Arcana

Arcana is a high-purity offering from SOMA chocolatemaker, representing the pinnacle of their craft as a bean-to-bar producer. This 65 gram bar is a curated blend that brings together distinct harvests from South America and East Africa. By focusing on a 100 percent cacao content, the maker invites enthusiasts to experience the secrets of the beans themselves, stripped of all additives and sweeteners.

The sensory experience is remarkably complex for a bar consisting solely of cocoa beans. The profile transitions through layers of creamy cashews and the deep, aromatic quality of licorice. This richness is punctuated by the bright, citrusy lift of pink grapefruit and a delicate note of fresh grass. The texture remains clean and velvety, as the recipe excludes lecithin, vanillin, and vegetable fats, relying instead on the natural fat content inherent in the premium cacao blend.

Sourcing for this bar is highly specific, utilizing cacao from the Esmeraldas and Guayas regions of Ecuador, including the Costa Esmeraldas and Hacienda Victoria estates. These are blended with beans from Akesson's Farm in the Sambirano Valley of Madagascar. This dedication to origin and process has been recognized with an Academy of Chocolate Gold award in 2018 and an International Chocolate Awards World Silver in 2016. Furthermore, the maker maintains rigorous safety standards, with laboratory results confirming compliance with international cadmium limits.