Review: Domori Il 100% Criollo

Richard's Rating: 8.0

chocolate maker Domori bar Il 100% Criollo region (unknown) plantation blend cacao trees Criollo year unknown size 25g ~ 0.9oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €4,00

color medium brown appearance smooth, scoring, imprints, scuffing, uneven sheen aroma roast (cocoa, coffee), fruit (berry, raisin), spice, earth, sweet snap medium hard taste roast (coffee, tobacco), nut, peanut, fruit, earth, tannin melt creamy length long finish tannin, nut, slightly acidic

Prior Reviews
2013 Review

Best Prices Online
€4,00 directly from Domori
£4.10 at Chocolate Trading Co
$6.79 at Chocosphere

Review: Domori Porcelana

Richard's Rating: 8.5

chocolate maker Domori bar Porcelana region Venezuela plantation blend cacao trees Criollo year unknown size 25g ~ 0.9oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price €4,00

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, scoring, imprints, scuffing, adhered bits aroma fruit (strawberry), roast (cocoa), floral, spice, dairy, earth, sweet snap hard taste roast (cocoa, toast), fruit (strawberry, orange), dairy (butter) melt more smooth, fudgy length long finish tannin, somewhat acidic

Prior Reviews
2010 Review

Best Prices Online
€4,00 directly from Domori
$5.45 at Chocosphere
$5.50 at Caputo's
£3.95 at Chocolate Trading Co

Academy of Chocolate 2015 Awards

The London Academy of Chocolate released their ridiculously large number of award winners for 2015.

They had two bean to bar dark chocolate categories: under 80% and at least 80%.

GOLD under 80%
Åkesson's Madagascar 75% Criollo
Amano Ocumare 70%
Bar au Chocolat Dominican Republic 70%

SILVER under 80%
Åkesson's Bali 75% Trinitario
Bar au Chocolat Madagascar 70%
Castronovo Colombia Sierra Nevada 72%
Chocolat Madagascar Fine Dark 65%
Chocolat Madagascar Organic Fine Dark 70%
Dick Taylor Madagascar Sambirano
Green & Black's THIN Dark 70%
Hotel Chocolat 70% Saint Lucia Rabot Estate Bord du Lac
Pump Street Bakery Grenada 70% Crayfish Bay Estate
Pump Street Bakery Madagascar Criollo 74% Åkesson's Estate
Red Star Duffy’s Honduras Indio Rojo 72%
SPAGnVOLA Nigeria 70% Oda Cocoa Estate
SPAGnVOLA Dominican Republic 70% Single Estate

BRONZE under 80%
Amano Chuao 70%
Amano Cuyagua 70%
Amano Madagascar 70%
Amano Morobe 70%
Amazona 74% El Shunté (Tiesto)
Amazona 72% Valle del Chanka (Lamas)
AQUIM Q 65%
Chocolate Tree Madagascar Sambirano 72%
Chocolate Tree Peru Marañon 69%
ChocXO Camino Verde Ecuador 72%
ChocXO Guantupi Ecuador 75%
ChocXO Tres Rios Peru 68%
Damson Ecuador 70% Los Rios
Damson Madagascar 70% Åkesson Estate
Dick Taylor Belize Toledo
Dick Taylor Ecuador Camino Verde
Doble & Bignall Raven Johe 72%
Domori Ocumare 77 Criollo 70%
Du Jour Pure 70%
Hotel Chocolat 70% Honduras Mayan Red
Idilio Origins No. 3 Selección Cata Ocumare
Idilio Origins No. 4 Carenero Urrutia Superior
NAÏVE Nicaragua Nicalizo 72%
Omnom Madagascar 66%
Original Beans Papua Kerafat
Original Beans Piura Porcelana
Pacari Esmeraldas 60%
Red Star Duffy’s Nicaragua Chuno 70%
Ritual Mid Mountain Blend
Rococo Organic Dark 65% Artisan Bar
Rozsavolgyi Madagascar Criollo 71% Åkesson Estate
Rozsavolgyi Puerto Cabello 74%
Rozsavolgyi Porcelana 71%
Tobago Cocoa Estate

GOLD at least 80%
Åkesson's Madagascar 100% Criollo

SILVER at least 80%
Papa 80% Peru
Pump Street Bakery Honduras Finca Tres Marias 80%
SPAGnVOLA Dominican Republic 80% Single Estate

BRONZE at least 80%
Bar au Chocolat Trinidad 80%
Baravelli's Madagascan Sambirano 82%
Chocolat Madagascar Fine Dark 85%
Michel Cluizel Noir Infini 99%
Domori Criollo 100% Hacienda San Jose
Hazel Mountain 87% Venezuela Bean Sur del Lago
Szanto Tibor Baracoa Cuba 88% Ocenta y Ocho

Here's a link to the full lists of 2015 Award Winners in all of the categories.

