Patty Pan Cooperative Very Dark 90% cacao

As would be expected from a 90% cacao, this is a very bitter bar. There is a slight metallic taste as a result, but the cacao flavor is dominant. Aftertaste is long and astringent. 6.6

Ingredients: Organic Fair Trade Cacao, Organic Butter, Cocoa Butter

 I have previously reviewed two other bars from Patty Pan: Patty Pan Cooperative Ecuador - Single Origin and Patty Pan Cooperative Haiti - Single Origin. I notice that this bar has a slightly upgraded label. Also there is none of the granular texture I noted in the Ecuador bar.

Naive Fuit Chocolate with Soursop 67% cacao

This bar includes an ingredient other than cocoa/cacao and sugar: soursop. I no longer review bars with added ingredients, but I did not realize that soursop was a fruit rather than a cacao origin. Nonetheless, this is a very flavorful bar and certainly worth a taste. I don't know how much of the fruitiness is derived from the soursop, which apparently has a citrus and pineapple flavor, but I taste citrus and some floral notes. 

 Ingredients: specialty cacao*, cane sugar*, pure cacao butter*,  soursop* (7%)
* wild or all-natural farming!

The label does not mention the origin on the cacao in this bar, though it does say that all ingredients come from a single ecosystem, that surround the equator. 

The linked Wikipedia article mentions "Soursop is widely promoted ... as an alternative cancer treatment, but there is no medical evidence it is effective for treating cancer or any disease." The label of this bar includes this note: "There are fruits, superfruits, and super mega fruits but they all bite the dust compared to soursop. ... Open your mouth and get ready to heal." This seems like an unnecessary pandering to chocolate consumers. The flavor of the bar is great, so there is no need to appeal to supposed health benefits.

The label also has a badge: Gold for Packaging, Mulate Collection, Academy of Chocolate, 2015. Naive certainly has a strong focus on their packaging, which has rich graphics and photographs. Another example can be seen in my review of another Naive bar: Nicalizo Nicaragua 72% cocoa

Qantu Peru Bagua 70% cacao

The taste is fruity and flavorful. There are some faint citrus, but more cherry and pear notes are present. The bitterness is moderate and the aftertaste is sweet. 9.5

Organic ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter

www.qantuchocolate.com

 

The bar's mold has a nice but subtle design.

Theo Organic Pure Dark 70% cacao

This is a straightforward chocolate bar, not complex in flavor or bitterness. The bitterness is fairly mild, and the flavor is a roasted chocolate. Aftertaste is moderate in duration and strength. 7.0

Ingredients: Cocoa Beans, Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter
Organic

Monsoon Uganda Semuliki Forest 74% cacao

The first taste is mild but dry. There are fruit flavors as well, cherry and berry. The dry profile adds a toasty aspect to the experience. Aftertaste is also mild and dry. 8.0

I tasted another Monsoon bar about a year ago: Monsoon Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 77% cacao It is a good read.

Moka Origins Ghana Suhum 72% cacao

This bar is very rich in chocolate flavors. This, plus a bitterness which is a bit astringent, masks other flavors.The predominant note is earthy, but there is a toasty roasted flavor as well. 7.2

www.mokaorigins.com

Ingredients: Organic Cocoa Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter

This chocolate maker has invested a lot of heart and thought into their label, both the outside and the inside. In addition to the story of the growers in Ghana and details on the cacao's growing environment, a summary of the bean to bar manufacturing process is included. Much of this information is also available on the website linked above.

Valrhona Madagascar Manjari 64% cacao

In 2009 I reviewed this bar:

Valrhona Les Grands Crus Manjari Fresh and Tangy 64% cacao

It has new packaging, but otherwise the taste is the same -- very fruity and flavorful. I rated that bar an "8" and now I will update the rating to 8.6. 

You may notice that the label is discolored. This is not the fault of Valrhona. We have been wiping down the items we receive with alcohol, and that is causing some discoloration of the label for this bar and others. Hopefully we can stop doing that soon.