Juan Choconat - Chocolate Oscura - 100% Cacao Sin Tostar (Unroasted) - Jan. 17, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Juan Choconat
Chocolate Oscuro 76% Cacao Sin Tostar (Unroasted) (bar)
Good +++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 138 calories in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Elebar Snacks, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Oscuro (Dark Chocolate) 100% Cacao Sin Tostar (Unroasted) (bar) was made by Juan Choconat SAS (Ibague, Tolima, Colombia) and imported by Elebar Snacks LLC (with locations in Illinois and Clearwater, FL).

The packaging featured an illustration of Colombian cacao farmer (Reynel Rodriguez) next to a scannable code with his story. (Each bar in this shipment provided similar information for different cacao farmers in Colombia.) 

Today's bar (and others in this order from the same company) also came with an additional backstory, and footnotes at the end. Spoiler alert: I ordered several Jaun Choconat bars online that were made in Colombia (via an importer) in Aug. 2025 -- when new U.S. tariffs on many imported goods became effective. The bars arrived months later.

Aroma and flavor notes for this 76% ("creole" hybrid Colombian) cacao bar included: aromatic relatively fruity, dark chocolate with appealing stone fruits (cherries, apricot), balanced, intense (but smooth) citrus (lemon preserves+ herbal butter), sweet green botanical syrup, and barely detectable wood and tobacco.

This was creamy, balanced, intensely beautiful criollo flavor at its best, distilled into one bar. It's rare to find a 100% cacao (no sugar) bar made with un-roasted Criollo varieties of cacao. It's even rarer to find one this good.

Texture: This bar broke with a snap and had a very appealing, thick, creamy melt and smooth texture -- despite a bloomed appearance (likely from tariff hold-ups back in August).*

After its journey, I was delighted this single ingredient, single origin Colombia chocolate still broke with a snap. I was impressed with the marvelous thick creamy melt and mouthfeel -- even though there was no added cacao butter.

And, the flavors were wonderful. (The packaging for each individual bar had remained sealed.) The makers used only ONE ingredient (cacao) to coax out these authentic, intense yet very balanced, heritage cacao flavors. Note: do try to eat this bar fairly soon after opening. (If you wait a few days, you'll miss out on some of the lighter, more volatile notes. It will not taste the same.)

Ingredients: Unroasted cacao nibs.

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Fruit, Milk or Nuts."

*New U.S. tariffs went into effect in April and August 2025 that affected imported goods from other countries.  

Importers and shippers were struggling to adhere to new requirements--about the time I ordered several Juan Choconat bars in August 2025 (peak transition/confusion time). The chocolate bars did finally arrive -- months later.

Fortunately, lawmakers realized that the U.S. grows less than 0.0001% of all the world's cacao-approximately 179 acres in Hawaii and 100 acres in Puerto Rico. We import most of our cacao from other countries so U.S. chocolatiers and chocolate makers can make chocolate; U.S. workers can keep their jobs; and customers can find their favorite chocolates on shelves or online.

The cacao tariffs were lifted a few months later, in Nov. 2025. (Although certain tariffs remained on West African cacao (where most of the world's cacao is grown.)

Note: As of today, every Juan Choconat bar that I ordered in August 2025 was "sold out" online.

"Sold out" can mean many things. A company is struggling to meet demand for high-quality products that are in short supply; a company is taking a break from making chocolate; a company is thinking about whether to continue to make chocolate; etc. Fingers crossed. 

Juan Choconat - Chocolate Oscuro 76% Cacao Sin Tostar (Unroasted) (bar) - Jan. 16, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Juan Choconat
Chocolate Oscuro 76% Cacao Sin Tostar (Unroasted) (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 138 calories in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Elebar Snacks, online order

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

Today's Chocolate Oscuro (Dark Chocolate) 76% Cacao Sin Tostar (Unroasted) (bar) was made by Juan Choconat SAS (Ibague, Tolima, Colombia) and imported by Elebar Snacks LLC (with locations in Illinois and Clearwater, FL).

The bar came with an illustration of the cacao farmer (Alirio Restrepo) complete with a scannable code about his story. (Each bar in this shipment provided similar information for different cacao farmers in Colombia.) 

Today's bar (and others in this order from the same company) also came with an additional backstory, and footnotes at the end.

Spoiler alert: I ordered several Jaun Choconat bars online that were made in Colombia (via an importer) in Aug. 2025 -- when new U.S. tariffs on many imported goods became effective. Not a good time to order chocolate made outside the U.S. They arrived months later.

Aroma and flavor notes for this 76% ("creole" hybrid Colombian) cacao bar included: surprisingly gentle, chocolate-y, dark chocolate with appealing, soft, diffuse fruit (stone fruits, pear and barely detectable banana) and some fainter notes (maybe light lemon or citrus, faint green bean, faint wood) that I could barely taste.

The gentle flavors with criollo cacao-based chocolates. It was absolutely more balanced and less bitter (or acidic) because of the cacao; and the makers used unroasted cacao (to preserve nutrients and more delicate flavors present in heritage, criollo cacaos). There were also no harsh/burnt notes that can sometimes result from over-roasting.

Texture: Broke with a snap and had a fairly creamy melt and smooth texture. 

