Nearynogs Madagascar Sambirano 65% cacao

A burst of fruit flavors greets you on first taste, citrus and cherry notes. The bitterness is low and the through line is clear. 9.2

nearynogs.com

This bar is delicious, and the packaging is attractive, but it has a major flaw. The back label covers the seams which must be parted to open the bar, thereby destroying the label. It would be better to provide a means to open the package without destroying the label.

 

Spinnaker Peru 70% cacao

There is a toffee/caramel taste at first which develops into a roasted, burnt sugar effect. This gives the bar some bitterness, and that echoes in the aftertaste. 7.7

The label suggests that this bar has citrus notes, but I do not taste that.

Luisa's Vanuatu 72% cacao

This bar is quite thick and it takes a little effort to break on of the four segments in half. The initial taste is noticeably bitter and has a slightly chalky texture. The taste has fruit and nut undertones, some cherry and some walnut. The chalkiness continues into the aftertaste. 6.8

www.luisasveganchocolates.co.uk

Ingredients: Cacao-mass, unrefined sugar, cocoa butter

Aruntam Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 72% cacao

There are a mix of flavors which emerge when tasting this bar. A caramel texture appears initially, followed by a faint banana taste. The ending is touched with a sweet orange blossom note.  The aftertaste is brief and smooth. 9.3

Public Chocolatory Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 70% cacao

This bar has an eclectic mix of flavors: some caramel, a touch of pepper and a balsamic finish.  The bitterness is mild and the aftertaste is clean with moderate duration. 9.0 

$18 / 70g (2.5 oz)

Ingredients: CACAO BEANS from Kakoa Kamili, Tanzania, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR

When a chocolate maker uses an interesting mold, I like to include it in the post. Public Chocolatory's mold is an echo of the banner heading on the label.

An interesting item found inside the label is a tasting note form. The form allows you to note when and where you tasted the bar, initial impressions, what you were eating when you tasted it, what flavors you experienced (with a number of flavors suggested), and your aftertaste experience. It is an interesting way to have tasters think about their experience and note the results. Perhaps this can be the start of someone's blog.

 

I have left the form in the original Korean. Use your translate app if your Korean is not proficient.

Aruntam Madagascar Bejojo Estate 72% cacao

This bar has a solid chocolate taste, which gives way to a fruity fig and roasted pudding flavor. It is mildly bitter, leading to a middling length of aftertaste.  9.2

www.aruntamchocolate.com

Public Chocolatory Madagascar 70% cacao

This bar has a clear fruity taste, with a touch of citrus and berry flavor. The bitterness is mild and the aftertaste is clean. 9.3

Ingredients: CACAO BEANS from Åkesson's Organic, Madagascar, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR

$18 / 70g (purchased at Chocolate Covered, San Francisco)

publicchocolatory.com

Public Chocolatory is, I think, the first Korean chocolate maker to appear on ChocoCheck. The label is written almost entirely in Korean.  Translation applications are a valuable resource for reading the notes on the label.

 

Spinnaker Belize 70% cacao

There is a buttery texture to this bar with a butterscotch note present. I also taste some fruit notes, apricot perhaps, and slightly jammy. 9.2

www.spinnakerchocolate.com

Baianí Brazil Bahia 70% cacao

This bar's profile is earthy and roasted. The earthy aspect comes from a mushroom taste. The roasted aspect has some coffee notes. The bar is moderately bitter, and has an aftertaste that is balanced and moderate. 8.1

www.baiani.com.br

Tiny House Brazil Bahia 70% cacao

This bar's taste starts with a synthetic aspect, but shifts to a spicy direction with a pepper/licorice note. This devolves into an even, almost milky experience. Aftertaste is brief and fairly clean. 6.4

Dick Taylor Mexico Soconusco 72% cacao

There is a buttery texture and taste to this bar, underlying its rich chocolate profile. Some vanilla and spice cake notes give the bar an edge and lengthens the aftertaste. 7.7

Tiny House India 67% cacao

There is a soft, fudgy texture to this bar with a malt taste to it. Also noticeable is an earthy quality, with mushroom as a flavor note. The aftertaste is gentle and smooth. 9.2

I last reviewed Tiny House in 2018, and at the time their website reported the bar being sold in only two stores. Today the site reports many more "stockists," most in California, but one each in Minnesota, Virginia and Texas. 

