Michel Cluizel 85% de Cacao Noir

Initial flavor of fruit, maybe orange, then a steep rise in cocoa flavor with some bitterness. Later, the chocolate dissolves into chalky remnants and diminishing bitterness. 6

Terra Nostra organic Dark Chocolate 73% Intense Dark

Suggestions of raspberry. No sweetness, no bitterness (okay, an overtone of it). Stark. 7

Ghirardelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight 72% Cacao

Not much external flavor: basic chocolate. Slight bitterness. Some chalkiness. Unremarkable. 6

Askinosie Chocolate San Jose Del Tambo Ecuador 70% dark chocolate

Rich array of flavors on first taste. Deep chocolate, sweet orange, some berry. These flavors persist, leading to a pleasant finish. Zero bitterness. 9

Bar courtesy of: Lauren

A section of the back label is also shown.

Godiva Chocolatier Santa Domingo Dark Chocolate 85% cacao

Tangy. Citrus flavor burst. Very low amount of bitterness, not much aftertaste -- minor metallic residual taste. Thin bar. 7

Bar courtesy of: George

Taza Chocolate Stone Ground Organic Chocolate 70% Dark

Chalky texture with a sharp bitterness. Strong vanilla note in the aftertaste. 5

Valrhona Le Noir Extra Amer 85% Cacao Dark Bitter Chocolate

Dark and bitter is right. Here's an 85% cocoa bar that is all-over "bitter". And "dark." Very little sweet chocolate flavor, maybe none. If you want a kick in your dark chocolate pants, this will do it. Lingering bitter aftertaste, on the harsh side. 6

Endangered Species Chocolate Supreme Dark Chocolate 72 percent cocoa content

Very bitter. Coffee taste. Aftertaste is rough. Like the back of a gorilla. 5

It's interesting to compare to the Endangered Species 88% cocoa that I tried earlier -- I like that one, but this one lost me with the strong bitter flavors, much more dominant than with the 88%. Surprising.

Michel Cluizel 72% de Cacao Noir

Stark, strong chocolate. Few undertone flavors (cocoa dominates). Not bitter. 7

Cote d'Or Sensation INTENSE 70% Cacao Noir de Noir

Workmanlike and uninspiring. Not bitter, presentable chocolate flavor. The individual squares are a little on the large size -- one may want to break them into more bite-sized pieces. 7

Dolfin Noir 70% de Cacao Dark Chocolate 70% cocoa with cocoa bean pieces

A much more robust and notably bitter taste of chocolate than with other 70% cocoa bars, due primarily to the "cocoa bean pieces" included in the bar. I'm not a fan of this practice -- I would rather have a pure note of chocolate to experience rather than to confuse it with hits of pure cocoa. "Chocolate with cocoa nibs" is a category of its own that really does not belong grouped with the other bars on this blog. 6

Dove Extra Dark Chocolate 71% cacao

Very soft bar compared with others previously tasted. Multitude of side tastes, not all of them pleasant. 6

Venchi Extra Bitter Chocolate 75%

Cocoa. Not the bean, the steaming hot cup of. This chocolate engulfs you in the same smells and tastes that you experience when sipping a cup of cocoa. Of course, it's not hot or liquid. But this bar could be bracing on a cold winter morning. This bar is physically large, one of the largest 100 gram bars I've seen. This makes the bar fairly thin, which adds to the immediacy of the cocoa rush. There's slight bitterness, nothing significant. The chocolate flavor is not very nuanced, just as it's not with hot cocoa. 6

Endangered Species Chocolates Extreme Dark Chocolate 88% cocoa content

This bar is right on the borderline. The taste is rich in chocolate and has a ringing aftertaste. But it stays on the good side of the line of providing a complex and interesting suite of flavors without broaching into the chalky, bitter, overpowering aftertaste. I can't say that I enjoy this more than other lower-cocoa content bars, but it certainly provides something to think about. I rate this bar well above the Hachez 88% tasted earlier. 7

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

Richart La Tablette Au Cacao Pure Origine Cote D'Ivorie 73%

Smooth taste, some slight initial bitterness that fades into pure chocolate flavor. Faint tones of strawberry were noticed. 8

I purchased this bar at a Richart boutique -- no other word can describe the store. Elegantly presented chocolates that look very expensive. In this case, looks aren't deceiving, though the bars are about average price for this class of chocolate, about $10.

