As far as I know, there is no healthy substitute for chocolate (carob is good, but wouldn’t stand a chance in a taste test with chocolate). So I go for sheer enjoyment and look for the best quality that I can afford. I discovered that when I buy quality chocolate, I treasure it more, and actually eat less. With so many specialty markets and health food stores on NYC’s UWS, I never have a problem finding the “perfect” piece. A good rule of thumb for chocolate (for any food product) is to always read the label so you know exactly what you are getting. Make sure the chocolate contains real ingredients– no fillers, has a high cocoa content, 70 percent or greater, tastes rich, and has a low sugar content. Tonight I was craving something sweet and tart, so I went for a dark chocolate bar with tiny pieces of dried raspberries and another one loaded with chopped walnuts. A delightful way to bring in the new year!
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Carob is delicious too!
How about chocolate at percentages higher than 70%? At what point does it become a scam to charge you more money?
Shoshana
// December 25, 2009 at 4:01 am | Reply Carob is delicious too!
There is NOTHING like dark chocolate! I especially like the one with the raspberries. Yum!
I like carob, too! But it’s nothing like chocolate– not as smooth and creamy.
The cocoa content can range from 35 to 99 percent. But I’ve never seen a good chocolate bar that has an exact number higher than 70/75 percent. Also, just having a high cocoa content doesn’t mean it’s quality chocolate. The $ should depend on the quality of all the ingredients, how and where the chocolate comes from and is made, the texture of the chocolate. I wouldn’t necessarily pay more for a chocolate bar because it has a higher cocoa content.
also really good with cherries!
It is good! Great as a topping for vanilla frozen yogurt
I love a good dark chocolate that is a bit on the bittersweet side. There is nothing like it!
That looks amazing! And I bet it tastes just as great! Nothing like good chocolate to make any day better!
Isn’t it that dark chocolates are ’slimmer’ chocolates? =P
I love Milk Chocolate. My favorite is Lake Champlain all natural chocolate that I find at Whole Foods market. I could live on Pizza and Milk Chocolate.
The one with the raspberries looks amazing
How do you recognize fillers on the ingredients list? And what would you consider low sugar content?
I just browsed through your blog and bookmarked it, it’s great! Very interesting recipes and products.
In fact, I love the Cadbury’s dark chocolates. They lure my heart well enough
i love black chocolates and an addict of it. But most of the chocolate available are not pure chocolates and so they are not so healthy since they contains artificial ingredients.
I would have to agree with you! Dark chocolate has to be the best chocolate ever.
Hi:
Got to say I’m so thrilled by your intentions…
my blog isn’t that developed and you may suggest tips:
http://hellochichaoua.wordpress.com
aziz
Milk chocolate much better for me!
good questions! So, examples of fillers/additives– soy lecithin, sugar, PGPR, or polyglycerol polyricinoleate, vanillin, alkali, also called Dutch chocolate– apparently, it reduces the good-for-you flavonoids in the cocoa, artificial flavorings…
I would consider low sugar content: under 25 percent
These brands have higher chocolate content and low sugar, recommend:
amanochocolate.com
dagobachocolate.com
ithacafinechocolates.com
resources:
http://www.globalexchangestore.org/SearchResults.asp?Cat=38
http://www.transfairusa.org/content/WhereToBuy/
Chocolate, even dark chocolate, is not really good for you. If it’s good quality chocolate it will have some good-for-you ingredients, but you are really better off having pure cocoa powder in a cup of hot chocolate!
In the past couple of years I have discovered the wonders of dark chocolate!!! Milk chocolate still has a place in my heart but dark chocolate… wooooo! Nothing like it!
Fabulous pictures in your other posts as well!
I love chocolate very very much.
Especially I’d prefer Belgium chocolate!
I prefer dark chocolates, they’re yummiest!
I might lick the screen..
That does look delicious.
I’ve heard that dark chocolate is actually healthy, and that it has a lot of antioxidants in it. You’re definitely right about checking the ingredients though. I personally prefer imported chocolates to American.
Well Chocolates are certainly a delightful way to bring in the new year
Owesome…!!!
——————
Portgass – Free
I love chocolate, both dark and the milk chocolate ones. I might, amazingly enough, have learned how to enjoy chocolate without finishing the whole bar at once now
I love chocolate, and enjoyed this blog. Thanks for posting.
Hmm….very del.i.cio.us
Dark chocolate is the best. I love those Belgium made Dark Chocolate. I could consume 8 pcs a day! Dark choco doesn’t give the sore throats I get when I eat the sweet ones.
Some very interesting and insightful thoughts. I like this.^_^ because I have a blog about chocolate too.
Nice! I’ll definitely check it out!