Manufacturer: Equal Exchange
Cocoa Content: 80%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

After a bit of a hiatus, we should be back on track with a bit more regularity in our postings here. We're kicking things off with a fantastic chocolate from Equal Exchange. This is an 80% dark chocolate bar from Panama. The bar is a deep ebony in color with ruby highlights.

The Equal Exchange bar leads with a rich, deep cocoa note, followed by a pleasant bitter kick. The acidity slowly builds to a moderate level with currant and blackberry notes. There is a touch of sea salt and roasted peanuts along with floral highlights and a black pepper spice. The finish has espresso with spice and light roasted undertones. Chewing the chocolate opens up flavors of vanilla, bell pepper, tobacco and a flavor that reminds me of strawberry-flavored licorice. The texture is thick and mostly smooth with some barely perceptable coarseness.

Equal exchange has a great thing going here with this 80% chocolate bar. There is a rich chocolate flavor with plenty of complexity and a nice spice note. This is by far one of the most "snackable" dark chocolates up in the 80% cacao range I've ever had. Highly recommended.