I enjoy seeing bars with a crafted mold, and this bar has a nice one.

I also enjoy seeing whimsy on the label, and this bar has a QR code with a whimsical label which will direct you to their website. 

Mike&Becky India Kerala 70% cacao

This bar has a buttercream texture, though it is not as sweet as that confection. Other notes are a faint fruity jam taste along with some equally faint spice cake taste. The aftertaste is gentile and brief. 7.5

mikeandbecky.be

Inside the packaging is an informative illustration which shows the process followed in manufacturing this bar, including where each step is performed.

Hogarth Peru 66% cacao

With slightly less cacao than the usual 70%, this bar gives a gentle overall experience with moderate to low bitterness and a sweeter taste. The texture is reminiscent of butterscotch. There is a floral note with a rum raisin fruity part. The aftertest is short and also sweet. 8.9

Ara Chocolat Peru Tingo Maria 70% cacao

There is a fudgy texture to this bar, rich in chocolate flavor. Also of note is a light caramel taste. These may be combining to lead to a rum raisin note, and this results in an aftertaste which is rich and persistent. 8.8

Ara Chocolat Venezuela 70% cacao

This well made bar has a fruity taste profile with red fruit and raisin notes. Underlying this is a milky texture. The aftertaste is fairly lengthy, carrying the fruit taste with it. 9.6

www.arachocolat.com

Utopick Columbia Sierra Nevada 70% cacao

The very well made bar has a buttery texture, but the main flavor profile is fruity. This note has plum characteristics along with a hint of citrus. The aftertaste is brief and sweet. 9.4

$18 / 2.5oz (70g)

www.utopick.es

Beyond Good Madagascar 80% cacao

At 80% cacao, it is no surprise that this bar has high bitterness. It reminds me of the "chalky" taste I used to call out in earlier years when tasting a high cacao bar. The other taste aspects border on the synthetic, but are squarely in the roasted group. Some coffee taste is present, and a little charcoal. The after taste is long and bitter, so it stays with you. 6.0

Ingredients: *Cocoa Beans, *Cane Sugar, *Cocoa Butter, *Sunflower Lechithin (Emulsifier)
*Organic Ingredient

beyondgood.com

Chocolate Tree Columbia Arhuaco 70% cacao

This bar has a soft texture, not very sweet and not very bitter. The flavor profile is buttery with a touch of caramel.  Also in the mix are fruit notes, mild cherry mostly. The bar is well made with a crisp snap, and the aftertaste is mild and brief. 9.2

The weight of this bar is 2.8 oz. (80 g), which is sizeable for craft chocolate bars.   This allows the bar to be divided in two, each individually wrapped. The mold for these segments is intricate with a unicorn motif. 

Evolved Signature Dark 72% cacao

The label has Tasting Notes (which I usually put in the comments) which suggest "Warm fudge brownie, caramel." I agree with both of these notes. The caramel is prominent, but the fudge taste is the most significant part of the experience. Aftertaste diminishes gradually, with moderate bitterness. 7.1

This may be the first bar tasted on ChocoCheck made with coconut sugar. I do not notice a major difference from bars with cane sugar, but there is a smoothness to the chocolate which may come from the coconut from which the sugar is taken.

The mold used with the bar is simple, but conveys the brand and makes it easy to consume the bar.

