To’ak – Signature Rain Harvest 2022 73%

To’ak is renowned as the maker of some of the most expensive chocolate in the world. What stands out, however, is that they do not rely on gimmicks like gold flakes or unnecessary embellishments. That said, with their most exclusive editions you will indeed receive a beautifully crafted wooden box made from rare wood, along with tweezers and other luxurious details.

For most of us, that level of presentation is not necessary—and we are glad that To’ak now offers that same chocolate in their “Signature” series. Still premium-priced and beautifully packaged, but—relatively speaking—more accessible. After all, this is exceptional Nacional cacao from their own estate, produced tree-to-bar.

Of course, there are other outstanding makers in our assortment. But to us, To’ak represents something important: they challenge the question, what is a fair price for chocolate? The answer becomes clear when you ask it—the average chocolate is simply too cheap. Large chocolate companies generate billions in profit, often built on decades of insufficient respect for both people and nature. The low price of mass-market chocolate is rarely about cacao itself—bulk cacao of mediocre quality is heavily roasted and masked with large amounts of sugar and additives.

The chocolates we offer take a different approach. They focus on cacao itself—on origin, diversity, and true flavor expression. They pay fair prices for high-quality cacao and take environmental responsibility seriously. And yes, that comes at a cost. We do everything we can to keep prices reasonable on our end—we are not aiming to get rich from this—but we firmly believe that quality deserves a fair price, and that cacao farmers deserve proper compensation.

Cacao itself is highly diverse, with many varieties, each with its own flavor profile. Where the industrial model favors monoculture—with significant ecological consequences—we believe it is crucial to preserve natural diversity. Cacao should grow within a broader ecosystem, among other trees, rather than in stripped-down plantations.

Now, about this chocolate:

One of the aspects we particularly appreciate about To’ak is their focus on specific harvest years. This bar features the 2022 harvest. There are two harvests per year—this is the “rain harvest.” In our experience, the previous year’s harvest was noticeably less refined (and we chose not to offer it). The 2022 harvest, as To’ak also notes, shows excellent balance. It’s fascinating to see how climate influences flavor, and even more so to taste different harvests side by side—something you can do with their tasting sets of mini bars, occasionally available.

This chocolate is medium light roasted, conched for 5 hours, made from Nacional cacao from Piedra de Plata, and fermented for 4 days.

Tasting notes (by the maker):
Nose: Honey, berries, mandarin
Palate: Floral honey, beeswax, guava, mandarin, pineapple, berries
Finish: Beeswax, cream, tropical fruits

Ingredients: 73.5% cacao (heirloom cacao trees), 26.5% cane sugar

Allergen note (by the maker): may contain traces of milk, soy, and nuts
Weight: 50 grams

Pairing suggestions:
Wine: PX Sherry
Rum: Zacapa 23 rum
Whisky: Rye whisky
Cheese: mild brie, triple-cream cheeses, alpine-style cheeses