Green & Black's is a very different kind of candy company.  Fascinatingly different, as a matter of fact.  Unlike the larger, older firms of Europe, Green & Blacks does business according to two basic principles: organic raw materials and fair trade to growers.  (In this respect they have much in common with Allegro coffees.)  Perhaps their most famous chocolate is the Maya Gold, a flavored chocolate which takes its inspiration from a local drink made by Mayan farmers (the descendants of those who first domesticated the cocoa bean).

After Nettle had tipped me off as to the existence of this fine line of products, I engaged in a long and arduous search for a local source for G&B chocolate.  I finally found it at Whole Foods Market, where I happened upon an extensive line of Green & Black's chocolates in a display that filled an entire shelf.  I picked out the Dark 70% variety, a hefty 100g (3.5 oz) bar which cost me USD 3.39.  Certified as organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) association, this chocolate was manufactured in Italy.  It is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.  The bar is conveniently divided into 30 small chunks, easily broken off.  Each chunk contains 1.3g fat, 1.6g carbohydrate (1.2g of which are sugar), and 0.3g protein.

As I opened the package I happily recalled a news report aired on sattelite radio a few days ago; in this report the health benefits of chocolate were outlined.  It seems that chocolate contains bioflavinoids which, if consumed moderately, are extremely beneficial to one's heart health and work toward cancer prevention.  But sadly, because of additives and processing, few chocolate products consumed in this country carry any benefit at all, it seems.  The higher the cocoa content and the "closer to nature" the better; after rigorous processing is complete and bountiful petrochemical additives are included, American-made "chocolates" (q.v.) contain little more than a mere trace of the good stuff.  But this G&B's, a 70% cocoa, organic chocolate, is chock full of healthy bioflavinoids!  Just as nature intended.

The aroma immediately told me that this is real chocolate.  Almost pungent, it made me feel like I might if I were there when the beans were being harvested.  This is natural chocolate, quite unlike the concoctions one finds at the gas station.  Color wasn't as dark as I had anticipated; but then again, there are no additives nor colorings in this stuff.  The chunks broke off easily, and when the time came, the chocolate put up little resistance to my incisors.  Texture was -- oh my, perfect!  Not the least bit waxy, a rich, creamy feel of cocoa butter filled my mouth.  A burst of chocolate bean flavor arrived, as if on a slight time delay; tannins were powerful but elegant and attractive, giving a pleasantly dry flavor to the not-too-sweet chocolate.  Billed as bittersweet, I'd describe it this way: tastefully dry while simultaneously moderately sweet, without being cloying. 

Unlike other 70% cocoa products out there (even the best of them!), this Green & Black's dark chocolate would please even the most ardent milk chocolate lover while completely satisfying the dark chocolate aficionado as well.  Its suitability to a vegan diet and its social consciousness also give it brownie points to many.  Not in the least bit intimidating, its soft, rich texture combined with its hearty cocoa flavor, mild sweetness and approachable tannins might just make G&B's Dark the one chocolate that milk- and dark-chocolate lovers can all agree upon.  The Cigar Journal wholeheartily declares Green & Black's 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate to be highly recommended.