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

Zokoko Solomon Islands Guadalcanal 78% cacao

Quite bitter chocolate, with a puckery aftertaste. Plum flavor can be noticed. 7.7

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin)

www.zokoko.com

Uniconf Dark Chocolate 80% cacao

I found this bar in a Russian food store in Oakland. The chocolate was respectable, tasting slightly better than other mass-market bars I have tasted. However the Russian writing on the label intrigued me. I asked a Russian-speaking friend with whom I work to translate the label. The large script says "Dark Chocolate," not too surprising. However the writing in the red oval apparently says "Red October" -- a reference to the 1917 Russian Revolution, and the start of the communist Soviet state.

A first for Choco Check -- communist chocolate!

The bar's ingredients include vanilla, so there is no Chocolate Check rating.

www.uniconf.ru

Fruition Bolivia 74% Dark

Strong cacao flavor with a bitter taste at the front. Some caramel flavor in the mix. Fairly short lasting aftertaste, but still bitter. 7.8

Ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar

$11.49 for 60g (2.12 oz)