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The Chocolate Review: Askinosie Chocolate

After reading an article about gourmet chocolates and the higher demand now present here in Singapore. I decided to pay the promotional booth at Taka basement a visit to probably get myself a bar of Askinosie Chocolate. Also since I've heard of this brand ever since a fellow baker of mine used Askinosie cocoa powder in her bakes, I was intrigued by the rarity and novelty of the product.

In the end, after circling the booth like a vulture trying to come to a decision on its catch. I got the white chocolate with cocoa nibs which rattled me off at $18.90 for a 75g bar. haha. *groanz* I sampled the white chocolate with pistachio bits and that was excellent as well with the salty roasted pistachios providing excellent contrast to the sweet white chocolate. But i finally stuck with the cocoa nibbed version as the bits of cocoa nibs swimming around within the bar was indeed a breathe of fresh air, giving a tiny crunch with every bite and imparting an all to familiar bittersweet note to the entire package. A terrific investment too.

Soconusco White Chocolate Nibble with added roasted cocoa beans.

34% Cocoa Butter made from Soconusco, Mexico beans.

The main ingredient in our white chocolate is 34% natural, non-deodorized cocoa butter. The cocoa butter is pressed in our factory and we are the first small-batch chocolate maker to do this. After pressing our Soconusco, Mexico beans to create the cocoa butter, we combine it with goat's milk powder and organic cane juice, and then craft it for days in our 85-year old German melanguer, making ours one of the only single origin white chocolates in the world. We add in Soconusco Roasted Cocoa Nibs to make this bar crunchy and good.It is also available in an original bar and a bar with organic roasted and salted pistachios.

The white chocolate bar surprised me with its au-natural color, a very faded milky brown, almost akin to diluted milo drink. I was surprised as I had never expected white chocolate to be not white. Upon enquiry, i was told by the sales representative that the slight tinge of brown was due to the lack of additives added during manufacture. Even more surprising was the fact that even the cocoa butter was pressed within the factory itself. Wow!

In case you were wondering, Askinosie are single estate chocolates as well, originating from either Mexico or Ecuador. Why of course.. u wldn't think i would settle for less huh? *diva attitude*.. haha.

I've been such a bad girl recently, with the 3 bars of chocolate still lazing around in its container in the fridge, I can't believed I'm buying more. argh.. I'm officially a gourmet chocolate hunter.

For more information on Askinosie Chocolates, head over to their website. I must admit a very lovely one too! Take time to read the story of the founders.. very charming indeed...