Vintage Plantations 100% Dark Processed at the plantation in Ecuador

Extremely bitter, with the bitterness dominating any trace of chocolate flavor. 2

100% Dark Chocolate (also known as "unsweetened") is not intended to be directly eaten, rather it should be used for cooking, such as making cakes or brownies or other items requiring chocolate. So including a bar of chocolate whose ingredients consists entirely of cocoa (the label says "Ingredients: pure cocoa mass (roasted and ground cocoa beans)") is not really fair. However, my colleague Alex has gotten into the spirit of dark chocolate tasting, and he brought in this bar with the idea of seeing what extreme chocolate is all about. Now we know: It's about extreme bitterness, not extreme chocolate. We each tried one small square of the bar. Alex took one bite and called it quits after a significant distress reaction to the taste. I had a similar outcome, though I did consume the entire square while noticing that my pulse quickened with each bite.

This will likely be the last of the extremely high cocoa bars that graces this blog, but I have not yet determined what lower percentage of cocoa will remain tasteable. The highest cocoa bar I'ved tried to date is the Hachez 88% Cocoa Premier Cru Superior Dark Chocolate, which I rated a 6. Next highest were the Recchiuti Bittersweet 85% Cacao, which I rated a 9, and the Isis Luxury Belgian Extra Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa, which I rated a 6. A 6 is a borderline rating -- okay, but not a chocolate I would seek out. Given the very high rating I gave the Recchiuti 85%, I am skeptical that I will meet a chocolate of higher cocoa percentage that I will be able to rate as highly.

Vintage Plantations 75% Dark Processed at the plantation in Ecuador

Initial sweet, orangy taste. Followed by a strong burst of slightly bitter chocolate. 7

Amedei Tuscany Cioccolato Fondente Extra 70%

This chocolate has a strong presence. The initial flavor is fruity -- grape/wine in nature. Maybe a little orange. Nice aftertaste, even though more bitter than the 66%. 8

Droste Holland Pastilles Bittersweet Chocolate Chocolat Noir

Some bitterness, but mostly a tinny taste. No cocoa content shown, but tastes maybe 60%. 6

The red-box Pastilles were a regular snack item for me before I started exploring other dark chocolates for this project. As mentioned for the blue-box Pastilles, the packaging is convenient for carrying, and I remember the taste as being pretty good. Now, after tasting a variety of other dark chocolates, the Droste looks much weaker by comparison. There's an aftertaste that I describe as "tinny", that the best dark chocolates don't have.

Amedei Tuscany Cioccolato Fondente Extra 66%

Initial cherry flavor, bound by a light touch of dark chocolate. Constant flavor that ends with some caramel notes. 9

Villars Maitre Swiss Dark Chocolate 72%

Bitter taste, more than expected for a 72%. Some grassy taste -- taste that reminds me of the smell of grass. Chalky finish. Nice thin pieces with a pretty flower (as shown on the packaging). 6

Scharffen Berger Bittersweet Fine Artisan Dark Chocolate 70% cacao

Simple chocolate flavor tinged with faint acid edge. The finish is mostly that tinge, very little is the chocolate. 6

Richart La Tablette Au Cacao Pure Origine Sao Tome 70%

Initial burst of fruit flavor, cherry I think. No bitterness, some sweetness. Clean finish. Excellent. 9