Novi NERO 70% Cacao Arancia e Mandorle (Orange and Almonds)

About: 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:  Quite nice. I would say the chocolate isn't amazing - just solid with nothing wrong. The orange flavor comes through nicely. It's a good bar. The orange overwhelms any subtle notes in the chocolate itself, but what's there is good.

Texture:Texture is creamy, though the orange rind in the chocolate ends up like a small, tasteless wad of cellulose in your mouth.  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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Carrefour BIO 70% Cacao Extra Fine Chocolate - Cioccolato extra fondente

About: Carrefour is an international French supermarket chain, and this chocolate is their brand chocolate in Italy. It's very inexpensive, and it reminded me in flavor, texture, and marketing of the Albert Hijn chocolate with a very similar name.

It wouldn't be a surprise if they are made by the same manufacturer (though they have slightly different forms), but who that is remains a mystery. ooooh!

Flavor:  Flavor is solidly fine. You will not be bowled over by fruity notes and earthy tones or 72 virgins, but you won't be furrowing your brow about sour notes or over roasted burnt tones ruining your experience. It's a solid chocolate flavor that comes on quickly and lasts a short time before leaving.

Texture: Like the Albert Hijn version, this chocolate is very creamy. If I were a suspicious man, I'd say it was unaccountably creamy. What's the secret? I used to think it was extra cocoa butter, but maybe that would make it more brittle? Perhaps it is some sort of cheap tempering process, because after all the bar is not expensive, that magically results in a very creamy texture.

My rating: Well.. this was a toughy. It's probably a high 5 or low 6, but overall I guess a 6 on the scale below, for the texture. The strange thing about this bar was that even though the flavor is good and the texture is great, I didn't find myself just wolfing it down. There was something undefinable that was amiss, which is why the 6 is grudging. Perhaps some future, more refined, version my myself will understand what wasn't exactly right.  

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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Teucher Chocolate 77%

About: Teucher is a Swiss brand that sells itself as upscale with a price to match.Started by Dolf Teucher about 80 years ago, they now produce chocolates in Zurich and market them at exclusive shops in rich areas. I found them wildly underwhelming, but (at least according to testimonials on their web site) some people apparently think they're Just So Great. Shrug. Now.. this bar isn't as bad as the 88% bar, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.


Flavor:  Not much. You will have to wait for the flavor to come to you when you eat this. And wait. And wait. Finally, after the chocolate warms up you will get something. It's sweeter than the 88% bar, and so the flavor comes on faster and stays longer and is richer. Yes, it's chocolaty,  but just when you start to feel that maybe the wait was worth it, it's gone.  Not much flavor delivered here. Frankly, it's sub-par.

Texture: Brittle. Some people think that well tempered chocolate should have a nice snap. This has a nice snap, but then, like broken porcelain, it just keeps on snapping. It's like eating wood or potato chips. Not impressed. This 77% bar is not as bad as the 88% bar, and it should be less brittle at a lower percentage, but compared to other manufacturers, it's sub-par.

My rating: 3.5 on the scale below. Flavor was mediocre. Texture was meh.  I wouldn't really bother with this bar again. 

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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Teucher Chocolate 88%

About: Teucher is a Swiss brand that sells itself as upscale with a price to match.Started by Dolf Teucher about 80 years ago, they now produce chocolates in Zurich and market them at exclusive shops in rich areas. I found them wildly underwhelming, but (at least according to testimonials on their web site) some people apparently think they're Just So Great. Shrug.


Flavor:  Not much. You will have to wait for the flavor to come to you when you eat this. And wait. And wait. Finally, after the chocolate warms up you will get something. It's chocolatey and just when you start to feel that maybe the wait was worth it, it's gone. Over. Fast. Not much delivered here. Frankly, it's sub-par.

Texture: Brittle. Some people think that well tempered chocolate should have a nice snap. This has a nice snap, but then, like broken porcelain, it just keeps on snapping. It's like eating wood or potato chips. Not impressed.

My rating: 3 on the scale below. Flavor was mediocre. Texture was meh.  I wouldn't really bother with this bar again. 

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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Chocolate Amatller 70% Cacao Origen Ghana

About: Amatller is a Catalonian chocolate made in Barcelona since 1797. On their web site you'll find the type of content that chocolate lovers care about, for example,  "how to store chocolate." They have nice marketing, but... overall I haven't been overly impressed with the chocolates. You can read about some of the other bars I've tried elsewhere on this blog.


Flavor:  The flavor is smokey and relatively full. There are nutty notes, and the flavor profile is pleasant with a long-lasting finish.


Texture: Slightly brittle for a 70% bar. But it has a good smooth finish.


My rating: 4.5 on the scale below. Had to give it just below a 5, because the flavor just fell short and the texture just fell short. Given a choice, I wouldn't really bother with this bar again. 

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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Chocolate Fusion Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao Midnight Mocha

About: I had to go back and edit this entry, because I can't account of what I was thinking when I wrote: "This is, somewhat surprisingly, a Welsh-made chocolate. I'm not sure why the location where the chocolate is made should matter. Perhaps it's because ones peers define the standards one aspires to, and so if you're in (bloody) Belgium, surrounded by chocolate makers of the highest caliber, you aspire and must achieve world-class chocolating. But on the other hand, in a world market, you can be in the corner of Glynarthen in West Wales near Cardigan and still create world class chocolate. Chocolate Fusion didn't do that, but you know.. you could.  "

This chocolate is made in California (from what I pretty much am sure is melted European chocolate and added flavorings). They make a bunch-o flavors, and some are pretty good. 



Flavor: I always thought that coffee plus chocolate was an easy trick - something that would inevitably be good because how can you go wrong ? It's coffee and chocolate, for fuck's sake! But Chocolate Fusion managed to really kill the coffee flavor in this bar, and it's barely discernible. That said, the bar itself is quite alright and has a good chocolate flavor. The coffee flavor is subtle and not overwhelming. So while it may not be what you expect, it's a pleasant, full, solid flavor that doesn't have anything wrong with it. It's sweet like a 72% bar would be, but pleasant.

Texture: Initially a bit waxy, but not brittle and ultimately it has a creamy finish that leaves you wanting more. So as you eat it, you think: "whoa, waxy.. wait.. good.. giv me me another". Rinse. Repeat.


My rating: 5.1 on the scale below. Had to give it just above a 5, because I'd definitely get it again, but I wouldn't kill for it.

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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Baron 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate

About: Baron chocolate is a Polish-made chocolate, whose marketing arm chose to emphasize their "European" Origins. Hmm... Inferiority Complex starts with E and O - go figure. They have a nice
English language web site that's modern and informative, though you don't get the feeling (as I have seen elsewhere) that these people live and die for chocolate. Maybe they do; it's just their website that seems warm and friendly if somewhat less than passionate.

Flavor:It's okay. Earthy. Full enough, if you give it time and let it sit in your mouth and warm up for a while. But at the end, it's slightly anemic and a part of you will wonder why you're having to work a little bit to enjoy the chocolate. 

Texture: A bit too brittle. Just  a bit.It's chocolate, not a potato chip.


My rating: 4.9 on the scale below. This bar

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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