The Belgian Chocolate Box 55% cocoa

I picked up two bars when I was in Phillipsburg. This is the second.

With a lower cocoa percentage, this bar is sweeter, smoother and less complex that the 70% bar.  Otherwise it has a similar flavor.  6.1

SF Chocolate Salon Returning on March 4th

I attended the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon in 2009.  It was the third year for the show, and I wrote up some notes from my visit.  The show is back for its sixth year, which you can attend on March 4th from 10am to 6pm at Herbst Pavillion in Fort Mason.  Expect a crowd and don't be shy if you want a taste.

Additional information can be found at Taste TV's website: San Francisco International Chocolate Salon

Belgian Chocolate Box 70% cacao

Simple chocolate taste. Clean, low bitterness, very little aftertaste. Faint nutmeg flavor. 6.7

I purchased this bar at a small chocolate store in Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten, during our January Caribbean cruise. The bar has extremely simple packaging, clearly a "home made" bar.  It was nicely formed of rows with high edges, and there was a clean snap when the pieces were broken.

Their website has a nice section on making chocolate.

www.thebelgianchocolatebox.com

Scharffen Berger Papua New Guinea 68% cacao

Noticeably bitter, though the aftertaste is short lived.  Some tanginess on initial taste, but this also fades quickly.  The undertone flavor is walnut, but the overtone is plain chocolate. 7.0

1848 Bio Noir 70% cacao

Another bar tasted on the cruise.  This bar was purchased on the French side of the island of St. Martin.

This is an earthy chocolate, fairly bitter.  No chalkiness.  6.9

This bar is produced by Cadbury France.  I always look for a URL on a bar label, but this one had none.  Perhaps the web hasn't caught on in France yet?

Wild Boar Santo Domingo 70% cacao

We tasted this bar on a recent cruise. My friend Jim and I tried it.

Jim: really nice

Steve: Rich clean taste. Some cherry flavor. After taste is very mild, with a sweet finish. 7.7

www.hagensborg.com