Valrhona Le Noir Extra Amer 85% cacao - Made in France

The red-brown and glossy appearance makes this chocolate look beautiful. The aroma is woody, rich and bittersweet. The snap is loud and the gradient is pleasing and crisp. It has a slow melt and a smooth, creamy texture. The flavor is bitter, not too sweet and dry. It has a fruity forward taste with a back taste of liqueur. The aftertaste is lingering but lasts too short for my tastes. This is a nice chocolate and gets a rating of 6.2 out of 10.

El Rey Gran Saman 70% cacao - Made in Venezuela

This chocolate has a dull brown appearance with streaks and lots of air holes. The aroma is chocolaty, smoky with a strong smell of fruit, cherries perhaps. The snap is loud and the gradient is rough and full of air holes. The texture is dry, chalky and grainy and this chocolate has a moderate melt. It has a very loamy flavor to it that takes away from the sweet fruity flavor. It has a burnt but tangy back flavor that also has a chalky, dry aftertaste. This chocolate may be better with a wine or cheese to help hide some of the burnt earthy tastes. I give this one a 5.6 out of 10.

DAGOBA Conacado 73% Dominican Republic cacao - Made in Oregon

This chocolate has a dull, even look to it and a licorice, smoky aroma. The snap is soft and the gradient is uneven and slightly rough. The texture is grainy, waxy and thick. This chocolate has a moderate melt. This chocolate has a subtle forward flavor and then finishes with a fruity tangy flavor. It is dry, deep and has a nutty aftertaste that is lingering. Overall, this is a tasty chocolate, a lot better than some of the other organic chocolates out there. I give this chocolate a 7 out of 10.

Droste Superior 75% cocoa - Made in Holland

The appearance of this chocolate is smooth with a dull sheen. It has a woody, burnt and tobacco aroma to it. The snap is loud and the gradient is clean and smooth. The texture is creamy and firm and has a slow to moderate melt. The flavor is deep and has nice balance between sweet and bitter. It also has an interesting back flavor that is both mild and complex. The aftertaste lingers and is very pleasant. It is a nice chocolate that I give a 7.5 out of 10.

Feodora Grand'Or Milde Edel-Bitter 75% cacao - Made in Germany

A nice glossy, even appearance for this chocolate. It has an aroma that is fresh and smells of tabocco and cherries. The snap is soft for 75% cacao but the gradient is clean and crisp. The texture is firm but smooth with a slow to moderate melt. This chocolate has a complex flavor in that the forward taste is rich, bitter and fruity. The back taste is citric, dry and tangy with a metallic taste at the very end. The aftertaste is lingering and somewhat pleasant but the metallic taste that I picked up takes away from the pleasantness. Overall, this is a nice chocolate that is not overwhelmed with sugar. I give this chocolate a 8.0 out of 10.

The Chocolate Bar signature bar 71% cocoa - Made in NYC

This chocolate is glossy, even and has a red-brown appearance. The aroma is loamy with fruity hints and it is very subtle and chocolaty. It has a moderate to loud snap with a rough, uneven gradient. The texture is firm, creamy and velvety. It has a sweet, nutty flavor that leans toward the sweet side. It finishes with a nice aftertaste that is pleasant but too short. I think this chocolate would be good with a dry wine because of the sweetness. Overall, this chocolate is too sweet and not enough variety of flavors or bitterness that makes a nice, interesting chocolate. I give this one a 5.8 out of 10.

AMEDEI LA TAVOLETTA 70% cacao - Made in Italy

This chocolate has a dull, smooth appearance with a dark brown color. The aroma is fresh and chocolaty. The snap is nice, loud and crisp and has a smooth gradient. The texture is harmonious with the even, dense and smoothness of the chocolate. It has a slow melt with a fresh, rich and sweet taste. The back taste picks up cherries and is citric. The aftertaste is nice and is lingering. This is a balanced chocolate that gets a 8.4 out of 10 in my book.

Jacques Torres 77.5% Domican Republic cacao - Made in New York

This chocolate has a dull, smooth and dark brown appearance. The aroma is woody, smoky and has a strong coffee smell to it. The snap is loud and the gradient is crumbly with a lot of airholes. The texture is creamy and dry. The melt is slow and the flavor is strong and interesting. It has a burnt coffee taste to it that leaves a not so pleasant aftertaste. I wasn't impressed with this chocolate at all and I give this one a 4.4 out of 10.

