Chocolates El Rey APAMATE Carenero Superior

Evaluation Date: October 2011

Cocoa Content: 74%

Purchased @: Salt Lake City

Theo Rating: 3 - "Again, the wrapper looked good, but the chocolate tasted bad and got worse. Perhaps the cocoa beans it was made from were old!"

Broma Rating: 4 - "This sample has plenty of cocoa buzz, but the flavor just isn't worth writing home about. Something about it isn't pleasing and drops this way down the list in its rating."

SHAMAN Organic Chocolates

Evaluation Date: June 2013

Cocoa Content: 82%

Purchased @: Whole Foods

Theo Rating: 5 - "Not Sweet Enough."

Broma Rating: 5 - "Its hard to appreciate this dark choc sample. The cocoa content is too biting and the texture isn't pleasing. I'll give it a 5"

Cadbury Royal Dark

Evaluation Date: June 2010

Cocoa Content: ?? %

Purchased @: Albertsons

Theo Rating: 9 - "The more I review the savoring of this dark chocolate, the more I'm inclined to make it a 9. It was very smooth, sweet and rich!"

Broma Rating: 8 - "Very "Nestles-SemiSweet-Choc-Chip-like" in flavor and consistency. A nice after-lunch chocolate afternoon treat"

NEWMAN'S OWN Organics (The Second Generation) Dark Chocolate

Evaluation Date: June 2012

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: Issaquah PCC

Theo Rating: 10 - "No question. This one was EXCELLENT!"

Broma Rating: 10 - "This is a great dark chocolate that I would recommend to anyone. This is a perfect sample of balance. I'm calling this one a "10"."

GHIRARDELLI INTENSE DARK EVENING DREAM

Evaluation Date: April 2013

Cocoa Content: 60%

Purchased @: Safeway

Theo Rating: 9 - "Even though this sample was advertised to be a 60% dark chocolate, it tasted like one with a higher percentage. It wasn't quite enough for me to give it a 10, but it was excellent!"

Broma Rating: 10 - "What a pleasant and surprising dark chocolate. The 60% declaration set my expectation very, very low. We've only seen two samples, to date, in the 60% range that received a rating above a "7". This is a very nice balance of texture, sweetness and a good kick of cocoa content!"

"Madecasse Chocolate bean-to-bar in Madagascar"

Evaluation Date: September 2012

Cocoa Content: 80%

Purchased @: Whole Foods

Theo Rating: 4 - "This sample seemed that it was either too old or had been stored at too high a temperature. It was not as smooth as I had hoped and tasted a tiny bit grainy and bitter. Otherwise it was a decent dark chocolate"

Broma Rating: 4 - " Again, another sample, with tremendous potential, tainted by aging or high temperature storage. I liked the content and taste, but the brittle & grainy texture was unacceptable."

THEO Organic Fair Trade MINT

Evaluation Date: May 2012

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: Boehms Chocolates

Theo Rating: 5 - "The strong mint flavor was good, but overwhelmed the dark chocolate flavor."

Broma Rating: 5 - "This was not a good example of good balance in a "Combo" dark chocolate. The mint was too strong and it was easy to consider this a mint "candy" verses a dark choc."

Askinosie Chocolate DAVAO Philippines

Evaluation Date: October 2013

Cocoa Content: 77%

Purchased @: Chocolopolis - Seattle

Theo Rating: 9 - "I found the initial taste of this sample too bitter, but the follow-on taste was almost perfect! Thus, I would only give it a 9. With a tad more sweetness, I would have given it a 10."

Broma Rating: 10 - "A wonderful dark chocolate "kick" accompanies this balanced (sweetness, smoothness, cocoa-ness) sample!"

GODIVA Extra Dark Santo Domingo Chocolate

Evaluation Date: March 2014

Cocoa Content: 85%

Purchased @: Safeway

Theo Rating: 8 - "I loved the color, texture and dark chocolate taste, but as you say it was a tad too bitter. For me, if it had had some more sweetness, I would have given it a 9. My rating is an 8."

Broma Rating: 9 - "A very impressive dark chocolate that comes in the perfect sized chunks. The cocoa content carries it just over the line in to the "bitterness" level that reduces its pleasing taste."

ALTER ECO DARK BLACKOUT Organic (Ecuador)

Evaluation Date: March 2013

Cocoa Content: 85%

Purchased @: QFC

Theo Rating: 8 - "I liked the smoothness of this dark chocolate and its flavor, but the bitterness was a little too much for me. I prefer it a little sweeter."

Broma Rating: 8 - "Besides a repackaging of a previous dark choc (June 2012)  this new version is made from cocoa from Ecuador rather than Bolivia. With that clarity, I also report that this is an excellent dark-dark chocolate. The bitterness level is very striking and enjoyable."