This order was held up due to newly enacted tariffs* and associated paperwork last August, and was likely allowed to sit in a warm place -- based on the mottled, bloomed appearance. This can happen very quickly if chocolates sit in the hot sun on a loading dock somewhere too long. Delays during the transportation process (loading/unloading/storing) can really impact product quality.

However, I was surprised and delighted that today's bar still broke with a snap and had a very nice smooth melt and mouthfeel. And the flavors were wonderful. (The packaging for each individual bar had remained sealed.)

The makers used only two ingredients (no added cocoa butter) to coax out these lovely, authentic cacao flavors.

Ingredients: Unroasted cacao nibs and unrefined cane sugar (panela).

Allergen-related information: "May Contain Traces of Fruit, Milk or Nuts."

*New U.S. tariffs went into effect in April and August 2025 that affected imported goods from other countries.  

Importers and shippers were struggling to adhere to new requirements--about the time I ordered several Juan Choconat bars in August 2025 (peak transition/confusion time). The chocolate bars arrived -- months later.

Fortunately, lawmakers realized that the U.S. grows less than 0.0001% of all the world's cacao-approximately 179 acres in Hawaii and 100 acres in Puerto Rico. We import most of our cacao from other countries so U.S. chocolatiers and chocolate makers can make chocolate; U.S. workers can keep their jobs; and customers can find their favorite chocolates on shelves or online.

The cacao tariffs were lifted a few months later, in Nov. 2025. (Although certain tariffs remained on West African cacao (where most of the world's cacao is grown.)

Throughout this period of volatility, I wondered how the 2025 changes affected cacao farmers outside the U.S. I don't know. (As of today, every Juan Choconat bar that I ordered in August 2025 was "sold out" online.) 

"Sold out" can mean many things. A company is struggling to meet demand for high-quality products that are in short supply; a company is taking a break from making chocolate; a company is thinking about whether to continue to make chocolate; etc. Fingers crossed.

Raaka Chocolate - Popcorn Unroasted Dark Chocolate 64% Cacao (bar) - Nov. 25, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Popcorn Unroasted Dark Chocolate 64% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 275 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate, Movies & Entertainment Theme Week--where chocolates intersect with film, animation and other forms of entertainment.

Following on the heels of yesterday's Cherry Licorice bar, we're enjoying another movie snack bar item reimagined with chocolate. 

Today's Popcorn Unroasted Dark Chocolate 64% Cacao (bar) was created by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). The makers "crushed salted popcorn and blended it into our (Semuliki Forest, Uganda cacao) dark chocolate, crafting a thrillingly chunky, buttery, and adventurous treat."

Aroma and flavor notes included: pleasing dark chocolate with faint diffuse fruit (stone fruit, dark berry, green/floral banana) and slightly savory (buttery).

Texture: the base dark chocolate was smooth with a relatively creamy melt. There were bites with very tiny pieces of popcorn hull (but it wasn't overwhelming). Raaka's description for this bar read: "Chunky, Crunchy, Buttery!" I found the tiny ivory-colored clouds (popcorn) floating in the dark chocolate to be pleasantly soft and pillow-like.

A digression about salt and chocolate...

My first impression: "This dark chocolate contained popcorn and salt, but the bar tasted surprisingly sweet, and not salty enough to taste like popcorn." Well, that was incorrect. At one point I added salt; and it did not work. Too much salt obscured the fruity, chocolate-y Ugandan (unroasted) cacao chocolate. 

The makers were right in holding back on the salt. Instead they tickled sweet movie theater memories of multiple concession stand snacks, including: dark, slightly fruity chocolate bars; dark hot chocolate/cocoa; fruit (cherry, red raspberry, banana) drinks and candies (even candied popcorn); and a wee bit of my all time favorite: salted, very lightly buttered popcorn. 

This was a fun and educational bar to taste and retaste, and retaste again. 

Movie and dark chocolate fans will appreciate this balanced, flavorful blend; the short list of authentic and organic ingredients; the gentle, fruity and chocoate-y complexity in the unroasted dark chocolate; the incorporation of popcorn (with minimal hulls); and the fact this elevated movie snack wasn't too sweet.

 A perfect bar to watch with a movie, or to savor slowly all by itself.

Maker's tasting notes: " The makers are using unroasted cacao to "capture the "brighter, bolder, and fruitier" side of cacao."

Ingredients: "organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, organic popcorn, organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic nutritional yeast, salt"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy Free, Nut Free"

 

Mashpi Chocolate - Unroasted Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao - Oct. 6, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Mashpi Chocolate 
Unroasted Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Choiba Agroforestry Products, online order

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Bar with Unroasted Chocolate Bar 80% Cacao (bar) was made by Mashpi Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador); and imported and distributed by Andean Ecocrafts, LLC (Reno, NV).

The cacao variety used to make this bar was "Cacao Nacional Fino de Aroma" from Ecuador.

Aroma and flavor notes for this 80% unroasted cacao chocolate after first opening the inner wrapper included: smooth dark chocolate with fruit (tropical fruit - mango, cacao fruit, light date), followed by assorted botanical, green notes; and very light marshmallow/mallow and mild nut/seed. These flavors evolved over time. The sweetness, lighter, fruitier and green notes lessened and the classic dark chocolate flavor came to the forefront.

Texture: smooth textured, with a light (fruit/green) astringency toward the finish. This faint astringency turned slightly less astringent slightly more (balanced) light bitterness over the next few hours.

