DISTINGUISHED BEANS
Reviewing the best in craft chocolate
The Philippines
Theo & Philo
Philo Chua, founder of Theo & Philo, tries to capture the rich flavors and heritage of the Philippines in every one of his beautifully wrapped bars. Using Filipino cacao, he makes a range of plain dark and milk bars and well as inclusion bars with traditional ingredients such as green mango and salt, ginger and mint, and adobo spices.
Philippines 70%
Aroma: Cornstarch, leather, chocolate pudding, malt, slight grassiness
Flavor: Nice mild but rich, slight cocoa powder/dusty chocolate flavor. Sunflower seeds, raisin, fudge, cookies made with cornstarch, vanilla, chocolate pudding, slight woody tang – cedar, vanilla frosting, malt, sweet peanut butter
Recommendation: Recommended. Mellow and pleasant.
Batch info: Lot no. A19D70BM, Consume before July 21, 2020
Benns
Calinan, Davao, Philippines 72%
Aroma: dusty, crackers, flour
Flavor: Bland with a slight mold/mushroom flavor that permeate the bar.
Recommendation: Not recommended. The mold defect pretty much ruins it, and there was little flavor to begin with.
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Batch info: 19P205P64; Best by November 13, 2020