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Best dark chocolate: experts pick the tastiest bars
From Lindt and Tony's to supermarket own brands, our experts blind-tasted 12 dark chocolate bars to find the smoothest best-tasting buys
If you're going to treat yourself to dark chocolate, you want to be sure you’re biting into the best. That’s why we asked an expert panel to blind-taste and rate 12 supermarket dark chocolate bars, all containing between 70% and 75% cocoa.
Our experts sampled and scored premium supermarket own-label dark chocolate bars, as well as widely available branded dark chocolate from Divine, Green and Black's, Lindt and Tony's Chocolonely.
They all agreed on one stand-out Best Buy bar, but our panel were less impressed by the category as a whole, with several experts commenting that the quality of supermarket dark chocolate appears to have declined in recent years.
Our experts thought it could be linked to the spike in cocoa prices two to three years ago, which may have forced some brands to buy lower-quality beans. Consumers could now be seeing the effects.
How we tested dark chocolate
Expert panel
Four independent experts rated 12 supermarket dark chocolate bars, all containing between 70% and 75% cocoa.
Blind-tasting
Each expert blind-tasted chocolate squares in a different order. They were given a blindfold so they couldn't be swayed by any branding.
In-depth expert ratings
Our experts scored each dark chocolate bar on taste, aroma, appearance and texture.
Independent testing
As with all of our taste tests, we never accept freebies. We bought all the samples ourselves, including spares to double-check any questionable samples.
Best supermarket dark chocolate bars
Only logged-in Which? members can view our full independent test results and tasting notes from the expert panel for every dark chocolate bar we tested below.
If you’re not yet a member, you’ll see an alphabetically ordered list of the dark chocolate we tested. To get instant access to these and all our reviews, join Which? today.
Aldi Moser Roth 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
£1.99 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Strong aroma of dark chocolate blended with selected cocoa.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Aldi(in-store only).
Asda Exceptional 70% Cocoa Peruvian Dark Chocolate
£2.28 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Subtle hints of bitterness rounded off by bursts of fresh red berry flavours.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda.
Co-op Irresistible Chocolate for Change 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
£2.75 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Deliciously rich with fruity notes. Made with carefully selected Peruvian cocoa.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Co-op.
Divine 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
£3.89 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Deliciously smooth. Every bite: a tapestry of life and landscape, passion and pride.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Divine, and Ocado.
Green & Black's Organic Intense Dark 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
£3.89 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Rich cocoa for an intense flavour.
M&S Collection Ecuadorian 75% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
£3 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Lively floral flavours, little acidity, long finish with a good range of cocoa flavours.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from M&S (in-store only) and Ocado.
Morrisons The Best 72% Cocoa Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate
£2.40 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Smooth and bittersweet flavour with notes of blue fruit and a hit of spicy cedar.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Morrisons.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Dominican Republic 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
£2.40 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Smooth and rounded cocoa profile with subtle notes of fruit and sweet marzipan.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Sainsbury's.
Tesco Finest Ecuador Dark Chocolate 75% Cocoa
£2.30 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Notes of fruit and vanilla.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Tesco.
Tony's Chocolonely 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate
£2.22 per 100g
Label tasting notes: Rich, bold and slightly bitter chocolate with a smooth melt and a proper cocoa hit in every bite.
Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.
Pricing and availability information correct as of July 2026.
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How we test dark chocolate
The 12 dark chocolate bars were blind-tasted and rated by a panel of four independent chocolate experts in May 2026.
Our expert tasting panel included:
Gabriella Cugno Award-winning pastry chef and chocolatier
Aneesh Popat Founder and director of chocolate company The Chocolatier
Jennifer Earle Food industry consultant, writer, private guide and chocolate specialist
Dom Ramsey Chocolate maker, consultant, development chef and writer
We compared supermarket premium own-label dark chocolate bars to branded options from Divine, Green & Black's, Lindt and Tony's Chocolonely. All bars contained between 70% and 75% cocoa to ensure comparability.
We always buy all the test samples ourselves and pay for products we test, to maintain our independence. We also buy a backup, so if our experts think there may be an issue, we can unwrap another bar to check.
Our experts rated each dark chocolate bar on taste, aroma, texture and appearance. The taste test was blind, so the panel didn't know which chocolate bar they were trying, and each expert tried them in a different order to avoid any bias. As some bars had recognisable branding on the chocolate squares, our experts were also given a blindfold to wear while tasting to prevent any influence on their scores.
After all the products had been tasted, the panel discussed their ratings and agreed on a score for each one and which bars deserved to be named a Best Buy. Only then did we reveal the products.
