This single-origin dark chocolate comes from Costa Esmeraldas on Ecuador’s northern coast, where Freddy Salazar converted former pastureland and inaccessible wild forest into a 10-hectare farm alongside 50 hectares of virgin forest. Freddy’s fermentation shows through immediately: chocolatey depth up front, with fruit held gently in reserve rather than announced.
Dandelion make several 70% single-origin chocolates, as it is a common cacao % for them to use, so it makes comparisons between batches and between origins easier. The aroma opens warm and toasted, and sweet, rather than having raw cacao punch — this is a comforting first impression. Rich, sweet dark chocolate hits straight away on tasting, with a surprisingly smooth character given the sweetness level.
Although this is a rich chocolate it does become more lively, with notes of toasted almond arriving next, nutty and rounded, before blueberry finally surfaces mid-palate — not bold, but a genuine, welcome lift of acidity against the almond’s richness.
The finish brightens briefly on that blueberry note before it vanishes almost as quickly as it arrived, leaving a lingering, moreish warmth behind. This does feel like the more approachable Costa Esmeraldas Dandelion was chasing after — a comforting bar, rather than a divisive one. This is a very approachable dark chocolate bar to try, it is recommended.
Overall Rating: 8 out of 10