Review: Zotter Labooko Raw Chocolate 80%

Lindy's Rating: 8.5

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Zotter bar Raw 80% region Peru? plantation blend cacao trees unknown year 2013 size 70g ~ 2.5oz cocoa solids 80% added fat cocoa butter sweetener coconut blossom sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients salt list price N/A

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1314 Seal Brown appearance relief, imprints, textured top aroma floral, spice (anise), sweet, earth snap hard taste nut, roast, floral, earth, acidic, dried fruit (date), spice (anise), tannin melt more smooth length medium finish tannin, acidic, slightly bitter

Labooko Raw Chocolate 80% is Zotter's only unflavored raw dark chocolate bar. Although I haven't yet received confirmation, I believe they sourced the organic and fair trade cacao for this chocolate from Peru.

The chocolate was sweetened with organic coconut blossom sugar rather than cane sugar. The 80% cocoa solids included added organic and fair trade cocoa butter. A tiny amount of salt was among the ingredients.

I don't have information about the maximum temperature used in processing this chocolate, but a Zotter representative told me that their current flavored raw chocolate is kept below 69°C (156°F), which is well above the temperature limit of most raw food. Raw Chocolate 80% was crafted with a 12 hour conching time.

The two 35 gram bars came in Zotter's standard packaging for the Labooko line: separately wrapped in gold foil-sided wax paper that was glued into the folds of the heavy outer paper. The outer paper is printed with one of Andreas h. Gratze's dramatic drawings of a person.

Based on Zotter's recommended 14-month shelf life, the best before date of October 10, 2014, indicates these bars were produced in August 2013.

The color of the chocolate was a medium-dark brown Seal Brown (PANTONE 19-1314). Each bar had a "zotter" relief and imprints of "Labooko" and cacao pods. The snap was hard.

Raw Chocolate 80% had a wonderful aroma, with scents of floral, anise spice, and sweetness. To me, it also smelled a bit earthy and the floral scent seemed to include just a hint of jasmine.

The taste began with nut, roast, floral, and earth flavors. Dried fruit, and date in particular, developed, along with the anise from the aroma. The chocolate tasted acidic and tannin.

The melt was more smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 20 to 25 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was tannin, acidic, and slightly bitter.

Lindy likes raw chocolate, and rates Raw Chocolate 80% as her current favorite. I was somewhat less impressed, but still ranked it among raw chocolates as second only to Pacari Raw 70% (and the best raw chocolate without cane sugar). You can see our raw chocolate rankings on the bottom of our Chocolate Rankings page and our unranked list of (cane) sugar-free chocolates on the bottom of our Chocolate Lists page.

It appears that Labooko Raw Chocolate 80% is no longer on Zotter's website. However, you can still purchase it online for $7.49 from NewLeaf Chocolates or from Chocolate Voyages.

Review: The Chocolate Conspiracy Dark Bar

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Chocolate Conspiracy bar Dark Bar region Peru plantation blend cacao trees unknown year 2013 size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 74% added fat cocoa butter sweetener wildflower honey emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.00

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1012 Dark Brown appearance smooth, text imprints, uneven sheen, bubbles aroma earth, spice, fruit, floral, cocoa, sweet snap medium hard taste earth, nut, spice (cinnamon), fruit, coffee, sweet (honey), acidic melt less smooth length short finish acidic, slightly sour

The Chocolate Conspiracy made several changes to their Dark Bar since we reviewed it in 2012. The cacao beans for this chocolate now come from Peru rather than Ecuador. Vanilla beans are no longer among the ingredients. The Chocolate Conspiracy has new wrappers and shapes their bars in new molds.

A.J. Wentworth still crafts his chocolate raw, with the temperature never exceeding 105°F (41°C). The 74% cocoa solids of Dark Bar were cacao beans and cocoa butter, both of which were certified organic. The 26% sweetener was unfiltered wildflower honey.

Inside an outer paper wrapper, the unscored two ounce bar came wrapped in copper-colored foil-sided wax paper. The best before date was September 12, 2014.

The bar had a smooth surface, but the sheen was uneven and there were several bubbles around the text imprints. The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Dark Brown (PANTONE 19-1012) color.

Dark Bar had a medium hard snap. The aroma contained scents of earth, spice, fruit, floral, cocoa, and sweet.

An initial earthy taste developed additional flavors of nut, cinnamon spice, fruit, coffee, and honey. The coffee flavor grew dominant. The taste was acidic.

The melt of this chocolate was less smooth, with a slightly grainy texture. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 15-20 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The final aftertaste was acidic and slightly sour.

Overall, I preferred the prior incarnation of this chocolate, but Dark Bar remains a good choice among raw or sugar-free chocolate.

You can purchase Dark Bar for $9.00 directly from The Chocolate Conspiracy.

