Kilwin's Authentic Origin Collection 70% Mexican Criollo Chocolate

Manufacturer: Kilwin's
Cocoa Content: 70%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B-

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, I wanted to do a Mexican-themed tasting for today. While Mexico is not well known for producing high-quality cocoa, the Criolllo variety is typically a rare and sought-after cocoa variety. I haven't had much luck with Kilwin's chocolates in the past (see here and here), so let's see if the Criollo beans make for an improvement.

The Kilwin's Mexican Criollo is orange-brown in color. Immediately notable on the palate is a prominent acidic component. Juicy fruit flavors of blackberry, sour cherry and orange are present. There is also a bitter espresso note. Faint nuttiness is detectable with peanut and pecan. Chewing the chocolate releases notes of peanut, wood and earth. The finish has sour cherry notes with a sharp bitter undertone. The Kilwins Mexican Criollo has a smooth mouthfeel that is thick and creamy.

The Kilwin's Mexican Criollo dark chocolate is a very acid-forward chocolate. There is a bit of a bitter undertone that seems to clash with the strong acidity. The acidity also seems to drown out some of the potential complexities that show flashes of earthy and nutty notes. Having said that, this is definitely the best of the Kilwin's chocolates I have tasted. If you like tart dark chocolate this may be worth a try for you.