When you worry that the “B” of your dreams might actually be a “C” (and aren’t sure you can acquire said “B” in time), you hedge your bets and buy a backup “B” (as if I *really* need an excuse to buy more chocolates!) 😉
Black Mountain Chocolates from the Southern Appalachians was the first bean-to-bar chocolate maker in the Carolinas and has been around since 2007, but I was unfamiliar with them here in California since they seem to be sold mostly on the East Coast and primarily in North Carolina.
I love that when they wrapped the bar in gold foil, they opted to position the bar with the logo facing up, so that this is the first thing that you see instead of the back of the bar with the sea salt inclusion.
The logo of the bear climbing a tree to reach cacao pods is so cute!
Though the chocolate’s country of origin isn’t listed on this 70% Sea Salt Bar packaging or on their website, many other sources point to them using Hispaniola beans from the Dominican Republic, which to me has bright red fruit or berry notes. The delicate fleur de sel Celtic Sea Salt melts quickly and provides a savory counterbalance to the sweetness of the chocolate.
My favorite quote from the short video on their website was owner Brent Peters’ comment that the chocolate factory is his “little red sports car” (referring to what other men purchase when they have a mid-life crisis). I think he made the right choice buying this chocolate company instead…don’t you?! 🙂
If you are ever in the Arts District in downtown Winston-Salem, be sure to stop by the Old Winston Tobacco Warehouse on Trade Street to see BMC’s visible factory or take a guided tour!
For more information, go to: http://www.blackmountainchocolate.com/