Distinct, Artisanal Chocolates
Product Description: The Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate company is located in Arcata, CA. where their chocolate is produced in small batches using European techniques, conching at least 24 hours and up to 72 hours. Their name comes from the two chocolate makers: Adam Dick & Dustin Taylor. They had previously handcrafted wooden boats. To quote from the site, “the time and care required for fitting a mortice or shaping a plank is not unlike the process of hand-crafting chocolate from the bean.” Indeed you can see wooden boat artwork on the front of their packages. They source fair-trade cacao and do not include any emulsifiers or vanilla, allowing the flavors of the beans to shine.
We were sent two different bars: 72% Belize, Toledo and 74% Fleur de Sel, from the Dominican Republic.
Ingredient List:
72% Belize Toledo: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar
Fleur de Sel: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, fleur de sel
Test Kitchen Overview: Dick Taylor chocolate bars are wrapped in simple but elegant packaging that speaks to the handcrafted approach. No fancy colors or designs to detract from the chocolate within. You get the sense that you are unwrapping something special. Adult. Serious. The first thing you notice is the design of their molds, which is quite beautiful. As intricate as it is, it did not make me think of a frilly chocolate. The sharp and clean lines from the tempered chocolate made me think of exacting craftsmanship (seen below), which was very on-brand.
The 72% is a true bittersweet chocolate. They describe it as having “jasmine and hibiscus on top of a dried fruit flavor profile”. I agree with the dried fruit and it has a fabulous, bracing acidity, but I didn’t get the floral notes – which was fine by me because I liked the rich bitterness.
The Fleur de Sel hits the tip of your tongue immediately with its saltiness and again the salt sings along the sides of your tongue, then it fades away a little mid-taste and you get the 74% bitterness, rich and deep. This Dominican Republic chocolate is not as nuanced as the 72%, but it is a powerhouse of a mouthful.
Pros: Love the packaging, the story and the quality. These would make an excellent gift for the connoisseur who has maybe tasted a lot of chocolate – but probably not these.
Cons: The chocolate is pricey. The 2-ounce bar is $8.00.
Suggested Use: Best to eat out of hand; wouldn’t use these for baking and incorporating with other ingredients. Savor them as is. This might sound odd, but so many chocolates are frilly and feminine. These have a distinct architectural look that I think will appeal to men – and women who like a good chocolate!
Where to Buy: Dick Taylor directly or use the shop locator on their site.
Price at Time of Review: $8.00 per 2-ounce bar
Have you tried this product? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Bakepedia received this product as a gift for review. All opinions are the reviewer’s own.
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