Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Montezuma: Salted Chocolate from the U.K.

Writing about British chocolate in an ironic observance of Independence Day earlier this week reminded me of a nice package I’d recently received from the U.K.

One with chocolate, of course. Natalie very kindly sent me some British chocolate that is nearly impossible to find in the U.S. Such as this Montezuma bar – a salted Peruvian 70% cocoa dark chocolate creation.

Remember my quest to find the perfect salted chocolate? This bar needed to be evaluated immediately. Before I tasted it, I noted smoky and banana notes in the aroma, along with a bit of fig.

While the bar didn’t hold up so well in its transatlantic journey, you can tell that the salt isn’t concentrated on the sides of the bar, and it is instead well-distributed in small graduals. This allows the flavor of the chocolate to come through, with strong elements of coffee and banana complimented by the salt’s capacity to cut bitterness. The flavor is quite intense, and well-balanced against the salt, though my personal preference would be for more salt.

I love salt, though. Really. It’s a wonder my blood pressure is as low as it is.

How do you think salt and chocolate compliment each other?

10 comments:

  1. I do, but at the same time I'm getting mighty tired of the combination. I kinda wish another new fad would come along! Like... chocolate and popcorn. Or something. That doesn't work, I know...

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  2. Glad you quite liked it :) sorry it didnt hold up well :(

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  3. Love the chocolate+salt combo!!! That bar look pretty awesome!

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  4. I also adore salt and chocolate. but chocolate alone will do.

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  5. Like a match made in heaven....almost as well as chocolate and peanut butter. I LOVE the sweet salty combo. That bar sounds wonderful, like I'm about to purchase a ticket to the UK just to find one.

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  6. I am going to have to try all these saltly chocolates you review. They always look and sound so good and not comparable to the grimetime chocolate I had that was way too salty.

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  7. I think salt and chocolate fit together perfectly. I especially like the ChocoLate Organiko bar.

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  8. I bet that if you don't have a chocolate binder like I do, you have a great chocolate recipe file on your computer! How lucky that friends send you yummy chocolate bars to sample. I'm more of a fan of salty items like pretzels dipped in chocolate than chocolates with a sprinkling of salt...not like I'd refuse it, though :)

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  9. This is a nifty looking bar. And I much prefer the sound of well-incorporated salt in chocolate, if only to bring out the flavors of such interesting things as figs!

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  10. I rarely salt things, but love salted chocolate (and sweet/savory combos in general).

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