Río Samaria vs Costa Esmeraldas: 70% Bar Comparison
By Dandelion Chocolate | Published: 2026-10-21
Category: Comparisons
Compare Dandelion Chocolate's 70% single-origin bars: warm plum jam and champurrado from Mexico versus bold s'more and blueberry from Ecuador.
Quick answer
Choose Río Samaria if you crave warm, comforting flavors like plum jam and champurrado; choose Costa Esmeraldas if you prefer a bolder, fruitier bar with s’more and blueberry notes.
Roasting approach shapes flavor
Nate roasted the Río Samaria harvest for 36 minutes—the longest in Dandelion history—to bring out its cozy, mellow aromas. In contrast, Crystal’s debut bar for Costa Esmeraldas highlights the bean’s natural chocolatey depth and sweet fruit. The difference in roasting philosophy directly affects the tasting experience.
Origin and fermentation style
Río Samaria beans come from small farms in Tabasco’s Chontalpa region; Revival Cacao ferments the wet beans together for a uniform, rustic profile. Costa Esmeraldas beans are grown on Freddy Salazar’s single estate on Ecuador’s northern coast, where he refines fermentation to balance chocolate richness with subtle fruit. Estate-grown beans often offer more predictable, polished flavor.
How to choose between them
- Flavor profile: Río Samaria: plum jam, champurrado, tobacco leaf (warm, comforting). Costa Esmeraldas: s’more, toasted almond, blueberry (bold, fruity, chocolatey). Your flavor preference is the deciding factor.
- Roast intensity: Río Samaria uses a 36-minute roast for deep, mellow aromas. Costa Esmeraldas uses a shorter roast to preserve bright fruit notes. If you enjoy toasty, caramelized flavors, choose Río Samaria.
- Origin story: Río Samaria is a multi-farm blend from Tabasco, Mexico. Costa Esmeraldas is a single-estate bar from Ecuador. Single-estate bars offer more traceability and consistent terroir expression.
Product facts
- Río Samaria, Mexico, 2026, 70% Single-Origin Chocolate Bar: Revival Cacao buys wet beans from farms around Río Samaria, then ferments them together. Nate roasts this harvest for 36 minutes, the longest in Dandelion history. Long roasting deepens the warm, comforting notes like plum jam and champurrado, making this bar ideal for cozy, unhurried tasting.
Río Samaria, Mexico, 2026, 70% Single-Origin Chocolate Bar - Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador 70% 2023 Batch 1 Single-Origin Chocolate Bar: Freddy Salazar's northern coastal estate uses refined fermentation to balance chocolatey depth with subtle fruit. Crystal's first bar profile highlights chocolatey and sweet-aromatic flavors. The precise fermentation and roast bring out a bold, layered profile with s’more, toasted almond, and blueberry—great for adventurous palates.
Costa Esmeraldas, Ecuador 70% 2023 Batch 1 Single-Origin Chocolate Bar
Which bar fits you?
Best for
- Chocolate lovers who enjoy warm, dessert-like flavors and a cozy tasting experience
- Fans of single-origin bars with a rustic, farm-blend story
Not for
- Those who prefer bright, fruity chocolate with a clean finish
- Tasters seeking a single-estate, polished flavor profile
