Hosts serving dark-chocolate fans
If guests already enjoy dark chocolate, one plain bar can be a small shared tasting treat. Check its weight against your plans: a 90–100g bar is not a set of individually wrapped party favours.
Who is this for?
Hosts looking for a vegan recipe or Fairtrade ingredients
Divine describes its plain 70% bar as made to a vegan recipe with Fairtrade ingredients and no palm oil. Its product page also warns that it may contain gluten, milk and nuts, so check guests’ allergies separately.
Hosts planning a school event in England
The Department for Education’s school-food guidance concerns food provided in state-funded schools in England. The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 define chocolate as confectionery in that setting; ask the school or caterer to check the event’s requirements rather than applying private-party advice to school-provided food.
What should you check?
Decide whether the bar is for sharing or for individual handouts, then check the exact recipe, pack weight and allergen label.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and recipe | Compare the cocoa percentage on the exact bar. Check whether it is plain or contains fruit or cocoa nibs; do not assume guests want the 85% option. | I’d choose a plain 70% bar if I know guests like dark chocolate but not whether they want a higher cocoa percentage. Inclusions make more sense when I know their preferences. |
| Serving format | Check net weight and whether the product is one bar or individually wrapped pieces. A bar’s weight alone does not establish portions per guest. | If I’m putting out a small tasting plate, one bar may fit the plan. For a sealed treat per guest, I need a different format. |
| Allergens | Read the current pack’s ingredients and precautionary warnings before serving. Check each guest’s requirements; a vegan recipe is not an allergy-safety statement. | I need to know whether anyone must avoid milk, nuts or another declared allergen before opening a bar for the group. |
| Sourcing preferences | Check Fairtrade or other sourcing statements on the exact product, rather than assuming they apply to every bar from a brand. | Fairtrade ingredients or a vegan recipe may guide my choice, provided the bar also fits the guests’ allergy requirements. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Assuming “vegan” or “plain” means allergy-safe
Lindt warns that its EXCELLENCE Dark 70% bar may contain nuts, milk, soya and sesame, while Divine’s plain 70% bar may contain gluten, milk and nuts. Lindt also says its bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy.
Ask about allergies before buying, read the current pack and keep its wrapper available when serving. Do not treat a recipe description as a substitute for allergen information.
-
Counting one bar as individual party treats
The Lindt, Divine and Montezuma’s bars discussed here are single 90g or 100g bars, not individually wrapped handouts. Their weights do not establish how many guests they will serve.
Use a bar as a small shared tasting element. If each guest needs a sealed item, check an individually wrapped format and its allergen label.
-
Applying England’s school-food rules to every party
Department for Education guidance on school food applies to food provided in state-funded schools in England. The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 define chocolate as confectionery for that setting; this is not a general rule for private Halloween parties throughout the UK.
For a school-organised event in England, ask the school or caterer to check the applicable requirements. For a private gathering, focus on the food and allergy checks relevant to your guests.
Brand references
Lindt
Lindt Shop UK lists the plain EXCELLENCE Dark 70% Bar in a 100g format.
- A plain 70% option for a small shared tasting.
- Lindt says this bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy and may contain nuts, milk, soya and sesame.
Divine
Divine describes its plain 70% Dark Chocolate 90g bar as made with Fairtrade ingredients, no palm oil and a vegan recipe.
- An option when those stated recipe and sourcing attributes matter.
- The product page warns that it may contain gluten, milk and nuts.
Montezuma’s
Montezuma’s Lordy Lord is a 90g dark-chocolate bar with cocoa nibs.
- The stated cocoa-nib inclusion distinguishes it from a plain bar.
- Montezuma’s says Lordy Lord contains soya and may contain milk, nuts and peanuts.
M&S
M&S lists a Collection Fairtrade 85% Dark Chocolate 100g bar for guests who specifically want that cocoa percentage.
- Its label states 85% minimum cocoa solids.
- M&S says the bar is not suitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies.
Hotel Chocolat
Hotel Chocolat lists a 70% Dark Chocolate Slab Selector for hosts considering a slab rather than a conventional bar.
- A distinct presentation format for a shared treat.
- Check the exact pack’s weight, ingredients and allergen label before planning portions or serving it.
Green & Black’s
A Green & Black’s product page identifies a Dark 70% Chocolate 90g bar in a box-of-15 trade format.
- The identified bar has a stated 70% cocoa level and 90g weight.
- Check the pack format carefully when shopping for just one bar.
Joybuy dark chocolate bars
These single-bar options cover plain and flavoured dark chocolate for a small Halloween gathering. Compare their stated weights and cocoa percentages with your serving plan, and check each pack before offering it to guests with allergies.
No image available
Morrisons The Best Dominican Republic 72% Dark Chocolate 100g
A single 100g bar for a shared tasting when guests want dark chocolate at a stated 72% cocoa level. Check the current pack’s allergen information before serving.
No image available
Green & Black’s Dark 70% Chocolate 90g
A 90g bar for guests who prefer plain dark chocolate with a stated 70% cocoa level. Read the current pack for milk and nut warnings before sharing.
No image available
Tony’s Dark Chocolate 180g
At 180g, this is the larger single bar in this selection if you plan to break chocolate into pieces for sharing. Weight does not establish a serving count; check the pack’s allergen information.
No image available
Green & Black’s Dark 85% Chocolate 90g
This 90g bar has a stated 85% cocoa level, so consider it when guests have asked for a higher-cocoa option rather than assuming it suits the whole group. Check the pack for milk and nut warnings.
No image available
Divine Chocolate 70% Dark Chocolate with Raspberries 90g
A 90g bar with a stated 70% cocoa level and raspberry inclusion for guests who want fruit with their dark chocolate. Check the physical pack carefully for milk and other allergen information; do not assume this variant is suitable for a vegan or milk-allergic guest.
Frequently asked questions
Which single bar should I bring to a small Halloween party?
For guests who already like dark chocolate and have no relevant allergies, Lindt EXCELLENCE Dark 70% Bar 100g is a plain sharing option with a stated weight and cocoa percentage. Choose a different format if every guest needs an individually wrapped treat.
Should I choose 70% or 85% dark chocolate?
Choose by what your guests say they enjoy, not cocoa percentage alone. A plain 70% bar avoids assuming that an unfamiliar group wants an 85% bar; reserve the higher-cocoa option for guests who specifically prefer it.
Is a vegan-recipe bar suitable for someone with a milk or nut allergy?
Do not treat “vegan recipe” as an allergy-safety guarantee. Lindt says its EXCELLENCE Dark 70% bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy and may contain nuts; Divine’s plain 70% bar may contain milk and nuts. Check the exact pack and the guest’s requirements before serving.
Do England’s school-food rules apply to a private Halloween party?
The Department for Education’s school-food guidance applies to food provided in state-funded schools in England, not private parties. The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 define chocolate as confectionery in that school-food context. For a school event, ask the school or caterer to check the applicable requirements.
Can I use an online listing to check allergens?
Use the listing to narrow your choices, then read the label on the pack you buy before serving it. M&S advises customers to read product labels rather than rely solely on its online information.