Review: Dick Taylor Dominican Republic

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Dick Taylor bar Dominican Rep. region Dominican Republic plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 74% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $7.50

color medium-dark brown between PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate and PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture imprint, smooth, bubbles aroma earth (musty), roast (smoke, tobacco), spice, fruit snap hard taste earth, roast (tea), fruit (lime, berry, plum), sweet, tannin melt smooth length short finish tannin, somewhat bitter

MORE RECENT REVIEW: Dick Taylor Dominican Finca Elvesia

U.S. bean to bar chocolate makers Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor released their first chocolate bars in November 2010 from their small factory in Arcata, California. These former wood craftsmen (of furniture and boats) now apply their passion for quality to the production of small batch single origin chocolate. Dick Taylor currently produces a few flavored chocolate bars and four single origin ones: Belize, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, and Madagascar.

Their Dominican Republic bar was made from 74% cacao beans and 26% cane sugar. Although the bar was not certified, both ingredients were organic. The cacao beans were sourced from La Red cooperative (through Alex Whitmore at Taza).

Dick Taylor has an incredibly detailed chocolate mold, as you can see in the photo of the bar above. Dominican Republic came wrapped in gold-sided foil inside an outer paper wrapper sealed on the back with a large product sticker. The best before date was September 2013.

The chocolate was a medium-dark brown, slightly browner than Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) and slightly redder than Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The intricate top surface was smooth, with several tiny bubbles. The snap was hard.

The aroma contained earth, roast, spice and fruit. The earthy scent was musty; the roast scent was a smoky tobacco.

Dominican Republic initially tasted of earth and a tea roast. Fruit flavors came quickly, in the form of strong lime along with some berry and plum. Sweetness and tannin were also present.

The melt was smooth. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was tannin and somewhat bitter.

You can purchase Dominican Republic for $7.50 directly from Dick Taylor, or for $7.95 from The Meadow.

Review: Dandelion Elvesia, Dominican Republic

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Dandelion bar Elvesia region Dominican Republic plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2012 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 texture smooth, glossy, scoring, imprints, adhered bits aroma earth, roast (smoke, tobacco), fruit (prune) snap hard taste earth, roast (tea), fruit (plum, cherry), sweet, tannin, hint of sour melt more smooth length medium finish tannin

Elvesia is Dandelion's single origin bean to bar chocolate made with cacao from Jo Locandro's "Swiss Farm" in the Dominican Republic. Dandelion crafts all of their chocolate using 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar in a nut-free facility.

This chocolate was formed into the standard Dandelion shape: a bar scored into 18 pieces, each with an imprint of five parallel squiggles. It came wrapped in nice, heavy gold-sided foil inside craft paper. A sticker on the back indicated that the batch (the first of Elvesia) was made by CR (Cam Ring). There was no production or best before date, but the beans were from 2011 harvest and the bar was made in 2012.

Elvesia had a medium brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012) color. The top surface was smooth and glossy, with a few adhered bits. The snap was hard.

The chocolate had an aroma of earth, roast and fruit. The roast contained both smoke and tobacco scents. The fruit scent seemed closest to prune.

The taste began with earthy and roast flavors. The roast came in the form of black tea. Fruit soon developed, a powerful plum flavor with some cherry in the background. Sweetness grew, with tannin and a hint of sourness.

The melt was more smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted about 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a medium length. Afterwards, I was left with a tannin finish.

You can usually purchase Dandelion Elvesia, Dominican Republic online for $8.00 directly from Dandelion, but they are currently sold out. You can also buy it for $8.99 from Chocolopolis.

Sale: 15% off Raaka Chocolate

Raaka is having a sale for 15% off their chocolate. There is no minimum purchase required, but you must spend $50 or more for free shipping.

Use discount code savorslowly during checkout.

Be sure to select the 2.5 ounce standard bars rather than the default 1.25 ounce nibbler size. Order by Monday night for U.S. delivery in time for Christmas.

Sale: 20% off at World Wide Chocolate continues

World Wide Chocolate is continuing their storewide sale for 20% off everything. There is no minimum purchase required. Note, however, that it does not include Amedei.

Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (extended through December 18 and extended again through December 25).

World Wide Chocolate ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Check their shipping policies for full information, including pricing.

Review: Dandelion Rio Caribe Venezuela

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Dandelion bar Rio Caribe region Venezuela plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2012 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-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, glossy, scoring, imprints, adhered bits aroma roast (cocoa), floral, earth, spice snap medium hard taste roast (cocoa, malt), sweet, nut, fruit (orange) melt more smooth length medium finish tannin, slightly sour

Dandelion typically has three single origin chocolate bars available at a time. Their current Venezuelan bar is a 2012 harvest of cacao from Rio Caribe. The prior two were Mantuano and Ocumare.

The two ounce bar came wrapped in heavy gold-sided foil inside a craft paper wrapper. The bar was scored into 18 pieces, each imprinted with five parallel squiggles. As with all of their chocolate, Rio Caribe had only two ingredients: 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar. The chocolate was made in their nut-free facility.

The wrapper was sealed closed with an initialed sticker on the back, indicating that the batch was made by CL and the bar was packaged by MG. This bar of Rio Caribe was identified as coming from batch 1. There was no production date or best before date.

The color of Rio Caribe was a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface was smooth and glossy, as is the norm for Dandelion bars. There were a few adhered chocolate bits, but the top of the bar looked great. It had a medium snap.

Rio Caribe had a mild aroma, with primarily cocoa roast and floral scents, along more subdued earth and spice scents.

The taste of this chocolate was mostly a roast that included both cocoa and malt (less malty than their Ocumare bar). I also experienced sweetness, nut, and an non-citrus orange fruit flavor.

The melt was smoother than average. The length made it to medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was tannin and slightly sour.

You can purchase Dandelion Rio Caribe, Venezuela online for $8.00 directly from Dandelion, or to combine it with other brands, for $8.99 from Chocolopolis.

Sale: 20% off at World Wide Chocolate

Through Tuesday, December 11th, World Wide Chocolate is having a nearly storewide sale for 20% off all chocolate makers other than Amedei. There is NO MINIMUM PURCHASE requirement.

Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (through December 11).

World Wide Chocolate ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Shipping prices are not low, so check their shipping policies for full information.