May 10th, 2022
For those of us who browse the chocolate sections at grocery stores or perhaps local chocolatiers, stumbling across a bar of chocolate with a chocolate percentage printed on the packaging might be something you’re familiar with.
For true chocolate lovers, you might be aware of the fact that dark chocolate has a higher cocoa percentage than milk chocolate. However, the technicalities behind the term “chocolate percentage” is something you might not know.
If you’re looking to know more about what this term involves, you’ve come to the right place!
The experts at Melt have put together a short guide on chocolate percentage and what it means, so the next time you’re buying chocolate, you can get something that best suits your palate.
Let’s get started!
Every chocolatier or shop has its own preference when it comes to cocoa percentages for their chocolate bars. There’s no specific bracket or fit category that they need to fall in to.
However, there’s no need for you to be confused by all the different percentages – they simply refer to the amount of cocoa the chocolatier has chosen to use in their bar.
The cocoa percentage shows the number of cocoa solids used in the bar to flavour it – a dark chocolate percentage would be on the higher end of the scale, whereas a milk chocolate percentage would be on the lower end.
As a general note, a typical bar of chocolate contains a few ingredients, which include cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and a binding agent. Additionally, the chocolate percentage can also serve as an indicator of taste. A lower percentage usually means that there’s a lot of sugar going into the making of the bar.
To truly appreciate the taste of chocolate, the lower the sugar content, the more you will get to experience the ingredient for what it really is.
The nuanced notes of the cocoa bean can truly shine through without lots of additional ingredient embellishments. However, if you’re simply looking to understand which percentage works best for you, read on to find out more.
Since the government also has its own legal requirements for the minimum chocolate percentage, companies usually either stick to that or go beyond it to enhance their flavours and textures.
Depending on your preferred type of chocolate, you’ll be able to find a percentage that suits your taste.
In simple words, yes, the cocoa percentage affects the taste of your chocolate. When you consider a dark chocolate bar that is over 85%, you’re assured of a savoury and rich tasting bar. Similarly, a minimum percentage ensures adherence to the government standards and also contributes greatly to the overall flavour and texture of a bar.
Ultimately, the decision will vary from person to person, as we all have different tastes – the choice in selecting the right cocoa percentage is yours.
Now that you know about chocolate percentages and what they mean, indulge in the best, luxurious, gourmet chocolate experience with Melt.
Our chocolatiers have curated an excellent collection of fresh chocolates, bars, and sweet treats that make our chocolate shine. If you’re looking for indulgent chocolates, any one of our products will be perfect for you.
Explore our collection to place your order today!
As a rule of thumb – the higher the percentage of cocoa in dark chocolate, the more rich and savoury its taste will be. We recommend you a dark bar that consists at least 70% of cocoa solids. This is because it enables you to experience the multiple layers of cocoa bean, which isn’t possible in treats that have a lower cocoa percentage.
The percentage of cocoa mentioned on the bar indicates the amount of cocoa that’s added in the treat. 70% cocoa solids, means that the bar is made up of 70% of the cocoa bean, and the other ingredients will be cocoa butter, or sugar.
The percentage of cocoa is the amount of cocoa that consists of the overall chocolate bars weight. This does include cocoa butter. So cocoa mass divided by overall weight.
We would say the darker the better! 70% and above is generally the healthiest chocolate, as it has very little sugar, and lots of cocoa. The best is 100% cocoa, which is sugar free.