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