This is a very creamy chocolate and isn’t bitter or intense at all. It’s worth trying for those interested in experimenting in the higher percentages who don’t want to be overwhelmed by bitterness or intensity which is common of other brands. It’s not a complex chocolate, and the flavor remains pretty consistent throughout. It tastes fairly sweet, with hints of caramel. The finish is short and the melt is quick, although very satisfying. There is a slight bitterness in the aftertaste, though, but nothing to detract from the overall pleasure.

Does anyone find any intensity to this bar? Don’t get me wrong, I really like it, but for such a high percentage, I was expecting a stronger chocolate flavor. It’s good to compare this bar to Cluizel’s 85% or even to Domori’s Blend No. 1 to best know what I’m talking about. Actually, I don’t think CV is as sweet as Cluizel; perhaps extra vanilla is added or CV just roasts a lot longer.

Hmm…think this is not top quality cocoa and it’s got a very distinct ‘wafer’ taste which I find in a few bars now and don’t like much, having said that it’s not bad for the price – does anyone know what this wafer taste is ?

Cuor di Cacao 75% contains only criollo beans. What about Cuor di Cacao 85%?

Masur

Dutched cocoa is cocoa that has been treated with an alkaline to reduce the aciditiy. Therefore, dutched cocoa/chocolate has a milder flavor than its “natural” counterpart. When you read the ingredients of cocoa powder, and it says “cocoa treated with alkaline,” then it’s dutched. Undutched cocoa (or “European” cocoa) is more bitter, obviously, and is also referred to as “American” cocoa.

I do detect a strong vanilla flavor in the Cuba Venchi 85%, but that’s probably because they add more vanilla than most brands.

The “Peperoncino” is really hot stuff! The 75% and 85% have of course no real “bite” – if this is the correct english term for the cracking noise und feel when breaking the chocolate.
Despite that I like them for their interesting liquorice aroma.

Post edited 6:47 am – October 14, 2010 by Masur

Alex, this bar was branded as Criollo when I posted.  The Chocolate Traveller Magazine published this artice 2005:

http://www.chocolatetradingco

A very special single variety chocolate from Venchi. Made
solely from the Criollo cocoa bean from Venezuela, an exceptional full flavored
bean which comprises just 5-10% of the worlds cocoa crop and therefore used by
only the very best chocolates, Venchi for one. An incredibly powerful, low acid
dark chocolate with a strong bitter cocoa taste. Highly recomended for real
dark chocolate lovers..  i agree with your taste. found
the 85% venchi not bitter at all. very chocolatey, though not complex. Cuba
Venchi dutches their chocolate, so I know that's one factor that contribites to
the somewhat mild flavor.