Pure Chocolate - Dark Chocolate with Cinnamon 70% (bar) - Oct. 16, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Pure Chocolate
70% Dark Chocolate with Cinnamon (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate with Cinnamon (bar) was made by Pure Chocolate Ltd. (St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies).

The company offers a line of "farm to bar, single origin and direct trade" chocolate bars, many with local flavor additions. Not only have the founders (a husband and wife team) developed local relationships with farmers, they also "provide our wrapper as a canvas to talented local artists."*

Aroma and flavor notes for this attractively packaged* bar included: smooth dark chocolate; warm spice (authentic cinnamon, cinnamon roll, subtle cinnamon tea); and warm, pleasant wood.

Texture: smooth texture with a relatively slow melt (when eaten in a slightly cool room)

I enjoyed the subtle, balanced and authentic flavors in this dark chocolate bar. The cinnamon added a natural, gently sweet, woody flavor of its own (without any spice grit (thank you). I also appreciated the short list of quality, local origin ingredients--without preservatives, emulsifiers or anything extra.

Maker's tasting notes for this bar: "cinnamon, red berries, caramel". (Beverage pairing suggestions included: "Jamaican rum, Ruby Port, Blue Mountain Coffee".)

Ingredients: "Jamaican cocoa beans, unrefined Jamaican cocoa butter, cane sugar, cinnamon" 

Allergen-related information: "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten."

*Pure Chocolate works with talented local (Jamaican) artists--such as Taj Francis and Kokab Zohoori-Dossa--who have created some truly striking and beautiful portrait-style images for the company's chocolate bars.

Pure Chocolate - 84% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 15, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Pure Chocolate
84% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 80 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate 84% (bar) was handmade by Pure Chocolate Ltd. (St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies).

Aroma and flavor notes for this Jamaican bar (adorned with a striking portrait*) included: surprisingly light dark chocolate aroma and smooth chocolate-y flavor for an ultra-dark (80%+ cacao) chocolate bar.  

As I bit into this 84% dark chocolate I anticipated possible spikes of fruit acidity, astringency or unexpected bitterness. There were none. And the shifts in the flavor while tasting were so subtle that it was difficult to detect what these shifts were, outside of "smooth dark chocolate."

Texture: smooth texture, melt and mouthfeel

I liked the balanced and subtle complexity in this two-ingredient, single origin, 84% cacao Jamaican chocolate. It's a bar I plan to share with friends who appreciate dark chocolate. It's also a great example of how an 80%+er can taste like a 70%er, and vice versa. (Percentage doesn't always correlate with "darkness".)

I also appreciated the maker's use of Jamaican artists to adorn their packaging.*

Maker's tasting notes: "Deep bitters, roasted nuts, dark caramel and berries"; suggested beverage pairings: "Port, px sherry, shiraz"

Ingredients: Jamaican cacao beans, cane sugar

Allergen-related information: "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten."

*The illustration ("Black Moons") on the packaging was created by Jamaican artist Taj Francis.

Pure Chocolate - 70% Dark Chocolate with Jerk Seasoning (bar) & White Chocolate Banana, Plantain, Sweet Potato (bar) - Oct. 14, 2026

Chocolate(s) of The Day

Pure Chocolate
70% Dark Chocolate with Jerk Seasoning (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Pure Chocolate
White Chocolate with Banana, Plantain Chips & Sweet Potato Chips (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week, featuring two bars from Pure Chocolate Ltd. (St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies)--both made with Jamaican cacao and local flavor inclusions.

70% Dark Chocolate with Jerk Seasoning

Aroma and flavor notes for this 70% Dark Chocolate with Jerk Seasoning (bar) included: smooth-flavored dark chocolate, spices, mild pepper(s), herbs (fresh/authentic thyme), brown/coconut sugar, faint salt, and barely there (green) onion sauteed in butter/oil.

There was a little heat--enough to add a pinch of flavor without being noticeably spicy. (I'm guessing fresh jerk spices and herbs might have been infused into the cocoa butter, then blended with the cocoa mass.)

Texture: relatively smooth dark chocolate with as slight astringency in the finish. There was no spice "grit" (thank you!).

I really liked the well-balanced and subtle and authentic flavors in this bar. It wasn't too spicy, salty or sweet; it was transporting. And it had me leaning in to taste the nuanced and layered jerk seasoning components. This was a very gentle "savory" and sweet bar that even those unsure about such things might enjoy tasting.

I appreciated the chef's gentle touch in creating this authentic seasoning blend and the way it was incorporated into the dark chocolate.

Ingredients: "Jamaican cocoa beans, unrefined Jamaican cocoa butter, cane sugar, scallions, salt, pepper (capsicum), onion, pimento, vinegar, black pepper, garlic, thyme, spices." 

Allergen-related information: "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten." 

White Chocolate with Banana, Plantain, Sweet Potato 

This light caramel-hued White Chocolate (bar) with banana and plantain and sweet potato chips was also handmade by Pure Chocolate.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: fresh banana pudding, faint cocoa and vanilla; sweet potato chips and plantain chips; and light brown/coconut sugar.

Texture: relatively smooth white chocolate with a banana pudding mouthfeel; a smooth, rich cocoa butter melt--accented with softly crunchy bits of plantain and sweet potato chips, and cacao nibs.

I liked the well-balanced and authentic banana, plantain and sweet potato chip flavors and textures. And I appreciated that this white chocolate was naturally sweet without being overly so, and that the bar was crafted using a relatively short list of quality and local ingredients from Jamaica.

Ingredients: Unrefined Jamaican cocoa butter, cane sugar, dehydrated banana, plantain chips (plantain, sunflower oil and/or palm oil and/or coconut oil, salt), sweet potato chips (sweet potato chips (sweet potato, vegetable oil, salt), Slow roasted cocoa nibs, vanilla bean, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten." 

