Tom Kha Gai in White

Having a pleasing taste in my mouth drives me to write and to share that experience. When I tasted Mayan Monkey Mijas Tom Kha Gai, I was enjoying the magic of the hot and spice soup made with coconut in each bite of the bar.

To discover how it was created, I spoke with Eli McCarthy co-founder of the chocolate factory to discover her chocolate story and ethical values. http://www.mayanmonkey.es/experiences/

Her driving concern is the unacceptable child slavery in chocolate farming. Ethical cleanliness drives from whom she will buy chocolate. Theirs’ is Spain’s only chocolate factory to be recognised by NGO Slave Free Chocolate www.slavefreechocolate.org.  That is why are Ica Spa (www.icamciocolato.it) in Orsenigo, Italy is their chocolate suppler. Since the 80’s they have been dedicated to the socio-economic development and production of cocoa growing countries.

The Organic White chocolate has an intense aroma of creamy milk and vanilla, bright ivory colour, perfect fluidity. The high presence of whole milk from organic farming and the irresistible aroma of natural vanilla coming from organic agriculture of Madagascar.

The white chocolate has 41% sugar; however, Chilli and ginger knock away the excessive sweetness. The 28% milk powder represent the coconut milk element of the Thai soup.  Lime and coconut liven the palate with Asian flavours. Wafer gives colour and crunch to meet the taste expectation expected from the soup.

When the chocolate recipe was created 12 years ago it combined the flavours of lime essential oil, desiccated coconut, ground cayenne, ground ginger and wafers. Lemon grass was the one taste element that couldn’t be included was Lemongrass as then it was only available either fresh or frozen, neither could be worked to flavour the chocolate, they were too wet. To flavour a bar of chocolate they need to be dry. Eli McCarthy says today the recipe could be worked to include Lemon Grass Oil. I eagerly wait to see if it will happen and the taste enhancements it might generate.