One of the many pleasures of this job is discovering chocolate that is extraordinary and then being able to tell you about it.
A reader, Gavin J, wrote and told me about NearyNógs and how his reaction to it had been like mine to Bare Bones: ‘earth shattering’.
NearyNógs (Neary is the family name, Nógs is from the Gaelic Tír na nÓg – the land of youth) is a craft bean-to-bar stoneground chocolate maker from Northern Ireland; a family business based on the Mourne Coast that started almost 10 years ago. Coincidentally, they also tempered and packaged the chocolate for the Fortnum’s Sailboat chocolate mentioned here two weeks ago.
I purchased four items: Dúlamán (£5.95, 40g) with gorse flower, Irish seaweed and 72% Dominican Republic – subtle, soft, beautiful. Salt Water Days, £5: 60% Ecuadorian with Irish sea-salt, cacao nibs and gold dust. The salt is right there in your face the moment you put a piece in your mouth – like being blasted by seaspray on a windy day. It is a glorious chocolate. Lúnasa is 58% Ecuadorian chocolate with lavender (£8.95, 100g); the lavender is so gently placed it’s perfect (many products go overboard with lavender, as if they really want to prove it’s in there).
Then I treated myself to some Sea Salted Caramel Cups (£5 for four), which were, like most of NN’s produce, vegan. If you like dark chocolate, this is the place to visit: everything is ethically sourced but, most importantly, the chocolate is simply staggeringly good.
Thank you Gavin J!
