The World Market 99% Cacao Dark Chocolate bar is unique in many ways. For one thing, it has just two ingredients. The first is dark chocolate liquor, which is the liquid form of cocoa solids and cocoa butter that is produced when cacao beans are processed, usually by way of roasting. The second is sugar, but that may as well be nonexistent; the entire bar contains a stunning total of 2g. This bar is made in the United States AND at about $2.50 each, still costs a fraction of most. Lastly, this bar is sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond. So random. I almost never go there, and I certainly don't go there looking for chocolate. Who knew that by "beyond" they meant gourmet chocolate bars, an endless selection of tea and fancy crackers galore?
With a 99% cacao content (the highest content I've tried), this chocolate is just a few steps away from being a simple cacao bean. What a difference a few tweaks can make! Whereas plain cacao beans are grainy, bitter and honestly a bit difficult to chew, this bar is silky and unexpectedly palatable. The initial bite is what you would expect. The flavor is strong, in-your-face and more than a little earthy. As it melts in your mouth, this fades into the background almost as quickly as it appeared and distinct, bright notes of raspberry and blueberry begin to unfold. (The package will tell you to look for black currant flavors, but I very specifically tasted raspberries and blueberries.) Despite its exceptionally low sugar content, this bar does not taste bitter. I didn't want for any sweetness that wasn't already there, and unlike many super dark bars, this one did not leave a chalky, dry aftertaste.
One thing to bear in mind: chocolate does contain caffeine, and the closer to get to the actual cacao bean, the more caffeine you'll get as well (but you'll also get more antioxidants, so it's a worthy trade-off!). All that means is that this is an ideal chocolate to accompany your morning bagel or bowl of yogurt. You'll get a little boost, but it'll be more mellow UntThanks for reading! Strawberry kisses :*:*:*
With a 99% cacao content (the highest content I've tried), this chocolate is just a few steps away from being a simple cacao bean. What a difference a few tweaks can make! Whereas plain cacao beans are grainy, bitter and honestly a bit difficult to chew, this bar is silky and unexpectedly palatable. The initial bite is what you would expect. The flavor is strong, in-your-face and more than a little earthy. As it melts in your mouth, this fades into the background almost as quickly as it appeared and distinct, bright notes of raspberry and blueberry begin to unfold. (The package will tell you to look for black currant flavors, but I very specifically tasted raspberries and blueberries.) Despite its exceptionally low sugar content, this bar does not taste bitter. I didn't want for any sweetness that wasn't already there, and unlike many super dark bars, this one did not leave a chalky, dry aftertaste.
One thing to bear in mind: chocolate does contain caffeine, and the closer to get to the actual cacao bean, the more caffeine you'll get as well (but you'll also get more antioxidants, so it's a worthy trade-off!). All that means is that this is an ideal chocolate to accompany your morning bagel or bowl of yogurt. You'll get a little boost, but it'll be more mellow UntThanks for reading! Strawberry kisses :*:*:*