Review: Meadowlands Wild Harvest Bolivia

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Wild Harvest Bolivia region Bolivia plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, bubbles aroma roast, floral (lavender, jasmine), fruit, earth snap hard taste earth, spice (anise), fruit (date), sesame, roast (smoke, tea), nut, tannin, sweet melt smooth length medium finish tannin, somewhat acidic

This is the fourth Meadowlands unflavored single origin chocolate bar we've reviewed. You can read reviews of their other three bars here: Dominican Republic, Peru, and Venezuela.

As with the others, the only ingredients in Wild Harvest Bolivia were 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar.

Inside a pink paper sleeve, the 2.5 ounce Bolivia bar came wrapped in gold foil-sided waxed paper. It was scored into 24 pieces.

The surface of the chocolate was smooth, with an uneven sheen and tiny bubbles in some corners. Its color was a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma was strongly floral, with scents of both lavender and jasmine. I also smelled roast, fruit, and earth.

After an initial earthy and tannin start to the taste, spices came forth, with a particularly strong anise flavor. Several other flavors developed as well: fruit, primarily date, sesame, roast with smoke and tea, and some nuttiness. It also tasted sweet and the tannin was evident throughout.

Meadowlands described Venezuela as "hints of lavender, toasted sesame & dates".

Wild Harvest Bolivia had a smooth melt, with a bit of fudginess. The chocolate flavor lasted 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a length on the far end of medium. The finish was tannin and somewhat acidic.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org

Sale: 20% off at NewLeaf

NewLeaf Chocolates is having a 20% off sale on everything in their online store. NewLeaf carries Amano, Amedei, Blanxart, Domori, Grenada, Kallari, Madecasse, Omnom, Original Beans, Pacari, Pralus, Taza, Theo, and Zotter.

The sale is "while supplies last" through June 4th, so shop early for a better selection.

Use coupon code SPRING20 during checkout.

Sale: 20% off Taza

Taza is having a 20% off sale on all of their origin bars (Belize 77%, Bolivia 87%, Dominican Republic 80%, Dominican Republic 70%, Dominican Republic 60%, and Haiti 84%) through May 6th at 3 p.m. ET. Free shipping is also available in April for orders of $75 or more.

Review: Meadowlands Venezuela

Richard's Rating: 5.5

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Venezuela region Venezuela plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, scuffing, bubbles aroma roast (coffee), earth, fruit (prune) snap hard taste roast (coffee, cocoa), earth, fruit (raisin, plum, berry), peanut, sweet, bitter, slightly chalky melt smooth length medium finish bitter, slightly acidic

Meadowlands makes four unflavored single origin chocolate bars: Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Peru, and Venezuela. All of them are made from only cacao beans and cane sugar.

Venezuela came wrapped in gold foil-sided waxed paper inside a purple paper sleeve. The 2.5 ounce bar contained 70% cocoa solids and had a best before date of April 4, 2016.

The bar was scored into 24 pieces. The surface was smooth, but had an uneven sheen, scuffing, and some bubbles. The chocolate had a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The bar had a hard snap.

Fruit, mostly smelling of prune, a coffee roast, and earth were the strongest scents I noticed in the aroma.

The taste began with an earthy coffee and cocoa roast, and then fruit flavors of raisin, plum, and berry came forth. Peanut grew dominant and was present most of the time. The taste was also sweet, bitter, and slightly chalky at the end.

Meadowlands described Venezuela as "nutty overtones, hints of raisin and dried cranberry".

The chocolate had a smooth melt. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was bitter and slightly acidic.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org

Review: Meadowlands Peru

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Peru region Peru plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, scuffing, adhered bits aroma floral, fruit (citrus), earth snap hard taste floral, earth, roast (cocoa, malt), fruit, sweet (caramel), nut, coconut, chalky melt less smooth length medium finish tannin, somewhat chalky, somewhat acidic

Even though their bars are not certified, Minnesota maker Meadowlands uses organic and fair trade cacao. They craft their pure chocolate bars from only cacao beans and cane sugar.

Wrapped with gold foil-sided waxed paper inside a paper sleeve, the 2.5 ounce Peru bar contained 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar.

The bar was scored into 24 pieces. The surface was smooth, but had an uneven sheen, scuffing, a small dent, and a few adhered bits.

The color of the chocolate was a medium-dark brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012). The snap was hard.

The aroma contained floral, fruit, and earth scents. I smelled some citrus among the fruit scents.

An initial floral, fruity, earthy taste became sweet with honey and caramel. Roast flavors of cocoa and malt grew stronger, and revealed additional nut and coconut flavors. The taste was somewhat chalky.

Meadowlands described the chocolate as "light & delicate, hints of peach & coconut". I didn't notice the peach flavor.

The melt was less smooth, and with one taste I noticed a bit of graininess. The chocolate flavor lasted about 30 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a medium length. The final aftertaste was tannin, somewhat chalky, and somewhat acidic.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org

Good Food Awards for Chocolate 2016

The Good Food Awards published their winners for 2015. The following unflavored bars won awards in the chocolate category:

Brasstown Ecuador 75%
Dick Taylor Bolivia Alto Beni 70%
Escazú Piura Blanco, Peru 70%
Fruition Bolivian Wild Harvest 74%
Just Good Madagascar 70%
Lonohana Estate Kanahiku 70%
Ritual Mid-Mountain Blend
Ritual Belize 75%
Rogue Jamaica
Rogue Tranquilidad

Review: Meadowlands Dominican Republic

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Meadowlands bar Dominican Republic region Dominican Republic plantation blend cacao trees unknown year unknown size 71g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, scoring, uneven sheen, scuffing, adhered bits, bubbles aroma roast, fruit (berry), earth (must) snap medium hard taste earth (soil), fruit (blueberry, citrus, date), roast (burnt), nut, spice, sweet (molasses), tannin, bitter melt smooth (fudgy) length long finish tannin, somewhat acidic

Clyo Howard and Beryl Wells Hamilton having been crafting bean to bar chocolate as Meadowlands in the city of the same name in Minnesota since 2013. All of their chocolate is made with organic, fair trade cacao beans that are grown sustainably and harvested ethically.

Along with all of their other unflavored 70% single origin chocolates, the Dominican Republic bar was made from nothing other than 70% cacao beans and 30% cane sugar. The bar was not certified organic or fair trade.

The 2.5 ounce bar came wrapped in gold foil-sided waxed paper inside a paper sleeve. It was scored into 24 pieces.

The surface of the chocolate was smooth, but had an uneven sheen, scuffing, a few adhered bits, and some very tiny bubbles in the corners of the pieces.

Dominican Republic had a medium brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012) color. The bar had a medium hard snap.

Scents of roast, fruit, and earth were present. The fruit scent included berry and the earthiness smelled musty.

The taste began with a earthy soil flavor until the fruit, roast, nut, and spice came forth. I tasted fruit flavors of blueberry, citrus, and date. The roast seemed slightly burnt. A molasses sweetness was evident. The taste was also tannin and bitter.

The melt was smooth, but quite fudgy. The length was long, with the chocolate flavor lasting 50-55 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was tannin and somewhat acidic.

I liked the interesting combination of flavors, but found the fudgy melt undesirable. Overall, it was a solid chocolate among single origin Dominican Republic bars.

Best Prices Online
$9.50 directly from Meadowlands
$45.00 for five-pack from Chocolate.org