Rich and nutty. Notes of chocolate, caramel and a ripe jackfruit finish.
Product source
Producer
Ernie Balmes
Process
Natural
Type
Excelsa
Variety
Not specified
Roast
Medium Dark
Altitude
500 masl
Origin
Candelaria, Quezon
Flavor
Chocolate, nuts, caramel & jackfruit
Candelaria
Excelsa is a Barako relative, grown on tall, spreading trees across the lower slopes of Quezon rather than picked from a tidy row. Ernie Balmes keeps a small stand near Candelaria at a modest 500 metres, low enough that the fruit ripens quickly and the tree crops heavy.
A tall tree, roasted for depth
The cherries are dried whole in the sun, then rested before hulling to even out the moisture. Roasted medium-dark, the cup keeps the ripe jackfruit the variety is known for, while chocolate, caramel and toasted nuts deepen underneath as it cools.
