Passion fruit and powerful chocolaty taste: A bouquet of fruit aromas explodes in Valrhona Itakuja 55% then gives way to the rounded flavours of Brazilian cocoa.
Itakuja was created in Brazil as the result of a friendship between Valrhona sourcer Benjamin Figarède and M. Libânio, the director of the plantations. Together, they devised an innovative way of employing the fine cocoa produced in these plantations in a chocolate with aromatic notes of passionfruit. This collaboration has continued, with Valrhona supporting M. Libânio’s social and environmental efforts by funding solar dryers, renovating employees’ homes, and even building a training center. Itakuja is a contraction of the name of a Brazilian town close to the M. Libânio plantations, Itacare, and mara kuja, which means “passionfruit” in the Tupi language spoken by the indigenous peoples of Brazil.
Itakuja was one of the first chocolates to emerge from Valrhona’s innovative double fermentation technique. Once the traditional cocoa fermentation process is complete, a second fermentation is triggered by adding a locally harvested fresh fruit purée. For Itakuja, passionfruit is used. This procedure demands meticulous skill to obtain exactly the right balance between the flavours already present in the cocoa after the first fermentation and those provided by the fresh fruit.
Recommended Applications:
- Ganache Chocolate
- Ganache Patisserie
- Coating
- Moulding
- Tablet Bar (Optimal)
- Ice Cream & Sorbets
Suggested Pairings:
Banana / Mango / Pecan / Pistachio / Coconut milk / Dark rum
Composition:
- 55% cocoa
- 44% sugar
- 37% fat content
Storage: Keep in a dry, cool place at between 60.8/64.4 °F (16/18 °C)
Product of France
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Summer Shipping:
At above 26°C, cocoa butter in chocolate products may start melting, and recrystallize as white streaks or marks on the chocolate's surface. This phenomenon is called 'fat bloom'. While it may not have the perfect appearance, bloomed chocolates are safe to eat and use in recipes.
During summer months when the temperature is relatively warm, we advise adding cold packaging to your shipment in order to minimize the risk of melting. While we are careful and diligent in maintaining the temperature of your package, we unfortunately cannot guarantee the products in the cold packaging will not be affected by unusually warm weather and irregular transit time.
Click here to choose your cold packaging. (Optional)
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Created in 1922 in France by a pastry chef for pastry chefs, Valrhona has remained a chef driven company that values working in partnership with culinary professionals. Valrhona employs 30 corporate chefs and operates four premier pastry schools ("Ecoles Valrhona") throughout the world for chefs to learn, exchange ideas, and master their craft. Valrhona is committed to the creation of unique artisan quality chocolates with complex and balanced flavors. As an owner of 2 plantations, Valrhona is literally the source of fine chocolate as they plant, discover, select, and blend fine and rare cocoa beans.
Since 2020, Valrhona is certified B CORP. Obtaining this certification is a huge honour but also a philosophy that they wish to implement for the future. The B CORP movement has been promoting strong values of change throughout the world to make companies "a force for good" and distinguish those that balance profit and purpose. Its holistic and demanding vision revolves around 5 impact areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. B CORP's objective is to certify companies that integrate social, societal and environmental objectives into their business model and operations.
