Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs

Without a doubt, there is nothing more delicious in the entire world than chocolate.  It is rich and homey and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.  It is a perfect medium for art and experimentation.  It goes well with most any flavor.  I am a proud, self-admitted chocoholic.  In response to my chocolate passion and chocolate-laced career choice, my parents signed all of us up for a chocolate tour of Taza chocolate.  The tour was as wonderful as all the chocolate smelled.  One of Taza's main goals is to provide chocolates that are minimally processed chocolates in which the beans have been traditionally stone ground.  Everything was delicious and naturally textured.

They showed us the origin of the cocoa beans, a cacao pod (one of which I have sitting in my room, a souvenir from the tour).  They also explained how the coco beans are broken up into cacao nibs, which they allowed us to taste.  It was mildly like having my first cup of black coffee after being used to iced coffee with cream and sugar.  I've always been a fan of darker chocolates but I was not prepared for the bitterness, the richness, the deliciousness of pure cacao.

As epiphanating as the consumption was, in itself the pure cacao nib was TOO bitter.  Much like black coffee, you almost have to be in the right mood for it.  Luckily, Taza also makes chocolate covered cacao nibs.  They are the perfect mix of crunchy, sweet, bitter, and chocolate.  They can brighten any mood and initiate any friendship.  I have a half empty can in my room and between my roommates it has become the equivalent of placing a box of tissues on their bed whenever anyone is in a bad mood.  They are small and poppable and addictive.  They taste really awesome mixed into vanilla ice cream, which perfectly, sweetly, and simply complements the complex, dark flavors of the nibs.  They're truly amazing, especially for those who like dark, bitter chocolate or those who just want to experience a purer flavor of chocolate than the overly processed "European" chocolate that most of us are used to.  I strongly encourage everyone to pick up at least one of the little packets Taza sells though it's easy to eat a whole can.  Trust me, I know.

my attempt at green screening