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"It is dark as the AlChemist walks along the corridor, rough stone under his feet, air warmed from well smoldering hearth fires stirring his cowl. He opens a hewn timber door, worn smooth at the threshold over years of use. He breaths deeply the comforting smells of this laboratory. Hints of wood and smoke linger in the air from the last time he roasted raw materials for his elixirs. Another smell, heady and almost intoxicating, brings a smile to his face as he remembers the smell wafting up as he was last grinding his pastes and powders. He looks about. Everything is in place. The roasting drum is cool in the hearth. The mortars and pestles are laid out neat and tidy, only a small amount of deep brown paste marring their finish. The cracking mill is sitting ready, waiting for the next batch to be crushed fresh out of the roaster. It is time to begin his magic, his devotion, his passion, his Alchemy, yet again. He prepares himself for the work ahead. The roasting, the cracking, the winnowing, the grinding, the mixing. The transformation of base materials into something more than they were. The transformation of cocoa beans to chocolate, the work of Chocolate Alchemy."
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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 […]
Filed under: Products, Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates | No Comments »
There has recently been a lot of buzz about various brewing chocolates. Choffy and Crio Bru are the two big ones that come to mind. I’ve received more inquires than I can count about what makes them so special, if my roasted cocoa beans will work and how one can make their own hot chocolate […]
Filed under: Products, Cocoa Beans, What's new & Updates, Alchemist's Musings | 12 Comments »
A few more bags of Venezuelan Chuao have made it in. Right now I have a single ’spare’ bag available for wholesale. Multiple bags (50 kg) are available. Please contact me directly if you would like pricing and more information.
Also, Soy Milk Powder is back and makes a GREAT dairy free “milk” chocolate. Combine it […]
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A little while ago I acquired an antique roaster. It’s in the process of being refinished, but in the meantime is completely functional. As a result, all cocoa beans are now available as Roasted. The odd 35 lb option is because that is the capacity of the roaster. Right now I don’t have an option […]
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I am putting together part of a container of Ocumare. If you have a need of wholesale quantities, anywhere from one bag to…as much as you want, email me. I will be offering a 10% discount for pre-orders for anything over a bag.In addition, there is the option of adding in some other Venezuelan beans […]
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**Note** For the last week, the wrong review has been up for Nazario Risek - An older Carenero Superior review got put in and I discovered it morning. So, if you looked before, please have another look. It is not too unlike Carenero in many ways, but it is not the same bean…..wondering that no […]
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