56%
by Venchi
Impact
From a country that delivers incredible highs as well as disappointing lows comes this rarity: Ecua-bore. A scoop of chocolate caramel.
Appearance 4.6 / 5
dangerously gorgeous
dangerously gorgeous
| Color: | dark for 56%: deep umber w/ violet (Nacional heritage) overlay & a stunning pearl drop |
| Surface: | only-in-Italy designer quality |
| Temper: | facial cosmetic-level matte |
| Snap: | true to its percentage: muffled |
Aroma 7.1 / 10
inviting chocolate blush but coffee grains (incl cereals), recessed in paraffin, pervade over vanilla caramel & peanut; the color pearl correlates to trace jasmine in the rubdown
Mouthfeel 11.2 / 15
| Texture: | fine granules |
| Melt: | built for comfort & ease |
Flavor 35.8 / 50
aroma in reverse: vanilla -> caramel -> chocolate base -> peanuts -> minor minerality -> late surging espresso + cocoa = mocha; pomegranate in the aft-burner
Quality 13.4 / 20
Too much sugar & make-up (especially given Nacional's already genetic vanilla tones) + heavy steam cleaning of these beans rips off too many acid highlights. Nonetheless, some strong chocolate backbone even as 56% is an odd number in the context of this calculus except maybe Venchi wants to stretch supply for the economics (sugar's cheaper than cacáo).