New to dark chocolate
If you want a noticeable cocoa flavour without starting at 100% cocoa, consider a bar around 70%. Divine and Lindt each make a 70% single bar.
Who is choosing?
Looking for no added sugar
Montezuma's Absolute Black lists cocoa mass as its sole ingredient and has no added sugar. Its 100% cocoa profile is a different choice from a sweeter 70% bar, and its label carries milk, nut and peanut cross-contact warnings.
Checking ingredients or allergens
Compare the claims and allergen wording for the exact bar. Lindt says its EXCELLENCE 70% bar is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy.
What matters when choosing?
Start with the cocoa level and type of bar you would enjoy, then check the ingredients, allergen statement and pack format before choosing.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and sweetness | Compare cocoa percentage and sugars per 100g on the exact bars. Divine 70% lists 28.9g sugars per 100g; Lindt EXCELLENCE 70% lists 29g. Montezuma's Absolute Black is 100% cocoa with no added sugar and lists 0.6g sugars per 100g. | I want cocoa flavour with some sweetness, or I deliberately want a much more intense, unsweetened bar. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen declaration on the current pack. A vegan recipe is not an assurance against milk cross-contact: Lindt explicitly says its EXCELLENCE 70% bar is not suitable for a milk allergy. | If an allergen affects my choice, the warning on this particular bar matters more than a general dark-chocolate claim. |
| Sourcing and ingredients | Check claims for the specific variant. Divine makes Fairtrade-ingredient claims for its plain 70% bar; Montezuma's lists only cocoa mass for Absolute Black. Neither detail describes every bar from that brand. | Fairtrade ingredients or a short ingredient list may influence which bar I pick, provided the exact product meets that preference. |
| Texture and format | Decide between a plain bar, Lindt's thin EXCELLENCE pieces and a cocoa-nib bar such as Montezuma's Lordy Lord. Check pack weight separately from nutrition figures given per 100g. | A smooth piece or a bar with crunch may suit my break differently. I may also want to divide a bar across more than one snack. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming dark or vegan means suitable for a milk allergy
Lindt says its EXCELLENCE 70% bar is made to a vegan recipe but is not suitable for people with a milk allergy. The reviewed Divine 70% and Montezuma's Absolute Black bars also carry milk cross-contact warnings.
Read the allergen declaration on the exact pack and follow the allergy-management advice that applies to you.
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Choosing 100% cocoa from the sugar figure alone
Montezuma's Absolute Black has no added sugar and lists 0.6g sugars per 100g, but its 100% cocoa profile is much more intense than a 70% bar.
If you want some sweetness with your cocoa flavour, compare a 70%-range bar rather than treating 100% cocoa as a direct substitute.
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Treating a whole bar as one suggested portion
The bars discussed here include 90g, 100g and 125g packs, while their nutrition figures are stated per 100g. Pack weight is not a suggested amount for one snack.
Decide how much you intend to have, then choose a bar you can divide and store as needed.
Brand references
Divine
Divine's plain 70% dark-chocolate bar is a 90g option for shoppers comparing cocoa level, ingredients and sourcing claims.
- Divine lists 70% cocoa solids and 28.9g sugars per 100g, and makes Fairtrade-ingredient claims for this bar.
- Its allergen statement says it may contain gluten, milk and nuts.
Lindt
Lindt EXCELLENCE Dark 70% is a 100g bar with thin pieces.
- Lindt lists at least 70% cocoa solids and 29g sugars per 100g for this bar.
- Although made to a vegan recipe, Lindt says it is not suitable for people with a milk allergy.
Montezuma's
Montezuma's offers distinct dark-chocolate formats, including the 100% cocoa Absolute Black bar and a cocoa-nib bar for a textured option.
- Absolute Black lists cocoa mass as its sole ingredient, has no added sugar and contains 0.6g sugars per 100g.
- Absolute Black may contain traces of milk, nuts and peanuts; its 100% cocoa profile is a markedly different flavour choice from a 70% bar.
M&S
M&S Swiss Extra Fine Dark Chocolate is a 125g bar labelled as containing 72% cocoa solids.
- The M&S product label lists ingredients and 27g sugars per 100g.
- M&S labels this bar unsuitable for people with milk, nut, peanut or soya allergies; check the current pack information.
Hotel Chocolat
Hotel Chocolat lists dark-chocolate formats including 70% batons and slab-selector products.
- The 70% batons offer a different format from a conventional single plain bar.
- For a like-for-like single-bar choice, check the ingredients, nutrition and allergens of the particular product you are considering.
Green & Black's
Green & Black's has a 90g 70% dark-chocolate bar represented in its range; its official listing describes a box of 15 rather than an individual purchase.
- The stated 70% cocoa level makes the bar relevant when comparing cocoa percentages.
- Check the label and purchase format of the individual bar you intend to buy.
Dark-chocolate bars on Joybuy
These single bars offer 70%, 72% and 85% cocoa choices for an afternoon snack, including plain bars and one raspberry variation. Compare the exact variant and allergen information before choosing.
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Morrisons The Best Dominican Republic 72% Dark Chocolate 100g
A 100g single bar for a snack choice around 70% cocoa. Its product information flags soya and possible gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts; check the current pack if these allergens matter.
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Green & Black's 70% Dark Chocolate 90g
A 90g plain bar if you want to start around 70% cocoa. Its product information carries organic and Fairtrade claims and warns that it may contain milk and nuts; check the current pack.
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Divine 70% Dark Chocolate with Raspberries 90g
Choose this 90g bar if you want a raspberry variation rather than plain dark chocolate. Its product information lists milk and says it may contain gluten and nuts; do not rely on vegan-friendly wording to assess milk-allergy suitability.
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Morrisons The Best Ecuador 85% Dark Chocolate 100g
A 100g bar for someone deliberately choosing 85% cocoa rather than a 70%-range starting point. Check whether its flavour suits you and read the current pack's warnings for possible gluten, milk, nuts and peanuts.
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Green & Black's 85% Dark Chocolate 90g
This 90g bar offers an 85% cocoa option if that is the level you want for your snack. Its product information makes organic and Fairtrade claims and warns that it may contain milk and nuts; check the current pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is a higher cocoa percentage automatically better for an afternoon snack?
No. Choose the flavour and sweetness you actually want. Divine and Lindt list about 29g sugars per 100g for their reviewed 70% bars, whereas Montezuma's Absolute Black lists 0.6g per 100g and no added sugar; the 100% cocoa bar is also a much more intense choice.
Does vegan dark chocolate suit someone with a milk allergy?
A vegan description does not establish milk-allergy suitability. Lindt expressly says its EXCELLENCE 70% bar is unsuitable for people with a milk allergy, while the reviewed Divine 70% and Montezuma's Absolute Black bars carry milk cross-contact warnings. Check the exact pack.
How should I store a dark-chocolate bar between snacks?
Follow the storage instructions for your particular bar. The product information for Montezuma's Absolute Black and M&S Swiss Extra Fine Dark Chocolate says to keep those bars in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.