Best super dark chocolate

slbbw
slbbw Posts: 329 Member
Curious what everyone's favorite very dark, sugar sweetened or unsweetened dark chocolate is. I just purchased a couple different brands for my office snack drawer. Looking for around 1-2g of sugar for a 50-70 calorie serving size. Not interested in stevia, sucralose malitol etc sweetened chocolates.

I am trying or have tried: Ghiradelli 92%, Lindt 90%, Alter Eco 90%, HT traders 85% and Montezuma absolute black 100%.

I like the Ghiradelli and the Montezuma so far. Did not care for the Alter Eco, Have not tried the other two.
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Replies

  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,374 Member
    I like the Lindt 90% (have 2 bars in my 'goodie' drawer). I have tried the Green and Black but it's a toss up for the Lindt (at least as far as I can taste any difference).
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    I'm a simple kinda girl. I like the dark Hershey kisses. Serving size is 6. I rarely need more than 2 to satisfy.
  • ceiswyn
    ceiswyn Posts: 2,256 Member
    edited June 2019
    Solkiki’s ‘Kablon’ 85% is the best I’ve found so far, but it depends on your taste preference.

    I find Lindt and most of the other major chocolatiers a bit bland. Kablon has a lot of personality, being more bitter and slightly reminiscent of nuts and biscuit. Alternatively, if you’re UK based, I can highly recommend Cocoa Caravan’s dark vegan chocolate (sweetened with coconut sugar).
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    I like Chocolove 88%. 4 g of sugar in 180 cal.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Of the brands that are relatively easy to find, Guittard is very good. Their darkest bar is 91%: https://www.guittard.com/our-chocolate/detail/nocturne-bittersweet-chocolate-91-cacao

    For something that's harder to find (unless you happen to be local to the Bay Area), this one is amazing: https://www.coracaoconfections.com/products/after-dark-truffle-bar
  • RAinWA
    RAinWA Posts: 1,980 Member
    I like the Endangered Species Strong & Velvety Dark Chocolate - 88% 3g sugar in 180 calories
  • Lark13
    Lark13 Posts: 21 Member
    Ghirardelli 60% or 72% cocoa. Great flavor, and excellent texture.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    ceiswyn wrote: »
    Solkiki’s ‘Kablon’ 85% is the best I’ve found so far, but it depends on your taste preference.

    I find Lindt and most of the other major chocolatiers a bit bland. Kablon has a lot of personality, being more bitter and slightly reminiscent of nuts and biscuit. Alternatively, if you’re UK based, I can highly recommend Cocoa Caravan’s dark vegan chocolate (sweetened with coconut sugar).

    I've never liked Lindt at all, even before I became a chocolate snob. Good to know that's not just me--so many people seem to love it.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    I’ve tried a lot of the ones others have mentioned, but always go back to Dove Dark Chocolate caramel with sea salt. Only around 40 calories per piece, and I have one every evening. There’s a local company, Abdallah, here that makes candy. Their dark chocolate caramels with sea salt are better, but more calories and more expensive.
  • ceiswyn
    ceiswyn Posts: 2,256 Member
    apullum wrote: »
    ceiswyn wrote: »
    Solkiki’s ‘Kablon’ 85% is the best I’ve found so far, but it depends on your taste preference.

    I find Lindt and most of the other major chocolatiers a bit bland. Kablon has a lot of personality, being more bitter and slightly reminiscent of nuts and biscuit. Alternatively, if you’re UK based, I can highly recommend Cocoa Caravan’s dark vegan chocolate (sweetened with coconut sugar).

    I've never liked Lindt at all, even before I became a chocolate snob. Good to know that's not just me--so many people seem to love it.

    Definitely not just you. What other people call ‘smooth’, I call ‘flavourless’.

    Clearly we need to get together and do a taste testing :)
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    edited June 2019
    I’ve tried a lot of the ones others have mentioned, but always go back to Dove Dark Chocolate caramel with sea salt. Only around 40 calories per piece, and I have one every evening. There’s a local company, Abdallah, here that makes candy. Their dark chocolate caramels with sea salt are better, but more calories and more expensive.

    I wish the Dove Dark Chocolate listed a %! I suspect it doesn't count as "super" dark chocolate, because I have yet to find an over 70% dark that I really like, and I love those little Dove Promises :love:

    I've yet to see Chocolove in a store, I must make a better effort to look for it!
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I’ve tried a lot of the ones others have mentioned, but always go back to Dove Dark Chocolate caramel with sea salt. Only around 40 calories per piece, and I have one every evening. There’s a local company, Abdallah, here that makes candy. Their dark chocolate caramels with sea salt are better, but more calories and more expensive.

    I wish the Dove Dark Chocolate listed a %! I suspect it doesn't count as "super" dark chocolate, because I have yet to find an over 70% dark that I really like, and I love those little Dove Promises :love:

    I've yet to see Chocolove in a store, I must make a better effort to look for it!

