Amedei Porcelana chocolate bar

To be fair to Amedei, I have had this chocolate bar for a little while and while it was stored in controlled conditions, I think it has suffered slightly.

This chocolate is flat and lifeless.  After so many quality chocolate bars which have been conched to perfection, with some of the conching happening during the refinement, this bar seems to have been overconched, losing the delicious flavour that the bean has.  I have been spiled slightly by Soma but I do believe that the porcelana bean has more potential than this.

The flavour is typically smooth with none of the rough edges some beans can have and this is deliciously evident.  Where it is falling down is the artificial flavour coming through, possibly from the vanilla or a preservative.

I cannot say I’m happy enough with this bar to recommend it. I have to admit that I’ve been consistently disappointed with Amedei.  It has always been hailed as a great wonderful chocolate and I just have found it wanting next to other chocolates.  The flavour of the beans is hidden and flat, the vanilla can be overpowering and the taste lacks any punch.

Amedei will continue to be popular and it has won gold at the prestigious Academy of Chocolate awards for its Porcelana bar but I’m left cold.  I’ll stick with Soma and just buy extra when I go home to Toronto.