Shoppers moving from milk chocolate
A 70% bar offers a starting point if you want to try a stronger cocoa flavour before considering 85%. Taste is personal, so the percentage is a way to narrow the choice, not a promise that a bar will suit you.
Who might choose each bar?
People who prefer a more bitter bar
An 85% option is worth considering if you already like intense dark chocolate. For the Green & Black's bars listed by Joybuy, the 85% version declares 14g sugars per 100g, compared with 29g for its 70% version; compare portions as well as per-100g figures.
Shoppers checking allergens
Read the current pack for ingredients and may-contain statements, even when a dark bar is described as made to a vegan recipe. Lindt says its Excellence 70% bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy because it is made in a facility that uses milk.
What should you check?
Choose a cocoa range that appeals to you, then compare the exact bars by their nutrition panels, serving information and allergen statements.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and sweetness | Check the declared cocoa-solids percentage and sugars per 100g on each bar. Joybuy lists 29g sugars per 100g for Green & Black's 70% and 14g for its 85% bar; the figures describe those products, not every bar at either percentage. | I want to try dark chocolate without jumping straight to a markedly bitter bar, or I already prefer an intense 85% cocoa flavour. |
| Portion size | Look for the stated serving weight and its nutrition values alongside the full bar weight. Joybuy gives an 18g serving reference for its Green & Black's 70% and 85% 90g bars. | For elevenses, I'd rather decide how much to break off than treat a whole bar as one serving. |
| Allergens | Read both the ingredients and may-contain statement on the current pack. Lindt says its Excellence 70% bar is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy. | I need to check the particular bar for milk, nuts or other allergens relevant to me; a cocoa percentage or recipe description cannot answer that. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every dark bar has similar sugar content
The label “dark” does not tell you how much sugar a particular bar contains. Waitrose & Partners lists 29g sugars per 100g for Green & Black's 70%, while Joybuy lists 14g per 100g for its 85% version.
Compare the nutrition panels on the exact bars, using per-100g figures for a like-for-like check and serving figures when planning elevenses.
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Reading “vegan recipe” as an allergy assurance
Lindt says Excellence 70% is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy because it is manufactured in a facility that uses milk.
If an allergy is relevant, follow the current pack's ingredient and allergen statements rather than relying on the recipe description.
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Choosing a bar without considering the serving
Per-100g values make bars easier to compare, but they do not describe the amount you plan to eat. Waitrose & Partners states 96 kcal for an 18g serving of its Belgian Dark Chocolate 72%.
Check the serving weight on your chosen bar and break off the portion you want before putting the rest away.
Brand references
Green & Black's
Its 90g dark bars offer a direct choice between labelled 70% and 85% minimum cocoa solids.
- Joybuy lists 29g sugars per 100g for the 70% bar and 14g per 100g for the 85% bar.
- The compared bars carry may-contain milk and nut warnings; check the current pack if these matter to you.
Lindt
Excellence 70% is a 100g bar with 70% minimum cocoa solids, according to ASDA Groceries.
- ASDA Groceries lists 29g sugars per 100g, giving you a stated figure to compare with other bars.
- Lindt says the 70% bar is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy. ASDA Groceries also lists may-contain warnings for nuts, milk, soya and sesame.
Cadbury
Cadbury describes Bournville Classic as a 100g dark chocolate bar suitable for vegetarians.
- Bournville Classic is an option if you are choosing by bar style rather than a stated high-cocoa percentage.
- If a particular cocoa percentage matters to your choice, check the exact pack before comparing it with labelled 70%, 72% or 85% bars.
Dark chocolate options on Joybuy
These bars cover labelled 70%, 72% and 85% cocoa choices for an elevenses portion. Compare each product's current pack information before choosing, especially if allergens or serving nutrition matter to you.
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Green & Black's 70% Dark Chocolate 90g
A 70% minimum cocoa-solids option if you would rather begin with a less intense dark bar than an 85% variety. Joybuy lists 29g sugars per 100g and 5.1g per 18g serving.
May contain milk and nuts; check the current pack for the full allergen statement.
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Green & Black's 85% Dark Chocolate 90g
Consider this 85% minimum cocoa-solids bar if you enjoy a more bitter cocoa flavour. Joybuy lists 14g sugars per 100g and 2.6g per 18g serving.
It may contain milk and nuts. Check the current pack if either warning is relevant to you.
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Morrisons The Best 85% Cocoa Ecuador Dark Chocolate 100g
Another 85% cocoa bar to consider if you prefer the more intense route and want a 100g format. Check the pack's serving nutrition when comparing it with a bar that uses a different portion weight.
May contain gluten-containing cereals, milk, nuts and peanuts; read the current pack if these are relevant to you.
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Morrisons The Best 72% Cocoa Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate 100g
This 72% cocoa bar provides a percentage between the listed 70% and 85% options. Use its current nutrition panel to compare the portion you plan to have at elevenses.
Contains soya and may contain gluten-containing cereals, milk, nuts and peanuts; check the current pack.
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Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Dark 100g
A 100g bar for shoppers considering an 85% cocoa option. Check the current pack's serving weight and nutrition if you want to compare an elevenses portion with another bar.
Check the pack's ingredient and may-contain statements carefully if nuts, milk, soya or sesame are relevant to you.
Questions about elevenses chocolate
Should I choose 70% or 85% dark chocolate for elevenses?
Choose by the flavour you prefer: a 70% bar is a starting point if you want a less bitter taste, while 85% is worth considering if you already enjoy intense dark chocolate. For a concrete sugar comparison, Joybuy lists 29g per 100g for Green & Black's 70% and 14g per 100g for its 85% bar; those figures do not describe every bar at those percentages.
Is dark chocolate made to a vegan recipe suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
Not necessarily. Lindt says its Excellence 70% bar is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy because it is made in a facility that uses milk. Follow the allergen statement on the exact current pack.
How can I choose an elevenses portion from a larger bar?
Start with the serving weight stated for the particular product, then check the nutrition given for that amount. Joybuy provides 18g portion figures for its Green & Black's 70% and 85% 90g bars; a different bar may use a different serving weight.
How should I store the rest of a dark chocolate bar?
Keep it in a cool, dry place away from heat, and follow any product-specific storage instructions on the pack.