Review: Meadowlands Wild Harvest Bolivia

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Wild Harvest Bolivia region Bolivia plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, bubbles aroma roast, floral (lavender, jasmine), fruit, earth snap hard taste earth, spice (anise), fruit (date), sesame, roast (smoke, tea), nut, tannin, sweet melt smooth length medium finish tannin, somewhat acidic

This is the fourth Meadowlands unflavored single origin chocolate bar we've reviewed. You can read reviews of their other three bars here: Dominican Republic, Peru, and Venezuela.

As with the others, the only ingredients in Wild Harvest Bolivia were 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar.

Inside a pink paper sleeve, the 2.5 ounce Bolivia bar came wrapped in gold foil-sided waxed paper. It was scored into 24 pieces.

The surface of the chocolate was smooth, with an uneven sheen and tiny bubbles in some corners. Its color was a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma was strongly floral, with scents of both lavender and jasmine. I also smelled roast, fruit, and earth.

After an initial earthy and tannin start to the taste, spices came forth, with a particularly strong anise flavor. Several other flavors developed as well: fruit, primarily date, sesame, roast with smoke and tea, and some nuttiness. It also tasted sweet and the tannin was evident throughout.

Meadowlands described Venezuela as "hints of lavender, toasted sesame & dates".

Wild Harvest Bolivia had a smooth melt, with a bit of fudginess. The chocolate flavor lasted 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a length on the far end of medium. The finish was tannin and somewhat acidic.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org

Review: Meadowlands Venezuela

Richard's Rating: 5.5

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Venezuela region Venezuela plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, scuffing, bubbles aroma roast (coffee), earth, fruit (prune) snap hard taste roast (coffee, cocoa), earth, fruit (raisin, plum, berry), peanut, sweet, bitter, slightly chalky melt smooth length medium finish bitter, slightly acidic

Meadowlands makes four unflavored single origin chocolate bars: Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Peru, and Venezuela. All of them are made from only cacao beans and cane sugar.

Venezuela came wrapped in gold foil-sided waxed paper inside a purple paper sleeve. The 2.5 ounce bar contained 70% cocoa solids and had a best before date of April 4, 2016.

The bar was scored into 24 pieces. The surface was smooth, but had an uneven sheen, scuffing, and some bubbles. The chocolate had a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The bar had a hard snap.

Fruit, mostly smelling of prune, a coffee roast, and earth were the strongest scents I noticed in the aroma.

The taste began with an earthy coffee and cocoa roast, and then fruit flavors of raisin, plum, and berry came forth. Peanut grew dominant and was present most of the time. The taste was also sweet, bitter, and slightly chalky at the end.

Meadowlands described Venezuela as "nutty overtones, hints of raisin and dried cranberry".

The chocolate had a smooth melt. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was bitter and slightly acidic.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org

Review: Meadowlands Peru

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Peru region Peru plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, scuffing, adhered bits aroma floral, fruit (citrus), earth snap hard taste floral, earth, roast (cocoa, malt), fruit, sweet (caramel), nut, coconut, chalky melt less smooth length medium finish tannin, somewhat chalky, somewhat acidic

Even though their bars are not certified, Minnesota maker Meadowlands uses organic and fair trade cacao. They craft their pure chocolate bars from only cacao beans and cane sugar.

Wrapped with gold foil-sided waxed paper inside a paper sleeve, the 2.5 ounce Peru bar contained 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar.

The bar was scored into 24 pieces. The surface was smooth, but had an uneven sheen, scuffing, a small dent, and a few adhered bits.

The color of the chocolate was a medium-dark brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012). The snap was hard.

The aroma contained floral, fruit, and earth scents. I smelled some citrus among the fruit scents.

An initial floral, fruity, earthy taste became sweet with honey and caramel. Roast flavors of cocoa and malt grew stronger, and revealed additional nut and coconut flavors. The taste was somewhat chalky.

Meadowlands described the chocolate as "light & delicate, hints of peach & coconut". I didn't notice the peach flavor.

