Dark chocolate has long enjoyed a reputation as a healthier indulgence, and not without reason. Compared to milk chocolate, dark varieties contain more fibre, iron, magnesium, and polyphenols—plant compounds associated with heart health and reduced inflammation. While it is no substitute for a balanced diet, choosing a bar with at least 70 per cent cocoa does tilt things in a more virtuous direction nutritionally.
The rich, fruity, and earthy notes can be an acquired taste. What starts as a slightly bitter square at 70 per cent can, over time, become genuinely enjoyable. Many find themselves reaching for 85 or even 90 per cent bars, gradually nudging up the cocoa scale to satisfy that post-dinner treat. However, this habit does not come cheap. With many branded bars creeping past the £3 mark, dark chocolate can quickly become one of those small luxuries that quietly inflate your weekly food shop. While premium options often promise superior sourcing and flavour profiles, it raises an obvious question: are they always worth it?
In the interest of both taste and price, we set out to find the best supermarket dark chocolate, testing accessible 55 per cent options to punchy 85 per cent bars—and everything in between.
The best supermarket dark chocolate bars for 2026
- Best overall – Asda 73% Madagascan dark chocolate: £2.28
- Best premium – M&S collection Peruvian dark chocolate: £3
- Best budget buy – Aldi Moser Roth dark 85% cocoa chocolate: £2.49
- Best low cocoa bar – M&S choc marks dark chocolate bar: £3.50
- Best for baking – Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Belgian dark 85% cocoa cooking chocolate: £2.40
1. Asda 73% Madagascan dark chocolate
Best supermarket dark chocolate overall
Asda's Madagascan dark chocolate is the best supermarket option because it is approachable, has a high cocoa percentage, and is very enjoyable. While it is not especially rich, it is buttery and light, balancing the high cocoa solids with a gentle sweetness that keeps it easy to eat. The Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa mass and cocoa butter are sourced from farms that adhere to strict standards designed to protect the environment, improve farmer livelihoods, and promote human rights. It also offers great value for money at £2.28 for a 100g bar.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 73%; Price per 100g: £2.28
2. M&S collection Peruvian dark chocolate
Best premium dark chocolate
The M&S Collection dark chocolate is one to savour. The chocolate has a satisfying snap to it and tastes delicious. Made of single-origin 85 per cent cocoa, it is aromatic with a deep berry flavour and smooth on the palate. It hails from a family-owned chocolatier near Milan. At £3, you are paying for quality and supporting Fairtrade practices with this bar.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 85%; Price per 100g: £3
3. Aldi Moser Roth dark 85% cocoa chocolate
Best budget dark chocolate
At a time when chocolate is feeling the pinch of inflation, finding a good-value bar really comes into its own. Aldi's 85 per cent dark chocolate costs less than £2.50 for 125g, making it a hit even before tucking in. When you do, there is a lot to like: it is glossy, rich, and overly tasty high cocoa bar that, while it does not feel super high quality, is very enjoyable. One downside is that every two squares come individually wrapped, which seems like unnecessary extra packaging.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 85%; Price per 100g: £1.90
4. Co-op irresistible fairtrade dark chocolate 85%
Best crowd-pleasing 85% dark chocolate
Co-op's dark chocolate is moreish, made from single-origin cocoa and Fairtrade ingredients. While it is described as very intense, we found the chocolate milder than other 85 per cent bars, with the bitterness balanced by added flavouring and sugar. The texture is satisfying with its smoothness.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 85%; Price per 100g: £2.95
5. M&S choc marks dark chocolate bar
Best low cocoa percentage dark chocolate
Wrapped in a punchy red sleeve with graphic style writing, the M&S choc marks dark chocolate bar is hard to miss, and you should not. The bar is reminiscent of a Tony's Chocolonely design, split into uneven chunks. Design aside, it is the bar we would recommend if you are new to dark chocolate. At 55 per cent cocoa, it is an easy-eating yet rich choice and slightly sweeter than most. All in all, a crowd-pleasing bar that makes up for its steep initial price tag of £3.50 in chocolate weight.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 55%; Price per 100g: £1.90
6. Asda Ecuadorian dark chocolate 60% with sea salt
Best dark chocolate with sea salt
Biting into this 60 per cent bar from Asda, you get an instant sweetness on the palate. The taste is then rounded by the addition of sea salt, which is the perfect partner to the cocoa flavour. While we would have liked a bigger salty hit, the bar is overall a light dark chocolate that is very easy to devour.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 60%; Price per 100g: £2.28
7. Co-op irresistible fairtrade single origin dark 57% orange
Best dark chocolate orange flavour
Co-op's dark chocolate orange bar is a grown-up take on the crowd-pleasing flavour. The bar is infused with orange oil and candied orange peel throughout, giving it a slightly soft chew. The dark chocolate itself is rich with a touch of sweetness, steering clear of the sickly nature often associated with orange-flavoured chocolate. The price is its downside at £2.95 for 100g.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 57%; Price per 100g: £2.95
8. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Belgian dark 85% cocoa cooking chocolate
Best for baking
If you are after a high cocoa chocolate that works excellently in baking, consider this bar from Sainsbury's Taste the Difference range. It is quite sweet for an 85 per cent bar and creamy, but not as rich and rounded as others. However, we used it to bake chocolate chip cookies, where it came into its own, providing a punch of richness to the cookie dough and faring well under heat.
Key specifications: Cocoa percentage: 85%; Price per 100g: £2.40
What is the best supermarket dark chocolate?
As someone who enjoys a rich dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa, the M&S Collection Peruvian dark chocolate and the Co-op bar stood out as they both balanced the bitterness well. However, not everyone enjoys the high cocoa taste, so the best overall is the Asda Madagascan dark chocolate; it is easy to enjoy and has a well-rounded flavour.
How we tested and selected the best supermarket dark chocolate
We focused on several key factors when evaluating the chocolate, including quality, flavour, sustainability, and value for money. Here is our process in more detail:
- Quality: Cheap-tasting chocolate does not cut it these days, so we looked for high-quality ingredients and feel.
- Flavour: We paid attention to well-rounded and balanced taste and texture. Often bars had added vanilla and flavourings, so we noted where this worked well or was overpowering.
- Sustainability: Sustainability and fairtrade credentials were also key factors, with responsibly-sourced cocoa scoring extra points.
- Value for money: With bars costing a pretty penny these days, we weighed up quality and cost. We worked out the price per 100g to consider which offered the most for your money.
Alice Reynolds is a writer and production journalist at IndyBest. A self-confessed foodie, she has covered food and drink launches and reviews, including the best supermarket pizza, best Easter eggs, and best creatine supplements. Beyond food, sustainability is one of Alice's interests, so for this review, she noted how the chocolate was sourced.
