Even though I have a massive sweet tooth, I usually just grab a candy bar from the gas station when I’m dying for a chocolate fix. So, I was curious to sample Scharffen Berger artisan chocolates and see how they compared.
Scharffen Berger was founded in San Francisco in 1997 by chocolate connoisseur Robert Steinberg and winemaker John Scharffenberger. The company is unique because it is the first American “bean-to-bar†chocolate manufacturer in over 50 years.
They use the finest cocoa beans from countries like Madagascar, Indonesia, Jamaica, Venezuela, Brazil, Panama, Vietnam, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Trinidad, Tanzania, Paupua New Guinea, Bali, Ghana, and Peru.
Scharffen Berger sent me one of each of their chocolate bars to try. It took a few days to sample that much chocolate, but I was committed to “researching” this product fully!
Of all of the different varieties, the 41% Cacao Milk Chocolate with Sea Salted Almonds and the 62% Cacao Dark Chocolate Mocha were my two favorites. I was surprised by how delicious they were. I always thought that all chocolate was the same, but this is definitely better than an ordinary candy bar.
One thing I noticed with the Scharffen Berger chocolates was that I was satisfied with a smaller portion. The rich, luscious chocolate flavor meant that a few bites of the Scharffen Berger chocolate was as good as scarfing down an entire gas station candy bar. This, of course, is helpful when you’re struggling to find ways to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping your daily calorie intake at a reasonable level.
Scharffen Berger chocolates are available as bars or as tasting square gift sets. I think the gift sets would be fabulous to give as Christmas presents for coworkers or friends who don’t really need any more knick-knacks around the home. I know I’d much rather receive a box of delicious chocolate than something I’m going to need to dust on a weekly basis.
If you need help locating Scharffen Berger chocolate, there is a store locator available online.
Disclaimer: Sample chocolates were provided by the manufacturer for the purpose of preparing this review.
Photo credit: Scharffen Berger
