Review: Fresco 231 Peru 100%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Fresco bar 231 region Marañón Peru plantation blend cacao trees unknown year 2014 size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $12.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, scoring, imprints aroma roast, earth, fruit (prune), nut, floral snap medium hard taste earth, nut, floral, sour, roast melt creamy length long finish somewhat sour, somewhat tannin, slightly acidic

Best Prices Online
$12.00 directly from Fresco

Review: Dandelion Camino Verde, Ecuador 100%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Dandelion bar Camino Verde 100% region Ecuador plantation Camino Verde cacao trees unknown year 2014 size 56g ~ 2oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $12.00

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, imprints, scoring aroma roast (cocoa, coffee), earth (must), nut, dried fruit (raisin) snap medium hard taste earth, roast (cocoa, tea, malt), nut, dairy, tannin, sour, chalky melt more smooth, fudgy length medium finish tannin, somewhat acidic, slight sour

In 2014, Dandelion released two chocolates made with cacao from a 2014 harvest at Vicente Norero's Camino Verde farm in Balao, Ecuador. In addition to a bar with 85% cocoa solids, they released this bar as their first 100% chocolate.

That Camino Verde cacao was the one and only ingredient in this chocolate. There was no added cocoa butter. This chocolate was made at Dandelion's nut-free facility in San Francisco.

Enclosed inside thick craft paper sealed with a sticker, the two ounce bar came wrapped in heavy gold-sided foil. The bar reviewed here was from batch 1, with a best before date of September 2015.

The bar was scored into 18 pieces, each with imprints of 5 parallel squiggles. The surface looked superb. The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012) color.

Camino Verde 100% had a medium hard snap. The aroma was primarily a cocoa and coffee roast combined with a musty earth scent. I also smelled nut and dried fruit close to raisin.

The taste began with earth and roast. The roast included cocoa, tea, and a hint of malt. Nuttiness and some dairy joined the roast flavors. The taste was also tannin, sour, and chalky.

This chocolate had a melt that was more smooth and fudgy. The length was medium, with the flavor lasting about 30-35 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was tannin, somewhat acidic, and slightly sour.

Overall, Camino Verde 100% was a great addition to the growing number of artisan 100% chocolates.

You can purchase Camino Verde 100% online for $12.00 directly from Dandelion.

Review: Claudio Corallo 100% Puro Cacau

Richard's Rating: 5.0

chocolate maker Claudio Corallo bar 100% Puro Cacau region São Tomé e Principe plantation Terreiro Velho cacao trees Forastero year (unknown) size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1314 Seal Brown texture smooth, uneven shape and size, uneven grayish tone, adhered bits aroma roast, acidic, spice, fruit, earth snap hard taste sour, chalky, spice, tannin, roast (malt, tea, cocoa), bitter melt more smooth length medium finish astringent, tannin, acidic, somewhat sour

Claudio Corallo crafts his chocolate from tree to bar with cacao grown on his plantations in São Tomé e Principe. Corallo does not conche his chocolate, which tends to leave it with a less smooth melt and sharper flavor.

100% Puro Cacau was made only with cacao from the Terreiro Velho plantation on Principe, with no other added ingredients. Two bars totalling 50 grams came packaged in a single sealed plastic wrapper. The best before date was October 2014.

The two bars were individually uneven and completely different in size, with one less than half the thickness of the other. The color was a medium-dark brown Seal Brown (PANTONE 19-1314). The surface had a grayish tone and there were bits of adhered chocolate.

The aroma was acidic, and contained scents of roast, spice, fruit, and earth. On one occasion, I thought I smelled berry.

The taste of 100% Puro Cacau began gradually with sour and spice flavors along with chalkiness. Tannin grew quite strong with a complex roast of malt, black tea, and cocoa. A little bitterness was present as well.

This chocolate had a melt that was more smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 30 to 35 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was astringent, tannin, acidic, and somewhat sour.

Claudio Corallo 100% Puro Cacau has no list price, and I could not find it available for purchase online anywhere. I purchased this one from Chocolopolis for $12.50, but they do not sell it online. QuintEssenz has it priced for €5.95 but they have none in stock, and only ship to Germany and Austria.

