Valrhona - Guanaja 70%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Guanaja 70% Cocoa
Main ingredients are cocoa beans, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier: sunflower lecithin, natural vanilla extract.
Cocoa content: minimum 70% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

Valrhona, 26600 Tain l'Hermitage, France

Packaging

The 70g chocolate bar is wrapped and sealed in aluminium wrap and a cardboard envelope.

Look

The chocolate has a very dark black-ish brown colour. It has some red hues at the edges if held in the light.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

The smell is initially sugary with a cocoa body hinting at an intense cocoa. However, cold sugar aromas dominate.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate melts cleanly into a very fine liquid without developing a soft or sticky edge.

Taste

The initial taste is sugar. Darker, slightly roasty cocoa notes develop on the tongue. The cocoa notes and sweetness switch forth and back in dominance. The sweetness is clearly noticeable throughout. Hints of warmer, nutty flavours develop at the rear of the mouth.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste on the tongue and especially at the rear of the mouth is more of a physical sensation than a flavour. Only a weak aftertaste remains on the palate.

Summary

This chocolate is very well conched and fine. It has intense cocoa flavours that are framed by the sugar without showing bitter or sour notes.

Verdict

The well conched chcocolate has delicate cocoa flavours without being stingy or bitter. Only the aftertaste hints at the actual intensity of the cocoa. 4 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: LP752135, best before 02/2023, tasted 16/06/2022 & 10/07/2022 & 17/07/2022

Grenada Chocolate Company - 100% Dark Chocolate

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

100% Dark Chocolate
Main ingredients are cocoa beans.
Cocoa content: minimum 100% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

The Grenada Chocolate Company Ltd, Hermitage, St Patrick, Grenada, The Caribbean

Packaging

The 85g chocolate bar is wrapped in aluminium paper and a paper sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a distinct red hue on the surface and at the edges.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

The chocolate has light smell but this comes with intense cocoa aromas and dark bitterness. There also some fruity notes reminiscent of honeydew melons.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate is initially very tough and solid. It slowly melts into an dispersing find liquid while its melting surfaces become slightly rough.

Taste

The initial taste is an intense bitterness with some tobacco-ish notes in the front and almost charred flavours at the rear of the mouth. The bitterness remains but fruity flavours of melon develop next to a very intense cocoa flavour. There is no sourness and only a very mild astringency despite the intense bitterness.

Aftertaste

The chocolate almost remains present on the tongue. Its aftertaste is dominated by the slowly fading bitterness. Intense cocoa are at the rear of the mouth at the palate.

Summary

This is a very intense and dark chocolate with flavours of tobacco. This emphasises the dark flavours of the cocoa. The flavours remain clear without any warm flavours of nuts or roast. It has no sourness and a very mild astringency.

Verdict

The chocolate brings out the dark, tobacco like flavours of the cocoa. It is very intense and bitter without showing sourness. It is very well crafted with a very good melt. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 837, best before 11/01/2020, tasted 14&28/07/2019

Bonnat Chocolatier - Selva Maya

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Selva Maya
Main ingredients are cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar.
Cocoa content: minimum 75% cocoa.

Manufacturer

Bonnat Chocolatier, BP 48, 8 cours Sénozon, 38502 Voiron Cedex, France

Packaging

The 100g chocolate bar is covered in aluminium paper and a paper envelope.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a red hue at its edges.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

The smell is clear and light cocoa aroma with some ripe fruit and sugar. As the chocolate gets warmer, the cocoa becomes more intense.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate feels very hard initially. It melts into a very fine liquid almost without becoming sticky or soft or transition.

Taste

The initial flavour is comparably bitter. Intense dark cocoa flavours with noticeable astringency develop as the chocolate melts. These are accompanied by a little fruity sourness. The slightly toasty and woody cocoa flavours are mainly in the centre and rear of the mouth. Some sour berry fruits are noticeable on the top the front of the mouth. The flavours are intense but contained and delicate. Astringency is very mild and only builds up over time.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is mainly cocoa flavour towards the rear of the mouth that develops into some fruity notes.

Summary

This has a very good melt and mouthfeel. It has delicate flavours that emphasise the darker chocolate flavours with some sweetness and sour-ish notes.

Verdict

This is a very well crafted dark chocolate with a very good melt. It comes with delicate yet intense cocoa flavours. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: A, best before 04/2020, tasted 26/05&02&16/06/&07/07/2019

Artisan du Chocolat - Dark chocolate 100%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Dark chocolat 100% cocoa
Main ingredients are cocoa beans.
Cocoa content: 100% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

Artisan du Chocolat, 89 Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1 8DA, United Kingdom

Packaging

The 45g chocolate bar is sealed in transparent plastic wrap and wrapped in a cardboard.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a red hue.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear 'click' sound.

Smell

The chocolate has only a little smell. The aromas are reminiscent of the roast of nuts or oak wood and have hints of fermented tea and metal. As the chocolate warms in the hand, it releases warming, intense cocoa aromas.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate initially feels cold with a solid, smooth surface. The surface of the chocolate becomes softer and creamy as it slowly dissolves. It melts into a very fine, velvety and creamy liquid.

Taste

The initial flavour is a slightly astringent bitterness. As the chocolate melts slowly, it unfolds very dark cocoa flavours with an edge of nuts and roast. They are accompanied by an intense but mild bitterness. Despite its intensity, the chocolate has little astringency, almost no acidity and the warm flavour of dark roasted nuts.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste lasts very long and is mainly a central flavours of cocoa and roast. A mild bitterness lingers in the mouth.

