Raaka – Dark Apple Crumble

Description

Okay, the chocolate is actually called “apple crisp,” but that’s American, and here in the Netherlands we mainly know it as apple crumble, or apple crumble/apple crumble pie.

In any case, Raaka makes a beautiful interpretation of it here in dark chocolate (with cocoa from Uganda’s Semuliki Forest).

With not only apple (of course), but also pieces of oats, a pinch of olive oil, maple syrup—and fine accompanying spices like cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg.

In other words, a bit like an apple crumble, but in the shape of a beautiful chocolate bar.

And as with everything from Raaka, it’s made with unroasted cocoa. We won’t discuss which beneficial substances remain (antioxidants), as that’s a complex matter, and with low-temperature roasting (as with most craft chocolate), that’s already the case. Besides, we don’t want to reduce the complexity of food to “this is good and this is bad” or “you have to take this for that positive effect.” But for the taste, it does mean, at least in the case of Raaka, that a beautiful, clear, and fruity cocoa flavor consistently shines through. It’s actually quite the opposite of the often darkly roasted supermarket bars made from Ivory Coast cocoa that many people associate with the standard chocolate flavor. Of course, there can always be differences there, but it’s undeniable that for many people, the dark, roasted flavor notes are characteristic of chocolate, part of its “chocolate taste.” That this doesn’t have to be the case is just as well, of course. That’s why it’s so great that there’s more, and that there are makers like Raaka who (because they never roast the cocoa, which is quite unique in craft chocolate) put their own spin on it, and are actually a little bit rebellious in that way—because oh, how many voices have already associated ‘raw’ chocolate with lower quality, or come up with all sorts of myths about why you absolutely must roast cocoa. That’s also why Raaka calls their chocolate unroasted (previously virgin, and therefore raw)—to steer clear of that association. Incidentally, we absolutely love roasted cocoa in our chocolates too; it’s partly the core of the chocolate maker’s work to subtly and appropriately roast the cocoa’s flavor notes here and bring them forward there—a beautiful craft. But Raaka shows us (along with a few Paccari bars, by the way) that we also offer unroasted cocoa with great pleasure and pride, and absolutely enjoy it. And Raaka is always inventive with their new flavors. Whether it’s cocoa steamed over red wine (a bar they unfortunately no longer make, as the process was too labor-intensive—but we remember this Pinot Noir chocolate fondly), aged in bourbon barrels, or simply with truly striking flavor additions, like the apple crumble here.

Ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, oats, apple, olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt.

Contents: 50 grams.