LA Burdick White Chocolate

Posted by Edmund in Chocolate, Featured Articles, Gourmet Chocolate Bars, USA | 0 comments

May 17, 11

Composition: 36% White Chocolate.
Region of Production: USA.
Price: 100g for about $7.

The presentation is incredible in nearly every regard, from the simple clean packaging to the austere, glossy bar. As with all of Burdick’s bars, this one comes in a thick, classy paper container, tied with old-fashioned ribbon. That same simplicity is immediately noticeable in the bar itself, which comes crafted into 30 sleek, miniature rectangles, all exuding a dark hue of white that literally shines in the light. The back is nearly perfectly smooth to the touch, with only a few almost imperceptible protrusions. Best of all, though, is the unbelievable snap, which leaves the bar in perfect rectangles with completely clean, smooth sides. That snap is, moreover, so audible that it can probably be heard from the other side of the room.

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The aroma is small but nice. Expect earthier tones, like soil, as well as a bit of fruit.

That simplicity continues in the bar’s taste. Most white chocolate tends to be sickeningly cloying or rich, but not Burdick’s. With a decently high cocoa content (36%) and a very milky, buttery undertone, this bar is all about balance, playing off the sweetness against the richness to arrive at true harmony. That sweetness comes through just enough to leave the sides of your mouth puckering, too, in the best possible way. This bar does, however, have some interesting undertones—more so than most white chocolates. I get a very refreshing, strong vanilla accent throughout, of course, but there is also a slight bit of sweet orange and an earthier flavor reminiscent of darker milk chocolate and soil. While the chocolate may not be very complex, the flavor is so subtle and so perfectly balanced that it is an absolute pleasure. Moreover, even with the bar’s nuance, its aftertaste is very long for a white chocolate (I was tasting it for over 5 minutes), leaving a fragrant hint of vanilla smokiness in the back of the throat.

The bar melts very smoothly and cleanly, as do most of Burdick’s bars. On the hard side, the chocolate takes a while to begin melting, but once it does it is creamy and rich, but not overwhelmingly so. As it melts, it never clings to the mouth, instead going down easily, almost as though you’re drinking milk. At the same time, it’s thick enough to hit the back of the palate, though it doesn’t hit all of it.

Scores

Presentation: 4.9/5.0
Taste: 4.6/5.0
Melt: 4.5+/5.0. Incredibly clean.
Length: 4.2+/5.0
Value: 4.5/5.0.
Verdict: 4.6/5.0