I expect that most 80% dark chocolates will be more intense (harsh, acidic or bitter) in flavor (than 60-70% cacao percent chocolates). However, certain heritage cacao varieties have a milder profile. Today's bar was not too acidic or bitter and, at least initially, was full of botanical complexity and natural sweetness.

Why unroasted? Some find unroasted cacao milder than roasted cacaos. More delicate floral and other notes may be better preserved. Others like the nutritional benefits: higher levels of anti-oxidants (polyphenols, flavanoids) are conserved with less processing/heating.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to taste this 80% unroasted cacao bar. And I look forward to comparing this bar with the company's 80% (roasted) cacao (bar) tomorrow.

I also appreciated: the short list of authentic and quality ingredients; and the company's commitment to sourcing cacao from farmers who practice regenerative agriculture.

Maker's tasting notes: "...many dark chocolates are considered bitter, our 80% Cacao bar is exceptional..."

Ingredients: "Cacao mass, raw sugar cane"

Allergen-related information: (None listed on the package that I could see.)

The Chocolate Conspiracy - Raspberry 75% Cacao Chocolate Bar sweetened with honey - May 17, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Chocolate Conspiracy
Raspberry 75% Cacao Chocolate Bar sweetened with honey
Good ++
Weight: .625 oz. (17.50 g.) / 1.25 oz. (35 g.) in total bar
Calories: 110 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Conspiracy, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate, Bees and Trees Theme Week.

Today's Raspberry 75% Cacao Chocolate Bar from The Chocolate Conspiracy (Salt Lake City, UT) was made from bean-to-bar using cacao from Peru (Ucayali region) and sweetened with raw, unfiltered wildflower honey.

Aroma notes included: chocolate and sweet, fruit honey cake.

Texture: smooth, soft, silken texture, melt and mouthfeel. (The raspberries were fully incorporated. No seed grit. Thank you!)

Flavor notes were similar to the aroma notes only with a deeper dark chocolate flavor. This 75% cacao dark chocolate was relatively dark, but also quite smooth. The honey, coconut palm sugar, berry and faint vanilla were authentic, balanced and contributed a gently complex sweetness.

Maker's description: "...crafted from organic, unroasted, single-origin cacao beans from the Ucayali region of Peru and sweetened with raw, unfiltered wildflower honey. This results in a silky texture and unique flavor."

Ingredients: "Raw Organic Cacao Beans, Raw Unfiltered Honey, Raw Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Raspberry, Organic Raw Vanilla Bean, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar."

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, coconut, and pistachios." ("Gluten Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free...No Refined Sugar, Fair-Trade Cacao")

 

The Chocolate Conspiracy - Americano Chai with Milk Chocolate Bar - Apr. 8, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

The Chocolate Conspiracy
Americano Chai with Milk Chocolate Bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Conspiracy, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Tea Week.

Today's Americano Chai with Milk Chocolate Bar was made (from bean-to-bar) by The Chocolate Conspiracy (Salt Lake City, UT).

This chocolate was "crafted with organic, unroasted, single-origin Peruvian cacao beans and sweetened with organic coconut palm sugar."

Aroma and flavor notes for this tea-infused dark milk bar included: dark chocolate (relatively dark, bold but balanced, with very faint earth); and subtle infused spices (star anise, clove, cinnamon, citrus (orange peel tea), and faint herbal/fennel*). 

I liked the 1.) small quantity of milk that contributed to a smoother texture, but didn't muffle the cacao and spices--flavors that were mellowed, not overwhelmed; 2.) choice of coconut palm sugar (that added warmth, helped slow/minimize the sugar buzz); and 3.) short list of authentic, less-processed, quality ingredients (no emulsifiers, "Natural Flavors").

Ingredients: Raw Organic Cacao Beans, Raw Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar, Tea Blend (Black Tea, Orange Peel, Clove, Cinnamon), Milk Powder. 

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy. Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, coconut, and pistachios.

*Note: there was no fennel (or star anise) in the tea blend listed in the ingredients.

 

Raaka - Winter Citrus Unroasted Dark Chocolate 53% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 3, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka 
Winter Citrus Unroasted Dark Chocolate 53% Cacao (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Tea, Herbs and Spices Theme Week.

Today's organic Winter Citrus Unroasted Dark Chocolate 53% Cacao (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). 

This bar was made with unroasted, organic, cacao beans from the Semuliki Forest, Uganda. 

Aroma notes included: sweet, smooth chocolate, subtle coconut (milk), and faint citrus (bergamot orange--that flavors Earl Grey tea).

The texture was smooth, creamy, almost silky (from coconut milk + cocoa butter).

Flavor notes included: rich, sweet and creamy dark chocolate; subtle coconut milk; and lovely, floral, citrus (bergamot orange). Unlike some vanilla and floral aromas in bars that recede when you taste the chocolate, both the cacao and bergamot in this Winter Citrus bar blossomed very nicely (and harmoniously) with the first bite.

I felt like I was sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea out on the veranda in spring...an escape from the gray, rainy, cold weather today outside (and the fact I don't have a veranda).

I enjoyed the short list of organic, quality ingredients, the rich yet smooth chocolate, the uplifting citrus (bergamot orange), and the creaminess of the coconut milk. Yes, it was sweet; but it felt appropriately so, i.e. consistent with a cup of sweet tea/hot chocolate.