Review: Domori Il 100% Criollo

Richard's Rating: 8.5

chocolate maker Domori bar Il 100% Criollo region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 25g ~ 0.9oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, imprints, scuffing, uneven sheen aroma roast (cocoa), sweet, dried fruit (raisin), spice snap hard taste roast (tobacco, coffee), sweet, nut, peanut melt creamy length long finish nut, tannin

MORE RECENT REVIEW: Domori Il 100% Criollo

Italian bean to bar chocolate maker Domori makes two 100% chocolate bars, Il 100% and Il 100% Criollo. This is a review of the latter.

Il 100% Criollo was made from 100% cocoa mass and nothing else. The tiny 25 gram bar came enclosed in a sealed plastic wrapper inside a paper box. It was scored into four pieces, each with an imprint of the Domori name and symbol. The best before date was August 31, 2015.

This chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The bar looked good, with a smooth surface, sharp imprints, and no sign of bubbles. There was some scuffing, an uneven sheen, and just a few adhered bits.

The bar had a hard snap. The aroma contained scents of a cocoa roast, sweetness, a dried fruit that seemed best described as raisin, and spice.

Il 100% Criollo initially tasted of roast, with both tobacco and coffee flavors. Sweetness and then a nutty flavor came forth, following by a strong taste of peanut.

The melt was remarkably creamy, one of the best I've experienced. The chocolate flavor lasted over 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a long length. The finish was nutty and tannin.

Even though I didn't personally love the flavor, this was an excellent 100% bar, succeeding in nearly every dimension. I place it at the top of our current ranking of 100% chocolates. Too bad it's so expensive.

You can purchase Domori Il 100% Criollo online for $6.25 from Chocosphere.

Review: Francois Pralus Le 100%

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Pralus bar Le 100% region Madagascar plantation Pralus cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener (none) emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €3,95

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, text imprint, uneven sheen, adhered bits aroma roast (coffee, cocoa), fruit (berry), earth, spice snap medium hard taste roast (coffee, burnt, malt), wood, fruit (citrus) melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, slightly sour

Pralus sources the cacao for Le 100% from their own plantation on the island of Nosy Be, Madagascar. The bar was certified organic by Ecocert France.

In addition to added cocoa butter, this chocolate included soy lecithin (unlike the previous formulation of Le 100% that we reviewed in 2010). The best before date for this bar was May 11, 2015.

Pralus still sells their chocolate in large 100 gram bars from the same nice molds they have used for many years. Wrapped in gold-sided foil, Le 100% came enclosed inside a paper wrapper. The bar was scored into 24 small pieces and one large piece containing the Pralus imprint.

The color was a little different than earlier version of this chocolate, a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015. The bar had an overall good appearance and a smooth surface, but the sheen was uneven and there were a few bits of adhered chocolate.

Le 100% had a roast aroma of coffee and cocoa. There were additional scents of a berry fruit, earthiness, and spices. The bar had a somewhat softer than typical medium-hard snap

The taste was a heavy roast, with flavors of coffee, burnt, and malt. Other flavors included wood and fruit, the latter of which contained some citrus.

The melt was almost creamy, but still in the more smooth category. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat tannin and slightly sour.

Until recently, Le 100% had been my favorite 100% bar. Unfortunately, Pralus changed the recipe and used a roast that tastes excessive to me. It is still a good chocolate, but no longer near the top of our ranking of 100% chocolate bars (which you can see in the second list from the bottom on the Chocolate Rankings page).

Pralus Le 100% is available for purchase online for $8.35 from Chocosphere or for $8.50 from Chocolopolis. You can also purchase it for £4.85 from Chocolate Trading Co.

