Chocolate Tasting - Coming Full Circle

The chocolate has finally been fully consumed.  Well.... at least to the extent that I intend to consume it! There are a few bars with quite a bit left. Some will eventually make it to the trash bin, but it is up for grabs if my kids want it. If you want the full back story, you can read more about my chocolate tasting here, here, and here.  I finished out my chocolate adventure through Europe with these three:

#7.  Wales:

Although claiming to be  about 54% cacao, the Wales bar was bitter and chalky.  No sweetness or creaminess at all.  In fact, it tasted a bit like baking chocolate.  Definitely not my cup of tea, Wales gets a 5.

# 8.  Rome:

The label on this one says "extra bitter chocolate."  But it is 50% cacao and actually among the sweeter ones of the dark chocolates Sarah brought home.  Okay melt/creaminess. Good taste.  I gave this one an 8/10.  I didn't share either!

#9. Paris:

As the final contender for my affections, I tried this one from Paris.  The most expensive bar Sarah bought, possibly because she picked it up at the EuroStar Terminal when exiting Paris (she nearly forgot) or possibly because it really deserved to be the most expensive.  This one claims 61% cacao.  The taste was perfect - not too bitter, not too sweet. And it was the only bar from Europe that actually tried to melt in my mouth! It was creamy, not as creamy as Dove, but a close second.  I gave this bar a 9/10 and relished every last square.  Which means for my personal taste, of all the European chocolates I tried, the ridiculously expensive chocolate from Paris wins.

But in my heart, none of those fancy expensive European chocolates beats this:

Oh yeah, I'm a Dove Promises girl all the way.

Chocolate Tasting - Round Six

And I bet you thought the whole chocolate tasting thing had vanished off the face of the earth!  Truth is I haven't been eating much chocolate lately. It started with not having any with me during the trip to Cape May. And I just didn't get back in the "habit" once I returned and life got crazy.  But I have eaten one bar...

Oh Yeah, the Green & Blacks was up for consideration.  Similar to the chocolate from Barcelona, this one was a straight up solid dark chocolate bar. 70% cacao.  No fillers or flavors, just chocolate.

Not bitter, not sweet at all. Just dark chocolate. The melt factor was okay. Not outstanding, but it'll do - better than Barcelona. I'll give it an 8/10.  I think I prefer my chocolate a little sweeter. Dove still wins. :)

Chocolate Tasting - Rounds 3, 4, and 5

I have spent the last several days trying out new chocolates.  But before I tell you what I thought of each, I feel I need a disclaimer.  I am by no means a chocolate connoisseur.  In fact, I have a rather odd palate.  Some flavors that seem pleasing to a lot of folks just don't sit well in my mouth.  These include butterscotch, coconut, yogurt (any flavor), coffee, tea, and all manner of alcoholic beverages.  I don't like any of it.  I've tried to like tea - I've tried a lot of flavors. Just can't.  I can't even get past the smell of coffee!

When it comes to chocolate, this is my guilty pleasure:

No fancy expensive high cacao dark chocolate - but a grocery store staple.  Manufactured by the Mars Company in New Jersey (next state over to the east).  I believe this brand is available in the U.K. under the name "Galaxy." (based on info read on the internet.)  

Dove Dark Chocolate Promises probably barely qualify as "dark" - they are apparently in the range of 50-60% cacao content. But they are smooth, creamy, and just the right balance between sweet and chocolate for my palate. This is the standard against which I measure my chocolate. And when I don't have chocolate gifties to sample, I usually indulge in one of these a day! (just 42 calories!)

Okay, back to European chocolates.  First up, Prague:

A milk chocolate filled with nuts and a cherry-flavored goo.  This was so cloyingly sweet it made my teeth hurt.  It was truly not edible. Sarah actually tossed most of her little square in the trash.  Even Rachel who usually loves sweet stuff didn't like it.  Score:  0/10.  I hate to waste food, especially chocolate, but this puppy is headed for the trash can!

Next up, Rome:

A dark chocolate with a truffle-like filling. My first taste was okay. But once it settled, it tasted like coffee to me. 

Now I can't read Italian, but I do know how to use Google.  So I learned a couple of key phrases from the package.  "con morbido ripieno" means "with a soft filling". Check, I knew that.  "di crema alla nocciola" (from the back of the label) means "hazelnut cream."  Okay, that explains it.  I've never had hazelnuts before, but apparently I don't have any great love for hazelnut cream.  I gave this one a 3/10.  To be fair, Sarah and her friend Allison both liked it and said it didn't taste like coffee at all.  So I may not be the best choice for food critic!

Last for today, Barcelona:

This one is a straight up solid dark chocolate bar. 70% cacao.  No fillers or flavors, just chocolate.

I expected with the super high cacao content that it would be bitter. It isn't. But it's not sweet either. It's just dark chocolate. The melt factor isn't so good - in fact it doesn't really melt at all, you have to chew it, which isn't my preference in savoring chocolate. It is a little bit gritty.  But overall, it is good.  This one gets a 7/10.  I will finish it... although I'm also willing to share.

So far I still love my Dove Promises best! Guess that makes me a cheap date!

And The Winner Is...

... everyone who said I would choose the Guinness Bar next!  I'm going in reverse order of what I think I'll actually like best, my thought being to save the best for last!

The Guinness Chocolate smelled normal (no beer scent - yay!).  It was, however, a bit gritty and did not melt well in the mouth.  Overall the flavor was just okay.  Well, until you got to the aftertaste! I did not taste any beer flavor while the chocolate was still on my tongue, but once swallowed, the aftertaste was quite strange.

I rate this one a 4 out of 10.  Please note that on my rating scale, if it isn't at least a 6 or 7, it isn't worth the calories involved!

On another note, I really think Sarah bought the Grouse and Guinness bars knowing full well that I would pass the remainder of the bar back to her!  Which is fine by me.

I'm thinking based on all the positive recommendations that the Green & Black's bar may have to be saved for the very last! :)