Review: Godiva 85% Extra Dark Santo Domingo

Lindy's Rating: 3.0 (previously *)

Richard's Rating: 5.0 (previously **)

chocolate maker Godiva bar Extra Dark Santo Domingo region Dominican Republic plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 100g ~ 3.5oz cocoa solids 85% added fat cocoa butter sweetener sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring natural flavoring other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text and image imprints, scoring aroma sweet, earthy (musty), nutty (almond), hint of fruit snap medium hard taste citrus, bitter, roast, hint of nut melt slow start, smooth length medium finish bitter

As written on the wrapper, the cacao for this chocolate came from "the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo". As a reader explained to me, that is the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Godiva's Extra Dark Santo Domingo bar was probably made from cacao beans from the Dominican Republic.

This chocolate had 85% cocoa solids and is made with the unusual ingredient of "natural flavoring". The 100 gram bar had a medium-dark brown color of Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) and was scored into 10 pieces, each imprinted with either the text "GODIVA Chocolatier" or an image of Lady Godiva riding naked on her horse.

The bar broke easily along its scoring, with a medium hard snap. The aroma was primarily sweet and earthy, the latter of which we both experienced as a dry mustiness. We noticed a nutty scent, which Lindy identified as almond. I also found a hint of fruit.

Extra Dark had a slow melt, taking a while before it released its flavor. I noticed an initial citrus that soon faded and became background hints, but Lindy didn't taste that flavor beneath the obvious bitterness of this chocolate. The flavor also included roast and Lindy found a hint of nut.

Even though it took a while to give up its form, this bar had an overall smooth melt, and perhaps even more smooth at the end. The length was medium, with the flavor lasting around 25 seconds. The finish was bitter.

There is no published list price for Godiva Extra Dark, but I found it at a local drugstore for $3.99.