Review: SOMA Arcana 100%

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker SOMA bar Arcana 100% region Dominican Republic, Haiti, Hawaii, Madagascar plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 45g ~ 1.6oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price CA$5.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, image imprint, bubbles, adhered bits aroma roast (cocoa, tobacco), dairy, earth (grass), fruit snap hard taste roast (cocoa), fruit (melon), earth, hint of sour melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin

Canadian bean to bar chocolate maker SOMA makes several artisan chocolate bars and many chocolate products. Based in Toronto, they have two retail stores and accept orders via email, but do not yet have an online store.

Arcana 100% was made from only cacao beans. The pre-printed text indicated it was made with three types of cacao, but there were four different origin listed on the label: Dominican Republic, Madagascar, Haiti, and Hawaii. The chocolate reviewed here was from batch A24, and there was no production or best before date.

The 45 gram bar came sealed inside a silver plastic wrapper. It was unscored with a deep-set image imprint of cacao pods, using the same mold that Stirs the Soul uses with their Origins line.

The color of Arcana 100% was a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The bar had several bubbles and adhered bits of chocolate, but otherwise had a smooth surface.

Opening the package revealed a rich roast aroma, mostly cocoa with some tobacco. Other scents in the aroma included dairy, a grassy earth, and some fruit. The bar had a hard snap.

The taste contained flavors of roast, fruit, and earth. The roast was mostly that rich cocoa, and the only fruit flavor I identified more specifically was melon. There was a hint of sourness as well.

The melt was more smooth, almost creamy, and yet also slightly excessive (perhaps the particle size was too small?). The chocolate flavor lasted 30 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a medium length. The finish was somewhat tannin.

With the seeming random blend of origins, I suspected that Arcana 100% might be made from leftover beans, and that less care might be used in crafting this chocolate. If that was the case, however, the result was impressive. This 100% chocolate was superior to most of its competitors.

You can purchase SOMA Arcana 100% online for $9.50 from Chocolopolis.

Review: Fruition 100% Dark

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Fruition bar 100% Dark region Peru plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 60g ~ 2.1oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth, relief, tiny bubbles aroma roast, fruit, earth, sweet snap hard taste roast, sour, earth, fruit, bitter melt more smooth length short finish bitter, somewhat sour

U.S. chocolate maker Bryan Graham created Fruition in 2011 to craft bean to bar chocolate and confections. Beginning with Costa Rica cacao, Fruition now makes bars with cacao from Peru.

100% Dark was made only from cacao beans from Peru, and no other ingredients. The unscored 60 gram bar had a repeated relief of the Fruition pattern, along with an off-center "F". It came sealed in cellophane inside a paper envelope.

The bar reviewed here was from batch 083 and had a best before date of March 2014.

The chocolate had a medium brown Bitter Chocolate color (PANTONE 19-1317). The bar looked impressive, with only very small bubbles in the relief and a slight unevenness in the sheen.

The aroma contained a strong roast scent, along with some fruit, earthiness, and sweetness.

100% Dark tasted initially of that roast, but then sourness took over and dominated the taste. Other flavors of earth and fruitiness were present. I also tasted some bitterness.

The melt was better than average and more smooth. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was bitter and somewhat sour.

Many qualities of this chocolate were better than its overall rating. The overwhelming sour flavor pulled down the result to good rather than great.

You can purchase Fruition 100% Dark online for $10.99 from Chocolopolis.

Review: Zotter Labooko Peru 100%

Richard's Rating: 8.0

chocolate maker Zotter bar Labooko Peru 100% region Peru plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2013 size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price 3,35€

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, relief, imprints, textured top, adhered bits aroma earth, roast (smoke), floral, spice snap hard taste roast (smoke, cocoa), earth, fruit, sour melt smooth length long finish tannin, slightly sour

Josef Zotter is the vision behind Austrian chocolate maker Zotter. They opened their own chocolate factory in 2006, and craft fair trade and organic chocolate from bean to bar. Zotter produces several single origin chocolates as well as a huge variety of flavored chocolates. Labooko is their line of chocolate bars that includes single origin and pure dark chocolates.

Labooko Peru 100% is their only chocolate made from 100% cocoa mass (with no added cocoa butter). As with all of the Labooko line, this chocolate was sold as a package of two 35 gram bars. Each bar was wrapped in gold foil-sided wax paper that was glued into the folds of a heavy outer paper wrapper (which was taped closed).

