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Whether you're committed to clean eating this year, embarking on a keto lifestyle or just a passionate foodie — you can always justify a little dark chocolate in your diet. Seen as a slightly healthier alternative to milk chocolate, dark chocolate is a powerful source of antioxidants, loaded with minerals and other nutrients. But let's be honest, it's not just all about health, and we all crave a sweet indulgence from time to time.
Dark chocolate's slight bitterness and lower sugar content works beautifully with other ingredients such as almond, hazelnut, orange and sea salt — and is divine in brownies and vegan baking too. This buying guide will help you choose your new favourite treat and we've rounded up 10 of the best options from Amazon, John Lewis, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose for you to try out too.
Emily is a registered integrative, naturopathic nutritionist trained in the principles of functional medicine, biomedicine and human sciences, and she has a Master’s Degree in nutrition. She has extensive clinical experience in both private practice and the public health and wellbeing sector. Her work embraces the interplay between nutrition, bio-individuality and mindset, educating and empowering clients to make lasting changes wherever they are on their health journey.
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Emily is a registered integrative, naturopathic nutritionist and has a Master’s Degree in nutrition. Her work embraces the interplay between nutrition, bio-individuality and mindset, educating and empowering clients to make lasting changes wherever they are on their health journey. You can check out her work from her Instagram account and website.
Choosing dark chocolate with a high cocoa content can actually be a pretty nutritious choice. A 100g bar with 70-85% cocoa contains 11g of fibre, more than half the RDI (recommended daily intake) for iron and magnesium, and almost all the RDI for copper and manganese.
Cocoa is rich in fatty acids too, so if you're wanting a more nutritious bar of dark chocolate, make sure to go for one with at least 70% cocoa content. Do bear in mind that higher cocoa varieties will taste more bitter than lower options, which some of you may not be as keen on!
With its chocolatey taste, cacao powders are very nutritious too!
When it comes to nutrition, it’s always best to go for darker chocolate. Dark chocolate will contain some sugar; it’s usually a lot less than milk chocolate. But do remember that whilst chocolate may provide a few health benefits, it must all be taken with a pinch of salt!
For example, there are claims that chocolate can positively affect cholesterol levels and insulin levels due to the flavanol content. However, the amount of flavanols needed to carry the claims (200mg daily) is limited in dark chocolate products on the market. But dark chocolate can most definitely be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet!
Chocolate is one of the best sweet treats there is, but if you're watching your sugar intake — how much is too much? The recommended adult sugar intake is 30g a day, so look for chocolates that have 25g or less per 100g for a healthier alternative. More than 25g should be saved for an occasional treat.
Artisanal chocolates often boast 'healthier' alternatives to white sugar such as cane sugar, maple syrup or agave syrup, which can be lower on the GI index and lessen the highs and lows of processed sugar. Nonetheless, be aware these options are still types of sweetener and can be high in calories.
Generally, the darker the chocolate, the less the sugar. But don’t be caught out by different names for sugar (there are over 50), so if in doubt, always look at the nutrition information to check.
Sugar can leave us feeling pretty rubbish, so help slow the release of sugar into your bloodstream by pairing your dark chocolate with food rich in protein or healthy fats such as a few nuts or seeds. A study found that pairing dark chocolate and almonds may help reduce unhealthy lipid levels in obese or overweight individuals.
If you're trying to lose weight, research suggests dark chocolate may help you achieve your weight loss goal. This is because eating dark chocolate curbs cravings and promotes feelings of fullness. However, since chocolate in any form is high in calories, you want to be careful about the quantity you're consuming so as not to counteract your weight loss.
If you want to keep dark chocolate in your diet and still see progress with weight loss, be mindful that some bars contain over 400 calories per 100g. Experts advise that 25g should be the maximum daily consumption, which means just a portion a day and not the whole bar or pack! Even the darkest of dark chocolates must be eaten moderately.
Many of the extra ingredients that can be added to dark chocolate can have the opposite desired effect on your health so try to steer clear of chocolate with a long list of ingredients. Any additional flavourings such as caramel or orange are likely to contain more sugar and salt so if you want to go for a healthier option, then try to stick to plain dark chocolate.
Choosing Fairtrade helps to support sustainable cocoa farming in places like Ghana and the Ivory Coast, and guarantees minimum prices and investing in both workers and their communities.
Organic can be a perfect choice when buying chocolate because it generally guarantees the product is of a higher standard. If ingredients are organic they are often also the best available, and the product has been crafted in a more conscious way, too.