Richart is located a few doors uphill from the Tuescher store on Sutter Street, right off Union Square. They have locations in New York, Boston and San Juan. You'll find a picture of the San Francisco store at: http://www.richart-chocolates.com/b2c/chocolate/boutiques/4

Teuscher Chocolate 77

Faint flavor of port wine. None of the fruit taste that was noticed in the 66%. Clean chocolate flavor from start to finish. Some residue of chalkiness at the end, very minor. 7

Isis Luxury Belgian Extra Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa

As expected for high-cocoa chocolates, this one has heavy chocolate impact, with a lasting aftertaste. Significant bitterness and chalkiness. No identifiable tastes: just chocolate. 6

Scharffen Berger 62% Semisweet Pure Dark Chocolate

Some bitterness. Edgy. Heavy chocolate flavor. 6

September 18, 2007: on later consideration and tasting, I'm revising this initial assessment. I no longer am tasting the bitterness. Yes, there's strong chocolate flavor, but not overpowering, and it is laced with side tones. Vanilla? Maybe. New rating: 7

Teuscher Chocolate 66

Initial taste of fruit, followed by straight chocolate. Clean finish. 8


Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland are sold in Teuscher stores. The focus of the store appears to be on truffles and other confections, but it has a nice range of bar chocolates, both plain and mixed with nuts and such.

This is the store where I purchased this bar: http://www.teuschersf.com/

Isis Luxury Belgian Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa

Elegant, some fruit tones. Light pieces that melt in the mouth. No bitterness. 9

Chocolove Strong Dark 70% cocoa Belgian Chocolate

Dry. Some nut tones. Not bitter. Strong dark is right -- chocolate is very front and center with this bar. 8

Dark Chocolate Santander 65% cacao Columbian single origin

First tasting:

Slight hint of coffee. Slightly bitter. But smoothe taste. Some mango? 7 revised to 8 on further consumption.

Second tasting:

I'll have to revise this back to 7. I'm noticing that the coffee flavor is stronger, maybe the bitterness too. The tropical fruit taste is still there, so while it's an interesting mix, on the whole the flavors I like less seem to dominate.

Droste Holland Pastilles Extra Dark Chocolate Cocoa/Cacao 72%

Significant bitterness and chalkiness. Some faint coffee notes. 5

Droste Pastilles come in hexagonal tubes, which are great for carrying during travel. Bars can get mangled easily wherever you put them when traveling, but the Pastilles box holds up well.

Cacao Reserve by Hershey's Sao Tome 70% Premium Dark Chocolate Single Origin

From the package: "Rich and robust chocolate notes and hints of aromatic coffee"

I would agree with the coffee 'hints'-- I don't drink coffee, and that might be why my first reaction to this chocolate was not positive. The chocolate is indeed rich -- maybe too rich. There is little apart from the strong chocolate note. Not memorable. 6

Green & Black's Organic Bittersweet Dark Chocolate 70% cocoa content

Chalky, bitter, earth tones 6

Recchiuti Fudge Brownies

While I'm on a Recchiuti kick, one last detour from this blog's theme. The other indulgence that I have at the Recchiuti store is their brownies. They are $2 each, so a little more affordable than the S'Mores Bites. They are excellent brownies -- rich chocolate and just the right amount of chewiness.

I visit their store in the Ferry Building, at the foot of Market Street in San Francisco, on the Embarcadero. I found myself visiting the Ferry Building a couple of years ago when they had their Thursday night market running until 8pm, since I couldn't make it there before then.