The melt was less smooth, and with one taste I noticed a bit of graininess. The chocolate flavor lasted about 30 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a medium length. The final aftertaste was tannin, somewhat chalky, and somewhat acidic.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org

Review: Meadowlands Dominican Republic

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Dominican Republic region Dominican Republic plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, scuffing, adhered bits, bubbles aroma roast, fruit (berry), earth (must) snap medium hard taste earth (soil), fruit (blueberry, citrus, date), roast (burnt), nut, spice, sweet (molasses), tannin, bitter melt smooth (fudgy) length long finish tannin, somewhat acidic

Clyo Howard and Beryl Wells Hamilton having been crafting bean to bar chocolate as Meadowlands in the city of the same name in Minnesota since 2013. All of their chocolate is made with organic, fair trade cacao beans that are grown sustainably and harvested ethically.

Along with all of their other unflavored 70% single origin chocolates, the Dominican Republic bar was made from nothing other than 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar. The bar was not certified organic or fair trade.

The 2.5 ounce bar came wrapped in gold foil-sided waxed paper inside a paper sleeve. It was scored into 24 pieces.

The surface of the chocolate was smooth, but had an uneven sheen, scuffing, a few adhered bits, and some very tiny bubbles in the corners of the pieces.

Dominican Republic had a medium brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012) color. The bar had a medium hard snap.

Scents of roast, fruit, and earth were present. The fruit scent included berry and the earthiness smelled musty.

The taste began with a earthy soil flavor until the fruit, roast, nut, and spice came forth. I tasted fruit flavors of blueberry, citrus, and date. The roast seemed slightly burnt. A molasses sweetness was evident. The taste was also tannin and bitter.

The melt was smooth, but quite fudgy. The length was long, with the chocolate flavor lasting 50-55 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was tannin and somewhat acidic.

I liked the interesting combination of flavors, but found the fudgy melt undesirable. Overall, it was a solid chocolate among single origin Dominican Republic bars.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org

Review: Ethereal Madagascar

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Ethereal bar Madagascar region Madagascar plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 64g ~ 2.3oz cocoa solids 80% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.50

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, adhered bits, bubbles aroma earth (hay), roast (smoke), fruit (raisin, coconut), spice snap medium hard taste fruit (citrus, plum, lime, blueberry), earth, roast (cocoa, smoke), sweet, tannin melt less smooth length short finish somewhat acidic, somewhat tannin

Mary and Sara Ervin have been crafting hand-made organic chocolate confections and bean to bar chocolate in Woodstock, Illinois, as Ethereal Confections since 2011.

Ethereal's Madagascar chocolate bar was made from all organic ingredients: cacao beans, cane sugar, and cocoa butter. Cocoa solids (cacao beans and cocoa butter) made up 80%, with the remaining 20% being cane sugar.

Inside a thick paper wrap that was sealed with the label, the 2.25 ounce bar came wrapped in pink colored foil . The label also adhered to the foil wrapping along the bottom edge, which made removing the chocolate without breaking the bar a bit challenging. The best before date was September 28, 2017.

The bar was scored into 24 pieces. The chocolate had a smooth surface, with an uneven sheen, some adhered bits, and a few bubbles. The underside was shaped with a thin protruding edge. The chocolate had a medium brown Fudgesickle (PANTONE 19-1431) color.

Madagascar had a medium hard snap. The aroma revealed scents of earth, and hay in particular, a smoky roast, fruit, and spice. The fruit scent included raisin and coconut.

The chocolate tasted primarily of fruit, with flavors of citrus, plum, lime and blueberry. In addition, I tasted earth, a cocoa and smoky roast, and sweetness. Some tannin was also present.

The melt had a less smooth texture, but no graininess. The chocolate flavor lasted about 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The finish was somewhat acidic and somewhat tannin.

Overall, a good chocolate with delicious fruit flavors. For me, the texture needs improvement, but if you enjoy Madagascar interpretations with this flavor profile, give this chocolate a try.