Review: Domori Il 100% Criollo

Richard's Rating: 8.5

chocolate maker Domori bar Il 100% Criollo region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 25g ~ 0.9oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, imprints, scuffing, uneven sheen aroma roast (cocoa), sweet, dried fruit (raisin), spice snap hard taste roast (tobacco, coffee), sweet, nut, peanut melt creamy length long finish nut, tannin

MORE RECENT REVIEW: Domori Il 100% Criollo

Italian bean to bar chocolate maker Domori makes two 100% chocolate bars, Il 100% and Il 100% Criollo. This is a review of the latter.

Il 100% Criollo was made from 100% cocoa mass and nothing else. The tiny 25 gram bar came enclosed in a sealed plastic wrapper inside a paper box. It was scored into four pieces, each with an imprint of the Domori name and symbol. The best before date was August 31, 2015.

This chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The bar looked good, with a smooth surface, sharp imprints, and no sign of bubbles. There was some scuffing, an uneven sheen, and just a few adhered bits.

The bar had a hard snap. The aroma contained scents of a cocoa roast, sweetness, a dried fruit that seemed best described as raisin, and spice.

Il 100% Criollo initially tasted of roast, with both tobacco and coffee flavors. Sweetness and then a nutty flavor came forth, following by a strong taste of peanut.

The melt was remarkably creamy, one of the best I've experienced. The chocolate flavor lasted over 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a long length. The finish was nutty and tannin.

Even though I didn't personally love the flavor, this was an excellent 100% bar, succeeding in nearly every dimension. I place it at the top of our current ranking of 100% chocolates. Too bad it's so expensive.

You can purchase Domori Il 100% Criollo online for $6.25 from Chocosphere.

International Chocolate Awards 2012 Winners

The World Final of the 2012 International Chocolate Awards took place last week in London and the results have now been published. Here are the winners in the unflavored dark chocolate bar category (with cacao origin).

Overall Winners
GOLD: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
SILVER: Pacari 70% Piura-Quemazon (Peru)
SILVER: Amano Cuyaga 70% (Venezuela)
SILVER: Amano Chuao 70% (Venezuela)
SILVER: Michel Cluizel Los Anconès (Santo Domingo)
SILVER: Domori Guasare (Venezuela)

Special Awards
GOLD Chocolate Maker: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Growing Country Chocolate: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Directly Traded Cacao: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Organic: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
GOLD Best Cacao Source: Pacari 70% Piura-Quemazon (Peru)

You can see the full results here on the International Chocolate Awards website.

International Chocolate Awards 2012 Semi-Finalists

The International Chocolate Awards have national and regional semi-final competitions throughout the year, followed by a grand final this year in London in October. The results of the last of those competitions have been published, and here are all of the winners in the unflavored dark chocolate bar category (along with cacao origin).

Americas (full results)
GOLD: Pacari 70% Piura-Quemazon (Peru)
SILVER: Amano Cuyaga 70% (Venezuela)
SILVER: Franceschi Canoabo (Venezuela)
SILVER: Fresco 212 (Dominican Republic)
SILVER: Pacari 70% Nube (Ecuador)
SILVER: Pacari Raw 70% (Ecuador)
ECUADOR NATIONAL GOLD: Pacari 70% Nube (Ecuador)
UNITED STATES NATIONAL GOLD: Amano Cuyaga 70% (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Amano Chuao 70% (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Amano Ocumare 70% (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Amma 60% (Brazil)
WORLD FINALIST: Franceschi Sur Del Lago (Venezuela)

Europe (full results)
GOLD: Michel Cluizel Los Anconès (Santo Domingo)
SILVER: Bonnat Porcelana (Venezuela)
SILVER: Domori Guasare (Venezuela)
SILVER: Original Beans Beni Wild Harvest 66% (Bolivia)
FRANCE GOLD: Michel Cluizel Los Anconès (Santo Domingo)
ITALY GOLD: Domori Guasare (Venezuela)
SWITZERLAND GOLD: Idilio No. 2 Selección Amiari Merideña (Venezuela)
WORLD FINALIST: Domori Apurimac (Peru)
WORLD FINALIST: Menakao 72% (Madagascar)

Sale: 20% off Guittard, 15% off nearly all other chocolate brands

This week World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Guittard and Valor chocolate using coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout (through December 19).

