Cacao Prieto Dominan Republic 72% cacao

More sweet than bitter, though the aftertaste is persistent. Honey and molasses notes are present. 7.8

Ingredients: Dominican Criollo Cacao & Organic raw cane sugar

www.cacaoprieto.com

Castronovo Venezuela Amazonas 72% cacao

Fairly bitter for the cacao percentage. Flavors I taste are toast, rose, cherry. Aftertaste is more in line with the cacao percentage, not very bitter, with a nice trail-off. 7.9

Jcoco (Seattle Chocolate Company) Nicaragua, Matagalpa 80% cacao

This bar has elevated bitterness due to its higher cacao content and this rolls into the long-lasting aftertaste. Faint cherry may be noticed, as well as a grapefruit element. 8.0

Ingredients: cacao nibs, cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin

Castronovo Belize Maya Mountain 70% cacao

Flavorful and sweet, as I have come to expect from well made Belize-origin chocolate. Flavors that come to mind are cherry, butterscotch, toast. Smooth aftertaste. Very nice! 9.8

Ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar*, cocoa butter*
*organic ingredients

I note that the label shows two awards for this bar from 2016 -- they have maintained excellent taste in the current edition.

French Broad Peru Norandino 70% cacao

Fairly bitter, with a slightly grainy texture. Cherry note is strongest, but dark sweetness is apparent. Aftertaste is astringent, but not sharply so. 7.8

Note: the bar may have been subject to poor storage during shipment, as one side of the bar has some melting and powdered surface.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic sugar

Dandelion Sierra Leone Gola Rainforest 70% Cacao

A good chocolate bar with uncomplicated but tasty flavor profile. Some sweetness of molasses evens out the gentle bitterness. Aftertaste is of average duration. An unremarkable but competent chocolate. 7.2

Chapon Madagascar 75% cacao

This bar is fruity and flavorful, but also robust and bracing. Citrus and berry flavors can be tasted, with a rich cacao base. The aftertaste is fairly light. 9.2

www.chocolat-chapon.com

The label is in French, as would be expected from this French chocolate maker. On their website the description for this bar is: "Fruity and fresh in mouth. Aroma of candied mirabelles plums, light tangy of red fruits (cherry) and notes of almonds.
Extra fine chocolate, powerful, slightly bitter with a lasting flavor."

$14 / 2.65oz.