The best brands of dark chocolate for 2020

One of the favorite treats of many adults and children is dark chocolate. Quite a few consumers do not even think about the quality of chocolate they consume. The editors of the site "bestx.htgetrid.com/en/" offer you an article with a fulldescription, advantages and disadvantages of the best manufacturers. We will tell you about the benefits and dangers of dark chocolate and what you need to know in order not to make mistakes when choosing your favorite treat.

How is dark chocolate made?

Before choosing a tile for your favorite sweets, you need to know how such products are made.

The main raw materials for making chocolate are cocoa beans. They are imported into the country from South and Central America, Africa and Asia. Only grains are delivered to chocolate factories, which are pre-cleaned, slightly dried and packed in bags.

Before roasting, the grains are sorted by size, since the chemical composition, and accordingly the taste, differs for each batch.

Then the grains are fried at a temperature of 120-140 degrees. In this process, the excess husk disappears and the moisture evaporates. The grains become sterile and usable.

After the roasting stage, there is a process of crushing, flavoring, adding sugar, flavorings and oil. Then the resulting mass enters the oven and mixes well. At the end, we get delicious sweets with our favorite additives.

But, often manufacturers save on the quality of raw materials, drown out the taste with sugar and flavors, chemical additives. This method significantly reduces the cost of chocolate per kilogram, and the consumer receives a low-quality, but budgetary product.

The benefits and harms of dark chocolate

The high quality of dark chocolate lies in the established state standards. This means that the entire technological process is specifically defined, and not compliance with these standards, the addition of preservatives, thickeners is punishable by law. The company has no right to write "dark chocolate" on the packaging if the above-mentioned components are included in the composition. Scientists insist that the most useful product should contain at least 72% cocoa. It is with this amount that a person receives all the necessary trace elements from cocoa beans.

There is a huge number of sweets and sweets on the market; you can choose both Russian-made and foreign manufacturers.

We do not recommend buying inexpensive products, as they may contain substitutes for cocoa butter that will only harm the body.

You can choose the perfect product for yourself on the website of the National Audit Office. There is a list of famous brands with a full description and an overview of elite foreign products and goods made in Russia. Also, the TOP of chocolates recommended by the state are indicated.

Why is it useful:

• Affects the cardiovascular system, preventing the development of blood clots and improving blood circulation.
• Influences the cognitive functions of the brain by slowing down the aging of cells. This product promotes mental alertness and intelligence. It is not for nothing that they say that before solving an important question, you can eat a piece of dark chocolate, and enzymes will speed up mental activity.
• Reduces cholesterol levels in the body.Its use is prescribed for those patients who have a tendency to do so.
• Cocoa beans prevent the development of cancer.
• A nutritious product that gives satiety and satisfies the feeling of hunger.
• A product with a high level of cocoa is one of the best natural antidepressants. The treat stimulates the production of endorphins - hormones of joy.

Like any food product, dark chocolate has a negative effect on the human body. The harm of dark chocolate:

• high calorie content. There are approximately 530 kcal per 100 grams of chocolate. This is a fairly high percentage of fat, especially for people on a diet.
• addictive. Lack of this product in the diet can cause stress, bad mood, and decreased immunity. All of these characteristics correspond to the symptoms of addiction.
• contraindicated in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Sweets irritate the walls of the stomach, especially with gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers, etc.
• this product has the ability to produce mycotoxins that contribute to mold growth. The dose of such a substance is minimal, but chocolate is contraindicated for people with sensitive bodies.
• modern manufacturers have learned to replace sugar in confectionery for people with diabetes. This delicacy is no different in taste from the standard one, while retaining all the useful properties.

What to look for when choosing

The ideal tile should be dense, dark brown in color, and not crumble when broken. A sharp crunch is made thanks to cocoa butter; at room temperature, it is dense and sonorous. The color should be smooth and glossy. If the tile has white patches or streaks, it is most likely that palm oil or milk fat was added. They are much cheaper than cocoa butter and do not have a beneficial effect on the human body. Also, white bloom can form when the production technology is violated.

Proper storage of confectionery products directly affects the taste and shelf life of the product. Moving items from a dry place to a damp place can form condensation, which can form deposits and an unpleasant taste.

Rating of quality brands of dark chocolate for 2020

Modern manufacturers produce confectionery products of different price categories and quality. It is quite difficult to choose a natural product. Most consumers prefer chocolate with different fillings and flavors: with walnuts, lemon, mint, raspberries, etc. Our editors have compiled a list of the best world and domestic manufacturers of confectionery products that produce high-quality and tasty classic dark chocolate, as well as with various natural fillings.

