Vosges Naga Bar

Posted by Edmund in Chocolate, Featured Articles, Gourmet Chocolate Bars, USA | 2 comments

Feb 08, 11

Composition: Sweet Indian Curry Powder, Coconut Flakes, 45% Deep Milk Chocolate.
Region of Production: USA.
Price: $7.50 at Vosges’ website.

The one aspect of this bar that really isn’t all that appetizing is the presentation. It comes in Vosges’ traditional, simple, sturdy box, displaying the ingredients. I’m personally a fan of that packaging model. Where the problems begin is upon opening the bar, only to discover a very unassuming, unpolished, slightly faded look on the top. Thank goodness that this time around there was no serious chocolate bloom—a perpetual problem I’ve had when I buy Vosges bars at local stores. The bar, however, had no sheen, instead covered by very slight blots or lines. I do like the color of the bar, which is very dark for a milk chocolate. I also appreciate how finely integrated the ingredients are, leaving almost no visible trace even when you snap the bar.

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This bar has one of the nicest aromas of any bar I’ve ever tried. A dark, earthy cocoa combines with an intense, nearly overpowering curry that explodes as you open the bar.

The chocolate lives up to that aroma, too. Normally, I’ve had problems at times with the quality of the cocoa in Vosges’ bars, since they tend to be waxy from the use of lecithin. In this case, though, the chocolate is rich and creamy, but not waxy. Instead, it has a nice, earthy, slightly smoky flavor that not only blends well with the other ingredients but is in itself very nicely balanced, especially in the sweetness department. The high cocoa percentage (for a milk chocolate) gives it a depth I really wasn’t expecting.

Moreover, the ingredients blend so seamlessly and so naturally that this is an absolute delight in the mouth. The chocolate is rich and smooth, and the ingredients are in such small chunks (the flakes are practically powder-like) that they don’t break the melt at all, instead giving a very slight, satisfying grittiness. Moreover, they add multiple layers of flavor, taking the already fine chocolate to an even higher level of complexity and balance. The flavor comes in layers, as the cocoa hits first, followed by the big fruity sweetness and crunch of the coconut, finally giving way to the still sweet but slightly spicy and zesty curry. The fresh sweetness from the curry and coconut perfectly complement the earthier, intense cocoa, and the aftertaste leaves you with a gentle touch of spice wafting on the breath. That aftertaste is very refreshing and light, even if it does dissipate just a bit quickly, as I’d expect of a milk chocolate. Best of all, the ingredients are not just integrated finely into the cocoa, but they’re provided in generous amounts. Thus, every single bite gives you the same depth of flavor and balance—a very rare feat in flavored chocolates. The flavor will, however, be a bit light for some. I personally like the subtlety.

The texture and melt are equally satisfying. Again, the chocolate is smooth but just gritty enough so that it doesn’t feel monotonous. The melt, too, is notable in that it doesn’t actually feel waxy at all, even with the use of lecithin. The flavors are so intense and the grittiness so nice that they largely cover up any artificial overtones. The chocolate, moreover, melts almost instantaneously in the mouth, constantly leaving a rich, thick, residue across the whole mouth, allowing you to savor the bar’s coconut sweetness.

There’s nothing left to say except that this is easily one of Vosges’ best bars and an incredible example of proper flavor balance and intensity for all flavored chocolate bars.

Scores

Presentation: 2.5/5.0
Taste:  4.6/5.0
Flavor: 4.6+/5.0
Melt: 4.5/5.0
Length: 3.0/5.0
Value: 4.4/5.0. Try finding a better curry-infused chocolate.
Verdict: 4.5/5.0.