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Discover the best dark chocolates from around the world.
Photo:EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
Below are our recommendations, starting with my favorite.
Is Dark Chocolate Healthy?
Dark chocolate tends to pack a healthy boost of fiber, too.
PHOTO: Amazon
But not all chocolate bars are created equally, and some chocolates contain ingredients that are not so healthy.
What to know:You probably wont find this bar in person in mainstream grocery stores.
Look instead at co-ops or online.
PHOTO: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
Pronounced cho, this California-based chocolatier has been sourcing and crafting fine chocolates for nearly 15 years.
Bars are certified organic and fair trade.
(Single-origin means the beans came from one location and sometimes one farm.)
The bar is also soy- and dairy-free, non-GMO and certified kosher.
The bar snapped easily, revealing an almost fudge-like center.
The flavor lingered beautifully.
As for texture, it was exactly as youd hope: smooth and ganache-like.
What to know:If you dont care for bitter flavors, this bar probably isnt for you.
Divine Chocolate started as a co-op of cocoa farmers in Ghana.
They set up their own fair trade cocoa farm and their proceeds went to their community and social programs.
Its also committed to tackling climate change.
Some tasters noted a flavor reminiscent of toasted marshmallows.
What to know:This bar has the most added sugars per serving on our list.
A family-run business that follows traditional chocolate-making practices, this particular bar features cocoa beans from the Dominican Republic.
At first, we noticed a pronounced raisin note and a rich sweetness.
There wasnt much tartness or brightness, but we did pick up a slight fruity sourness.
Then, as the bar melted, we noticed a juicy, almost milky mouthfeel and a subtle bitterness.
Some tasters noticed a faint trace of licorice in the background.
Vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO, this chocolate bars main drawback is its higher sugar content.
If youre looking for a pure chocolate bar, Pascha is it!
Its bars are certified organic, plant-based, keto-friendly, non-GMO, kosher and gluten-free.
In addition, Pascha holds Rainforest Alliance certification, underscoring its commitment to ethical, sustainable practices.
As for how the bar tastes, we first noticed a burst of spice that lingers on the tongue.
Then a burnt caramel flavor emerged with some bitterness.
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The bar melted quickly, becoming very smooth and almost milky in texture.
As it continues to melt, hints of nuttiness come through.
It all finishes off on a sweet note.
PHOTO: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
Pascha Chocolate produces artisan chocolate free of additives, fillers and common allergens that is creamy and downright delicious.
Plus, Theo is easy to find in person at major retailers.
What to know:Some of our testers noticed a taste of bitterness on the back end.
The bar coated the mouth well and also had pleasant notes of almond, peanut butter and toasted sesame.
The finish revealed some tannic notes that some found a little too bitter.
Both offer smooth finishes and distinct flavors and their company missions are applaudable.
When choosing a gourmet bar, chocolate expert Kathy DAgostino ofChocolatasuggests avoiding fillers and unnecessary flavorings.
The fewer the ingredients, the better, says DAgostino.
Some people put wax or paraffin in [the chocolate] to replace the cacao butter.
You want cacao, cacao butter and sugar.
And the higher the percentage, the greater the health benefits.
Is It Ethically Sourced?
However, thanks to independent verification certifications, its easier to identify the more ethical chocolate makers.
We broke each chocolate bar in half to observe how snappy it wasan indication of the quality of production.
(Did it give us a clean break?
Did it crumble into pieces afterward?)
If it didn’t snap well and it crumbled, then it suggested the chocolate wasn’t tempered properly.
We tasted a piece of each chocolate bar to observe the texture (i.e.
gritty or smooth), mouthfeel and flavor.
This bar is also vegan, certified kosher, free of soy and gluten and certified organic.
Overall, though, we did not find this bar exceptional, particularly for its short finish.
We also noticed some slight bubbling and blooming on this bar, which can indicate a lesser quality.
Common Questions
Is there caffeine in dark chocolate?
Generally speaking, the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it contains.
Is dark chocolate vegan?
Dark chocolate is naturally vegan so, yes, many dark chocolate bars are vegan.
But some chocolate-makers may add fillers, such as dairy, to change the structure and texture of bars.
Does dark chocolate have heavy metals in it?
Does that mean dark chocolate is off-limits?
Lastly, DAgostino suggests checking to see if the bar was tempered properly.
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She also has 15 years of experience reporting, writing, and editing nutrition and health content.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Chocolate, dark, 70-85% cacao solids.
PHOTO: EatingWell
A Third of Chocolate Products Are High in Heavy Metals, CRs Tests Find.Consumer Reports.
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PHOTO: EatingWell / Russell Kilgore
PHOTO: Amazon
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