Review: Ghirardelli Intense Dark

Y’all know I am a sucker for dark chocolate, so of course I “opted in” when Foodbuzz asked if I was interested in reviewing Ghirardelli’s new line.  Not everyone who “opts in” is chosen.  I am not sure if I was chosen randomly or because they wanted to see me gush some more about chocolate on my blog.  The hows & whys are really irrelevant.  Bottom line is that the chocolate ended up in my hands. 

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First things first; I needed to confirm the gluten-free status of the chocolate.

Dear ms. Bouldin,

Thank you for contacting Ghirardelli Chocolate. Ghirardelli currently offers one product which contains an gluten ingredient. Our Luxe Milk Crisp Squares and Bars, containing barley malt as an ingredient. As a result, the line on which our chocolate bars and Squares are produced, share a common line with barley gluten. The chocolate chips (60% Bittersweet, Semi-Sweet, and Milk Chocolate) line and powder line (hot chocolates and baking cocoas) will remain free of gluten ingredients.

Ghirardelli takes the following measures to reduce cross contamination on our production lines: lines are cleaned between the changing from one product to the next. The first two batches of any product made are disposed of and not packaged.

Sincerely,

Consumer Service

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

I received 3 varieties of the intense dark chocolate bars and 2 different individually packed squares. 

Twilight Delight – Our Intense Dark 72% cacao is a deep, velvety chocolate with hints of mocha, blackberry and dark cherry that create an unrivaled chocolate intensity. It’s a great match for foods and beverages with a robust flavor.

Sea Salt Soiree – A blend of sweet dark chocolate, slow-roasted almonds and coarse crystals of sea salt make this Intense Dark flavor the epitome of sweet and salty perfection. Its peaks of saltiness create a mouth-watering reaction with a variety of bold-flavored pairings.

Midnight Reverie – With 86% cacao, this luxuriously deep Intense Dark chocolate delivers the ultimate chocolate intensity. Its robust flavor and warm chocolate notes accompanied by hints of dark cherries and dried plums pair perfectly with other strong flavors.

I enjoy finishing off dinner with a square or 2 of dark chocolate, so these are perfect for that!  My only problem is that they are so good that I want more!  Saturday night when we went out to celebrate Aaron’s birthday, I came home, poured a glass of dry red wine and couldn’t keep my hands off of the Midnight Reverie bar.  While I really enjoyed all 3 versions, the Midnight Reverie is my favorite.

To learn more about the Intense Dark Challenge and to get a coupon for Ghirardelli Intense Dark, click here. 

Do you like dark chocolate?  If so, what is your favorite brand/variety?

Kim

**The products reviewed in this blog were provided to me free of charge as part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program.  The opinions stated here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.