What is the best dark chocolate bar to buy?

December 27, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2025 review of research, regular dark chocolate intake, particularly 1 to 3 ounces per day, can offer significant health benefits like lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. But with so many brands available, the question remains: what is the best dark chocolate bar to buy?

Quick Summary

This guide reveals the best dark chocolate bars available, exploring factors like cocoa content, flavor complexity, ethical sourcing, and craftsmanship. High-quality dark chocolate should feature simple, pure ingredients and a smooth, rich flavor profile reflective of its origin.

Key Points

Ingredient Purity: The highest-quality dark chocolate bars feature minimal ingredients—primarily cocoa, cocoa butter, and sugar—without unnecessary additives or vegetable oils.
Cocoa Content: For both flavor complexity and health benefits, look for dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa or higher.
Sourcing Matters: Ethically sourced and fair-trade certified brands ensure cocoa farmers receive fair prices, with single-origin beans often offering more distinct and complex flavors.
Processing Excellence: High-quality craft chocolate makers fine-tune processes like fermentation and low-temperature roasting to preserve and enhance the natural flavors of the cocoa beans.
Sensory Experience: The best dark chocolate has a satisfying 'snap,' a glossy appearance, and a smooth, rich mouthfeel as it melts, with flavors that evolve from beginning to end.
Top Contenders: Brands like Tony's Chocolonely offer great everyday value and ethical sourcing, while artisan options like Goodnow Farms provide a more refined, connoisseur-level experience.

Unwrapping the Criteria for a Superior Dark Chocolate Bar

Choosing a truly great dark chocolate bar involves looking beyond just the cocoa percentage. A genuinely premium experience comes down to a few critical factors that influence flavor, texture, and ethical integrity. Before diving into our top recommendations, here’s what to consider.

Quality Ingredients and Sourcing

The best dark chocolate bars use a minimal, pure ingredient list, often consisting only of cocoa, cocoa butter, and sugar. High-quality brands focus on the origin of their cocoa beans, sourcing from specific regions—or even single farms—known for their distinctive flavor profiles. Ethical sourcing through fair-trade practices is also a mark of a responsible and high-quality product, ensuring farmers receive fair compensation for their work.

The Impact of Processing

How a chocolate bar is made has a huge impact on its final flavor. Key steps like fermentation, roasting, and conching—the process of continuously mixing and aerating the chocolate—are critical. High-quality, bean-to-bar makers fine-tune these processes to bring out specific flavor characteristics and avoid an overly bitter taste. Processed chocolate may use high-temperature roasting, which can strip away natural flavors and antioxidants.

Tasting for Excellence

When tasting, a great dark chocolate should have a satisfying snap when broken, a glossy sheen, and a smooth, non-waxy mouthfeel. The flavor should be complex, revealing notes beyond simple bitterness. Depending on the cocoa’s origin, you might taste fruity, floral, nutty, or earthy notes. Allowing the chocolate to melt slowly on your tongue helps you experience the full journey of its flavor, from the initial burst to the lingering finish.

Our Top Dark Chocolate Bar Recommendations

Based on taste tests, ingredient quality, and ethical practices, here are some of the best dark chocolate bars to buy for various preferences.

For the Everyday Indulgence: Tony's Chocolonely 70% Dark Chocolate

Widely available and ethically driven, Tony's Chocolonely is a top-tier choice for daily snacking. Its creamy texture and notes of coffee and molasses make it incredibly satisfying. The brand’s commitment to ending exploitative practices in the cocoa industry adds an extra layer of sweetness.

For the True Connoisseur: Goodnow Farms Asochivite 77%

This award-winning, small-batch, single-origin chocolate from Goodnow Farms is a step up for enthusiasts. The flavor profile is exceptionally deep and complex, thanks to their process of pressing their own cocoa butter from the same beans. Every bar offers a nuanced, origin-pure experience.

For Baking: Ghirardelli Intense Dark 72% Cacao

Balancing price and quality, Ghirardelli is a reliable choice for baking projects. Its balanced profile with bright, fruity notes of cherry and raspberry melts easily and performs beautifully in recipes. While a solid choice for snacking, its true strength shines in cookies, cakes, and ganaches.