Name	Cocoa percentage	Manufacturer country	Cost, p	Weight, g
Lindt excellence dark	99	Switzerland	275	50
Spartak bitter elite 90%	90	Belarus	1200	1000
Chateau Puur Hazelnoot	72	Germany	200	173
A. Korkunov	70	Russia	150	90
Siberian Treasure bitter with strawberries	77.8	Russia	310	150
SWISS ORIGINAL	72	Switzerland	200	90
Vivani 99%	99	Germany	340	80

Lindt excellence dark

Classic dark chocolate from the world manufacturer Lindt. This is an amazing combination of cocoa sweetness and bitterness. Consumers note its taste characteristics, since a piece does not melt in the mouth for a long time, so you can enjoy one piece for much longer. The fact is that the composition contains a minimum percentage of cocoa butter, and it contains only natural beans of 99%, which give this rich and unique taste. It should be noted that the bar is packed in cardboard packaging, and the chocolate itself is wrapped in airtight foil. This level of packaging makes it possible to preserve the delicate aroma of the product. The Lindt Excellence Dark line is positioned by manufacturers as premium, so you should not be surprised at the high price of the product. The composition is absolutely natural. This kind of chocolate goes well with dry white wine or other strong alcoholic beverage.

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Spartak dark chocolate elite 90% 1000 g

Chocolate is produced in Belarus. You can buy such a product only with 1 kg tiles. The cost of the product is acceptable and affordable. The composition contains only natural cocoa products. Cocoa butter content less than 5%, does not contain genetically modified organisms. Suitable for children. You can buy Spartak chocolate in any confectionery store. You can choose from products with the addition of other products: various nuts, dried fruits and flavors.

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Chateau Puur Hazelnoot

Chateau Puur Hazelnoot - dark chocolate with the addition of whole hazelnuts. We will tell you exactly about this chocolate bar, but the company produces bars with the addition of pine, whole and crushed almonds, walnuts, raisins and other products with natural additives. All products are manufactured in Germany, so the price in our market is too high, taking into account transportation. The chocolate cube melts quickly in the mouth, has a rich cocoa flavor. Due to the addition of nuts, it is a fairly satisfying and high-calorie product, therefore it is suitable for quickly satisfying hunger. The packaging is made of cardboard and foil. It can be conveniently taken with you for a snack. The price is affordable and fully consistent with the quality.

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A. Korkunov bitter 72%

The A. Korkunov "is based in Russia and is one of the TOP confectionery manufacturers in the country. The main emphasis is that the company does not use palm oil in its production. The brand produces high quality cocoa-based products with a bright and delicate taste.

The packaging of this brand is significantly different from all presented on the shelves in stores. A dark brown background with a large gold letter K stands out effectively on the shelves. The products have a huge number of positive reviews. Consumers highlight exactly the cardboard packaging, as well as the texture of the chocolate. A sharp crunch is heard when the tiles are broken. The perfect combination of bitter cocoa and light sweetness.

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Siberian Treasure bitter with strawberries

Domestic dark chocolate with strawberry pieces and powdered cinnamon. A specific combination. The difference between this product and all the others is that the bar does not contain sugar, preservatives or artificial additives. This is a handcrafted product that is not easy to find in stores, but well worth it. A subtle shade of cocoa with a slight acidity of strawberry and cinnamon spice is mixed, and a new and unique taste is born. The bar itself is packed in a cardboard box with a transparent window through which you can see chocolate and strawberry slices. Freeze-dried strawberries, because they retained all the useful vitamins and minerals, while not losing their sweet taste. The price of such a delicacy is reasonable and affordable.

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SWISS ORIGINAL with orange

Product of the Swiss brand SWISS ORIGINAL with orange slices. A completely unexpected combination of orange sourness and chocolate astringency. The composition contains 72% cocoa.It should be noted that the company chooses very good raw materials, so the product is of high quality and tasty. Marmalade orange slices make the product even more rich to taste.

The design of all packing boxes is the same: a gray cow with a Swiss cross on a black background. The name of a specific product is written in the middle. Only a picture of the taste is added, in this case a cut of an orange. The tile itself is wrapped in silver foil.

The composition contains cocoa butter, sugar and the orange itself. The fruit filling is made from puree and dried at high temperatures. When broken, the chocolate is dense, does not crumble. In terms of taste, it goes well with black coffee or strong tea.

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Vivani 99%

One of the leaders in our rating, the most expensive confection for a 80 gram tile. German manufacturer Vivani has released a confectionery product with a cocoa content of 99.5% and only 0.5% sugar. According to the manufacturer, the cocoa beans are imported from Panama. It is from them that the very elite chocolate is brewed. The company uses its own technology for processing grains, from which this delicate taste is obtained by grinding. All raw materials undergo strict quality control and selection, from which cocoa beans are subsequently brewed and the ideal taste is derived.

The tile itself is thin, glossy, streak-free. A characteristic crackle is heard at the break.

The taste of this product is not suitable for everyone, it is really tart and bitter. Classic sugar is not added to the composition, only coconut sugar. It does not give the sweetness that we are used to.

This confection leaves a slight aftertaste after consumption. It plays well with black coffee.

The product is completely natural, therefore it is suitable for people with diabetes mellitus, as well as for the following diet. The product does not contain additives or flavors.

The Vivani company is famous for its products all over the world. They receive many awards every year related to the quality of their products.

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As it turned out, choosing a really correct and high-quality dark chocolate is not so easy. Modern production technologies make it possible to make confectionery products even for those with a sweet tooth, for whom they are contraindicated. Following the rules that we have highlighted above, you can choose a really high quality product. Do not forget that chocolate is a useful food supplement only in reasonable doses. Therefore, only moderate consumption of this product will bring you pleasure and joy.