Manufacturer: Hägeland
Cocoa Content: 64%
Location: Peru
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B-
Up for tasting today is the Hägeland Peru, a 64% dark chocolate bar. The bar is deep brown in color with a faint orange undertone. The nose is rather straightforward, calling to mind semi-sweet chocolate chips.
On the palate, there is a dominant roasted chocolate flavor along with nuttiness (i.e., roasted almonds) up front. There is just a touch of acidity in the background here. This leads to a citrus note of orange peel. The Hageland Peru has a smooth, creamy and slightly thick mouthfeel. Chewing the bar brings out notes of mint, vanilla and toffee. The finish has trailing roasted nuts with some coffee as well as a strong caramel note.
The Hägeland Peru is a decent chocolate, but the flavor is pretty one-dimensional with a strong roast flavor. This is definitely a bar calling for a higher cocoa percentage. There is definite potential here. Again, for a made-for-Walmart chocolate, this is a pretty nice surprise.
Showing posts with label Hägeland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hägeland. Show all posts
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Hägeland Costa Rica 71% Dark Chocolate
Keywords:
Costa Rica,
Dark Chocolate,
Hägeland
Manufacturer: Hägeland
Cocoa Content: 71%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B
Hägeland is a line of Belgian-made chocolates that have been exclusively developed for Wal-Mart. Today's tasting is a single-source bar made from Costa Rican trinitario beans. The Hägeland Costa Rica is deep brown in color with purplish-red notes. There is a deep chocolate flavor up front. Nutty undertones develop, along with some roasted, espresso-like flavors. The acidity level here is very faint. There is a distinct marshmallow note present, along with spice, peanuts and hazelnuts.
Chewing the Hägeland Costa Rica bar bring forward vanilla along with notes of hazelnuts and cherries. The finish has cocoa and marshmallow along with nutty and spicy notes in the background.
I must admit, this is a pretty good showing for a chocolate made for Wal-Mart, a mass-market retailer usually associated with budget pricing instead of high-quality. I would like to see the acidity bumped up a notch or two, and I think there is a bit too much vanilla going on, but overall this is a decent chocolate bar that's worth a taste the next time you find yourself at Wally World.
Cocoa Content: 71%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B
Hägeland is a line of Belgian-made chocolates that have been exclusively developed for Wal-Mart. Today's tasting is a single-source bar made from Costa Rican trinitario beans. The Hägeland Costa Rica is deep brown in color with purplish-red notes. There is a deep chocolate flavor up front. Nutty undertones develop, along with some roasted, espresso-like flavors. The acidity level here is very faint. There is a distinct marshmallow note present, along with spice, peanuts and hazelnuts.
Chewing the Hägeland Costa Rica bar bring forward vanilla along with notes of hazelnuts and cherries. The finish has cocoa and marshmallow along with nutty and spicy notes in the background.
I must admit, this is a pretty good showing for a chocolate made for Wal-Mart, a mass-market retailer usually associated with budget pricing instead of high-quality. I would like to see the acidity bumped up a notch or two, and I think there is a bit too much vanilla going on, but overall this is a decent chocolate bar that's worth a taste the next time you find yourself at Wally World.
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