Green & Black's 85% Dark Chocolate

Manufacturer: Green & Black's Chocolate Limited
Cocoa Content: 85%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

Up for tasting today is the 85% dark chocolate bar from Green & Black's. The chocolate bar itself is a ruddy mahogany color. The chocolate hits the palate with a deep chocolate note. Roasted espresso notes are prominant, but the show is soon stolen by a tangy, lively acidity. Fruity notes of citrus and tart cherries, along with a big helping of plums, shine through. In the background sit hints of earth, toffee, and smoke along with some nutty undertones of peanuts and cashews.

Chewing the Green & Black's 85% dark chocolate brings forward notes of earth, tobacco and marshmallow along with more plums. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy with a slight hint of grit. The finish has lingering fruity and roast coffee notes along with a hint of peanuts.

Green & Black's has a real winner on their hands here with their 85% Dark chocolate bar. This bar has big flavor. The roast is bold and cuts through the big plummy fruit notes to create a full, balanced flavor. To me, this is what I like to see in a bar in the 85%+ range - big flavors can really pop in a high-cacao chocolate. I'd love to see some of the great single-estate chocolate makers step out and start making some chocolates in the 85%-90% range, because bars like the Green & Black's really show the potential that extra dark chocolates offer.

Green & Black's Dark 70% Chocolate

Produced by: Green & Black's Chocolate Limited
Cocoa content: 70%
Manufacturer website
Rating: B

I recently made a trip to Whole Foods and came home with a selection of chocolate bars that I am excited to review here. First up is Green and Black's Dark 70%. While their chocolates are relatively easy to find, for one reason or another I have yet to try anything from Green & Blacks until now.

The Dark 70% is a smooth melting chocolate on the tongue with a soft, creamy texture. The dominant flavor of this chocolate is a tart fruitiness, reminding me very strongly of fried plantains. There are also notes of cherry and lemonade. In addition, I pick up a faint background note of roast coffee bitterness that lingers as some of the acidity fades.

The biggest shortcoming for this chocolate bar is that for all the unique flavors on the palate, it seemed like the actual chocolate flavor was hidden. Regardless, the Green and Black's Dark 70% was an interesting chocolate that I enjoyed quite a bit.