Hi folks.  This is not how I wanted to head out of town and to the Chocolate Fest, but….

I am having computer issues, and my main system is going into the shop while I am away.  Unforunately that leaves me unable to fulfill a handful of orders or tell people directly that their orders are delayed.  My apologies.  That said, orders from January 17 (order number 7362 and higher) on won’t be going out until I return on Monday, or possibly Tuesday.

And likewise I will not be answering e-mail until I am back.

On a better note, there will  be new Behmor 1600’s available next week (I’ve made them available now) and a brand new origin cocoa - from Guatemala. 

This particular cocoa is very round and big with a nice mild flavor.  They come from a coop in Cahabn, Guatemala.
Cahabn lies in the Alta Verapaz mountain chain in the state of Coban.  The people in the coop that grow these beans are from the indigenous tribe Kekchi Maya who are used to consuming cocoa in drink form as done in their culture for thousands of years.  They were in the past paid only very little for their cocoa by local brokers but now a contract has been drawn up which allows them to receive 4 times the price more.  All this extra money goes direct to the coop.  Much of the money pays for school for the children of the coop’s members.  The extra income from their cocoa also will allow these people to plant more cocoa trees in some of the deforested lands in their area.

Until the other side.

Filed under: Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | No Comments »

I will be attending Chocolate Fest in Portland on January 20-21.  Drop me a line if you will be there - we can see about meeting up and talking and tasting real chocolate.

BTW - no booth - I’m ‘just’ attending.  (hint, look for the chocolate colored kilt)

Filed under: What's new & Updates, Alchemist's Musings | No Comments »

That really says it right there.  Ocumare and Carenero Superior from Venezuela are in.  They look, smell and taste fantastic. And the exciting part for me is that it’s is the first (partial) container that I’ve brought in myself.  Enjoy !

And they are available Wholesale also if that is your need.  Roasted versions will be available this weekend.

Filed under: Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | No Comments »

Sadly, the Venezuelan Porcelano is gone, and although not a replacement for it (hah, I make myself laugh there), two new lots of a brand new origin are in.

Colombian Santander.  This is a perfect example why one should not judge a book (or bean) by it’s cover (or appearance).  It’s not pretty, but neither is Carenero Superior, but both have a complexity that are hard to beat. Have a look, try both lots and compare for yourself.

And speaking of Carenero Superior, it and Ocumare are due in from Venezuela (yeah, our first partial container) and should be available around the turn of the year.  There will be full bags of each available, so if you have an interest in quantity, contact me as I’m sure these are going to go fast.

Filed under: Products, Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | No Comments »

Let me guess - you just can’t think of anything to get for the person who has everything.  Guess again.  I have just a little of this very rare cocoa bean left, and I’m putting up in the holiday spirit.  Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s a one of a lifetime chance and experience.
Venezuelan Porcelano

Hot browned butter during roasting.

Toasted cedar.

Dried Porcini.

‘Real’ truffles.

This is not your mother’s chocolate, nor in all likelihood, like any chocolate you have tasted before if you can’t tell by that description above. It’s about as pure a strain of Criollo as you are going to find. It’s Porcelano. When you crack it, you will see how light it is. A delicate light brown. Paper thin husk that nearly just flakes off. Raw, it is woody and a little chocolaty. Roast it up and browned butter aroma just pours off. Taste the nibs and it’s burnt (like wood burning) cedar and dustiness. There isn’t any bitterness or astringency. But also, it is very light (the official term would be mild) in chocolate flavor, but by no means light in other flavors……read more

And if that does not do it for you, don’t forget you can always go for Gift Certificates.  They never expire.

Filed under: Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | 1 Comment »

With the start of the holiday season orders have approximately doubled and shipping will most likely take an extra day or so from the time of your order.  Please account for this in ordering if you need something by a certain date.  For actual shipping times use this chart as an APPROXIMATE gauge.

This is valid for both UPS and USPS, but be aware that USPS does NOT guarantee these times and may take longer.

As a rough rule of thumb, this means if you need something shipped to Florida (as a near worst case example), and it needs to arrive by Christmas, you should order 7 working days (5 for transit, 2 to ship) before the 23 rd (the last delivery day) or December 14 th.  And really, December 12th would be better.  Anything past that and you will need to look at faster shipping by UPS (not USPS).

As always, I will do my best to accommodate rush orders, but I suspect to see a LOT of them, and I simply will not be able to fill them all - I am only one person doing all of this.  So, meant in the best possible way, with tongue placed slightly in cheek (but still true)

“Bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part”   - Please plan your orders and shipping accordingly.  Thanks.

In addition, I and my daughter will be taking a much needed break after the 25th and I will be scarce for the week between then and New Years, probably only shipping once or twice that week, most likely Wednesday and Friday (or maybe just Friday).
And here is wishing you a lovely holiday season.
Alchemist John

Filed under: What's new & Updates | No Comments »