    If you have a Whole Foods, they usually stock it--at least the ones here do.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    apullum wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I’ve tried a lot of the ones others have mentioned, but always go back to Dove Dark Chocolate caramel with sea salt. Only around 40 calories per piece, and I have one every evening. There’s a local company, Abdallah, here that makes candy. Their dark chocolate caramels with sea salt are better, but more calories and more expensive.

    I wish the Dove Dark Chocolate listed a %! I suspect it doesn't count as "super" dark chocolate, because I have yet to find an over 70% dark that I really like, and I love those little Dove Promises :love:

    I've yet to see Chocolove in a store, I must make a better effort to look for it!

    If you have a Whole Foods, they usually stock it--at least the ones here do.

    We do, I will have to pop in and check, thanks!
  • pancakerunner
    pancakerunner Posts: 6,137 Member
    Taza Wicked Dark (95%), Theo Pure Dark (85%), Green & Blacks (85%). I also make my own... 100% :)
  • Buff_Man
    Buff_Man Posts: 623 Member
    I tried 90% Lindt and it was so bitter! My mouth just have up lol, couldn't taste anything
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I’ve tried a lot of the ones others have mentioned, but always go back to Dove Dark Chocolate caramel with sea salt. Only around 40 calories per piece, and I have one every evening. There’s a local company, Abdallah, here that makes candy. Their dark chocolate caramels with sea salt are better, but more calories and more expensive.

    I wish the Dove Dark Chocolate listed a %! I suspect it doesn't count as "super" dark chocolate, because I have yet to find an over 70% dark that I really like, and I love those little Dove Promises :love:

    .....sigh.....I know, right? They make me happy, and they are probably not much better for me than milk chocolate.

    I’m an old lady, with unsophisticated tastes, who knows what she likes. Tried the “good for you” dark chocolates, and to my plebeian tastes they are awful! I made myself a deal very early on in this adventure, “no foods that I dislike, no matter how good for me”, and I am sticking with that.😁
  • Keto_Vampire
    Keto_Vampire Posts: 1,670 Member
    Pure baker's chocolate...haven't eaten in like forever because the trade-off for inducing a massive headache usually is not worth it
  • SuperSlayer81
    SuperSlayer81 Posts: 19 Member
    apullum wrote: »
    ceiswyn wrote: »
    apullum wrote: »
    ceiswyn wrote: »
    Solkiki’s ‘Kablon’ 85% is the best I’ve found so far, but it depends on your taste preference.

    I find Lindt and most of the other major chocolatiers a bit bland. Kablon has a lot of personality, being more bitter and slightly reminiscent of nuts and biscuit. Alternatively, if you’re UK based, I can highly recommend Cocoa Caravan’s dark vegan chocolate (sweetened with coconut sugar).

    I've never liked Lindt at all, even before I became a chocolate snob. Good to know that's not just me--so many people seem to love it.

    Definitely not just you. What other people call ‘smooth’, I call ‘flavourless’.

    Clearly we need to get together and do a taste testing :)

    I have a chocolate spreadsheet. My husband and I use it to keep track of all the bars we've tried and our thoughts on them. At this point, I could put together a pretty darn good chocolate tasting. We've also done tours of a couple chocolatiers, which were very nice ways to compare chocolate grown in different regions.

    "Smooth" isn't something I'm looking for in a very dark bar. I would expect those bars to have complex flavors, and I think a bar described as "smooth" is usually pleasant but not interesting or complex.

    This has made my night and I immediately want to start my own chocolate spreadsheet! 😍
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited June 2019
    The Chocolove is typically at my WF too, so I wouldn't be surprised if you have luck there, kimny72.

    I discovered it by impulse buying at a place called Hannah's Bretzel (which is an overly expensive but occasionally worth it lunch place that has a huge selection of chocolates that you are basically forced to look at when in line). I checked and it seems like Hannah's is just a local chain.

    For fun, here's their chocolate information (doesn't seem like they are selling the Chocolove currently, although a variety of others I would like to try and some I have): https://www.hannahsbretzel.com/chocolate/
  • purplefizzy
    purplefizzy Posts: 594 Member
    I’m typically a Montezuma 100% girl, but I also like the Valhrona 85%.

    This one is 70% (lighter than I usually like) and 9$ a bar and has to be ordered online, but it’s pretty life changing.
    https://www.ritualchocolate.com/shop/nib
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    The Chocolove is typically at my WF too, so I wouldn't be surprised if you have luck there, kimny72.

    I discovered it by impulse buying at a place called Hannah's Bretzel (which is an overly expensive but occasionally worth it lunch place that has a huge selection of chocolates that you are basically forced to look at when in line). I checked and it seems like Hannah's is just a local chain.

    For fun, here's their chocolate information (doesn't seem like they are selling the Chocolove currently, although a variety of others I would like to try and some I have): https://www.hannahsbretzel.com/chocolate/

    I found Hannah's while in Chicago once, and I loved it. They have some excellent chocolate. I haven't tried every bar on that link, but of the ones I've had, I would recommend the Michel Cluizel 45%. Pricey, but in my opinion well worth it. In the US, a product must be at least 10% chocolate liquor before it can be sold as "milk chocolate," and so cheaper chocolate bars may wind up having very little actual chocolate in them. More expensive milk chocolate bars usually start at around 30% cacao, and I personally love chocolate in the "dark milk" range (about 40-60%).

