Review: Green & Black's Dark 85%

Lindy's Rating: 3.0 (previously *)

Richard's Rating: 4.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Green & Black's bar Dark 85% region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees Trinitario year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 85% fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla extract other ingredients cocoa powder whole milk powder list price N/A

color medium brown texture smooth aroma vanilla, grapefruit, hint of red fruit snap hard taste malted, grapefruit, some bitterness melt smooth length short finish bitter

Like the Organic Dark 70%, Green & Black's Organic Dark 85% bar is certified organic, is made from Trinitario cocoa beans, and uses organic whole milk powder as an extra ingredient. It also adds organic fat-reduced cocoa powder to increase the chocolate flavor and uses less sugar and possibly more vanilla than the 70% bar.

The aroma was similar to the 70%, with the addition of an elusive hint of red fruit. The taste, though, was quite different: a malted flavor was strongest, with the grapefruit more in the background. There was also some bitterness. The melt was a little smoother than the 70%. The length was short, but the malted flavor lasted longer than the grapefruit of 70%. The finish was definitely bitter.

The increased bitterness of the 85% bar made it distinctly less enjoyable, and overall we both liked the 70% better. Lindy liked both the Lindt 85% and 70% better than the Green & Black's. I liked the Green & Black's 70% better than both Lindt bars, but found the Lindt 85% better than the Green & Black's 85%.

As I wrote before, there is no list price for the Green & Black's bars, but I found them in the organic section of our local grocery store for $4.49.