Libeert 70% Belgian Dark Chocolate

                                   

About: I always wonder what a company that needs to proclaim its Belgian-ness is overcompensating for. Perhaps it's just weak marketing in distant (from Belgium) lands. This chocolate was not expensive, and I had low expectations that were pleasantly surpassed. But.. they were pretty low to start with, so settle down.

It's a 4th generation family business running since 1923 (with EBITDA > 10% proudly proclaimed on their web pages. Not bad.) They make pralines and chocolate bunnies and bars, and I'll try them again because their charm and pride came through. Still, when you buy a chocolate bunny, it's not because the chocolate is going to be mind-blowing, what ?

Flavor: A pleasantly solid chocolate flavor, without the rich fruity notes you'd get from something very fresh, but with a full flavor that doesn't disappoint, especially when coupled with the texture.

Texture: Smooth smooth smooth. Probably they add a wad-ton of cocoa butter, but whatever. It works.

My rating:  I give it a 6 or 7. Hmm.. probably 6 at the end for flavor and texture.

Rating Value	Meaning
1	Really bad chocolate. There's something just really really wrong here in almost every imaginable respect.
2	A bar with this rating has at least two drawbacks.
3	A bar where something is starting to get seriously wrong.... for example, really weak flavor with an otherwise acceptable texture.
4	This bar is below average, but just slightly. Mostly it's not worth eating again. Something isn't quite up to par, for example a poor texture but fine flavor.
5	This is an average good bar that's worth eating. There's nothing really wrong with it, but also nothing particularly spectacular. Or, perhaps it has a good characteristic that's evenly counter-weighted by something weak.
6	A solidly good bar with one characteristic that's above par, for example a great texture.
7	An solidly good chocolate that has two above par characteristics, but nothing mind-blowing. Good, above average flavor, but nothing to die for.
8	An excellent bar with no weaknesses and at least one characteristic that's super.
9	An awesome bar to die for with amazing texture and flavor.
10	You have been touched by God.

Back to the list of bars

Amedei 70% Toscano Black

                                   

About: Amedei chocolates emerged in 1998, after 8 years of fiddling by the company founder. Their English site claims they are "Excellent with a Capital A for Amedei". This particular bar is Chocolatey with a capital O for Okay.

The company has a range of chocolate bars, spreads, and filled chocolates and does reflect an artisan feel. The packaging does too. The chocolate is hermetically sealed and wrapped in a nicely folding thick paper wrapper that makes you feel like you're indulging in something expensive (yes) and superb (not so much). In fact, the artisanship and (ok, I'm shallow) wrapping will probably have me coming back to this perfectly okay chocolate to see if I missed something.

Flavor: Okay. Nothing wrong with it. But that's it. The flavor is not subtle or long lasting. The flavor profile greets you, stays briefly, and leaves - all very quickly. There's not flavor magical mystery tour to be had.

Texture: Slightly on the brittle side, especially for a 70% bar.

My rating:  I give it a 6 for flavor and feel guilty it's not more, but really.. it's just a fine bar but not much more.

Rating Value	Meaning
1	Really bad chocolate. There's something just really really wrong here in almost every imaginable respect.
2	A bar with this rating has at least two drawbacks.
3	A bar where something is starting to get seriously wrong.... for example, really weak flavor with an otherwise acceptable texture.
4	This bar is below average, but just slightly. Mostly it's not worth eating again. Something isn't quite up to par, for example a poor texture but fine flavor.
5	This is an average good bar that's worth eating. There's nothing really wrong with it, but also nothing particularly spectacular. Or, perhaps it has a good characteristic that's evenly counter-weighted by something weak.
6	A solidly good bar with one characteristic that's above par, for example a great texture.
7	An solidly good chocolate that has two above par characteristics, but nothing mind-blowing. Good, above average flavor, but nothing to die for.
8	An excellent bar with no weaknesses and at least one characteristic that's super.
9	An awesome bar to die for with amazing texture and flavor.
10	You have been touched by God.

Back to the list of bars

Vita Organic Foods 72% Raw cacao

                                   

About: Vita Organic foods make a handful (and then some) of dark chocolates infused with flavors. They also make juices and "performance" bars. There's not a lot of information on their web site, but you can tell they are into 'raw.' If you believe raw chocolate is better for you, then you may find reasons to eat this bar. If you eat chocolate for the sheer delight of rich, complex flavors and creamy smoothness, then move along - nothing to see here folks.

Flavor: Raw. Some raw stuff is good - sometimes you want to have that flavor of freshly mowed grass or unripe banana. Sometimes you don't, though, and for me, this is one of those times.