Sale: 25% off Gnosis Chocolate in September

Gnosis is running a 25% off promotion that is valid on everything they sell through the end of September. They have many raw chocolate products in addition to the two unflavored dark chocolate bars we've reviewed (Dazzling Dark and Simplicity). Here's their full online store.

Use coupon code SEPT-25 at checkout for the discount.

Ranking: best raw chocolate

Here are the ranking results from three rounds of tasting the raw chocolate bars we have reviewed.

Pacari Raw 70% Stirs the Soul Honey Dark Chocolate Conspiracy Dark Bar (note: grainy bits) Fearless Dark as Midnight Pacari Raw 85% Stirs the Soul ORIGINS Madagascar Stirs the Soul ORIGINS Ecuador Stirs the Soul Dark Stirs the Soul Blissful Dark Gnosis Dazzling Dark Fine & Raw 78% Gnosis Simplicity

Notes
Clicking on a name above will take you to the detailed review of that chocolate bar.
To see updated information and other rankings, go to our Chocolate Rankings page.

Review: Gnosis Simplicity

Richard's Rating: 5.0

chocolate maker Gnosis bar Simplicity region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 70% added fat (none) sweetener agave, coconut palm emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.25

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, image imprints, bubbles aroma smoke, earth, tobacco, spice, hint of floral, hint of sweet snap medium-soft taste sweet, roast (coffee, cocoa, tobacco), earth, bitter, fruit melt less smooth length short finish coffee, bitter

Gnosis makes organic raw chocolate and has the trademark The World's Most Nutritious Chocolate™. They make 24 different chocolate bars, as well as several other chocolate products, and donate 10% of their profits to environmental causes. The Gnosis raw chocolate product line won a Gold Award in 2011 from Best of Raw. They make two unflavored dark chocolate bars: Dazzling Dark and Simplicity.

All Gnosis chocolate is processed below 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48°C). Although the bars are not certified fair trade, founder Vanessa Barg has taken trips to farms in Belize, Grenada, Mexico, and Indonesia to verify fair labor practices. Note that Gnosis is in the process of switching their sweeteners from agave nectar and coconut palm nectar to coconut palm sugar.

Each Gnosis bar has a theme, and the theme of Simplicity was Energy. Simplicity was USDA certified organic and made from 70% cacao beans and 30% agave nectar and/or SweetTree™ [coconut] palm nectar. The thick two ounce bar was scored into six pieces, each with an imprint of Vanessa's stylized dove. The bar came sealed in a clear biodegradable wrapper inside a recycled paper box. The best before date printed on the box was 20 December 2012.

The color of Simplicity was slightly redder than a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface was smooth with several bubbles. The bar had an unusual medium-soft snap.

The chocolate gave off an aroma similar to that of Dazzling Dark. It was strongly smoky, with scents of earth, tobacco, and spice, along with hints of floral and sweetness.

Simplicity had an underlying taste like that of Dazzling Dark, but it unlike that chocolate, this one was dominated by sweetness. The sweeteners used in this bar are stronger than cane sugar, so this chocolate was much sweeter than a typical one with 70% cocoa solids. The other flavors I tasted were coffee, cocoa, and tobacco roast, along with earth, bitterness, and fruit.

The melt was less smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The finish was a coffee flavor with some bitterness.

This chocolate would be good for someone who likes the sweetness of milk chocolate and doesn't mind some bitter flavor, but wants the health properties of organic raw chocolate and increased cocoa solids.

You can purchase Simplicity online for $9.25 directly from Gnosis or for $8.49 from Premium Organic Cafe either directly or on Amazon.com. All three sites appear to ship internationally.

Review: Gnosis Dazzling Dark

Richard's Rating: 5.5

chocolate maker Gnosis bar Dazzling Dark region Indonesia, Ecuador, Peru plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 56g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 90% added fat (none) sweetener agave, coconut palm emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $9.25

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, image imprints, bubbles, adhered bits aroma earth, smoke, tobacco, spice, floral, nut snap medium taste roast (coffee, cocoa, tobacco), earth, hint of fruit, sour, bitter melt less smooth length short finish coffee, bitter

Vanessa Barg began making chocolate as Gnosis in 2008. She defines the name Gnosis as knowledge of intuition, experience, and heart. Based in New York, Gnosis crafts raw organic chocolate with low glycemic sweeteners and adds nuts, fruits, and medicinal herbs. They now make two dozen different chocolate bars, as well as several other chocolate products, and donate 10% of their profits to environmental causes. The Gnosis raw chocolate product line won a Gold Award in 2011 from Best of Raw. We'll be reviewing the two chocolate bars that are unflavored: Dazzling Dark and Simplicity.

All Gnosis chocolate is processed below 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48°C). Although the bars are not certified fair trade, Vanessa has taken trips to farms in Belize, Grenada, Mexico, and Indonesia to verify fair labor practices. Note that Gnosis is in the process of switching their sweeteners from agave nectar and coconut palm nectar to coconut palm sugar.