They have 15% off many other chocolate brands by nationality (also through December 19), including:

• Amano, Blommer, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Patric, Scharffer Berger, and Vermont Nut Free chocolate using coupon code AMERICAN15
• Becolade, Cafe-Tasse, Callebaut, Cavalier, Chocolove, Côte D'Or, Dolfin, Galer, Godiva, and Nirvana chocolate using coupon code BELGIAN15
• Cacao Barry, Bonnat, Bernard Castelain, Michel Cluizel, Yves Thuries, Francois Pralus, and Valrhona chocolate using coupon code FRENCH15
• Amedei, Domori, L'Artigiano, Maglio, Slitti, and Venchi chocolate using coupon code ITALIAN15

Finally, if you want to mix and match chocolate of multiple nationalities, you can use coupon code take5 to get $5 off a purchase of $30 or more, or coupon code take10 to get $10 off a purchase of $60 or more. These two coupon codes may end today.

As a bonus treat during checkout, the first 30 buyers to add "Free Michel Cluizel Squares" in the Comments field will receive 5 free bite-size 5 gram chocolate squares of Michel Cluizel chocolate.

World Wide Chocolate has some additional promotions available on other chocolate products.

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Review: Domori Cacao Teyuna Colombia 70%

Lindy's Rating: 9.5

Richard's Rating: 9.5

chocolate maker Domori bar Cacao Teyuna region Colombia plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth with text imprint aroma fruit (raisin, date, cherry, citrus), earth, wood (cedar), spice (cinnamon), roast snap hard taste fruit (citrus, strawberry, apricot, coconut, dried fruit, melon), sweet (honey) melt creamy length medium finish slightly acidic, slightly tannin

Cacao Teyuna is one of the six chocolate bars in Domori's single origin line. This chocolate was made with cacao from Colombia using only two ingredients: 70% cocoa solids and 30% cane sugar. The 50 gram bar was scored into 4 pieces, each with an imprint of the Domori name. The best before date on the bar we reviewed was 28 February 2012.

The color of Teyuna was a medium brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). Although apparently roughed up a bit before we opened it, the bar was otherwise smooth and had a hard snap.

The chocolate had a terrific fruity aroma that included dried fruits like raisin and date, and tree fruits like red cherry and citrus. We also smelled earth, woody cedar, and a spice we identified as cinnamon. I also noticed some roast.

Teyuna's complex fruity aroma carried through into its taste, though in mostly different flavors of citrus, strawberry, apricot, coconut, dried fruit, and melon. Wow! I tasted sweetness in the form of honey.

The melt of Teyuna was creamy. The length was medium, with the flavor lasting 20 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was both slightly acidic and slightly tannin.

Overall, we were both happily surprised with the qualities of Teyuna. It displaced other great chocolates to make it onto both of our favorites lists (Lindy's and Richard's). Domiro Teyuna won one of the Silver awards in the bean to bar category at the 2009 Academy of Chocolate Awards.

You can purchase the 25 gram bar (we reviewed 50 gram bar) of Domori Teyuna online in the U.S. for $3.25 from Chocosphere. In the U.K., you can purchase the 25 gram bar online for £2.45 from Chocolate Trading Co.

Sale: 15% off Michel Cluizel, Domori, and Valrhona, 10% off everything

This week World Wide Chocolate has 15% off Michel Cluizel, Domori, and Callebaut chocolate (through June 27th). Use coupon code SPECIAL15 during checkout for this 15% discount.

They also have 15% off Valrhona chocolate for two days through June 22nd. Coupon code TODAY15.

They are still continuing their 25% off Zotter chocolate sale (coupon code ZOTTER25). Here is the complete list of their special offers.

World Wide Chocolate is also currently offering 10% off all orders with no minimum purchase (coupon code 1day10-0). Typically this all brand offer is only 5% or requires at least a $25 minimum order. Their other more or less normal offers are:

• 15% off orders over $100: 1day15-100
• 20% off orders over $225: 1day20-225
• 25% off orders over $575: 1day25-575

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

Between May and September, World Wide Chocoloate also includes free warm weather packaging of a reusable frozen gel pack inside insulated container (usually an additional $6.99).

