An unknown wise man or woman said, "Some people dream of success… while others wake up and work hard at it." When it comes to the world of chocolate, Italian agronomist Claudio Corallo might just be the epitome of this conviction. In his twenties, Corallo moved to the African country of Zaire and used his knowledge of tropical agriculture on two once-abandoned plantations in the Congo to craft his own unique brand of coffee from the oft-disregarded Robusta coffee plant. When in the early ’90s political instability made Zaire too dangerous for him and his family, Corallo moved to São Tomé e Príncipe, the second smallest country in Africa, which spans two gorgeous volcanic islands. It was there on another formerly-abandoned plantation that Corallo first developed his signature chocolate from the Forastero cacao plant.
Corallo and his family are not just "involved" in the production of their distinctive brand of chocolate—they wake up each day and guide the cacao pods from growth to production. The Corallos do everything from prune the young plants to harvesting them, drawing on Corallo’s agronomist background to find just the right amount of care and growth necessary to produce cacao that’s rich in flavor and like no other.
I had the opportunity to try three of Claudio Corallo Chocolate’s offerings and I can honestly say that never before has someone else’s hard work paid off so well for the chocoholic in me! The chocolate is definitely not for the casual chocolate chomper—there’s no milk or overly sweet chocolate here. But for the rest of us, who know that enjoying chocolate can be an experience and not just something to munch on during a fleeting craving, Claudio Corallo Chocolates are sure to take us on a ride.
The company says it best: "The single-origin bars are pure. No emulsifiers. No dry milk powder. No vanilla. Tasting Claudio Corallo Chocolates means tasting cacao for what it really is." Does that mean Claudio Corallo Chocolates are devoid of flavor? On the contrary! They say you never truly stop learning. Well, Claudio Corallo can teach you that you’ve never really known how true chocolate tasted before! (That’s a great lesson to tie into our back-to-school theme this month!) The only question is: Will you ever go back?
The first Claudio Corallo Chocolate I tried, the 75% Chocolate tablet, is the perfect starting point for those new to the "true chocolate" experience. Take a small bite and chew it slowly or you’ll miss out on half the fun. Gone is the sugar rush you can expect with mainstream chocolate, but there’s something more there. Close your eyes and picture the tropical islands where the Corallos grow their goods. Does it seem like you’re starting to smell the tropical flora? There’s a taste of that floral freshness in the tablet as well as a rich nutty flavor and at the very end, a touch of a juicy cherry finish.
Next I tried the 80% Chocolate with Sugar Crystals tablet. Again, you have to eat it slowly or you’ll be missing the point of eating this distinctive brand. Slightly sweeter than the 75% Chocolate, but not much—it’s probably balanced nicely with the slight 5% increase of pure cacao. The joy of adding the sugar crystals comes more from the change in texture than any added sweetness. As you begin to chew the bar, you’ll be able feel the bursts of crystals in the chocolate. Although they’re far from overbearing, they make every bite seem to crackle in your mouth like a mini chocolate explosion!
Lastly, I tried the 75% Chocolate with Orange (Larania/Laranja/Orange) tablet. Anyone who loves chocolate-covered fruit should rejoice! The orange fruit flavor is somehow mixed both subtly and intensely in this tablet! As with other Claudio Corallo Chocolates, slow eating is the best way to go. The orange flavor starts off subtly, almost like you’re eating plain chocolate. The more you chew, the more the flavor builds until all of a sudden it’s bursting all over inside your mouth. I was reminded of watching fireworks. You see the flare rising and rising and then boom—the flare spreads out into dozens of trails of light! That’s the kind of excitement the orange flavoring added to this tablet!
Other Claudio Corallo Chocolate flavors include 100% Chocolate, 73.5% Chocolate with Cacao Nibs, 70% Chocolate with Raisins, 75% Chocolate with Crystallized Ginger, and Favas de Cacau (Roasted Cacao Beans). Don’t forget their homegrown brand of coffee, too!
Claudio Corallo Chocolates are available at select chocolate-retailers across the country (Claudio Corallo) and the company has just opened its own retail location in Seattle, Washington. For those of us who can’t find Claudio Corallo Chocolates on our local store shelves, ordering online is easy! (Currently only available to U.S. addresses.) Visit www.claudiocorallochocolate.com.
