Cacao Zoku Porcelana 73% Criollo Puro

Cacao Zoku is a bean to bar chocolate maker based in Tokyo. It is dedicated to showcasing the finest cacao from Venezuela. The word Zoku in Japanese means "tribe," "clan," or "family," representing a sense of belonging and continuity. This reflects the brand’s philosophy: chocolate should offer more than just a fleeting pleasure, it should create a lasting, almost electrifying experience.

Unlike many chocolate makers who source beans from multiple origins, Cacao Zoku focuses exclusively on Venezuelan cacao. Through meticulous craftsmanship, they highlight the diverse flavors of different regions. Their goal is to help chocolate lovers explore and appreciate the depth of Venezuelan cacao while discovering the variety that best suits their palate.

Cacao Zoku Porcelana 73% Criollo Puro

Ingredients: cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter

Batch number: 2025/10

The aromas reflect the flavor profile with distinct fruity notes. Intense and persistent.

Tasting notes

• Almond: Sweet and nutty, with a delicate marzipan-like accent and a smooth, buttery undertone.

• Toasted Pistachio: Distinctly earthy and nutty.

• Ceylon Cinnamon: Warm and aromatic, characterized by a mild, sweet spiciness with subtle floral and citrus undertones.

• Honey: Thick and syrupy, offering a complex floral sweetness with delicate, lingering acacia fragrant floral taste.

• Bay Leaf (Cooked): Earthy and herbal.

• Cashew: Buttery, slightly sweet, with a nutty flavor.

• Parma Violets Candies: sugary with delicate violet flower nuances.

• Bread Crust: Toasty and slightly malty, with roasted cereal notes.

• Full-Fat Cream: Rich and velvety, with a pronounced dairy sweetness and a smooth, fatty mouthfeel that enhances roundness.

• Candied Citrus Zest: Bright and complex, blending citrusy vibrance with a well-balanced interplay of sugary sweetness and mild bitterness, leaving a lingering, tangy freshness.

• Lychee: Sweet and subtly tart, with floral undertones.

• Berry Jam with Seeds (Unsweetened): delicate fruitiness with mild acidity.

• Peony Water: Floral and delicate, with hints of ripe peaches and wild strawberries, offering a subtly refreshing, airy sweetness.

Appearance (4/4): Homogeneous, glossy, and uniform.

Snap (1/1): Clean and sharp.

Tactile Attributes

• Fineness (5/5): No perceivable particles.

• Texture (8/8): Creamy and enveloping.

• Astringency (5/5): Absent.

• Roundness (6/7): Filling and engaging.

• Melting Point (2/3): Slow.

Flavor Profile and Aftertaste

• Primary Cacao Flavor (4/10): Fleeting.

• Secondary Pleasant Flavors (12/12): Intense, refined, and multifaceted.

• Secondary Unpleasant Flavors: None detected.

• Overall Aromatic Quality (5/5): pleasant and intense aromas and flavors.

• Aftertaste (3/5): Lingers for 6 minutes.

Taste

• Sweetness (5/6): Low, correct, and balanced.

• Bitterness (5/6): Barely perceptible.

• Acidity (4/6): Present, fruity, and aromatic.

• Harmony and Gustatory Pleasure (10/10): Excellent and harmonious.

• Final Sensation (5/5): Outstanding.

Total Score: 84/100

This score places the Cacao Zoku Porcelana 73% bar in the "Very Good" category, reflecting its exceptional craftsmanship, balance, and complex flavor profile.

Personal Reflection

This was my first time trying Cacao Zoku, and I must say, I was truly pleasantly surprised. I tasted three of their Venezuelan bars, including this amazing Porcelana, and right from the moment I opened the package, the intensity of the aromas was striking.

It's often said that chocolate doesn’t release strong aromas when unwrapped. Usually, the olfactory notes are quite "muted," and the real complexity is only revealed upon tasting. However, this bar defies that expectation entirely. The sheer strength of the fruity aromas is so pronounced that if you open it in a closed room, you might need to step out for a moment.

So much so that I hesitated before tasting it, expecting an extremely acidic, sharp-tasting experience.

However, tasting it surprised me even more. The chocolate bar is visually stunning with its beautiful milk-like chocolate color indicating a high percentage of white cacao beans, making the "pure Criollo" claim fitting, and the flavor profile is remarkable.

This Porcelana 73% reveals a complexity, finesse, and elegance that I find marvelous. The only aspect where I felt it fell slightly short was in the aftertaste, which was a bit shorter than expected. But aside from that, I was genuinely blown away by it.

Thank you, Alfredo, for sharing with me your selection.