Sunday, June 28, 2015

Bahen Madagascar 70% cacao

Very flavorful chocolate from Madagascar. Citrus, berries, even a faint raisin flavor can be tasted. The bar melts quickly in the mount, and chewing is sweet with bursts of flavor. Low bitterness and a sweet but short aftertaste. 9.5

bahenchocolate.com

Friday, June 26, 2015

Rogue Jamaica 75% cacao

This bar puts its bitterness out front. It is present at the start of tasting and remains to the aftertaste. Caramel flavor can be tasted, as well as hazelnut. The bar melts very slowly in the mouth, meaning that chewing will be the most likely tasting mode. Chewing releases the flavor quickly, bringing out some faint sweetness. 7.5

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Dandelion Guatemala Cahabón 70% cacao

This bar is astringent, but has nice flavors. Some plum and cherry, with a slight dose of licorice. Smooth aftertaste, where the puckishness trails off quickly. 8.8

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Amano Papua New Guinea Morobe 70% cacao

Fruity and flavorful, with a tart edge. Cantaloupe and cherry flavors mix. Very smooth finish. 9.1

Monday, May 25, 2015

Original Beans Peru Piura Porcelana 75% cacao

Faint citrus and honey notes can tasted. Quite smooth, with a gentle aftertaste. 8.2

Comparing to other porcelana bars, this one is not as "dreamy" as the Amedei bar, but a bit more interesting than the Valrhona bar from Venezuela.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Original Beans Grand Cru Blend No. 1 80% cacao

Strongly bitter bar. The aftertaste rings with the bracing bitterness. The label mentions "notes of forest berries and coffee." Not sure what "forest berries" would be, but the stuff of forests would apply (bark, pine cones). Not getting any coffee flavor, but some faint butterscotch notes may be under that bitter foundation. 7.0

Search on "forest berries" shows blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, plus acorns and other tree nuts. In that case, I would lean towards the acorns rather than the fruit berries.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Blanxart Brasil 76% cacao

Vanilla and toast are my first impressions of this bar. Like the other Blanxart bars recently reviewed here, this one has vanilla as an ingredient. Not at all bitter, but the finish brings out some molasses flavor. A confusing flavor mix. 7.0