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Finding good dark chocolate on shelves can be difficult. Producers and importers do not always play fair. Sometimes they replace healthy cocoa butter with cheaper alternatives or overstate the proportion of cocoa beans in the label.
To understand what delicacy it is not a pity to spend money on, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of different types of the most valuable and healthy chocolate. Healthy Food Near Me analyzed offers on the market and, together with an expert, compiled a rating of the best dark chocolate brands in 2022.
Top 10 dark chocolate brands according to KP
1. Lindt Excellence Dark
An excellent product is the result of the work of the renowned chocolatiers of the world famous Swiss company Lindt & Sprüngli AG. Bitter chocolate is sold in a bright recognizable package, contains a minimum of sugar and has a good texture. High-quality natural cocoa beans give an excellent rich taste.
Chocolate does not melt at temperatures up to +35 degrees, but instantly melts on the tongue, leaving a great aftertaste. Is it any wonder that a premium product costs more than other dark chocolates in stores.
2. Chateau Puur Hazelnoot
Wonderful dark chocolate is produced in Germany. It has a pleasant taste, soft texture and melts quickly in your mouth. Distinctive features of the elite German product are a dark layer on top of the tile, a cream filling inside with whole hazelnut kernels in the filling.
A large bar weighing 200 g in a cardboard and foil package will appeal to all lovers of sweets. It is convenient to take such chocolate with you on a trip, for a snack to work or study. Delicious pieces can be a great addition to a cup of coffee and a leisurely tea ceremony.
3. Vivani 99%
One of the leaders in our rating is excellent dark chocolate from Germany, which is made from selected Panamanian cocoa beans. The manufacturer uses its own technology for processing natural raw materials, which significantly improves the taste.
Chocolate contains up to 99,5% cocoa and a small amount of coconut sugar, which will be appreciated by all fans of dark chocolate. The label states that the chocolate is recommended for a strict vegan diet. Connoisseurs of organic products can enjoy exquisite taste without the risk of stumbling upon animal-derived additives.
4. Bucheron Stand’art with pistachios 72%
Excellent chocolate from Trinitario Guatemalan cocoa beans is made according to imported technology at a factory in Yaroslavl. production is fully controlled by the reputable Swiss concern. Bitter chocolate with pistachios belongs to the elite varieties that are produced with the addition of sugar.
Tiles weighing 100 g are sold as real value – in original metal boxes with rounded corners. Chocolate is divided not into rectangular slices familiar to us, but into round ones, each of which flaunts the national symbol of Switzerland – the cross. Dark chocolate with roasted pistachio flavor goes well with coffee, tea and strong drinks such as whiskey or cognac.
5. Swiss Original with orange
The Swiss product with 72% cocoa content is made on modern equipment from natural beans grown in the warm climate of Venezuela, according to European quality standards. The bright fruity taste of South American cocoa is complemented by mashed potatoes and marmalade slices cooked at high temperatures from ripe oranges. A strong fruity bouquet with a pleasant sourness goes well with the noble taste of dark chocolate. It will appeal to connoisseurs of traditional recipes and bright fruity notes.
6. «Спартак» элитный 90%
An excellent Belarusian product is produced as a huge 1 kg tile in foil and original handmade paper packaging. A quality product contains 90% cocoa beans and less than 5% cocoa butter. Thanks to natural ingredients, it is recommended for baby and diet food.
Chocolate belongs to the bitter varieties. There is sugar in it – in the form of powdered sugar, but relatively little, to soften the taste. Also in the composition there is a small amount of natural flavoring “Vanillin”. On sale you can find other types of this chocolate with the addition of dried fruits and nuts.
7. “A. Korkunov” 70%
A true domestic product for cocoa lovers, it is produced with a moderate amount of sugar and other fillers to high quality standards. Noble dark chocolate has a delicate harmonious taste and delicate texture. Ideal for tea drinking and preparing delicious desserts. Thanks to the bright and elegant premium packaging, it can be a wonderful gift or a sweet compliment.
8. “Babaevsky” bitter
Dark chocolate with a rich taste is the pride of the domestic industry and the winner of the 2021 Test Purchase. “Babaevsky” is produced with a content of 75% cocoa beans. Due to the fact that crushed almonds are placed in chocolate, it has a bitter taste with delicate nutty notes. A small amount of alcohol and cognac add piquancy to it, and sugar reduces bitterness.
Tiles are sold in paper packaging with steel inside, which ensures long-term storage. Chocolate quickly softens in the mouth, leaving a pleasant sensation of tart sweetness.
9. “A priori” 85%
Bitter chocolate with a dark brown homogeneous consistency received the highest safety index according to the results of a combined study by Control Purchase and Roskontrol of the Year. The popular product is packaged in 20 small 5g bars – a convenient portion set for fans of a real bitter taste.
Выпуском шоколада занимается кондитерская фабрика «Верность качеству», которая находится в старинном городе Касимов Рязанской области. Производители рекомендуют употреблять шоколад с красным вином и хранить его при влажности воздуха не более 70%.
10. “Our Country is a generous soul” 70%
Bitter chocolate is produced according to an average quality technology with 80% cocoa content. This brings it to the level of elite domestic products. Dark chocolate uses a special mixture of sugar and fillers that significantly increases the sweetness.
There are negative and positive reviews in the ratings, but there are still more positive opinions. A bitter delicacy is liked by those who love a rich taste. A healthy and nutritious product melts easily, so it can be used for a variety of desserts and pastry decorations.
How to choose the right dark chocolate
Shares tips for choosing quality dark chocolate кондитер Виктория Бредис.
How not to make a mistake in choosing dark chocolate? The first thing that catches your eye is the prescribed percentage of cocoa on the packaging of chocolate. Even a non-specialist knows that the higher the percentage, that is, the number of cocoa beans in the finished product, the better and healthier the chocolate. When choosing dark chocolate on store shelves, take one in which cocoa is at least 55-60%.
This is not the only indicator to pay attention to. The composition of chocolate is sometimes more important than the large printed numbers on the packaging. Having studied the composition, written in small print on the back of the tile, you can understand whether the product is really of high quality. The most expensive and important ingredients in chocolate are cocoa butter and cocoa liquor. It happens that the manufacturer replaces cocoa products in the recipe with inexpensive counterparts. For example, instead of grated cocoa, cocoa powder is used – dried and ground cake, which remains from grated cocoa after squeezing cocoa butter. Because of this, the taste worsens and the benefits of chocolate are reduced.
You need to make sure that there are no vegetable fats in the chocolate bar, in addition to cocoa butter. If the composition contains palm or coconut oils, you can feel them on the tongue – they leave a tangible unpleasant coating. Do not buy chocolate that contains soy, soy components, preservatives and antioxidants.
The shelf life of high-quality dark chocolate is no more than 12 months, and even less with filling. Don’t risk taking chocolate that has a shelf life of more than 12 months.
Если есть возможность визуально оценить шоколад, обратите внимание на поверхность. Она должна быть глянцевой и блестящей. У хорошего горького шоколада характерный насыщенный запах какао, а не ванильных, сливочных и других ароматизаторов.
Break the bar – high-quality chocolate has a characteristic crunch. In the mouth, it melts gradually, leaving no unpleasant plaque on the teeth and palate. Real dark chocolate is healthy, so carefully study the packaging so as not to be deceived in your choice. Do not forget that chocolate is a sweet, so you should not consume more than 50 g per day.
Popular questions and answers
Sources of
- Chocolate. GOST 31721-2012. URL: https://docs.cntd.ru/document/1200096908