Note: this Winter Citrus blend is a Limited Batch flavor. So, it may not be available by the time you read this post. (Although I'd argue this would be a lovely chocolate for spring and summer too.)

Maker's tasting notes/description: "Cheery, Creamy, Citrusy. Our take on the holiday orange..." "We make our chocolate with unroasted cacao beans so you can taste the natural, fruity flavor of the cacao."

Ingredients: "organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic coconut milk powder, organic cacao butter, organic vanilla bean, organic bergamot oil"

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut. "Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free" "Certified Organic and Kosher"

Raaka - Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 18, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ (Missing information)
Purchased from: (Missing information)

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week. 

Today's while today's Coconut Milk 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY) does not come from Hawaii (cacao origin is Uganda, Semuliki Forest), it did spark some fond Hawaii memories.

I enjoyed this Coconut Milk bar by itself, and then with two different Hawaiian coconut milk-based smoothies made with fresh banana, orange, guava and passionfruit. Today's virtual travel to Hawaii via chocolate and island fruits was inspired by the onset of colder, winter weather where I live.

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: dark chocolate (fudge, cocoa, dark chocolate milk); authentic, aromatic and sweet coconut (milk); and very faint, diffuse fruit (ripe red berry).

The texture was smooth, silken, cream-y. (Most coconut chocolate confections are loaded with sugar-saturated coconut. You won't find dry or over-processed coconut in this bar.) 

Raaka's chocolates tend to be less processed, and feature bars like this one made with unroasted cacao. Why unroasted? The flavor can be milder/smoother as a result. And less processing of high-quality cacao is often associated with preservation of certain desirable flavor characteristics and nutritional properties.

I liked that this chocolate was gluten-free, soy-free, organic, and made with a short list of quality ingredients. For dairy-free and/or vegan chocolate lovers, Raaka offers some good options.

Maker's description: "...silky smooth...with...lush notes of berries and cream."

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic coconut, organic cacao butter

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut.

Raaka Chocolate - Ginger Snap Unroasted Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) - Aug. 2, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate

Ginger Snap Unroasted Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar

Calories: 117 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $5.00 (sale) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Tanzania Theme Week.

Today's Organic Ginger Snap Unroasted Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

Raaka makers craft their line of chocolate bars and offerings using unroasted cacao that "captures the brighter, bolder, and fruitier side of cacao." 

Kokoa Kamili

The Tanzania cacao used to make today's spice-infused bar was from Kokoa Kamili (located in the Kilombero Valley)--a several hour drive from Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam on the East Coast of Africa on the Indian Ocean. This important post-harvest processing facility purchases freshly harvested ("wet") cacao from many small farmers and ultimately sells to many smaller batch chocolate makers like Raaka around the globe, after they carefully ferment and dry the cacao. (The cacao variety they offer is: primarily Trinitario variety (Amelonado x Criollo) "with the slight presence of Neo-Nacional.")

Ginger Snap bar

The Raaka description for this bar: "Ginger-steamed Tanzanian cacao mixed with winter spice-infused cacao butter and decorated with sparkling brown sugar. The perfect companion for holiday spirits." This may have been designed to be a holiday bar enjoyed in the cold weather months; but it's August here in California, and this chocolate was just as delicious in summer.

Aroma notes for this "Limited Batch" bar included: faint ginger molasses cookie, chocolate, sweet potato pie, diffuse red fruit (berry, apple), spice (light star anise and warm baking spices) and green floral (mallow) notes.

Texturally speaking, the smooth dark chocolate base was accented with crunchy sparkles of brown sugar. 

The relatively mild unroasted cacao may have lacked that bolder, "roastier" flavor notes of traditional roasted cacao based chocolates, but it made up for that with smooth dark chocolate flavor with natural sweetness and bright subtle mixed fruit and floral notes--i.e. the presence of flavors that may have been attenuated during a roasting process.

This Ginger Snap bar was not overly sweet (thank you!). The gentle blend of warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg) added natural sweetness and flavor depth, as did the maple sugar.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic maple sugar, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic light brown sugar, organic ginger, organic cinnamon, organic allspice, organic nutmeg.

Allergen-related information: Vegan, gluten free, soy free, nut free. "Certified Organic and Kosher by NFC."

Raaka - Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Jan. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate 
Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 137 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week.

Today's Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed 60% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). 

The company offers a bounty of bean-to-bar chocolates using unroasted (single origin) cacao. Today's bar was made using cacao from Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania.

This Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed chocolate had pleasant, sweet, slightly fruity (berry) cake/muffin aroma notes; and it was uniform and smooth in texture. 

The flavors did indeed mirror a blueberry lemon poppy seed scone or muffin. And the ingredients* list was plain and simple. Flavors were subtle and authentic, and not too sweet (thank you!).

Tasting notes: "We grind wild blueberries into Tanzanian cacao, then swirl in a lemon, vanilla, and poppy seed strewn vegan white chocolate. An ode the lemon poppy seed scone."

*Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic blueberries, organic coconut, organic lemon, organic poppy seeds, organic sunflower lecithin, organic vanilla bean"

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free"

Raaka - Lemon Coconut Meringue Unroasted Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) - Jan. 3, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka 
Lemon Coconut Meringue Unroasted Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 137 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Lemon/Citrus Theme Week. 