The bar itself had a relief of "zotter" on a small smooth upper portion of the bar and imprints of "Labooko" and stylized cacao pods (one of which was covered in writing) on a textured lower portion of the bar. The best before date was April 19, 2014. Based on the described shelf life of 14 months, the bar was likely produced in February.

The color of the chocolate was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The overall appearance was great, with some tiny bits of adhered chocolate on the surface.

A hard snap revealed its nice aroma of earth, roast, floral, and spice. The roast scent was somewhat smoky.

The taste of Peru 100% contained roast, earth, and fruit flavors. The roast included smoke and cocoa. I also tasted some sourness.

The chocolate had a smooth melt, not far from more smooth. The length was long, with the chocolate flavor lasting 40 to 45 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was tannin and slightly sour, without any bitterness.

Overall, this was a wonderfully pleasant surprise and a great 100% bar. Even though the taste was not especially interesting, it was good, and the appearance, length, and finish were all excellent.

You can purchase Labooko Peru 100% online for €3,35 directly from Zotter or for $7.99 from Chocolopolis.

Review: Grenada Chocolate Company 100%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Grenada bar 100% region Grenada plantation (blend) cacao trees Trinitario year (unknown) size 85g ~ 3.0oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $4.60

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, image imprint, bubbles, slightly uneven sheen aroma roast (tobacco, cocoa), earth, floral, dairy (cheese) snap very hard taste earth, fruit (grapefruit), roast (cocoa), bitter, sour, tart, hint of chalk melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat bitter, somewhat tannin, slightly sour

Tree to bar chocolate maker Grenada Chocolate Company crafts their bars locally in Grenada. We've previously reviewed their 71% and 82% chocolate bars. This is their newest unflavored bar: 100%. It contains no ingredients other than Trinitario cacao beans, not even added cocoa butter. All of their bars are USDA and CERES certified organic.

100% was formed in the same shape as Grenada's other bars: three ounces with a stylized image of cacao imprinted in the center third of the bar. The two sides were each scored into 4 pieces. The bar came wrapped in heavy brass-colored foil-sided wax paper inside a paper sleeve. The best before date was 28 October 2013. The number 257 presumably indicated the batch number.

The color of 100% was darker than 71%, just barely still medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface of the bar was smooth with many bubbles and a slightly uneven sheen. The bar had a very hard snap.

The aroma of this chocolate was similar to that of 71%: a roast of tobacco and cocoa, earthiness, floral and a dairy like that of cheese.

100% tasted earthy, with flavors of fruit that I experienced as grapefruit and a cocoa roast. The taste was also bitter, sour, and tart, with a hint of chalkiness.

The melt was more smooth, nearly creamy. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat bitter, somewhat tannin, and slightly sour.

This new chocolate was a surprisingly great addition to the world of 100% bars. While not at the level of the superb Pralus Le 100%, it would rank highly among the others.

You can purchase Grenada 100% online for $4.60 in the U.S. from Chocosphere or for £3.45 in the U.K. from Chocolate Trading Co.

Review: Pacari Raw 100%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Pacari bar Raw 100% region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $5.99

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, scuffing aroma floral, earth (must), cocoa, spice, fruit (berry, citrus), vinegar snap medium hard taste fruit, sour, earth, bitter, acidic, dairy melt smooth length medium finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

Since 2002, Pacari has been making single origin organic chocolate in Ecuador with cacao obtained directly from local farms. This family-owned chocolate maker pays above-market prices to support sustainable agriculture and social responsibility. In February, Pacari received Demeter certification for biodynamic agriculture (though their packaging does not yet display the label). Pacari makes both raw and roasted chocolate bars. The raw chocolate bars vary in their percentage of cocoa solids: 100%, 85%, and 70%.

Raw 100% was made from cacao beans and nothing else, not even added cocoa butter. The 50 gram bar was scored into 15 pieces. It came enclosed in a plastic pouch inside a paper box. The best before date was 27 October 2013.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was smooth, but not glossy. There was some scuffing and some adhered bits of chocolate. The snap was medium hard.

