Chocolate-Covered Katie

Definition of a Chocoholic

A person who has an obsessive need to eat chocolate.

I definitely fit into this category: I’ll have some form of chocolate at least 4 times in an average day.

(Below: Me, on my 21st birthday, two years ago)

What about you?  Are you a chocoholic too?  And what are your favorite forms of chocolate?

Some of my faves (although I’m not picky when it comes to chocolate!!)

• Artisana Cacao Bliss
• PB&Co Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter (especially good for making chocolate banana butter)
• Wild Bars, Nectar Bars, Jocalats
• Choco-licious chocolate mousse (or pie)
• Chocolate-covered Strawberry ice cream
• Whipped Chocolate soup

And one mustn’t forget about the straight-up chocolate. 

As I’ve written before, I like ‘em tall, dark, and handsome. The darker, the better.

There are many, many brands of chocolate bars on the market.  What’s the best?

I could think of only one way to find out… Try them all!

What a grueling task.  But somebody’s gotta do it .  And so, I compiled the troops:

(Sticking with 85-91% chocolate, since I subscribe to the notion that darker is better)

In the mix:

• Vivani 85%
• Theo 91%
• Lindt 90%
• Endangered Species 88%
• Dolfin 88%
• Vintage Plantations 90%
• Righteously Raw 90%: Caramel and Goji (not pictured)

Taste-Test Time

Vivani

This bar had a real velvety texture; it was the smoothest of the bunch.  The taste wasn’t bitter enough for my liking, but I’d highly recommend this bar to someone who is used to a lower percentage of chocolate and who wants to gradually go darker.

Theo

To be honest, this one wasn’t my favorite.  The bar was hard, not smooth, and the taste just didn’t sing to me.

But please don’t let my negative review of this bar deter you from trying it; another blogger (I forget who. Was it you?) told me that Theo is her #1 fave .

Lindt

I’ve used Lindt 90% in recipes with tremendous success.  In fact, it’s the only chocolate I use for my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Babies, as it imparts an exciting vanilla flavor to the confections.

However, my mom and I both agreed that the bar tastes artificial and overly vanilla-y when eaten plain.

Dolfin

My second favorite.  In fact, it only lost points to the Endangered Species due to the fact that ES gives some profits to charity and is also easier to locate.  I guess 88% is the perfect amount of chocolate for me—dark and bitter, but still light enough to retain a level of sweetness and smoothness.

Righteously Raw

The chocolate, itself, was quite flavorful.  But I was annoyed at how the goji berries stood between me and my chocolate.

More goji berries = less chocolate = not-so-happy CCV.

Ya follow?

Endangered Species

Chocolate heaven!  Delicious chocolate and they give a portion of their proceeds to charity?!  How could it be any better?

(Tastes much better if you take the wrapper off first)

To Recap:

The winner of the Chocolate-Covered Taste Test was Endangered Species 88% dark chocolate.  But it doesn’t hold sole possession of my heart.  Nope; the ES chocolate must share that honor with my other favorite chocolate bars:

Hot Chocolate Fudge Baby Bars!!

(Or sandwiches, as the case may be)

Click for the recipe for the Hot Chocolate Fudge Babies

Nom nom nom…

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I am off to draw myself a luxuriating chocolate bubble bath.

As usual, thank you so so much for continuing to support Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness.  Remember: One small person can make a big difference in this world!