Francois Pralus Trinidad 75% cocoa

Quite bitter, but the rich chocolate balances the bitterness. The flavor is fruity, mostly cherry. This is a well built bar. Nice snap, smooth melting. 7

www.chocolats-pralus.com

Malie Kai Hawaiian Waialua Estate 55% Cacao

Strong, flavorful chocolate, particularly for a 55% cocoa bar. Fruity, dare I imagine some pineapple notes? The bar breaks crisply and melts slowly in the mouth. An excellent chocolate. 8.5

This is the first Hawaiian chocolate that I've tasted (for that matter, it's the first I've ever seen). I bought this bar at Chocolate Covered, and as I recall it was very pricy for a small bar (1.5 oz.).

www.maliekai.com

Spokandy Pure Dark Chocolate

Simple, clean, pleasant, uninspired. 6.5

This bar was acquired on a trip to Spokane, Washington. I doubt that it is available outside of Washington. Anyone know?

www.spokandy.com

Teuscher Chocolate 55 55% Cocoa

This is a fine semi-sweet chocolate. Unlike the Rechiutti Dark Milk 55% Cocoa bar, which has a distinct "milk chocolate" taste, this bar does not. It is certainly less bitter than the high cocoa Teuscher bars, but keeps the chocolate dimension of the flavor prominent. There is not much in the way of side flavor tones, just cocoa. Those who do not like high cocoa bars will love this one, and those who do like high cocoa bars will find an enjoyable experience. 8

www.teuscher.com
www.teuschersf.com

Kshocolat Dark Chocolate 72% cocoa solids

Bitter taste -- bracing, but not over-strong. Some peppery angles to the first bite. Makes you wonder what's coming next. Not a lot, but the aftertaste stays with you -- maybe it would die down with a Port chaser. 7

Appears to be from Scotland -- so what's with the funky brand name?

www.kshocolat.com

$3.99 / 2.8 oz (80g) [$1.43 per oz]

Originally tasted in March 2009

Newman's Own Organics Super Dark Chocolate 70% cocoa

I was surprised to like this bar as much as I do. I associate "organic" chocolate with other bars I've tasted with that label, and they were not great. This bar has a crisp snap when broken, a pleasant aroma when sniffed, and a tangy, rich choclate flavor, and a smooth finish. All the elements of a great tasting experience. 8.5

newmansownorganics.com

Chocolate stores in San Francisco

As I was walking about downtown San Francisco, I stopped by Teuscher's to see what they had that was new (picked up a 55% cocoa bar that I'll be trying out later), and decided to walk up the hill for a visit to Richart. I was disappointed to see a sign on their door explaining that they had closed in June.

I reviewed a couple of the Richart bars, the Sao Tome and the Cote D'Ivorie. They were pricey, but always excellent. They also were shaped in large squares, very unusual for chocolate bars. Sadly, San Francisco has one less chocolate boutique at which to shop.

If you're feeling mopey as a result of this (a bit stale) news, then head over to Noe Valley for a visit to a born-in-San Francisco chocolate store experience. On another wander about town, I noticed the Chocolate Covered store. It was closed when I took this blurry phone snap, but I came back later for a visit. The window in front of the store is packed with tin boxes of all shapes and sizes that are imprinted with the names of San Francisco streets and all kinds of other pictures.

Inside the store is an excellent variety of chocolates from all over. I picked up the Chocolove Tanzania Chocolatour bar there, and a couple others. The owner of the store explained that his wife owns a clothing boutique on the street that used to be located in this spot, but they swapped stores as his collection of decorated candy boxes expanded.

You can find another review of Chocolate Covered here, and they rate four and half stars on Yelp (at this writing). Their address is:

Chocolate Covered
4069 24th Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 641-8123