In an eye-opening comparison of dark chocolate available in British supermarkets, one budget option has emerged as the clear winner, outperforming premium brands including Lindt and Hotel Chocolat while costing significantly less.
The Health Benefits of Switching to Dark Chocolate
Many consumers are turning to dark chocolate as a healthier alternative to milk chocolate, which often contains high levels of added sugar and ultra-processed ingredients. Regular consumption of such products can lead to obesity, blood sugar spikes, and long-term health issues.
Dark chocolate offers proven health benefits, including reducing the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, dementia, and cancer. It's packed with antioxidants, can help lower cholesterol, improve blood flow and brain function, and provides valuable fibre and healthy fats.
However, not all dark chocolate is created equal. Nutrition experts recommend choosing bars with at least 70% cocoa content to maximise health benefits while minimising added sugars and unnecessary ingredients.
The Taste Test Results: Surprises and Standouts
After sampling ten different dark chocolate bars with around 85% cocoa content, the results revealed several surprises that could save chocolate lovers significant money without compromising on quality.
Asda's Extra Special 85% Ugandan Dark Chocolate emerged as the unexpected champion, scoring an impressive 9.5 out of 10 overall. Priced at just £2.15 for 100g, it contains only cocoa and sugar, earning perfect marks for ingredients while delivering a rich, chocolatey flavour that's smooth and mellow without excessive bitterness.
Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa scored a respectable 9 out of 10, praised for its quick chocolate hit and smooth mouthfeel, though at £2.98 per 100g, it's nearly 40% more expensive than the winning Asda option.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment was Hotel Chocolat's 85% Dark Chocolate Slab, which at £5.45 for 100g was more than twice the price of most competitors but only managed a 6 out of 10 overall score. The flavour was slow to develop and failed to justify the premium price tag.
Supermarket Brands Versus Premium Competition
The taste test demonstrated that supermarket own brands can compete effectively with, and sometimes surpass, more expensive alternatives.
Marks and Spencer's Dark Chocolate 85% from Peru scored 8.5 out of 10, matching Green and Black's Intense Dark Organic 85% despite being slightly cheaper per 100g. Both bars impressed with their clean ingredient lists and balanced flavours.
Lidl's JD Gross Dark Chocolate 85% offered excellent value at £1.91 per 100g, though it contained emulsifiers and had a slightly oily mouthfeel that affected its overall score of 7 out of 10.
Tesco's Finest Peru Dark Chocolate 85% scored similarly at 7 out of 10, with a slightly more bitter profile but clean ingredients aside from unspecified "flavouring".
The biggest gap between price and quality was evident in Cadbury's Bourneville, which at £1.67 per 100g was the cheapest option but scored only 2 out of 10. With sugar as its main ingredient and 58g of sugar per 100g, it barely qualifies as dark chocolate and contains palm oil and skimmed milk powder.
The clear takeaway for health-conscious chocolate lovers is that you don't need to spend premium prices to enjoy quality dark chocolate. Asda's winning option proves that simple ingredients, high cocoa content, and careful processing can deliver exceptional results at supermarket prices.
