Aruntam Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 72% cacao

This bar has a buttery taste to start and develops faint honey flavors. The aftertaste is moderate and clean. 8.8

www.aruntamchocolate.com

The package for this bar is fairly large, and I was surprised when I opened the package to discover a much smaller inner wrapper. This bar is made in Italy, so perhaps the larger outer package is intended to protect the bar when shipped.

Kokak Ecuador Artist palette Dark Chocolate 70% cacao

There is a sharp and clean taste profile for this bar. The notes are fruity, along the lines of red fruit with some citrus aspect. This gives way to a buttery texture. The aftertaste is brief and persists the fruity taste. 9.3

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (organic cacao mass, cane sugar, cacao butter, organic sunflower lecithin), Cream, Condensed Milk, Vanilla Bean, Sucrose, Sorbitol, Sea Salt, Glucose Syrup, Liquid Soy Lecithin, Butter, Strawberry, Cacao Nibs

This bar was previewed in the Kokak Chocolate, San Francisco post. The artist palette theme of this bar is whimsical and fun.  Note that the ingredient list of this bar is probably the longest on ChocoCheck. I suppose that some of these ingredients are used for the ink drops on the palette, but if the Cream and Condensed Milk are used in the main chocolate I would be surprised, as the bar tastes as I would expect for the dark chocolate.

Whole Foods Organic Dark Chocolate 72% cacao

This is a mildly sweet dark chocolate, with earthy notes and some faint roasted notes. The earthy aspect leans toward mushroom, while the roasted dimension is akin to cooked pudding. 7.0

Ingredients: Organic chocolate liquor*, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter*
*Rainforest Alliance Certified

The label of this bar reports that "A portion of proceeds from this bar helps fund the education of children in the Kylea District of Tanzania." This is good, though they do not indicate what percentage of the proceeds will go towards this purpose. This note might make the purchaser believe that the cacao from this bar was sourced from Tanzania, but there is no indication anywhere else on the label that this is the case. 

I also note that while the label  says that this bar is "72% cacao", the ingredients list chocolate liquor and cocoa butter, which are derived from cacao, but are an additional processing step (or more) from the bean.

Dandelion Belize Maya Mountain 2021 Harvest 70% cacao

The bar has a distinct caramel flavor, edging towards toffee. Not very bitter, but the cacao flavor of the bar is dense, leaning towards a chalky consistency. The aftertaste persists due to the the chalky aspect, but is not bitter. 7.6

Compare to Dandelion Belize Maya Mountain (2017) 70% cacao and prior editions of this origin. This bar seems milder than the prior harvests, and the taste profile is quite different. The label suggests: "We taste European tasting chocolate and strawberry coulis." The density of the cacao flavor that I taste might agree with the tasting chocolate mentioned on the label, but I do not taste strawberry or any fruit flavor.

Luisa's Solomon Islands 100% cacao

Extremely bitter with a sharp and persistent aftertaste. Side flavors are hard to distinguish, though the strong bitterness leads to a synthetic taste, plastic perhaps.

I bought this bar by mistake. I did not notice that it was a 100% cacao bar. I previously tasted a 100% cacao bar: Vintage Plantations 100% Dark Processed at the plantation in Ecuador. In that review I said, "This will likely be the last of the extremely high cocoa bars that graces this blog..." I did not account for purchasing errors.

That said, my tasting of this bar is advised by an additional 15 years of dark chocolate experience. While I do not find this bar casually enjoyable, it does provide a nice kick of cacao somewhat akin to a rich espresso. For a bracing afternoon cacao experience, this bar can provide a ...

Okay, I was searching for the right word to conclude this thought, so I posted the review to ChatGPT and asked it to complete the review. Here's how it finished it:

...stimulating and intense burst of flavor. The texture is smooth and dense, melting slowly on the tongue and releasing its complex profile. It's not for the faint-hearted, but for those who appreciate the raw, unadulterated essence of cacao, it offers an intriguing and robust experience.

The packaging is simple and elegant, reflecting the purity of the product inside. It's an interesting addition to any chocolate aficionado's collection, serving as a reminder of the powerful taste that lies at the heart of all chocolate creations.

In conclusion, this 100% cacao bar may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it has its unique appeal for those who seek the purest form of chocolate. It's best enjoyed in small bites, perhaps paired with a cup of coffee or tea to balance its intense flavor. If you're feeling adventurous and looking to explore the limits of dark chocolate, this bar is definitely worth a try. Just be prepared for the uncompromising, bold taste that awaits you.

Well, thank you, ChatGPT, for finishing my thought! Not sure how it knew about the packaging, but I would agree with its characterization. I might criticize the "not everyone's cup of tea" reference after my "rich espresso" comment, but we can leave that.

I omitted giving this bar a rating as it is outside of the normal scope of ChocoCheck reviews, but it is a well-made bar.

Ingredients: 100% cacao

www.luisasveganchocolates.co.uk

Atypic Solomon Islands 70% cacao

The most notable flavor note of this bar is a bright cherry. This is followed by a soft caramel flavor. The aftertaste is clean with the caramel note following though it. 9.3

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cacao butter, sunflower lecithin

 atypic-chocolate.com.au

This is the first review of an Atypic chocolate bar. This is a maker in Melbourne, Australia. The bar has an interesting mold, which leads to breaking off pieces in rectangles and other shapes.

Kokak Chocolate, San Francisco

While traveling on an errand down 18th Street I noticed a store I had not seen before, Kokak Chocolates. I immediately parked and went in for a visit. 

The store is cozy, with a counter displaying their products. Truffles are the primary offering, and these have artistic designs on top. 

You will also find chocolate bars including an award winning Umami White Chocolate bar.

Casual passers-by may enjoy their hot chocolate offerings, which can be had spicy, classic or as a European Sipping Style hot chocolate.

ChocoCheck focuses on simple dark chocolate, and Kokak has a novel and fun bar that fits the profile: the Artist Palette Heirloom 70% Dark Chocolate Bar. The palette features a frog, which appears to be Kokak's mascot, as "kokak" is Filipino for "ribbit". In addition to the 70% cacao bar, the chocolate palette is available in milk chocolate.

I ordered one of the 70% dark chocolate palettes, plus a classic hot chocolate. With the purchase I was also given a sample truffle. It was a delicious dark chocolate with a wonderful ganache and a design which appears to be inspired by Mondrian.

Kokak is well worth adding to the agenda of your next San Francisco chocolate tour.