French Broad Nicaragua 68% cacao

This bar has moderate bitterness with smooth texture. The flavor is creamy with a tinge of egg yolk, along with a charcoal edge of toast. The aftertaste is clean and short. 8.2

MIA Madagascar 75% cacao

A sniff of this bar presents a fudgy aroma, though on tasting the flavors are more balanced. The primary note is earthy, tending towards woody. Underlying this is a spicy note, reminiscent of spike cake. 7.9

Ingredients: Cacao mass, cane sugar, cacao butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin)

www.miafoodie.com

Amedei Jamaica 70% cacao

The initial taste of this bar is bitter with a rich chocolate taste reminiscent of fudge. This contrasts with my previous experience with this bar from 2010: Amedei I Cru Jamaica 70% cacao   I noted that the taste was not very bitter, "dark, but sweet." In this tasting the sweetness is minimal and the bitterness is prominent. I wonder whether the cacao changed or my taste has changed in the ensuing years. In the prior review I noted orange notes and almond flavor. I can taste some of both, but they are not prominent. I am also noticing some graininess in the texture of the bar as it melts. While my prior experience rated the bar higher, this experience does not rise to it.  7.6.

As you see in the prior post, I included a note from the label in the comments. This bar's label has the exact same note, mentioning citrus fruits, butter and fruit jams. The orange flavor I taste accounts for the cirtus flavor, which is still present. The bitterness, though, draws out a coffee note which I did not notice in the 2010 review.

But I wonder whether Amedei would consider updating the label if the bar's flavor notes have changed as significantly as my tasting indicates?

Dick Taylor Mexico Soconusco 72% cacao

This bar presents with a fudgy texture, with a toasty roasted flavor and moderate bitterness.  The aftertaste continues with the bitter edge. As always from Dick Taylor Chocolate, the bar is well made. 8.2

 Ingredients: Cacao, Cane Sugar

This is a limited release bar, and the first I have tasted of theirs from Mexico.

Dandelion Brazil Vale Potumuju 2019 70% cacao

This is a very rich chocolate, a buttery caramel profile along with a jammy fruit flavor. The bitterness is mild and the aftertaste is short. 9.2

Dandelion Venezuela Mantuano 2016 Harvest 70% cacao

This is the third harvest of the Mantuano, Venezeula cacao I have reviewed. This edition has a sharp, bitter taste on the front, with flavors of coffee and toast. There are some faint fruit notes, mostly deep cherry. The aftertaste is long given the bitter profile. 8.9

Previous tastes of this cacao on ChocoCheck from the prior harvests are Dandelion Venezuela Mantuano 70% cacao (2012 harvest) and Dandelion Venezuela Mantuano 2014 Harvest 70% cacao

9th & Larkin Vietnam Tien Giang 70% cacao

Even with a moderate cacao percentage, this bar packs a bitter punch. It has a burnt edge at the front, with a earthy game taste in the back. The aftertaste is driven by the bitter profile. 7.7