Each Gnosis bar has a theme. The theme of Dazzling Dark (formerly Dazzling Darkness) was Intensity. The bar was USDA certified organic and made from 90% cacao beans and 10% agave nectar and/or SweetTree™ [coconut] palm nectar. The thick two ounce bar was scored into six pieces, each with an imprint of a stylized dove with a spiral in its wing and a fleur-de-lis tail (that golden dove, also seen on the box label above, is Vanessa's personal symbol). The bar came sealed in a clear biodegradable wrapper inside a recycled paper box. The best before date printed on the box was 18 October 2012.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was smooth with several chocolate bits adhered to it. There were some tiny bubbles. The snap was medium.

The aroma of Dazzling Dark contained earth, smoke, tobacco, and spice. I smelled additional scents of floral and nut.

Surprisingly for a raw chocolate, the primary taste was roast. The roast flavor consisted of coffee, cocoa, and tobacco flavors. Earth, a hint of fruit, sour and bitter flavors were also present.

The melt was less smooth. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 5 to 10 seconds after the chocolate was gone. This was more difficult than usual to determine, as the finish was very similar to the ending taste. The finish had the same coffee flavor with more evident bitterness, and lasted for a long time.

You can purchase Dazzling Dark online for $9.25 directly from Gnosis or for $8.49 from Premium Organic Cafe either directly or on Amazon.com. All three sites appear to ship internationally.

Review: Fearless Dark as Midnight

Lindy's Rating: 7.0

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Fearless bar Dark as Midnight region Brazil plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 75% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $5.99

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, not glossy, uneven sheen, raised images, scoring aroma fruit (berry, tropical, raisin, cherry, plum, prune), dairy, earth, floral snap medium hard taste sweet, fruit (berry, raisin, coconut), sour, spice, earth melt smooth, but gritty bits length short finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

Fearless is the largest maker of raw organic chocolate bars. They make bean to bar chocolate with single origin cacao from Brazil. Fearless purchases the cacao through direct trade relationships with family cacao farmers in the Mata-Atlantic rainforest in Bahia, Brazil. During processing, the chocolate is kept below 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48°C). At present, Fearless makes one unflavored chocolate bar and four flavored bars, and plans to add new bars this year.

Dark as Midnight was made from only two ingredients: organic raw cacao and organic unrefined whole-cane sugar (also called rapadura). The chocolate bar was USDA certified organic.

The bar was scored into 17 pieces due to it being shaped as if a bite had been taken from it (which represents the 1% of their profit given to those suggested by their Fearless Champions). One piece of the bar had the raised image of the Fearless elephant and the others had varying raised images of stars reminiscent of Le Petit Prince. The bar came enclosed in a silver plastic wrapper (covered with different colored Fearless elephants) inside a recycled paper box. The best before date printed on the wrapper was 1 November 2013.

The color was a medium-dark brown that was slightly more red than Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface of the bar was smooth, but not glossy. It had an uneven sheen. The bar had a medium-hard snap.

Dark as Midnight gave off a strong, complex fruity and earthy aroma. The fruit aroma included berry, tropical fruit, raisin, cherry, plum and prune. We also smelled dairy and floral scents.

The taste was sweet, with berry and raisin fruit flavors. Lindy also detected some coconut. The sweet was juxtaposed with sourness, and my attention kept switching between the two. I tasted spice and earth as well.

The chocolate had a generally smooth melt, though on the less smooth side. In addition, there were occasional gritty bits. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 10-20 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The aftertaste was initially sweet, and the finish was somewhat sour and slightly acidic.

Overall, Lindy described Dark as Midnight as "the everything chocolate" due to its many fruit scents and flavors, its contrasting sweet and sour taste, and its smooth yet occasionally gritty melt. It was certainly the boldest raw chocolate we've tasted.

You can purchase Dark as Midnight online for $5.99 directly from Fearless or for $5.95 from Chocosphere.

Review: Fine & Raw 78% (Ecuador)

Lindy's Rating: 5.0

Richard's Rating: 5.5

chocolate maker (unknown) bar 78% region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 54g ~ 1.9oz cocoa solids 78% added fat cocoa butter sweetener agave emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $8.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, not glossy, uneven sheen, scoring, bubbles aroma floral, earth, nut (almond), coconut, spice snap hard taste sour, wood, earth, bitter melt smooth length medium finish bitter, somewhat sour

Fine & Raw hand-crafts all of their raw chocolate in Brooklyn from cacao paste made from single origin fair trade Ecuador cacao. They are working on opening a new factory to begin producing bean to bar chocolate. The company supports the environment, with cacao from farmers using sustainable practices at the start and recycled packaging using non-toxic vegetable inks at the end. Daniel Sklaar uses only organic ingredients and his raw chocolate never exceeds 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48°C) during processing. He makes one unflavored chocolate bar and seven flavored chocolate bars, as well as bonbons.

