Berger Dark Chocolate with Sour Cherry Pieces. Organic dark chocolate with dried sour cherries, 70% cocoa, vegan, 90 g.

Berger Dark Chocolate with Sour Cherry Pieces is an organic chocolate bar with at least 70% cocoa and 5.21% sour cherries. It weighs 90 g and comes from the Confiserie Berger in Lofer in the Salzburg region. Five ingredients, vegan according to the manufacturer, no filling, no cherry brandy.

Dark Chocolate with Sour Cherry Pieces from Berger is reminiscent of Black Forest cake, just without the cream and sponge. All that remains are dark cocoa and sour cherry, and it is precisely this pairing that defines the bar. It belongs to the "Stückchen" (pieces) range of the confectionery. A "Stückchen" bar is a classic chocolate bar with solid pieces incorporated into it—in this case, dried sour cherries. Unlike a filled bar, there is no cream inside. The fruit is embedded directly in the chocolate and appears as a dark red spot in the break when snapped. Incidentally, in Austria, the sour cherry is called "Weichsel".

Tart cocoa and a bright, clear acidity

The bar tastes strongly of dark cocoa at first, then the sour cherries provide a fresh acidity in contrast. The dark chocolate breaks with a dry snap and melts more slowly than a milk chocolate bar. Its tartness lingers on the palate for a long time. When you bite into a cherry piece, it becomes briefly fruity and sour, after which the cocoa takes over again.

With a good five percent fruit, there is a piece of cherry in almost every square. Raw cane sugar and vanilla round off the flavor and allow the acidity its space. The finish leaves a dark fruit note that recalls cherry compote. Because the bar is dairy-free, the melt remains clear and dry. Anyone accustomed to whole milk chocolate will find this bar too tart.

With espresso, red wine, or as a dessert

A square after dinner is often enough as a finish. The bar pairs well with espresso because the roasted notes and cherry acidity complement each other. The fruit also builds a bridge to a glass of red wine or port. For a quick dessert, chop two squares coarsely and sprinkle them over vanilla ice cream or yogurt.

Some attention is required when chopping and chewing. Berger points out that despite careful sorting, traces of cherry pits may be present. Store the bar in a cool, dry place, protected from heat. This keeps the snap shiny and the cherry pieces fresh.

Our tip: Melt a few squares over a water bath and drizzle the mixture with a fork over curd dumplings or semolina pudding. The cherry pieces remain intact as small islands of acidity.

Organic and Fairtrade from the Pinzgau Saalachtal

The bar comes from Lofer in the Pinzgau Saalachtal. Hubert and Christine Berger started there in a garage in 1994; today, every Berger confectionery product is manufactured on-site. Christine Berger describes several buildings in Lofer, including a dedicated chocolaterie for the fine bars. Anna and Franz Berger now help run the business, with Franz working as the chocolatier.

With this variety, the values are in the ingredient list. Cocoa mass, raw cane sugar, cocoa butter, sour cherries, and vanilla come from organic farming, control number AT-BIO-301. Cocoa, raw cane sugar, and vanilla are Fairtrade-certified; their share is 94.8% according to the manufacturer. Since the recipe is purely plant-based, Berger classifies the bar as vegan. Raw cane sugar is high on the ingredient list for almost all Berger bars.

For lovers of dark chocolate with fruit

This bar is for you if you sometimes find pure dark chocolate too intense. A little fruit makes it more accessible. It is suitable for those who snack vegan and as a gift for a dinner party. The Organic Dark Chocolate Bar is available completely plain. The Milk Chocolate Bar with Fig Pieces is mild and fruity. You can find all varieties from Lofer at Berger Confiserie.

Note: According to the manufacturer, no major allergens are included as ingredients. The bar may contain traces of peanuts, soy, milk, and tree nuts. It is less suitable for small children due to possible cherry pit fragments.

A dark organic bar with sour cherry pieces from Lofer – tart, fruity, and perfect for the after-dinner espresso.