Jamaica Nibs
by Oakland
Impact
From a stand of cacáo trees possibly cultivated in a Balm-Yard -- Jamaican place of healing rites & sorcery associated with both Black and White magic. Or in the case of these Nibs, ‘Brown magic’... invoking luck & love.
Take one handful, ruminate, & ingest.
Ceremony over.
Take one handful, ruminate, & ingest.
Ceremony over.
Appearance 5 / 5
| Color: | golden to dark brown |
| Surface: | solid-cut chunks |
| Temper: | tiny glint |
| Snap: | n/a |
Aroma 9.6 / 10
spot on: banana-cocoa, woods chips & nuts -> the lone off note a little creosote (happily covered though by peach palm)
Mouthfeel 13.8 / 15
| Texture: | excellent padding / very forgiving tooth |
| Melt: | consistent gruel |
Flavor 47.4 / 50
peach palm leads it out, in & around cocoa -> soiled components -> woods ear mushroom + good mineralization (including sodium & umami + mild iron bitter) -> small filet-cut garnished in French thyme -> goes nuts (mainly brazil) over some limestone for a phytolith particle -> clears out banana peel (moderate stringency) then back to where it all began (palm leaf-on-cocoa) -> banana fruit in the after-math
Quality 19.3 / 20
Re-confirms what Oakland Chocolate Company’s unroasted Bean promised: mild cocoa seasoned with tolerant -- even tender -- over & under tones, all delivered with a Texture to match.
Assiduously winnowed; nary a speck of husk shells to be detected. And the roast stays true to the cacáo: modest (perhaps even a degree or two on the cool side; more heat would’ve drawn out greater cocoa definition but also less savored elements as well as those dappled high notes).
Exceptional.
ING: cocoa nibs
Reviewed July 2011
Assiduously winnowed; nary a speck of husk shells to be detected. And the roast stays true to the cacáo: modest (perhaps even a degree or two on the cool side; more heat would’ve drawn out greater cocoa definition but also less savored elements as well as those dappled high notes).
Exceptional.
ING: cocoa nibs
Reviewed July 2011