No products in the cart.
Sold out
Farm to Bar 70% — Spearmint Dark Chocolate
$11.90
The Spearmint bar by Ecuadorian Essence blends 70% single-origin Nacional cacao from Manabí, Ecuador, with Ecuadorian spearmint, creating a fresh, herbal dark chocolate with a clean finish.
Out of stock
Description
Fresh Herbs and Fine Cacao From Ecuador
Ecuadorian Essence pairs Ecuadorian spearmint with Nacional cacao from Manabí in the Spearmint bar, combining a fresh herb with one of the world’s most valued fine-aroma cacaos.
Nacional cacao, the “Arriba” variety, grows in Manabí on the equator with close to twelve hours of daylight all year. Ecuador is the world’s largest producer of fine flavor cacao, a category that represents only about 5% of global production according to the International Cocoa Organization.
The Spearmint bar is made in Ecuador and brought to the Washington DC area by Ecuadorian Essence, a family from Ecuador. It is not sold in national chains.
Tasting Notes
The Ecuadorian Essence Spearmint bar opens herbal and cool, then lets 70% Nacional cacao come through with fruity and floral notes and a subtle bitterness, closing clean and fresh.
It is a dark chocolate that feels light on the palate rather than heavy.
Ingredients
70% cacao from Manabí, Ecuador; cane sugar; honey; Ecuadorian spearmint. Made without nuts; may contain traces of soy. Not vegan, because the Farm to Bar line is sweetened with cane sugar and honey. Always check the label for the complete ingredient list and allergen statement.
Spearmint vs. Peppermint in Chocolate
Ecuadorian Essence uses spearmint rather than peppermint because spearmint contains less menthol, giving a sweeter, gentler mint that lets the cacao remain the protagonist.
Peppermint can taste sharp in chocolate. Spearmint’s rounder, herbal profile refreshes without overpowering the fine-aroma cacao.
A Dark Chocolate for Warm Days
Ecuadorian Essence considers the Spearmint bar its lightest dark chocolate on the palate, because the herbal freshness balances the intensity of 70% cacao.
It is especially enjoyable on warm afternoons or after a spicy meal.
Enjoy it slightly chilled for an extra refreshing bite.
How to Enjoy the Spearmint Bar
Ecuadorian Essence recommends the Spearmint bar after dinner, with coffee or herbal tea, so its fresh finish closes the meal on a light note.
You can also chop it over vanilla ice cream or add a square to hot chocolate for a mint-cacao drink. Store in a dry place at 16–18°C (below 75°F) to avoid melting.
The Golden Seed of Manabí
Ecuadorian Essence uses Nacional cacao in the Spearmint bar because this native Ecuadorian variety is recognized internationally as fine flavor cacao, giving the chocolate aroma and complexity without artificial flavorings.
Nacional pods turn a deep yellow when ripe, which is why Ecuadorians call its beans “pepa de oro,” the golden seed. The terroir of Manabí — its soils, heat and humidity — shapes a profile of floral aroma, fruity sweetness and a slight final bitterness, a profile the spearmint refreshes rather than hides.
For Restaurants, Hotels & Gourmet Stores
Ecuadorian Essence supplies the Spearmint bar at wholesale pricing to restaurants, hotels and gourmet stores in the DMV, as an after-dinner or turndown chocolate with traceable Ecuadorian origin.
The minimum wholesale order is one wholesale box of 12 bars. Complete the “Become a Distributor” form or write to sales@ecuadorianessence.com. Ecuadorian Essence ships within the United States, with delivery in 5–7 business days, and sells in person at curated markets and fairs across Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland.
Ecuadorian Essence products are foods and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always check the product label for complete ingredient and allergen information.
FAQs
What does spearmint dark chocolate taste like?
The Ecuadorian Essence Spearmint bar tastes fresh and herbal, because Ecuadorian spearmint brings a soft, cool sweetness and 70% Nacional cacao from Manabí adds fruity, floral notes before a clean finish. It is the lightest dark chocolate on the palate in the Farm to Bar collection. Honey and cane sugar sweeten the bar, and the mint makes 70% cacao feel lighter on the palate. Store it in a dry place at 16–18°C (below 75°F).
What is the difference between spearmint and peppermint chocolate?
Ecuadorian Essence uses spearmint in its mint dark chocolate because spearmint has less menthol than peppermint, making the mint sweeter and gentler so it refreshes without overpowering the 70% Ecuadorian fine-aroma cacao. Peppermint can taste sharp in chocolate; spearmint keeps the cacao as the protagonist. The spearmint in the bar is Ecuadorian, and the chocolate is made in Ecuador from Nacional cacao from Manabí.
Is the Spearmint chocolate vegan?
The Ecuadorian Essence Spearmint bar is not vegan, because the Farm to Bar line is sweetened with cane sugar and honey. The bar is made without nuts and may contain traces of soy. Always check the label for the complete allergen statement. The Spearmint bar is part of the Farm to Bar line, made in Ecuador from 70% Nacional cacao from Manabí, the fine-aroma variety known as “Arriba.”
Where is the cacao in the Spearmint bar from?
Ecuadorian Essence sources the cacao for the Spearmint bar from Manabí, on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, where Nacional “Arriba” fine-aroma cacao grows, and the bar is made in Ecuador. Ecuador is the world’s largest producer of fine flavor cacao, according to the International Cocoa Organization. Nacional pods turn deep yellow when ripe, which is why Ecuadorians call the beans “pepa de oro,” the golden seed.
When is the best time to eat mint dark chocolate?
Ecuadorian Essence recommends the Spearmint bar after dinner, with coffee or herbal tea, because its fresh, herbal finish closes a meal on a light note. It is also enjoyable on warm afternoons. Store the bar in a dry place at 16–18°C (below 75°F). It can also be chopped over vanilla ice cream or melted into hot chocolate for a mint-cacao drink.
Can restaurants and hotels offer the Spearmint bar?
Ecuadorian Essence supplies the Spearmint bar at wholesale pricing to restaurants, hotels and gourmet stores in the DMV, as an after-dinner or turndown chocolate with traceable Ecuadorian origin. The minimum wholesale order is one wholesale box of 12 bars. Apply through the “Become a Distributor” form or at sales@ecuadorianessence.com. Ecuadorian Essence ships within the United States, with delivery in 5–7 business days, and sells at curated markets and fairs across Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland.
