Marou Vietnam Bên Tre 78% cacao

This bar is high in cacao, and it shows in the taste. It borders on chalky and the bitterness is distinct. Earthy, with a touch of sweetness (honey?). 7.7

Ingredients: cocoa (72%), cane sugar (22%) and cocoa butter (6%)

This is the fourth Marou bar ChocoCheck has reviewed, all from different growing areas in Vietnam. The other three:

• Marou Vietnam Tien Giang 80% cacao
• Marou Vietnam Dông Nai 72% cacao
• Marou Vietnam Bà Ria 76% cocoa

Other chocolate makers who produce Vietnam-origin that have been reviewed are:

• Dick Taylor Vietnam Tiên Giang 78% cacao
• Palette De Bine Vietnam Lâm Đồng 72% cacao
• Hotel Chocolat Vietnam 80% cocoa
• Scharffen Berger Ben Tre (Vietnam) 72% cacao

Chocolate Tree Peru 69% cacao

The cacao of this bar is rich, with notes of tobacco and earth. The bitterness is very low, and the aftertaste is short but clean. 7.9

Ingredients: Cacao beans, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter

We enjoyed this bar with our friends, Kimmy and Steve, during our visit to Yangzhou in China. You may remember Chocolate Tree from a previous bar reviewed: The Chocolate Tree 55% Cranberry cacao It is good to see this craft chocolate maker still producing high quality chocolate eight years later.

Cultura Belize 75% Cacao

The label's tasting notes are: "Fig, raspberry, tobacco." Indeed, this seems like a nice summation of the flavors I notice in this bar. The raspberry comes from a sweet aspect, the fig from an earthy taste, and the tobacco from some bitterness. Overall a nice blend. 8.6

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar

culturachocolate.com

Fresh Coast Brazil 70% cacao

Fairly basic flavors, some subtle cherry with a toasty edge. 7.5

www.freshcoastchocolate.com

Aretè Brazil Fazenda Camboa 70% cacao

Cherry and raisin flavors are prominent. The bar is balanced, with a sweetness that supports the cacao well. Smooth finish with a little bitterness. 8.2

Starchild Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 70% cacao

Nicely sweet dark chocolate, with a citrus edge and a berry foreground. Smooth aftertaste with low bitterness. 8.9

Ingredients: Cacao, Coconut sugar, Cacao butter (Organic)

www.starchildchocolate.com

Aretè Peru Nacional Marañon Canyon 66% cocoa

The first taste of this bar reveals low bitterness, and a blend of cherry and tobacco flavors. As the chocolate develops, the aftertaste is smooth with a rapid falloff of cocoa flavor, but persistence of the cherry. 8.8

Ingredients: cocoa (Peru Nacional), organic case sugar, cocoa butter (Peru Nacional)

aretefinechocolate.com

This is the first taste I have had of a bar from this local (SF Bay Area) chocolate maker. Nice to find them!