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Currently shipping is free on orders over $200 (this used to be $150). Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: 20% off Domori, 15% off Amano and Guittard

World Wide Chocolate has 20% off Domori, Cacao Barry, and Côte d'Or chocolate this week (through May 9th). Use coupon code SPECIAL20 during checkout for this 20% discount.

They also have 15% off American chocolate, including Amano, Blommer, Dagoba, Ghirardelli, Guittard, Lake Champlain, Scharffen Berger, and Vermont Nut Free. Coupon code AMERICAN15. Check the price before you buy, as you can find lower prices elsewhere for some of them (such as Ghirardelli).

They are still continuing their 25% off Zotter chocolate sale (coupon code ZOTTER25).

Here is the complete list of their special offers.

If you are interested in buying multiple chocolate brands, World Wide Chocolate has their more or less normal offers:

• 5% off orders over $15: 1day5-15
• 15% off orders over $60: 1day15-60
• 20% off orders over $250: 1day20-250
• 25% off orders over $550: 1day25-550

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Shipping is free on orders over $150. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Sale: Domori 15% off, and many other brands, too

World Wide Chocolate is having a few sales through April 4th, including 15% off Domori and some other Italian chocolates, including L'Artigiano, Cuorenero, Maglio, Slitti and Venchi. For this discount, use coupon code ITALIAN15 during checkout.

They have several other chocolate brands on sale, including Côte d'Or, Lindt, Valor, and Zotter. Some of these sale prices are good; others are not particularly interesting. Here is the complete list of their special offers.

They also have two weekend specials:

• $10 off $40 order: WEEKEND10
• $20 off $100 order: WEEKEND20

as well as their more or less normal offers:

• 5% off all orders: 1day5-0
• 10% off orders over $25: 1day10-25
• 15% off orders over $40: 1day15-40
• 20% off orders over $275: 1day20-275
• 25% off orders over $750: 1day25-750

REMINDER: Only one coupon code is allowed per order.

World Wide Chocolate only ships to United States, APO (military), and FPO (diplomatic) addresses. Shipping is free on orders over $150. Full information can be found at World Wide Chocolate shipping policies.

Store: Chocolopolis

As you've no doubt read in previous postings, Chocolopolis was the store that introduced me to artisan chocolate and inspired me to create this blog. The owner, Lauren Adler, is not only an enthusiastic and educated chocophile, but also extremely generous and interested in sharing her passion for chocolate. All of the staff that I've met at the store in Seattle have been friendly and helpful, providing information for the novice and expert alike. At the same time, when they haven't known something, they admitted it and offered to try to find out.

Chocolopolis has many events, including weekly happy hours during which you can taste chocolate for free. They also have a frequent bar club, in which you receive one bar free for every 10 different chocolate bars you buy.

chocolate store	Chocolopolis
website	http://www.chocolopolis.com
address	1527 Queen Anne Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 United States
phone	(206) 282-0776
hours	Mon-Wed	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
	Thu-Sat	11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
	Sun	11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
online shopping	yes, click here
shipping area	continental United States click here for more information
warm weather shipping	yes, with gel packs
chocolate makers	Amano Amedei Askinosie Bonnat El Ceibo Michel Cluizel Coppeneur Claudio Corallo Dandelion Domori Escazú Fearless Fine & Raw Fresco Grenada E. Guittard Kallari Lillie Belle Farms Madécasse Chocolat Moderne Moonstruck Olive & Sinclair Original Beans Pacari Patric François Pralus Republica del Cacao El Rey Ritual Rogue Santander Snake & Butterfly Taza Theo Valrhona Venchi Waialua Estate
special deals & events	frequent bar club weekly happy hours tasting events
last updated	Febrary 24, 2012

In addition to stocking over 200 different chocolate bars, Chocolopolis carries a variety of chocolate truffles by multiple chocolatiers and several other items for chocolate lovers (drinking chocolate, books, gifts, etc.)

Chocolopolis also opened a temporary second store at the Bravern in Bellevue for the winter holidays, but it is still open.
  Address:
     700 110th Ave. NE, Suite 192,
     Bellevue, WA 98004
  Phone: (425) 453-0776
UPDATE: The last day the store at the Bravern will be open is April 30th.