Texture: You'd hope it was smoother or silkier or even just normal, but it's chalky and almost gritty. Did not like. 

My rating: An unfortunate 4 that feels generous to me. I'm sorry. 

Rating Value	Meaning
1	Really bad chocolate. There's something just really really wrong here in almost every imaginable respect.
2	A bar with this rating has at least two drawbacks.
3	A bar where something is starting to get seriously wrong.... for example, really weak flavor with an otherwise acceptable texture.
4	This bar is below average, but just slightly. Mostly it's not worth eating again. Something isn't quite up to par, for example a poor texture but fine flavor.
5	This is an average good bar that's worth eating. There's nothing really wrong with it, but also nothing particularly spectacular. Or, perhaps it has a good characteristic that's evenly counter-weighted by something weak.
6	A solidly good bar with one characteristic that's above par, for example a great texture.
7	An solidly good chocolate that has two above par characteristics, but nothing mind-blowing. Good, above average flavor, but nothing to die for.
8	An excellent bar with no weaknesses and at least one characteristic that's super.
9	An awesome bar to die for with amazing texture and flavor.
10	You have been touched by God.

Back to the list of bars

Palette De Bine 72% Maya Mountain

                                   

About: This is a bean-to-bar chocolate made in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. It has the hallmarks of bean-to-bar chocolates: a fresh, fruity flavor and a slightly snappy texture. Things I liked: they've won a number of awards; there's not a lot of marketing nonsense - it's about the chocolate; they seem to make be a range of single source dark chocolates.

Flavor: I found the flavor very solidly good. Really above par good. But perhaps not mind shatteringly so. Maybe my expectations were too high. Don't get me wrong, it's fruity and rich and in no way over roasted, over fermented, or diluted with other flavors (like vanilla). Definitely an excellent bar. Good flavor profile.

Texture:Slightly brittle, as is often the way with bean-to-bar bars. But smooth. No chalk, bits, or anything negative.

My rating:Very solid 8. 

Rating Value	Meaning
1	Really bad chocolate. There's something just really really wrong here in almost every imaginable respect.
2	A bar with this rating has at least two drawbacks.
3	A bar where something is starting to get seriously wrong.... for example, really weak flavor with an otherwise acceptable texture.
4	This bar is below average, but just slightly. Mostly it's not worth eating again. Something isn't quite up to par, for example a poor texture but fine flavor.
5	This is an average good bar that's worth eating. There's nothing really wrong with it, but also nothing particularly spectacular. Or, perhaps it has a good characteristic that's evenly counter-weighted by something weak.
6	A solidly good bar with one characteristic that's above par, for example a great texture.
7	An solidly good chocolate that has two above par characteristics, but nothing mind-blowing. Good, above average flavor, but nothing to die for.
8	An excellent bar with no weaknesses and at least one characteristic that's super.
9	An awesome bar to die for with amazing texture and flavor.
10	You have been touched by God.

Back to the list of bars

Soma Porcelana 70% Cacao

                                   

About: Soma is a Canadian chocolate maker "in the European tradition," meaning that they add cocoa butter to the mix. That (supposedly) makes the chocolate smoother than a regular bean-to-bar bar. For a small, two-store business, Soma has a pretty broad range of chocolate products: bars, flavored bars, drinking chocolate, cookies, gelato, etc etc etc.  Most of their chocolates are high cocoa content.

They have a reputation that spanned the continent - they're east coast, and I heard about them on the west coast, at a boutique chocolate shop. And... they're expensive. Maybe 5 times the cost of a good mass manufactured bar!

Flavor: They describe this bar as having a phenomenally long finish, and indeed it does. For a 70% bar, it has the smoothness and mellow flavor of a milk chocolate bar (without the cloying sweetness). The flavor is subtle; you aren't hit in the head with aroma. It sneaks up on you and then you realize that you're enveloped in a deep, rich, but ever-so-smooth chocolate flavor.

Texture: Smooth - definitely smooth.

My rating: I'm torn between an 8 or 9 here. Good texture. Very good flavor  - chocolate flavor, doubled down. Maybe an 8 because it didn't have that super fresh, fruity flavor you can get with bean-to-bar bars...

