> vanilla with a cherry inflection
very little else
Quality 13.8 / 20
Kakaové boby v Tmavá Čokoláda:
Whereas Jordi's bars utilize Ecuadorian cacáo, these particular nuggets stem from Bertil Åkesson's Madagascar allotment which creates a marked difference. In fact, one of the recommendations to Jordi's during an in-person visit was to ditch the Ecuador for superior grade. Happily, the label had already begun to do so for upcoming batches.
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend:
Pretty standard profile as far as unsweetened 100s go except the mid-intensity makes it quite tolerable for the percentage &, doubly so, that intermittent marshmallow adds interest, even eagerness, to continue on for more.
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic:
1-dimensional: vanilla.
Coarsely ground in the Modica-Mexìcâ / Aztecâ tradition then crossed with the Mesoamerican-inspired inclusion. Sampled prior in Askinosie's El Rustico... supposedly a homage to the ancient people of the vanilla orchid – the Totonac from Veracruz, Mexico & their Pyramid of the Niches at El Tajín.
Fine, such as it.
Reviewed December 2, 2014
Whereas Jordi's bars utilize Ecuadorian cacáo, these particular nuggets stem from Bertil Åkesson's Madagascar allotment which creates a marked difference. In fact, one of the recommendations to Jordi's during an in-person visit was to ditch the Ecuador for superior grade. Happily, the label had already begun to do so for upcoming batches.
Tmavá Čokoláda 100% Blend:
Pretty standard profile as far as unsweetened 100s go except the mid-intensity makes it quite tolerable for the percentage &, doubly so, that intermittent marshmallow adds interest, even eagerness, to continue on for more.
Tmavá Čokoláda Rustic:
1-dimensional: vanilla.
Coarsely ground in the Modica-Mexìcâ / Aztecâ tradition then crossed with the Mesoamerican-inspired inclusion. Sampled prior in Askinosie's El Rustico... supposedly a homage to the ancient people of the vanilla orchid – the Totonac from Veracruz, Mexico & their Pyramid of the Niches at El Tajín.
Fine, such as it.
Reviewed December 2, 2014