Chocolate: the answer to every special occasion, breakup, last-minute gift, or moment of indulgence. According to the Mayan people, chocolate was considered the “food of the gods.” That’s understandable: When you get a really good piece of chocolate, it can transport you to an otherworldly place. There are several varieties of chocolate, and it’s important to know that dark and milk chocolate differ. “Milk chocolate is a modest percentage of cacao mixed with milk and sugar, which cuts the naturally slightly bitter cacao flavor and makes it creamier,” explains Anna Binder-McAsey, RD, of Rethink Nutrition in Manhattan, Kansas. “As the percentage of cacao increases, you get less milk and sugar, and more of the cacao,” she says. And as this cacao percentage rises, the chocolate typically becomes more bitter. More research is needed, but a review published in December 2019 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health notes that dark chocolate is linked to cardiovascular health, glucose control, and even improved sexual function with its role as an aphrodisiac. (Dark chocolate-covered strawberries exist for a reason!) Dark chocolate’s cacao packs disease-fighting antioxidants, while its flavonoids (a compound found in fruit and veggies, too) may help boost heart health by lowering blood pressure, Kennedy explains. There may be benefits for the heart beyond blood pressure. A randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in December 2017 suggests that eating the classic pairing of dark chocolate and almonds may play a role in lowering unhealthy lipid levels in people who are overweight or obese. And while you know you get a shot of happiness while eating it, researchers are hard at work investigating whether dark chocolate is linked to better mental health. Some research looks promising: People who report consuming dark chocolate have lower odds of having “clinically relevant” symptoms of depression (those that psychologists would consider “moderate depression”), per an October 2019 study in Depression and Anxiety. RELATED: Eating Dark Chocolate May Improve Your Vision, Research Suggests In addition to disease-fighting flavonoids, dark chocolate offers minerals like iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese, according to the USDA. An important thing to keep in mind is that not all dark chocolate is created equal. Kennedy suggests looking for chocolate “with at least 60 percent cacao,” she says. This will not only help guarantee that you are getting a rich source of antioxidants, but also ensure you get fewer additives, such as cream and sugar, which can have the opposite desired effect on your health and waistline. That said, this recommendation differs among experts. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, for instance, suggests choosing a bar with at least 70 percent cacao. If you’re new to dark chocolate, you might want to start with 60 percent cacao and work your way up to higher amounts as your taste buds adjust. Here are some of our favorites.
1. Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee 60 Percent Cacao Chocolate Bar
This bar is for coffee lovers and chocolate lovers alike. Fresh cardamom and whole coffee beans (roasted from Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco) are milled directly into the chocolate to capture the essence of both flavors. With its limited contents, you can bet you’re getting nothing but natural ingredients: cacao, coconut sugar, caramelized coconut, coffee butter, cardamom, and coffee. If you’re making the change from milk to dark chocolate, this is for you. “It would not be as bitter as something with a higher percentage of cocoa, and you get other flavors that complement the chocolate well, like coffee and cardamom,” says Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, at Once Upon a Pumpkin in Chicago. Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee Chocolate Bar, $4.79, Thrivemarket.com
2. Theo Chocolate Organic Dark Chocolate 85 Percent
Since 2006, Theo Chocolate has been producing sustainable, fair trade, organic chocolate. Its original dark chocolate bar keeps it simple with just three ingredients: cocoa beans, sugar, and vanilla beans. The higher the cocoa content, the more flavonoids (plant compounds with antioxidant properties) the bar contains, Michalczyk points out. Its minimalist and organic approach is what makes this bar so reliably healthful but also deliciously rich and satisfying. Theo Chocolate Organic Pure Dark Chocolate, $4.09, Vitacost.com RELATED: 10 Delicious Reasons to Eat Dark Chocolate
3. Hu Salty Dark Chocolate Bar
This chocolate can work with a range of diets. “This is a great option for those looking for a gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, non-GMO, vegan, or paleo option,” says Michalczyk. She likes this bar because it contains 70 percent cocoa and leaves out artificial flavors and sweeteners. It also boasts a really smooth flavor with a bit of salt that enhances the chocolate. Plus, you’ll also get 3 grams of fiber per serving, which is a good source of the digestion-friendly nutrient. Hu Salty Dark Chocolate Bar, $5.49, Thrivemarket.com
4. Alter Eco Dark Salted Brown Butter Organic Chocolate Bar 70 Percent
This smooth dark chocolate brings an extra buttery and salty indulgence to the table. Ecuadorian cacao beans, cocoa butter, and cream from heritage Swiss cows raise Alter Eco’s artisan (and organic) chocolate up a notch. The company’s chocolatiers complete the treat with a touch of fleur de sel de Guérande for a salty-sweet finish. Also important: This chocolate is soy- and gluten-free, which is great if you have an allergy or intolerance you need to be mindful of. “Many bars contain soy lecithin to emulsify the fat, which keeps it mixed into the chocolate for a smooth final product,” Binder-McAsey says. Even without it, the texture and taste of this bar is on point. Alter Eco Dark Salted Brown Butter Organic Chocolate Bar, $2.79, Thrivemarket.com RELATED: 7 Heart-Healthy Perks of Dark Chocolate
5. Ghirardelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight 72 Percent Cacao Chocolate Squares
One of the great things about chocolate squares (think of them as mini chocolate bars) is that they can promote mindful eating, helping you slow down and truly enjoy the treat, says Binder-McAsey. This 72 percent cacao chocolate is dark, rich, and flavorful, as well as smooth. This is the type of chocolate that you want to break off just a little bit and let it melt in your mouth before moving onto the next piece. Ghirardelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight 72 Percent Cacao Chocolate Squares, $4.79, Target.com
6. Divine Chocolate 85 Percent Dark Chocolate Bar
This bar lives up to its name with a beautifully elegant wrapper and an exquisitely rich flavor. Divine Chocolate is co-owned by 85,000 cacao farmer members of Kuapa Kokoo, the cooperative in Ghana that supplies the cocoa for each Divine bar. As owners, these family farmers get a share of the profits, a say in the company, and a voice in the global marketplace. Divine Chocolate Dark Chocolate Bar, $3.99, Divinechocolateusa.com
7. Beyond Good Toasted Coconut Dark Chocolate 70 Percent Cocoa
Beyond Good (formerly called Madécasse) chocolate was started in 2008 by a pair of Peace Corps volunteers teaching English in Madagascar. Upon realizing that more than 70 percent of the world’s cacao comes from Africa but less than 1 percent of the world’s chocolate is actually made there, Beyond Good’s founders resolved to change that. If that fact isn’t enough to get you to bite, the flavor might: In pairing fruit and chocolate, the company’s goal is to transport you to the beaches of Madagascar. Beyond Good Madagascar Toasted Coconut Dark Chocolate, $4.50, Beyondgood.com
8. Chocolove Almonds and Sea Salt in Strong 70 Percent Dark Chocolate
This chocolate bar combines all your taste buds’ favorite flavors into one miraculous package of salty, nutty, and sweet goodness. Chocolove’s chocolate is made with the classic techniques of Europe’s finest chocolatiers in America’s own Boulder, Colorado. Made “with love” from natural ingredients, each Chocolove bar has a romantic poem inside its wrapper. Don’t forget that almonds add more than just yummy nuttiness. “The small number of almonds would add just a touch of fiber and a bit of the healthy fats and protein that almonds are known for,” says Binder-McAsey. With 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in one-third of the bar, this snack may satisfy you longer than other brands, she says. Chocolove Almonds and Sea Salt Dark Chocolate, $2.49, Thrivemarket.com
