Dandelion Venezuela 70% cacao

A strong, assertive chocolate. Fairly bitter, but that backs up the assertion. Overtones of vanilla can be noticed, and I agree with the "malty notes" mentioned on the label. There is a long aftertaste, trailing from the bitter edge. A good way to close out 2012! 8.0

I started off 2012 with a tasting of Dandelion Tanzania 70% cocoa. I also tasted their Dandelion Madagascar 70% cacao the prior November, at which time I mentioned that I had been told they were moving to San Francisco. Looks like the move was completed, as the address on the label is in The City. I'm looking forward to more bars from Dandelion.

Peets Semisweet 64% cacao

Very rich cocoa flavor. Faint cinnamon flavor can be grasped on close examination. Some bitterness, not too much. Just enough for a long lasting aftertaste. 7.3

I'd classify this as a mass-market bar.  It's well made, and has a cocoa bean stamped on every other piece. The label on the back mentions that the bar is "packed exclusively for Peet's Coffee & Tea," so I think we can assume that Peet's does not make the bar itself. There are no additional clues as to who manufactured the bar for Peet's.

$3.29 for 3 ounces

A Guilty Pleasure -- Berger Cookies

I traveled to Baltimore over Thanksgiving, and brought back some Berger Cookies.  Calling them a "cookie" is a slight misnomer. It's actually a thick layer of fudge layered on top of a thin cookie substrate.  I'm sure other bakeries make a cookie like this, but Berger's have been the go-to provider of this type of cookie for Baltimore.

I call it a "guilty pleasure" because the Nutrition Label for the cookie reveals that transfats are used in its making. It is my understanding that 1) transfats are not good for your health and 2) that food products can generally be made without transfats in all cases.  So let us avoid them, yes?

Well, yes in most cases.  I'll make an occasional exception for Berger Cookies. Okay, that's my allotment for the year!

www.bergercookies.com

Cotton Tree Chocolate Belize 70% cocoa

One of my colleague took a trip to Belize recently, and brought back dark chocolate. Yay!

This bar is fairly bitter, but not over-powering. I taste some earthy notes as well as a little nutmeg.  The aftertaste is fairly long due to the bitterness, but it is clean to the end. 8.2

www.cottontreechocolate.com

Amedei Cru Madagascar 70% cocoa

I have been waiting to try the Amedei Cru for Madagascar.  I was not disappointed. The bar is quite lively, with the usual burst of citrus I expect from other Madagascar bars, plus an interesting side flavor that I find difficult to identify. It has a red cherry aspect to it. The bitterness is very low, and the aftertaste is nicely balanced.  Not too bitter to overstay its welcome, but rich enough to remain memorable. 8.9