Green & Black's Organic Bittersweet Dark Chocolate 85% cocoa

I tasted this chocolate at our weekly low-stakes poker game at work. Three of us tasted the chocolate and we got three thumbs up. There is none of the chalkiness you might expect from such a high percent cocoa bar, and the bitterness was well balanced giving a nice finish. This chocolate is full bodied, with some earthy flavors. One of us thought it was very flavorful. 7

Compare this to the Green & Black's 70% bar that I reviewed quite a while back. Given the more positive response I've had to the 85% bar, it would probably be worthwhile for me to taste this one again to see if the bar or my taste has changed in the 2 1/2 years since I last tried it.

www.greenandblacks.com

Ghirardelli Squares 60% Cacao

After my unpleasant experience with the Hershey's 60% cacao bar, I wanted to try another mass market bar at the same cocoa percent to compare and hopefully contrast.

I grabbed this small item for this purpose. There is none of the grainy/chalky texture I found in the Hershey's and none of the metallic aftertaste. The bar has a crisper snap when you break it, and there is a more lasting, pure chocolate aftertaste. This is more along my expectations for a mass market 60% chocolate. Certainly not as refined as the madécasse 63% bar we tasted Thursday night, but respectable. 6.1

Hershey's Extra Dark 60% cacao

After tasting so many superbly made chocolates, it is bracing to taste this mass market bar. There is no nuance to this chocolate, and not much to like. It has a grainy consistency with chalky aspects. There is bitterness during consumption that leaves a metallic aftertaste. I would call the overall taste "earthy," but in the sense that it is like tasting soil. This bar is not a good representative for the world of dark chocolate. 5

madécasse "bright & fruity" Madagascar 63% Cocoa

Quite a bit lighter than the 70% bar -- this one would be a good introductory bar to new dark chocolate explorers. Rich cherry flavors, stronger than what I tasted in the 70%. No bitterness, and the flavor trails off rapidly as a result. Clean, well structured, flavorful. 7

Mast Brothers Madagascar 72% Cacao

As with other chocolate from Madagascar, this bar is very flavorful and fruity. Some citrus, but there are more cherry notes present than with other Madagascar chocolates. The bar is well made, though it has a lighter complexion than other 70% plus bars I've seen. Nice smooth finish, no bitterness. 8.1

www.mastbrotherschocolate.com

Coco-luxe ROARK Serious Dark Chocolate with Nibs

"Howard Roark laughed." Because he just enjoyed a taste of Coco-luxe's ROARK chocolate.

I do not usually review chocolate with nibs -- I think they are distracting and they add significant bitterness in themselves. But I had to buy this bar, because of the name. "Roark" is the main character in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. I asked the clerk at the Coco-luxe store on Haight Street where I purchased the bar what was the origin of the name, and he said that the owner was a fan of the book. The website has this description for the bar: "Inspired by the super cool character in The Fountain Head (sic) - super dark chocolate studded with cocoa nibs for added intensity. " Yes, Howard Roark is indeed an intense character!

As for the bar itself, it's quite robust, but not too bitter. There's no percentage of cocoa listed, which is likely because the bar is infused with cocoa nibs -- but I would estimate it to be at least 70% to 75%. Not many flavors standout, but some earthiness is present. The nibs dominate the experience when you encounter them, but there are a few squares on the bar I tasted that were mostly nib-free. 6 (points off for the nibs)

www.coco-luxe.com

madécasse "smooth & rich" Madagascar 70% Cocoa

Tangy, flavorful and rich are how I would describe this bar. Chewing the bar releases a bright citrus flavor that dominates. Letting it melt in the mouth allows the other aspects to come forth. Very little bitterness with a gentle finish. 7.7

www.madecasse.com