Pralus 75% Indonesie cacao - Made in France

The appearance of this chocolate is glossy and dark. The aroma is subtle with a citric undertone. It has a soft snap that is rough and uneven. The texture is even, clean and the melt is moderate. I picked up a pungent metallic taste with this chocolate under the bitterness and it was very acrid. The aftertaste has a burnt taste to it and was overall, this is a harsh chocolate that was not very pleasant. I have tasted a lot better chocolates from Pralus. I give this one a 4.6 out of 10.

Green & Black's Organic Dark 70% cocoa - Made in Italy

This chocolate has a dull dark appearance. The aroma is subtle but rich. It has a smell of cherries as well as bittersweet. The snap is loud and the gradient is clean and crisp. This chocolate has a rich sweet flavor that is also tart. The aftertaste is mild, sweet and tangy. It is a nice chocolate but not of the best. I give this chocolate a 6.3 out of 10.

Hershey's Cacao Reserve 67% Santo Domingo cacao - Made in Germany

The appearance is a dull smooth dark brown with a smoky, chocolaty and loamy aroma. The snap is soft which is to be expected with a low cacao percentage. The gradient is rough and brittle. The texture is even and very creamy with a slow melt. It has a deep earthy, musty flavor with hints of sweet cherries. The aftertaste is pleasant and lingering. This chocolate is a tad too sweet, but good overall. I give this chocolate a 6.8 out of 10.

Paris Organic Very Dark Chocolate 77% Costa Rica - Made in Switzerland

Ymmy! A great chocolate that is glossy, smooth and very brown. The aroma is woody and nutty with hints of fruits and very fresh. The snap is loud and the gradient is rough but pleasing. I picked up a lot of different flavors with this chocolate including fruits, cinnamon and caramel. It is very interesting and the aftertaste is really nice. This is a great chocolate with a rating of 8.1 out of 10.

Pralus 75% Madagascar cacao - Made in France

This chocolate has a dull appearance that is pitted and full of holes. It has a roasted, smoky tobacco aroma to it. The snap is moderate and the gradient is slightly rough. It has a slow to moderate melt with a dry but light texture. The flavor is bitter and sweet at the same time and starts getting tangy and tart towards the end. The aftertaste is lingering and is ok. This is an average chocolate that is nothing special. I give this one a 6.4 out of 10.

El Rey Apamate 73.5% cacao - Made in Venezuela

This chocolate has a smoky, chocolaty aroma with a dull brown appearance. The snap is soft and the gradient is clean and with a few airholes. It has a effortless melt and a grainy, chalky texture but the flavor makes up for that. It is a well balanced chocolate with a nutty, loamy and fresh flavor. One of the tasters said it reminded him of malted milk balls. It has an interesting taste to it and the aftertaste is no different. It is pleasant and tangy. This is a good chocolate and gets a rating of 7.1 out of 10.

Neuhaus Occumare 71% Venezuela cacao - Made in Belgium

This chocolate has a nice dull sheen to it with a brown color. The aroma is woody and smells of tobacco. It has a moderate snap to it and a crumbly, brittle gradient. It has a slow to moderate melt with a light, even and creamy texture. The flavor is balanced with a deep nutty taste. I also pick up a sweet liqueur flavor that makes this chocolate nice and tasty. It has a tangy back flavor with an interesting aftertaste that is both long and pleasant. Overall I think this is a really nice chocolate and this one gets a 7.4 out of 10.

Isis Luxury Belgian Extra Dark 85% cocoa - Made in Belgium

The appearance of this chocolate is brown and glossy. It has a smoky, fresh and loamy aroma. The snap is loud and the gradient is crisp and pleasing with very little crumbling. The texture is creamy, waxy and thick. It has a slow to moderate melt. The flavor is bitter, dry, deep and nutty. It has a nice lingering aftertaste which overall gives this chocolate a 6.8 out of 10.

Hachez Cocoa D' Arribe 77% Ecuador cacao - Made in Germany

This is a beautiful smooth chocolate. The aroma is fruity, floral and fresh. The snap is loud and the gradient is marbled. The flavors in this chocolate are complex, interesting, nutty and has a hint of red wine to it. The back flavor is a little metallic but the tangy taste overcomes that. I found the aftertaste to be too short but very pleasant. This chocolate would go really well with cheese. I give this one a 7.3 out of 10.

Venchi dal 1878 75% cacao - Made in Italy

This chocolate has a nice smooth dull sheen with a rich chocolaty aroma. The aroma is also smoky and has a fruity hint to it. The texture is creamy, chalky and the melt is moderate. The flavor is mostly chocolate. It is mild, balanced and leans toward bland. But it is good. The aftertaste was short and sweet. This is a great chocolate. This one gets a 7.5 out of 10.