Summary

This chocolate is as intense as get it gets. It has a mild bitterness, rich flavour of cocoa and dark roast nuts. The flavours are very intense, the melt is very fine and creamy without being sticky. However, this is not for the faint-hearted, there is no sweetness, milk or dairy creaminess about it.

Verdict

This chocolate is well crafted. It has intense cocoa flavours, an intense but yet mild bitterness and a dark-ish roasty edge. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 36728, best before 12/2019, tasted 09/12/2018&22/04/2019

R Chocolate - House Dark 70%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

House Dark 70%
Main ingredients are cocoa kernel, cane sugar, and cocoa butter.
Cocoa content: minimum 70% cocoa

Manufacturer

R Chocolate, 198 Ebury St, Belgravia, London, SW1W 8UN, United Kingdom

Packaging

The chocolate is wrapped in aluminium foil and a red paper sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with a black-ish hint. The edges appear with a white shimmer. The bar has some moulding air bubbles on the surface.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

Opening the package releases an immediate cold-ish cocoa and fruity cane sugar aroma.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate melts slowly into a very fine liquid. The edges remain almost solid before melting into a liquid.

Taste

There is a brief bitter punch and an initial sweet flavour until the two mix and a more bitter, earthy flavour develops. As the chocolate melts, the fine liquid releases very warming cocoa flavours with hints of deep roasted walnuts and fruity hints of dried cherry and raisins towards the rear of the mouth. The cane sugar balances the bitterness but it may leave the feeling of sourness of the tongue.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is a mixture of some sweetness in the centre of the mouth, cocoa flavours at the rear, a subtle bitterness of roasted walnuts that is almost in the throat.

Summary

This is a very well conched dark chocolate some flavours of roasted nuts, mild bitterness, very little astringency and a balanced sweetness. The is some sourness that may tickle the tongue.

Verdict

The chocolate melts abruptly from solid to liquid without any stickiness or softness. It has flavours of roasted nuts and the bitterness of walnuts and some hints of fruity notes. There are some subtle notes of sourness that may leave a tickling flavour on the tongue. 4 Stars.

Dates

Best before 22/11/2018, tasted 09&16&30/09/2018

Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé - Whole Ground Chocolate

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Whole Ground Chocolate
Main ingredients are cocoa beans with shell, cane sugar, cocoa butter.
Cocoa content: minimum 72% cocoa

Manufacturer

Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé Kft., Ringló út. 33, 1221 Budapest Budafok, Hungary

Packaging

The 70g chocolate bar is wrapped in quite strong parchment paper and a card board box.

Look

The chocolate is very dark brown with red hue. Smaller bits appear red-brown.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a very clear and abrupt snap sound.

Smell

Opening the parchment paper releases aromas of cocoa, cane sugar and fruity notes of muskmelon.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate initially feels hard and almost sharp edged. It starts melting quickly and after a short-lived sticky stage, it melts into a very fine and creamy liquid.

Taste

The initial contact has a fruity melon like flavour. As the chocolate starts melting, intense and rich but light cocoa flavours develop. The cocoa has a very mild bitterness that slowly turns into flavours of roasted nuts and caramelised, ripe fruit on top of the rich cocoa flavours.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is a fruity cocoa flavour with tiny hints of a fruity sourness.

Summary

This chocolate is dark and it has very a rich, fruit and cocoa feel. Its flavours are more fruity and light and emphasising the cocoa in the product.

Verdict

The whole ground chocolate provides a fine, rich almost creamy melt. The cocoa flavours have a distinct tropical, melon edge with notes of caramel. The chocolate emphasises a full, rich cocoa body. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: MT4404WG, best before 30/01/2020, tasted 24/06&22&29/07/2018

Honest Chocolate - Dark Chocolate 80%

The tasting notes reflect my personal opinion.

Name

Dark Chocolate 80%
Main ingredients are cocoa beans, unrefined cane sugar.
Cocoa content: minimum 80% cocoa solids

Manufacturer

Honest Chocolate, The Woodstock Exchange, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town,7925, South Africa

Packaging

The 60g chocolate bar is wrapped in aluminium paper and a card board sleeve.

Look

The chocolate is dark red-brown with a very shiny surface.

Sound

The chocolate breaks with a clear snap sound.

Smell

Opening the package releases intensive fruity cocoa aromas with hints of coffee, roasted nuts and sweetness.

Mouthfeel

The chocolate melts into a very fine liquid. Its surfaces become slightly rougher and soft when melting.

Taste

The initial flavour is sweet. As soon as the chocolate starts melting, a full cocoa body unfolds. A fruity sourness builds up that is framed by roasted nuts and a mild astringency. Later, the flavour of unripe red fruit emerges. Its sourness increases up to an almost tingling sensation. Hints of roasted nuts and bitterness develop next to the full bodied yet light, fruity and sour cocoa.

Aftertaste

The aftertaste is a light fruity sourness in the centre of the mouth that is slightly tingling. There is also a mildly astringent cocoa flavours at the rear of the mouth.

Summary

This dark chocolate has a fruity and sour flavour with flavours of roasted nuts. The full bodied cocoa flavour emphasises the fruity sourness and lighter flavours of its cocoa. The astringency and bitterness are very mild making this chocolate a comparable 'light' dark chocolate.

Verdict

The chocolate is very well manufactured and melts nicely. It emphasises the cocoa's fruity flavours and showcases its complexity as each components develops one by one. 5 Stars.

Dates

Lot number: 180530-1, best before 30/05/2019, tasted 15&22&28&29/07/2018