New high-cocoa buyers
If you are moving from sweeter chocolate, a 70% bar gives you a starting point before you decide whether to try a higher cocoa percentage. The percentage cannot tell you on its own whether you will enjoy the flavour.
Who is choosing an afternoon snack?
Shoppers planning a set portion
An individually sized piece may be convenient for a desk or a journey. Check the pack quantity as well as the piece size: Divine’s 12.5g mini bars, for example, are supplied in a pack of 160.
Shoppers checking allergens or ingredients
Read the ingredients and any “may contain” statement on the exact pack. A dark colour or vegan recipe does not establish suitability for a particular allergy.
What should you check before buying?
Decide which cocoa range and portion format appeal to you, then compare the nutrition and allergen information on the bars you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour | Compare the stated cocoa solids percentage on the exact bar. Around 70% offers a starting point; check the ingredients too, especially when comparing plain and flavoured recipes. | “I’m trying darker chocolate but don’t know how intense I want it.” Start with a percentage you are willing to try rather than assuming the highest figure will suit you. |
| Portion format | Check bar or piece weight, the pack quantity and whether the nutrition panel gives values per serving as well as per 100g. Divine Chocolate lists 12.5g mini bars in a 160-piece pack. | For a snack away from home, I might prefer one individually sized piece. If I only buy chocolate occasionally, a bulk pack may not fit my routine. |
| Allergens | Read both the ingredient list and precautionary allergen wording on the exact pack. Divine Chocolate lists possible gluten, milk and nuts for its 70% bar; Montezuma’s lists soya and possible milk, nuts and peanuts for its cocoa-nib bar. | “I need to know whether this particular bar meets my dietary requirements.” Neither “dark” nor “vegan” replaces a check of its allergen information. |
| Nutrition label | Compare sugars and energy per 100g, then relate the figures to the amount you plan to eat. Lindt Shop UK lists 17g sugars and 587 kcal per 100g for EXCELLENCE 78%, versus 29g sugars and 566 kcal for EXCELLENCE 70%. | If this is a regular afternoon choice, I want to compare actual portions and labels rather than use cocoa percentage as a shortcut for the whole nutrition profile. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming more cocoa means less energy
Lindt Shop UK lists fewer sugars but more energy per 100g for its EXCELLENCE 78% bar than for its 70% bar: 17g versus 29g sugars, and 587 versus 566 kcal.
Compare sugars, energy and the portion you expect to eat on the exact products, rather than judging their nutrition by cocoa percentage alone.
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Using “dark” or “vegan” as an allergy check
Dark-chocolate recipes and precautionary statements differ. The Food Standards Agency explains that “may contain” labelling communicates the possibility of an allergen being unintentionally present.
For an allergy, check the current pack’s ingredients and precautionary statement, including when a product is described as vegan.
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Buying mini bars without checking the pack size
Divine Chocolate’s 12.5g dark-chocolate mini bars come in a pack of 160. Individually sized pieces may suit planned, repeated use, but that quantity is a different purchase from a single occasional bar.
Check both the weight of each piece and the number of pieces before choosing a portion-led format.
A large pack also needs space to store the remaining bars.
Brand ranges to compare
These brand examples show different cocoa percentages, formats and ingredients; check the exact product rather than applying one bar’s details to an entire range.
Lindt
The EXCELLENCE 70% and 78% 100g bars offer two labelled cocoa percentages to compare within one range.
- Lindt Shop UK lists sugars and energy per 100g for both bars, allowing a like-for-like label comparison.
- The nutrition differences do not establish which flavour you will prefer; check the exact bar’s ingredients and allergen wording.
Divine
Divine offers a 70% dark-chocolate bar and 12.5g mini bars in a 160-piece pack.
- The standard bar is described by Divine Chocolate as Fairtrade, while the mini bars provide an individually sized format.
- The standard 70% bar lists possible gluten, milk and nuts; check whether the mini-bar pack quantity suits your use.
Montezuma’s
Its dark-chocolate examples include a cocoa-nib bar and a ginger-flavoured 70% bar.
- Montezuma’s lists cocoa nibs as 7% of its Lordy Lord bar, giving a specific inclusion to compare with plain chocolate.
- The Lordy Lord bar contains soya and lists possible milk, nuts and peanuts. Check each flavoured recipe separately.
Hotel Chocolat
Its dark-chocolate range lists slab selections at 70%, 80% and 85% cocoa.
- The range offers several stated cocoa percentages and slab formats to compare.
- A range listing cannot establish the ingredients or allergens of the particular slab you choose.
M&S
M&S Swiss Extra Fine Dark Chocolate is a 72% cocoa option for shoppers considering a bar between 70% and 78%.
- The product’s storage instruction is to keep it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
- Check the current pack for its recipe and allergen information.
Dark chocolate options on Joybuy
These bars offer 70% to 90% cocoa options for an afternoon snack, including a raspberry-flavoured bar. They are standard bars rather than the individually sized mini-bar format discussed above.
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Morrisons The Best Dominican Republic 72% Dark Chocolate 100g
A 72% cocoa bar to consider if you want to move beyond a 70% starting point. Its product information lists 20.7g sugars per 100g and gives nutrition values for a 20g portion. It lists soya and precautionary warnings for other allergens; check the exact pack if these matter to you.
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Green & Black’s 70% Dark Chocolate 90g
A 70% cocoa bar to consider when trying a high-cocoa afternoon snack. Its product information lists 29g sugars per 100g and gives nutrition values for 18g, described as two rows. It also lists possible almonds, hazelnuts and milk; check the pack for current allergen wording.
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Morrisons The Best Ecuador 85% Dark Chocolate 100g
An 85% cocoa option if you already prefer a more intense cocoa flavour. Its product information lists 13.8g sugars per 100g and 2.8g per 20g. It lists soya and precautionary warnings for other allergens, so check the exact pack where suitability matters.
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Divine 70% Dark Chocolate with Raspberries 90g
A 70% cocoa bar with 3% freeze-dried raspberry pieces for someone considering a fruit-flavoured option. Its product information lists 27g sugars per 100g. The product text gives conflicting milk-allergen wording, so confirm the declaration on the physical pack before choosing it, particularly for a milk allergy.
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Lindt EXCELLENCE Supreme Dark 90% Cocoa 100g
A 90% cocoa bar for shoppers already looking for a very high-cocoa option rather than a gentler first step. Its product information lists 7g sugars per 100g. Check the exact pack’s allergen wording, which includes precautionary statements for nuts, milk and soya.
Questions about choosing dark chocolate
Is a higher cocoa percentage always the better afternoon choice?
No. Choose a cocoa percentage that suits the flavour you want, then compare the exact labels. Lindt Shop UK lists less sugar per 100g for its EXCELLENCE 78% bar than for its 70% bar, but more energy per 100g: 587 kcal against 566 kcal.
Does vegan dark chocolate suit someone with a milk allergy?
A vegan description does not establish allergy suitability. Check the exact pack’s ingredients and precautionary allergen statement; the Food Standards Agency explains that “may contain” wording signals the possibility of unintended allergen presence.
How should I store a bar kept for afternoon snacks?
Follow the instructions on the bar you buy. M&S says to store its Swiss Extra Fine Dark Chocolate in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, a useful check when deciding where to keep a bar between snacks.