Ingredients: organic cacao*, organic coconut sugar, organic cacao butter*

* Rainforest Alliance Certified

www.eatingevolved.com

Cuna De Piedra Mexico Chiapas 85% cacao

As would be expected for an 85% cacao bar, this bar is quite bitter. The flavor that initially presents is a roasted charcoal taste. There is also an earthy element. The aftertaste is long and bitter. 6.5

Ingredients: Cacao beans, Cane sugar

www.cunadepiedra.com

My ratings are focused not on the objective quality of the bar, but rather on my preference for the bar. High cacao percentage bars are at a disadvantage, as my taste preference is for bars below 80% cacao. This bar is well made and those who enjoy high cacao content bars will enjoy it.

Dandelion Uganda Semuliki Forest 2022 Harvest 70% cacao

From the start this bar has a buttery texture. The flavor tends towards caramel, but there could be some toffee notes in the background. The aftertaste is edgy and short with a slight bitterness. 8.9

Aruntam Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 72% cacao

This bar has a buttery taste to start and develops faint honey flavors. The aftertaste is moderate and clean. 8.8

www.aruntamchocolate.com

The package for this bar is fairly large, and I was surprised when I opened the package to discover a much smaller inner wrapper. This bar is made in Italy, so perhaps the larger outer package is intended to protect the bar when shipped.

Kokak Ecuador Artist palette Dark Chocolate 70% cacao

There is a sharp and clean taste profile for this bar. The notes are fruity, along the lines of red fruit with some citrus aspect. This gives way to a buttery texture. The aftertaste is brief and persists the fruity taste. 9.3

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (organic cacao mass, cane sugar, cacao butter, organic sunflower lecithin), Cream, Condensed Milk, Vanilla Bean, Sucrose, Sorbitol, Sea Salt, Glucose Syrup, Liquid Soy Lecithin, Butter, Strawberry, Cacao Nibs

This bar was previewed in the Kokak Chocolate, San Francisco post. The artist palette theme of this bar is whimsical and fun.  Note that the ingredient list of this bar is probably the longest on ChocoCheck. I suppose that some of these ingredients are used for the ink drops on the palette, but if the Cream and Condensed Milk are used in the main chocolate I would be surprised, as the bar tastes as I would expect for the dark chocolate.

Whole Foods Organic Dark Chocolate 72% cacao

This is a mildly sweet dark chocolate, with earthy notes and some faint roasted notes. The earthy aspect leans toward mushroom, while the roasted dimension is akin to cooked pudding. 7.0

Ingredients: Organic chocolate liquor*, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter*
*Rainforest Alliance Certified

The label of this bar reports that "A portion of proceeds from this bar helps fund the education of children in the Kylea District of Tanzania." This is good, though they do not indicate what percentage of the proceeds will go towards this purpose. This note might make the purchaser believe that the cacao from this bar was sourced from Tanzania, but there is no indication anywhere else on the label that this is the case. 

I also note that while the label  says that this bar is "72% cacao", the ingredients list chocolate liquor and cocoa butter, which are derived from cacao, but are an additional processing step (or more) from the bean.

Dandelion Belize Maya Mountain 2021 Harvest 70% cacao

The bar has a distinct caramel flavor, edging towards toffee. Not very bitter, but the cacao flavor of the bar is dense, leaning towards a chalky consistency. The aftertaste persists due to the the chalky aspect, but is not bitter. 7.6

Compare to Dandelion Belize Maya Mountain (2017) 70% cacao and prior editions of this origin. This bar seems milder than the prior harvests, and the taste profile is quite different. The label suggests: "We taste European tasting chocolate and strawberry coulis." The density of the cacao flavor that I taste might agree with the tasting chocolate mentioned on the label, but I do not taste strawberry or any fruit flavor.

Luisa's Solomon Islands 100% cacao

Extremely bitter with a sharp and persistent aftertaste. Side flavors are hard to distinguish, though the strong bitterness leads to a synthetic taste, plastic perhaps.

I bought this bar by mistake. I did not notice that it was a 100% cacao bar. I previously tasted a 100% cacao bar: Vintage Plantations 100% Dark Processed at the plantation in Ecuador. In that review I said, "This will likely be the last of the extremely high cocoa bars that graces this blog..." I did not account for purchasing errors.