'Single-origin' chocolate refers to the origin of the cocoa beans rather than the finished product. Made from one variety of cacao harvested in one region, buying single-origin makes the source of cacao much more traceable, and therefore a more fairly traded, purer and delicious chocolate too.
Cacao connoisseurs go for dark chocolate with minimal base ingredients for taste, quality and health reasons — a viewpoint you may also want to take on board if you're serious about dark chocolate! An ingredients list containing lots of additives and emulsifiers is mostly unnecessary and can take away from the overall quality of the bar.
Dark chocolate can be made from just two ingredients: cocoa beans (listed as cocoa mass or cocoa solids) and sugar in varying ratios. It's more common, though, (and tastier) for it to be made with three — cocoa, sugar and cocoa butter with the latter being the natural fat from the cocoa bean which adds the creaminess we all love.
Bearing all this in mind, there can be some less processed ingredients added that are worth your time. From a pinch of sea salt or a dash of vanilla extract, a squeeze of orange or the classic of dark chocolate loaded with hazelnuts, you'll want to try them all.
Most of the beneficial health qualities found in chocolate are down to the phytonutrients present in cocoa. Once the chocolate has been ultra-processed with roasting and alkalising, not only does the cocoa content start to decline, but the health benefits too. So keep your eyes peeled for chocolate with a higher cocoa content.
Although some companies create dark chocolate bars that have milk in to make them creamier, there's a huge choice of bars without milk. So vegans or those who are allergic to lactose can choose dark chocolate with no milk content at all to avoid animal or dairy products - just check the label to make sure it fits with your dietary requirements.
Here are more vegan chocolates for a healthier lifestyle!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Picó Super Dark Organic Vegan Chocolate | £3.50 Mid | Single Origin, Vegan and Organic Chocolate Made With Real Vanilla Pods | ||
2 | Montezuma’s Organic Dark Chocolate Giant Button Jar | £27.89 High | Organically Grown Vegan Dark Chocolate in a Recyclable Jar | ||
3 | Holdsworth Fiery Stem Ginger Enrobed in Dark Chocolate | £6.00 Mid | Spicy Stem Ginger Covered in Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate | ||
4 | Doisy & Dam Dark Chocolate Bundle | £14.61 High Mid | A Multipack of 74% Cocoa Bars With Unique Flavours | ||
5 | Green & Blacks Organic Dark 85% Chocolate | £2.00 Low Mid | Organic, Fairtrade Dark Chocolate That's Low in Sugar | ||
6 | Holdsworth Chocolates Dark Chocolate Heaven | £11.98 High Mid | A Selection of Decadent Handmade Chocolates in a Beautiful Gift Box | ||
7 | Green & Blacks Dark Orange & Almond Chocolate | £1.99 Low Mid | An Ethically Sourced Bar With Sicilian Blood Orange Oil and Roasted Almonds | ||
8 | Prestat Dark Chocolate Rose & Violet Creams | £15.50 High Mid | Delicate Rose and Violet Flavoured Creams From a Prestigious British Brand | ||
9 | Lindt Dark Chocolate With Hazelnut Bar | £2.50 Low Mid | A Luxuriously Milky Bar Packed With Crunchy Caramelised Hazelnuts | ||
10 | Lindt Excellence Caramel With Touch Of Sea Salt | £2.00 Low Mid | Smooth Dark Chocolate That’s Made From Sustainably Sourced Cocoa Beans |
This delightful extra dark chocolate from Picó is single-origin, vegan and organic — as is the rest of their range, which we highly recommend checking out. Made with 85% cocoa, this sumptuous bar tastes smooth and balanced and contains real vanilla pods for a gorgeously fragrant sweetness.
Every effort has been put into the process, the product, and the stunning packaging, and each luxurious square is illustrated with a vanilla pod for the perfect finishing touch! To be honest, as dark chocolates go, this one really is as good as it gets.
A more-than-generous helping of Montezuma's chocolate, this 900g jar of organic buttons may last you a long time. Plus they're lower in sugar than most dark chocolate options and are totally vegan and naturally dairy and gluten-free.
Made with 74% organic cocoa, cane sugar and cocoa butter, these buttons achieve the ideal balance between bitterness and sweetness. Excellent for having in the kitchen for nibbling, baking decadent desserts with, or as a gift for the chocolate lover in your life.
This might not be your average go-to when you think of dark chocolate, but try it once and it might just become your new favourite. The finest crystallised stem ginger covered in dairy-free dark chocolate packs a spicy punch, but a totally delicious one!
