Dark chocolate fans in for a treat

Dark chocolate lovers will be happy to find Ghirardelli’s new bars on grocery store shelves.

Those who like to know just how dark their chocolate is will appreciate that the labels list the cacao content of each bar. They range from 45 percent cacao in the Toffee Interlude flavor to 72 percent in the Twilight Delight bars.

Almost any chocolate lover will appreciate the flavor of the latest offering from Ghirardelli, most Spokesman-Review food panel members said. They gave a trio of new chocolate bars four out of five stars for flavor.

“Dense, dark, smooth and decadent,” said Andy Hoye after he tasted the Citrus Sunset flavor.

Chocoholic Tina Johnson agreed, “A winning combination of dark, dark chocolate and orange,” she said.

Panel members also loved the Toffee Interlude bars.

“Well, I didn’t think it could get any better, but crush in a Heath bar and you’ve hit heaven,” said Peggy Kazanis.

Matt Quesnell was swooning as well. “I love the crunchiness of this one. It’s like a classy ‘Crunch’ bar. I love toffee and it’s used to good effect here. Great mix. This is all I need to be happy.”

Not everyone thought the chocolate was perfect.

Skip Hubbard said he’s not a huge fan of dark chocolate. “Boy, I must be a real red blooded, blue collar American because I’ll always take the milk chocolate over this ‘fancy’ stuff.”

But Donald Clegg said he would have liked his chocolate to be a bit darker after tasting the Espresso Escape. “Not nearly as bitter as I like, but serviceable (hey, it’s dark chocolate).”

Andy Hoye said the candy bits in the Toffee Interlude put him over the top. “A little bit too sweet with the toffee.”

Ghirardelli Intense Dark, Citrus Sunset

Price: $2.99 per 3.5-ounce bar

Nutrition per serving (2.5 per bar): 190 calories, 14 grams fat (8 grams saturated, 66 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 21 grams carbohydrate, 5 milligrams cholesterol, 3 grams dietary fiber, 15 milligrams sodium.

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Comments: “Very subtle citrus flavor. Delicious.” – Larry Inman

“Deep chocolate with a whiff of orange flavor.” – Marilyn Moore

“As much as I love chocolate, fruit is not what I want in it. Love the chocolate though.” – Peggy Kazanis

“Sorry, give me cherry with my chocolate or leave the fruit out completely.” – Donald Clegg

Ghirardelli Intense Dark, Espresso Escape

Price: $2.99 per 3.5-ounce bar

Nutrition per serving (2.5 per bar): 200 calories, 15 grams fat (9 grams saturated, 69 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 20 grams carbohydrate, 5 milligrams cholesterol, 3 grams dietary fiber, no sodium.

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Comments: “Rich, smooth taste. Excellent.” – Larry Inman

“Silky smooth mouth feel makes this dark chocolate a real winner.” – Tina Johnson

“Perfectly lovely.” – Andy Hoye

“Oooh. The deep, dark richness of good chocolate. Wonderfully pure.” – Peggy Kazanis

Ghirardelli Intense Dark, Toffee Interlude

Price: $2.99 per 3.5 ounce bar

Nutrition per serving (2.5 per bar): 190 calories, 13 grams fat (7 grams saturated, 62 percent fat calories), 2 grams protein, 23 grams carbohydrate, 10 milligrams cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber, 50 milligrams sodium.

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Comments: “Perfect mix of nuts with great chocolate taste.” – Larry Inman

“Delicious dark chocolate with tiny toffee bits – this is heaven.” – Tina Johnson

“Put English toffee bits in anything and I’ll love it. I suppose you could say they hit the sweet spot.” – Skip Hubbard