Hosts planning an adult-focused table
If guests expect a distinctly dark chocolate alongside dessert, tea or coffee, start with a plain bar that states its cocoa percentage. Keep its wrapper available so guests can check the ingredients.
Who is the chocolate table for?
Hosts with guests of different ages
A larger sharing bar or a bar divided into fingers offers different ways to serve older guests. Plan the chocolate table separately from food for the baby, and supervise access by young children.
Hosts answering dietary and allergy questions
Check each current pack rather than relying on the word “dark”. A vegan recipe, vegetarian suitability and suitability for someone with a milk allergy are different questions.
What should you check before choosing?
Decide what kind of bar guests will expect, then check its serving format and current label before setting out portions.
Plain, higher-cocoa bars
Choose when: The table is mainly for adults who want a plain bar with a clearly stated high cocoa percentage.
Bear in mind: A high cocoa percentage does not establish allergen suitability; check the wrapper before serving.
Larger, lower-cocoa dark bars
Choose when: You would rather portion a familiar dark bar for sharing than serve a 70% cocoa tablet.
Bear in mind: Tesco Groceries UK lists the 180g Cadbury Bournville Classic Dark bar at 36% minimum cocoa solids; keep its wrapper with the portions.
Dark-coated wafer bars
Choose when: Guests would find break-off fingers more convenient than pieces cut from a tablet.
Bear in mind: KitKat UK describes its 4 Finger Dark bar as wafer covered in dark chocolate, not a plain chocolate tablet.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and format | Compare the stated cocoa-solids percentage on plain bars. Distinguish that figure from the amount of dark-chocolate coating on a wafer bar. | I want guests to know whether they are choosing a plain, higher-cocoa bar or a dark-coated snack. |
| Allergens | Read the exact pack’s ingredients and “may contain” wording. Check dietary claims separately from allergy warnings. | Guests may need to check milk, nuts, soya or wheat before taking a piece; I want the relevant wrapper beside each bar. |
| Guest ages | Plan where the chocolate will sit and who can reach it. Keep food for the baby separate from confectionery for older guests. | There will be a baby and possibly young children at the party, so the sweets table needs supervision. |
| Serving | Check bar weight and whether the format suits the portions you intend to offer. Retain labels when dividing bars and keep chocolate protected from heat before serving. | I need portions that guests can take without losing track of which wrapper belongs to which chocolate. |
What can go wrong when serving dark chocolate?
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Assuming “dark” always means a high-cocoa plain bar
Tesco Groceries UK lists Cadbury Bournville Classic Dark 180g at 36% minimum cocoa solids, while Lindt Shop UK lists Lindt EXCELLENCE Dark 70% at 70% minimum. KitKat UK describes its dark option as a chocolate-covered wafer.
Choose the format first, then compare cocoa-solids percentages only where they describe the chocolate itself.
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Using a vegan or vegetarian label as an allergy check
Lindt describes its EXCELLENCE Dark 70% bar as made to a vegan recipe but says it is not suitable for someone with a milk allergy because it is manufactured in a facility using milk.
Keep the current wrapper beside the serving plate, including its precautionary allergen wording, so guests can check the bar they are offered.
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Leaving the sweets table within a baby’s reach
Chocolate chosen for older guests should not become food for the baby being christened. NHS guidance says babies do not need sugar or sweeteners.
Place the chocolate where adults can supervise it and plan food for young children separately.
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Confusing retailer promotion rules with a party-menu ban
Department of Health and Social Care guidance on promotions of products high in fat, sugar or salt applies to businesses operating in and selling to England. It is not a blanket prohibition on serving chocolate at a private christening party.
If the celebration is on school premises, confirm the venue’s food policy before planning the table; school-food requirements are a separate matter.
Which brand examples illustrate the choices?
Lindt
Lindt EXCELLENCE Dark 70% is a plain 100g bar. Lindt Shop UK states that its dark chocolate contains at least 70% cocoa solids.
- The stated cocoa percentage makes this particular bar straightforward to compare with other plain bars.
- Lindt says its vegan-recipe bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy; check the pack for its other allergen warnings.
Green & Black's
Tesco Groceries UK lists Green & Black's Organic 70% Dark Chocolate as a 90g bar with 70% cocoa solids.
- The listing states the cocoa percentage and identifies the bar’s principal ingredients.
- The listing warns that it may contain nuts and milk; read the current pack before serving.
Cadbury
Cadbury Bournville Classic Dark offers a larger sharing-bar example. Tesco Groceries UK lists the 180g version at 36% minimum cocoa solids.
- The 180g format can be divided into portions for a shared table.
- The listed 180g bar includes milk and soya ingredients and carries a nut warning; it should not be treated as a 70% cocoa or milk-free option.
KitKat
KitKat UK describes its 4 Finger Dark Chocolate bar as four wafer fingers covered in dark chocolate.
- Its break-off fingers offer a different serving format from a plain tablet.
- It is a wafer product, and its listed ingredients include wheat and milk; check the pack for guests avoiding either.
Joybuy dark chocolate bar options
These bars cover plain, higher-cocoa options for an adult-focused table and a larger Bournville bar for sharing. Compare their stated cocoa percentages and check each current wrapper before serving.
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Green & Black's Dark 85% 90g
A plain dark bar to consider when adult guests want an 85% cocoa option rather than a 70% bar.
Check the current wrapper for its almond, hazelnut and milk precautionary warnings. If ready-divided pieces matter, check the bar’s format before buying.
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Green & Black's Dark 70% 90g
A plain 70% dark bar for an adult-focused dessert or coffee table.
The product information warns that it may contain almonds, hazelnuts and milk. Keep the current wrapper available, and check the format if you need pieces divided in advance.
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Morrisons The Best Ecuador 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate 100g
A 100g, 85% cocoa option for a table centred on plain dark bars.
The product information lists soya lecithins and precautionary warnings for gluten-containing cereals, milk, nuts and peanuts. Check the current pack before offering it to guests with allergies.
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Morrisons The Best Dominican Republic 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate 100g
A plain 72% cocoa bar for hosts comparing higher-cocoa options for adult guests.
The product information lists soya and precautionary warnings for gluten-containing cereals, milk, nuts and peanuts. Check the current wrapper and the bar’s format before serving.
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Cadbury Bournville Dark Chocolate 180g
The larger bar is an option when you plan to divide a familiar dark chocolate for adult guests rather than offer a higher-cocoa tablet.
Its stated minimum cocoa-solids content is 36%. The product information lists milk and soya and warns that it may contain tree nuts; keep the wrapper with any portions you put out.
Christening chocolate FAQs
Should I offer dark chocolate to the baby being christened?
No: plan the chocolate table for older guests, not as food for the baby. NHS guidance says babies do not need sugar or sweeteners, so keep the sweets table out of the baby’s reach.
Does “dark chocolate” mean dairy-free or suitable for someone with an allergy?
No. Read the exact pack’s ingredients and precautionary warnings. Lindt says its EXCELLENCE Dark 70% bar is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy because it is manufactured in a facility using milk.
Do HFSS promotion rules ban chocolate at a private christening party?
No blanket private-party ban follows from those rules. Department of Health and Social Care guidance addresses promotions by businesses operating in and selling to England; choosing food for a private celebration is a different matter.
What if the christening party is on school premises?
Confirm the venue’s food policy before buying chocolate for the table. England’s school-food framework is separate from the rules on retailer promotions, and the venue can clarify what applies to your event.
How should I keep the bars before serving?
Keep the bars dry and protected from heat, and retain their wrappers until guests can check the ingredients and allergens. The Green & Black's product listing gives the same dry-storage and heat-protection instructions.