Cacao Sampaka Xoconusco Mexico 70% Cacao

Some fruit notes overlay a rich chocolate base, some cherry, some raisin. Very mildly bitter, with a gradually fading aftertaste.  8.8

I've reviewed one other bar sourced from Mexico, the Askinose Soconusco Mexico 75% cocoa.  From my notes, it appears to be a very different tasting bar.

This bar and its partner, which will be reviewed later, have a flavor spider chart on the label.   It is a compact way to show the impact of different flavor elements for comparison between bars.  This bar is scored lower than 4 (on a 5 scale) on all dimensions, but "cocoa" and "chocolate" rate the highest (3.5 and 3).  I am puzzled on the distinction they are trying to make between these two, as cocoa and chocolate are pretty much synonymous for me. Next highest are "bitter" at 1.5 and "acid" at 2.2. I might have gone lower on the bitter, but the acidic seems about right.

www.CacaoSampaka.com

Maglio Africa 75% Cacao

Warm, rich chocolate taste. Somewhat earthy, but very smooth. A very subtle aftertaste, clean and pleasant.  Excellent.  9.0


www.cioccolatomaglio.it

Lamourette Venezuela Carenero Superior 75% cacao

This bar is a noticeable step up from the other bar from the family that's been tasted (Lamourette Chocolate Noir 75% cacao).  A pop of citrus flavors on first taste, followed by other notes, some woody, some anise.  There is some bitterness, nothing too prominent, but it lasts into a lengthy aftertaste.  8.8

Story of Chocolate

My brother, John, sent me an article he read about chocolate:

A Cup of Hot Chocolate, S’good for What Ails Ya

It's quite a story!

Lamourette Chocolate Noir 75% cacao

Very nice flavor palette.  Some spiciness, also some sweetness.  Fairly low bitterness, but memorable aftertaste.  Very faint, possibly imaginary, orange notes.  8.2

This is a fairly new member of the San Francisco chocolate family.  I have another bar from this company to taste and will hope to get to it soon.

www.LamouretteChocolat.com