ALTER ECO Fair Trade Dark Choc Crunchy roasted nibs

Evaluation Date: February 2011

Cocoa Content: 73%

Purchased @: PCC

Theo Rating: 8 - "I liked the "chocolatiness" (is that a word?) of this dark chocoate, but I'm still deciding if I like the "grainyness" of the NIBS."

Broma Rating: 8 - "I really like this! It’s a perfect blend of the Trader Joe's NIBS with a much higher content of great strong dark chocolate. It is a delicious & different experience and concoction that screams "dark chocolate!""

CHOCOLAT-BOX XOCOLATA NEGRA BARCELONA AMETLLA Almond

Evaluation Date: February 2015

Cocoa Content: ??%

Purchased @: Cannes, France (Airport)

Theo Rating: 9 - "A very good sample, but I would have preferred no chips. They were of good flavor, but I like the pure and smooth dark chocolate."

Broma Rating: 9 - "First of all, understand that this is a hybrid. (it has small bits of almond embedded in the dark choc) Now, understand that this is one of the best "hybrid dark chocolates" that I've ever sampled!"

GUYLIAN Belgian Chocolate No Sugar Added (DARK)

Evaluation Date: March 2011

Cocoa Content: 54%

Purchased @: Dallas / Ft Worth Airport

Theo Rating: 8 - "I found the "nose" not as good as I like for dark chocolate, and the artificial sweetner was detectable as not being cane sugar. Otherwise, it was a pretty good chocolate."

Broma Rating: 8 - "Interesting that the other 54% content (NEWMANS OWN) evaluation also scored well. This is a very pleasing choc that makes you wish you had bought more!"

ESCAZU Carenero Venequela

Evaluation Date: October 2013

Cocoa Content: 81%

Purchased @: Chocolopolis - Seattle

Theo Rating: 4 - "I didn't like this sample at all !"

Broma Rating: 5 - "I didn't really like the flavor of this sample at all. After reading the label in more detail I now know why: "We add a minimum amount of sugar so that the cherry and tobacco flavors can be appreciated." I am not interested, at all, in a tobacco flavor!"

MICHEL CLUIZEL NOIR de CACAO

Evaluation Date: March 2012

Cocoa Content: 72%

Purchased @: Chocolopolis - Seattle

Theo Rating: 6 - "I found this chocolate better than #70. The aroma was about the same, but the taste was better; not exceptional, but  a good dark chocolate."

Broma Rating: 6 - "An interestingly/strange side or after-taste negatively effects this otherwise fine dark  chocolate. I like its smoothness, the cocoa level and the sweetness. Its hard to put in to words the problem I have with this sample."

Chocolate Santander Colombian Single Origin

Evaluation Date: August 2010

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: Front Street Market (Issaquah)

Theo Rating: 8 - "I love the aroma of each piece before eating it. In the mouth it is very good, but not as good as Newman's Own Organics  Dark Chocolate"

Broma Rating: 8 - "The cocoa content of this Dark Choc is apparent from the beginning! Almost overwhelming, but after the shock, it is a very pleasing taste."

BUTLERS PURVEYORS OF HAPPINESS

Evaluation Date: March 2014

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: Heathrow Airport

Theo Rating: 10 - "Yes, I liked the texture, bouquet and dark chocolate-sweetness balance in this sample, so a 10 for me too."

Broma Rating: 10 - "How interesting to note that on the 17th of March, Theo noticed that this is a "product of Ireland"!   This dark chocolate from Butlers is also a "10" !!"

Maria Tepoztlan CHOCOLATE XOCOLATL

Evaluation Date: May 2012

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: Mexico

Theo Rating: 1 - "Too sweet and not enough dark chocolate content or taste. I also noticed that there were some small patches of very light (almost white) chocolate. That usually indicates the bar was not kept cool at some point in its life history."

Broma Rating: 1 - "This is a terrible chocolate, a real disappointment. Though published as a 70% cocoa content, it wasn't "dark" in the least."

Montezuma's Very Dark Chocolate

Evaluation Date: March 2014

Cocoa Content: 73%

Purchased @: Heathrow Airport

Theo Rating: 10 - "I really liked the dark chocolate “bite” of this sample! I agree it was a 10!"

Broma Rating: 10 - "A great dark chocolate that deserves attention. The packaging states, "innovative british chocolate" - well I don't know much about british chocolate, but this is a very nice dark chocolate."

THEO Organic Fair Trade Cherry & Almond

Evaluation Date: May 2012

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: THEO Chocolate Factory

Theo Rating: 7 - "I had trouble detecting the cherry flavor, but did sense the almond. It was a good dark chocolate, but to be called cherry I wanted a stronger dark cherry flavor."

