The vacuum sealed plastic wrapper certainly helps contain the chili scent and flavor, which strikes you immediately upon opening. The initial aroma of chili is complimented by cinnamon and a suggestion of earthiness. As with other Chuao bars, the chocolate mold is very practical, producing squares just right for eating. The bar breaks cleanly and has a modest sheen, though bubbling also is evident.

As you bite into the first piece you will notice it is dense but not brittle. The opening flavor of nutmeg quickly gives way to chili and cinnamon. The warmth of the chili and cayenne unfold, spreading like ink on tissue paper. Traces of vanilla and cinnamon finish the pleasantly clean softening. The flavors exhibit above average longevity, with a melt that is clean though a bit grainy due to the chili powder. The sugar tastes feels balanced with the chocolate and spices, all three making appearances at different moments.

While this bar is leans toward expensive at $1.78/oz., it delivers a semisweet chocolate taste combination that is memorable and pleasing. If you have a taste for heat and spice, this bar could become one of your favorites.

Maker Comments:

Feel your throat warm and your nose tickle with each mouthful of Spicy Maya's premium dark chocolate. A hint of Pasilla chile, cayenne Pepper and cinnamon excite the taste buds. It's a return to chocolate's ancient roots with traditional ingredients that pay homage to the first chocolate-worshipping culture, the Mayans.

Presented in a rather simple box, one might expect the chocolate to be somewhat ordinary. Inside, the chocolate is sealed in a shiny plastic wrapping, which does most certainly protect the bold flavors within, but pales in presentation to the European foils. The bar is even and without bloom, but has a fair amount of bubbling. Reflecting an above average sheen and a medium-dark grayish brown color, the bar is plainly molded into pleasing sized squares. The aroma has an almost medicinal quality underscored by acidic citrus characteristics, with nutmeg as the final dominant nose.

Before the chocolate has barely begun to melt, your senses are barraged by the sharp flavor of citrus and ginger, followed by spicy nutmeg fighting for equal footing. Probably due to the inclusion of the nibs, the bar crumbles a bit easily when bitten. It is a little on the sweet side, but not so much as to be unbalanced. The nibs, while adding a delightful crunch, do not complicate the already strong flavors of the chocolate which melts away a bit too quickly. The experience finishes with a mouthful of nibs and a delightful spicy aftertaste.

Originating from Southern California's only artisan chocolate production, this bar is as the label promises, "unusual, unexpected and delicious". It is on the expensive end of the scale at $1.78/oz., but given the uniqueness of the ingredients, it is a worthwhile adventure.

Maker Comments:

Named after the beloved patron Virgin of Maracaibo, Venezuela, the Chinita Nibs bar blends chocolate with a sprinkling of fresh nutmeg and Caramelized cacao nibs from Maracaibo's famous plantations. With each indulgent bite, feel the nibs crackle, taste the smooth dark chocolate, and breathe the lingering nutmeg aroma.