Dark chocolate has a reputation for being a healthy choice. It's rich in antioxidants and contains fibre, as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium and zinc. However, it's only 'healthy' if you're comparing it to other types of chocolate that are typically sweeter.
Dark chocolate is still something to eat in moderation, as it's calorie-dense, high in fat and may contain high levels of sugar.
Shefalee Loth, Which? principal researcher nutritionist, explains more:
'While it’s true that dark chocolate wins points simply for having less sugar than its milky counterpart, the real difference is in the levels of cocoa solids. These cocoa solids contain polyphenols, specifically flavanols, which have been shown to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and may help support the gut microbiome.
'Flavanols contribute to that bitter taste, so you might expect an 85% cocoa chocolate bar to contain more flavanols than a 70% bar. However, testing has shown that this isn't always the case, and the percentage doesn't always correlate with flavanol levels. That's because flavanols are fragile and can be destroyed during processing.
'Although a higher-percentage chocolate is likely to contain less sugar, it will still be high in fat and saturated fat. Chocolate shouldn't be your only source of flavanols. Other foods high in flavanols include green and black tea, blackberries, blueberries, apples (with their skin) and red grapes.'
Health? or Hype?
Make the right choice with recommendations you can trust, backed by expert testing.
The percentage shown on chocolate packaging indicates the amount of cocoa it contains.
In the UK, the minimum required cocoa content for dark chocolate is 35% (otherwise it can't be called dark), but most dark chocolate bars contain a much higher proportion of cocoa.
You'll typically find a selection clustered around 50% and then a range containing between 65% and 90% cocoa. Some brands make 100% cocoa bars, but the flavour is pretty intense and isn't to everyone's taste.
For our test, we included dark chocolate bars containing between 70% and 75% cocoa so they were comparable. We picked this percentage as it was the most widely available option and a popular choice, so it would be most relevant.
Chocolate with a higher percentage typically has a richer, savoury flavour, while bars with a lower cocoa percentage may be sweeter and more mellow. It's a good idea to try out a few different varieties and strength levels to find out what chocolate you prefer.
Is dark chocolate vegan?
Many dark chocolate bars are naturally dairy-free and suitable for vegans. They usually only contain cocoa, sugar and added flavourings such as vanilla.
There are a few exceptions, though, so it's always worth checking the list of ingredients before buying – and some dark chocolate bars, including those on test from Aldi, Morrisons and Tesco, only flag up that the chocolate is vegetarian on the wrapper.
Those with milk allergies should check the ingredients too, and be aware that some companies produce both dark chocolate and milk chocolate using the same equipment, so cross-contamination may occur.
How to choose sustainable dark chocolate
Cocoa production is associated with a range of ethical and sustainability issues, such as child labour and deforestation.
There are various independent certification schemes, such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance, which set out minimum requirements related to environmental, economic and social standards. However, some highly ethical brands prefer to invest directly in small-scale farmers rather than p;ay to put these costly logos on their wrappers.
Standards can also vary depending on the scheme. And there are other factors to consider, such as ingredients, production method and where the chocolate is made.
For more advice and information about the issues surrounding the production of ethical and sustainable chocolate, see our full guide on how to buy more sustainable chocolate.
How to spot bad-quality supermarket dark chocolate
Some of our experts felt that the overall quality of supermarket dark chocolate had notably dropped in the past couple of years, possibly due to a spike in cocoa prices. This in turn may have forced brands to buy lower-quality cocoa beans.
To make sure you're eating good-quality supermarket dark chocolate, the panel suggests you pay attention to the following:
Texture: A clean and crisp, sharp snap is a great sign of proper tempering and an indication that the chocolate was made using a carefully controlled heating and cooling process. Colour: Good-quality dark chocolate is actually lighter in colour and is often described as being reddish-brown. Deep black-brown chocolate suggests that the bar could have a burnt bean taste and was perhaps made with low-quality bulk cacao. Fat bloom: If you see white or grey streaks on dark chocolate, this usually indicates it hasn’t been stored at the correct temperature. As a result, the cocoa butter has risen to the surface. It should be OK and safe to eat, but the chocolate won’t taste its best. Alkalisation: Some supermarkets treat cocoa with an alkali, for example bicarbonate of soda, to reduce bitterness and darken the colour of their chocolate bars. This process also strips away some of the flavour complexity.
How to store dark chocolate
To keep supermarket chocolate at its best, don’t pop your bar in the fridge – cold chocolate tastes less sweet and it will lose its flavour. Also, if you've already taken a bite (or two), dark chocolate that's opened and unwrapped will act like a sponge and absorb unwanted fridge odours.
Store somewhere cool and dry (ideally around 16-20°C) in a tightly sealed, airtight container.
