Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is chocolate made primarily from cocoa mass, cocoa butter and sugar, with little or no milk. Because it carries more cocoa solids than milk chocolate, it tastes bolder and more bittersweet, with roasted, fruity or earthy notes depending on the beans.

How dark is "dark"?

There is no single legal definition of "dark chocolate" in the US. The FDA does set standards for semisweet and bittersweet chocolate, which must contain at least 35% chocolate liquor. In the shop, dark bars commonly range from about 55% to 85% cacao or more. See cacao percentage for how to read those numbers.

What to expect when you taste it

• Flavor — deep cocoa with notes that can lean toward red fruit, coffee, nuts or spice.
• Texture — a firm, clean snap and a slower, drier melt than milk chocolate.
• Pairings — tart fruit, mint, sea salt and crunchy cookies all stand up well to its intensity.

Is dark chocolate dairy-free?

Often, but not always. Many dark chocolates contain no milk ingredients, but some add milk fat or are made on shared equipment. Always check the label if you avoid dairy; our dairy-free and vegan chocolate entries explain what to look for.

Polkadot dark chocolate bars

The Polkadot dark chocolate collection uses Belgian dark chocolate as a base for bold flavors. The Polkadot Dark Chocolate bar keeps things pure and is described as vegan and gluten-free. For fruit, try the Pomegranate or Blue Açaí bars; for a salty-sweet crunch, the Salted Pretzel bar balances bitter cocoa with pretzel pieces. Dark chocolate generally keeps well, but it still needs cool, dry storage.