For those who haven’t read it elsewhere: Casa Cacao is the chocolate workshop of El Celler de Can Roca—universally praised and awarded as one of the best in the world. The Roca brothers are said to cook there masterfully. Jordi Roca creates the stunning desserts and, several years ago, traveled to South America to visit the cocoa plantations, to explore the source of chocolate—the cacao itself. This trip resulted in a book (also called Casa Cacao, highly recommended in our opinion) and the idea to showcase—from bean to bar—what chocolate is and why it is so special, right near their restaurant in Girona, including tasting it. And yes, this includes care for and respect of the cacao’s origin. In our view, that’s exactly how it should be. It’s remarkable that taste authorities like the Roca brothers want to share their love for chocolate. Hopefully, you can taste that in this and their other chocolates.

As you would expect from a three-Michelin-star restaurant, the price is on the higher side. But in our opinion, paying a bit more for quality chocolate is justified. In fact, it’s almost a shame that the vast majority of supermarket chocolate bars are solely about being as cheap as possible, often without even indicating the origin. But that’s another story—let’s focus on the taste now:

Flavor profile: Tart, passion fruit, orange, melon, and grapefruit

We must say that the tartness is quite moderate (we wouldn’t call it “very tart”)—but the fruity acidity is definitely noticeable and, in our view, flavorful.

The makers further note: “Cacao from the most prestigious cocoa-producing region in Peru, where the so-called ‘white cacao’ predominates, harvested by small producers in the area. In the Casa Cacao workshop, we hand-select the cacao, roast it, crack and winnow the beans, add organic cane sugar, and conche it for a minimum of 48 hours.”

Ingredients: Cocoa, sugar

Allergy notice from the makers: May contain traces of nuts, milk, gluten, and soy.

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The makers say:

Chuncho cacao contains the greatest diversity of all cacao: 114 sub-species in the Upper Amazon – the origin of the species. (Solkiki)

While Mexico and Central America can be considered the cultural centre of fine cacao, and Venezuela was a world-leading producer for 400 years, the Upper Amazon can claim the origin of cacao. (Solkiki)

As a result, there is enormous diversity within Chuncho cacao. We sampled as many transparently traceable Chunchos as we could find, a process that took several years. In the end, we selected a variety grown around Cusco for its layered character, the lightness and freshness of the body, the length and breadth of the flavour profile, and not least the remarkable people at origin who protect and preserve this cacao. (Solkiki)

Ingredients: cacao (Cusco Chuncho Urubamba), cane sugar, cocoa butter.

Allergen note: nuts, gluten and soy.

Flavour notes (according to Solkiki): floral, passion fruit, peach, raspberry, almond, liquorice, pink grapefruit. (nl.solkiki.co.uk)

Weight: 56 grams.

Awards: two stars at the Great Taste Awards 2023.

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The fact that they make their own chocolate and their ethically sourced and sustainable methods was quickly recognized by the Chocolate Tree makers, who enthusiastically told us about it at the Chocoa chocolate festival, including their planned visit to the cocoa farmers in Peru. You can see some videos of that below. It’s wonderful to see how the Scottish makers, who have always worked in harmony with nature and with respect for others as a matter of course, found these cocoa farmers.

Flavor notes described by the makers: cranberry, raspberry, pepper.

Ingredients: cocoa, cane sugar, cocoa butter.

Allergy note from the makers: nuts and milk are processed in the chocolate factory. May therefore contain traces of these.

In 2025, Alistair from Chocolate Tree visited the people of Choba Choba, who grow and process the cocoa. See here: a nice short video of the visit. Here’s a longer conversation among the cocoa trees. And a bit of explanation about agroforestry.

Pairing tips from the makers: Belgian fruit beer (lambic, etc.) and grapefruit.

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The maker about this chocolate: With strict control over post-harvest (fermentation and drying) of the specific cocoa variety Vrae-99, this makes a beautiful bouquet of delicate flavors, with a fruitiness that makes your mouth water!

Described flavor: full of joy, exciting, powerful – notes of fruit, berry, nuts, honey.

Although it is certainly a fruity cocoa, we certainly want to emphasize the honey (or towards caramel – in any case a very fine sweetness) as something that we experience in this bar. For a 70% chocolate absolutely remarkably sweet in taste. And very tasty. Very nice to compare with the Zoto chocolate with the same cocoa. As far as we are concerned, both really insanely fine chocolates. We have recommended Zoto’s version to people before (and had great reactions to it) but that will certainly also apply to the Naive chocolate of this cocoa. Both very tasty in their own way!

More from the makers about the cocoa: The Vrae region has ecological zones with an altitude ranging from 400 to 3000 meters, resulting in a great geographical diversity of flora and fauna. Unfortunately, Vrae is also known for conflicts and illegal activities, such as coca cultivation. In 2017, the local farmers united to generate a legal income by producing cocoa. This initiative led to the creation of the Qori Warmi cooperative. “Qori Warmi” means “women are worth gold” in Quechua. A single cocoa variety was selected by a family from promising indigenous genetic stock and is now slowly being adopted by other members of the cooperative.

Ingredients: cocoa, sugar.

Allergy note: may contain traces of peanuts, nuts, milk.

Contents 50 grams.

The Nano Lot chocolates are certainly a bit more expensive than the normal Naive bars. But also made with extra special cocoa. And we’ll just say it here – we try to keep the price friendly, in the US this bar is 15 dollars (13 euros).

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Creamy, deliciously sweet. And completely vegan. A vegan white chocolate, you don’t often come across that, and the way Raaka makes it, with delicious fruits added, is extra special.

In addition to the strawberry, other fruits have been added in small quantities, including cranberry to raspberry, beetroot and goji berry. Beautiful for the color, but certainly, even though it concerns subtle quantities, decisive for the taste. A true berry treat.