Rating Value	Meaning
1	Really bad chocolate. There's something just really really wrong here in almost every imaginable respect.
2	A bar with this rating has at least two drawbacks.
3	A bar where something is starting to get seriously wrong.... for example, really weak flavor with an otherwise acceptable texture.
4	This bar is below average, but just slightly. Mostly it's not worth eating again. Something isn't quite up to par, for example a poor texture but fine flavor.
5	This is an average good bar that's worth eating. There's nothing really wrong with it, but also nothing particularly spectacular. Or, perhaps it has a good characteristic that's evenly counter-weighted by something weak.
6	A solidly good bar with one characteristic that's above par, for example a great texture.
7	An solidly good chocolate that has two above par characteristics, but nothing mind-blowing. Good, above average flavor, but nothing to die for.
8	An excellent bar with no weaknesses and at least one characteristic that's super.
9	An awesome bar to die for with amazing texture and flavor.
10	You have been touched by God.

Back to the list of bars

Arete Brasil 75% Organic Dark Chocolate

                                   

About: This is the second Arete bar I've had, this one hand delivered to the shop where I bought it by the maker himself. If I sound somewhat star-struck, it's because this is amazingly good chocolate. David and Leslie Senk make this bean to bar chocolate - nothing but beans and sugar - in the unlikely city of Milpitas, home to Silicon Valley technology parks and little else of interest.

Their manufacturing center looks small - see the pictures on their web site, which reflects the kind of maniacal devotion to chocolate that I understand too well. But size doesn't matter here.

Flavor: Fantastic. Bite in and at first you think it's just a regular chocolate bar. The regular chocolatey earthy flavor is pleasant and rich, but not particularly distinctive. Just as you are letting the chocolate melt in your mouth and shrugging off a pedestrian experience, you get a hit of something. Something fruity and sense-filling. It grows and grows until you can't help but "wow." The mix of fruity flavors is hard to describe - berries, tea, .. .did I say fruity? Oh man. 

Texture: Smooth and nice. 

My rating: Eight? Maybe 9... The texture is smooth, but without extra butter, it's perhaps not super mind-boggling. Still.. this is an amazing chocolate. Maybe the best I've ever had so far.

Rating Value	Meaning
1	Really bad chocolate. There's something just really really wrong here in almost every imaginable respect.
2	A bar with this rating has at least two drawbacks.
3	A bar where something is starting to get seriously wrong.... for example, really weak flavor with an otherwise acceptable texture.
4	This bar is below average, but just slightly. Mostly it's not worth eating again. Something isn't quite up to par, for example a poor texture but fine flavor.
5	This is an average good bar that's worth eating. There's nothing really wrong with it, but also nothing particularly spectacular. Or, perhaps it has a good characteristic that's evenly counter-weighted by something weak.
6	A solidly good bar with one characteristic that's above par, for example a great texture.
7	An solidly good chocolate that has two above par characteristics, but nothing mind-blowing. Good, above average flavor, but nothing to die for.
8	An excellent bar with no weaknesses and at least one characteristic that's super.
9	An awesome bar to die for with amazing texture and flavor.
10	You have been touched by God.

Back to the list of bars

The Belgian Famous Chocolates Dark 72%

                                   

About: "The Belgian" has cornered the market for "Ooh, I want some Belgian chocolate," but one can't help feel that it's a generic brand somehow. Founded in 1956, "The Belgian" chocolate group claims to source chocolate from 70 countries and does seem to have a relatively broad collection of chocolate products. They are, whew!, located in the Flemish part of Belgium near Antwerp , and though their website conveys the merchandising of chocolate more than a passionate love, they do insist in their FAQ that Chocolate helps "with the concentration."

Flavor:  In spite of my somewhat low, "generic brand" expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. This is a good chocolate (and also, not expensive). The flavor is rich and pleasant. It's smooth and lacking in any bitterness or sourness. I wouldn't say it has a lot of fruity aroma, but I'd eat this chocolate every day. It's solid.

Texture: Smooth and nice. 

My rating: A 7. This is a solidly good chocolate.

Rating Value	Meaning
1	Really bad chocolate. There's something just really really wrong here in almost every imaginable respect.
2	A bar with this rating has at least two drawbacks.
3	A bar where something is starting to get seriously wrong.... for example, really weak flavor with an otherwise acceptable texture.
4	This bar is below average, but just slightly. Mostly it's not worth eating again. Something isn't quite up to par, for example a poor texture but fine flavor.
5	This is an average good bar that's worth eating. There's nothing really wrong with it, but also nothing particularly spectacular. Or, perhaps it has a good characteristic that's evenly counter-weighted by something weak.
6	A solidly good bar with one characteristic that's above par, for example a great texture.
7	An solidly good chocolate that has two above par characteristics, but nothing mind-blowing. Good, above average flavor, but nothing to die for.
8	An excellent bar with no weaknesses and at least one characteristic that's super.
9	An awesome bar to die for with amazing texture and flavor.
10	You have been touched by God.

Back to the list of bars