Shopping for the Best Dark Chocolate

So many ways to enjoy chocolate, so little time! When you’re ready to give up milk chocolate and eat the real thing, do note that not all dark chocolate is the same. There’s something you should consider before you grab a bar.

When buying chocolate select dark chocolate with a high level of cocoa solids (at least 70%). The higher the amount of cocoa solids, the more polyphenols and antioxidants the chocolate will contain. The more benefits, the less guilty you’ll feel.

Manufacturers are also getting wise to consumer knowledge and interests, and you’ll soon notice more specific labeling on chocolate. For now, look for one that mentions cocoa solids.

An independent analysis was conducted to learn the total polyphenol content of various commercially available chocolates, and here are the results for the best dark chocolate:

Total Polyphenol Content of a Single
40-Gram Serving of Chocolate

Newman’s Own Sweet Dark Chocolate – 955 mg/40 grams
Dove Silky Dark Chocolate – 811 mg
Endangered Species Chocolate Company Wolf Bar – 811mg
(with cranberries and almonds)
Cadbury Royal Dark Indulgent Dark Chocolate – 765mg
Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate – 739mg
Chocolate de Dina Extra Dark Chocolate with Green Tea – 676mg

Even though dark chocolate is a SuperFood, we do not encourage over indulging in it with the mistaken idea that you’ll receive greater benefits. In fact, to get the most of your dark chocolate nutrition, you need only eat a little bit.

The best way to get chocolate into your life—for your health—is to eat just a square or two daily. Consuming only one hundred calories of one dark chocolate bar is a tasty, health-promoting strategy.