Chocolate Santander Columbian 70% cacao

There is a nice mix of flavors in this bar.  Some hazelnut and walnut elements, a little lime in the background. Rick cocoa flavor, not too bitter, but plenty robust.  Smooth aftertaste that is well balanced.  7.8

Fran's Chocolates Bittersweet Dark 74% Cacao

Quite interesting. There are many flavors firing with this bar. I am noticing a tartness, an earthiness and some sweet or cherry components. The bar is nicely made. Very little bitterness, but a long, pleasant aftertaste. 8.1

This is the third and last of the bars I picked up on my trip to the Pacific Northwest in December.  Fran's Chocolates is a Seattle, Washington, company.

The label notes that this bar is "intense & bold."  Fair enough! I certainly got an intense reaction to the bar's bold flavors.

www.franschocolates.com

Boehms Dark Chocolate

Very basic flavor profile which is very strong in cocoa. Not subtle about it! Not bitter, with a short aftertaste. 5.9

This is another bar I acquired on my December visit to eastern Washington State. Boehms shows an address in Issaquah, Washington, which is on the western side of the state, near Seattle. No cocoa percentage is give on the label, but the first listed ingredient is "semi-sweet chocolate," so we can guess something around 55% or less cocoa.

www.boehmscandies.com

Cowgirl Chocolates Mild Dark 75% cocoa

Rich cocoa flavor, with some earthy tones. Fairly bitter aftertaste. 6.5

I purchased this bar in Moscow, Idaho. For those not familiar with the town, it's name is pronounced to rhyme with "Cisco."  I visited the Cowgirl store in bustling downtown Moscow, the company's hometown. 

Moscow is just across the stateline from Pullman, Washington, which we were visiting for Christmas.  This photo shows the deep snow that fell there during the trip.

Scharffen Berger San Juan de Cheni Peru 78% cacao

This is a very flavorful bar, indeed, quite fruity. There is a rush of a lime note at first taste, which resolves into cherry.  The label's notes mentions a number of other fruits—pineapple, banana, pear—which I could imagine are present, but these do not stand out for me.  8.1

This is the sixth of Scharffen Berger's Chocolate Maker's series that I have reviewed.  I am glad to see that the company continues to make quality single-origin bars as part of the Hershey company, though it is missed as a San Francisco chocolate maker. However, their departure from the bay area has allowed other San Francisco makers to find a market, Tcho, Rechutti, Dandelion and others.