If you want dark chocolate without added fruit or crunch, a plain 70% bar is a starting point: Divine and Lindt describe their 70% bars as having a pronounced cocoa flavour while retaining smoothness or sweetness. Choose batons if you would rather separate a few fingers before watching, or a bar with inclusions if texture matters more to you. Check the exact product’s allergens and nutrition as well as its cocoa percentage; NHS guidance advises eating foods such as chocolate less often and in small amounts.
If you want cocoa flavour without beginning with a very intense bar, compare plain 70% options first. Divine describes its 70% bar as bold but subtly sweet; Lindt describes its own 70% bar as balanced. Those descriptions are starting points for choosing a flavour, not guarantees about what you will prefer.
If you tend to keep an open bar beside you, a finger-shaped format or a portion separated in advance may make your intended amount easier to set aside. Hotel Chocolat lists its 70% batons as 15 fingers. NHS guidance still advises eating foods such as chocolate less often and in small amounts.
If someone in your household has a food allergy, read the ingredients and precautionary allergen statement on the exact pack. Divine describes its plain 70% bar as vegan but also says it may contain milk, gluten and nuts. The Food Standards Agency cautions that vegan labelling is not a substitute for allergen labelling.
Start with the flavour and format you want during a programme, then compare the exact pack’s ingredients, allergens and nutrition.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour | Compare the stated cocoa percentage and whether the bar is plain or has added flavours. Divine and Lindt describe their plain 70% bars differently, so the percentage alone does not describe the taste. | I want a noticeable cocoa flavour, but would rather start with a plain bar than fruit, spice or added crunch. |
| Texture and format | Look for a bar, fingers or a stated inclusion. Montezuma’s Lordy Lord contains cocoa nibs; Hotel Chocolat lists its 70% batons as 15 fingers. | Crunch would make this snack more enjoyable for me, or I would prefer to set aside a few fingers before watching. |
| Nutrition and amount | Compare sugars and saturates per 100g on the exact products, then check any labelled serving. Do not compare one bar’s serving values directly with another bar’s per-100g values. | I want to decide how much to have without assuming that a higher cocoa percentage settles the nutrition question. NHS guidance advises eating foods such as chocolate less often and in small amounts. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and precautionary allergen statement, including any milk, soya, nut or peanut information. The Food Standards Agency says vegan labelling should not stand in for allergen labelling. | An allergy in my household means I need to assess this particular pack, not rely on the words “dark” or “vegan”. |
| Intended use | Check whether the product is presented as an eating chocolate or primarily as a baking ingredient. M&S positions its 70% dark chocolate as a baking ingredient. | I want something to eat during a programme, unless I also plan to use the chocolate in a recipe. |
A 70% label tells you about cocoa content, not whether different bars have the same sugars or saturated fat. NHS guidance advises eating foods such as chocolate less often and in small amounts.
Compare the nutrition panels on the bars you are considering and decide your amount before the programme starts.
Dark bars can contain allergens or carry precautionary warnings. The Food Standards Agency warns that vegan labelling alone should not be used to assess allergen suitability.
Check the current pack’s ingredients and allergen statements for the person who will eat it.
M&S positions its 70% dark chocolate as a baking ingredient. That may suit a recipe, but it is a different starting point from choosing a bar or batons specifically for eating during a programme.
Check the product description and format before choosing, especially if you do not intend to bake with it.
These examples illustrate differences between particular products and ranges; a brand name alone does not establish the ingredients or allergens of every bar it sells.
Divine’s plain 70% dark chocolate is a 90g bar for shoppers interested in its stated Fairtrade ingredients and vegan recipe.
Lindt EXCELLENCE Dark 70% is a 100g plain bar described by Lindt as thin and crisp, with roasted-cocoa, fruit and vanilla notes.
Montezuma’s offers plain dark bars and versions with added flavour or texture. Lordy Lord is a 90g dark bar with cocoa nibs.
Hotel Chocolat lists dark-chocolate bars and finger-shaped batons, including 70% Dark Chocolate Batons sold as 15 fingers.
M&S lists a dark chocolate product with at least 70% cocoa solids among its baking ingredients.
These bars offer plain, fruit-flavoured and different cocoa-percentage options for a TV-night snack. Compare each listing and the current pack for the details that matter to you.
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A plain 70% bar to consider if you want dark chocolate without a stated fruit or crunchy inclusion. The listed allergen warning says it may contain milk and nuts; check the current pack if either is a concern.
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A 72% bar if you want to compare a different cocoa percentage with the 70% options. Its listed allergen information identifies soya and says it may contain gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts; check the current pack.
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Consider this bar if you want raspberry alongside dark chocolate rather than a plain cocoa flavour. Its vegan-friendly wording conflicts with ingredient and allergen information identifying milk, so check the current pack before relying on it for a vegan diet or milk-allergy decision.
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A plain dark-chocolate option if you would rather avoid added fruit or crunch. This is a 180g bar, so decide how much you want before settling in; its listed allergen information identifies soya and precautionary warnings for gluten, eggs, milk, nuts and peanuts.
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Choose this 85% bar to consider a more intense cocoa profile than the 70% options; its product description calls it bitter, which may not appeal if you want subtle sweetness. The listed warning says it may contain milk and nuts, including almonds and hazelnuts.
It can be if you want a plain dark bar without beginning with a more intense option. Divine describes its 70% bar as bold with subtle sweetness, while Lindt describes its 70% bar as balanced. Check the exact bar’s ingredients, allergens and nutrition too: cocoa percentage does not answer those questions.
Not necessarily. The Food Standards Agency says vegan labelling is not a substitute for allergen labelling. Divine says its vegan 70% bar may contain milk, while Lindt says its vegan-recipe 70% bar is unsuitable for people with a milk allergy; check the current pack of any product you are considering.
Choose batons if separating fingers before the programme suits you, a plain bar if you do not want inclusions, or cocoa nibs if you specifically want crunch. Hotel Chocolat lists its 70% batons as 15 fingers, while Montezuma’s Lordy Lord includes cocoa nibs. Whatever the format, NHS guidance advises eating foods such as chocolate less often and in small amounts.
Follow the storage directions on the current pack. M&S advises keeping its dark chocolate in a cool, dry place away from sunlight; directions for another product may differ.