    If you're at Hannah's and want something darker and also less expensive, go for the Equal Exchange 71%.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    I’m typically a Montezuma 100% girl, but I also like the Valhrona 85%.

    This one is 70% (lighter than I usually like) and 9$ a bar and has to be ordered online, but it’s pretty life changing.
    https://www.ritualchocolate.com/shop/nib

    I've heard good things about Ritual, but haven't tried any of their bars yet. I'd like to try their Madagascar bar. Of the single origin chocolates I've tried, I've consistently preferred Madagascar. (If you ever get a chance to compare chocolate from several different places, do it--it's amazing how different they all taste!)
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    I’ve tried a lot of the ones others have mentioned, but always go back to Dove Dark Chocolate caramel with sea salt. Only around 40 calories per piece, and I have one every evening. There’s a local company, Abdallah, here that makes candy. Their dark chocolate caramels with sea salt are better, but more calories and more expensive.

    Can you keep these in the fridge? Sounds delicious. I miss caramel.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    apullum wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    The Chocolove is typically at my WF too, so I wouldn't be surprised if you have luck there, kimny72.

    I discovered it by impulse buying at a place called Hannah's Bretzel (which is an overly expensive but occasionally worth it lunch place that has a huge selection of chocolates that you are basically forced to look at when in line). I checked and it seems like Hannah's is just a local chain.

    For fun, here's their chocolate information (doesn't seem like they are selling the Chocolove currently, although a variety of others I would like to try and some I have): https://www.hannahsbretzel.com/chocolate/

    I found Hannah's while in Chicago once, and I loved it. They have some excellent chocolate. I haven't tried every bar on that link, but of the ones I've had, I would recommend the Michel Cluizel 45%. Pricey, but in my opinion well worth it. In the US, a product must be at least 10% chocolate liquor before it can be sold as "milk chocolate," and so cheaper chocolate bars may wind up having very little actual chocolate in them. More expensive milk chocolate bars usually start at around 30% cacao, and I personally love chocolate in the "dark milk" range (about 40-60%).

    If you're at Hannah's and want something darker and also less expensive, go for the Equal Exchange 71%.

    Yay, I will definitely try both of those.
  • Strawblackcat
    Strawblackcat Posts: 944 Member
    RAinWA wrote: »
    I like the Endangered Species Strong & Velvety Dark Chocolate - 88% 3g sugar in 180 calories

    ^^ +1 for that suggestion!
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,093 Member
    I hate to be a bummer, but as long as you are already shelling out for more expensive chocolate, you might want to consider sticking with Fair Trade chocolate (which several of the brands mentioned in the thread are), to avoid chocolate produced by exploitative labor practices, especially, exploitative child labor or trafficked slave child labor. Just a thought. (Personally, I'm not a chocolate snob, and I prefer the mouth-feel of milk chocolate to super dark chocolate. I actually like a milk chocolate Hershey's bar, which is definitely not fair trade. I also use more cocoa powder than I eat chocolate bars, and I've had to go online to find fair trade sources of cocoa powder.)

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/business/hershey-nestle-mars-chocolate-child-labor-west-africa/?utm_term=.46c775f8cd76


    Again, sorry to be a bummer.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I’ve tried a lot of the ones others have mentioned, but always go back to Dove Dark Chocolate caramel with sea salt. Only around 40 calories per piece, and I have one every evening. There’s a local company, Abdallah, here that makes candy. Their dark chocolate caramels with sea salt are better, but more calories and more expensive.

    I wish the Dove Dark Chocolate listed a %! I suspect it doesn't count as "super" dark chocolate, because I have yet to find an over 70% dark that I really like, and I love those little Dove Promises :love:

    I've yet to see Chocolove in a store, I must make a better effort to look for it!

    https://www.chocolove.com/stores/

    The Walgreens near me have it. Target used to, but I don't see it at the one near me. I used to get a mini bar with every order I made from iherb.com. (They don't ship chocolate this time of year.)

    The cocoa beans are sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and some varieties are Fair Trade https://www.chocolove.com/social-intro/
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    My former manager surprised me with a Taza variety pack one day: https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Mexicano-Variety-Certified-Organic/dp/B0088OSAZ2/ (not super dark)

    Some years later I learned that the factory is in my state, and I've been meaning to take a tour.

    They ethically source as well:

    https://www.tazachocolate.com/pages/about-taza

    Taza is a pioneer in ethical cacao sourcing. We were the first U.S. chocolate maker to establish a third-party certified Direct Trade Cacao Certification program. We maintain direct relationships with our cacao farmers and pay a premium above the Fair Trade price for their cacao. We partner only with cacao producers who respect the rights of workers and the environment.