Ara Chocolat 70% Dark Chocolate Bar with Nyons AOC Olives

65 gram bar - Paris, France

This is one of the more intriguing bars in Ara Chocolat’s lineup. It begins with 70% grand cru cacao from El Salvador, layered with Tanche olives from Nyons—one of France’s most celebrated olive varieties.

When first trying this bar, I was definitely curious how olives and chocolate would play together. What surprised me was how natural the pairing feels. The dark chocolate brings deep cacao richness, while the olives add a gentle fruitiness and a subtle savory, briny note that softens the chocolate and makes the flavors feel round and balanced. 

Tasting this bar with customers in our shop is a delight! Olive lovers naturally gravitate to it, wanting to sample the unique pairing. There's often a look of deep concentration as they experience the layers of flavors, followed by a slow smile saying, "It works. It really works."

The olives themselves have an impressive heritage. Grown near Nyons on the Chauvin family plantation, Tanche olives were the first olives in France to receive an Appellation of Origin (AOC) in 1968, later becoming an AOP in 1996. Their delicate sweetness and soft texture make them especially suited to this unexpected combination.

I like this bar for its sense of adventure. It’s the kind of chocolate that makes you pause for a moment and think about flavor in a new way—something both elegant and a little surprising.

Cacao Origin: El Salvador
Additions: Nyons olives, France