78% was made from cacao paste, blue agave nectar, and cocoa butter. The ingredients were raw and organic, but the bar was not certified. The bar was scored into ten pieces and came wrapped in gold-sided foil inside brown paper. There was no best before date on the bar we reviewed.

The chocolate had a color that was slightly more red than Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface of the bar was smooth, but not glossy. It had an uneven sheen. There were bubbles along the edges. The bar had a hard snap.

The aroma was floral and earthy, with a nutty almond scent as well as some coconut. I also smelled spice. The combination was nice.

78% had a sour flavor pretty much throughout. We both tasted a woody flavor and a bitterness that grew towards the end. I experienced an earthiness as well.

The chocolate had a smooth melt, leaning towards less smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was bitter and somewhat sour.

You can purchase 78% online for $8.50 in the U.S. directly from Fine & Raw.

Review: Stirs the Soul Honey Dark Chocolate

Lindy's Rating: 7.5

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Stirs the Soul bar Honey Dark region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 28g ~ 1.0oz cocoa solids 84% added fat cocoa butter sweetener honey emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $3.20

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, glossy, scoring aroma earth, floral, fruit (tropical), honey, spice snap medium hard taste sour, floral, fruit (pear), earth, roast, spice, dairy, hint of sweet melt less smooth to smooth length short finish slightly sour, slightly acidic, slightly tannin

Daren Hayes hand-crafts stone-ground bean to bar raw chocolate as Stirs the Soul in Portland. His raw chocolate contains only organic or wild ingredients and never exceeds 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44°C) during processing. He makes two single origin chocolates (Origins Ecuador and Origins Madagascar), and three unflavored bars (Blissful Dark, Dark, and Honey Dark), each with a different low glycemic sweetener.

Honey Dark contained 84% cocoa solids (cacao beans and cocoa butter). The remaining 16% was local unfiltered honey from the Willamette Valley. All of the ingredients were raw and the cacao was organic and fair trade. The bar was not certified. As with his other unflavored blend chocolates, this tiny one ounce bar was scored into six pieces. It came wrapped in an orange-sided foil inside a paper sleeve. The bar we reviewed was labeled as lot # 116, but had a blank best before date. As you can see in the picture below of four Stirs the Soul chocolate bars, it had an unusual curved shape (Honey Dark is second from the left).

The color of the chocolate was slightly more red than Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface of the bar was smooth with a glossy top. The snap was medium hard.

Honey Dark's aroma included the now familiar earth, floral, fruit, and spice scents. There was an earthy honey scent as well. The fruit smelled to Lindy as a dried tropical fruit, and she described the earthy scent as wet.

To Lindy, the chocolate tasted sour at the start, followed by floral with a slight sweetness, roast, and dairy. I experienced the same sourness at the start, but it was combined with a pear fruit and earth flavors for me. After that, I tasted the floral with spice, earth, dairy, and a hint of sweetness.

The melt seemed less smooth to Lindy, though I felt it was smooth enough to qualify as smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The finish was slightly sour and slightly acidic to me, and slightly tannin to Lindy.

Overall, Lindy enjoyed this raw chocolate more than roasted chocolates of similar percentage cocoa solids. This was another good raw chocolate from Stirs the Soul.

You can purchase Honey Dark Chocolate bars in packs of three for $9.60 in the U.S. directly from Stirs the Soul, or internationally if you phone them at 503-774-4903.

Review: Stirs the Soul Blissful Dark Chocolate with dates

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Stirs the Soul bar Blissful Dark region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 28g ~ 1.0oz cocoa solids 83% added fat cocoa butter sweetener dates emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $3.20

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, glossy, scoring aroma earth, floral, spice, fruit snap hard taste earth, spice, fruit (date, raisin), tangy, acidic melt smooth length short finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

Stirs the Soul hand-crafts stone-ground bean to bar raw chocolate. Their raw chocolate contains only organic or wild ingredients and never exceeds 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44°C) during processing. Rather than including cane sugar, chocolate maker Daren Hayes uses alternative low glycemic sweeteners (agave, date, honey, and coconut palm). He makes two single origin chocolates (Origins Ecuador and Origins Madagascar), and three unflavored bars (Blissful Dark, Dark, and Honey Dark), each made with a different sweetener.

Blissful Dark was sweetened with dried dates. The remaining 83% consisted of cocoa solids: cacao beans and cocoa butter. All ingredients were organic and raw, though the chocolate was not certified. The tiny one ounce bar was scored into six pieces. It came wrapped in a teal-sided foil inside a paper sleeve. The bar we reviewed was labeled as lot # 125, but had a blank best before date. As you can see in the picture below of four Stirs the Soul chocolate bars, it had an unusual curved shape (Blissful Dark is on the left).

The chocolate had a color slightly more red than Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface of the bar was smooth with a glossy top. It had a hard snap.

The aroma of Blissful Dark was close to that of Dark, with scents of earth, floral, spice, and fruit. The spice scent seemed slightly stronger.

