Raphio India Tamil Nadu 72% cacao

There are both earthy and spicy elements to the taste of this bar. On the earthy side I notice mushrooms and some game flavor. On the spicy side I find that I taste black tea and some vanilla. The aftertaste is long due to the spiciness. 7.9

Castronova Columbia Sierra Nevada (2025) 72% cacao

Licorice is first noticed, part of a smooth but assertive taste. A bit of fig underlies this impression and some caramel sneaks in. The aftertaste is clean and fairly lengthy. 9.0

This bar was reviewed in 2019 and that label had a Bronze award noted from the Academy of Chocolate. This bars boasts a Gold award and also earns almost a full point improvement in its ChocoCheck rating.

Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé Venezuela Chuao 73% cacao

There is an earthy element to the taste of this bar, and it is also slightly gamey. Also evident is a bitter aspect akin to coffee or even charcoal. The aftertaste is also bitter, persisting through to the trail-off. 7.3

Loon Puerto Rico, Hacienda Jeanmarie 65% cacao

There is a rich fudgy texture, rich in chocolate taste with a milky finish. The aftertaste continues these textures and gradually diminishes. 7.8

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Seahorse Belize 75% cacao

There is a buttery texture with caramel taste prominent on tasting. Cooked pudding also comes to mind due to a mild roasted aspect. The aftertaste continues the theme, fairly long and a bit bitter. 7.3

Kasama Uganda Bukonjo 70% cacao

The flavors of this bar lean toward toasted and earthy, with a faint spicy touch. Aftertaste is lengthy and slightly bitter.  7.2

Chocolate Tree Belize Maya Mountain 75% cacao

There is a rich chocolate taste, buttressed by flavor threads of caramel and toffee. The aftertaste is clean and smooth. 

Similar to the Chocolate Tree Columbia Arhuaco 70% cacao bar reviewed earlier, this bar has a unique mold.