Players who want a plain bar
A single, unfilled 70% bar keeps the choice focused on dark chocolate rather than added fruit, biscuit or praline. Check the weight if you have a particular bar size in mind.
Who might choose each type of bar?
Shoppers who enjoy intense cocoa
Montezuma’s Absolute Black is a 100% cocoa option with no added sugar. Montezuma’s lists 0.6g sugars per 100g; its unsweetened profile is a taste choice, not an automatic upgrade from 70% chocolate.
Shoppers checking ingredient labels
Fairtrade, organic and vegan descriptions can help narrow a choice, but they answer different questions. Check the individual bar’s ingredients and allergen declaration separately, particularly if you need to avoid milk or nuts.
What should you check before choosing?
Decide whether you want a plain or flavoured bar, then compare cocoa percentage, pack details and the current allergen declaration.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour | Compare the stated cocoa percentage and ingredients. Lindt and Divine offer plain 70% bars; Montezuma’s Absolute Black is 100% cocoa with no added sugar. | I want some sweetness with the dark chocolate, so a plain 70% bar is a starting point. If I already enjoy an unsweetened cocoa flavour, I may prefer 100%. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and may-contain statement. Lindt Shop UK says its EXCELLENCE Dark 70% vegan-recipe bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy; Divine also lists a may-contain milk warning. | A vegan description alone does not answer my allergy question. I need to check the declaration for the exact bar I am buying. |
| Bar format | Check the pack weight and whether the chocolate is plain or contains additions. The listed plain bars include 90g and 100g formats; fruit, biscuit or praline changes the flavour and ingredients. | For a simple break, I would rather have one plain bar than a bar with added flavours. If I want something different, I can choose those additions deliberately. |
| Ingredient labels | Check what each claim describes: Divine lists Fairtrade ingredients and no palm oil, while Ocado describes Green & Black’s 70% bar as organic and Fairtrade-labelled. Check the allergen statement separately. | Organic or Fairtrade labelling matters to me, but it does not replace checking whether this particular bar meets my ingredient requirements. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming vegan means suitable for a milk allergy
A bar can use a vegan recipe and still carry a milk warning. Lindt Shop UK explicitly says its EXCELLENCE Dark 70% bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy because it is made in a facility that uses milk.
If you need to avoid an allergen, check the current pack declaration and the manufacturer’s guidance for the exact product.
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Choosing 100% cocoa on the sugar figure alone
Montezuma’s Absolute Black contains no added sugar and lists 0.6g sugars per 100g, but a cocoa-only bar has a different, more intense flavour from a 70% bar.
Choose 100% cocoa when that unsweetened flavour is what you want; otherwise, compare plain 70% options first.
Brand and product-line references
These examples describe particular bars and their labels, not every product made by each brand.
Lindt
EXCELLENCE Dark 70% is a plain 100g bar with at least 70% cocoa solids, according to Lindt Shop UK.
- A plain 70% option for shoppers avoiding added fillings.
- Lindt says its vegan-recipe bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy.
Divine
Divine’s plain 70% Dark Chocolate is a 90g bar labelled vegan, Fairtrade and palm-oil-free by the brand.
- An option when those ingredient labels are part of the decision.
- Divine warns that the bar may contain gluten, milk and nuts.
Montezuma’s
Absolute Black is a 90g, 100% cocoa bar with no added sugar, according to Montezuma’s.
- A cocoa-only option for someone seeking an unsweetened bar.
- Its intense flavour may not suit someone looking for the sweetness of a 70% bar; check the pack for allergen warnings.
Green & Black’s
Ocado describes its 90g 70% dark chocolate bar as organic, Fairtrade-labelled and suitable for vegans.
- A plain 70% option with organic and Fairtrade labelling.
- The retailer’s listing warns that it may contain nuts and milk.
Hotel Chocolat
The Better Way Bar combines 70% dark chocolate with praline, crispy biscuit and cherry, according to Hotel Chocolat.
- A flavoured alternative for someone who wants added texture.
- It is not a plain dark chocolate bar; check its current pack information before making an ingredient or allergen comparison.
M&S
M&S lists a 100g dark chocolate product with at least 70% cocoa solids.
- Its product information states the cocoa percentage.
- M&S says the product is not suitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies.
Dark chocolate bars on Joybuy
These single bars include plain 70%, 72%, 85% and 90% cocoa options, plus a 70% bar with raspberries. The raspberry bar is a flavoured alternative rather than a substitute for a plain bar.
No image availableGreen & Black’s Dark 70% 90g
A plain 70% bar for a gaming break when you do not want added fruit or fillings. The listing says it may contain almonds, hazelnuts and milk; check the current pack.
No image availableMorrisons The Best Dominican Republic 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate 100g
A plain 100g bar if you want a stated 72% cocoa option. The listing identifies soya and warns that it may contain gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts; check the current pack.
No image availableLindt EXCELLENCE 85% Cocoa Dark 100g
A plain 85% cocoa bar for someone who wants a more intense cocoa profile than the 70% starting options. Check the current pack declaration for nuts, milk, soya and sesame.
No image availableLindt EXCELLENCE 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark 100g
A plain 90% cocoa bar for a deliberately high-cocoa choice. The listing warns that it may contain hazelnuts, almonds, other nuts, milk and soya; check the current pack.
No image availableDivine 70% Dark Chocolate with Raspberries 90g
A fruit-flavoured 70% bar rather than a plain dark chocolate option. Its listing gives conflicting vegan and milk information, so check the current pack before relying on dietary claims; it also warns that the bar may contain gluten, milk and nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Should I start with 70% or 100% cocoa?
Start with a plain 70% bar if you want some sweetness rather than an unsweetened cocoa-only flavour. Choose 100% when that intense profile is deliberate: Montezuma’s lists its Absolute Black bar as 100% cocoa with no added sugar.
Does a vegan dark chocolate label mean it is suitable for a milk allergy?
No. Lindt Shop UK says its EXCELLENCE Dark 70% bar uses a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy because it is made in a facility that uses milk. Check the current pack and manufacturer guidance for the exact bar.