Broma Rating: 8 - "I really liked this balance! The cherry and almond actually enhanced the very good dark choc in this case. I could really get used to this 70% Theo!"

Trader Joe's Organic Super Dark

Evaluation Date: February 2013

Cocoa Content: 73%

Purchased @: Trader Joe's

Theo Rating: 9 - "Very nice dark chocolate, but could use a tad more sweetness for my taste. Also, a little bit of an after taste, which was not good."

Broma Rating: 9 - "The packaging includes a printed statement, "not for the faint of heart" & that it is, for those truly serious about dark chocolate. I fully agree! I also really appreciate the thickness of the bar itself . . Where one square serving really delivers. The slight chalky texture is all that keeps it from being a "10"

Republica Del Cacao (Manabi)

Evaluation Date: June 2010

Cocoa Content: 75%

Purchased @: PCC Avondale

Theo Rating: 6 - "The chocolate flavor was good, but there was a hint of something else"

Broma Rating: 7 - "Striking Choc flavor with  "classic movie" packaging that reminds you of a great old Black & White film"

Lillie Belle Farms Perfect Illusion

Evaluation Date: November 2012

Cocoa Content: 65%

Purchased @: PCC

Theo Rating: 4 - "I found the cacao content, we usually find in a good dark chocolate, was not there. The bar looked good, but did not have the rich dark chocolate color we usually find."

Broma Rating: 4 - "This is a nice, smooth, sweet chocolate bar, but the cocoa content isn't there. It hardly at a level that could be considered a "Dark" chocolate. I do look forward to the follow on samples from Lille Belle Farms."

E. Guittard Nocturne

Evaluation Date: October 2011

Cocoa Content: 91%

Purchased @: Salt Lake City, UT

Theo Rating: 4 - "I concur. There was a good, strong chocolate flavor, but the residual bitterness taste was not good."

Broma Rating: 4 - "This sample gives you the same taste memory of the time you broke in to the "baking chocolate" in the baking shelf in the kitchen when you were young. Plenty of chocolate "zing", but not a pleasing taste."

Chocolove XOXOX BELGIAN CHOCOLATE

Evaluation Date: December 2013

Cocoa Content: 55%

Purchased @: Metropolitan Market

Theo Rating: 5 - "I found it too sweet and not “dark chocolaty” enough. I would say its a 5."

Broma Rating: 4 - "Hmmm.  This is a real dissappointment. It really shows the importance of cocoa content in a dark chocolate! This one is 20 points lower than another sample from the same brand, it isn't even in the same ball game."

Hageland Premium Belgian Chocolate Limited Origin Selection (Uganda)

Evaluation Date: October 2011

Cocoa Content: 80%

Purchased @: Detroit Area (Wallmart)

Theo Rating: 5 - "I too felt the dark chocolate taste was not balanced well enough with sweetness. The higher cocoa content overwhelmed the tast of the chocolate."

Broma Rating: 5 - "A perfect example of how cocoa content "balance" is critical. Though, this sample has great dark choc taste, it is too much. You'll see that the Hageland samples rate lower as the cocoa content increases."

TRADER JOE'S the dark Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Bar

Evaluation Date: July 2014

Cocoa Content: 85%

Purchased @: Trader Joe's

Theo Rating: 8 - "I liked the cacao of this sample, but it was not sweet enough for me. I rated it an 8"

Broma Rating: 7 - "As advertised this sample has a nice fruity "tilt" to it, that is rather pleasing. Unfortunately the cocoa content is too high, at 85%. For my tastes, that's a little too much "kick" for a favorite dark chocolate. Big credit for the packaging !!"

LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT Cuana Noir Puissant et Franc

Evaluation Date: February 2015

Cocoa Content: 74%

Purchased @: Charles de Gaulle Airport

Theo Rating: 8 - "I have a special liking for french chocolate -and though this isn't a perfect sample - I'll give it an "8" "

Broma Rating: 8 - "I really like this chocolate. It has just about a perfect level of cocoa content, smoothness and sweetness."

KALLARI farmer-owned organic made in Ecuador

Evaluation Date: April 2012

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: PCC

Theo Rating: 10 - "Upon reflection, I'll have to go with a ten also. I could find nothing to distract me from the attributes of a great dark chocolate."

Broma Rating: 10 - "This sample from Kallari is also a "10"!   This is a sample that could be considered a perfect dark chocolate that represents its objectives without distraction."

THE GRENADA CHOCOLATE Organic Dark

Evaluation Date: March 2012

Cocoa Content: 82%

Purchased @: Chocolopolis (Seattle)

Theo Rating: 7 - "This dark chocolate had a great "nose," smoothness and sweetness. However, I found it slightly on the bitter side, but still very good."