Today's Lemon Coconut Meringue Unroasted Dark Chocolate 56% Cacao (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). The company offers an impressive array of chocolate bars with flavor inclusions, made with single origin, unroasted cacao.

The cacao for this bar came from Zorzal Cacao, Dominican Republic. From what I could detect (from the mix of flavor notes), this was a smooth, deep dark chocolate base. The second ingredient of this bar was organic cane sugar, but the chocolate was remarkably un-sweet for a 56% bar. (A combination of buckwheat flour and coconut milk powder may have helped dampen the sugar.)

Aroma and flavor notes for this bar included: an aroma with slightly earthy coconut cookie/pie crust with faint dark chocolate and lemon/citrus. The flavors did evoke a less sweet pie--a bit of bright, authentic lemon meringue filling + subtle but pervasive coconut and coconut pie crust. Very small amounts of vanilla and cinnamon added warmth and very subtle pie flavors.

Tasting notes/description: "Citrus Coconut Pie" ".....Earthy buckwheat reminds us of the gluten free pie crust."

Ingredients: "Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic coconut milk powder (coconut milk, tapioca maltodextrin), organic cacao butter, organic buckwheat flour, organic lemon, organic vanilla bean, organic cinnamon."

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free"

Raaka Chocolate - Mango Mojito Unroasted Dark Chocolate 68% (bar) - Dec. 31, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Mango Mojito 68% Cacao Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .9 oz. (25 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: RaakaChocolate.com, online order

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Mango Mojito Unroasted* Dark Chocolate 68% Cacao (bar)--created by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY)--was a nod to the Cuban Mojito (rum, sugarcane, mint, lime). No alcohol was detectable in this chocolate, but the flavors honored the spirit of this cocktail. 

Aroma notes for today's limited edition ("first nibs"), spirited dark chocolate included: smooth, dark chocolate; tart sweet fruit (apricot, mango, pineapple, citrus); subtle green (mint, oxalis); and faint brown sugar.

Flavors for this well-tempered, 68% dark chocolate bar included dark, flavorful chocolate (with a hint of natural marshmallow sweetness and implied, fleeting floral vanilla). 

Infused into this chocolate was a relatively subtle and balanced bouquet of accent flavors including fruit (mango, citrus) and green herb (mint). Tiny clumps of brown sugar adorned the back of the bar, and provided warmth and depth to the overall taste.

The cacao used to make this bar was from Tanzania (Kokoa Kamili). The mint and lime ingredients were seamlessly infused into the added cocoa butter that was in turn blended completely with the cocoa solids.

The texture was smooth (no crunchy fruit or botanical bits) and uniform, as you might expect from a freshly-made, shaken, sieved cocktail. And the sugar levels were relatively restrained, allowing the chocolate and the added mango mojito tribute flavors to be savored and appreciated.

This chocolate offered a sophisticated, restrained vibrance that seemed designed to break through winter to wish everyone a very Happy New Year's Eve, and Feliz 2022!

Raaka's short description read: "sweet, fruity, minty"

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic mango, organic mint, organic lime zest

Allergen-related information: "Vegan, gluten free, soy free, nut free"

*The makers at Raaka make their chocolates/bars from scratch, using unroasted cacao beans in order to...make "delicious chocolate that captures the brighter, bolder and fruitier side of cacao." 

Cacao Crudo - 65% Sweet Hazelnuts Cream (Crema Dolce Alle Nocciole) - Dec. 15, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo 

65% Sweet Hazelnuts Cream

(Crema Dolce Alle Nocciole - Delice Noisettes 65%)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 7. oz. (200 g.) in total jar

Calories: 291 calories in 1/4 jar 

Cost: $ N/A - sample 

Purchased from: (N/A - sample from Cacao Crudo, Italy)

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Theme Week.

I was impressed with today's spread from Cacao Crudo for multiple reasons. First the makers used high-quality Italian hazelnuts (65%) and single origin cacao (from Peru). Second, it contained a reasonably high percentage of cacao (cocoa powder) for a spread and was not loaded with sugar. (It was lightly sweetened with coconut flower sap). Third, the organic unroasted cacao and hazelnuts were both delicious in this three-ingredient confection.

Complex aroma notes included: a whiff of tropical fruit (passion fruit, musk strawberry) and coconut sugar, very light cocoa, and nutty vegetable.

The texture was velvety smooth. It would make a fine high-end, thick icing/frosting, spread for a croissant, or treat right out of the jar. And, again, it was not overly sweet (thank you!)--allowing for a range of authentic and delicate chocolate and nut notes to shimmer and shine.

The makers at Cacao Crudo craft quality, nuanced chocolates using very few, high-quality ingredients--achieving a fine balance, to the point of apparent contradiction. Delicate but 100% rich and decadent; suitable for confections without being too sweet; balanced complexity--all the while busting the myth that unroasted chocolate is somehow lacking in flavor.* The company's unroasted cacao offerings that I have tasted in the past year or two have all been exceptionally good.

Ingredients: Unroasted, Organic "Tonde Gentile Romana" hazelnuts paste; organic cocoa powder; organic, concentrated coconut flower sap.

Allergen-related information: "May contain almonds and walnuts." (Contains hazelnuts.)

