We taste the chocolate so you don't have to!
As any true chocoholic knows, true chocolate is dark chocolate. Kriss and I started getting serious about our dark chocolate after I brought home some samples from Europe. And as we started doing our tastings, we realized that we needed to make our evaluations a bit more scientific. At the very least, to record what our tastes in the stuff are. Especially so, because our tastes are running a bit on the expensive side these days.
Our system: we wanted to keep it simple and have limited our reviews to "+", "-", and "0." Plusses mean we like the stuff and would buy it again. Negatives mean that we won't. The zeros indicate that we liked it fine but won't seek it out again. Sometimes we agree. Sometimes we don't.
As of May 2, 2008, we have reviewed 85 different chocolates, and we'll update this from time to time as we go.
| Date | Country | Manufacturer | Brand | Cocoa Content | Paul's Review | Kriss's Review | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/5/06 | Italy | Novi | Grenada | 80% | + |
+ |
Our favorite |
| 5/15/06 | Finland | Fazer | Exclusive | 70% | 0 |
- |
|
| 5/20/06 | Italy | Novi | Ecuador | 75% | + |
0 |
|
| 5/25/06 | Holland | Droste | Pastilles | 72% | + |
+ |
|
| 6/30/06 | France | Michel Cluizel | Infini | 99% | - |
- |
Great texture and nice spiciness, but inedible |
| 7/4/06 | Italy | Guido Gobino | Trinidad | 80% | 0 |
- |
|
| 7/10/06 | France | Michel Cluizel | Grand | 85% | 0 |
+ |
|
| 7/17/06 | France | Lindt | Excellence | 85% | 0 |
0 |
|
| 7/20/06 | Germany | Hachez | Cocoa d'Arriba | 77% | - |
0 |
|
| 8/5/06 | France | Valrhona | Noir Amer | 71% | 0 |
0 |
|
| 8/19/06 | US (Hawaii) | Hawaiian Host | Dark Macademia | ?? | 0 |
+ |
|
| 8/19/06 | US (Hawaii) | Menehune Mac | Dark Macademia | ?? | 0 |
0 |
Not enough nut taste |
| 8/19/06 | US (Hawaii) | HI Chocolate Factory | Dark | ?? | - |
- |
Overly sweet, artificial flavor? |
| 8/26/06 | Spain | Blanxart | Negro | 62% | - |
- |
Tastes like coffee and too sweet |
| 8/27/06 | US (Oregon) | Dagoba | New Moon | 74% | + |
0 |
Weak start, but good finish |
| 8/29/06 | Russia | Korkunov | Dark | 72% | - |
0 |
Pleasant and creamy, but lacking personality |
| 9/4/06 | Italy | Green and Black | Bittersweet Dark | 70% | + |
0 |
Burnt taste |
| 9/16/06 | US (California) | Scharffen Berger | Bittersweet | 70% | 0 |
0 |
Moody (lots of different tastes, including simply bland) |
| 9/23/06 | US (Indiana) | Endangered Species | Intense Dark (w/Cocoa Nibs) | 75% | 0 |
+ |
Paul says dry and nibs taste gritty; Kriss says perfect blend of sweetness and flavor (nibs add interest) |
| 9/24/06 | US (New York) | Godiva | Extra Dark | 72% | - |
0 |
Unexceptional. Creamy but flavorless |
| 9/29/06 | Belgium | New Tree | Pleasure | 73% | 0 |
0 |
Nice, but unmotivated |
| 9/30/06 | US (California) | Ghirardelli | Twilight Delight | 72% | + |
+ |
Fruity, with nice sharpness |
| 10/8/06 | Columbia | Nacional de Chocolates | Santander | 70% | + |
+ |
Cherry tones, with some coffee taste |
| 10/10/06 | France | Chocolat Bonnat | Madagascar | 75% | + |
0 |
Fruity and creamy (with maple flavor) |