The aroma was a powerful combination of floral, musty earth, cocoa, spice, and fruit. The fruit scent seemed to be berry and citrus. I also noticed vinegar.

Raw 100% tasted primarily of fruit and a strong sourness. I had difficulty identifying any specific fruit flavors, tasting something vaguely tropical at times, as well as suggestions of berry and citrus, but none consistently enough to be sure. Other flavors included earth, bitter, acidic, and dairy.

The melt started somewhat slowly, but was smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat sour and slightly acidic, with the somewhat sour aftertaste remaining for a long time.

Overall, Raw 100% was an impressive addition to the 100% category. Despite the poor reputation of raw chocolate taste, I found this as good as its roasted peers. I compared it against the other 100% chocolates we've reviewed, and felt it deserved third place behind Valrhona Manjari Pure Pate and Pralus Le 100%. You can see all of our rankings on the Chocolate Rankings page. For those who like 100% chocolate and aren't put off by a sour taste, I'd recommend trying Pacari Raw 100%.

You can purchase Raw 100% for $5.99 in the U.S. and Canada directly from Pacari or, to perhaps combine the purchase with other brands, for $5.75 from Chocosphere. You can buy Raw 100% for £2.99 in the U.K. and other countries from The Raw Chocolate Shop.

Ranking: best chocolate with 100% cocoa solids

In a head to head tasting, Lindy, I, and my friend Michael ranked six chocolates made from 100% cocoa solids.

Lindy's ranking:

1. Valrhona Manjari Pure Pate
2. Bonnat 100% Cacao
3. Pralus Le 100%
4. Valrhona Araguani Pure Pate
5. Valrhona Cacao Pâte Extra
6. Coppeneur Hacienda Iara 100%

Richard's ranking:

1. Valrhona Manjari Pure Pate
2. Pralus Le 100%
3. Bonnat 100% Cacao
4. Valrhona Araguani Pure Pate
5. Valrhona Cacao Pâte Extra
6. Coppeneur Hacienda Iara 100%

Michael's ranking:

1. Pralus Le 100%
2. Bonnat 100% Cacao
3. Valrhona Cacao Pâte Extra
4. Valrhona Araguani Pure Pate
5. Coppeneur Hacienda Iara 100%
6. Valrhona Manjari Pure Pate

Lindy mentioned that she found it difficult ordering Pralus Le 100% and Bonnat 100% Cacao (switching the order would have made our rankings identical). Michael's was different primarily because he disliked the sour and tart flavors of Manjari.

Notes
You can click on the name of the chocolate bar in any of the lists above to see the associated detailed review.
To view updated information and other rankings, go to our Chocolate Rankings page.

Review: Valrhona Cacao Pâte Extra 100% three kilograms (3 kg)

Lindy's Rating: 6.5

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Valrhona bar Cacao Pâte Extra region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 3000g ~ 105.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1314 Seal Brown texture smooth with text imprint aroma earth (grass, hay), fruit, roast snap (N/A) taste earth, wood, fruit, roast (black tea), chalky melt smooth length medium finish slightly ashy

Cacao Pâte Extra is a professional chocolate that Valrhona sells in packages of three one-kilogram bars. Each kilogram bar is scored into five pieces, and each piece has an imprint of the Valrhona name. This is the third Valrhona professional chocolates we purchased from Chocolopolis (who breaks up the bars and repackages and sells pieces of approximately 200 grams each).

Using 100% cocoa solids, Valrhona made Cacao Pâte Extra from a blend of cacao beans. The chocolate had a medium brown Seal Brown (PANTONE 19-1314) color. We were unable to test the snap of this bar due to its block form.

The aroma of earthy, with scents of grass and hay. We also smelled fruit, and I noticed some roast as well.

Cacao Pâte Extra tasted earthy as well, although without the distinct grass and hay from the aroma. Flavors included wood, fruit, and a roast of oversteeped black tea. Lindy also tasted some chalkiness.