Ingredients: cocoa butter, cane sugar, coconut milk powder, tapicoa flour, strawberry, brown rice syrup, goji berry powder, beetroot juice powder, tart cherry juice powder, pomegranate powder, cranberry powder, raspberry juice powder, apple juice powder, tomato powder, rosehip powder, sunflower lecithin.

Contents 50 grams.

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And so we come to this bar. Cookies & Cream from Raaka. A completely different story. Or at least a bit the same, because it is about beautiful flavours, and about a vegan white chocolate, and there are not that many of those in the world. And Raaka does not just make something of that of course.

Cookies & cream, the flavour you grew up with, but then vegan and gluten-free. Pieces of homemade chocolate biscuits in white chocolate with vanilla. Proof that dreams come true.

That’s what the maker says. The bar is made with coconut milk, the cookies are in very fine crumbs so don’t imagine pieces of cookies. Also made with cocoa butter from Peru (San Martin). Vegan and gluten free.

Ingredients: cocoa butter, cane sugar, coconut milk powder, tapioca flour, brown rice syrup, coconut oil, cassava flour, sunflower lecithin, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt.

Allergy note: free of soy and gluten. Contents 50 grams.

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Cocoa is, incidentally, as you will hopefully be known as a fruit pit, and therefore certainly not sugar-free (or fat-free). The chocolate contains a total of 43 grams of fat, of which 25.5 are saturated. 38 grams of carbohydrates, of which 33 grams of sugars.

But so 0.0 added sugar. Just that you know.

The Chocoladeverkopers themselves are not afraid of a little sugar in their chocolate, but we notice that for many people the lack of added sugar can be a big advantage, see also the popularity of the 100% chocolates (100% cocoa, 0% sugar) .

This is certainly a bar for people who want less sugar, and do so because they think this is better for their health.

In addition, it is also the case that the maker Domantas Uzpalis processed this cocoa in a different way, so that more of the antioxidants would be retained. We will not show the exact explanation here, you can read it yourself in the packaging. What at least stands for the maker is that he has created a chocolate with (so he claims) 4x more antioxidants than in standard dark chocolate, a process in which the rich amounts of endorphins, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins that are all naturally in cocoa prevent, be preserved.

“Dedicated to those who want to control their own biological body processes”

We (chocolate sellers) mainly judge by taste, and we prefer to choose such a beautiful, specially fermented bar that brings out beautiful taste notes, instead of being very busy with our health when we eat chocolate. We also like the taste of this bar … well not to our preference, but that remains subjective. Are you very busy with healthy chocolate, healthy fabrics, and you have an aversion to sugar, then this bar is certainly suitable to try. The health claims are there, the bar has been developed with unspecified scientists, and the cocoa comes

Ingredients: Molecules cocoa, erythritol, cocoa butter.

The cocoa comes from Chuncho, Peru.

Allergy note of the maker: may contain traces of milk, barley and nuts.

Nutritional value:

kCal: 599

Fat: 43 grams

Of which saturated 25.5 grams

carbohydrates: 38 grams

of which sugar: 33 grams

proteins 9.5 grams

salt: 17 mg.

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Taste notes described by the makers: figs, dates and roses.

Ingredients: cocoa, cane sugar, cocoa butter.

Contents 50 grams. Allergy note: May contain traces of milk and nuts.

Awards: not the least. Won the Golden Bean in 2020. That is the highest award from the Academy of Chocolate. There are bronze, silver and gold medals – that’s quite something. But then there is the Golden Bean – an award they give to the very best. What do they think then, because it is only the opinion of a jury. But still, not nothing!

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In this case the milk chocolate version with pieces of hazelnuts. Made with cocoa from Peru and hazelnuts. For a delicious creamy nutty creation!

The designs of Chocolate Tree’s chocolate bars are in the same style – reminiscent of MC Escher – but when executed on an Easter egg… you really get a work of art.

Like all chocolates from Chocolate Tree, this milk chocolate with hazelnut Easter egg is made from cocoa bean to bar in its own chocolate workshop in Knowes Farm, Scotland. The cocoa used is honest, slave-free and direct trade cocoa from Peru. Good for people and nature, as it should be – but unfortunately not always normal – certainly not in Easter eggs.

The (beautiful!) packaging contains a (beautiful!) chocolate egg (24x16cm) but also a nice extra: a nice box filled with chocolate bunnies made of milk chocolate with salted caramel!

Ingredients:

Chocolate egg: cocoa mass, milk powder, cane sugar, cocoa butter, hazelnuts (10%).

Chocolate bunnies: cocoa mass, milk powder, sugar, cocoa butter, cream, butter, golden syrup, sea salt.

Contains at least 45% cocoa.

Contents 300 grams. Allergy note: contains milk. May contain traces of all types of nuts.

Please note we can only send this product within the Netherlands, and on request Belgium/Germany.

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They also make two special (very special) 100% pure chocolates, of course also with cocoa from the same origin.

The Prèmiere Fois chocolate, and this chocolate – made from cocoa from Cusco Peru.

Very pleasant, just a little more cocoa butter than the other 100% it seems, slightly softer in structure and taste. This brings out the nuttiness, but also slightly warming spicy flavor notes. A certain freshness, certainly, with a fruitiness that emerges nicely, even some sweet taste notes. Very interesting chocolate, and 100% miraculous.

This chocolate previously won an Academy of Chocolate Award, to be more precise, the highest (gold) award. We don’t know which chocolates were participating that year, but it is certainly not surprising that this bar scores high.

Ingredients: cocoa, cocoa butter.

Allergy note from the makers: may contain traces of milk and nuts.

Contents 50 grams

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