The second Holdsworth's offering on the list, they are famous for creating handmade British chocolates which make beautiful gifts for loved ones or even for yourself. You can also feel smug for choosing healthful, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich ginger to go with your dark chocolate treat.
Doisy & Dam are passionate about 'better ingredients, better ethics and better chocolate' — and we must say, they're definitely doing something right. If you're a bit of a health-foodie and looking for exciting new ingredient combinations, then look no further than this mixed bundle.
Their goji and orange is a match made in chocolate heaven, and the maple, toasted rice and pink salt bar is to die for, too. All of the bars in this package are 74% cocoa, which feels like the perfect balance to make it both a treat and a rich-tasting, health-giving boost!
A perfect option for the sustainably-minded, this bar is organic, Fairtrade and made with 85% ethical cocoa. Its high cocoa percentage and low sugar content make it an angelic treat for those on a health kick or simply if you want to get in those antioxidants and minerals (in a fun way).
Chocolate as dark as this can often taste somewhat bitter, but this offering has a generous helping of Madagascan vanilla blended in, making it incredibly smooth and totally moreish!
Not your standard box of dark chocolates, this heavenly assortment by Holdsworth is as high-class as it gets. Featuring a selection of decadent handmade chocolates and truffles crafted in the Peak District by a dedicated team of chocolatiers and made with the finest ingredients, of course.
While you're probably not going to buy these chocolates to snack on by yourself at home, they make a perfect gift for lovers of the dark stuff. Designed with gifting in mind, they come in recyclable packaging, decorated with intricate brass foiling and elegant designs. Gorgeous!
We love that this bar is made from ethically-sourced dark chocolate, as well as its delicious combination of Sicilian blood orange oil and roasted almonds. With a 70% cocoa content, this divine dark bar is made from the best Ghanaian cocoa blended with Madagascan vanilla, creating a rich taste sensation.
Sustainably-farmed, free from artificial colours and preservatives and made from the finest real ingredients, this bar gets a big tick from us. Suitable as a small gift, a treat or a snack!
As Purveyors of Chocolates to Her Majesty The Queen, Prestat chocolates are just about as fancy as you can get! Rose and violet creams have a long and glamorous London history as a favourite of ballerinas, fashionistas and debutantes and have a delicate taste like no other.
As you'd expect from a quality maker, the cocoa content of these chocolates is high at 60%, with a worthy 0% milk content. However, these fondants do surprisingly contain artificial colourings, one of which is non-plant-based carmine.
There are few things better in life than dark chocolate with nuts, and this one has both whole roasted and crunchy caramelised hazelnuts. Another very indulgent Lindt bar, packed with hazelnuts and chocolate that is on the milkier side of dark creating a perfect balance if you find dark chocolate quite bitter.
Made with sustainably sourced cocoa beans and created by master chocolatiers, it is undeniably delicious. Yet it could do with having fewer ingredients to be able to enjoy as a more healthful snack!
From its smooth dark chocolate to crispy caramel pieces and a touch of Fleur de Sel sea salt, this one is for you if decadence is what you're after! We love how rich yet thin this chocolate is, and the delicate diamonds add a touch of class worthy of any after-dinner nibble.
Whilst it is made with sustainably sourced cocoa beans, this one is definitely more of a treat-yourself choice than a healthy every day one as it contains quite a lot of ingredients, including a high amount of sugar and milk.
Thanks to dark chocolate being rich in antioxidants and minerals, it can have a fantastic effect on our bodies. Many of the supposed benefits of dark chocolate include promoting good heart health as well as reducing the risk of stroke, preventing diabetes and even improving brain function and reducing stress.
While dark chocolate has many wonderful health benefits, it still contains an amount of sugar, so should be consumed in moderation. You should aim to eat no more than 60g of dark chocolate in a day on the understanding that the bar you choose contains more than 70% cacao.
Diabetics should always be cautious with foods that can spike their glucose levels and dark chocolate is no different. Nevertheless, it still contains a whole host of antioxidants and minerals which a diabetic can benefit from, so a couple of squares a day is sufficient enough to benefit from it without a blood sugar spike.
Written and researched by Melanie McPhail
No. 1: Picó|Super Dark Organic Vegan Chocolate
No. 2: Montezuma’s|Organic Dark Chocolate Giant Button Jar
No. 3: Holdsworth|Fiery Stem Ginger Enrobed in Dark Chocolate
No. 4: Doisy & Dam|Dark Chocolate Bundle
No. 5: Green & Blacks |Organic Dark 85% Chocolate
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