Best Prices Online
$7.50 directly from Ethereal
$7.50 from Chocolate.org
$7.50 from Chocosphere

Review: Dandelion Butuo, Liberia

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Dandelion bar Butuo, Liberia region Liberia plantation blend cacao trees unknown year 2014 size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $10.00

color medium-dark brown appearance smooth, scoring, imprints aroma earth, roast, spice snap hard taste earth, roast (smoke, cocoa), fruit (fig), spice (cinnamon), sweet (caramel), bitter melt smooth length short finish bitter, somewhat acidic, slightly ashy

Best Prices Online
$10.00 directly from Dandelion (sold out)
$13.00 from The Meadow

Review: Bar au Chocolat Sambirano Valley, Madagascar

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Bar au Chocolat bar Sambirano Valley, Madagascar region Madagascar plantation blend cacao trees Trinitario year unknown size 65g ~ 2.3oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $12.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle appearance smooth, scoring, scuffing, adhered bits aroma roast (cocoa), fruit (citrus, cherry), earth (grass) snap medium hard taste fruit (citrus, grapefruit, cherry), earth (burlap), sweet (caramel), roast (cocoa), sour melt smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, slightly acidic

Best Prices Online
$12.00 directly from Bar au Chocolat

Review: Ritual Madagascar

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Ritual bar Madagascar region Madagascar plantation Somia cacao trees unknown year unknown size 43g ~ 1.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $6.75

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle appearance smooth, scoring, somewhat glossy aroma fruit (citrus, berry), earth snap hard taste earth, fruit (citrus, grapefruit), nut (walnut), roast (tea), sweet (brown sugar), acidic melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat acidic, slightly tannin

Best Prices Online
$6.49 from Caputo's
$6.75 directly from Ritual
$7.00 from Chocolopolis
$7.00 from The Meadow

Review: Bar au Chocolat Duarte Province, Dominican Republic

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Bar au Chocolat bar Duarte Province, Dominican Republic region Dominican Republic plantation blend cacao trees Trinitario year unknown size 65g ~ 2.3oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $12.00

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, adhered bits, bubbles aroma roast (cocoa), fruit (berry, prune, orange), spice, earth (hay) snap medium hard taste earth, roast (tea), fruit (blackberry, orange, prune, date), sweet, tannin, acidic, sour melt smooth length medium finish tannin, somewhat acidic

Best Prices Online
$12.00 directly from Bar au Chocolat

Review: Bar au Chocolat Chiapas Mexico

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Bar au Chocolat bar Chiapas, Mexico region Mexico plantation blend cacao trees Criollo year unknown size 65g ~ 2.3oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $12.00

color medium-light brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, bubbles, adhered bits aroma roast (coffee, cocoa), earth, spice snap medium hard taste roast (cocoa, coffee), earth, fruit (berry, citrus), nut, spice, acidic, sour melt smooth length long finish acidic, tannin

Best Prices Online
$12.00 directly from Bar au Chocolat

Review: Michel Cluizel Mokaya

Richard's Rating: 8.0

chocolate maker Michel Cluizel bar Mokaya region Mexico plantation Mokaya cacao trees unknown year unknown size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 66% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring bourbon vanilla other ingredients (none) list price €4,15

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle appearance smooth, scoring, imprints, uneven sheen, scuffing aroma roast (cocoa, malt, coffee, tobacco), fruit (berry), earth (grass), spice snap hard taste roast (cocoa, malt), fruit (blackberry, nectarine, citrus), spice (vanilla, pepper), earth, sweet (honey), acidic melt more smooth length long finish acidic, slightly tannin, slightly sour

Best Prices Online
€4,15 directly from Michel Cluizel
$6.70 at Chocosphere
$6.99 at Caputo's
$6.99 at World Wide Chocolate
£3.95 at Chocolate Trading Co

Review: Amano Dos Rios

Richard's Rating: 9.0

chocolate maker Amano bar Dos Rios region Dominican Republic plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $6.95

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate appearance smooth, imprints, scoring, scuffing, uneven sheen aroma fruit (bergamot, orange), earl grey, floral (jasmine), roast, dairy snap hard taste earl grey, fruit (tangerine, orange), floral (jasmine), tannin, spice, sweet, nut, roast melt smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, slightly acidic

Prior Reviews
2012 Review

Best Prices Online
$4.95 on sale directly from Amano
$6.99 at Caputo's
$6.99 at Chocolopolis

