E. Guittard Ambanja Bittersweet

Guest Chocablogger and applicant for the position of North American Correspondent, Deanna Skaggs takes a look at a rather tasty looking bar from California. Please welcome her to Chocablog!

This was my fourth E. Guittard purchase. The company is based out of California in the United States, but its founder, Etienne Guittard, went to California from France in the 1850’s. I enjoyed the other three bars immensely, so I was expecting the same quality here. I wasn’t disappointed.

Each of their bars is wrapped in the same tasteful design with black trees behind the name and gold edging, only with different colors on the sides. Ambanja had a blue-purple color, reflecting the intensity of the bar.

Although there were a couple of air bubbles, the chocolate had a healthy, reddish sheen. Like the others, this bar is divided into twelve rectangles, each perfectly sized for tasting. I don’t consider 65% cacao very high, but Ambanja retains a darkness with deep, fruity flavors that become sweeter about halfway through, finishing in richness.

It also maintains E. Guittard’s exquisite texture. As the chocolate melts in your mouth, it ripples off much like a fondue fountain, only slower, of course.

Normally, 50 or 60% chocolates don’t go over very well with me because they have neither the sweetness of milk chocolate nor the range of flavors of dark, but this bar passed the test.

Although the flavor is much the same throughout, it is both sweet and rich. An ideal combination. I paid three dollars for this 56.7 gram bar (online, it’s closer to four dollars), but it was worth every bit.

Posted by Dom on 13 Jun 2008 at 11:06 AM | 5 Comments
Filed in Reviews under ambanja, dark, guittard, US