*As coffee and craft chocolate lovers will tell you, roasting is an art unto itself. An important step in a long list of steps to make a flavorful end product. Roasting plays an important role in flavor development and can help get rid of unwanted qualities as well. However, if makers are working with fine-flavored beans with very subtle aroma and flavor profiles, roasting can lead to the loss of more delicate notes. And unroasted cacao may have an advantage here.

Raaka - French Apple Tart - unroasted dark chocolate (bar) - Dec. 5, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
French Apple Tart unroasted dark chocolate 67% cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka.com, online order

Welcome to Day #14 of Chocolate and Fruits Theme Weeks.

Today's French Apple Tart unroasted dark chocolate 67% cacao (bar) was from Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY). 

The company offers a wide variety of bars made with cacao that is not roasted--a choice made to capture "the brighter, bolder, and fruitier side of cacao."

Aroma notes included bittersweet dark chocolate and diffuse fruit. The (unroasted) cacao used to make this dark bar was from Kokoa Kamili (cacao producers in Tanzania) and was relatively smooth in aroma, texture and flavor.

Flavor notes included subtle, tart fruit (apple and stone fruit (cherry) tart/pie) with floral (vanilla) and very faint (possibly implied) spice--all melded with dark chocolate that lingered a bit in the finish. It was easy to imagine sitting outside a cafe in Paris on a sunny autumn day, enjoying a luscious bit of tart apple fruit pastry--with flaky crust edges rimmed in dark chocolate.

The 67% chocolate had rich dark flavor (smooth, and not too sweet); and overall bar had a balanced, but relatively high (fruit) acidity, and low-medium (and quite smooth) bitterness.

Maker's tasting notes: "Tarte aux pommes gets a chocolatey twist in this tart, apple and apricot infused Tanzanian dark chocolate. A dash of star anise and vanilla bean nod to apple brandy."

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cacao butter, organic cane sugar, organic green apple, organic apricot, organic star anise, organic vanilla 

Allergen-related information: "vegan, gluten free, soy free, nut free"

 

Raaka Chocolate - Waffle Cone 61% Cacao Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) - Oct. 26, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate

Waffle Cone 61% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good + - Good ++

Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar

Calories: 121 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Uganda Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Waffle Week.

Today's Waffle Cone 61% Cacao Dark Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

The cacao used to make this bar was grown in the Semuliki Forest region of Uganda.

Layered flavors

Instead of bits of waffle (ice cream cone) embedded in the chocolate, there was a broad strip of (gluten free) waffle cone adhered to the back of this bar, offering a sweet (but not too sweet) thin layer of contrasting flavor. 

Separating the dark chocolate and waffle cone elements allowed for layered flavors in the tasting process and made it easier to pick out flavors in the the underlying 61% dark chocolate. (It was also possible to break off a piece of chocolate from the non-waffle cone covered edge to taste that separately.)

Aroma and flavor notes included dark chocolate; diffuse fruit; warm spice (cinnamon, hot fruit compote spices); faintly soap-like plant and sweet green nut cookie; and authentic, faintly earthy and floral vanilla bean. 

The dark chocolate had an even melt and smooth, balanced dark flavor. And the thin waffle cone layer added a light wafer-like texture with a very subtle crunchy chew. The thoughtful stacking (vs. homogenizing) of authentic flavors made this novelty bar blend a success.

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, gluten free waffle cone (organic cane sugar, organic coconut oil, organic apple puree, organic rice flour, organic brown rice flour, organic tapioca flour, organic millet flour, organic flax seed meal, organic arrowroot powder, organic baking powder, organic inulin, xanthan gum), organic cacao butter organic vanilla bean

Allergen-related information: Certified Organic; vegan, gluten free, soy free

(I also recommend trying Raaka Chocolate's Maple Dark 75% (Uganda) cacao baking chocolate pieces, featured on October 21, 2021; and yesterday's slightly richer, Raaka Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% (bar)--that was similar to today's bar, but the waffle piece/layer contained cacao as well.

 

Raaka Chocolate - Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% (bar) - Oct. 25, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate

Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar)

Good ++

Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50.9 g.) in total bar

Calories: 140 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Uganda Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Waffle Week.

Today's Double Chocolate Waffle Cone 61% Cacao Dark Unroasted Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY).

It's unusual to find a "fun" single origin dark chocolate bar. If an artisan chocolate maker is laser focused on developing and featuring flavor nuances present in a small batch of single origin (and/or single variety or harvest) cacao beans, this maker likely, understandably, will hesitate to muffle these flavor nuances with additional ingredients. 

Today's offering not only evokes scenes of summer chocolate ice cream cones at the beach, but also amps up these conjured memories with a high-quality, flavorful deep, dark chocolate made from African cacao grown in the Semuliki Forest region of Uganda.*

An aesthetically-pleasing, broad strip of chocolate (gluten free) waffle cone was adhered to the back of this bar, offering a sweet (but not too sweet) flavor inclusion. Separating the two elements allowed for layered flavors in the tasting, and made it easier to enjoy the underlying 61% dark chocolate. (It was possible to break off a piece of chocolate from the non-waffle cone covered edge to taste that separately.)

Aroma and flavor notes included dark chocolate, diffuse fruit (spiced peach and berry compote/jam), warm spice (cinnamon) and authentic, faintly earthy and floral vanilla bean. 

