Åkesson's Brazil Fazenda Sempre Firme 75% cacao

As this chocolate dissolves, a taste of toffee is prominent. Some cherry flavors arise in the aftertaste, which is moderately bitter. 9.1

Ingredients: Cocoa (min. 75%), cane sugar, pure cocoa butter, emulsifier (GMO-free soya lecithin).

$9 / 2.2 oz. (60 g)

The label sports two awards -- the Academy of Chocolate award is fairly clear, but what is "Great Taste 2017"? Checking out their website, one can find that it is a British group focused on identifying fine local foods.  While Åkesson's is based on London, the label indicates that the bar is made in France.

Honduras Chocolate Company Honduras 70% cacao

This bar has a rich chocolate flavor with a charcoal edge. Caramel has a strong presence in the flavor profile. While there is some bitterness on the front, the aftertaste is smooth and mild. 7.8

Ingredients: Naturally Grown Cacao, Pure Cane Sugar.

www.HondurasChocolateCompany.com

The label prominently proclaims "Never Bitter." It also says they take the BITTER out of Dark Chocolate. However an important element of dark chocolate is the bitter aspect. Many people do not like a lot of bitterness, but even a 90% cacao has fans. No need to throw shade on the bitter edge!

Letterpress Costa Rica Hacienda Azul 70% cacao

This bar has earthy and roasted components. There is a sharp tobacco tinge, accompanied by a coffee touch. These give the bar some bitterness, but the resolution in the aftertaste is moderate. 8.3

Ingredients: Cacao Beans*, Unrefined Cane Sugar*
* Certified Organic

$11 / 2.1 oz.

Omnom Madagascar 66% cacao

This bar has a crisp snap and a crunchy chew. The taste is sweet, with caramel flavor with a touch of fig. The aftertaste is short and on the sweet side. 8.2

Ingredients: Cocoa beans from Madagascar, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin (E322).

$9 / 2.1 oz

SOMA Crazy 88 Dark Chocolate 88% cacao

This bar is quite bitter, as would be expected from an 88% cacao chocolate. It has a roasted profile, edging on charcoal. The aftertaste is persistent and continues as bitter. 8.4

Ingredients: Cacao nibs, Organic cane sugar

$13 / 2.3oz (65g)

When a chocolate maker includes their own tasting notes on the label, I usually include them as comments to the main post.  However, if the notes vary significantly from my experience of the bar, I include them in the main post with comments on how my experience differs.  For this bar, the notes are: "Tasting notes: black tea, balsamic vinegar, fresh cream, lemon, jasmine, apricot, toast." Quite a list!

My experience for these is:

• black tea: black tea can be fairly bitter, so I can see this as an element of the taste
• balsamic vinegar: this is also on the bitter side, but has a flavor dimension which I did not notice
• fresh cream: I had no experience of this with the bar
• lemon: this is also missing from my tasting
• jasmine: I consider this a floral note, and I did not notice any floral aspect to the bar
• apricot: this is a fruit note, and while I did not notice any fruitiness, apricot can have an edge which might pertain to this bar
• toast: if the toast was well toasted on the dark side then I would agree, given my charcoal comment

The label also notes the the cacao which makes up this bar comes from three origins: Hacienda Victoria in Ecuador, Ucayali in Peru and Canoabo in Venezuela.

The bar's mold is also worthy of a photo:

Keller Manni Peru 75% cocoa

This bar is made with extra-virgin olive oil, and would not be a candidate for review on ChocoCheck. However we recently (early March) visited Thomas Keller's The French Laundry, so this bar caught my eye at the store.

The olive oil taste dominates the experience, taking the lead over flavors which could have been found from the Peru-origin cacao. The label suggests "notes of orange blossom and quince," which I can agree with.

Ingredients: Organic cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, organic Manni extra-virgin olive oil, organic soy lecithin.

Our dinner at The French Laundry was superb from beginning to end, and we felt lucky to be able to enjoy it when we did.

Castronovo Mexico Soconusco 70% cacao

This bar has a buttery profile, with a hazelnut taste. It has a very nice cacao flavor, and the aftertaste is mellow. The label mentions several flavors: plum, walnut, citrus and vanilla. I could see the vanilla aspect from the buttery profile, but the plum, walnut and citrus flavors escape me. 8.9

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

$13 / 2.2 oz.