Review: Guylian Extra Dark

Lindy's Rating: 6.0 (previously **)

Richard's Rating: 5.5 (previously **)

chocolate maker Guylian bar Extra Dark region West Africa plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 200g ~ 7.1oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown texture text imprints, lines, and scoring aroma molasses, roasted nuts snap hard taste roasted nuts, sweet, ashy melt less smooth length short finish slightly acidic

Guylian is a second generation Belgian chocolate maker that produces primarily chocolate pralines and truffles, and is famous for its chocolate sea shells. They also produce a few chocolate bars, including a no sugar line that uses Maltitol as a sugar substitute. Guylian currently makes only one dark chocolate bar, the Extra Dark. By the way, the company is named from a combination of the founders first names: Guy and Liliane Foubert.

I received the last two squares of a Guylian Extra Dark bar from a friend of mine to whom it had been given as a gift. He wanted to give us an opportunity to try this chocolate that isn't generally available in the US (thanks Edward!)

The Extra Dark appears to be typically distributed in 100 gram bars, but the one reviewed here was a 200 gram bar. According to the Guylian website, the cacao beans used to make this bar are a blend (of probably Forastero beans) from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. This medium brown chocolate had a gray surface, likely due to improper storage at some point during its journey to us.

The aromas revealed by the Extra Dark were that of molasses and roasted nuts. The taste was quite similar, with a less specific sweet, but the same general roasted nuts. I also noticed an ashy flavor.

This chocolate was brittle, and shattered when chewing pieces (again, perhaps related to storage). The melt was less smooth, but not at all grainy. While the chocolate flavor lasted only a short time, there was no bitter aftertaste as the flavor faded away, leaving only a slightly acidic finish.

We both rated this bar **, though Lindy liked the roasted nut flavor a lot, and would have considered a higher rating had there been a bit more complexity to the aroma or taste, a better melt, or greater length.

I couldn't find a list price for this bar, but there was a sticker on the wrapper indicating a regular price of $7.00 (and discounted price of $4.99). For 200 grams, the Extra Dark is inexpensive, roughly the same value as the Lindt Excellence bars, and just as good.