Broma Rating: 8 - "This is a great dark choc! The bitter (high) cocoa level is about as extreme as one would want to go, but this sample has a great level of smoothness and sweetness. I would buy this one again!"

PERUGINA L'ARTE DEL GUSTO Bittersweet Chocolate

Evaluation Date: May 2012

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: Charleston, SC Airport

Theo Rating: 10 - "Yes, this was a very nice dark chocolate: great aroma, great taste and great smoothness!"

Broma Rating: 10 - "This is a clear winner in the dark chocolate wars! Perfectly smooth, wonderfully chocolate and pleasingly sweet. I'm not sure how this sample could be improved as the perfect "after lunch" dark choc."

THEO Organic Fair Trade Ultimate Dark

Evaluation Date: May 2012

Cocoa Content: 85%

Purchased @: THEO Factory Store

Theo Rating: 8 - "This was an excellent dark chocolate, but I would have preferred a little more sweetness. The Theo factory tour was very informative."

Broma Rating: 9 - "A very, very good dark chocolate. It may be slightly too bitter at 85%, but all in all, a great sample. I have to report that we were able to recently attend a Theo Chocolates factory tour - very informative and very enjoyable"

EQUAL EXCHANGE (Organic & fairly traded) EXTRA Dark chocolate Panama

Evaluation Date: July 2012

Cocoa Content: 80%

Purchased @: PCC

Theo Rating: 9 - "The higher cacao content was well integrated in this sample. Both the 71% or 80% were excellent!"

Broma Rating: 9 - "I really like this edition from Equal Exchange, and I'd almost say that I like the higher level of cocoa content than its 71% brother. But I'm not willing to take the step of rating it a "10", though I could easily make this a daily staple."

FRUITION CHOCOLATE Handcrafted from Bean to Bar Single Origin Peru

Evaluation Date: July 2012

Cocoa Content: 70%

Purchased @: Whole Foods

Theo Rating: 8 - "Very good dark chocolate."

Broma Rating: 9 - "This is an excellent dark chocolate that I highly recommend! I could easily get used to having this, as an after lunch dark choc snack, on a very regular basis!"

Francois Pralus Maitre Chocolatier Tanzanie Forastero

Evaluation Date: August 2012

Cocoa Content: 75%

Purchased @: Whole Foods

Theo Rating: 10 - "I found this dark chocolate commendable! It looks, smells and tastes GREAT! An outstanding dark chocolate by a master artisan."

Broma Rating: 10 - "This is a great dark chocolate that I highly recommend. The cocoa content is perfect and its origin has provided a foundational flavor that is most pleasing with an adequate level of "bitter" that one would expect."

TAZA Stone Ground Organic

Evaluation Date: January 2011

Cocoa Content: 60%

Purchased @: PCC

Theo Rating: 5 - "I chose this chocolate mainly because the labelling and packaging caught my eye. I found the chocolate somewhat grainy and not very flavorful."

Broma Rating: 4 - "This company has gone overboard on the "Dairy free", "Gluten free", Soy free",  "stone ground" organic bandwagon! Though this was an interesting sample, the taste is approaching "flavor free" !! (but any dark choc deserves a "4" "

JCOCO Noble Dark

Evaluation Date: October 2012

Cocoa Content: 72%

Purchased @: PCC

Theo Rating: 9 - "I liked this sample, but it did not quite make it into my "10" category. I would have liked a tad more sweetness and dark chocolate taste. Overall, it was a good sample."

Broma Rating: 10 - "This is such a good dark chocolate, that it absolutely deserves a "10" rating! Its smooth, its sweetness is perfect, and the cocoa content (or percentage) is a great balance and "dark choc kick". Perfect for the after lunch exclamation point!!"

FEARLESS (Raw Organic Chocolate) DARK as MIDNIGHT

Evaluation Date: September 2011

Cocoa Content: 75%

Purchased @: PCC Issaquah

Theo Rating: 8 - "I did not like the appearance of the chocolate; it seemed to be very old. Also, the taste was not very good. However, the exterior wrapping and interior wrapping were pretty. The June 2012 sample was much better!"

Broma Rating: 8 - "Nice packaging, Interesting simulated "bite" taken out of one corner of the choc bar. The original sample (Sept-2011) was old. This new sample was very good so a "6" rating was raised to an "8" !  Good News!"

Waialua Estate Extra Dark Chocolate

Evaluation Date: April 2012
Cocoa Content: 70%
Purchased @: Boehms Chocolates

Theo Rating: 10 - "Yes, this sample was excellent!"

Broma Rating: 10 - "I consider this a "10" for all the right reasons! It is smooth, it has the right level of cocoa "punch" and its perfect in the "sweetness" category. On top of that, it reminds me of a great trip to the North Shore a few years back."