For a cream tea where guests’ dark-chocolate preferences are unknown, start with a plain bar labelled 70% cocoa. A higher-cocoa bar makes more sense for guests who already enjoy that style; whichever you serve, check the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen statements rather than treating “dark” or “vegan recipe” as an allergy-suitability claim.
If scones, jam and clotted cream are already on the table, a separately served bar with a stated cocoa percentage gives guests a clear chocolate choice. The National Trust describes jam and clotted cream as accompaniments to its fruit scones.
If you know your guests enjoy a more cocoa-forward bar, consider a higher percentage rather than assuming every dark chocolate will suit them equally. Lindt Shop UK lists distinct EXCELLENCE bars at 70%, 78% and 90% cocoa.
Check the exact pack before serving anyone with an allergy. Dark bars can contain milk ingredients or carry precautionary statements for milk, nuts and other allergens; the statements differ between products.
Choose a cocoa level and plain or flavoured format for the people you are serving, then check the individual pack for ingredients and allergens.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa level | Read the cocoa-solids percentage on the exact bar. Lindt Shop UK lists EXCELLENCE dark bars at 70%, 78% and 90%; the percentage alone does not establish how every brand will taste. | For guests whose preferences I do not know, I would start with a clearly labelled 70% bar. If they already prefer more cocoa-forward chocolate, I would consider a higher percentage. |
| Allergens | Check ingredients, precautionary statements and any suitability warning on the current pack. Lindt’s 78% bar contains anhydrous milk fat, while its 90% bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy according to Lindt Shop UK. | When serving someone with an allergy, I need to assess the particular bar rather than rely on the words “dark” or “vegan recipe”. |
| Plain or flavoured | Check whether the bar is plain or includes another flavour, and read the ingredients of the exact variant. Galaxy UK lists both a plain Fusions 70% dark bar and a raspberry-meringue dark variant. | I would put out a plain option if I want chocolate alongside the cream tea; I would choose a flavoured bar when that added flavour is part of the plan. |
A dark product name does not establish the percentage of a different bar or format. Tesco Groceries lists Cadbury Bournville Giant Buttons at 35% minimum cocoa solids, whereas Lindt Shop UK lists specific EXCELLENCE bars at 70%, 78% and 90%.
Read the cocoa-solids statement on the exact product you intend to serve.
Lindt Shop UK says its EXCELLENCE 90% bar is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy.
For an allergy, follow the exact pack’s ingredients, precautionary statements and manufacturer suitability warnings.
Galaxy UK lists its plain 70% Fusions bar separately from the raspberry-meringue variant. They offer different flavours, and the flavoured variant calls for its own ingredient check.
Keep a clearly labelled plain option if you are serving a mixed group; add a flavoured bar when you want that flavour on the table.
Waitrose & Partners advises shoppers that product recipes and allergen information can change.
Before serving, check the physical pack for its current cocoa percentage, ingredients, allergen statements and best-before information.
Cadbury UK describes Bournville Classic as a 100g dark chocolate bar and labels it vegetarian friendly.
Galaxy UK lists a plain Fusions Dark Chocolate with 70% Cocoa and a Dark Chocolate with Raspberry Meringue containing a minimum of 70% cocoa.
Waitrose & Partners lists Green & Black’s Organic 70% Dark Chocolate as a 90g eating bar with organic and Fairtrade positioning; it also lists a separate 70% cooking bar.
Lindt Shop UK lists EXCELLENCE Dark 70%, 78% and 90% as separate 100g bars.
These bars have stated cocoa levels from 70% to 85%. The 70% and 72% options suit a starting shortlist for a cream-tea table; consider the 85% bars when guests already prefer higher-cocoa chocolate.
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A plain dark-bar option for serving alongside a cream tea. The product information states at least 70% cocoa solids and a 90g bar; it lists may-contain almonds, hazelnuts and milk. Check the current pack before serving anyone with an allergy.
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Another bar to consider when you want a stated cocoa level close to 70% for a cream tea. The product information states at least 72% cocoa solids and a 100g bar; it identifies soya as present and lists cereals containing gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts as may contain. Check the current pack for allergy decisions.
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Consider this 85% cocoa bar for guests who already prefer higher-cocoa dark chocolate. The product information lists a 100g bar and names nuts, milk, soya and sesame seeds in its allergen information; check the current pack to establish how each is labelled before serving anyone with an allergy.
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A plain option for guests who already favour higher-cocoa chocolate. The product information states at least 85% cocoa solids and a 90g bar; it lists may-contain almonds, hazelnuts, other nuts and milk. Check the current pack before serving anyone with an allergy.
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This 85% cocoa bar is another option for guests who prefer higher-cocoa chocolate with their cream tea. The product information gives a 100g bar and lists cereals containing gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts as may contain. Check the current pack before serving anyone with an allergy.
A plain 70% bar is a practical starting point when guests’ preferences are unknown; consider a higher percentage for people who already enjoy more cocoa-forward chocolate. Lindt Shop UK lists separate EXCELLENCE bars at 70%, 78% and 90%, but a cocoa percentage does not tell you whether a guest will like a particular bar.
Not necessarily. Lindt Shop UK lists anhydrous milk fat in its EXCELLENCE 78% bar and says its vegan-recipe 90% bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy. Check the ingredients and allergen statements on the current pack of the exact bar you plan to serve.
Read the exact pack’s ingredients, emphasised allergens and any “may contain” statement. Depending on the bar, product information from Lindt Shop UK and Waitrose & Partners identifies milk, nuts, soya or sesame as relevant checks; do not transfer one variant’s statement to another.
Follow the storage instructions on the bar you buy. Waitrose & Partners instructs shoppers to keep its Green & Black’s 70% cooking chocolate dry and protected from heat; use your chosen eating bar’s own pack for its instructions.