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."