Pralus Papouasie 75% New Guinea cacao - Made in France

This chocolate has a glossy sheen that is even and smooth. The aroma is loamy, chocolaty and very subtle. The snap is moderate and the gradient is clean and smooth. This chocolate has a moderate to slow melt with a creamy, thick texture. It is subtle and has just the right amount of bitterness to it. It has so many flavors forward and back. It is like riding a roller coaster. This chocolate is complex and interesting and it all goes together well. The aftertaste lingers in your mouth and is very pleasant. Nicely done Pralus. I give this chocolate a 7.1 out of 10.

Slitti Super Novanta 90% Venezuela cacao - Made in Italy

This chocolate starts with everything you would look for in a chocolate. It has a nice dull sheen that is even and smooth. It smells of rich, chocolate. The snap is loud and the gradient is smooth and marbled. But the flavor is intensely bitter. It is also dry, chalky and dense. I think is a good chocolate for 90% cacao. I would like to see a little more umph with this chocolate. I didn't pick up any of the fruity flavors that the wrapper alluded to. I did think the aftertaste was lingering and pleasant. I give this chocolate a 4.9 out of 10.

Debauve & Gallais 85% Santo Dominguo cacao - Made in Paris

This is a dark chocolate with a reddish tint. It has a dull but smooth sheen with a rich woody, loamy smell to it. The snap is loud and the gradient it slightly rough and marbled. The melt is slow and the texture is sticky, light, chalky and waxy. The taste is somewhat bitter but not too much and it is dry but it is also well-balanced. This isn't a bad chocolate, it's just boring. It is too mild and subtle with no flavors other than bland. The aftertaste is lingering. I think this chocolate would be better with a nice spicy cheese to liven it up a little. I give this one a 3.8 out of 10.

Santander Dark Chocolate 70% Columbian cocoa - Made in South America

A dull sheen with a rich chocolaty aroma to this chocolate. It has a loud snap with a slightly rough and uneven gradient. The texture is smooth, even and creamy with a moderate melt. It has a rich sweet and dry taste to it with a somewhat complex back taste. It has a lingering melt with a pleasant aftertaste. Overall, I give this chocolate an 8.2 out of 10. A great chocolate.

Valrhona GUANAJA 70% Honduras cacao - Made in France

This chocolate has a smooth dull sheen to it with a fruity, smoky and rich aroma to it. The snap is loud and the gradient is slightly rough. It has an effortless melt and a velvety, creamy and smooth texture. It is very sweet but not too much and has a fruity balanced flavor to it. The aftertaste is lingering and is very pleasant. I give this one a 7.3 out of 10. Overall a really nice chocolate.

Vintage Plantations 90% Ecuador cacao - Made in South America

With a smooth and glossy sheen and a floral, tobacco and rich aroma, I would expect more from this chocolate. But my tasters gave it a 4.4 out of 10. The snap is loud and the gradient is marbled and smooth but the texture is grainy, dry and chalky. The flavors are acrid, bitter and not sweet enough with a tangy smoky aftertaste that lingers a little too long. I will say that it is intense and an interesting piece of chocolate.

Venchi Blend 75% cocoa - Made in Italy

This chocolate has a glossy, smooth and very dark appearance. It has a strong roasted, smoky, very chocolaty aroma. It has a loud pleasing snap with a smooth gradient. The texture is waxy, thick and sticky. The flavors are nutty, smoky, deep and bold. The aftertaste is pleasant with a lingering aftertaste. A nice chocolate. Overall I give this chocolate a 7.4 out of 10.

Pralus 75% Ecuador cacao - Made in France

A glossy sheen and a floral, fruity aroma with a loud snap for this chocolate. It has an effortless melt with a creamy smooth texture. The flavor is subtle, sweet and balanced with a tangy red wine bite to it. The aftertaste is pleasant though short. Overall, this is a good chocolate. I give it a 7 out of 10.

Lindt Intense Dark 75% Ecuador cocoa - Made in Switzerland

The appearance is smooth and glossy. The aroma is rich, chocolaty and a dark fruit such as cherries. It has a moderate snap with a pleasing and smooth gradient. The texture is creamy but dry with a moderate melt. It has a pleasant flavor of fruit. The flavor is also balanced and has a little bit of a bitter taste to it. This is a very good chocolate. I give this a 7.5 out of 10.

Chocovic S.A. Maragda 70% Ecuador cocoa - Made in Spain

This chocolate has a dull sheen to it and had blooms all over it. It smells of a smoky licorice aroma. It has a nice clean snap with a crisp, slightly rough gradient. The melt was slow and the texture started dry and then became creamy. This chocolate wasn't really boring but it did have a sweet taste to it and that's about it. It tasted really milky as well. Overall this is a nice chocolate and I give it 6.4 out of 10.

