houstonmacbro Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Lately I have been really getting into dark chocolates (especially the Dove and Hershey's Cacao Reserves). I am also learning that they are supposed to be good for you (in moderation ... they are after all chocolate and have calories and fat content).Anyone recommend any other brands of 60% or more cacao that I have not mentioned. Oh yeah ... within budgetary limits too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehou Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Oooh, you've gotta go to Spec's on Smith Street. They have almost an entire aisle of chocolate. Try Guitard and Santander. Here's something I found on this site: http://www.chocolate-week.co.uk/good-chocolate.php* The quality and provenance of the cocoa beans and the manufacturing process is vital just as it is for fine wines.* The country of origin & quality of the cocoa bean is far more important than the country in which chocolate is made. If your chocolate is primarily sold on the basis of the country it was made in, you are probably buying overpriced, low grade chocolate.* Ideally chocolate should contain a minimum cocoa content of 60%+ for dark and 30%+ for milk. However, just because a chocolate contains 70% cocoa does not mean it is good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I bought some Lindt truffles the other day that were really good. They come in a black bag with gold writing on 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 Oooh, you've gotta go to Spec's on Smith Street. They have almost an entire aisle of chocolate. Try Guitard and Santander. Here's something I found on this site: http://www.chocolate-week.co.uk/good-chocolate.php* The quality and provenance of the cocoa beans and the manufacturing process is vital just as it is for fine wines.* The country of origin & quality of the cocoa bean is far more important than the country in which chocolate is made. If your chocolate is primarily sold on the basis of the country it was made in, you are probably buying overpriced, low grade chocolate.* Ideally chocolate should contain a minimum cocoa content of 60%+ for dark and 30%+ for milk. However, just because a chocolate contains 70% cocoa does not mean it is good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 I've loved dark chocolate since I was a kid, so I'm ecstatic about the recent attention. It used to be hard to find, and suddenly Kroger has 7 different brands.My favorites (right now) are Ritter Sport Fine Extra Dark and the Hershey Cacao Reserve with nibs. (Check out the other Ritter Sport flavors, too.)If anyone knows where I can find Lindt Excellence Chili in town, let me know. Mmmmm, chili chocolate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share Posted November 29, 2007 It does seem like all of a sudden dark chocolate is enjoying the spotlight. Same with Walgreens and CVS (not exactly fine chocolate buying locales) ... they seem to have LOTS of brands of dark chocolate with varying degrees of cacao. Krogers even has a section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 The darkest I have seen is Dagoba Organic Chocolate. It is their "Eclipse" bar, at 87% cacao. It's pretty doggone pure. I found it at Rice Epicurean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 11, 2007 Author Share Posted December 11, 2007 The darkest I have seen is Dagoba Organic Chocolate. It is their "Eclipse" bar, at 87% cacao. It's pretty doggone pure. I found it at Rice Epicurean.Some I am finding too bitter to be palatable. But I wanna try the ones with the real cacoa nibs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 You and me both, houstonmacbro. My father-in-law, though, is a whole different ball game. I bought that to put in his Xmas stocking because he basically has no taste buds left and LOVES that super bitter chocolate. *gags* I don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Want some with nibs, eh? Try the brown box choclates at Central Market. Quite good, quite expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 11, 2007 Author Share Posted December 11, 2007 Want some with nibs, eh? Try the brown box choclates at Central Market. Quite good, quite expensive.I'm almost ashamed to say this here, but I have never been to Central Market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Want some with nibs, eh? Try the brown box choclates at Central Market. Quite good, quite expensive.Or you can get Hershey's Cacao Reserve with Nibs at Kroger for cheap. It's delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Or you can get Hershey's Cacao Reserve with Nibs at Kroger for cheap. It's delicious.I got one of those fancy Hershey's bars the other day...I didn't think it was that great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 I got one of those fancy Hershey's bars the other day...I didn't think it was that great.Was it a Cacao Reserve with Nibs? Not all "fancy" Hershey bars are created equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 since on sugar fix subject: Personal favs during holidays below, and thats very unusual for a person like me that doesn't even have a sweet tooth, at all. and do you remeber these as a kid around holidays? I always thought the shapes and curves were out of sight! All flavors too and yep, only SPEC'S has that I know of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Timmy Chan's Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 The darkest I have seen is Dagoba Organic Chocolate. It is their "Eclipse" bar, at 87% cacao. It's pretty doggone pure. I found it at Rice Epicurean.I've been buying chunks of dark chocolate from Central Market for the last year or so, and breaking off a little bit every day to eat. I went from the 65% up to the 78%...but last time I went all-out and bought the 98%.Little did I know that at point it's beyond bitter.However, eating it with a little bit of raw sugar fixes that right up. It's actually very good that way.Of course, I'm one of those that doesn't eat milk chocolate. I've always preferred dark chocolate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 12, 2007 Author Share Posted December 12, 2007 Yeah, I've seen the Hershey with nibs. I really like the smoothness of the Dove dark chocolate (I think it's the 71% cacao). It's not bitter and tastes really good without a lot of sugar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I've been buying chunks of dark chocolate from Central Market for the last year or so, and breaking off a little bit every day to eat. I went from the 65% up to the 78%...but last time I went all-out and bought the 98%.Little did I know that at point it's beyond bitter. However, eating it with a little bit of raw sugar fixes that right up. It's actually very good that way. Of course, I'm one of those that doesn't eat milk chocolate. I've always preferred dark chocolate. Okay, that's just insane 98%!!! My lips are all puckery at the thought Hubby bought me some Godiva yesterday, and inside the assortment was a 70% chocolate square. I have to say, it was just marvelous. Smooth as silk and very lightly sweet, no bitterness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 12, 2007 Author Share Posted December 12, 2007 Yeah, I agree ... they are best when the bitterness is not the overpowering flavor, but a strong flavor is cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Ghirardelli's are de-lovely http://www.ghirardelli.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Was it a Cacao Reserve with Nibs? Not all "fancy" Hershey bars are created equal.I believe it was one of the "Reserve" type bars...it certainly wasn't the standard "Hershey's Special Dark" that's been around for ages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I believe it was one of the "Reserve" type bars...it certainly wasn't the standard "Hershey's Special Dark" that's been around for ages. and try to avoid buying any chocolate bars at most dollar stores. Usually expired way beyond date. Real blah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 I just bought some of the Cacao Reserve by Hershey - Dark Chocolate w/Nibs (65% cacao).Wow! Talk about great. I always thought the nibs would taste bitter, but they are like really good, tiny, toasted/puffed rice puffs.I think I found my new chocolate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 I wonder if anyone has bought a chocolate Santa or reindeer, snowman? Surely they exist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 I wonder if anyone has bought a chocolate Santa or reindeer, snowman? Surely they exist? I tend to really dislike regular milk chocolates. They always taste too sweet and have a funky spoiled milk aftertaste. Yech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
memebag Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 I tend to really dislike regular milk chocolates. They always taste too sweet and have a funky spoiled milk aftertaste.Hershey's milk chocolate has a slight spoiled milk taste (probably unintentional at first, but now part of their signature flavor), but good milk chocolate shouldn't. Ritter Sport's "Alpenmilch" is exquisite.Back to dark chocolate: Does anyone else out there love dark chocolate Raisinettes? I hope they survive all this anti-oxidant hoopla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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