Blissful Dark tasted similar to Dark, too, with earth, spice, and fruit flavors combined with a nice tanginess. The fruit flavor differed, though, and tasted like date and raisin (rather than the pear experienced with Dark). There some acidity as well.

The melt was smooth. The length was short, with the chocolate flavor lasting about 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The aftertaste was initially somewhat sour, but that dissipated, and then the finish was slightly acidic.

Overall, I may slightly prefer Dark's pear fruit flavor notes to that of Blissful Dark, but they are both good raw chocolates.

You can purchase Blissful Dark Chocolate bars in packs of three for $9.60 in the U.S. directly from Stirs the Soul, or internationally if you phone them at 503-774-4903.

Review: Stirs the Soul Dark Chocolate with agave

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Stirs the Soul bar Dark Chocolate region (unknown) plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year (unknown) size 28g ~ 1.0oz cocoa solids 84% added fat cocoa butter sweetener agave emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $3.20

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, glossy, scoring, uneven sheen aroma earth, floral, fruit, spice snap hard taste fruit (pear), earth, spice, tangy, sweet, sour melt smooth length short finish slightly sour

Stirs the Soul hand-crafts stone-ground bean to bar raw chocolate. Their raw chocolate contains only organic or wild ingredients and never exceeds 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44°C) during processing. Rather than including cane sugar, chocolate maker Daren Hayes uses alternative low glycemic sweeteners (agave, date, honey, and coconut palm). We've previously reviewed his two single origin chocolates (Origins Ecuador and Origins Madagascar).

Dark Chocolate was made with only cacao beans, cocoa butter, and agave. It contained 84% cocoa solids. All ingredients were organic and raw, though the chocolate was not certified. The tiny one ounce bar was scored into six pieces. It came wrapped in a bright yellow-sided foil inside a paper sleeve. The bar we reviewed was labeled as lot # 133, but had a blank best before date. As you can see in the picture below of four Stirs the Soul chocolate bars, it had an unusual curved shape (Dark Chocolate is 2nd from the right).

The color of the chocolate was slightly more red than Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015). The surface of the bar was smooth and had a glossy top, with an oval of uneven sheen. It had a hard snap.

Dark Chocolate had an earthy aroma, with floral and fruit scents, and some spice. The taste consisted of fruit, earth and spice. The fruit included pear and the spice tasted tangy. The flavor was also both sweet and sour.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a short length. The finish was slightly sour.

Overall, another good raw chocolate. I liked the unusual tangy flavor.

You can purchase Dark Chocolate bars in packs of three for $9.60 in the U.S. directly from Stirs the Soul, or internationally if you phone them at 503-774-4903.

Review: Stirs the Soul Origins Madagascar

Richard's Rating: 6.5

chocolate maker Stirs the Soul bar Origins Madagascar region Madagascar plantation (blend) cacao trees Trinitario year 2011 size 47g ~ 1.65oz cocoa solids 88% added fat cocoa butter sweetener agave emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients salt list price $6.25

color medium brown PANTONE 19-1431 Fudgesickle texture smooth, image imprint, bubbles aroma earth, fruit (berry), wood, sweet (caramel) snap medium hard taste fruit (pear, berry, papaya), sour, earth, wood, acidic, sweet melt smooth length short finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

Stirs the Soul has been making bean to bar raw chocolate bars by hand since 2006. Their motto is "conscious raw chocolate", and chocolate maker Daren Hayes ensures the temperature during processing never exceeds 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44°C).

Using only only organic or wild ingredients combined with organic and fair trade cacao, Stirs the Soul also avoids cane sugar by using low glycemic sweeteners, such as agave, date, honey, and coconut palm. Their chocolate is produced in a nut, gluten, soy, and dairy free environment. Stirs the Soul makes two single origin chocolates: Origins Ecuador and Origins Madagascar.

Origins Madagascar contained 88% cocoa solids and was made from Trinitario cacao beans, cocoa butter, agave, and salt. The cacao beans came from Madagascar and the cocoa butter was made from the same cacao beans. All of the ingredients were raw other than the salt. Although the bar was not certified, the ingredients were all organic and the cacao was fair trade. The 1.65 ounce bar was unscored, had raised areas, and was imprinted with a design of cacao pods. It came wrapped in two layers, wax paper under orange-sided foil, inside a paper sleeve. The bar was made on 20 October 2011 and had a best before date of 20 April 2012.

The color of the chocolate was a medium brown Fudgesickle (PANTONE 19-1431). The surface of the bar was smooth, but had several bubbles. The snap was medium hard.

Origins Madagascar had an aroma with earth, fruit, and wood scents, along with a caramel sweetness. I thought the fruit scent included some berry.

The chocolate tasted of fruit, earth, and wood. Sourness, acidity, and some sweetness were also present. The fruit flavor was a mix of pear and berry, with papaya near the end.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted about 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a short length. The finish was somewhat sour and slightly acidic.

