Chocolate Fusion Dark Chocolate 72% Organic Mate' Tea & Cacao nibs

                                   

About: It's unclear where this chocolate is made, though it's California somewhere. The website claims the tea room is in Los Angels; the packager claims it's in the San Francisco bay area. Doesn't matter. They make a range of flavored chocolates, but I think they remelt and add flavorings.

Flavor:  The tea comes on strong at the beginning, resolving to the full flavored chocolate with finely ground nibs that provide a very delicate crunch. The chocolate is very long lasting, and on eating it, I almost thought they made it fresh. I found the tea to be almost tobacco-like, and while it was a rich flavor, it wasn't my favorite.

Texture: Very smooth.

My rating: Good flavor. Good texture. Solid 7, even if I found the tea somewhat smokey.

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.

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Chok Xocolata Negra 80% De Cacau

                                   

About: Chok is a Spanish chocolate made in Barcelona. That's about as much as I could figure out about them. They have pictures of croissants on their web page, not to mention fish on a grill. Oops, mentioned it. I don't know if they are a restaurant or small manufacturer. The bar itself tastes fresh, so I think they may have made this from beans themselves. But they list no sources for the beans, and so I don't know. Shrug.

Flavor:  Really it's on the sweet side, but fresh with bright notes and a long follow-through. Very nice!

Texture: Very nice and smooth.

My rating: Good flavor. Good texture. Solid 7, even if it's on the sweet side. 

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.

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Nero Extra Fondente 70% Cacao Con Scorzette Di Limone E Cristalli Allo Zenzero (with Lemon peel and Ginger Crystals)

About: From elsewhere in this blog: "Novi is an Italian chocolate that has a wide range of products but takes pride in their dark chocolates. They have chocolate lines from different sources, and their use of real orange peel (as opposed to flavoring) suggests a dedication to authentic ingredients. They have a heritage that stretches back more than a century to their founding in 1903, though this is now a part of a larger confection conglomerate, Elha Dufour Novi. Overall, the bar is not expensive, and it's a bargain for the value."

Elah Dufour Novi

Flavor:  Just fine. I think the lemon and ginger are well balanced.  I would say the chocolate isn't amazing - just solid with nothing wrong. Per the orange version of this bar: "It's a good bar. The lemon overwhelms any subtle notes in the chocolate itself, but what's there is good."

Texture: The ginger is crunchy and the peel leaves some tiny chewy bits. The chocolate is creamy. Per their orange version of this: "Overall, though, the creamy chocolate wins the day, and I rather enjoyed it."

My rating: For a solidly good texture and a solidly good flavor with the extra pleasant orange flavor, a good 6 on the scale below.

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.

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Michel Cluizel Noir 72% Dark

                                   

About: Michel Cluizel is a bean-to-bar French manufacturer that makes 1400 tons of chocolate annually. So they are a volume producer, but with aspirations of careful, hand-made quality.

Flavor:  Pleasantly full flavored, with bitter almond overtones. The flavor develops slowly, but after the initial bitterness it resolves to a full earthy flavor. Not really as fruity as some bean-to-bars, though.

Texture: Wow, so smooth, especially for such a high cocoa content bar. Super.

My rating:  A  7 for okay flavor and great 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.

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Lindt 58% Le Fondenti with nibs

                                   

About: Lindt has a massive distribution network - their chocolate gets into every nook and cranny worldwide. I'm not sure why the idea of making a LOT of chocolate goes hand in hand with making not-so-great chocolate. It shouldn't. Well, let's be clear here. This is not a fresh tasting bean-to-bar bar, but my low expectations were really surpassed.

Flavor: At 58% it comes in a bit sweet. But the flavor is just fine. 

Texture: Industrial scale production can conch and conch until the cows come home, and that leads to heavenly smoothness, found here. The nibs are not bitter and lend a pleasant crunch.

My rating:  Because the texture is so smooth, I like this bar a 7 worth, even if the chocolate part is not stellarly differentiated. 

