Dick Taylor - 65% Dark Tanzania Kilombero (bar) - June 19, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Dick Taylor Chocolate
65% Dark Tanzania Kilombero (bar)
Good ++  
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Citrus Week, featuring a series of chocolates with citrus flavor inclusions.

Today's 65% Dark Tanzania Kilombero (bar) was made by Dick Taylor Chocolate (Eureka, CA)--founded by serial creatives and skilled chocolate makers Adam Dick and Dustin Taylor.

The cacao used to make this bar was from the Kilombero Valley in southern Tanzania.

When tasting chocolate, the smell and taste of a bar are usually very similar--only with richer, deeper chocolate flavor after you pop a piece of chocolate in your mouth. However, today's Tanzania bar was different.

The initial aroma notes for this bar included: bold (for a 65%er) dark chocolate (very slightly earthy, acrid/flat--vs. bright and fruity) when first  opened. 

However, the texture was very approachable and appealingly creamy. (Good sign.)

And the chocolate opened up with a bright burst of complex mixed red berry (raspberry, tart cherry) and citrus fruitiness. Considering the initial aroma and the flavors I was expecting, the authentic tart-sweet fruit blend (summoned by just three ingredients), had a Jolly Rancher candy* level brightness. (I associated some of this fruit brightness with Trinitario cacao varieties.)

Maker's tasting notes/description: "Cherry / Coffee / Lemon" 

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter* (* Organic)

Allergen-related information: Processed on Equipment with milk, tree nuts, wheat and peanuts.  

*I have tasted cacao fruit pulp that surrounds (and is fermented with) the cacao seeds (beans) in Belize, Hawaii, Costa Rica and elsewhere. Depending on many factors (including cacao variety and terroir) the pulp may taste like mango, lychee, melon, citrus (orange, tangerine, lemon) and other fruits with berry notes. In Belize I tasted pulp that tasted to me just like watermelon Jolly Rancher candy.

The Jolly Rancher Candy Company started producing tart sweet fruit-flavored candies in 1949. They became part of the Hershey Company in 1996. Watermelon was one of my favorite flavors as a child.

Kassho Craft Chocolate - 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Kokoa Kamili Tanzania (bar) - June 18, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Kessho Craft Chocolate
70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Kokoa Kamili Tanzania (bar)

Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 155 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kessho, online order 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week.

Today's 70% Cacao Dark Chocolate Kokoa Kamili Tanzania (bar) from Kessho, LLC was handcrafted in Austin, TX.

Cacao origin: Trinitario (variety) cacao beans from Kokoa Kamili, Kilombero Valley, in southern Tanzania.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate and subtle diffuse fruit: berries, gentle citrus. 

Texture: smooth and creamy with an appealing, rich melt.

Flavor notes included: well-balanced dark bitter and bright sweet (tart-sweet fruity berries (bright, ripe strawberry, raspberry and other darker red berry).

I liked the balanced complexity, the authentically sweet and fruity (berry-forward) aroma and flavors, and the creamy texture.

Maker's tasting notes: "Berry, raspberry, citrus"

Ingredients: "Whole cacao beans, sugar, cocoa butter"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes milk, tree nuts, wheat, sesame and eggs.