DISTINGUISHED BEANS
Reviewing the best in craft chocolate
Sirene
Located in Victoria, Canada, Sirene uses beans from Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador, and Tanzania to make award-winning chocolate.
Guatemala
Aroma: cardamom, licorice, molasses, dried figs, raisins, brown sugar
Flavor: cardamom, overripe fruit, spices, lime, cinnamon graham cracker, citrus rind, earthy soil
Recommendation: Recommended with reservations. I didn’t care for this particular flavor profile, with lots of spice notes and some less refined vegetal flavors. Nonetheless, it is interesting and distinct – perhaps you’ll enjoy it.
Batch info: Batch no. 37
Mexico Soconusco Limited Edition 73%
Aroma: raisins, molasses, panela
Flavor: Mellow cocoa with fruit and pastry notes: shortbread, a little tangy (raspberry),
honey, peaches, tropical fruit, mango pineapple, a little bit of a flat dusty cocoa note, kind of like raw sugar cookie dough, graham crackers, cashews.
Recommendation: Recommended. Good flavor overall, this bar is worth a try. The texture was intentionally left slightly grainy, according to the package. I don’t think it enhances the experience, but it doesn’t detract from the flavor either. It reminds me of Map’s wonderful Tabasco nano-lot.
Batch info: <Limited Edition>