Mt. Shasta Bar Dark Chocolate

This specialty chocolate tastes about as expected -- chocolaty. The vanilla in the ingredients dominates the flavor. Not bad, but not great.

Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate (chocolate liquor processed with potassium carbonate, sugar, cocoa butter, butter oil), soya lecithin and pure vanilla.

This bar represents the Mount Shasta area of California, a couple hours north of the bay area. We traveled to Madras, OR for Eclipse 2017, and our first stop was near Mt. Shasta. Unfortunately, the smoke from fires further north has encroached on the area, so the mountain was not very visible.

We continued on north to Madras, where the air was much clearer.

The label indicates that this bar was produced by Chocolate de Nannette in Redding, CA for Mt. Shasta Products: www.chocolatdenannette.com

Rococo Organic 65% cocoa

There are some earthy elements in this bar, with butter/maple notes. Some faint fruit flavors are present, cherry/raisin mostly. Low bitterness and clean aftertaste. 7.7

rococochocolates.com

Maverick Belize 70% cacao

I have greatly enjoyed previous Belize origin chocolate bars (such as the highest rated bar on Chococheck, Dick Taylor Belize Organic 72% cacao), and I will add this bar to the group. It is quite flavorful, with cherry and hazelnut notes. The aftertaste is very clean. 9.4

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter.

maverickchocolate.com

Sirene Bolivia 73% cacao

This bar has a palette of flavors. The label mentions raisins and nuts, and "a discernible feral wildness." I certainly get the raisins and nut flavors (kind of a hazelnut), but I am not sure where to taste the "feral wildness." I also taste some cherry. The bitterness level is modest, with a very smooth aftertaste. 8.9

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Organic Cane Sugar

sirenechocolate.com

Fruition Costa Rica Heirloom 74% cacao

Wonderfully fruity flavor, with cherry and raisin notes. Very smooth from start to finish, with low bitterness and a pleasing aftertaste. 9.2

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, cane sugar

Potomac Costa Rica Upala 85% cacao

This bar is very reminiscent of the previously reviewed Potomac Costa Rica Upala 82% cacao. Very bitter, but the other aspects are similar. This bar is 3% more cacao than the other bar, which might account for the additional bitterness. 6.8

Ingredients: organic cacao, organic sugar

Åkesson's Madagascar 75% cacao

Quite flavorful bar, full of bright cherry flavors and some tangy citrus. Smooth from first taste to last aftertaste. 9.7

www.akessons-organic.com