There are endless dark chocolate bars to choose from. Here’s how to make a choice based on quality, nutritional value, and taste.
Dark chocolate is packed with nutrients and offers several health benefits, but not all brands are created equal. The quality can vary significantly depending on factors like the ingredients, cocoa content, and processing methods.
Choosing brands that prioritize high quality cocoa and minimal additives can make a big difference in both taste and nutritional value.
So which one should you choose?
Follow this guide to find out everything you need to know about selecting the best dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is produced by adding fat and sugar to cocoa. It differs from milk chocolate in that it contains little to no milk solids.
Other common names for chocolate include bittersweet and semisweet. Although they differ slightly in sugar content, they can be used interchangeably in cooking and baking.
Usually, the simplest way to tell if your chocolate is “dark” is to select one with a 70% or higher total cocoa content.
Dark chocolate is well known for its powerful antioxidant activity. In fact, it has been shown to have a greater antioxidant effect than many high-antioxidant fruits, such as blueberries and acai berries.
The best dark chocolate has distinct characteristics, including the following:
- High in cocoa: 70% or higher cocoa percentage.
- Cocoa comes first: Cocoa, or a form of cocoa, is the first ingredient.
- No unnecessary ingredients: Avoid dark chocolate that contains trans fat, milk, artificial flavorings, high amounts of sugar, and other unnecessary ingredients.
- No alkali processing: Alkali processing is also known as Dutching. Avoid chocolate processed this way.
- Fair-trade and organic: This type of dark chocolate is more likely to be high-quality, ethically sourced and pesticide-free.
Follow these tips to ensure that your dark chocolate is high-quality, rich in antioxidants, and, of course, delicious. Read on to get more of the details.
It is recommended to choose dark chocolate made with as few ingredients as possible.
The best dark chocolate generally has chocolate liquor or cocoa listed as the first ingredient. Several forms of cocoa may be listed, such as cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, and cocoa butter, all of which make high quality dark chocolate.
Sometimes, other ingredients are added to dark chocolate to improve its appearance, flavor, and shelf life. Some of these ingredients are harmless, while others can negatively impact the overall quality of the chocolate.
Sugar
Sugar is often added to dark chocolate to balance its bitter taste.
While sugar is an important component of dark chocolate, some brands add more than others.
It is rare to find dark chocolate without any added sugar. A rule of thumb is to choose a brand with sugar listed first on the ingredients list.
Additionally, if you’re looking to keep your dark chocolate as a nutritious snack, it’s recommended to choose a brand that lists sugar last, as ingredients are listed in descending order by amount.
When selecting your dark chocolate brand, note that the higher the cocoa percentage, the lower the sugar content.
Lecithin
Lecithin is an optional ingredient in dark chocolate. It’s added to many store-bought chocolates as an emulsifier. This means it keeps the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating and helps blend flavors. It also keeps the texture smooth and creamy.
It is commonly derived from soybeans, so you may see it listed as soy lecithin on the label. Soy lecithin is used in such small amounts in chocolate that it shouldn’t pose any concerns about health effects or quality.
When you’re selecting a brand, keep in mind that lecithin isn’t absolutely necessary to make chocolate.
Milk
High-quality dark chocolate should not contain milk. The only exception is milk fat, which is essentially butter that has had its moisture and non-fat solids removed.
Chocolate makers sometimes add milk fat to dark chocolate to soften it and add flavor. Just like lecithin, milk fat is not required to make dark chocolate.
Flavorings
Dark chocolate is often flavored with spices, extracts, and oils to improve its taste.
The most common flavoring in dark chocolate is vanilla. However, it is difficult to differentiate on a food label which flavors are natural and which are artificial.
If you want flavored dark chocolate, it’s recommended that you opt for organic. That way, you can be sure the flavors are not artificial.
Trans Fat
If you come across dark chocolate that contains trans fat, it’s recommended you avoid it. Trans fat consumption is a significant risk factor for heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
Although it’s becoming less common to add trans fat to chocolate, manufacturers sometimes add it to improve shelf life and consistency.
To make sure your chocolate doesn’t include trans fat, check the ingredients list. If hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil is present, that means the bar contains trans fat.
It’s recommended you choose chocolate made from fair-trade and organic cacao beans whenever possible.
Growing and harvesting cacao beans is a difficult process for the producers. According to Fair Trade USA, you can ensure the cacao bean farmer earns a fair price for the product by buying fair-trade chocolate.
Choosing organic chocolate may also reduce your exposure to any artificial chemicals or pesticides sprayed on the cacao beans.
Dutching is a chocolate processing method that involves treatment with alkali, otherwise known as alkalization. This method is used to change the color of the chocolate and reduce the bitter flavor.
However, research has demonstrated that Dutching significantly reduces the amount of antioxidants in chocolate. For this reason, chocolate that has been Dutched may want to be avoided.
To check whether chocolate has been Dutched, look at the ingredients list for something like “cocoa processed with alkali.”
There are many factors to consider when selecting a dark chocolate brand, such as taste, quality, and nutritional value.
The best rule of thumb is to ensure your chocolate is at least 70% cocoa and make sure it is the first ingredient listed.
For the best nutritional value, avoid added ingredients like sugar and milk, as well as cocoa processed with alkali. Additionally, when possible, look for products labeled as “fair-trade.
