As I have mentioned in other posts, Theobroma cacao hails from the humid tropics, originally found in only the New World. While consumption of these hefty pods predates both Mayan an Aztec civilizations by a good 1000 or more years, their entrance into the global arena has its roots in Western imperialism. The import of cacao into Spain during the 16th century spurred on the expansion of cocao products from New World royal and ritual comestibles to a luxurious drink for the aristocracy of Europe. Chocolate production is entangled in smallpox epidemics among native South American people, the African slave trade and the spread of cash-crop plantations of the 17th and 18th centuries, and domestication and genetic manipulation of the Theobroma trees. With the advent of cocoa powder in the early 19th century, chocolate penetrated the emerging industrial processing system that would lead us down the road to our current food trends.
The rise in popularity of cocoa, mainly in the form of drinking chocolate but later confections, prompted the use of poorer quality and mixed-source cacao, as well as spreading the crop from its origin to Africa and the Southeast Asian Islands. As with most of our commodity crops today, the history and implications of cultivation are fascinatingly complex (for detailed account, consult The New Taste Of Chocolate by Maricel E. Presilla). With the plethora of cheap, undiscriminating chocolate bars stocking the grocery shelves, many of us have never known or even actively dislike more pure forms of chocolate, especially small batch manufacturers, with higher cacao content and more traditional growing methods (like reverting to canopy-shaded growing operations). Well, I think my palate is becoming more discerning and appreciative of the subtleties of different chocolates.
For the past six months, give or take a couple, I have been accumulating dark chocolate of varying concentrations of cacao and a wide spectrum of brands. All but two are completely dairy-free and most are certified fair-trade or organic (read more about impacts in my earlier post). As Mr. Presilla warns in his tome, you still must be wary when purchasing these labels, as they can be misleading about the actual level of social and environmental responsibility embedded in the chocolate. Seeking out chocolate from farmer cooperatives and legitimate bean-to-bar operations, just as getting to know your local farmer, are probably your best bets for ensuring a clear(er) conscience and a smiling face!
For a bit of chocolate tasting tips check out Chocolate and Zucchini’s suggestions. If you want a bit of help identifying flavor notes as you savor a bar, consult allchocolate.com.
The Line-Up:
1. Whole Foods Market Brand 52% Swiss Dark Chocolate
Certified Fair-Trade (TransFair USA) and Organic (Quality Assurance International).
No soy lecithin!*
Flavor Notes: like a good hot chocolate; milky and smooth
2. Newman’s Own Organics 54% Dark Chocolate
Organic (Oregon Tilth) and Rainforest Alliance Certified**
Flavor Notes: bitter with burnt aftertaste
3. World Market 64% Sea Salt Dark Chocolate
No certifications or additional information
Flavor Notes: no bitterness, but powerful salt interjections
4. Chocolate Santander 65% Dark Chocolate
Collaborative between Nacional de Chocolates and small farmers
Source: Colombia
Flavor Notes: Caramel and toasted marshmallow
5. Green and Black ‘s 70% Dark Chocolate
Certified Organic (CCOF) and Fair-Trade (as of February 2010)
Contains organic whole milk powder
Flavor Notes: port, smooth, rich
6. Theo 70% Dark Chocolate
Certified Organic (WA State Dept. of Agriculture) and Fair-Trade (TransFair USA)
Seattle’s Bean-to-Bar operation. No soy lecithin!
Flavor Notes: fruity, nibby, with citrus undertones
7. Kallari 70%
Organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified
Grower cooperative of 850 indigenous Kichwa farmers
Source: Ecuadorean Amazon
No soy lecithin!
Flavor Notes: herby
8. Endangered Species 72% Supreme Dark Chocolate (Chimp)
10% of profits donated to support species, habitat and humanity
100% “ethically traded” and shade-grown
Source: Nigeria
Flavor Notes: cinnamon, nutty
9. Ghirardelli 72% Twilight Delight
No certifications or additional information
Flavor Notes: waxy, dark fruits/cherry
10. Dagoba 73% Conacado Dark Chocolate
Certified Fair Trade and Organic (International Certification Services, Inc.)
Contains milk
Source: Dominican Republic
Flavor Notes: mushroom, earthy
11. Theo 74% Dark Chocolate
Source: Madagascar
Flavor Notes: citrus, fruity
12. Kallari 75%
Source: Ecuadorian Amazon
Flavor Notes: juniper, gin
13. Equal Exchange 80% Extra Dark Chocolate
Certified Fair-Trade (TransFair USA) and Organic (Oregon Tilth)
Worker-owned cooperative, features different co-op members on packaging
No soy lecithin!
Source: Panama
Flavor Notes: vanilla, nice melt
14. Theo 84% Dark Chocolate
Source: Ghana
Flavor Notes: dry, balanced
15. Kallari 85%
Source: Ecuadorian Amazon
Flavor Notes: dry, bitter
16. Endangered Species 88% Extreme Dark Chocolate (Black Panther)
Source: Nigeria
Flavor Notes: bitter, nutty, grainy
17. World Market 99%
Flavor Notes: surprisingly not bitter, toasty, smooth
Results:
So which chocolates reigned supreme?
1. Chocolate Santander took the cake. I found this bar at my favorite chocolate shop in Seattle, Chocolopolis on Queen Anne Ave. It was my priciest bar, but also the best!
2. Theo 70% came in second, but did not sit well with everyone. Theo bars have a distinct tone that don’t appeal to milder chocolate lovers.
3. Kallari 70% followed closely, though experienced more uniform approval. One of my friends served as a representative for the company, and passed on this article!
4. Endangered species 72%
5. Theo 74% Madagascar (same caveats – was hit or miss with people)
6. World Market 99% This was a shocking hit! “I’m surprised it’s not more bitter” – L
7. World Market 64% The salt really stole the show on this one!
8. Equal Exchange 80%
9. Whole Foods 52% The mid-point of chocolate enjoyment…
10. Kallari 75% G really didn’t like this one – “dead babies” ok, a bit of an exaggeration!
11. Ghirardelli 72%
12. Theo 84% Ghana “boring” – unanimously
13. Green and Black’s 70% This actually was a hit with several in our group, but my family generally didn’t care for it. Generally considered to be a good brand, and my dad loves the Espresso!
14. Newman’s Own Organic 54% severely disappointed Butch Cassidy…
15. Kallari 85%
16. Dagoba 73% was disliked by all.
17. Endangered Species Black Panther 88% I thought we liked this one more…so maybe give it a shot. It also elicited some Anchorman quoting…Sex Panther, anyone?
By the end of the evening, we had all overdosed on theobromine, caffeine, and chocolatey goodness. We finished up with a round of blind tasting, which resulted in quite different takes on each bar. An indication that 17 different varieties is about three times the recommended quantity! Well, I hope you enjoyed our adventure and try some of the fantastic chocolates we tasted. If you need suggestions of bars with add-ins, let me know. At the same time, if you have read this far and have your own suggestions, feel free to comment below! Or finally, if you want a second opinion, the NY Times did their own tasting a couple of years back.
“I don’t even know where I am anymore” – T, at the end of the evening
* Soy lecithin is used as an emulsifier to bind the ingredients. It is used to replace cocoa butter, which manufacturers often remove to sell for cosmetic uses.
** Rainforest Alliance Certification targets the sustainability of farming practices, including protecting soil quality, clean waterways, and wildlife habitat. It also parallels fair trade ventures by striving for high standards in the welfare of workers, their families, and communities.
*** Single source chocolates have very distinct flavors resulting from growing conditions and the soil properties. This interactive tool will provide some insight into their specific flavors.
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