The Wonderful World of Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is a truly decadent treat that has a nice little side benefit of making a positive impact on the health of those who indulge in it. Not to be confused with its close sibling milk chocolate, dark chocolate does not contain the milk solids that are mixed in with the lighter and sweeter version. However, even within the categories of chocolates, there are variations that offer their own unique tastes and properties. If you are a fan of dark chocolate, learn more about it what it is and where you can find it.

Dark chocolate has a rich dark brown color to it and is categorized by the amount of cocoa solids are in the chocolate. The range of the percentage of cocoa solids in a bar usually starts at 30 percent. It can be as high as over 80 percent. In the United States, it only has to be a 15 percent concentration in order to be classified as dark. The European standard is a bit higher, and the cocoa solids must be above 35 percent. People can tell the difference when they look at the color and from the way the chocolate tastes. The lower percentages are a little lighter and will have more of a sweet taste to them. As you go higher in the percentage range, the taste becomes more bittersweet and the color darker. Also, in the higher ranges, the chocolate is a lot more brittle to the touch.


All chocolate has health benefits, but dark chocolate is considered to be the most beneficial. The plant phenols in chocolate have antioxidant properties that help lower blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease. Make sure to choose dark over light chocolate. Not only does it contains less sugar, but recent studies have also shown that milk may interfere with the antioxidant absorption.

There are a number of places you can order from to get your chocolate fix. Here are three chocolatiers known for making a consistently good product that is easy to find.

Ghirardelli Chocolate - This famous San Francisco based candy maker has been producing chocolate for over 160 years. A plus for those who worry about overindulging is that the chocolate squares come prepackaged in individual servings.

Hershey's - Famous for its milk chocolate kisses, Hershey's also has an affordable dark chocolate line that is easy to find in stores.

Godiva Chocolate - This Belgium brand is known for its decadent assortments and gold foil boxes. It offers dark chocolate to consumers in bar form that can be broken off into squares.

MyReviewsNow.net offers information regarding gourmet chocolates. For more on dark chocolate, please visit us at MyReviewsNow.net. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cookie_Maxwell Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7667068