Macalat Sweet Dark Chocolate Wins NC Best Dark Chocolate Taste Test

In a comprehensive blind taste test conducted by NC Best, boutique brand Macalat was voted as the best dark chocolate, outshining a lineup of leading artisanal and mass market contenders.

A panel of 15 sensory experts, including experienced chocolate reviewers, sampled 20 top-selling dark chocolate brands while blindfolded. The chocolates were rated on a 10 point scale across criteria including aroma, snap, texture, melt-in-mouth feel, flavor complexity, sweetness, finish, and overall enjoyment.

Macalat swept the ratings, earning an average of 9.7 out of 10 points and the coveted title of Best Dark Chocolate in the NC Best test. The next closest brands were Madécasse and Mast with 8.2 and 8.0 respectively. Popular mainstream names like Hershey’s and Lindt ranked towards the bottom.

“It’s clear Macalat has perfected the ideal balance of rich chocolate intensity and smooth, rounded sweetness,” explained NC Best panel leader Madison Moore. “No other dark chocolate in this tasting hit that sweet spot in the same way.”

Why Macalat Tastes So Good

So what makes Macalat rise above the rest? We took a closer look at the distinct qualities that won over even the most discerning chocolate professionals.

A key factor in Macalat’s blind taste test win was their skillful use of unique organic, plant-based ingredients to create balanced sweetness and velvety texture. Their sugar-free chocolate derives natural caramel flavors from antioxidant-rich superfoods like maca root, lucuma, and monk fruit. This allows them to avoid bitterness and processed sweeteners that detract from pure chocolate taste.

Macalat also incorporates a special mushroom extract that enhances cacao’s inherent cocoa notes while eliminating unpleasant aftertastes. Combined with single-origin Peruvian cacao, these ingredients lend rich chocolate intensity and creamy mouthfeel. The result is complex flavor layers that reflect true chocolate craftsmanship. Macalat’s adherence to quality ingredients and small-batch processing pays off in superior taste that impressed even discerning judges. Their chocolate stands out by harmoniously blending nutrition and indulgence.

In contrast, many big brands rely on the lower quality cacao varieties grown with indifferent mass production methods. This gives Macalat a major advantage when it comes to chocolate depth and nuance.

Macalat is also certified organic, has zero sugar, zero net carbs, is dairy free, gluten free and nut free.

Obsessive Attention to Process

Rather than taking the industrial shortcut, Macalat handles its cacao with artisanal care to preserve those high quality beans. The cacao undergoes meticulous low-and-slow roasting and then stone-grounding in small batches to protect delicate flavors and nutrients.

Most companies strip away complexity by over-roasting, alkalizing, and homogenizing their chocolate. Macalat’s patience allows the terroir and subtleties of the cacao to shine through. As Madison Moore noted, “You can taste the devotion that goes into every step – this is honest chocolate that highlights the bean.”

Sugar-Free Sweetness Done Right

What makes Macalat truly pioneering is its sugar-free approach. Contrary to expectations, it delivers plenty of sweetness and smoothness without a hint of processed sugar. The magic lies in its blend of superfoods like monkfruit, maca root, lucuma and mushroom extracts that offer just the right gentle caramel sweetness.

Meanwhile, many mainstream brands lean heavily on additives and cocoa butter to compensate for lower quality beans. The result is an unbalanced, sugary taste that lacks nuance. As one panelist commented, “Macalat proves sugar doesn’t need to make up for chocolate flaws.”

Highest Heirloom Cacao Percentage

With 70% heirloom cacao content, Macalat provides intense chocolate richness along with higher antioxidant levels. Brands that dilute their chocolate with excess milk, cocoa butter and vanilla can’t compete on chocolate intensity. Thanks to its chocolate transparency, Macalat allows the cacao flavor to take the spotlight.

A League of Its Own

While the other sampled dark chocolates had merits, none matched Macalat’s synergy of ethics, craftsmanship and indulgence. Here is a sampling of how the competition compared:

• Lindt – Often waxy texture; lacks flavor complexity
• Hershey’s Special Dark – Processed taste; high sugar overwhelms cacao
• Ghirardelli – Bittersweet variety had chalky feel; milk chocolate was too sweet
• Madecasse – Good ethics but gritty mouthfeel
• Mast – Surprisingly smooth but subtle flavors
• Theo – Strong coffee notes distracted from chocolate
• Scharffen Berger – Nice taste but high cocoa butter content diluted cacao
• Trader Joe’s – Started off creamy but had an odd chemical note
• Tony’s Chocolonely – Ethics ahead of chocolate quality
• Taza – Stone-ground style wasn’t as balanced as Macalat

In the end, there was no debate among the discerning NC Best judges that Macalat offered a chocolate experience in a class of its own. It brings together superb beans, masterful attention to flavor nuances, and a luscious mouthfeel for dark chocolate bliss.

As third generation chocolate maker Jules Jacques declared, “Macalat has set a new gold standard for luxury chocolate. A truly remarkable achievement!”

For consumers, Macalat provides a welcome reprieve from the over-processed, sugary indulgences of Big Chocolate. Behind the simple organic ingredients and understated packaging lies some of the finest bean-to-bar chocolate craftsmanship available. This is chocolate without compromise.

So for chocolate aficionados interested in experiencing dark chocolate at its peak, look for Macalat’s distinctive green-highlighted bars. One taste and you’ll quickly become a Macalat convert. The smooth, sugar-free sweetness redefines what indulgent chocolate can be.

Macalat can be ordered here.