Floral
Violet
parma violet candy, soft purple flower
Violet is one of the rarest and most prized floral notes in chocolate: sweet, powdery, and instantly recognizable to anyone who has eaten parma violet sweets or smelled the actual flower. Its appearance in chocolate is considered a mark of exceptional fine-flavor cacao.
What Causes It
Ionones (the same compounds responsible for violet's distinctive scent) appear in trace amounts in select cacao varieties. This is a terroir-driven flavor unlikely to survive heavy fermentation or roasting. Gentle processing is essential.
Where to Find It
Occasionally found in exceptional Criollo-influenced Venezuelan beans and some rare Colombian microlots.