The dark chocolate had an even melt and smooth, balanced deep dark flavor quality (richer than most 61% cacao chocolates). And the thin waffle cone layer added a light wafer-like texture with a very subtle chew. The thoughtful stacking (vs. homogenizing) of flavors made this blend a success.

Ingredients: Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, gluten free waffle cone (organic rice flour, organic brown rice flour, organic tapioca flour, organic millet flour, organic cacao powder, organic coconut oil, organic cane sugar, organic apple puree, organic flax seed meal, organic arrowroot powder, organic inulin, xanthan gum), organic vanilla

Allergen-related information: Vegan, gluten free, soy free

*Uganda is the becoming more well-known for single origin cacao, thanks in part to work being done in-country to reward (better pay, support) farmers to obtain premium cacao. In 2019, Uganda was the sixth largest cacao-exporting African nation (behind Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone).

The chocolates featured as part of an Uganda-themed week (Oct. 18-26, 2021), on this Chocolate Banquet site, have all been quite good--with deep, dark chocolate-y flavor; subtle hints of faintly tart-sweet fruit and occasional warm spice; and very faint, balanced earth. 

(I would also recommend trying Raaka Chocolate's Maple Dark 75% cacao (Uganda) baking chocolate pieces, featured on October 21, 2021.)

Raaka - Maple Dark Unroasted Dark Chocolate (75% Cacao Baking Chocolate) - Oct. 21, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate

Maple Dark Unroasted Dark Chocolate 75% Cacao Baking Chocolate (pieces)

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1/8 cup (15 g.) / 8 oz. (226.4 g.) in total package

Calories: 71 calories in 1/8 cup serving

Cost: $15.00 for 1 package 

Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Uganda Theme Week.

Today's Maple Dark, Unroasted Dark Chocolate, 75% Cacao Baking Chocolate (pieces) were made by Raaka Chocolate in Brooklyn, New York.

These dark chocolate baking pieces were made with cacao sourced from Uganda (Semuliki Forest). Raaka practices "transparent trade," and pays farmers (farmer-owned co-ops and grower-centered organizations in cacao growing countries) "transparent, stable premiums above Fair Trade prices."

The rich dark chocolate aroma and flavor were similar and included: dark, almost tart/tangy sweet molasses/brown or maple sugar; dried fruits (prunes and a few dark, dried cherries with a tiny splash of apple brandy and light cider vinegar with warm spice); clean and clear green, and balanced, diffuse forest/earth notes.

There was a very slight astringency in the taste (a slight throat tickle), but overall the melt and mouthfeel were smooth and even. 

The relatively thin (wafer thickness) of these ebony-colored, flat, heptagonal (seven-sided) polygons yielded quick access to rich dark chocolate flavors, and made these pieces well-suited (easy to melt and stir evenly) for baking, cooking or fondue-ing. 

These balanced, bold and bittersweet pieces will add extra depth to tortes, brownies, couverture, homemade snack mix, or any other item you create. And they'd make a flavorful addition to a fruit. dessert or chocolate tasting plate. 

Maker's notes: Raaka's description of this chocolate read as follows: "Our maple sugar sweetened, single origin take on the classic bittersweet baking chocolate is fruity, bright, and rich, with just the right amount of complexity to give your baked goods that extra oomph." 

(Postscript: I found myself repeatedly returning to snack on this flavorful 75% chocolate later in the week, and upped my rating (from a "Good ++" to a "Good ++ - Good +++") based on this desire for more.)

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic maple sugar, organic cacao butter

Allergen-related information: "Certified Organic and Kosher by NFC" "Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free"

Cacao Crudo - Raw Organic Criollo 80% Dark chocolate (bar) - July 13, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo

Raw Organic Criollo 80% Dark chocolate (bar) 

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) for 1 bar

Calories: 160 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery, San Francisco, CA 

Welcome to Day #4 of Dark Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's Raw Organic Criollo 80% Dark chocolate (bar) was made by Cacao Crudo S.r.l. (Roma, Italia/Rome, Italy).

The aroma and flavor notes for this Taveletta di Cioccolato Fondente Biologico (dark chocolate organic bar) were a mix of intoxicating, naturally sweet (green molasses* if that's possible) and very clear and clean green floral (white flowers: jasmine, magnolia, orchid) and very faint, green fruit notes that lightly lingered into the finish.

This was not your typical ultra-dark (80% or above) bar. It was low in acidity, bitterness and strong fruit. (In a blind tasting I might have guessed this was a 70%-73% cacao chocolate.) 

Speaking of fruit, far from being walloped with prune, pomegranate, orange peel and/or tart red berries--which are delightful in their own right, this chocolate caressed the palette with faint green fruit notes that lay at the opposite (mild) end of the tasting spectrum. Think very faint green kiwi shading into light cucumber blended with mild green table grapes.

Will everyone love this bar? Not necessarily, if you favor bolder, heavier, roasted flavors. But, please do try this bar if you have the opportunity. (It's currently available in specialty stores or online.)

The unique green floral aroma and flavor notes for this bar were made possible by using Criollo cacao that was unroasted--a processing choice that preserves more delicate floral and flavor notes that can be lost during conventional roasting and higher temperature grinding/conching.

The Criollo variety of cacao is prized for its more delicate flavors, which can include soft, complex fruit and cream notes.

Floral chocolate lovers rejoice. You may find yourself virtually transported to a celebration of green, floral chocolate flavors inside an orchid conservatory, or in a tropical jungle filled with green vines and wildflowers.