The melt was smooth. With the flavor lasting 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, the length was at the long end of medium. The finish was slightly ashy.

You can purchase one kilogram repackaged bars of Valrhona Cacao Pâte Extra for $29.15 or the full three kilogram original Valrhona package for $79.95 from Chocosphere. Chocolopolis also sells repackaged pieces (of approximately 200 grams each) for $10.00 in their store (but not online).

Review: Valrhona Araguani Pure Pate 100% three kilograms (3 kg)

Lindy's Rating: 6.5

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Valrhona bar Araguani Pure Pate region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 3000g ~ 105.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1217 Mustang texture smooth with text imprint aroma fruit (raisin), earth, roast (cocoa), floral snap (N/A) taste roast (black tea), tannin, fruit (raisin), nut, chalky, ashy melt smooth length medium finish slightly ashy, slightly chalky

Araguani Pure Pate is another of the professional chocolates that Valrhona sells in packages of three one-kilogram bars. Each kilogram bar is scored into five pieces, and each piece has an imprint of the Valrhona name. This is the second of the three Valrhona professional chocolates we purchased from Chocolopolis (who breaks up the bars and repackages and sells pieces of approximately 200 grams each).

Araguani Pure Pate was made with 100% cocoa solids using cacao beans from Venezuela. The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Mustang (PANTONE 19-1217) color. We were unable to test the snap of this bar due to its block form.

We smelled in the aroma of this chocolate: a dried fruit that we concluded was raisin, some earthiness, and a roast in the form of cocoa. Lindy also detected a floral scent.

Araguani Pure Pate had a roast flavor that Lindy identified as a strong black tea. We also noticed tannin. I tasted the raisin we discovered in the aroma and Lindy found nuttiness. Finally, we both noticed some chalkiness and ashiness in the flavor.

The chocolate had a smooth melt. The length was medium, with the flavor lasting 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste seemed slightly chalky to me and slightly ashy to Lindy.

You can purchase one kilogram repackaged bars of Valrhona Araguani jari Pure Pate for $32.75 or the full three kilogram original Valrhona package for $89.95 from Chocosphere. Chocolopolis also sells repackaged pieces (of approximately 200 grams each) for $10.00 in their store (but not online).

Review: Valrhona Manjari Pure Pate 100% three kilograms (3 kg)

Lindy's Rating: 8.0

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Valrhona bar Manjari Pure Pate region Madagascar plantation (blend) cacao trees Trinitario year (unknown) size 3000g ~ 105.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint aroma fruit (citrus, raspberry, melon), earth, roast, hint of floral snap (N/A) taste tart, fruit (citrus, berry), sour, nut, wood, ashy, hint of bitter, hint of acidic melt smooth length medium finish sour, slightly tart, very slightly bitter

In addition to producing bars for retail sale, Valrhona also makes artisan chocolate for professional use that they sell in packages of three one-kilogram bars. Each kilogram bar is scored into five pieces, and each piece has an imprint of the Valrhona name. Chocolopolis breaks up those bars and repackages and sells pieces of approximately 200 grams each. We purchased the three chocolates they had available at the time, including the Manjari Pure Pate reviewed here.

Manjari Pure Pate was made with 100% cocoa solids using Trinitario cacao beans from Madagascar. This single origin chocolate is part of Valrhona's Grand Cru line, but does not contain any of the sugar, soy lecithin, or vanilla extract of the retail Manjari bar made with 64% cocoa solids.

The chocolate had a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. We were unable to test the snap of this bar due to its block form.

The aroma of Manjari Pure Pate was spectacular. Lindy described it as an "amazing 10.0 aroma". The powerful bouquet was full of strong fruit scents, including citrus, raspberry and melon. We also smelled earth, some roast, and a hint of floral. Just... Wow!

This chocolate tasted tart, somewhat sour, and a bit ashy, and had flavors of citrus, roasted nut, and wood. I also tasted berry and noticed a hint of acidity. Lindy found the flavor slightly bitter as well.

