Belvie Vietnam Lam Dong 75% cacao

A buttery toffee taste emerges initially, and develops further to reflect cooked pudding. The aftertaste is stable and gentle. 7.2

Cacap Sampaka Cameroon Haute-Sanaga 70% cacao

There is a strong punch of coffee flavor from this bar, with a light touch of spice cake. The texture is smooth and creamy. The aftertaste has some bitterness which derives from the coffee flavor. 6.8

www.cacaosampaka.com [Spanish]

Bisou Vanuatu 76% cacao

This bar is fairly bitter, not unexpected for a bar with a cacao content above 70%. The flavors that surface include a touch of vanilla and a fig component. The aftertaste carries the bitterness and persists for a moderate duration. 6.7

www.bisouchocolate.com

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, Organic whole cane sugar

I purchased this bar at a Farmer's Market which took place at the Inner Richmond district of the city. The maker is located in Berkeley where he has a store. I had not heard of his product before encountering his stand at the market and asked whether he considered offering it at our city's chocolate store with the most variety, Chocolate Covered. He said that he prefers selling at Farmer's Markets to avoid the loss of revenue from needing to offer wholesale prices to such stores.

The price asked for this bar at this market was incredible: $15 for a 30 gram (1 oz.) bar.  I consider this pricing excessive.

The mold they used for the bar, though, is pretty nice.

Foundry Peru 70% cacao

This bar has a nice flavor profile, with apricot on the outset and orange blossom on the end. The experience is clean from start to finish, with an aftertaste which is gentle and short. 9.6

www.foundrychocolate.com

Chocolarder Peru, Cuencas 72% cacao

The primary taste of this bar has a molasses aspect, slightly roasted. Next in line is a buttery texture with some caramel notes. The aftertaste is clean, gradually diminishing. 9.0

www.chocolarder.com

Beyond Good Madagascar 70% cacao

There is a rough texture to this bar, though it diminishes after a time. The primary flavor is cherry, though there is a hint of synthetic taste mixed in. The aftertaste is clean and has average duration. 6.8

I have previously review a Beyond Good bar of Madagascar origin, and I notice that I mentioned a synthetic taste in that bar as well: Beyond Good Madagascar 80% cacao I notice that the previous label was fairly subtle and clean, whereas this bar has huge lettering, contrasting colors, and graphics showing the location of the origin and manufacture. Clearly they decided to amp up their shelf impact.

I appreciate their goal to work closely with local farmers and manufacture their chocolate close to the source, but the results are not yet at the level of more highly rated bars I have tasted.

Likklemore Jamaica 70% cacao

This colorful bar has a slightly chalky texture, but that does not distract from the flavor. There is a buttery aspect which leans towards caramel, and it has a balsamic note giving it a flavor boost. The aftertaste lingers, due perhaps to the rough texture. 7.8

www.likklemorechocolate.com

Ingredients: Cocao nibs, cane sugar, cocoa butter. All-natural colors derived from plants, fruits & vegetables.

The ingredient reference of colors is due to the decorative surface of the bar. It does not appear to alter or interfere with the taste of the chocolate, but does add a festive touch.