High-cocoa snackers
If you already enjoy bitter chocolate, compare 85%, 90% and 100% cocoa by the taste you want as well as the information on each bar’s label. Those percentages do not make different products nutritionally interchangeable.
Who is choosing?
Portion-conscious treat buyers
If you want a planned mid-morning treat, separate pieces may make it easier to decide what to have before opening the pack than eating directly from a full-size bar.
Allergen-aware buyers
If an allergy affects your choice, check the exact bar’s current ingredients and precautionary statement. A vegan recipe or a “made without dairy” description does not settle whether a product is suitable for a milk allergy.
What should you check?
Start with a cocoa level you expect to enjoy, then compare the labelled nutrition, the way you intend to portion the chocolate and any allergen warnings.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and sweetness | Compare cocoa percentage and sugars per 100g on the exact bars. Lindt Shop UK lists 85% minimum cocoa and 15g sugars per 100g for Excellence 85%, against 90% minimum cocoa and 7g per 100g for Excellence 90%; those figures describe these two bars, not every brand. | I want a strong cocoa taste, but I still need to choose a bar I will enjoy. A 100% cocoa option is a distinct, unsweetened taste choice rather than an automatic step up from 85% or 90%. |
| Portion format | Decide on a portion before opening a bar, or consider pre-formed pieces. Hotel Chocolat describes its 85% Dark Chocolate Batons as a pack of 15 separate batons; check the current pack for serving and nutrition information. | Separate pieces would help me plan a small mid-morning treat instead of eating from an open bar. GOV.UK’s Eatwell guidance advises having foods high in fat, salt and sugar less often and in small amounts. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and precautionary allergen statement for the exact product and check the current pack again before eating. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary labelling signals that an allergen could be unintentionally present. | I need the warning on the bar I am buying, not an assumption based on its cocoa percentage or a dairy-free description. Lindt states that its compared 85% and 90% bars are not suitable for people with a milk allergy. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming high cocoa makes portion size irrelevant
Cocoa percentage tells you little about the amount you will eat. Lindt Shop UK lists 30g saturated fat per 100g for its Excellence 90% bar, while GOV.UK’s Eatwell guidance advises having foods high in fat, salt and sugar less often and in small amounts.
Choose your portion before opening the bar. If separate pieces help, compare that format with a conventional bar rather than relying on “dark” as a portion cue.
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Treating vegan or dairy-free wording as an allergy clearance
A recipe description does not replace an allergen warning. The compared Lindt 85% and 90% bars carry milk-related precautionary information despite being made to vegan recipes.
For an allergy, follow the current statement on the exact product and avoid a bar whose declared ingredients or precautionary warnings conflict with the advice you have been given.
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Expecting 100% cocoa to taste mildly sweet
Montezuma’s describes Absolute Black as 100% cocoa with no added sugar. It serves a different taste preference from an 85% or 90% bar.
Choose 100% cocoa if an unsweetened, intense profile appeals to you; otherwise compare the 85% and 90% options without assuming that the highest cocoa figure will be the most enjoyable snack.
Relevant brand ranges
These examples illustrate different cocoa levels and formats; a brand’s inclusion here does not describe every product it makes.
Lindt
The Excellence 85% and 90% 100g bars allow a comparison within one named range.
- Lindt Shop UK lists 15g sugars per 100g for the 85% bar and 7g per 100g for the 90% bar.
- Both compared bars carry precautionary allergen information; Lindt says neither is suitable for a milk allergy.
Montezuma’s
Absolute Black is an option to consider if you specifically want 100% cocoa.
- Montezuma’s describes the range as having no added sugar and being made without dairy.
- Check the exact bar’s current precautionary allergen statement rather than treating “made without dairy” as allergy advice.
Hotel Chocolat
Its 85% Dark Chocolate Batons offer pre-formed pieces instead of a conventional bar format.
- Hotel Chocolat describes the pack as 15 batons made with 85% dark chocolate.
- Check the current pack’s nutrition and allergen information when comparing it with a bar.
M&S
The Collection dark chocolate bar is another 85% minimum cocoa reference.
- Marks & Spencer states an 85% minimum cocoa content for this bar.
- Its product information says the bar is not suitable for people with a milk allergy; check the current pack for other allergen warnings.
Divine
Divine’s 85% dark chocolate bar is a high-cocoa option described by the manufacturer as made with Fairtrade cocoa.
- The named bar provides an 85% cocoa choice for comparison with other high-cocoa products.
- Use its current pack information when comparing nutrition and allergens with another bar.
Dark chocolate options on Joybuy
These are 85% and 90% dark chocolate bars for the mid-morning snack decision. Compare their cocoa levels and the warnings on the exact pack; the list does not cover the 100% cocoa or baton formats discussed above.
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Green & Black’s Dark Chocolate 85% 90g
An 85% cocoa bar if you prefer that level to a more intense 90% or unsweetened 100% option. Decide how much to have before opening it; its listed precautionary warnings include almonds, hazelnuts and milk, so check the current pack if these affect your choice.
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Morrisons The Best 85% Cocoa Ecuador Dark Chocolate 100g
Another 85% cocoa bar to consider if that intensity suits your snack. Its listed precautionary warnings include gluten-containing cereals, milk, nuts and peanuts; read the current pack before choosing it for anyone with a relevant allergy.
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Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Dark 100g
Consider this 85% bar if you want to compare two cocoa levels within Lindt’s Excellence range. Lindt Shop UK lists 15g sugars per 100g for its Excellence 85% bar; its allergen information includes nuts, milk, soya and sesame, so check the current pack.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark 100g
A 90% cocoa choice if you already enjoy a more intense dark chocolate. Lindt Shop UK lists 7g sugars per 100g for its Excellence 90% bar, compared with 15g for its Excellence 85% bar. Check the current pack for precautionary warnings, including milk, nuts and soya, and plan your portion separately from the cocoa-percentage choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does 90% cocoa make portion size less important than 85%?
No. Lindt Shop UK lists 7g sugars per 100g for its Excellence 90% bar versus 15g for its Excellence 85% bar, but that comparison does not determine how much chocolate to have. Choose a cocoa level you enjoy and decide on a small portion; GOV.UK’s Eatwell guidance advises having foods high in fat, salt and sugar less often and in small amounts.
Is chocolate made to a vegan recipe suitable for a milk allergy?
Not necessarily. Lindt states that its compared Excellence 85% and 90% bars are made to vegan recipes but are not suitable for people with a milk allergy. Read the exact product’s current ingredients and precautionary statement; the Food Standards Agency explains that such warnings indicate an allergen could be unintentionally present.