I found myself surprised by the slight sweetness of this 88% chocolate. Overall, another good raw chocolate. I liked Origins Madagascar a little more than Origins Ecuador due to the complex fruit flavor.

You can purchase Origins Madagascar bars in packs of two for $12.50 in the U.S. directly from Stirs the Soul, or internationally if you phone them at 503-774-4903.

Review: Stirs the Soul Origins Ecuador

Richard's Rating: 6.0

chocolate maker Stirs the Soul bar Origins Ecuador region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees Criollo year 2011 size 47g ~ 1.65oz cocoa solids 88% added fat cocoa butter sweetener agave emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients salt list price $6.25

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, image imprint, bubbles aroma floral, earth (must), spice, cocoa, fruit (berry) snap medium hard taste earth, floral, citrus, coffee, acidic, hint of sour melt smooth length short finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

Oregon chocolate maker Daren Hayes has been hand-crafting stone-ground bean to bar raw chocolate as Stirs the Soul since 2006. With a motto of "conscious raw chocolate", Stirs the Soul ensures the temperature during processing never exceeds 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44°C).

Daren uses only organic or wild ingredients in his chocolate, and buys his cacao beans at fair trade or higher prices from those using sustainable practices. He avoids cane sugar, uses alternative low glycemic sweeteners (agave, date, honey, and coconut palm), and produces his chocolate in a nut, gluten, soy, and dairy free environment, which he finds helpful for those with food sensitivities. Stirs the Soul makes two single origin chocolates, three unflavored chocolates, many flavored chocolates, as well as chocolate confections and other cacao products. Origins Ecuador is one of the two single origin bars.

Origins Ecuador contained 88% cocoa solids and was made from Criollo cacao beans, cocoa butter, agave, and salt. The cacao beans were purchased from an individual farmer in Ecuador and the cocoa butter was made from those same beans. All of the ingredients were raw other than the salt. Although the bar was not certified, the ingredients were all organic. The 1.65 ounce bar was unscored, had raised areas, and was imprinted with a design of cacao pods. It came wrapped in two layers, wax paper under purple foil, inside a paper sleeve. The bar we reviewed was made on 20 October 2011, and had a best before date of 20 April 2012.

The chocolate had color similar to that of the other raw Ecuador chocolate we've reviewed: a medium-dark brown close to Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015), but with some added red. The surface of the bar was smooth, but had several bubbles. The snap was medium hard.

Origins Ecuador smelled of the familiar floral, musty earth, spice, and cocoa scents, but I also noticed a berry fruit in the aroma.

The taste, though, was somewhat different. The same earth and floral flavors were present, but I also tasted citrus and coffee. It was acidic, but had only a hint of sourness (much less than in Pacari's raw chocolates).

The chocolate had a smooth melt. The chocolate flavor lasted about 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving it a short length. The sourness grew a little in the aftertaste, giving a finish that was somewhat sour and slightly acidic.

This was another raw chocolate that breaks the stereotype of raw chocolate having poor taste. Origins Ecuador was as good as many roasted chocolates. Even compared against other single origin Ecuador chocolate we've reviewed, it ranked only a little below the median.

You can purchase Origins Ecuador bars in packs of two for $12.50 in the U.S. directly from Stirs the Soul, or internationally if you phone them at 503-774-4903.

Review: Chocolate Conspiracy Dark Bar

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Chocolate Conspiracy bar Dark Bar region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 57g ~ 2.0oz cocoa solids 74% added fat cocoa butter sweetener wildflower honey emulsifier (none) flavoring vanilla other ingredients (none) list price $9.50

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring aroma floral, spice, earth, cocoa, vanilla, sweet snap medium hard taste floral, spice, earth, cocoa, sweet (honey), fruit (berry) melt less smooth length medium finish somewhat acidic, somewhat sour

Utah chocolate maker AJ Wentworth began making raw chocolate as The Chocolate Conspiracy in 2009. With a background in nutrition, AJ handcrafts his healthy raw chocolate from organic ingredients, ensuring the temperature never exceeds 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41°C). At present, all of his chocolate is made from raw certified organic single origin cacao beans sourced from Pacari in Ecuador. In addition to its unflavored Dark Bar, The Chocolate Conspiracy makes flavored raw chocolate bars, raw chocolate confections, and bulk raw cacao products (nibs, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and chocolate).

Although it was not printed on the wrapper, Dark Bar contained 74% cocoa solids. It was made from cacao beans, cocoa butter (from the same beans), local wildflower honey, and vanilla bean. All of the ingredients were raw, and all but the honey were certified organic. The two ounce bar was scored into 12 pieces. It came wrapped in gold foil-sided paper inside a paper wrapper. The best before date was 5 May 2012.

