Chocolatier: Chin-Chin
Flavor: Dominican Chocolate with Macadamia Nuts
What I Paid: $9.99
If you've never heard of Chin-Chin, that is because they are a relatively small chocolatier located in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic. I personally didn't even know they existed until I found this bar languishing in the back of a hotel gift shop during a recent trip. It lured me in with its colorful packaging, but what really sold me was the fact it was a single source bar. I've had good experiences with single source Dominican chocolate in the past, so I definitely didn't want to past this one up!
This bar is made with a 62% cocoa and contains a small smattering of roasted macadamia nuts. The chocolate in this bar is bold and complex. It's bitter, earthy, and has this nice underling zing to it that is kinda hard to describe. The best comparison I can think of is that zesty acidity that you get from a nice champagne. I'm glad this bar isn't any higher than 62% cocoa. Dominican cocoa is really intense and this bar benefits from all that additional underlying sweetness. The small bits of macadamia nut in this bar are toasty and buttery and delightful. They are a pretty sparce though - I wish there were just a few more to complement all that nice chocolate.
That said, I loved this bar! I would definitely get another, but to be honest, it's highly unlikely that I'll ever see it again. Really wish I had gotten a second one when I had the chance. T_T