"Healthiest" Dark Chocolate

B00MSTICK

Hey all, its been proven a few squares of dark chocolate a day can help reduce blood pressure/is a good source of antioxidants
but the question is which is the best(least worst!) for you?
Anyone any ideas?

Faith

I think the darker, the better is the general rule. It should be at least 75% cocoa.

Can't stand the stuff myself, personally.

Latchy

I bought on recomendation for health benifits a large dark choc bar in tescos recently but cant remember it's name .

cozmik

B00MSTICK wrote: »

but the question is which is the best(least worst!) for you?
Anyone any ideas?

The best is the one with the most flavanols like Lindt's 99% If you can tolerate the bitter taste that is the one to go for.

More info here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/21/nchoco121.xml

EileenG

I personally love the 99% chocolate. It's got a great chocolate hit, but I can eat a couple of squares and stop. I never binge on this stuff. Failing that, Lindt and Amnesty International both do a very nice 85% chocolate. I wouldn't bother with anything less than 70%.

There are a few specialised chocolate brands that do things like 88% etc, and often strange flavours (I got some lavender chocolate recently) but I think you can't eat the 85% or 99%.

And don't forget good old cocoa powder.

_Whimsical_

There's a new kid on the healthy chocolate block these days. It's called Choxi+. I haven't seen it in shops yet but it's gotten quite a few positive write ups in the papers in recent months.

It claims that only two squares provide all the antioxidants you need for a whole day (ie. the equivalent of 2bowls of blueberries or more than 1lb of brussel sprouts) and that weight for weight, it naturally contains more flavanol antioxidants than any other food.

They're all claims it makes on it's website. They seem pretty audacious to me but it sounds like it might be worth looking out for . Has anyone tried it or seen it in shops here ?Tesco were supposed to be selling it according to The Independent a few months ago.

In case anyone wants a look : http://www.choxiplus.com/

I'm highly suspicious of a chocolate that has to declare itself "extraordinarly delcious" in its marketing blurb. Puts me in mind of "Friends" Mockolate.

mack1

Moonbaby wrote: »

I'm highly suspicious of a chocolate that has to declare itself "extraordinarly delcious" in its marketing blurb. Puts me in mind of "Friends" Mockolate.

EileenG

I looked over the whole website, and all the links, and I couldn't find any ingredients or breakdown of nutritional information. BAD sign.

_Whimsical_

Yup I have to agree on that point BUT at the same time it does say that their recipe and manufacture process is secret (yes I so badly want to believe that I'm willing to make allowences here ).

I read an article by their MD in The Times saying that that their manufacturing process is unique as it's carried out much more slowly and at much lower temperatures than traditional chocolate is made. This preserves a much higher antioxident content than normal chocolate processing does.

It does mention an ORAC rating on the website. That must be independently verifiable. Apparently it's
10g Choxi+ Dark Chocolate = 4600 ORAC
10g Standard dark chocolate =1970 ORAC
I still want to try it

EileenG

I'd like to see the rating for something like the 85% chocolate. Standard dark chocolate is often close to 60% sugar.

rockbeer

EileenG wrote: »

I'd like to see the rating for something like the 85% chocolate. Standard dark chocolate is often close to 60% sugar.

Depends what you mean by 'standard'.

Reasonable quality dark chocolate (including, I guess, choxi) only contains two significant ingredients: cocoa and sugar. So 85% dark chocolate is about 15% sugar. There may also be small amounts of emulsifier or vanilla, but there should be no added fat or anything else.

JennyG73

Found Amore yogurt with dark chocolate flakes last night!!! On a diet so it was my treat...WOW is all I can say.

You have to try it!!!!!:D

EileenG

rockbeer wrote: »

Depends what you mean by 'standard'.

Reasonable quality dark chocolate (including, I guess, choxi) only contains two significant ingredients: cocoa and sugar. So 85% dark chocolate is about 15% sugar. There may also be small amounts of emulsifier or vanilla, but there should be no added fat or anything else.

Agreed, But Choxi doesn't say what proportion of cooca it has, so it could have a lot less than 85%.

EileenG

Homemade chocolate sauce.

2 or 3 tsp of good cocoa powder,
Enough hot strong coffee to mix to a smooth paste
Sweetener.

Mix everything togethter, making it slightly wetting than you think it should be, because it will thicken a bit as it cools.

Now add to plain yogurt or fat free fromage fraiche when you want a chocolately treat.

rockbeer

EileenG wrote: »

Agreed, But Choxi doesn't say what proportion of cooca it has, so it could have a lot less than 85%.

It's a legal requirement to publish the percentage of cocoa solids on chocolate packaging. From the Choxi+ web site:

"Dark Choxi+ has at least 63% cocoa solids... Milk Choxi+ has 38% cocoa solids"

EileenG

So 37% sugar for the dark chocolate, then.

EileenG

Went to London yesterday, and to the Whole Food Market in Kensington (highly recommended) where I found this chocolate. I bought some and tasted it, and gave most of the bar away. It really is very ordinary and boring, and fat too sweet for my taste. I have a lot of trouble believing that anything this sweet (and I got the dark) would be much good for you.

Anyway, if someone offers you a square, then go for it, but don't waste your time and money special ordering it.

JennyG73

Great thanks! I won't waste my money.

rubadub

Dunnes in cournelscourt have lindt on offer at the moment. I think it was 2 100g bars for either €3 or €3.50, I think the latter. I think the highest was 80%.

Lidl always have relatively cheap own brand stuff.

eclectichoney

rubadub wrote: »

Dunnes in cournelscourt have lindt on offer at the moment. I think it was 2 100g bars for either €3 or €3.50, I think the latter. I think the highest was 80%.

Lidl always have relatively cheap own brand stuff.

I wish you hadn't told me that rubadub :pac::o

DéiseGirl

rubadub wrote: »

Dunnes in cournelscourt have lindt on offer at the moment. I think it was 2 100g bars for either €3 or €3.50, I think the latter. I think the highest was 80%.

Lidl always have relatively cheap own brand stuff.

Mmm...Lidl chocolate. That reminds me I need to top up my "stash" I got some bars "mit cocoa nibs" a while back that were over 70%. Think they were one of their special offers that they have Monday/Thursday but they have a decent selection of chocolate "strengths" all year around anyway. I love Aldi and Lidl :pac:

smiles302

My personal favourite is "Black and Greens" 75% coco dark chocolate

it is quite bitter, but I tried 99% once but just couldn't eat it

So I think 75% is a good start haha

the beer revolu

smiles302 wrote: »

My personal favourite is "Black and Greens" 75% coco dark chocolate

it is quite bitter, but I tried 99% once but just couldn't eat it

So I think 75% is a good start haha

I find Green & Blacks very artificial tasting - they've got the big marketing budget but there is much better chocolate around. G&B's are owned by Cadbury.

Personally I like a 70% Chocolate - and darker and the texture gets kinda bitty for me.

My favourite is Galler 70% but don't know if anyone sell it in Ireland (I get it in Belgium)
After that comes Divine 70% Fairtarade. vailable in Tesco's - quite cheap as I remember.
Lidl do some nice chocolate too