I love a floral flavor in chocolates. Guittard Chucuri was the bar that started the fine chocolate obsession for me. Last winter I had a Republica del Cacao bar which also had an amazing floral flavor.
The problem is subpar texture with both of these bars. I do not know if it is me growing more particular or if quality has declined, but I have been quite disappointed by the last few Guittard bars I have tried texture wise.

Other manufactures produce acceptable texture in Arriba, Nacional, whatever you want to call it, but these chocolates lack that intense sexy floral flavor.

Until Amano, I felt similarly about Madagascar. Guittard had the most interesting flavor, but texture was poor. The Amano Madagascar left nothing wanting and surpassed the Guittard not only in texture but also in flavor intensity and complexity.

I noticed the Pacari bars at Chocosphere a while back. http://www.pacarichocolate.com/ Has anyone tried these? I am dyeing for a perfect floral chocolate, but something about the Pacari dissuaded me from ordering. Perhaps it was the organic and fair trade stuff. I just checked out their webpage and in addition to three regional Ecuador bars they also carry two “Raw Chocolate” bars. Perhaps these are what Dazeal’s customers had experienced.

I was not thinking of Waialua Estate when I posted. At 70% the texture is a bit different than Guittard’s other single origin bars.

In an earlier thread I wrote: “
I really enjoy this chocolate. The flavors are pleasant and the texture creamy, perhaps a bit heavy on the butter but it works here. Reminds me of the week I spent in Maui. I am sensing some very nice floral notes that I missed on my earlier tasting.”
http://www.seventypercent.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1384

Earlier today Martin wrote in the Raw Chocolate thread:

“Pacari is well worth checking out in this field. They’ve produced a minor miracle in making ‘real’ raw chocolate that’s been properly processed, but is not fermented above 49C and is NOT roasted. The texture is actually very decent and flavour wise very interesting. The chocolate has been made in a normal process apart from the roasting. They’re based in Ecuador and are also one of the suppliers of raw ingredients to all those kitchen businesses out there.

http://www.pacarichocolate.com/index.php?op=products#raws

We got pretty excited about this at the Salon in Paris last year, and I since met the company in Ecuador. Their other chocolate is also pretty good, though very floral and unusual, so not necessarily to everyone’s taste. (Like a new Domori, you’ll either love it or hate it.) “

After reading that, I went ahead and ordered the three Pacari bars from chocosphere. I will post my thoughts here after I try them.

I finished the Pacari bars today. I thought the 65% bar was the best of the three, although none of them excited me much.