Complete Chocolate Guide
Comprehensive analysis of 200 chocolate products from 104 brands. Compare cacao percentages, understand additives, explore dark vs milk chocolate, and find the healthiest options.
200
Products Analyzed
104
Brands
4.8
Avg Processing Score
4.7/10
Avg Nutrition Score
Chocolate by Processing Level
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally Processed13
Simple dark chocolate: cacao, minimal sugar, perhaps vanilla.
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
Processed120
Dark or milk chocolate with cocoa butter, lecithin, natural flavors.
Processing Level: 3 out of 4 - Highly Processed
Level 3
Highly Processed67
Multiple additives, vegetable oils, emulsifiers, or high sugar.
Processing Level: 4 out of 4 - Ultra-Processed
Level 4
Ultra-Processed0
Highly processed with artificial flavors, colors, and many additives.
Healthiest Chocolate Options
Top-rated chocolate products with minimal processing and better nutrition scores
Scharffen Berger, Fine Artisan Dark Chocolate, Extra Dark
Scharffen Berger
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:1.5
Nutrition:8.0/10
Stips the Soul, Honey Forest Chocolate
Stips the Soul
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
ProcessedProcessing:4.0
Nutrition:8.0/10
Scharffen Berger, Milk Nibby, Milk Chocolate with Roasted Cacao Nibs
Scharffen Berger
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:1.5
Nutrition:7.5/10
Rhodiola & Hawaiian Red Salt
Santosha Chocolate
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
ProcessedProcessing:4.0
Nutrition:7.5/10
Milk Chocolate Peanut Clusters
Weis
Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed
Level 2
ProcessedProcessing:4.5
Nutrition:7.5/10
Scharffen Berger, Bittersweet Dark Chocolate
Scharffen Berger
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:1.5
Nutrition:7.0/10
Scharffen Berger, Mocha Dark Chocolate with Freshly Roasted Coffee
Scharffen Berger
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:1.5
Nutrition:7.0/10
Dark Chocolate Bars, Dark
Enjoy Life
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:7.0/10
Dark Chocolate Boom Choco Boom Bars, Dark Chocolate
Enjoy Life
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:7.0/10
Solstice Chocolate, Madagascar Chocolate Bar
Solstice Chocolate
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:7.0/10
Bittersweet Chocolate with Subtle Cherry Notes
Guittard
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:7.0/10
Dark Chocolate Minis, Dark Chocolate
Enjoy Life
Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed
Level 1
Minimally ProcessedProcessing:2.0
Nutrition:7.0/10
How to Choose Healthier Chocolate
✓What to Look For
- •Simple ingredients: Best chocolate has 3-5 ingredients - cacao (or cocoa mass), cocoa butter, sugar, perhaps vanilla or lecithin
- •High cacao percentage: Dark chocolate with 70-85% cacao has most antioxidants and least sugar
- •Low processing score: Look for chocolate with processing scores under 4.0 (simple dark chocolate typically scores 1.5-2.5)
- •Real cocoa butter: Quality chocolate uses cocoa butter, not vegetable oils
- •At least 60% cacao: Minimum 60% cacao content for health benefits (70%+ is better)
✗Red Flags to Avoid
- •Vegetable oils: Palm, soy, coconut, or shea oil instead of cocoa butter (indicates lower quality)
- •PGPR: Polyglycerol polyricinoleate used as cheaper emulsifier
- •Artificial flavors: Synthetic flavoring instead of real vanilla or cocoa
- •Low cacao percentage: Milk chocolate (30-40% cacao) or white chocolate (0% cocoa solids) have more sugar
- •Excessive additives: Long ingredient lists with many emulsifiers, stabilizers, and artificial ingredients