Jacques Torres Dangerously Dark 84% cocoa - Made in New York

This is a very good chocolate. It has a smooth glossy appearance with a rich chocolaty smell and a loud crisp snap. The gradient is smooth and has a nice marble to it. The texture is firm and it has a slow melt. The flavor is deep with a little dryness but it is very balanced. It has a spicy note to it as well as a bit bitter. The aftertaste is very pleasant and lingers in the mouth nicely. Overall, this chocolate gets a 8.3 out of 10.

Chocolove Extra Strong Dark 77% African and Caribbean cocoa - Made in Colorado

Yummy. This chocolate has an even glossy appearance. Its aroma is rich and chocolaty. It has an effortless melt with loud snap and a smooth gradient. The texture is smooth, light and creamy. It has a deep and balanced flavor that is sweet but not too sweet. It has a tangy aftertaste that is lingering. Overall this is a really nice chocolate. I give this one a 7.2 out of 10.

Choxie 71% Ecuadorian cacao - Made in Minnesota

One of our tasters described this chocolate as simple but elegant. That pretty much sums it up. It has an even dull appearance with a redish tint. The aroma is wonderful. Smells like cherries. It has a loud snap with a slightly rough gradient. It has an overall balanced taste to it. This chocolate is subtle with a fruity deep aftertaste. Overall a really nice chocolate. I give this one a 7.2 out of 10. Nice.

Scharffen Berger Kumasi Sambirano 68% blend of Ghana and Madagascar cacao - Made in California

It has a dull appearance but is smooth. It has a fruity floral fresh chocolatey aroma with a pleasing, crisp snap. The gradient was smooth but not marbled. The texture was very firm, dry and had a slow melt. I had to chew it somewhat to get it to melt. It is balanced and is more complexed than the Hershey's from yesterday but it is only slightly better. It has a dry fruity with a hint of salt taste to it. I give this chocolate a 6 out of 10.

Hershey's CACAO Reserve 65% cacao - Made in Pennsylvania

This chocolate is glossy and smells floral but subtle. It has a loud to moderate snap and has a smooth but uneven gradient. It is creamy and velvety with a moderate melt. I thought this chocolate was too sweet and not very interesting. It wasn't bad but there wasn't any complex flavors with it. It tasted a lot like milk chocolate. This chocolate gets a 5.1 out of 10 and overall is a very boring chocolate.

Suchard Sensations Noir 86% cacao - Made in Belgium

A smooth dull sheen is the appearance of this chocolate. It has a bittersweet aroma with hints of smoke and wood. It has a loud snap that is clean with a smooth gradient. The melt is moderate and the texture is sticky and creamy. It has a complex flavor that is sweet and tangy at the same time. It is also tart and bitter. It is a little harsh but I think this is a nice chocolate with a lingering aftertaste. I give this one a 5.6 out of 10.

Cote d'Or Brut 86% cacao - Made in Belgium

This chocolate has a nice chocolaty smell with a subtle smoky aroma. It has a dull sheen with a brown undertone. It has a subtle taste that is well-balanced. It is somewhat dry and bitter but not overly so. It is a little on the tart side and is mildly tangy. Overall this is a good chocolate. I give this one a 6.3 out of 10.

Payard Dark Chocolate 75% cocoa - Made in France

This chocolate has a nice smooth dull appearance witha nutty, rich and chocolaty aroma. It has a clean crisp snap with a marbled gradient. The melt once it hit the tongue was moderate even though it melted fast on your fingers. It has a slightly dry texture with a deep smoky flavor. The aftertaste was pleasant, a little chalky but overall a nice chocolate. Some of my tasters thought this chocolate was a little boring, not much to it. I give this chocolate a 6.9 out of 10.

BruCo Cannella 72% Ecuador cacao - Made in Italy

This chocolate has a pretty color with a smooth appearance. It has a fruity, rich aroma with a clean crisp snap. It has a slow melt with a creamy velvety taste. It has a bold fruity flavor. This is a great chocolate. I give this one a 8.6 out of 10.

DeBauve & Gallais 67% Santo Domingo cacao - Made in France

This chocolate has a smooth, glossy appearance. It has a smoky coffee smell to it. It has a moderate snap with a slightly rough gradient. The texture is firm and smooth with a slow to moderate melt. It has a balanced sweet and rich flavor with a nice pleasant aftertaste. Overall this is a really good chocolate. It is straight forward and I give this one a 8 out of 10.