That said, my tasting of this bar is advised by an additional 15 years of dark chocolate experience. While I do not find this bar casually enjoyable, it does provide a nice kick of cacao somewhat akin to a rich espresso. For a bracing afternoon cacao experience, this bar can provide a ...

Okay, I was searching for the right word to conclude this thought, so I posted the review to ChatGPT and asked it to complete the review. Here's how it finished it:

...stimulating and intense burst of flavor. The texture is smooth and dense, melting slowly on the tongue and releasing its complex profile. It's not for the faint-hearted, but for those who appreciate the raw, unadulterated essence of cacao, it offers an intriguing and robust experience.

The packaging is simple and elegant, reflecting the purity of the product inside. It's an interesting addition to any chocolate aficionado's collection, serving as a reminder of the powerful taste that lies at the heart of all chocolate creations.

In conclusion, this 100% cacao bar may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it has its unique appeal for those who seek the purest form of chocolate. It's best enjoyed in small bites, perhaps paired with a cup of coffee or tea to balance its intense flavor. If you're feeling adventurous and looking to explore the limits of dark chocolate, this bar is definitely worth a try. Just be prepared for the uncompromising, bold taste that awaits you.

Well, thank you, ChatGPT, for finishing my thought! Not sure how it knew about the packaging, but I would agree with its characterization. I might criticize the "not everyone's cup of tea" reference after my "rich espresso" comment, but we can leave that.

I omitted giving this bar a rating as it is outside of the normal scope of ChocoCheck reviews, but it is a well-made bar.

Ingredients: 100% cacao

www.luisasveganchocolates.co.uk

Atypic Solomon Islands 70% cacao

The most notable flavor note of this bar is a bright cherry. This is followed by a soft caramel flavor. The aftertaste is clean with the caramel note following though it. 9.3

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cacao butter, sunflower lecithin

 atypic-chocolate.com.au

This is the first review of an Atypic chocolate bar. This is a maker in Melbourne, Australia. The bar has an interesting mold, which leads to breaking off pieces in rectangles and other shapes.

Kokak Chocolate, San Francisco

While traveling on an errand down 18th Street I noticed a store I had not seen before, Kokak Chocolates. I immediately parked and went in for a visit. 

The store is cozy, with a counter displaying their products. Truffles are the primary offering, and these have artistic designs on top. 

You will also find chocolate bars including an award winning Umami White Chocolate bar.

Casual passers-by may enjoy their hot chocolate offerings, which can be had spicy, classic or as a European Sipping Style hot chocolate.

ChocoCheck focuses on simple dark chocolate, and Kokak has a novel and fun bar that fits the profile: the Artist Palette Heirloom 70% Dark Chocolate Bar. The palette features a frog, which appears to be Kokak's mascot, as "kokak" is Filipino for "ribbit". In addition to the 70% cacao bar, the chocolate palette is available in milk chocolate.

I ordered one of the 70% dark chocolate palettes, plus a classic hot chocolate. With the purchase I was also given a sample truffle. It was a delicious dark chocolate with a wonderful ganache and a design which appears to be inspired by Mondrian.

Kokak is well worth adding to the agenda of your next San Francisco chocolate tour.

K'ul Dominican Republic 80% cacao

This bar has a strong cacao profile, though the bitterness is medium strong. There are faint fruity notes, plummy with a hint of rum raisin. The aftertaste is tart and leaves a puckering sensation in the mouth. 7.3

Ingredients: organic direct trade cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter.

kulchocolate.com

Trader Joe's Organic Dark 73% cacao

This bar has a dense cacao flavor with a high degree of bitterness. The flavors are a roasted charcoal taste and an earthy flavor akin to leather. The aftertaste is lengthy and astringent. 7.2

Ingredients: Organic cocoa mass, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter

Utopick Columbia Sierra Nevada 70% cacao

This bar has several dimensions of flavor: an earthy mushroom note, a fruity raisin taste, and a lightly smoked roasted aspect. The bitterness is mild, and the aftertaste is short. 9.0

utopick.es