10 Best Dark Chocolates in India 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist

Ruchi Wadhwa is a certified Nutritionist with a keen interest in Ayurvedic sciences. She has a wholesome, holistic, and sustainable approach to nutrition. Check out our Food and drinks section as more articles are reviewed by expert Ruchi Wadhwa.

Moderate consumption of dark chocolates are beneficial for our health as it promotes a good metabolism rate and ensures a good blood flow, It also has less sugar and fat than milk chocolates. So, want to hit the best dark chocolate brands? To make your search easy, we've listed the 10 best dark chocolates in India, keep reading!

Dark chocolate is not a guilty pleasure; it comes packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It consists of basic ingredients - cacao beans, cocoa butter, and sugar, and is a bittersweet treat that is considered a healthy snack. Cocoa present in dark chocolate contains flavanols, which are plant chemicals, rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory, and free-radical scavenging properties.

Some of the health benefits of dark chocolate include:

1. The anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties in dark chocolate can help prevent cardiovascular disease
2. The types of flavanols present in it reduce the risk of diabetes
3. Increase in endothelial function and lower blood pressure

To get more information about these health benefits, read here

A bite of dark chocolate works as an instant mood booster because it stimulates the production of endorphins. High-quality dark chocolates are rich in flavanols, which fight inflammation and promote healthy skin. Keeping a check on the ingredients, composition, you can choose high-quality dark chocolate. Read on as we discuss points on choosing the best dark chocolate in India.

Choose the one with three main components, including cocoa, cocoa butter, and a natural sweetener, is an excellent way to go. Too many ingredients can play around with your taste buds and change the taste of the chocolate all together. Not sure how this can happen? Let's talk about it below.

You must have seen dark chocolate packaging labelled 30 percent, 75 percent, or 80 percent. These numbers represent the cocoa concentration in the chocolate, which further determines the bitterness in the flavour. 

Higher the percentage of cocoa, the more bitter it is. A bar of dark chocolate with cocoa in its natural raw state (cacao) is the most beneficial. However, in its natural state, cocoa is very brittle, which makes it difficult to consume. 

But when shopping for dark chocolate, you can seek the ones that have a higher percentage of cocoa, i.e., 70% or above. They'll be less brittle but with more nutrition. The greater the cocoa percentage, the greater will be the antioxidants and nutrients in it.

Apart from cocoa, a bar of classic dark chocolate has sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla extract. To counteract the bitterness of dark chocolate, manufacturers add sugar to it. You should avoid chocolates that contain cane sugar, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and other refined sugars as they lead to increased liver fat, risk of obesity and weight gain. etc. 

Instead, look for dark chocolate with natural sweeteners like coconut sugar, honey syrup, and pure maple syrup. Ideal dark chocolate contains 24.23g of sugar. It's worth noting that the lesser the sugar level, the greater the cocoa percentage. Therefore, pick the one that has 70% or more cocoa.

Most of us have developed a taste for some standard chocolate flavour. Not to say that those flavours are bad, but there is always room for more. Unusual chocolate pairings and flavours allow our pallets to open up to newer combinations and tastes.

However, while shopping for flavoured dark chocolate, it is hard to tell from the label if the flavours are natural or artificial. The best practice in such cases is to choose a certified organic product, which will ensure that the added flavour is not artificial.

Lindt has a dark chocolate flavour paired with orange, an excellent burst of bitter and tangy flavours that has a great aftertaste. The brand Lindt has various flavours in dark chocolate, including roasted sesame, sea salt, mint, coconut etc. So, when shopping for dark chocolate, shop for a unique pallet experience, and the results may surprise you.

Not all ingredients are good for our body; while some decrease the antioxidants in chocolate, others become a significant factor for heart disease. Discussed below are a few ingredients to watch out for, and best if avoided.

Lecithin is mainly sourced from Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) soy and processed with hexane to keep the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating in the chocolate - it acts as an emulsifier. It is not a mandatory inclusion, but some chocolate brands add it to help the flavours blend.

Hexane is a neurotoxin and carcinogen, and even if it is eliminated from chocolate, bits may remain. Because the FDA controls its removal, you might wish to avoid it - especially given the presence of GMOs and leftover insecticides in soy.

It may cause allergies, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. In case of extreme toxic build-up, it can even lead to severe health conditions. As an alternative, you can go for products that contain natural foods such as egg yolks or bee pollens. You can even consider sunflower lecithin.

Dark chocolate should contain only one type of fat, i.e., cocoa butter. If it has trans fat, you might be at an increased risk of heart disease. It also gives rise to LDL, which is bad cholesterol and reduces HDL, which is good cholesterol.

Therefore, keep a check on the ingredient list for the presence of trans fat. If the label says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil, that also means that the chocolate contains trans fat. Although adding trans fat to chocolate has become less frequent, certain manufacturers still use it to increase the shelf life and consistency.

Artificial flavouring is a wild card component that may not be acceptable for individuals with sensitivities or dietary intolerance, so it's best to stay away from unhealthy sweetening agents or artificial flavours, such as Aspartame, Stevia, etc.

When choosing dark chocolate with the best flavour, it is advisable to pick an organic one as you can rest assured that you're relishing only the natural flavours. Good quality dark chocolate does not contain artificial colours and preservatives. The low moisture from cocoa beans is removed during the grinding, thus allowing zero microbial growth.

Milk is not a common ingredient in high-quality dark chocolate. However, milk fat is a major issue as it has butter stripped of its moisture and contains non-fat solids. The presence of milk fat in your dark chocolate interferes with the body's absorption process of antioxidants, which are naturally found in cocoa.

Milk fat is added to dark chocolate by certain producers to soften it and add taste. Milk fat, like lecithin, is not necessary for the production of dark chocolate and solely serves to harm when consumed by providing the extra cholesterol that you are trying to avoid.

If you love dark chocolate, you'd love these dark chocolate cookies. Not only is the recipe simple, but the end product looks oh-so-good! Below are some tips to perfect these cookies, if you try them at home.

• Beat the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy
• Stir the flour, salt, baking powder, bread soda together. Add flour mix to the butter mix
• Add hazelnuts and chocolate
• Divide the mixture into balls and arrange it on a tray lined with parchment paper
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes

To read the recipe in detail, click here

When you are not sure if your dark chocolate, is the best for you, you can always make it at home, by yourself. It's an easy process involiving cocoa powder as the base ingredient. Although making it yourself is a lenghty process, but you can be sure of the quality. You can always involve your friends and family to make the process fun. If you are planning to do so yourself, check out the best cocoa powder here. 

There are many foods that harm and foods that heal. It is up to you to make a mindful choice to maintain your lifestyle and health. Dark chocolates are medically approved in terms of their benefits, and the bitter taste only makes it more interesting. Our list of premium dark chocolates provides variety and options for you to choose from. 

Author: Kashish Chadha

Editor: Srishti Sikka