Meet Bob Formston. The chocolate also known as 'Chocolate Bob'.
My wife and I bought the land up near Papua to build a vacation home. He was a former coffee plantation invaded. So me and a couple of guys got a chainsaw and worked our way through the jungle when we encounter these trees with huge pods on them. I say "? What." And I was told it was cocoa, chocolate So I said "OK, let, I'll make some chocolate." C 'was it four years ago.
Does cocoa usually grow on a coffee plantation?
Yes, between the coffee they grow cocoa. High cocoa and coffee rickshaw low and you can taste the coffee in cocoa. Cocoa absorbs flavors. You put the chocolate almost anything and it absorbs the flavor.
You are a small business and are able to forget all aspects of production. What is the process you use to transform cocoa in this sinfully delicious chocolate?
The cocoa seeds have a bitter taste intense and must be fermented to develop the flavor and reduce the bitterness. The seeds are fermented for five days and after that they are placed in the sun to dry for five or six days, depending on weather conditions. Then seeds are calcined at a controlled temperature. Like coffee, you have to roast for exactly the right amount of time - you can burn if you roast too long, destroy the flavor. It is an art.
The seeds are like the kernels with a thin skin that comes off during the roasting process. Then the roasted bean is ground for three days at a consistency very well, while natural vanilla beans, brown sugar and extra cocoa butter is added to make the smoothest chocolate. Cocoa butter contains many "good fats" beneficial. After the chocolate is ready, we are bars and chocolates by adding ingredients such as your favorite, passion fruit and chili.
I like that one! In fact, I love dark chocolate raw, but has no interest in cheaper chocolates. Why chocolate mass production so different?
Large companies must make large profits to cut costs wherever they can. One of the ways they cut costs is to replace expensive cocoa butter with cheaper vegetable fats. Indonesia is the third largest producer of cocoa, the bulk of this being exported as cocoa butter and cocoa powder. The low price popular brands sold here are very low in cocoa butter, but rich, high melting temperature, vegetable fats cheaper, some of them did not even cross the sun, so you can imagine that it does not melt in your mouth! There are some other companies now Bali high quality raw chocolate and other organic natural products. Our factory is very small, hands on and I saw above. It is a small company and I like the slow growth. Our chocolate bars are in Bali Deli, Grocer and Grind, Made Manis and other selected outlets in Bali, while Made in Manis Warung Made is the only place to buy our chocolates.
So what brought you to Bali, first, Bob?
I arrived here in 1974 on the feast before attending La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science with honors. My honors thesis was on marine biology, but my degree was in biochemistry and physiology. So I know my chemistry! After finishing college in 1981, I was looking for a job in my profession, which at that time could take up to a year. At the time I met a guy to fashion Bali during his summer vacation and I invested in his business and we ended up making and selling clothing Bali for years. It was fun then right?
Then I went to export furniture and antiques in the Netherlands. I spent three months here, followed by three months there for a number of years. There are twelve years old, I met a beautiful Javanese intelligent woman I married and started a jewelry business in which it designs, produces and sells - one of our selling points is just off Made Manis. Jewelry trade enabled me to get into the chocolate business that my wife is really responsible for me at the University of chocolate!
Are you planning to create other sweets?
I'm not just a chocolate guy. I nougat, caramels, jellies and marshmallows. One day perhaps I will make a candy store, but chocolate is my passion. It is one of the five best brain foods and the first source of magnesium, which balances the brain chemistry and strengthens bones. Real chocolate contains mood enhancers our cognitive brain releases when we are in love or happiness.
Change the world with chocolate ... Sweet!
To get in touch, email info@balichocolatfactory.com