Review: Domori Chuao Hacienda San José

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

Richard's Rating: 9.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Domori bar Chuao region Venezuela plantation San José cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 25g ~ 0.9oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1317 Bitter Chocolate texture smooth with text imprints aroma earthy (musty, straw), floral, nut (roasted almond), spice, berry snap hard taste fruit (tropical, pineapple, papaya, raisin), honey, tart, cream, hint of nut melt creamy length short finish very slightly acidic

Domori Chuao Hacienda San José is another chocolate bar made from Criollo cacao beans from Venezuela. It is a plantation bar, with all of its beans coming from Hacienda San José. The chocolate has only 70% cocoa solids and 30% cane sugar for ingredients. It comes in a tiny 25 gram bar (less than an ounce) that is scored into 4 pieces, each with a Domori imprint.

The color of this chocolate was different from the other Chuaos we've reviewed (they were all different shades of Bracken). Domori Chuao was closer to Bitter Chocolate (PANTONE 19-1317) in color. The bar had a hard snap.

Chuao San José gave off a complex aroma, with scents of earthy must and straw (or perhaps hay), something floral, nuts in the form of roasted almond, spice we didn't identify, and non-specific berry.

The flavors we tasted were similarly interesting, including tropical fruits that Lindy identified as pineapple and papaya. I noticed some honey and cream. Lindy found some tartness. We both also experienced raisin and a hint of nut.

This bar had a wonderful creamy texture as it melted. The flavor lasted about 15-20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, leaving it near the middle of a short length. The finish was minimal as the flavor just faded away, leaving only a very slightly acidic aftertaste.

Lindy and I both like Chuaos, and this was no exception. In comparison with the other Chuaos we've reviewed, Domori fits in as 4th:

1. Amedei
2. Bonnat
3. Coppeneur
4. Domori
5. Amano

Overall, we both rated Domori Chuao a high ***, and it made it onto our respective lists of 10 favorite bars: 10th on Lindy's and 8th on mine. As Lindy put it, "If I liked the flavor more, this would be ****."

Domori does not provide a list price for Chauo Hacienda San José. This bar costs $6.99 at Chocolopolis. It is not currently listed in their online catalog, but I'm confident you could order it from them by phone at (206) 282-0776.

Chocolate Value

As you've probably noticed, we do not consider price as a criterion in evaluating chocolate on this site. Our ratings and rankings are independent of price. However, we recognize that price is relevant and have always posted a list price for any chocolates that have them. For those that don't, we include a reference price for purchasing them online in the text of the review.

I thought it might be interesting to separately look at the relative prices of some of the chocolates we've reviewed. To that end, I added a best chocolate values page to this site that we will maintain as we continue to review chocolate bars.

Trader Joe's chocolates are, by far, the best deal, with the Pound Plus bars coming in at a mere 28 cents ($0.28) per ounce and the others well under $1 per ounce. At the other extreme is Domori's Porcelana bar, priced at almost $8 per ounce.

You can find the best chocolate values page by clicking the Chocolate Value link in the Pages section on the top right of the home page.

Review: Domori Porcelana

Lindy's Rating: 9.5 (previously ***)

Richard's Rating: 9.5 (previously ***)

chocolate maker Domori bar Porcelana region Venezuela plantation (unknown) cacao trees Criollo year (unknown) size 25g ~ 0.9oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price N/A

color medium brown texture smooth with text imprints aroma initial spice, strong strawberry, hint of floral snap hard taste balanced chocolate flavor, strawberry or cherry, bread, butter melt smooth length medium finish dry, ashy

MORE RECENT REVIEW: Domori Porcelana

Domori's Porcelana was one of two chocolate bars that Lindy and I tasted today made from Porcelana cacao beans from Venezuela. The beans from these Criollo cacao trees have a distinctive white color and were named Porcelana for this porcelain-like color.

This tiny chocolate bar was the smallest I've ever seen, a mere 25 grams (less than one ounce)!

Domori's Porcelana is another of the rare chocolates made only of cocoa mass and cane sugar. It had a strong aroma of strawberry. Lindy noticed an initial spicy scent and I found a hint of flowers. The taste was a lovely balanced chocolate with some strawberry or cherry that Lindy described as "pure chocolate flavor". I also tasted something like bread and butter.

Another notable aspect of this chocolate was the length of taste. It was one of the few bars we've reviewed so far whose flavor lasted longer than 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone.

Overall, the Domori Porcelana had excellent chocolate flavor, but both of us felt that it lacked the intensity of a four star chocolate. Lindy remarked that it had the least bitter finish of the chocolates we'd tasted so far.

There was no list price for this bar, but it is available online in the U.S. for $6.50 from Chocolopolis.