Whether you’re enjoying a glass of iced drinking chocolate, whipping up a batch of chocolate ice cream or simply enjoying a piece after a zesty grilled dinner, Taza Chocolate is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and spice up your summer. Here’s an in-depth look at some of what Taza has to offer, with detailed tasting notes to boot.
87% Bolivian Bar—Taza’s 87% Bolivian bar has a smoother texture than its disc counterparts. Earthy flavors reminiscent of a French Roast Sumatran coffee are complemented by nuances of coconut. Although it has a robust flavor profile, this bar displays a marked lack of bitterness despite having such a high cacao percentage.
Cacao Puro—As the name implies, this disc is a pure expression of Taza’s Direct Trade-sourced Dominican cacao. With only the addition of organic cane sugar, the single-origin cacao beans shine through with bright fruity characteristics and a mellow nuttiness. This disc showcases an alluringly rustic texture with the occasional sugar crystal or piece of cacao bean providing textural contrast.
Guajillo—When broken, this disc emits the fruity and spicy aroma of guajillo chilis with underlying notes of earthy cacao. Perfect for hot chocolate (try it iced), this disc is fairly sweet for a dark chocolate. Notes of banana, red fruits and sweetness greet the palate while a slow burn from the chilis progresses to a decidedly spicy finish.
Salted Almond—For this unique chocolate Taza roasts organic almonds just like they do their cacao beans—in house. The roasted almonds and cacao are stone-ground together with Taza’s authentic molinos and then finally combined with kosher salt. The result is a luscious and creamy chocolate almond butter flavor that is perfectly complimented by the kosher salt. It just might make you abandon your favorite milk chocolate.
Bolivian Drinking Chocolate—Upon opening a container of this single origin drinking chocolate, one is instantly greeted by the aromas of coconut, vanilla, and darkly roasted cacao beans. In the cup, maltiness and earthy cacao flavors dominate, while an underlying nuttiness and balanced vanilla sweetness persist in the aftertaste.
Are you anxious to try some and make your own tasting notes? You can find Taza at these fine local stores:
In Media, PA …
- Earth and State, 23 W. State St.
- Burlap and Bean Coffee, 204 S. Newtown Street Rd., Newtown Square
In West Chester, PA …
- Great Pumpkin Health Foods, 607 E. Market St., Ste. 2
In Philadelphia, PA …
- Di Bruno Bros., 930 S. 9th St.
- Essene Food Corp, 719 South 4th St.
- Green Aisle Grocery, 1618 E. Passyunk Ave.
- The Random Tea Room, 713 North 4th St.
- Weaver’s Way (Mt. Airy), 559 Carpenter Lane
