Trader Joe’s Chocolate Passport – Tanzania 73%
April 4, 2017
Chocolate of the week: Tanzania
Tanzania is a country in Eastern Africa bordered by Uganda and Kenya to the north. Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are to the west, while Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique lie to the south.
Germans brought cacao to Tanzania in the 1880s, and although there is a long history of growing cacao, the yield is fairly small. It’s about half the amount grown in the West African countries of Ivory Coast and Ghana. But Tanzanian cocoa production is growing.
The beans are very flavorful and sought after when cultivated correctly. Proper growing and harvesting practices are being put into place to bring better quality beans to the market.
Passport Tanzania - The Taste Experience
As far as I know, I’ve never had Tanzanian chocolate. This Trader Joe’s 73% dark chocolate bar in their Passport Collection is my first taste of it! And it did not disappoint.
The aromas coming off the bar are leather, red berries (hint of cherry), and light floral notes. The flavor profile is predominately CHOCOLATE.
The chocolatey notes don’t hit you right away, but intensify as you go along. By the end, there is a long finish of delightful chocolate. The chocolate flavor is so pervasive that it’s hard to find the subtle flavors that always float to the surface during the chew and melt.
Up front, there’s vanilla, and later on I detect some fruity notes and hint of wood and earth. I can tell the chocolate has some acidity, too.
It's interesting to note that the wrapper has a suggested pairing with jasmine tea. I can imagine the potential since one of the aromas is floral, so I’ll have to give that pairing a try. Oops, there’s no more chocolate. It was too good to stop!
Final Thoughts of The Passport Series
Well, the moment of decision has arrived. Which delicious chocolate from Trader Joe’s Passport Collection ranks number one in my opinion? Can anything surpass the Venezuelan 70%?
Stay tuned for the answer next week as I have to start all over again to be sure.
Just Kidding!
Although I really, really enjoyed both the São Tomé chocolate and this week's Tanzanian, and have them firmly placed as runners’ up, the crown goes to Venezuela!
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