Amedei is manufacturing high quality specialty chocolates in Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. In addition to chocolate bars from selected cacao plantations Amedei produces truffles and pralines.
This chocolate bar “Cioccolato Fondente Extra 66% – La Tavoletta” has a fruity flavor with some weak bitterness, in addition to some vanilla flavor; a good dark chocolate probably intended for cooking. The origin of the cacao beans is not stated [Photo: Hal].
Editor’s Rating:
Type: Bittersweet bulk chocolate bar.
Flavor: 
Please note: to be a bulk chocolate this one is very good. However, if you compare with specialty chocolates from Amedei this one has less interesting flavor.
Their most wellknown chocolate bar is Chuao which we have presented in a separate post.
Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting, Specialty chocolates italy
Cuba is producing high-quality cacao beans, however, the production is limited. In spite of the US embargo some cacao beans are exported. Lindt in Switzerland is producing a specialty chocolate made with exclusively Cuban cacao beans. It is semi-sweet and contains 55% cocoa solids; no other vegetable fat is added and it does not contain any milk. This chocolate has a weak fruity note and a fairly strong vanilla flavor. It is one of the best chocolates in “Lindt Excellence” series of specialty chocolates. Because of the US embargo I guess that it will be difficult to obtain this chocolate in the USA [Chocolate photo: Hal]
Editor’s Rating:
Type: Semisweet premium chocolate bar.
Flavor:
Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting cuba
Another manufacturer using Cuban cacao beans is La Molina in Tuscany, Italy. According to Gustiamo “La Molina is known for its exceptional quality and has quickly gained recognition across the world. What comes out from its workspace today is an innovative chocolate production distinguished by an unmistakably smooth, round taste, a pure chocolate aroma, and the presence of the best available ingredients.”
La Molina Cuba is a bittersweet chocolate containing 70% cocoa solids. The flavor is rich, slightly bitter with some fruity flavor. A good chocolate!
Editor’s rating:
Type: Bittersweet premium chocolate bar.
Flavor: 
[Photo: Hal]
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Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting, Specialty chocolates cuba, italy
One of the best Italian chocolate manufacturers is Amedei. The factory is located close to Pisa in Tuscany. They make a number of specialty chocolates with cacao beans from selected regions. One of their top quality products is “Chuao”, a bitter chocolate with 70% cocoa solids made with cacao beans from Venezuela of the Criollo Chuao variety. These cacao beans are regarded as some of the world’s best, and Amedei has managed to produce a chocolate which may be regarded as one of the world’s best dark chocolates (or the best one?). The flavor is extremely rich; Amedei describes: “the prevalence of its aroma is prune and red fruits, the potency of its taste and the acidity leaves space to a long, and very clean end.” If you are able to obtain this chocolate: try it, even though it is somewhat expensive! [Chocolate photo: Hal]
Editor’s Rating:
Type: Bittersweet premium chocolate bar.
Flavor:
Comment: this chocolate bar is regarded as one of the top quality chocolates in the world!
Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting, Specialty chocolates italy, venezuela
Grenada is a small island in the Caribbean just north of Venezuela. High quality cacao beans are grown on the island which has one chocolate factory. Cacao beans are exported to a number of chocolate manufacturers, some of them are producing specialty chocolate with single origin cacao beans from Grenada. Photos from cacao plantations and chocolate manufacturing on Grenada can be found on CacaoWeb.
Grenada Chocolate Company produces two types of chocolate: one containing 60% cocoa solids, and another type containing 71%. A picture of the 60% cacao type is presented here.
The flavor is rich with fruity note and a week bitterness. The quality of this chocolate is very good, however, the appearance might not be perfect [Photo of the chocolate bar: Hal].
Editor’s Rating:
Type: Bittersweet premium chocolate bar.
Flavor:
Hal Chocolate brands, Chocolate tasting, Specialty chocolates grenada