A blind taste test of 17 plain dark chocolates from Australian supermarkets has revealed surprising results, with Lindt's 70% Cocoa Dark taking top honours. The test, conducted by Nicholas Jordan and 12 friends, found that price was not a reliable indicator of quality, and that the best dark chocolates had a specific fat-to-sugar ratio.
The highest-scoring chocolates had a four parts fat to three parts sugar ratio and high protein content, with 70% cocoa being the sweet spot. Lindt's 70% Cocoa Dark, priced at $8.50 for 100g, was praised for its bold, confidently sour flavour and satisfying snap. One reviewer remarked, 'I feel like a refined, classy lady eating this.'
Aldi's Moser Roth Finest Dark 70% Cocoa, at $3.69 for 125g, was the most divisive, described as an 'R18+ dark chocolate' for its bitter, dry character. Reviewers noted it smelled like soy sauce and tasted like turmeric and mulch, earning a middling score of 5.5 out of 10.
Godiva Signature 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate, at $9.50 for 90g, was one of the few to elicit sommelier-like tasting notes, with hints of Milo, malt, and toast. It was described as one of the smoothest chocolates, both texturally and metaphorically, 'like a great date'.
Whittaker's 72% Cocoa Special Blend Dark Ghana, at $8.50 for 250g, scored seven out of 10, but was deemed 'enjoyable but routine and unextraordinary'. The test concluded that the best indicator of quality was the nutrition panel, not brand or price.