The coloring of this chocolate was similar to Pacari's Raw 70% and Raw 85% bars: a medium-dark brown that didn't quite match Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) due to additional redness (a bit more than both Pacari bars). The surface of the bar was smooth, but not glossy. The snap was medium hard.

The aroma of Dark Bar was a combination of floral, spice, earthy, cocoa, vanilla, and sweet scents. The spice was particularly intriguing, and I even resorted to going through our entire spice rack in search of that scent, but was not able to identify it. Even though the sweetness did not smell like honey to me, perhaps the scent came partially from the wildflower honey?

The chocolate tasted nearly the same as it smelled, with floral, spice, earth, and cocoa flavors. There was a honey sweetness and a berry fruit flavor as well.

The melt was less smooth, and most pieces had a grainy bit or two. Dark Bar had a medium length, with the chocolate flavor lasting 25 to 30 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The aftertaste was somewhat acidic and somewhat sour.

Overall, I found the aroma compelling and enjoyed the flavor of this chocolate more than that of the Pacari raw bars. I wanted to rate Dark Bar even higher, but couldn't due to the melt and finish. It will be interesting to see where it ends up in a raw chocolate ranking (which we'll do after we complete individual ratings). If all raw chocolate bars taste as good as those from The Chocolate Conspiracy and Pacari, then the poor reputation of raw chocolate has become false.

You can purchase Dark Bar for $9.50 in the U.S. and Canada directly from The Chocolate Conspiracy.

Review: Pacari Raw 70%

Richard's Rating: 7.5

chocolate maker Pacari bar Raw 70% region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2012 size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 70% added fat cocoa butter sweetener cane sugar emulsifier sunflower lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $5.99

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, scuffing aroma floral, earth (must), vinegar, cocoa, spice, fruit snap medium hard taste fruit (berry, raisin, citrus, hint of apple), floral (jasmine), sour, acidic, cocoa, earth, sweet, nut melt smooth length short finish acidic, somewhat sour

Pacari makes single origin certified organic chocolate locally in Ecuador. They pay above-market prices to support sustainable organic agriculture and social responsibility. Pacari makes both raw and roasted chocolate bars. Their raw chocolates are all produced at temperatures below 48 degrees Celsius (118°F). Raw 70% is one of their three unflavored raw chocolate bars (the others are Raw 85% and Raw 100%, both previously reviewed).

The ingredients of Raw 70% were cacao beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter, and sunflower lecithin. The 70% cocoa solids included additional cocoa butter made from those same beans. The 50 gram bar was scored into 15 pieces. It came enclosed in a silver plastic pouch inside a paper box. The best before date was 27 January 2014.

The color of this chocolate was very close to that of Raw 85%, not matching a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) due to having additional red. The surface of the bar was smooth, but not glossy. There was slight scuffing and a few adhered bits of chocolate. The snap was medium hard.

Raw 70% had an aroma similar to Pacari's other raw bars, with floral, musty earth, vinegar, cocoa, spice, and fruit scents. There was a little more vinegar in this aroma.

The chocolate had the most fruit flavor among the three, with a complex mix of berry, raisin, citrus, a hint of apple, and likely other fruits I didn't identify. It had many additional flavors, such as floral in the form of jasmine, cocoa, earthy, and nutty, while tasting acidic, sour, and sweet.

The melt was smooth. The chocolate flavor lasted 15 to 20 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The finish was acidic and somewhat sour.

Overall, in spite of the excessive acidity in the finish, I liked Raw 70% best among Pacari's raw bars due to its fascinating taste.

You can purchase Raw 70% for $5.99 in the U.S. and Canada directly from Pacari or for $5.75 from Chocosphere. You can buy Raw 70% for £2.99 in the U.K. and other countries from The Raw Chocolate Shop.

Review: Pacari Raw 85%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Pacari bar Raw 85% region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 85% added fat (none) sweetener cane sugar emulsifier sunflower lecithin flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $5.99

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, scuffing, bubbles aroma floral, earth (must), cocoa, vinegar, dairy, spice, hint of fruit snap medium hard taste fruit (berry, cherry, tropical), earth, sour, acidic, tart, tannin melt smooth length short finish tannin, somewhat sour, slightly acidic

Ecuador chocolate maker Pacari makes single origin organic chocolate locally in Ecuador. They pay above-market prices to support sustainable organic agriculture and social responsibility. Pacari makes both raw and roasted chocolate bars. Raw 85% is one of their three unflavored raw chocolate bars.

The ingredients of Raw 85% were cacao beans, cane sugar, and sunflower lecithin. All 85% of the cocoa solids came from cacao beans (i.e., there was no added cocoa butter). The 50 gram bar was scored into 15 pieces. It came enclosed in a silver plastic pouch inside a paper box. The best before date was May 2013.

The color of this chocolate was difficult to describe, as it didn't match any of the PANTONE colors well. It was probably closest to Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015), but had more red. The brown was also on the lighter side in medium-dark. The surface of the bar was smooth, but not glossy. There was some scuffing, small bubbles, and a few adhered bits of chocolate. The snap was medium hard.

