Review - Chuao Chocolatier Firecracker and Spicy Maya Chocolate Bars
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My quest for "spicy and sweet" (see Frey Supreme Hot Chilli Pepper Dark Chocolate and Cow Girl Spicy Chocolates for recently reviewed examples) continues and has made a pit stop with the unique Chuao Chocolatier Firecracker Chocolate Bar and the Spicy Maya Chocolate Bar.
Chuao Chocolatier Firecracker Chocolate Bar
I'll begin with what looks like, judging by what's printed on the wrapper, the most interesting of the two. The Firecracker bar is - like the Spicy Maya Chocolate Bar - is a dark chocolate offering that is 60% cacao, so that automatically earns it a few positive points in my book. The front of the packaging mentions "dark chocolate bar - chipotle, salt and popping candy". Very fascinating combination of ingredients indeed. The official ingredients lists is "Dark chocolate (60% cacao, sugar, cacao butter, soy lecithin [as an emulsifier], natural vanilla), popping candy (sugar, corn glucose, lactose, carbon dioxide), chipotle, pasilla chile, salt. Non GMO Ingredients. Contains: Milk, Soy.", but it's the three on the front that really piqued my interest.
Upon opening the wrapper there was the regular squared-off portions that you can break off the larger bar. I snapped off a whole row (that's how I roll), and chomped into the candy. It was really great-tasting, rich dark chocolate with a bit of a tiny crunch a la Nestle crunch. When I stopped chewing, I felt the effect of the popping candy in the back of my mouth. Yes, it is like that old crackling candy Pop Rocks you might have eaten as a kid. It is a brilliant move to include this in a spicy chocolate to produce a "firecracker"-like effect.
However, there's a big "but" here...this chocolate is barely hot at all. The tiny amount of heat is extremely slow to build up, and is only noticeable after more than 30 seconds after consuming your first bite. I would have loved to have sensed some real fire in this bar, so that it wins not only with the Pop Rocks feeling, but with taste as well.
And despite there being chipotle chiles amongst the ingredients, I didn't detect any of the pepper's trademark smokiness whatsoever in the chocolate - only a bit of it's heat. It would have been even more interesting if it would have had this smokey flavor add to make this a truly complex and remarkable candy.
Chuao Chocolatier Spicy Maya Chocolate Bar
Ingredients: Dark chocolate (60% cacao, sugar, cacao butter, soy lecithin [as an emulsifier], natural vanilla), ground cinnamon, pasilla chile, cayenne pepper. Contains: Soy.
The next chocolate, with its mention of it being "infused with pasilla chile and cayenne pepper" on the front of the wrapper, made me expect a spicier candy. Pasillas are pretty mild, but cayennes (depending on the amount used in recipes) can pack quite a fiery kick.
The bar had no portioning in little squares. There were only impressions of cacoo beans and the Chuao Chocolatiers logo.
So a snapped off an irregular shaped piece and got ready for something with a more peppery blast of heat than what the Firecracker had. The flavor was disappointingly only dark chocolate and cinnamon. No, not "hot cinnamon candy" hot, just a regular ground cinnamon taste. And very minimal heat, similar to the Firecracker bar, and possibly even less. This combo may appeal to some, but not to me. I'd pass on this if this were offered again to me.
Labels: I like the packaging for both of these bars, with their dull, smooth, foil-looking plastic wrappers with bright colors and sharp fonts and graphics.
Overall, I would recommend the Chuao's Firecracker bar but probably not the Spicy Maya. Both have nice dark chocolate flavors but I felt the Firecracker had more potential. It's a shame, though, that each of these these were aimed at people with hardly any heat tolerances at all. If you want an example of a fantastic chocolate that doesn't skimp on heat, check out Cow Girl Spicy Chocolates.
Chuao Chocolatiers' bars are available for purchase online at http://www.chuaochocolatier.com for $6.00 per bar, but you can find them at an assortment of supermarkets and department stores (such as Wal-Mart) for around $4.00.
Related Articles:
Spicy Food Reviews - Hot Sauce Reviews, Hot Snacks, Hot Wings, Seasonings, BBQ Sauces, Condiments, and More
Comments
2009-07-20 09:47:07
Thanks so much for reviewing our bars. I am sorry that they didn't have enough kick for your taste buds. Originally, the Firecracker was VERY spicy, but the majority of our fans couldn't handle the heat. It probably would have been perfect for you! The method to our madness is more about having flavorful spices that build, but are never over the top, so that you still can enjoy the premium chocolate. It's ALWAYS about the chocolate for us ;)
We wish you luck in your hot chocolate quest and, if you are ever in the San Diego area, come on by & say hi!
Sweet Regards,
The Oompa Loompa
2009-07-21 11:06:28
It's completely understandable. It's about going after a particular market. I'll review and write about things with a chilehead slant, but your target audience may be those who find Tabasco sauce hot. If that's the case, then more power to you.
Hope you have continued success, and if I'm in San Diego I will drop on by!
2009-07-23 07:40:44
2009-09-16 06:46:02
2009-11-04 09:32:45
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