There's another chocolate store at the Ferry Building, Scharffen Berger. another local chocolatier. I tend to come back to Recchiuti more often, though, drawn by the S'Mores and the brownies. If you haven't visited the Ferry Building, there are many other interesting food stores and a few restaurants. Well worth a stroll next time you're in the City by the Bay.

Recchiuti S'Mores Bites

This blog is focused on unadulterated dark chocolate. Some are commercial, some are artisan, many are imported.

Recchiuti makes a wonderful dark chocolate, and even a really good milk chocolate. They have many other excellent quality products, but one I find myself buying frequently is the S'Mores Bites. It comes as a four-piece package, and sells for $8 -- that's $2 a Bite! And a bite is about as big as they are. I usually get three good bites out of each one.

Maybe you've tried to make your own S'mores. Recchiuti makes a S'Mores kit, so I bought one to give it a try. The kit comes with the necessary parts: a bar of dark chocolate; graham crackers; and marshmallows. You can make a really nice S'more from the kit, but at $22 it's pricey. I tried assembling my own kit from other brand graham crackers and marshmallows, and the results were pretty lame. Recchiuti makes their own marshmallows, which are also sold separately ($20 for 24 pieces), but not the crackers. Most graham crackers available at the grocery are thin, not able to standup to the rigors of being used for making S'mores.

But even the results of the Recchiuti S'Mores kit are poor compared to the finished product, their S'Mores Bites. One marshmallow sits on one small square of graham cracker, and the entire ensemble is enrobed in Recchiuti dark chocolate. It is the best.

Their website says that it's a seasonal product, so get'em while they last.

Recchiuti Dark Milk Chocolate 55% cacao

Yes, this is milk chocolate, despite the high cocoa content. Smooth, milky. 7 (because it's milk chocolate.)

Since Recchiuti is not widely available, here's their website: http://www.recchiuti.com

Recchiuti Bittersweet 85% Cacao

Does not taste 85% cacao -- smooth, not bitter. Pure chocolate, no overtones. 9

So far, this one is the only one that is bordering on a 10. We'll review the rating over time.

Cacao Reserve by Hershey's Extra Dark Chocolate 65% Cacao

Slight bitterness. No strong flavors. Basic dark chocolate. 6

Theo Chocolate Ivory Coast 74% Cacao

Heavy, dark, bitter. 7

Chocolove Rich Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa content Love poem inside

Delicious chocolate. No bitterness. Some citrus flavors. Sweet, but not cloying. 8

Vintage Plantations 2006 Harvest 65% Dark

Rainforest Alliance Certified Processed at the plantations in Ecuador.
Slight bitterness. Citrus burst initially. A chocolate for the active minded. 8

Unique Origin Ocumare Criollo Cocoa From Venezeula Bitter Dark Chocolate 71% Cocoa

Sweet. Deep. Some tang to it. 8

Caley's Fine Chocolate Since 1883 Classic Luxury Dark Chocolate

Strong cocoa flavor. Sweet -- almost milk chocolaty. 6

Unique Origin Varietal Chocolates Guaranda Forastero Arriba Cocoa From Ecuador. 71% minimum cocoa.

Dark, warm, rich. No aftertaste, clean. 9

Nirvana Belgian Chocolates Single Origin Grenada Cocoa content 60%

Deep chocolate taste. Some orange notes. Even taste and no bitter aftertaste. 8

GuyLian Finest Belgian Chocolate No Sugar Added 70% cocoa Extra Dark

Bland. Some chalkiness. Mildly bitter. 5

Marquise de Sevigne Paris Chocolat Noir 70% Cacao

Moderate bitterness. Some chalky finish. Extremely faint orange. 6

Cacao Reserve by Hershey's Santo Domingo 67% Premium Dark Chocolate Single Origin

Citrus flavor. Smoothe dark taste. Nice aftertaste. No bitterness. 8

Valrhona Le Noir 56% Cacao Semisweet Chocolate

Smooth, sweet, light chocolate flavor. No bitterness. Simple, not very complex. 8