Raw 85% had an aroma similar to Raw 100%: strong floral, musty earth, cocoa, vinegar, dairy, and spice. The fruit scent was weaker from this chocolate than from Raw 100%.

The taste of Raw 85% was fruity, with berry, cherry, and tropical fruit flavors. The other flavors I tasted were earth, sour, acidic, tart, and tannin. The sourness, while still strong, was less dominant than it was in Raw 100%.

This chocolate had a smooth melt. The chocolate flavor lasted 10 to 15 seconds after the chocolate was gone, giving a short length. The finish was tannin, somewhat sour, and slightly acidic.

After reviewing Raw 85%, I tasted it against the other 11 single origin Ecuador chocolate bars we've reviewed, and found it came in fourth in our updated stack ranking. If all raw chocolates are this good, the poor taste reputation of raw chocolates is completely undeserved. You can see our most current rankings of single origin chocolates on the Chocolate Rankings page.

You can purchase Raw 85% for $5.99 in the U.S. and Canada directly from Pacari or for $5.75 from Chocosphere.

Review: Pacari Raw 100%

Richard's Rating: 7.0

chocolate maker Pacari bar Raw 100% region Ecuador plantation (blend) cacao trees (unknown) year 2011 size 50g ~ 1.8oz cocoa solids 100% added fat (none) sweetener (none) emulsifier (none) flavoring (none) other ingredients (none) list price $5.99

color medium-dark brown PANTONE 19-1015 Bracken texture smooth, scoring, scuffing aroma floral, earth (must), cocoa, spice, fruit (berry, citrus), vinegar snap medium hard taste fruit, sour, earth, bitter, acidic, dairy melt smooth length medium finish somewhat sour, slightly acidic

Since 2002, Pacari has been making single origin organic chocolate in Ecuador with cacao obtained directly from local farms. This family-owned chocolate maker pays above-market prices to support sustainable agriculture and social responsibility. In February, Pacari received Demeter certification for biodynamic agriculture (though their packaging does not yet display the label). Pacari makes both raw and roasted chocolate bars. The raw chocolate bars vary in their percentage of cocoa solids: 100%, 85%, and 70%.

Raw 100% was made from cacao beans and nothing else, not even added cocoa butter. The 50 gram bar was scored into 15 pieces. It came enclosed in a plastic pouch inside a paper box. The best before date was 27 October 2013.

The chocolate had a medium-dark brown Bracken (PANTONE 19-1015) color. The surface was smooth, but not glossy. There was some scuffing and some adhered bits of chocolate. The snap was medium hard.

The aroma was a powerful combination of floral, musty earth, cocoa, spice, and fruit. The fruit scent seemed to be berry and citrus. I also noticed vinegar.

Raw 100% tasted primarily of fruit and a strong sourness. I had difficulty identifying any specific fruit flavors, tasting something vaguely tropical at times, as well as suggestions of berry and citrus, but none consistently enough to be sure. Other flavors included earth, bitter, acidic, and dairy.

The melt started somewhat slowly, but was smooth. The length was medium, with the chocolate flavor lasting 35 to 40 seconds after the chocolate was gone. The finish was somewhat sour and slightly acidic, with the somewhat sour aftertaste remaining for a long time.

Overall, Raw 100% was an impressive addition to the 100% category. Despite the poor reputation of raw chocolate taste, I found this as good as its roasted peers. I compared it against the other 100% chocolates we've reviewed, and felt it deserved third place behind Valrhona Manjari Pure Pate and Pralus Le 100%. You can see all of our rankings on the Chocolate Rankings page. For those who like 100% chocolate and aren't put off by a sour taste, I'd recommend trying Pacari Raw 100%.

You can purchase Raw 100% for $5.99 in the U.S. and Canada directly from Pacari or, to perhaps combine the purchase with other brands, for $5.75 from Chocosphere. You can buy Raw 100% for £2.99 in the U.K. and other countries from The Raw Chocolate Shop.

Raw Chocolate

One of the steps in making traditional chocolate is roasting cacao beans, which subjects them to high temperatures that reduce antioxidants and other beneficial health properties of the cacao. Raw chocolate typically minimizes processing and maintains the cacao and other ingredients at low temperatures throughout.

At present, there is neither an accepted temperature limit for raw chocolate nor third-party certification for it. The raw food community seems to generally use a threshold of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), though some go as high as 49°C (120°F).

Raw chocolate has a reputation for being healthier than, but not tasting as good as, chocolate made from roasted cacao beans. The taste of raw chocolate, however, has been improving and a few makers seem to be crafting chocolate just as delicious as that made from roasted beans.

Over the next month, we will be reviewing raw chocolate bars from the Chocolate Conspiracy, Fearless, Fine & Raw, Gnosis, Pacari, and Stirs the Soul.