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Nicaragua - El Castillero - 70% dark chocolate
Nicaragua - El Castillero - 70% dark chocolate
The El Castillero is an original blend dark chocolate, unique in flavor. It is appreciated by a wide range of people and has a very nice, mild but long lasting body.
The cocoa:
name: El Castillero
origin: Nicaragua, El Castillo
the cocoa was produced under ZOTO protocol
The chocolate:
70%: 68% cocoa - 2% cocoa butter - 30% beet sugar
Post-harvest controlled chocolate bar
45-50g
Winner of silver medal on the World Finals of the International Chocolate Awards 2018
Winner of silver medal on the European Round of the International Chocolate Awards 2018
Flavor notes:
honey, yellow fruit, molasses, licorice, date
The story behind the chocolate...
Thirty two exceptional cocoas were produced in Central America according to specific ZOTO protocols. Subjective flavor descriptions of authorized chocolate tasters from around the world were correlated with scientific gas chromatography analysis results. Aroma’s of roasted cocoas were analysed on molecular composition. A statistical analysis executed by the University of Copenhagen learned us which molecules were responsible for specific flavor notes.
Doing this for the 32 cocoas made it possible to create the innovative and objective cocoa flavor map. Thanks to Lutheran World Relieve funding, this tool was brought alive in Q4-2017 and serves as a guidance for chocolate makers to find more accurate and easy the cocoa they are looking for.
in 2017, ZOTO, independent of the project, chose 2 great cocoas out of the 32 cocoas and transformed them into dark chocolate with the help of Chocolatoa.
The objective:
make a showcase
prove the quality of the work
promote the cocoa behind the chocolate
promote the map
make people understand the true impact of post-harvest processing on flavor development
In august 2018, ZOTO won a silver medal at the European Chocolate Awards. A recognition for the work and a ticket for the World Cup.
In parallel, the first 2 containers were ordered by chocolate makers, where ZOTO connected both chocolate maker and cocoa producer, fulfilling its role as envisioned.
Check out this video for more info about the project:
Cocoa farmers in Central America are already receiving international acclaim for their diverse and unique cocoa. Lutheran World Relief's new Flavor Map links chocolatiers and farmers by highlighting the flavor characteristics of cocoa from different countries, cooperatives and farms.