Review: Lake Champlain Blue Bandana Guatemala 70%

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Lake Champlain bar Blue Bandana 70% Guatemala region Guatemala plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 65g ~ 2.3oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $8.00

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle appearance smooth, scoring, imprints, uneven sheen, tiny bubbles aroma roast (smoke), earth (must, grass), dairy, fruit snap medium hard taste roast (coffee), fruit (raisin, citrus), earth, acidic, sweet (molasses), tannin melt smooth length medium finish tannin, somewhat acidic

Best Prices Online
$8.00 directly from Lake Champlain
$9.00 from Chocolopolis

Review: Ritual Belize

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Ritual bar Belize region Belize plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 43g ~ 1.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $6.75

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen aroma roast (tobacco, cocoa), fruit (prune), earth snap medium hard taste roast (tobacco), fruit (prune, cherry), sweet (honey), earth, acidic melt more smooth length medium finish acidic, somewhat tannin, slightly bitter, slightly sour

Best Prices Online
$6.49 from Caputo's
$6.75 directly from Ritual
$7.00 from Chocolopolis
$7.00 from The Meadow

Review: Tejas Valero

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Tejas bar Valero region Belize plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $7.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, bubbles aroma roast (cocoa), spice, earth snap hard taste fruit (apricot, cherry), spice (pepper), sweet (honey), earth, roast, acidic, tannin melt smooth length medium finish somewhat tannin, slightly acidic

Best Prices Online
$7.00 directly from Tejas

Review: Dandelion Maya Mountain, Belize

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Dandelion bar Maya Mountain region Belize plantation blend cacao trees unknown year 2014 size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $8.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, imprints, scoring, scuffing aroma earth (must), floral, roast (cocoa), sweet (honey), nut snap hard taste earth (straw), fruit (pineapple), sweet (honey), spice (cinnamon), roast (cocoa), acidic melt smooth length long finish somewhat acidic

Best Prices Online
$8.00 directly from Dandelion (sold out)
$9.00 from The Meadow

Zotter Labooko Belize Special 72%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Zotter bar Labooko Belize Special region Belize plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 72% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients salt list price €3,50

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, textured, imprints, adhered bits aroma spice (fennel), earth, roast (malt) snap hard taste licorice, roast (cocoa), earth, spice (pepper, fennel), fruit (cherry) melt more smooth length medium finish slightly bitter

Best Prices Online
€3,50 directly from Zotter
$5.95 from Zotter USA
$7.49 from NewLeaf

SOMA Black Science Bachelor's Hall Jamaica

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker SOMA bar Black Science Bachelor's Hall region Jamaica plantation Bachelor's Hall cacao trees Trinitario year (unknown) size 25g ~ 0.9oz cocoa solids 70% added fat unknown sweetener unknown emulsifier unknown flavoring unknown other ingredients unknown list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate appearance scoring, imprints, smooth, adhered bits, bubbles aroma earth, nut sweet, fruit snap medium hard taste sweet (honey), fruit (raspberry), nut, earth, dairy (butter) melt smooth length long finish somewhat tannin, somewhat acidic

Review: Rogue Jamaica

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Rogue bar Jamaica region Jamaica plantation Bachelor's Hall cacao trees (unknown) year 2014 size 60g ~ 2.1oz cocoa solids 75% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $16.00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate appearance glossy, smooth, uneven sheen aroma earth (grass), spice, roast (tobacco, cocoa, smoke) snap hard taste roast (tobacco, cocoa), fruit (tropical), spice, woody, nut, sweet melt creamy length long finish tannin, slightly sour

Best Prices Online
$16.00 directly from Rogue

Review: Ritual Balao

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Ritual bar Balao region Ecuador plantation Camino Verde cacao trees unknown year unknown size 43g ~ 1.5oz cocoa solids 75% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $6.75

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen aroma earth (burlap), floral, spice snap medium hard taste roast (tea, cocoa), earth (burlap), fruit (blackberry), tannin melt more smooth length medium finish tannin, slightly acidic

Best Prices Online
$6.49 from Caputo's
$6.75 directly from Ritual
$7.00 from Chocolopolis
$7.00 from The Meadow