For a higher-cocoa mint, compare the percentage stated on the exact pack: Marks & Spencer lists 85% cocoa solids for its Collection bar, while fondant mints and selections offer different formats for sharing. Check sugars, serving information and the current allergen label too; NHS guidance advises limiting both the amount and frequency of sugary foods such as chocolate.
A stated serving and a format that is easy to divide can help you decide how much to offer. Tesco’s After Eight listing gives nutrition information for three mints and says portions should be adjusted for children of different ages; check its allergen information before sharing.
If cocoa content drives your choice, use the percentage on the exact product rather than the word ‘dark’. Marks & Spencer, Lindt and Tesco list different cocoa-solids percentages for the mint chocolates discussed below.
Sainsbury’s lists its Taste the Difference Free From dark chocolate mints as milk and gluten free. Other dark-mint listings identify milk ingredients or precautionary allergen warnings, so check the current pack against the dietary requirement.
Start with the intended format, then compare cocoa, sugars and allergens on the particular pack you plan to serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing format | Check whether you are buying a bar, individual mints or a multi-box pack. Look for a stated serving when planning portions for children. | I want something I can divide for a group, rather than breaking up a bar. For a smaller occasion, I would check the pack size before choosing a sharing box. |
| Cocoa solids | Compare percentages for the exact products. Marks & Spencer lists 85% for its Collection mint bar and 56% minimum for the dark chocolate in its Mint Chocolate Selection; Lindt lists 47% minimum for Dark Mint Intense. | If a higher cocoa percentage matters to me, I want it stated on the pack. I would not use the word ‘dark’ alone to judge cocoa content. |
| Sugars and serving | Check whether the figure is per 100 g or per serving. Lindt lists 49 g sugars per 100 g for Dark Mint Intense; Tesco lists 17.2 g per three After Eight mints. Those figures have different bases. | For a half-term treat, I want to know what the stated serving represents before deciding how much to offer. NHS guidance advises keeping the amount and frequency of sugary foods such as chocolate low. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredient and precautionary allergen statements. Lindt lists milk fat and possible sesame and nuts; Tesco lists possible peanuts, nuts and milk protein for its After Eight box. | When milk, gluten or another ingredient must be avoided, I need the current label to fit that requirement. Sainsbury’s lists its Free From dark chocolate mints as milk and gluten free, but I would still check the pack being served. |
The cocoa description does not replace the nutrition panel. Lindt lists 49 g sugars per 100 g for its Dark Mint Intense bar, while Tesco lists 17.2 g per three After Eight mints.
Compare sugars on the same measurement basis and look at the stated serving before deciding how much to offer.
Product declarations differ: Marks & Spencer lists 85% cocoa solids for its Collection mint bar, while Tesco lists 43% minimum for After Eight.
If cocoa percentage is a deciding factor, check the declaration for the exact product and pack.
Lindt’s Dark Mint Intense ingredient list includes milk fat and warns of possible nut exposure. Tesco’s After Eight listing warns of possible peanuts, nuts and milk protein; Sainsbury’s describes a different Free From product as milk and gluten free.
Check the current pack’s ingredients and precautionary statements against the dietary requirement before serving.
A box size is not a serving size. Tesco gives nutrition information for three After Eight mints and says portions should be adjusted for children of different ages.
Decide what you will serve and keep the packaging available for its ingredient and allergen information.
These examples show why the exact product matters: a brand name alone does not establish cocoa content, sugars or dietary suitability.
Marks & Spencer lists both a mint bar with a declared 85% cocoa content and a larger mint-chocolate selection.
Tesco lists its own-label Finest Mint 47% Dark Chocolate bar alongside other dark-mint confectionery.
Lindt Excellence Dark Mint Intense is a 100 g mint dark-chocolate bar with a declared cocoa percentage.
Sainsbury’s describes its 99 g dark chocolate mints as having a peppermint fondant centre and being milk and gluten free.
Waitrose describes its Mint Thins as peppermint-flavoured dark chocolate with sugar crystals in a 150 g pack.
These options include peppermint creams, a mint-chocolate bar and a six-box pack of thin mints. Compare the exact pack’s cocoa, sugars and allergen information before choosing one to share.
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A 200 g peppermint-cream option if you prefer individual chocolates to a bar. Check the current pack’s cocoa declaration, sugars and milk and nut precautions before serving.
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A 100 g bar for shoppers who prefer to divide a mint chocolate themselves. Lindt lists 47% minimum cocoa solids and 49 g sugars per 100 g for Dark Mint Intense; check the current pack for milk and other allergens.
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A 120 g peppermint-cream pack rather than a bar. Check its current cocoa and sugar declarations; the allergen information is particularly important if eggs, soya or milk must be avoided.
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Six 300 g boxes for occasions where individually wrapped mints are useful to share. Check this multipack’s own cocoa, serving and allergen information rather than assuming that another After Eight listing describes the same pack.
Use the cocoa-solids percentage for the exact product, not its ‘dark’ description. Marks & Spencer lists 85% for its Collection mint bar and 56% minimum for the dark chocolate in its Mint Chocolate Selection; Lindt lists 47% minimum for Dark Mint Intense, and Tesco lists 43% minimum for its After Eight box.
No. Check the nutrition panel and its measurement basis: Lindt lists 49 g sugars per 100 g for Dark Mint Intense, while Tesco lists 17.2 g per three After Eight mints. NHS guidance identifies chocolate as a source of free sugars and advises limiting the amount and frequency of sugary foods.
Sainsbury’s lists its Taste the Difference Free From Dark Chocolate Mints as milk and gluten free. Check the current pack’s ingredients and allergen information against your requirements before buying or serving it.
Read the current pack’s ingredients and precautionary allergen statements for that specific product. Lindt lists milk fat and possible nut exposure for Dark Mint Intense; Tesco’s After Eight box lists possible peanuts, nuts and milk protein. A dark-chocolate description alone does not answer the allergen question.