Semuliki Forest 90%

Foundry is a bean-to-bar maker based in New Zealand, dedicated to showcasing the unique character of individual cacao origins. By focusing on a minimalist approach, they strip away the distractions to highlight the innate qualities of the beans. This particular bar features a blend of Forastero and Trinitario cacao sourced from the Semuliki Forest, reflecting the maker's commitment to precision and craft.

At a 90% cacao concentration, this bar is an exercise in restraint and technical skill. The beans undergo a light roast to preserve their delicate nuance, followed by careful processing in a melanger to achieve a refined texture. The result is a surprisingly expressive dark chocolate that defies the bitterness often associated with high percentages, instead offering complex flavor notes of toffee, ripe banana, and a hint of rum.

The excellence of this bar starts at the origin, where the beans are fermented in nested wooden boxes for six to seven days and sun-dried on raised beds to ensure peak quality. Containing only cacao beans and organic cane sugar, the composition is intentionally simple. This dedication to quality has been recognized globally, including a Bronze award at the 2023 Academy of Chocolate.