Impact
Ghanaian cacáo usually gets the better of Ivory Coast’s - much better. Here Theo flips the script & gives this, firing too bright & bitter on all cylinders.
Appearance 4.6 / 5
| Color: | virtually identical to its Ivory Coast brother, just a pinch deeper toward ground nutmug |
| Surface: | A-1 |
| Temper: | mega-wattage |
| Snap: | power break |
Aroma 8.1 / 10
blueberry –> mahogany –> white flower/peach blossom –> dairy cream/toast; along the edge a burnt BMX rubber/plastic
Mouthfeel 12.8 / 15
| Texture: | thicket of fudge tumescence |
| Melt: | evenly weakens |
Flavor 36.3 / 50
charred combat, bitter fight at beginning vs. a refrigerated berry front –> flash papaya –> straightens up grapefruit wash ala Madagascar without the smoothness -> taro root -> finishes on held note of blackstrap ash-dom come
Quality 13.7 / 20
Misses the mark. Endurable & aggressive; really betrays aromatics. Acidity drawn from these West African beans raises suspicions of the fermentation cycle & drying techniques rather than conching which, according to the texture, is more than sufficient. Add a roast too hot & the damage is complete.