"It is dark as the AlChemist walks along the corridor, rough stone under his feet, air warmed from well smoldering hearth fires stirring his cowl. He opens a hewn timber door, worn smooth at the threshold over years of use. He breaths deeply the comforting smells of this laboratory. Hints of wood and smoke linger in the air from the last time he roasted raw materials for his elixirs. Another smell, heady and almost intoxicating, brings a smile to his face as he remembers the smell wafting up as he was last grinding his pastes and powders. He looks about. Everything is in place. The roasting drum is cool in the hearth. The mortars and pestles are laid out neat and tidy, only a small amount of deep brown paste marring their finish. The cracking mill is sitting ready, waiting for the next batch to be crushed fresh out of the roaster. It is time to begin his magic, his devotion, his passion, his Alchemy, yet again. He prepares himself for the work ahead. The roasting, the cracking, the winnowing, the grinding, the mixing. The transformation of base materials into something more than they were. The transformation of cocoa beans to chocolate, the work of Chocolate Alchemy."
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The new Mexican Cocoa from Tabasco is in. It has a really wonder Umami character and exemplifies savory. New in is also a very mellow one from Ghana.
That’s about it for now. The new Behmor 1600 gourmet coffee and Cocoa roaster is due in about a month. I am working on […]
Filed under: Products, Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | 1 Comment »
As a reminder, we drop ship the Alchemist Stone Melanger’s direct from Santha. They have informed us that they will be closing shop for a couple months starting around the 15th of September until around December. If you have been thinking about getting one or putting off getting a Melanger, now is the time to […]
Filed under: Products, What's new & Updates | 4 Comments »
We have a new organic 2007 Trinatario from the Dominican Republic in. In many ways it is like the Conacado in that they are from the same origin, but the flavor is a bit richer and the prep is a little cleaner. Check out the full review of the “Hispanola”.
I also found a new […]
Filed under: Products, Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | 7 Comments »
Ok, not exactly the perfect Mother’s Day mold. They were meant to be, but the mold company forgot a zero (hey, what’s a zero anyway - it’s nothing), so we have a limited supply (5 actually) of these. Not normally what I would offer, cut upon seeing them, they do have a nice bit of […]
Filed under: Products, What's new & Updates, Grinding | No Comments »
The new stock of Melanger’s are in and available. Last year we had a few with 99 hour timers, but they sold out very quickly. Those are available again, along with the standard on/off switch ones. Should you get one with a timer or just an on/off switch? I get that question a lot. Personally […]
Filed under: Products, Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | No Comments »
I have been seeing this for a couple weeks now. If you have not heard, it relates to the FDA changing the Standard of Identity for a Typical Chocolate. The primary change that seems to have everyone up in arms (justifiably so in my opinion also) is the change to allow up to 25.27% of […]
Filed under: Products, Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates, Alchemist's Mussings | 1 Comment »