The melt was smooth, good, but nowhere near the wonderful melt of the retail Manjari 64%. The flavor lasted 30 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving this chocolate a medium length. We both experienced the finish as sour. For me, the aftertaste was also slightly tart; for Lindy, it was also very slightly bitter.

You can purchase one kilogram repackaged bars of Valrhona Manjari Pure Pate for $32.75 or the full three kilogram original Valrhona package for $89.95 from Chocosphere. Chocolopolis also sells repackaged pieces (of approximately 200 grams each) for $10.00 in their store (but not online).

Review: Coppeneur Hacienda Iara 100%

Lindy's Rating: 4.5 (previously *)

Richard's Rating: 6.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Coppeneur bar Hacienda Iara 100% region Ecuador plantation Iara cacao trees Forastero year (unknown) size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price CA$5.95

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1518 Puce texture smooth with picture relief and text imprint aroma roast (cocoa), floral (jasmine) snap medium hard taste bitter, roast, earth, nut melt creamy length medium finish somewhat bitter

German chocolate maker Coppeneur has a relationship with the Iara plantation in Ecuador run by Gonzalo Martinetti. There, they grow organic Nacional Arriba cacao (which is biologically Forastero), which was the source of the cacao beans for this bar.

Hacienda Iara 100% was made from 100% cocoa solids, without even added cocoa butter. The 50 gram bar was certified organic in Germany. It was wrapped in plastic and packaged along with a 40-page Coppeneur booklet in a black hard paper box that was sealed with fake silver wax stamped with the Coppeneur logo. Coppeneur bars unscored, with a large relief of half a cacao pod surrounded by a circular design and the imprint of "Coppeneur" and its logo in the upper left. The best before date was August 2012.

The color of this chocolate was a medium-dark brown Puce (PANTONE 19-1518). The bar had a medium hard snap. Hacienda Iara 100% had two primary aromas: a cocoa roast and floral scent that Lindy identified as jasmine.

The chocolate had a bitter taste. The other dominant flavor was roast. I also tasted some earth and nut flavors. The melt was creamy, and the flavor lasted 30 to 35 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a medium length. The final aftertaste seemed somewhat bitter to me. Lindy found it more so.

Overall, Lindy described Hacienda Iara 100% as "a bitter experience all around", and rated it *. I felt it deserved **, although this plantation bar was not as good as either Pralus Le 100% or Bonnat 100% Cacao.

You can purchase Coppeneur Hacienda Iara 100% online for CA$5.95 in Canada and the U.S. directly from Coppeneur.

Review: Bonnat 100% Cacao

Lindy's Rating: 7.5 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 7.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Bonnat bar 100% Cacao region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma fruit (pineapple), spice, roast, floral snap hard taste roast, nutty, bitter, dairy melt creamy length short finish somewhat bitter

Bonnat 100% Cacaco is another bar made only of cacao, with extra cocoa butter for smoothness. It was presented as typical for Bonnat: a 100 gram bar formed with the "Bonnat Voiron" center imprint, scored into 32 small pieces around it, wrapped in silver foil, and packaged in a paper sleeve (that had a bold red color). The best before date was July 2012.

100% Cacao had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color and a hard snap. The chocolate gave off a fruit aroma that Lindy identified as pineapple, along with scents of spice, roast, and something floral.

We both tasted flavors of roast and nut. Lindy found the taste bitter, but to me, it was only slightly so. The chocolate also had a dairy flavor for me.

After a somewhat slow start, the melt became nicely creamy. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was a moderate bitterness.

Bonnat 100% Cacao was fairly good other than the bitter finish, but we both prefer Pralus Le 100% for a chocolate made wholly of cacao. If you're willing to compromise to 99%, Cluizel Noir Infini is another option. Here's a link to all of the 100% bars we've reviewed.

You can purchase Bonnat 100% Cacao online in the U.S. from Chocosphere for $7.85.

