Madecasse, 70%

Shalt not cry wolf
Lest ye face the bite
so hold thine tongue
to allow a might

Madecasse develops an extraordinary flavor -- bold, crisp and fruity. The chocolate is a pliable one, enough snap to survive, but very friendly to a bite. The bar itself is billed as rich and fruity, and it fits -- think a ripe fig embedded throughout the squares. I am very impressed with both Madecasse offerings I have enjoyed -- the resiliant mouth feel leaves you craving more. This is certainly part of the discussion of best of bard.

At-a-glance
Form: Bar
Cacao: 70%
Variety: Dark
Origin: Madagascar

Theo's Bread and Chocolate, 70%

Hast I found ye,
Best thing since sliced bread?
Or within a better vessel
Dost ye now tread?

From Theo's 3400 Phinney collection hails an interesting formula: 70% chocolate, sea salt and breadcrumbs. While some bars featuring sea salt squirrel it away, the taste is clear and present here. The breadcrumbs are also accounted for, and provide a terrific texture and a slight crunch. The chocolate gets lost a bit.

Worth noting that Theo is the only Organic, Fair Trade, Fair for Life certified Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Factory in North America.

The bar itself is memorable and the collection is very intriguing.

At-a-glance
Form: Bar
Variety: Dark
Cacao: 70%

back of bar

Taza Stone Ground Organic, 70% Dark

Shall thou taketh blood from a stone?
Only if the blood be a taste of more.
What comes from this ground
Is worth as much as a flesh pound

The Review
Dark chocolate tends to have a story to it. You'll need to read the package, or do some research to determine why most are different. Taza's bar clearly tells you the story. Their unique stone ground process is part of every bite of this offering, the 70%. This is one of those bars you must seek out and try. The gritty texture disables some of the snap, but makes for a very smooth bite and carries the taste. This makes for a very interesting experience, a lighter 70% bar (tastes more like a 60ish), with a texture that allows you to taste every piece, and an extremely well made a good looking bar. No gimmicks here, just stone ground goodness.

I highly recommend Taza, and they offer a tour in their Somerville, MA location. Find them at Whole Foods, or at their webstore.


At-a-glance
Type: Bar
Variety: Dark
Cacao: 70%
Special thanks to Kate from Taza for supplying me with a freshly made 70% dark - well worth it.