For an afternoon dark-mint chocolate treat, choose by the stated cocoa percentage, sugars per 100g and the portion you intend to eat, rather than the word ‘dark’ alone. Marks & Spencer lists 85% cocoa and 15.6g sugars per 100g for its Collection bar, while the reviewed Tesco Finest and Lindt 47% bars list 48.7g and 49g respectively; a thin is easier to count as one piece, but its serving information still matters. Check the current pack for ingredients and allergen warnings, particularly if you need a vegan product or have a food allergy.
If cocoa content drives your choice, compare the percentage on the pack. The reviewed Marks & Spencer Collection mint bar states 85% cocoa solids, while the Tesco Finest and Lindt dark-mint bars reviewed here each state 47%, according to their retailer listings.
Mint thins give you individual pieces rather than squares broken from a bar. Waitrose & Partners lists 28kcal and 3.0g sugars per Mint Thin; check how many pieces you plan to have rather than treating the figure for one thin as the whole snack.
Read the current pack for the exact product. Marks & Spencer describes its Collection bar as vegan but not suitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies; the reviewed Tesco, Waitrose and Lindt products carry different ingredient or ‘may contain’ statements.
Start with the cocoa and nutrition figures on a common per-100g basis, then check the serving format and the exact pack’s allergen information.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and sugars | Compare the stated minimum cocoa solids and sugars per 100g. Marks & Spencer lists 85% cocoa and 15.6g sugars per 100g for its Collection mint bar; Tesco Groceries and Sainsbury's list 47% cocoa and 48.7g and 49g sugars per 100g for the reviewed Tesco Finest and Lindt bars. | If I am looking for a specifically high-cocoa mint chocolate, I need its stated percentage—not just ‘dark’ on the wrapper. I also want to compare the sugar figures separately. |
| Portion format | Check whether nutrition is given per piece, per serving or per 100g, and how many pieces make a serving. Waitrose & Partners lists 28kcal and 3.0g sugars per Mint Thin; Tesco Groceries lists 93kcal and 11.7g sugars per two Tesco Dark Chocolate Mint Thins. | A countable piece may suit my afternoon break, but I want the figures for the number of thins I will actually eat. |
| Allergens and dietary labels | Read the current ingredients, dietary statement and any ‘may contain’ warning. Marks & Spencer says its vegan-labelled Collection bar is not suitable for milk, nut or peanut allergies. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary allergen wording indicates possible unintentional presence. | If an ingredient or cross-contact warning matters to me, I cannot assume that dark or vegan-labelled chocolate meets my requirements. |
The reviewed retailer labels put dark-mint bars at both 47% and 85% cocoa solids, with different sugars-per-100g figures. The description on the front does not tell you both values.
Read the stated cocoa percentage and compare sugars per 100g before choosing between bars.
Waitrose & Partners lists 3.0g sugars per Mint Thin, while Tesco Groceries lists 11.7g per two of its Dark Chocolate Mint Thins. The serving basis changes how you read the figures.
Check the declared serving size and count the pieces you intend to eat.
Marks & Spencer labels its Collection bar vegan but says it is not suitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies. Other reviewed products have different declared ingredients and precautionary warnings.
For a relevant allergy or intolerance, read the current pack for that exact product rather than substituting another dark-mint chocolate on the basis of its name.
The reviewed Collection Dark Chocolate with Mint is a 100g bar for shoppers seeking a stated 85% cocoa product.
The reviewed Mint 47% Dark Chocolate is a 100g bar with a stated 47% minimum cocoa-solids content.
Waitrose Mint Thins offer individual pieces rather than a bar to break into squares.
The reviewed Dark Mint Chocolate Bar is a 100g bar with natural peppermint oil and 47% minimum cocoa solids, according to Sainsbury's.
These options cover peppermint creams, a mint chocolate bar and individually wrapped mint thins. Compare their stated cocoa and sugar figures on the same basis, and check the pack when portion size or allergens affect your choice.
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For an afternoon treat in peppermint-cream form rather than a plain bar, these have fondant centres and a dark-chocolate coating stated as 55% cocoa. The product information lists 69.9g sugars per 100g; check the serving amount if you are comparing individual pieces. Contains soya and may contain milk and nuts.
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These peppermint fondant creams suit a preference for filled chocolates with a stated cocoa percentage: the coating is described as containing 58% minimum cocoa solids. The product information lists 69.0g sugars per 100g; check the serving amount when comparing pieces. Contains eggs and soya and may contain milk.
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This bar format suits a shopper choosing squares rather than filled creams or thins. Its product information states 47% cocoa solids, peppermint oil and 49g sugars per 100g; check your chosen serving against the pack. Contains milk and soya.
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Individually wrapped thins make it straightforward to count pieces for an afternoon treat. The product information lists 53.8g sugars per 100g; check the current pack for per-piece figures and the exact pack contents, as the quantity descriptions differ. Contains milk and soya and may contain nuts and gluten.
No: ‘dark’ alone does not establish a sugar figure. Marks & Spencer lists 15.6g sugars per 100g for its 85% Collection mint bar, while Tesco Groceries lists 48.7g for Tesco Finest Mint 47% and Sainsbury's lists 49g for the reviewed Lindt 47% bar. Compare cocoa solids and sugars separately on the current pack.
Check the nutrition figure’s serving basis and the number of thins you intend to eat. Waitrose & Partners lists 3.0g sugars per Mint Thin, whereas Tesco Groceries lists 11.7g per two of its Dark Chocolate Mint Thins. The NHS identifies chocolate as a food containing free sugars and advises keeping the amount and frequency of sugary foods and drinks as low as possible.
Do not use a vegan label as an allergy check. Marks & Spencer labels its Collection Dark Chocolate with Mint vegan but says it is not suitable for people with milk, nut or peanut allergies. Read the current pack’s ingredients and precautionary warnings for the exact product.
Use a listing to compare products, then read the current physical pack before eating. Ingredients, nutrition and allergen statements need to match the product you have, especially when an allergy or dietary requirement affects your choice.