Valrhona - Caraibe Grand Cru - 66%

Individually Wrapped Gift Tin 

Price: $25.95 for 90g  

Comparative Price: $28.83 per 100g

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Buy again: Yes, but probably cheaper bar

Valrhona describe this particular chocolate as a ‘mild dark chocolate Grand Cru. Cocoa beans of Caribbean. Balanced, dried fruits overtones.’

Simon Johnson's website claims 'Valrhona Grand Cru - Caraibe 66% is a blend of Trinitarios cocoa beans from the Caribbean Islands. The "grand cru" are created from beans grown in a given geographic region but on different plantations. It is gentle and fruity revealing delicate flavours of almond and roasted coffee. 18 individually wrapped squares presented in a gift tin.

Sight

What is immediately satisfying about this product is the packaging, there is something special about having a lovely metal tin and opening it to see individually wrapped little pieces of pleasure and of course unwrapping each of these, a little bit of ceremony with each one.  (Although I am not so sure about the environmental considerations of the additional packaging.) 

So unwrapping my first little Caraibe treat I am confronted with a smooth, dark coloured chocolate. 

Sound

A great, satisfying snap one would expect from Valrhona indicating a good cocoa butter content.

Aroma

Caraibe has a strong, full bodied and slightly fruity smell.  The strong smell gives you a pretty good indication that the chocolate will have a similarly strong taste and excited my taste buds which are ready, in anticipation.

Texture 

Caraibe is immediately smooth on the palette and initially offers a discreet almost coffee flavour, however this is a complex and full bodied chocolate, therefore the flavour progresses.  From the earthy coffee flavour it moves on to to a more intense fruity taste. The taste drops off momentarily to come back with strong hits of the fruity chocolatiness.

Whilst the chocolate has great texture, and melts beautifully on the tongue it does start to feel a little dry on the palette towards the end.  And sadly, after delivering good strong flavours this sadly doesn't linger but disappears somewhat quickly.

Summary

Overall, a very good chocolate as you would expect from the French masters at Valrhona, and the experience is heightened by the lovely individual packaging however the end, in both texture and taste, does let it down slightly which reduced its score slightly.  But overall a very good chocolate that would make a fantastic present (hint friends and family!).  

I rate this a 3.5 out of 5.  Although from many other chocolate makers I would possibly give this a higher score, however Valrhona set a very high benchmark as they make some truly great chocolates.  

(The same chocolate is also sold in a 70g bar for the cheaper price of $13.50; or $19.29 per 100g)

* Prices are from Simon Johnson at the time of purchase.

7 August 2009
Reviewer: Shari