| 10/12/06 | Italy | Amedei | Madagascar | 70% | + |
0 |
Slightly acidic with fruitiness; slow to start but nice finish |
| 10/13/06 | Belgium | Dolfin | Noir | 70% | 0 |
0 |
Dry but consistent flavor; fine middle-of-the-road chocolate |
| 10/14/06 | Italy | Amedei | Jamaica | 70% | - |
- |
Bland and acidic |
| 10/19/06 | Italy | Domori | Carenero Superior | 70% | + |
0 |
Fruity and tropical |
| 10/28/06 | Italy | Amedei | Ecuador | 70% | 0 |
0 |
Fruity but otherwise unexceptional |
| 10/31/06 | Switzerland | Rapunzel | Bittersweet | 70% | - |
+ |
Paul says it's dry and crumbly; Kriss says excellent bouquet and surprisingly sweet |
| 11/4/06 | Italy | Amedei | Trinidad | 70% | 0 |
- |
Smoky beginning, strong aftertaste |
| 11/10/06 | US (Colorado) | Chocolove | Strong Dark | 70% | - |
- |
Sweet, some flavor at beginning, but fades |
| 11/11/06 | Italy | Amedei | Venezuela | 70% | ? |
? |
Strong acidity with fruitiness, strong aftertaste [We weren't able to decide and need to get more for a rating] |
| 11/16/06 | Belgium | Dolfin | Noir | 88% | 0 |
+ |
Sweet tasting (considering the high cocoa content); sticks to throat |
| 11/17/06 | Italy | Amedei | Grenada | 70% | - |
- |
Burnt coffee taste |
| 11/17/06 | Spain | Valor | Dark | 70% | - |
- |
Sweet (tastes like Hershey's) |
| 11/26/06 | US (Washington) | Theo | Ghana-Panama-Ecuador | 75% | 0 |
- |
Very bitter start, fills in with sweetness, but becomes sticky |
| 12/1/06 | US (Indiana) | Endangered Species | Supreme Dark | 72% | - |
- |
Not bitter, not sweet (it has no taste at all!) |
| 12/16/06 | Germany | Divine | Dark | 70% | 0 |
0 |
Some sharpness, but no sophistication |
| 12/28/06 | US (Indiana) | Endangered Species | Extreme Dark | 88% | 0 |
0 |
Not enough flavor, but otherwise pleasant |
| 12/29/06 | Italy | Giraudi | Fondente | 80% | 0 |
0 |
Complex strong coffee flavor, sweet body and buttery aftertaste; good but very expensive |
| 12/30/06 | Switzerland | Equal Exchange | Very Dark | 71% | + |
+ |
Creamy and simple, well-rounded |
| 1/1/07 | France | Pralus | Fortissima | 80% | + |
- |
Paul says it's fruity with a strong flavor explosion but bitter aftertaste; Kriss says it's just bitter |
| 1/6/07 | Venezuela | El Rey | Carenero Superior | 73.5% | - |
- |
Aromatic and sweet, grainy texture |
| 1/12/07 | Italy | Venchi | Extra Bitter | 75% | - |
- |
Fatty, pudding-like,with a strong bitter aftertaste |
| 1/13/07 | Canada | Terra Nostra | Intense Dark | 73% | 0 |
0 |
Pleasant with fruity undertones |
| 1/20/07 | Belgium | Galler | Noir | 85% | 0 |
0 |
Strong, fruity, coffee flavor |
| 1/23/07 | Ecuador | Vintage Plantations | Dark | 75% | + |
+ |
Very strong, nutty flavor, powerful cocoa undertones |
| 1/28/07 | Belgium | Nirvana | Single Origin Tanzania | 70% | + |
+ |
Subtle cherry flavor |
| 2/2/07 | France | Weiss | Dark | 85% | - |
0 |
Very little flavor (or at least very slow to develop!) |
| 2/6/07 | Switzerland | Lindt | Ecuador | 75% | + |
+ |
We both like the Ecuadorian Arriba bean |
| 2/17/07 | France | Olivier | Sao Tome | 70% | + |
0 |
Creamy with a coffee smell and a fruity/nutty taste |
| 2/21/07 | Belgium | Cote d'Or | Brut | 86% | 0 |
