Sarotti No. 1 aus Ecuador 72% cacao

This another bar I purchased during my August trip to northern Europe. Sarotti is a German manufacturer and this bar is made from Ecuador cacao. We shared this at last week's poker game at work, and it was consumed quickly with great comments.

Very flavorful chocolate, with a citrus-almond flavor. Low bitterness, and an easy aftertaste. 8.0

www.sarotti.de

Marabou Premium 86% cocoa

This is the big brother of Marabou Premium 70% cocoa, and it does have a bolder cocoa flavor.  This seems to help the overall effect -- I am still tasting a metallic aspect, but it is much less than with the 70% bar. The extra richness also is adding an earthiness and nuttiness to the flavor, making it a more interesting bar. 6.5

Marabou Premium 70% cocoa

Quite bitter for a 70% cocoa bar with some metallic edge to the taste. Strong cocoa flavor, no background flavors. 5.8


I bought this bar in a chocolate store in Stockholm. The label indicates that Marabou is owned by Kraft Foods.

Eldorado Mörk Choklad 50% cacao

This bar was acquired during my recent trip to Sweden. "Mörk" is the Swedish word for "dark." The bar is not high-end chocolate. It is a respectable mass-market chocolate, but not distinctive. Clean cocoa flavor with a modest level of bitterness and chalkiness. 6.1

Caffarel Grands Crus Ghana 70% cacao

We tasted this bar while sailing on Arwen Evenstar in the Baltic Sea. Tom is the skipper and owner.

Steve: Bitter initial taste. Resolves into smooth rich cocoa with little aftertaste. No noticeable side flavors. 7.5

Tom: Mild after taste that levels out and fades away. Good! Some anise side flavor, maybe a touch of rose hip. 7.5