Venchi Cuor di Caco 75% Fondent/Dark

About: Venchi Chocolate is an Italian manufacturer, proudly making chocolate since 1878 - evidently worn as a sign of accomplishment- which it is. You can't be super-sucky and survive over 100-some years. Starting in Turin, Mr. Venchi started as a chocolatier's apprentice at age 16, went on to found his own shop, and the rest is history (except that I hadn't heard of Venchi chocolate until I stumbled on it accidentally somewhere in Barcelona). The company manufactures a broad array of dark chocolates, as well as, you know, stuff you wouldn't eat. They also make cooking chocolate, chocolate cigars, spreads, powders, and (duh, Italy) Chocolate Pasta. Given the broad array of products, it's a manufacturer worth looking at.


Flavor: This is a full flavored chocolate with excellent taste. Its fruity notes are subtle, but it's earthy, rich, nicely profiled and roasted just the right amount (for my taste). As a 75% bar, it packs a punch - that is, more than you'd expect. It could pass for a higher percentage bar, and I suspect it has more cacao than cocoa butter, compared to other 70-ish percent bars.

Texture: The texture has strengths and weaknesses. It unfortunately starts slightly chalky, but it has a creamy finish. The experience is "wait.. what? chalky... hmm.. " followed by 'oh.. not so bad.. pretty creamy now.. and here comes the flavor" and then a slightly chalky finish again. 


My rating: Tough to rate. The flavor is excellent. The initially chalky texture is a drawback. At the end, maybe an 8.5  on the scale of 1-10, where 10 means 'mind shockingly good' and 1 means 'would not bother'. Would definitely try to taste every dark bar they have - interesting chocolate that's different than your run-of-the-mill bar.




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