Deep Dark Chocolate - mmmmmmmm

It's taken me awhile to post about this, but I've been savoring each decadent bite ever so slowly. I was a lucky recipient of Amano Artisan Chocolate bars about a month ago. Over at Blake Makes they had one of their give aways and I was a lucky winner!

Now, when I received the 3 precious bars of dark chocolate I tried to find some way to incorporate it into a recipe but just couldn't find the right way to showcase this chocolate. I only had 2 ounces each of their Madagascar, Cuyagua and Ocumare bars. Each bar has it's own personality based on where the cocoa beans originated.

The Madagascar had a slightly bitter flavor upon my first tasting of it. If you allow it to slowly melt on your tongue, you'll taste the slightest hint of citrus flavors.

When I tasted the Cuyagua bar, it had a much more intense flavor and seemed richer and smoother to me.

Lastly, I opened the Ocumare and it seems I saved the best for last (at least in my opinion). It is a really smooth, decadent piece of chocolate. It has a background flavor of berries which is absolutely delightful!

All three are truly amazing artisan chocolates that I would recommend trying. It is obvious in tasting these chocolates that they take a lot of care in making it in the traditional way - small batches. Amano has created a dark chocolate worthy of special occasions, that happens to be rich and satisfying enough to have just a small taste at a time. For me that is huge as I can finish off the Hershey's Special Dark bar in no time at all. Now, that I've had truly special dark chocolate from Amano I'm not sure I can go back!

Thank you, Amano and Blake Makes, for giving me the chance to try this fantastic dark chocolate!

Photo courtesy Amano Artisan Chocolate.