After my rave review of Green & Black’s White Chocolate (which surprised even me) I got an email from a representative of Green & Black’s asking if I’d tried their Ginger bar. They were reading the blog and knew how much I loved ginger! Of course when I said I hadn’t seen it in the store yet (Target has a rather limited selection), she offered to send me some. (And some other bars which I’ll review in the coming weeks.)
It’s a beautiful bar, with the same simple foil wrapping cloaked in a paper wrapper. The bar was shiny with small sections that gave a good snap. It smelled distinctly smoky and earthy. The dark chocolate is 60% cocoa content.
The first flavors I noticed when letting the chocolate melt on my tongue were a rather tart lemon and then a lingering burn of black pepper. Later the rooty, earthen flavors emerged, giving the bar more of a ginger flavor than a chocolate one.
The crystallization of the ginger gives the bar a more distinct graininess. It’s also rather sweet. I liked the spicy burn, and I found it very munchable, but the acidity kind of bothered me after a while. (But I have been eating a lot of pineapple lately and may be working with a disadvantaged tongue.)
The integration of the two flavors and textures isn’t quite right for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tasty, but I really wanted more essence of ginger and less graininess and of course more of the creaminess and flavors of the chocolate. I do like how generous they are with the ginger, much better than the ratios in the Dagoba chocolate bars I’ve had (their Chai bar has scant ginger content). I still favor the panned ginger chocolate pieces that I’ve been getting at Trader Joe’s, but if you don’t have access to those, this would be a good fallback treat.
I have a few more bars that they sent me to try, so I’ll be adding those to the site within the next couple of weeks. On my list is their Caramel, 70% Dark, Hazelnut & Currant and Espresso.
If you find it, also try their Butterscotch bar (if you haven’t already). I liked it almost as much as the white chocolate one.
Does Green & Black make the Ginger/Chocolate/Wasabi or is that someone else? At any rate, I am finally starting to see their chocolate here in Austin. I need to buy a bar.
Oh man, I want that. I love ginger.
Wow, from the picture you can really tell how much ginger they put in there! I can see how it’d be like… “am I eating chocolate-covered ginger, or is this a ginger-FLAVORED bar?”. I think I would prefer the distinction between the two confection types as well- this would annoy me. LOL
Good review notes, btw. I always love your blog!
=)
P.S. Lucky girl with the company samples!!!
*envious* i’d love to be sent free chocolate! haha
i think the only green and black bars i have had so far are the maya gold bar (orange and spices) and carmel. i’ve been pleased with both, but i think some of the other bars might be better. i’ll be looking forward to reading a review of the hazelnut currant one!
ps- on a different note, a couple days ago i saw a milka strawbery yoghurt bar and bought it… if you have never had one of those, i think it’s worth getting just for the smell! yum.
I have yet to sample their Maya Gold, this sounds wonderful!
I have been into ginger lately. I tried the choclate dipped ginger Altoids and love, love, love them!!!
I found these gorgeous ginger balls at the Asian market that I love for their citrusy, gingery goodness.
And I just tried the Green & Black Ginger bar and love it. Two of my favorite flavors together in one bar. And I love the texture of the ginger once the chocolate melts away. I’m not much of a chocolate chewer, I like to let it melt.
At over $3 a bar, this isn’t something I’ll buy all the time, but I do plan on trying the White bar and the raspberry bar.
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