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."