Pure Chocolate - 70% Dark Chocolate with Lemongrass (bar) - Oct. 13, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Pure Chocolate
70% Dark Chocolate with Lemongrass (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's 70% Dark Chocolate with Lemongrass (bar) was made by Pure Chocolate Ltd. (St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies).

The company, founded in 2017 by two pastry chefs, offers a variety of attractively packaged* bars created with Jamaican cacao, including several chocolates with locally grown flavor additions--such as today's Lemongrass** bar. 

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: smooth dark chocolate; light and bright citrus (lemon, lemongrass); sweet, refreshing herb; and very faint milk chocolate molasses cookie. (There were no milk ingredient(s) in this bar.)

Texture: smooth texture with a satisfying, even melt--with a very faint (not unpleasant) astringency in the finish.

I liked the smooth, dark chocolate flavor and blend with the lemongrass. Nothing was too overpowering in this well-balanced chocolate. I kept "leaning in" to taste the chocolate and gentle lemongrass flavors.

I also appreciated the short list of quality and single origin ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: "citrus, berries, herbal". Maker's beverage pairing suggestions: Champagne, Moscato d'Asti, rose.

Ingredients: "Jamaican cocoa beans, unrefined Jamaican cocoa butter, cane sugar, lemongrass"

Allergen-related information: "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten."

*The striking illustration on today's packaging was from Taj Francis.

**Lemongrass (originally from South Asia, and known as "fever grass" in Jamaica) likely first arrived on the Island via colonial trans-Atlantic trading ships/routes in approximately 1799. Today it's common to see it growing wild and cultivated in gardens. It's used in teas and as a cooking/culinary and medicinal herb.

Pure Chocolate - Milk Chocolate with Ginger & Speculaas (bar) - Oct. 12, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Pure Chocolate
Milk Chocolate with Ginger & Speculaas (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's Pure Chocolate Milk Chocolate with Ginger & Speculaas (bar) was made by Pure Chocolate Ltd. (St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies).

The company offers several "farm to bar, single origin, direct trade" chocolate bars. Today's chocolate also included candied ginger, vanilla bean and a European cookie spice (speculaas) blend.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: smooth chocolate (warm cocoa), warm spices (ginger) and spice cookie (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, pepper)--infused with gentle sweet vanilla.

Texture: relatively smooth dark milk chocolate base with tiny, chewy bits of authentic candied ginger and spices (and perhaps cocoa nibs and vanilla bean pieces). The ginger had a soft, gentle chew, as did the other elements. (No tough bits or spice grit. Thank you!)

I enjoyed the balanced, thoughtful, authentic flavors (perfect for fall--and for any season); and I liked that this chocolate wasn't overly sweet. The cookie, vanilla and candied ginger and spices added just the right amount of sweetness and created a warm, welcoming and gently complex tasting experience,

I appreciated the short list of quality ingredients and single origin (Jamaican) cacao.

Ingredients: Premium quality Jamaican cocoa beans, cane sugar, Milk powder, Jamaican cocoa butter, candied ginger, Speculaas spice blend, vanilla bean.

Allergen-related information: "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten."

Pure Chocolate - 70% Smoked Dark Chocolate with Caramelized Bacon (bar) - Oct. 11, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Pure Chocolate
70% Smoked Dark Chocolate with Caramelized Bacon (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's 70% Smoked Dark Chocolate with Caramelized Bacon (bar) was made by Pure Chocolate Ltd. (St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies). 

Disclosure: I've always been a fan of chocolate + umami (flavor additions). Other professional chocolate tasters often give me disapproving looks. But to those who only like sweet chocolates I say: you are missing out. I was looking forward to trying this Caribbean-inspired umami chocolate feast. And I was not disappointed. 

Aroma and flavor notes for this Special Roast Edition chocolate bar included: attractive smoky aroma (wood/hickory), dark chocolate, smoked and salted meat (bacon).

Texture: smooth dark chocolate with softly crunchy bits of bacon

I liked the authentic smoked, barbeque and bacon flavors and the balance of savory-sweet notes in this bar. This chocolate wasn't overly sweet (thank you); and the very light caramelization (and texture) of the bacon pieces blended well with the dark chocolate. Nicely balanced, especially if you like umami and/or smoke notes.

I also appreciated the short list of just four ingredients.

Ingredients: "smoked Jamaican cocoa beans, cane sugar, unrefined cocoa butter, caramelized bacon." 

Allergen-related information: (CONTAINS PORK) "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten." 

Pure Chocolate - 65% Dark Chocolate with Jamaican Worthy Park Rum Special Edition (bar) - Oct. 10, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Pure Chocolate
65% Dark Chocolate with Jamaican Worthy Park Select Rum Special Edition (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 90 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate & Jamaica Theme Week.

Today's 65% Dark Chocolate with Jamaican Worthy Park Rum Special Edition (bar) was made by Pure Chocolate Ltd. (St. Ann, Jamaica, West Indies).

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: smooth dark chocolate; faint honey, maple and sweet rum;  light wood; brown sugar and faint dried fruits (diffuse golden tropical fruits, very faint golden raisin).

Texture: smooth texture and melt, with a slight fruit astringency in the finish.

I enjoyed the warm, authentic balanced blend of flavors and the overall nuanced, complex sweetness. I also appreciated the short list of quality and single origin ingredients.

Ingredients: "Premium quality Jamaican cocoa beans, Unrefined Jamaican cocoa butter, Worthy Park cane sugar, Worthy Park select rum." 

Allergen-related information: "made in a facility that handles peanuts, tree nuts, dairy & gluten."