0 |
Creamy but not much falvor or personality |
| 3/6/07 | France | Bernard Castelain | Intense | 77% | 0 |
0 |
Pretty, fine, but no distinct qualities |
| 3/10/07 | US (OR) | Dagoba | Conacado | 73% | - |
0 |
Unremarkable |
| 3/16/07 | US (AZ) | Xocai | Antioxident Nuggets | 70% | - |
- |
Dry, crunchy, and sweet |
| 4/3/07 | Holland | Droste | Superior | 75% | + |
0 |
Tastes like the Droste Pastilles, but more bitter and not as complex |
| 4/5/07 | France | Valhrona | Le Noir Extra Amer | 85% | 0 |
0 |
Creamy with some fruity flavor, but largely plain |
| 4/19/07 | US (VT) | Lake Champlain | Sao Thome | 70% | - |
- |
Very sweet |
| 4/28/07 | Spain | Chocovic | Ocumare | 71% | - |
0 |
Strong and promising start, but never develops |
| 5/11/07 | US (CA) | Scharfen Berger | Extra Dark | 82% | + |
+ |
Nice flavor, sherry-like |
| 5/18/07 | Switzerland | Chocolat Stella | Noir | 72% | - |
+ |
Paul says it has no flavor, but Kriss loves the nibs! |
| 5/19/07 | Germany | Hershey's | Reserve - Sao Tome | 70% | 0 |
+ |
Creamy with mild fruity flavor. No aftertaste |
| 6/2/07 | France | Bernard Castelain | Macaibo | 70% | - |
- |
Sweet start but doesn't go anywhere |
| 6/16/07 | Holland | Droste | Barettini | 72% | 0 |
0 |
Sweet |
| 7/7/07 | France | Michel Cluizel | Tamarina | 70% | + |
+ |
Strong burnt start with sweetness building over time. Unique! |
| 8/3/07 | France | Pralus | Trinidad | 75% | 0 |
0 |
Nice beginning but fades out |
| 8/10/07 | Belgium | Cafe Tasse | Extra Noir | 77% | - |
0 |
Flavorless start; Kriss says it gets "cocoa-ey" |
| 10/9/07 | Ecuador | Vintage Plantations | Dark | 90% | - |
- |
Very bitter |
| 10/12/07 | Italy | Slitti | Gran Cacao | 73% | 0 |
0 |
Pleasant but unremarkable |
| 10/13/07 | Germany | Schokinag | Bittersweet | 72% | + |
0 |
Rich & fruity, but Kriss says it's plain |
| 11/27/07 | Italy | Domori | Puertomar Venezuela | 75% | + |
+ |
Bright cherry taste with coffee undertone |
| 12/15/07 | France | Chocolat Bonnat | Hacienda El Rosario | 75% | 0 |
+ |
Creamy and buttery |
| 12/22/07 | Switzerland | Art Bar | Dark | 58% | - |
- |
Fruity, but not chocolatey |
| 1/11/08 | France | Michel Cluizel | Noir de Cacao | 72% | + |
0 |
Strong coffee flavor, but weak beginning |
| 1/12/08 | Italy | Maglio | Cuba | 70% | 0 |
0 |
Very creamy and smooth, but mild flavor |
| 1/15/08 | Belgium | Nirvana | Sao Thome | 70% | + |
0 |
Very strong burnt start with strong fruit flavor |
| 1/17/08 | Germany | Vivani | Organic | 72% | 0 |
0 |
Understated and unremarkable |
| 1/19/08 | US (California) | SF Chocolate Factory | Dark | 72% | - |
0 |
Plain but "non-offensive" |
| 1/29/08 | Japan | Van Houten | Dear Cacao | 57% | - |
- |
Weird non-chocolate taste |
| 2/2/08 | US (California) | Sjaak's | Dark | ? | - |
- |
Very Sweet |
| 2/9/08 | US (Washington) | Theo | Ivory Coast | 75% | - |
- |
Bland and sweet |
| 2/17/08 | US (Oregon) | Dagoba | Milagros | 68% | 0 |
0 |
Fruity, but no outstanding characteristics |
| 4/19/08 | US (Washington) | Theo | Ghana | 84% | - |
- |
Bland |
| 5/2/08 | Poland | Goplana | Gorzka | 60% | - |
- |
"Tastes like cheap Easter Egg chocolate" |