Whittaker's Dark Cacao 62% cocoa

This is a very large block of chocolate, 250 grams, which is over a half-pound. Upon opening there is a fragrant cocoa aroma emergent. The taste is smooth and gentle, very low bitterness, and of course very cocoa. The cocoa flavor stays with the aftertaste, which has a medium duration. 7.0

This is the second bar brought to us by my colleague from his recent trip.

www.whittakers.co.nz

Ocho Papua New Guinea Mainas 66% cacao

A strong molasses flavor emerges after a few seconds of tasting.  The label mentions cinnamon and honey, but if these flavors are present they are subsumed. Fairly bitter, considering the cacao content, but not unpleasant. 7.4

This bar was brought back by a colleague of mine who recently took a trip to Australia. Much appreciated!

ocho.co.nz

Pacari Ecuador Esmeraldas 60% cacao

When I opened the package of this bar I got a very pleasant sniff. On tasting, the bar has a sweet cherry flavor. There is also a tartness, but no citrus notes of note. The aftertaste is very short and smooth. 8.1

This is is fourth bar in the pack of four. All of the bars were very good, very flavorful.

Pacari Ecuador Manabi 65% cacao

Lightly sweet, with mango and papaya notes. Slightly bitter background, but a fairly clean aftertaste. 7.3

This bar was part of a four-pack brought back by a colleague from a recent trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos. Two of the bars I've tasted before: Pacari Ecuadorian Organic Raw 70% cacao and Pacari Ecuadorian Organic 72% cacao. Both were again really good bars.

Elite Bittersweet 40% cocoa

This is a mass-market "bittersweet" bar. I have not reviewed one of these in quite a while, so I was due.

There is a distinct coffee flavor noticeable. This might be a factor of the vanillin that this bar contains with the cocoa and sugar. There is also a bitter bite throughout the tasting. It might be an effect of the salt in the bar.

For the record, here are the ingredients: "Sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, emulsifier, soya lecithin, vanillin (an artificial flavor), salt. Chocolate contains cocoa solids 40% min." Salt, eh? I usually try to avoid chocolates that have extraneous ingredients like salt. I will have to keep my eye out on the ingredients line when purchasing bars like these. However it is the last item in the ingredient list, so it cannot be a huge amount of salt.

The overall experience is not up the the standards I am used to for single origin bars.  Point off for: extraneous ingredients (vanillin and salt), low cocoa content and an underwhelming taste. 5.9

Dandelion Ecuador Camino Verde 2014 85% cacao

This is a bold, rich chocolate. It is bitter without apology. The flavor profile is warm, with cherry as the foundation and earthy notes echoing around it. The bitterness persist through the aftertaste. Weak of heart need not consume! 7.9

Dandelion Venezuela Mantuano 2014 Harvest 70% cacao

I reviewed the bar made from the 2012 harvest of this bar previously. Once again this chocolate has lively flavors and a clean finish. There is some bitterness underneath the flavors, but it is not excessive. Before I tasted cherry and tomato. There is certainly none of the latter. More so earthy flavor textures. The label mentions gingerbread, espresso and a hint of cinnamon. I can convince myself of the cinnamon, but I see no sign of the other two. Still, the flavor mix is interesting and engaging. 8.8

Solstice Wasatch Blend 70% cacao

Nicely balanced flavors, cherry and raisin are most prominent. Smooth aftertaste with a fast but clean trail-off. 8.5