Good Brazilian Chocolate

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Permalink Reply by Andre Costa on February 18, 2009 at 2:13pm

Hi there Runner NYC.

I am originally from Brazil, but moved to NYC a while ago.

When my only source of chocolate was the local Brazilian one, I actually never had any complains. Once I moved to the US and started to try different chocolates, then I discovered something impressive: that I hated Brazilian chocolate! But that was 8 years ago.

Recently a friend was visiting from Rio and she brought me some chocolate from different companies. Most of them still have something that is very unattractive; some sort of after taste that lingers for a while; quite heavy and oily. I can't explain what is it. Besides, they are too sweet.
But there is this small company called Cacau Noir that makes some very nice chocolate. They are expensive, but worth it!

Have you found out anything else about Brazilian chocolate since you first posted in October 2008?

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Gross on March 4, 2009 at 6:48am

I have just come back from Brazil and did a very complete search for fine chocolates in Rio and Sao Paulo! I found a few promising suspects. I haven't tried any of them, but the one prominent brand (in the duty free shop, too) is Damazonia (Damazonia.com.br). I purchased a box of assorted dark chocolates with amazon fruits, I'll try it soon and update this post. There's also a company called Nugali, I bought a 70% and 80% bar (Nugali.com.br). The 80% I opened first and to my dismay there was evidence of bugs inside so...I didn't try it. But the 70% looks safe. Then there's Barion (barioncia.com.br), I chose a 70% Wine Chocolate from that company, I suppose it's just supposed to be paired with wine as it's not an ingredient. Lastly, I found Neugebauer (neugebauer.com.br), they had a 70% bar called 1891, but they mostly make candies. I hope this is what you were looking for, but I will be back with reviews :)

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Permalink Reply by Andre Costa on March 4, 2009 at 11:05am

Hi Sarah.

Great info. I've never heard of Damazonia, Nugali or Barion, so I guess they are new (less than 5 years old, probably).
I will check them out.

Please let us know what your taste buds tell you about the chocolates. Very curious about the Amazon fruits ones.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Gross on March 4, 2009 at 8:50pm

Yeah I would bet these companies are relatively new. Gourmet chocolate as a global phenomenon has taken off recently..I feel like the Europeans have had a great variety for a long while (I was in Germany last summer and was floored by the enormous chocolate collections of department stores!).

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Permalink Reply by Andre Costa on March 5, 2009 at 9:26am

One thing I love about some European brands is the quality of their alcoholic ganaches or fillings. I am not a big drinker, but when I get a champagne truffle, I love really tasting the champagne - or any other liquor for that matter.
I believe there is a law (per State) in the US that does not allow for a chocolate to contain above a certain quantity of alcohol. Not sure how it works, though.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Gross on March 5, 2009 at 12:34pm

Oh interesting. I've never had a really good alcoholic truffle, will have to keep an eye out for that.

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Permalink Reply by Jim on March 5, 2009 at 5:43am

Sarah,
Although there are many chocolate shops and manufacturers in Brazil, some of high quality, 99.9% are users of Cargill, ADM, Nestle or Callibut products. Bean to bar is not in existant. There are currently several small attempts to start-up but have not formally begun to operate.

The cacau producing region is in the Northeast and very warm and humid, Not very conducive for producing high end chocolate. Most known brands are produced in the South or Mid-south, i.e. Sao Paulo. In addition, the economic level of Brazil's population does not support bean-bar prices.

I wish you would have contacted us before your travels in Brazil as it would have been a pleasure to have you visit our cacau farms and the regions that produce. Next time!

Best regards
Jim Lucas

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Permalink Reply by Sarah Gross on March 5, 2009 at 6:44am

I will certainly take you up on that offer for next time, I loved Brazil and am planning to return. I didn't go to any cities Bahia like Salvador.

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Permalink Reply by Kamini on June 23, 2009 at 2:37pm

Jim,

I'm planning a trip to Brazil towards the end of August and have been trying to research cacao farms.
We'll have from the 22nd of August about 4 days, and need to be in Rio for work on the 26th.

Where are you located exactly?

Best,
Kamini
kamini@bittersweetescapes.com

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