For the High-Cacao Enthusiast: Divine 85% Dark Chocolate

For those who prefer a bold, intense flavor with less sweetness, Divine's 85% bar is an excellent option. Made with Ghanaian beans and benefiting co-owning farmers, this bar offers deep coffee and nutty notes, delivering a powerful punch of cocoa without being overly bitter.

For a Unique Flavor: Raaka Pink Sea Salt Organic Dark Chocolate

Raaka stands out for its unique, unroasted bean process, which captures more of the cacao's natural fruity flavors. Their Pink Sea Salt bar, with its smoky and cherry notes, offers a perfectly balanced and high-end experience for everyday chocolate lovers.

Comparison Table: Best Dark Chocolate Bars


Feature	Tony's Chocolonely 70%	Goodnow Farms Asochivite 77%	Ghirardelli Intense Dark 72%	Divine 85%	Raaka Pink Sea Salt 71%
Best For	Everyday Snacking	Connoisseurs	Baking	High-Cacao Lovers	Unique Flavor
Cocoa %	70%	77%	72%	85%	71%
Flavor Profile	Coffee, molasses	Deep, complex, single-origin	Bright, fruity (cherry, raspberry)	Coffee, banana	Smoky, cherry, pink sea salt
Sourcing	Ethically sourced, transparent	Single-origin, award-winning	Widely available	Fair trade, farmer co-op	Single-origin, unroasted
Pros	Ethical mission, creamy texture	Exceptionally smooth, deep flavor	Balanced, reliable for baking	Intense flavor, benefits farmers	Innovative process, unique taste
Cons	Arbitrarily segmented bar	Higher price point	Less complex than artisan bars	Can be too bitter for some	Non-uniform segments

The Final Verdict on Choosing Your Bar

The perfect dark chocolate bar is a matter of personal preference, but quality indicators are universal. For a crowd-pleasing, ethically-sound daily treat, Tony's Chocolonely is a standout. If you’re a baking aficionado seeking consistency and flavor, Ghirardelli is a trusted go-to. For the sophisticated palate interested in nuanced, single-origin flavor, invest in an award-winner like Goodnow Farms. Those venturing into higher cocoa percentages will find Divine to be an accessible and rich option, while Raaka offers an exciting journey for adventurous taste buds. Ultimately, paying attention to the ingredient list, sourcing, and craftsmanship will guide you toward the best dark chocolate bar to buy for your unique taste. You can explore a vast collection of artisan chocolates and learn more about the industry at the International Chocolate Awards website.

Conclusion: Savor the Search

The quest to find the best dark chocolate bar to buy is a delicious one. Whether you are an everyday snacker or a serious connoisseur, understanding the key factors of ingredient purity, ethical sourcing, and processing techniques empowers you to make a more informed choice. By exploring brands that prioritize quality, you can not only enjoy a superior flavor experience but also support sustainable and responsible practices within the chocolate industry. So next time you're in the chocolate aisle, take a moment to read the label and find a bar that truly satisfies both your palate and your principles.

Frequently Asked Questions

A cocoa percentage of 70% or higher is generally considered ideal for a good dark chocolate bar. This range offers a rich flavor profile while maximizing health benefits and minimizing sugar content.

Check the ingredients list for purity (few ingredients like cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar) and look for a smooth, glossy appearance. High-quality dark chocolate will have a satisfying 'snap' when broken and melt evenly in your mouth without a waxy or gritty texture.

Not necessarily. While some bitterness is natural, high-quality dark chocolate should have a balanced flavor profile, not an overwhelmingly bitter taste. Excessive bitterness can sometimes be a sign of low-quality or high-roast processing.

Single-origin dark chocolate is made with cocoa beans from a specific geographical region or farm, which highlights unique regional flavor notes. Blended chocolate combines beans from different origins, creating a more consistent and balanced flavor profile.

High-quality dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants that can improve heart health, brain function, and blood pressure. Its lower sugar content compared to milk chocolate is also a benefit.

Fair-trade certification indicates that the cocoa was sourced ethically, ensuring farmers are paid a fair price. While not a direct measure of flavor, ethical sourcing often correlates with a greater investment in quality beans and processing, leading to a superior final product.

Store dark chocolate in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and strong odors. Keeping it at a consistent temperature (around 65–70°F) and in its original packaging can help preserve its flavor and prevent 'blooming'.