Review: Chocolate Santander Colombian 70%

Lindy's Rating: 9.0 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 8.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Santander bar Colombian 70% region Colombia plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo, Trinitario year (unknown) size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier soy lecithin flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprints and scoring aroma coconut, roast (smoke), sweet (caramel), marshmallow, hint of spice snap medium hard taste roast (coffee, tea), fruit (citrus), sweet, nutty melt more smooth length medium finish somewhat acidic, tannin

In a fashion similar to that of the Grenada Chocolate Company crafting chocolate locally in Grenada, Chocolate Santander makes single-origin chocolate bars locally in Colombia, producing them from beans cultivated on farms in the state of Santander. Although not organic, the chocolate is made from 70% cocoa solids, along with added cocoa butter, cane sugar, soy lecithin, and vanilla.

The 70 gram Santander Colombian 70% we reviewed came wrapped in foil and was scored into 8 pieces, each with an imprint of "Chocolate Santander" in cursive. It had a best before date of May 2012.

The color of the chocolate was a dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). It had a medium hard snap. The chocolate had a great aroma, with coconut, a somewhat smoky roast, a sweetness that smelled of caramel, as well as that of marshmallow. I also noticed a hint of spice.

The taste of Santander 70% included a coffee flavor that Lindy described as a light roast. There was also a tea in the roast, and flavors of citrus fruit, sweetness, and something nutty.

The melt was more smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone, resulting in a medium length. For me, the finish somewhat acidic; Lindy experienced tannin and found it slightly ashy.

While receiving the same *** rating as the Grenada 82% we reviewed the same day, we both liked Santander 70% a little better, and Lindy rated it a high ***.

You can purchase Santander Colombian 70% online in the U.S. from Chocosphere for $2.90, which is an excellent price for a *** chocolate.