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.

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Superfood Lemon Ginger 70% South American Origin Cacao

                                   

About: Everything is a superfood. Cabbage? Superfood! Stinky rotting seaweed on the beach? Superfood! Fortunately, this chocolate is way up there in comparison with those foods. Look at the ingredient list and you'll find lots of stuff in their chocolates, but at the end, it's chocolate. I personally don't think this makes me super, past whatever enjoyment I take away from the flavor.

Flavor:The chocolate itself is underwhelming, but if you like ginger and you think you can imagine some lemon in there also, this is an interesting flavored bar. The chocolate itself is a bit bitter and underwhelming.

Texture:Smooth enough. 

My rating:  A 6 because I'd feel guilty giving them a 5. The bar does have an interesting, if not great to my taste, flavor.

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.

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Cello Chocolate Trinidad Bourbon Barrel Aged 70%

                                   

About: Cello is a hand-crafted chocolate made in Nevada city, California. Their website reflects an appealing bean-to-bar passion. They sell a number of single source bars, all at 70%. No milky stuff here.

Flavor: Bourbon. You like bourbon? You'll like this bar. The flavor is a bit overwhelming to my taste, but I'm not a big fan of the bourbon. The chocolate itself is pleasant and rich, but you have to look for it under the bourbon flavor, which lasts from start to finish.

Texture:Smooth enough, but not mindbogglingly so.

My rating:  A 6 to 7 for flavor and smoothness and fresh flavor.

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.

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Michel Cluizel Grand Noir 85% Dark

                                   

About: Michel Cluizel is a bean-to-bar French manufacturer that makes 1400 tons of chocolate annually. So they are a volume producer, but with aspirations of careful, hand-made quality.

Flavor:  Pleasantly full flavored, with bitter almond overtones. The flavor develops slowly, but after the initial bitterness it resolves to a full earthy flavor. Not really as fruity as some bean-to-bars, though.

Texture: Wow, so smooth, especially for such a high cocoa content bar. Super.

My rating:  A  7 for okay flavor and great texture. Still... almost a 6. 

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.

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Fran's Madagascar 75% Cacao

                                   

About: Fran's chocolates are made in Seattle and sold at four locations. Their website features Fran herself, a kind-looking matron who knows how to make chocolate, even if the photos only demonstrate her stirring stuff with a spoon. They make high-end looking chocolates in multiple flavors and styles and nicely upscale looking wrappers.

Flavor:  This is a fruity, pleasant bean-to-bar chocolate, with a slightly sour flavor that I, for no reason, associate with (over?) fermentation. I wouldn't know over-fermented chocolate if it greeted me in the street wearing an 'I'm overly fermented chocolate" shirt and proclaiming so on a bullhorn. So better way to read this is that the initial enthusiasm on masticating one of these tasty morsels and thinking "what ho! such fruitiness" is followed by a slightly retrograde 'egads, sour!" But some people may like that.

Texture: Smooth enough, but at only at the "we make our own chocolates but we aren't industrial" level. So this won't blow your mind, even if it blows you budget.

My rating:  A  6 for good flavor that's better than average, held back from a 7 because of ... sour.

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.

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Godiva Dark Chocolate Orange and Ginger Flavor 68% Cacao

                                   

About: I've not found Godiva chocolates - especially their filled chocolate truffles - to be ... well.. good. They are normally a combination of overly sweet and overly processed. But, this one is really okay.

Flavor:  The ginger is strong in this one. The orange is completely dominated - it's sort of a waste. The chocolate is good, but not particularly flavorful, and while it's fruity it has a slightly bitter after taste.

Texture: Incredibly smooth, though the ginger is chewy. Starts a little crunchy. The middle bit is OMG smooth, then you're left with the ginger bits. It's okay, I guess.

My rating:  A  6 for great texture, but demerits for trying too hard on the marketing to make it look chock full of Orange and chock full of Ginger and chock full of 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.

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