Vintage Plantations 75% Dark Processed at the plantation in Ecuador

Initial sweet, orangy taste. Followed by a strong burst of slightly bitter chocolate. 7

Amedei Tuscany Cioccolato Fondente Extra 70%

This chocolate has a strong presence. The initial flavor is fruity -- grape/wine in nature. Maybe a little orange. Nice aftertaste, even though more bitter than the 66%. 8

Droste Holland Pastilles Bittersweet Chocolate Chocolat Noir

Some bitterness, but mostly a tinny taste. No cocoa content shown, but tastes maybe 60%. 6

The red-box Pastilles were a regular snack item for me before I started exploring other dark chocolates for this project. As mentioned for the blue-box Pastilles, the packaging is convenient for carrying, and I remember the taste as being pretty good. Now, after tasting a variety of other dark chocolates, the Droste looks much weaker by comparison. There's an aftertaste that I describe as "tinny", that the best dark chocolates don't have.

Amedei Tuscany Cioccolato Fondente Extra 66%

Initial cherry flavor, bound by a light touch of dark chocolate. Constant flavor that ends with some caramel notes. 9

Villars Maitre Swiss Dark Chocolate 72%

Bitter taste, more than expected for a 72%. Some grassy taste -- taste that reminds me of the smell of grass. Chalky finish. Nice thin pieces with a pretty flower (as shown on the packaging). 6

Scharffen Berger Bittersweet Fine Artisan Dark Chocolate 70% cacao

Simple chocolate flavor tinged with faint acid edge. The finish is mostly that tinge, very little is the chocolate. 6

Richart La Tablette Au Cacao Pure Origine Sao Tome 70%

Initial burst of fruit flavor, cherry I think. No bitterness, some sweetness. Clean finish. Excellent. 9