Teuscher Chocolate 88% cocoa - Made in Switzerland

This chocolate is not shiny but it is not dull either. It's more of a matte finish. It has a smoky, roasted aroma, an almost burnt smell to it. It has a nice loud snap witha smooth, even gradient. It has a moerate to slow melt with a dry but creamy texture. The flavor is subtle with rich and fruity overtones. It is bitter but not too bitter. It is lingering wiht a chalky dry aftertaste. This is a nice chocolate that would be good alone or with a nice wine or cheese. Overall I give this chocolate a 7 out of 10.

Neuhaus 75% Sao Tome cacao - Made in Belgium

I like the slightly glossy sheen of this chocolate. It has a nice fruity, rich and chocolaty aroma. It has a pleasing snap with a smooth, clean gradient. It has a slow to moderate melt with a creamy but sticky texture. The flavor is rich, fruity, slightly bitter and loamy. I think this is your typical chocolate for the Sao Tome region. Overall a really nice chocolate with a strong, lingering aftertaste. I give this chocolate a 7 out of 10.

Sarotti 75% Sao Thome cacao - Made in Germany

This chocolate has a dull streaky appearance with a loamy, rich and chocolaty aroma. I also picked up a slight fruity smell. It has a loud pleasing snap with a rough gradient and a slow melt. The cocoa nibs in this chocolate makes it bitter and tart. But otherwise it has a nutty, fruity flavor to it. I think it would be a better chocolate without the nibs. I think it is a good chocolate overall with a nice aftertaste to it. I give this chocolate a 6 out of 10.

Pralus 75% Sao Tome cocoa - Made in France

A nice even smooth appearance with this chocolate. It has a rich, smoky tobacco aroma with soft but crisp snap. It has a crumbly, rough gradient. The texture is light and dry with a effortless melt. It has a smoky, deep bitter flavor. The aftertaste is mild and short. I think this chocolate would be better with a nice wine or cheese. I give this chocolate a 6 out of 10.

Debauve&Gallais 70% Sao-Tome cacao - Made in Paris

This is the most interesting, entertaining chocolates that I have ever tasted. It has a lot of different smells with a pleasing snap. The taste is very complex because you have spicy, tobacco, caramel, smokey, salty and other flavors coming through during the entire tasting. The aftertaste is tangy and pleasant. Overall, a very good chocolate. I give this chocolate a 9.1 out of 10.

Tchibo Quevedo 71% Ecuador cacao - Made in Germany

This chocolate is delicious but is really hard to find in the US. It has a little bitterness to it and a little sweetness that makes this chocolate just about right. It is a very nice chocolate and I would definitely buy this chocolate again if I can find it.

Droste Barettini 72% cocoa - Made in Holland

This is a glossy chocolate with a chocolaty and cherry aroma. It has a firm and even melt and has an overall balanced taste. It's subtle with hints of fruit and red wine. It has a nice pleasant aftertaste that is a bit too short. Overall this is a really nice chocolate and I give this one an 8 out of 10.

Ghirardelli Twilight Delight 72% cacao - Made in California

This chocolate has a nice smooth, glossy sheen and a nice rich brown color. Its aroma is fruity, woody with a hint of vanilla. The texture is even with a moderate melt. It tastes subtle at first and then there is a complex and tastes. I tasted citric, caramel, smoky, fruity and just a touch of salt. The aftertaste is pleasant and tangy. Overall, this is a great chocolate. I would definitely buy this chocolate again.

Regal Dynasty 65% cocoa - Made in Poland

This chocolate has a dark chocolate label but it has a milk chocolate taste. It is very sweet and it has a nice fruity aftertaste. It is has a moderate melt that is a little sticky. It also has a caramel flavor. It is a really nice chocolate but a little sweet for my palate.

Amedei Porcelana 70% cocoa - Made in Italy

This chocolate like its sister chocolate is smooth, even and has a nice sheen. It has a loud snap and a smooth, marbled gradient. It is a little sweeter than the Chuao but not fruity. It has more of a nutty flavor. Both chocolates have an excellent aftertaste and are great chocolates. I give this chocolate a 9 out of 10.

Amedei Chuao 70% Venezuela cocoa - Made in Italy

A nice glossy smooth appearance with a chocolaty, loamy, smoky aroma. This chocolate has a wonderful fruity taste that is very balanced. It has a little bit of a tangy aftertaste that is too short. This is one of the better chocolates I have tasted. I give this chocolate a 10 out of 10.

Cote d'Or Noir de Noir 66% cacao - Made in Belgium

A very dark chocolate for 66% cacao. It has the sweetness you would expect from this percentage. It is very good. I don't taste a forward or back flavor with this one. It is mild but very flavorful. I did catch a smoky, nutty aroma. It has a slow melt and a pleasant aftertaste. I would definitely buy this one again.