BOPAN- Barcelona, Spain (8/10)

A cool Barcelona evening held for me a surprise of confectionary delight unlike any beverage I've consumed before.

24 February, 2019

Did you know that there are very few restaurants open on Sunday evenings in Barcelona? We didn’t. There we were, wandering Las Ramblas in hope of finding somewhere, anywhere that would take our Euros, if only for a measly plate of tapas. Thankfully, we stumbled upon this quaint little cafe-style restaurant.

Initial impression: The presentation was certainly a plus. It arrived, like most hot beverages in Europe, on a dish with a tiny spoon, but unlike other restaurants, I did not feel inordinately self-conscious about using the spoon. I was surprised to see that it was not your typical cup of cocoa, but rather literal hot chocolate- as in, thick, dark, rich melted chocolate.

I was immediately enveloped in the fudgy aroma exuding from the substance. I was so enamored by this scent that I took a sip far too soon, and my tongue was struck by that all-too-familiar sensation of eating hot fudge straight out of the container right after it’s been heated. Indeed, the beverage itself tasted more like fudge than regular hot cocoa. It was thick and dark, filling me with its searing embrace, just a hint of musk but without the bitter edge that typically accompanies dark chocolate. The resulting flavor experience was indescribable; the best word my brain can supply is “strange”.

Further reflection: This beverage was like coming home to a place you’ve never been before. The flavor was rich and thick, completely embracing every bit of my tongue, searing with a comfortable heat that played just on the edge of burning before pulling back. The liquid left behind a slightly chalky aftertaste, but this was bolstered by a smooth undercurrent just poking a toe into uber-sweet territory. I noticed that if I did not take a sip every few minutes, the liquid formed a strange film, but this did not deter from the taste or overall experience.

Final thoughts: It is truly rare to find a hot chocolate that retains its lovely flavor even when paired with a savory meal. This beverage remained at a comfortable temperature even with the persistent February breeze and ended with a warm, silky finish of which I will dream for months to come. While I certainly enjoyed this experience, I will say that this cocoa is best enjoyed as an after-dinner dessert or a sweet treat on its own, not as an accompaniment to a meal. Truly, it belongs in a category of its own rather than living in contrast to the other hot chocolates which I have reviewed. As things stand, however, while it is far from the coveted 10/10 spot, I am assigning it the highest ranking of any beverage I have reviewed so far.

Hot Chocolate Takes is a blog run by BuzzFeed Community user humblepirate. You can follow my hot chocolate adventures on Instagram, Tumblr, and right here on BF Community.