Marou Chocolate & Dick Taylor Chocolate Vietnam Dark Chocolate Bar Reviews with Victoria Cooksey

Today's blog post features reviews of two different dark chocolate bars from Vietnam.  One made at the source, and one made in the USA.  I've also included my YouTube video reviewing both bars at the bottom of this post, so be sure to check it out along with my other chocolate bar reviews on YouTube.

1st up is Marou's Dong Nai 72% dark chocolate bar single origin from Vietnam.  This bar is their "pod to bar".  Often the term bean to bar is used, but this one is called a pod to bar because it is made so near the source of where the cacao trees are grown.  Sometimes you will also see the term tree to bar which is pretty much the same thing.  This means the maker has control over every step of the process from the time the cacao pod is picked, the fermentation process, drying, roasting, etc.  So much of a chocolate bars flavor actual starts with the fermentation process, and further develops during the roasting of the beans, so it's important to know what is going on with the beans from the start.

Color:  Medium/Dark brown.
Nose:  Raspberries.

Texture:  Perfectly smooth, makes mouth water, light bodied.

Taste:  Lightly acidic, subtle notes of dark cherries dipped in a cocoa powdered lightly whipped cream.

I get the "I've got a golden ticket" feeling whenever I open a Marou chocolate bar.

Finish:  A long finish, but with light flavors.  Definitely lots of red fruit notes in this bar.   

Next up is Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate 78% Vietnam dark chocolate bar.  While Marou is made in Vietnam, Dick Taylor bars are made in California. This bar is a limited release, so hopefully you can still find it.  I bought this one a couple weeks ago at The Chocolate Project in Victora, B.C. 

Color:  Dark brown.

Nose:  Peaches, black coffee.

Texture:  Full bodied, very nice snap when you bite into it, smooth, melts quickly in the mouth.

Taste:  Lots of acidity that keeps building, and then a little bitterness at the end.  Cocoa powder, raisins, peaches. 

I love the design on Dick Taylor chocolate bars.

Finish:  Very long, a hint of cinnamon in the finish, long lasting acidity with a bit of bitterness.  

Check out my YouTube video where I review these two bars here in Port Townsend, WA.

Have you tried any chocolate from Vietnam?  What are your thoughts on them?   Would you buy them again?  

Victoria Cooksey

Catch all my YouTube chocolate reviews videos, and cooking videos at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-lp-lF_wB2oX_592jK9UQ

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/victoria.cooksey/?hl=en

Dick Taylor chocolate:  http://www.dicktaylorchocolate.com/

Marou chocolate:  http://marouchocolate.com/