Callebaut – Madagascar – 66%

Price: $1 for 10g

Comparative Price: $10 per 100g

Origin: Madagascar

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Buy again: No, this wasn't really working for me. 

Sight

Similar to the Grenade bar, the same imprinted text.  The chocolate looks good and thankfully fewer air bubbles than its Grenade predecessor.  At sight, I'm happy to progress with this.

Aroma

This offers a decent snap but not as good as the Callebaut Grenade, this is a little duller.

Aroma

My Madagascar offerings conjure up little when it comes to aroma - even holding it close I don't get any great smell including on the break when one would expect some pungency to emerge.  I'm feeling lacklustre at this stage...

Taste & Texture

This isn't a chocolate to confront you, it is mild and starts off with soft hints of vanilla and a slight nuttiness.  It does occasionally veer away from these soft and neutral tones and I do believe I taste liquorice - and hooray!  I have often heard of liquorice being a note found in chocolate but this is the first time I have actually tasted it and I'm excited...!!

But I should temper this excitement and focus.  Along with the liquorice it also delivers a slightly sharp taste, particularly at the back which is red berry in nature.  But in spite of this it is overall a distinctly mild and well rounded flavour.  It does pick up its delivery a little towards the end, and even finishes on a sharpness.

Strangely this pedigree origin chocolate has a slight element of cheap easter egg chocolate.  And I'm a fan (of the guilty pleasure variety) of a Red Tulip Elegant Rabbit (yes, I know it is very wrong), but there is just something a little disconcerting about this and I can't get to grips with it.  

The flavour isn't bad but there is something underlying that doesn't work which is heightened by the issues in texture, the texture is okay but not great.  In fact, it almost feels a little gluggy as it doesn't dissipate easily on the tongue but forms some mass before is disperses.  And I dare say it felt a little grainy as well.  

Where it does have strength is in its ability to linger, and consistently so, delivering the overall taste for some time.

Summary

There seems to be two things going on with this chocolate, the over riding softness of flavour but lurking behind that is a little sharpness that peeks around the corner but doesn't have the confidence to show itself properly.

The flavour is pleasant but underdeveloped however the texture lets it down, therefore i would only give this a 2.5 out of 5.  

As for buying again, not for me.  There's just something that isn't quite right although I do recognise that others would possibly enjoy this, even love it as there is a reasonably flavour but for some reason I'm not getting it...

Purchased: Mornington Peninsula Chocolates

http://www.mpchocolates.com.au/

October 24 2009
Reviewer: Shari