While some people love the bitter taste of dark chocolate, others eat it purely for health benefits. According to some studies, dark chocolate, which is generally made of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar (and no milk) can improve cognitive functioning and reduce the risk of heart disease. A little bit of dark chocolate might even make you happier.
We could probably all do with a little more happiness right now, which is why we reviewed dozens of dark chocolate bars to find the best dark chocolate bars for all your snacking needs. During our research, we took into account factors such as price, ingredients, cocoa percentage, and sustainability hallmarks. We narrowed down our search to five of the top-rated dark chocolate bars that you should have in your kitchen cupboard at all times. All of these dark chocolate bars are for sale on Amazon.
Following our extensive research, we chose the Green & Black’s Organic Dark 85% Bar as our top pick for a few reasons. Even though this chocolate contains 85% cocoa solids, it doesn’t taste chalky or brittle. The ingredients’ list is very short (you won’t find any ingredients you don’t recognize), yet the chocolate tastes smooth and creamy. Moreover, this chocolate is ethically sourced (it was awarded the Fairtrade mark all the way back in 1994)!
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Dark Chocolate
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Dark Chocolate Overall | Green & Black’s Organic Dark 85% Bar | 4.7 |
| Best Mild Dark Chocolate | Hershey’s Special Dark | 4.4 |
| Best Budget Dark Chocolate | Lindt Excellence 95% Cocoa | 4.5 |
| Best Dark Chocolate for Cooking | Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate 100% Cacao Baking Bar | 4.5 |
| Best Flavored Dark Chocolate | Theo Dark Chocolate Fruit Variety 6 Pack | 4.9 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Dark Chocolate Overall: Green & Black’s Organic Dark 85% Bar
Can’t get enough of dark chocolate? You’ll love this Green & Black’s Organic Dark 85% Bar set. This set includes 10 individually packaged dark chocolate bars (3.17 ounce) made from 85% cocoa solids. Don’t worry about the taste being too intense, though. Green & Black’s adds just enough organic cane sugar to the cocoa solids to counteract any excess acidity and bitterness.
The addition of Madagascan vanilla further softens the cocoa solids’ bitterness. It also helps season the chocolate naturally. The cocoa butter, on the other hand, helps produce a smooth, luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth texture. These are the only ingredients used (and they’re all organic), although the chocolate might contain traces of milk or tree nuts.
Green & Black’s chocolate doesn’t just taste good. It’s actually one of the most sustainable chocolate brands out there. The company is committed to sourcing ethical cacao beans at a fair price, mostly from farmers in the Dominican Republic. In fact, almost all of Green & Black’s chocolates are Fairtrade and USDA Organic certified.
Green & Black’s Organic Dark 85% Bar Key Features:
- 10 dark chocolate bars
- Organic
- 85% cocoa solids
- Ethically-sourced ingredients
Best Mild Dark Chocolate: Hershey’s Special Dark
If you’re craving dark chocolate that is a bit milder in flavor, try Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate. This particular Hershey’s set consists of 36 chocolate bars. The bars are similar to standard Hershey bars but contain 45% cocoa solids and offer a darker, but still sweet, taste.
Apart from cocoa, these chocolate bars are also made from sugar, cocoa butter, milk, milk fat, lactose (milk), plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (an emulsifier), soy lecithin, and vanillin. Since the chocolate is manufactured on equipment that processes almonds, it might contain traces of nuts.
Because these bars are smaller (1.45 ounce) than your typical chocolate bar and come in individual wrappers, they’re perfect for snacking or sharing with others. Hershey’s Special Dark mildly sweet chocolate is also a Kosher dairy product (and is certified by the Orthodox Union). Hershey’s recommends that you choose expedited shipping during hot summer months as they’ll then use ice packs to keep the chocolate from melting while in transit.
Hershey’s Special Dark Key Features:
- 36 chocolate bars
- 45% cocoa solids
- Kosher product
- Can be shipped with ice packs
Best Budget Dark Chocolate: Lindt Excellence 95% Cocoa
Unfortunately for cacao aficionados, very few companies make 95% dark chocolate. Lindt is one of them. As is probably quite obvious from the name, Lindt Excellence 95% Cocoa chocolate bar contains 95% cocoa. As a result, this chocolate is very bitter and not at all sweet and, according to Lindt, has undertones of earthiness, dried fruit, licorice, and spice.
A genuine Swiss chocolate brand, Lindt has been renowned for making high-quality chocolate for generations. Since this set consists of 12 individually wrapped Lindt Excellence 95% Cocoa chocolate bars, it’s a great budget buy (the set works out cheaper than if you were to buy each bar individually).
In addition to cocoa powder, these chocolate bars also contain cocoa mass and cocoa butter, as well as sugar (less than one gram of sugar per serving). The chocolate may also have traces of peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and soy. The company maintains that all of its materials (both raw and packaging) are sourced and produced sustainably.
Lindt Excellence 95% Cocoa Key Features:
- 12 chocolate bars
- 95% cocoa solids
- Sustainably sourced materials
Best Dark Chocolate for Cooking: Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate 100% Cacao Baking Bar
Baking enthusiasts will want to check out the Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate 100% Cacao Baking Bar. The 100% cocoa in this chocolate will add a deep, intense flavor to pretty much any recipe. Many people also use this chocolate to make their own candy bars. That being said, if you’re craving a tasty and healthy dark chocolate snack, you can eat the chocolate as it is.
This chocolate, which is made from roasted and milled cacao beans, has no added sugars or dairy. The ingredients’ list overall is very short and contains only unsweetened chocolate. However, just like any other chocolate, the Ghirardelli Premium Baking 100% Cacao Unsweetened Chocolate might also have traces of milk, tree nuts, and soy.
This chocolate set includes 12 Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate 100% Cacao Baking Bars (4 ounces each). The chocolates also come with recipes (like Ghirardelli Classic Fudge recipe). Since Ghirardelli is part of the Lindt & Sprungli group, the cacao beans and packaging materials are all sourced sustainably.
Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate 100% Cacao Baking Bar Key Features:
- 12 chocolate bars
- 100% cocoa solids
- No added sugar
- Ethically sourced materials
Best Flavored Dark Chocolate: Theo Dark Chocolate Fruit Variety 6 Pack
For something a little different, try the Theo Dark Chocolate Fruit Variety 6 Pack. This chocolate set includes 2 orange dark chocolate bars, 2 cherry almond dark chocolate bars, and 2 raspberry dark chocolate bars. All six chocolate bars contain 70% cocoa solids. Other ingredients include cane sugar, cocoa butter, and ground vanilla bean.
The orange chocolate bar also has orange essential oil, whereas the raspberry chocolate contains raspberries. The cherry almond chocolate bar comes with dried sour cherries (sour cherries, rice flour, and sunflower oil) and almonds.
All ingredients are organic and responsibly sourced. The company uses a “bean-to-bar” process, which means that they source their cacao beans directly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru (apparently paying higher prices for quality beans) before turning them into yummy chocolate in Seattle, USA. All 3 chocolates are vegan and Kosher, as well as gluten, GMO, and soy-free. If you’re located in a warm-weather area, the chocolate bars will ship with cool packs.
Theo Dark Chocolate Fruit Variety 6 Pack Key Features:
- 6 chocolate bars
- 3 different fruity flavors
- 70% cocoa solids
- Responsibly sourced
- Can be shipped with cool packs
Not only is dark chocolate a delicious snack, but it’s surprisingly healthy, too. It also goes pretty well with a hot cup of coffee. Speaking of coffee, are you struggling to brew the perfect coffee at home? If so, check out our review on the best coffee grinders and our review on the best pour-over coffee makers.
