1. Andean Crunch (corn) in 65% dark chocolate- my favorite of all these!!! It’s incredibly creamy and moorish- there’s actually butter powder in this bar which gives it richness of a milk chocolate (It seems almost sweeter than the percentage. *Due to a packaging error this is actually in a 65% base chocolate, not 70%). That contrasts perfectly with the salt and starch of the crunchy corn, whose savory comforting flavor lingers all through the taste long into the finish. There’s a reason why I bought 2 of these after sampling it! 😁
2. Cleo’s Kick (coffee)- the coffee is more bitter than I expected, and the chocolate has strong yogurt (tart dairy) notes. For those of who like strong flavors, it delivers that, although I think both the bitterness & sourness could be tempered.
3. Costa Esmeraldas 70%. Nose is very fragrant, fruity and woody. Opens with soft rounded fruit notes, then tannins. A pleasant sourness develops and gives way to fruitiness that tempers the tannins. There are also yogurt & dairy notes (creaminess) on the finish. Satisfying!
4. Tsiriari (Peru) 70%. A very distinct nose- herbaceous olive! WOW- this bar is an incredible flavor experience: a FORCE of woody and olive flavors in the mouth. These start on a backdrop of bright butteriness but then morph into lemony acidity. The sourness and olive notes are so pronounced – on one tasting my mouth almost detected a spicy quality, on subsequent tastings the sourness was more balanced. I love the personality and olive profile of this bar- so unique and interesting!
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