Ingredients: Organic Criollo cacao powder, organic Criollo cacao butter, organic coconut blossom nectar, organic coconut pulp, organic vanilla.

Allergen-related information: "Gluten Free...May contain traces of hazelnuts and pistachios." 

*The coconut blossom nectar (used as a sweetener instead of cane sugar) also contributed to a gentler (lower on the glycemic index), slightly aromatic sugar experience. Various descriptions of faint flavor notes this sweetener imparts include: brown sugar, caramel--and less frequently: barely there musky (floral), and/or very faint smoke. 

It does not taste like coconut meat or milk, even though the blossoms are clustered at the top of coconut palm trees. Floral sap is collected in small buckets and then made into coconut sugar.

Cacao Crudo - Dark Organic Cacao Paste, Unroasted Criollo Cacao, 100% (bar) - Nov. 20, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo S.r.l.
Dark Organic Chocolate Fondente 100% Peru (bar)
(Cioccolato Fondente Bio Criollo Non Tostato 100% Peru)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $ missing information 
Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week. 

Today's "Organic Cacao Paste" 100% Peru bar was crafted by Cacao Crudo S.r.l. (Roma (Rome), Italy), using cacao beans grown in Peru.

The chocolate was made using high-quality, un-roasted Criollo cacao (beans). Cacao beans are generally roasted. Roasting can develop certain flavors, but can also lead to a loss of other--often more delicate or volatile--flavors (e.g. green and floral notes). 

Today's 100% Criollo cacao with bright, clean green and faint floral sweetness is a great example of what "stays in" when cacao is not roasted. This bar (and others in the Cacao Crudo line-up) exemplify what raw chocolate can be. 

This unsweetened chocolate had an aroma that evoked fresh, alive, vibrant green (plants, green coconut) with faint floral and herbal notes. It had a creamy melt and smooth texture with the occasional crunchy cacao nib particle.

The flavors included bright green cacao nibs, green coconut with light herbal/spice notes; a medium acidity (faint sour-sweet) in the second half; and a relatively low bitterness for a 100% cacao chocolate--making it potentially a potentially interesting choice for a good swathe of ultra-dark chocolate lovers who might be health conscious as well. (I plan to add pieces of this bar, if there are any leftover, to my homemade nut, seed and fruit trail mix.)

I would recommend doing a side-by-side tasting with Cacao Crudo's 90% cacao bar and today's 100% bar (or as part of a tasting flight of 100% bars). Truthfully, I prefer the company's 90% version a hair more. 

That little bit of added coconut sugar (concentrated coconut flower sap) opened up another flavor facet. Either way, so nice to be sampling chocolates with flavors un-bowed by too much roasting or sugar was fantastic. (Big thank you for that.)

Ingredients: Organic, unroasted cacao beans ("Criollo beans paste")

Cacao Crudo - Dark Organic Chocolate Fondente 90% (bar) - Nov. 19, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Cacao Crudo S.r.l.
Dark Organic Chocolate Fondente 90% Peru (bar)
(Cioccolato Fondente Bio Criollo Non Tostato 90% Peru)
Good +++
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - sample 
Purchased from: N/A - sample

Ciao, Hola and Greetings from California. Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week. 

Today's Dark Organic Chocolate 90% Peru bar was crafted by Cacao Crudo S.r.l. (Roma (Rome), Italy), using cacao beans grown in Peru, and was eventually shipped to California, where I live. Food often involves complex supply chains, and this is certainly true for chocolate.

The chocolate was made using high-quality, un-roasted Criollo cacao (beans). Cacao beans are generally roasted as part of the process of chocolate making. Roasting can develop certain flavors, but can also lead to a loss of other--often more delicate or volatile--flavors (e.g. green and floral notes). Each variety and/or batch of cacao may call for a different roasting profile.

Criollo cacao is prized for its subtle yet complex flavor notes, including: milder stone fruits, cream, light caramel. In skilled hands, a low roast (or in today's case a "no" roast) profile/choice can preserve subtle, heritage Criollo flavors and result in a truly great chocolate.

As mentioned in previous Cacao Crudo chocolate bar reviews, I believe the company has fulfilled the promise of what raw chocolate can be.* This 90% bar had an aroma that evoked fresh, alive, vibrant green (plants, green coconut) with faint floral and herbal notes.

It had a smooth, creamy melt and texture.

The flavors included freshly picked, mildly sweet, green coconut with light herbal notes, and a slightly nutty roundness in the finish. 

This was a very pleasant and accessible ultra dark bar with mild-medium acidity and a balanced, very light bitterness and low astringency. I highly recommend tasting this next to a conventional 90% bar made with roasted cacao. The differences may surprise you.

Ingredients: Organic, unroasted cacao beans ("Criollo beans paste"); organic concentrated coconut flower sap.

*Raw cacao is typically quite a bit higher in minerals (like iron, magnesium and potassium), and in certain enzymes and anti-oxidants, but traditionally has been much milder in flavor. Whereas roasting can help add flavor (that many people like) and also can help minimize/eliminate potentially harmful bacteria. So, some people shied away from earlier attempts at raw chocolate. Thank you Cacao Crudo for showing us out of this perceived dichotomy, with delicious proof that raw chocolate can be wonderful, without sacrifice.