Review: Michel Cluizel Noir Infini 99%

Lindy's Rating: 6.0 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 8.0 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Michel Cluizel bar Noir Infini region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 30g ~ 1.1oz cocoa solids 99% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring bourbon vanilla other ingredients ginger, cinnamon list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1314 Seal Brown texture smooth and matte with text imprints aroma spice, roast (smoky, cocoa), tropical fruit (coconut), sweet, earth, hint of apricot snap hard taste bitter, roast (cocoa), tropical fruit (coconut), ashy melt creamy length short-medium finish somewhat bitter

Michel Cluizel's Noir Infini is a chocolate bar made from 99% cocoa solids, with some added cane sugar, bourbon vanilla pod, and two unusual flavorings: ginger and cinnamon. This small 30 gram bar was sold in a simple black paper cover over gold foil wrapping the chocolate. The bar itself was unscored, stamped with an imprint of the chocolate maker over a background that is half smooth and half matte (as you can see in the picture above). Noir Infini had a medium-dark brown color of Seal Brown (PANTONE 19-1314).

This bar had a hard snap. The aromas of the chocolate were many, including spice, a smoky roast, a sweetness that reminded Lindy of hot chocolate, tropical fruits (of which coconut seemed most prevalent to me), some earthiness, and a hint of apricot that Lindy noticed.

As expected, Noir Infini tasted bitter. However, there were also flavors of coconut and a roast in the form of cocoa. Lindy also found the taste somewhat ashy.

The melt was thick and creamy. We disagreed on how long the flavor lasted after the chocolate was gone. Lindy felt it disappeared in 5-10 seconds, while for me it varied between about 25-40 seconds, so I rated it above as short-medium (the border of which is 30 seconds). The finish was bitter: strongly so to Lindy and slightly so to me.

Overall, we both liked Noir Infini better than Pralus Le 100%. Lindy rated it ** and I rated it ***.

Although Cluizel does not provide a list price for Noir Infini, you can purchase it online in the U.S. for $3.50 from Chocolopolis.

Review: Pralus Le 100%

Lindy's Rating: 7.5 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 8.0 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Pralus bar Le 100% region Madagascar plantation Pralus cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 100% added fat cocoa butter sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €4,00

color dark brown PANTONE 19-1526 Dark Red Brown texture smooth with text imprint and scoring aroma cocoa, floral, mint, red fruit snap medium-hard taste woody, burnt, not bitter! melt creamy length long finish slightly acidic

MORE RECENT REVIEW: Pralus Le 100%

Francois Pralus's Le 100% is the first artisan bar we've reviewed made of 100% cacao beans. We had mixed feelings about tasting a chocolate without any added sweetener. I wanted to love it and we both feared it might taste like the awful, intensely bitter, unsweetened baking chocolate squares bought at the grocery store that we remembered from our childhood.

The cacao beans that Pralus uses are from their private plantation of Criollo trees on the island of Nosy Be, Madagascar, where they are grown, harvested and fermented. They are then transported to their factory in Roanne, France, where they are roasted, conched, etc., and made into chocolate.

Le 100% is certified organic (with the French Agriculture Biologique, which is recognized as meeting all EU regulations for organic food). Now, on to the review!

The thick bar was surprisingly easy to break, and the snap was softer than we expected, perhaps due to the warmer than usual temperature that day. This pure chocolate smelled of cocoa, but there were also aromas of something floral, mint, and red fruit. The melt was nicely creamy, probably as a result of the added cocoa butter.

As for the taste, I found it woody and Lindy experienced it as a flavor of burnt ashes (but not ashy). Both of us were surprised by the complete lack of bitterness. Lindy noticed some acidity. The length was long, as we could still taste the flavors a minute after consuming the chocolate. The finish was slightly acidic, but again, not bitter.

Overall, neither of us especially liked the taste. Lindy found it unpleasant, and it wasn't something I would seek out. I don't think there is anything lacking with this chocolate; it's just that neither of us have yet acquired a taste for 100% chocolates.

However, Le 100% is an organic pure chocolate made from Criollo cacao beans, so if you're interested in trying a 100% chocolate, this is probably a good one (and it might be nice with a full-bodied red wine ;)

Pralus Le 100% is available at Chocolopolis for $7.99.