# Looking for very dark chocolate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022 "2006-12-13T21:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/1 "2006-12-13T21:25:51Z")
My husband has a new passion–extremely dark chocolate. I’d like to get him some for Christmas, but I’d like it to be something he can’t get at the supermarket. I’m hoping to put together something of a sampler of the extremely dark stuff. Ideas? ---
**Author:** ![toto\_dies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@toto\_dies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toto_dies)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/2 "2006-12-13T21:29:51Z")
Lindts 100% dark chocolate? But that may be just like eating baking chocolate… go for the 85% one, or theres this website [http://www.chocolatetradingco.com/browsecategory.asp?ID=42](http://www.chocolatetradingco.com/browsecategory.asp?ID=42) I always browse this when I feel like eating chocolate and I don’t have it! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/3 "2006-12-13T21:50:02Z")
It’s expensive, but [Endangered Species Chocolate](http://www.chocolatebar.com/index.htm) is ethically traded, and very high cocao content. I like their [Dark Chocolate with Deep Forest Mint](http://www.chocolatebar.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=2&idproduct=24) flavor, but he might like [Extreme Dark Chocolate](http://www.chocolatebar.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=2&idproduct=35), or[Dark Chocolate with Cocao nibs](http://www.chocolatebar.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=2&idproduct=34). ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/4 "2006-12-13T21:54:40Z")
Some friends had a chocolate tasting which they documented [here](http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=10426&highlight=cluizel). I think the Michel Cluizel is some amazing stuff and agree that too much cocoa in a bar is not a Good Thing. ---
**Author:** ![Khadro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Khadro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadro)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/5 "2006-12-13T22:04:01Z")
I bought my dad some of the Lindt 99% dark chocolate for his birthday this year… it was basically compressed powder, and had a gritty texture to eat. It tasted OK, but the texture was not so good. In the end, I actually think he ended up grating into a chocolate sandwich! Which was an excellent idea. I agree however, that the 75% and 85% Lindt chocolates are awesome. But you can get them in supermarkets over here… I assume the same thing is true in the US, so it might not be as exotic as you’d like. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/6 "2006-12-13T22:13:59Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] My husband has a new passion–extremely dark chocolate. I’d like to get him some for Christmas, but I’d like it to be something he can’t get at the supermarket. I’m hoping to put together something of a sampler of the extremely dark stuff. Ideas? [/QUOTE] Simple answer: Head to your nearest Whole Foods or gourmet food store and buy him some bittersweet chocolate. Either Valrhona or Scharfenberger. Don’t go for extremely high percentage novelty stuff, as darker is not better after a point. Something in the 70s would be ideal, and anything by either maker I listed above will thrill your husband. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/7 "2006-12-13T22:22:24Z")
Try some in the 70s and some in the 80s, so he can try out both. Even I, and I know of no living being who adores dark chocolate more than I, don’t like the 99% stuff. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/8 "2006-12-13T22:26:32Z")
My ex-husband used to bring me back amazing dark chocolate from Germany when he went on business trips. Yeah some of the 90s stuff was too intense for me but the 70s and 80s was teh yum. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/9 "2006-12-13T22:39:06Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] Try some in the 70s and some in the 80s, so he can try out both. Even I, and I know of no living being who adores dark chocolate more than I, don’t like the 99% stuff. [/QUOTE] He has had 72, 75, and 85, and liked them all. I told him he was insane once when he was eyeing a 99 bar, so he hasn’t tried that. ---
**Author:** ![toto\_dies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@toto\_dies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toto_dies)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/10 "2006-12-13T23:07:50Z")
I know it’s not all chocolate but has he tried dark chocolate covered coffee beans? They’re quite intense. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/11 "2006-12-13T23:15:09Z")
If you have a cost plus world market nearby they now have a range of “Vintage Plantation” chocolate bars that range fro 65% up to 100%. I have a bar of 90% with me at the moment, and it is very good. Also look out for Green and Black’s Maya Gold chocolate bars for something different. Dolfin specialist chocolate bars are available in some places in America, their Noir au poive rose is excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/12 "2006-12-13T23:22:22Z")
[QUOTE=The Swan] Simple answer: Head to your nearest Whole Foods or gourmet food store and buy him some bittersweet chocolate. Either Valrhona or Scharfenberger. [/QUOTE] Seconded. Mr. S and I are dark chocolate snobs as well. I love Valrhona Noir and Extra Noir. I don’t find the Lindt extra darks as good as you would think they would be. Scharffen Berger’s 82% is very good, and he also might like their cacao nibs if you can find them (pieces of cacao bean). I also like Droste’s 75% and Equal Exchange (fair trade) dark chocolates. And, for a quick but cheap dark chocolate fix, Dove Dark Chocolate Promises are wonderful, even if you CAN get them at any grocery store. We keep a silver tin full of them. Cost Plus/World Market usually has a nice selection of chocolate, if there’s one near you. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/13 "2006-12-13T23:25:36Z")
May I present [Euphoria Chocolate Company?](http://www.euphoriachocolate.com/about.html) He’s likely to be unfamiliar with their fine, fine products. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/14 "2006-12-13T23:32:31Z")
[QUOTE=Scarlett67] I don’t find the Lindt extra darks as good as you would think they would be. [/QUOTE] That’s because Lindt cut their teeth on, and are famous for, their milk chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2006, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/15 "2006-12-13T23:34:57Z")
Am I the only one so far who as bought Endangered Species Chocolate and enjoyed it? A health food store I visit sometimes sells it, and it’s good! The Deep Forest Mint has bits of cocao nibs in it, but not as much as the one that says it has nibs in it. Mmmmm! ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/16 "2006-12-14T00:41:40Z")
I came in here to make a black-man-long-penis-fellato joke, but you might not find it in good taste. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/17 "2006-12-14T01:11:19Z")
[QUOTE=Askia] I came in here to make a black-man-long-penis-fellato joke, but you might not find it in good taste. [/QUOTE] :rimshot: ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/18 "2006-12-14T01:29:11Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] Am I the only one so far who as bought Endangered Species Chocolate and enjoyed it? A health food store I visit sometimes sells it, and it’s good! The Deep Forest Mint has bits of cocao nibs in it, but not as much as the one that says it has nibs in it. Mmmmm! [/QUOTE] No, I like it too. Both the Chimpanzee and Panther bars are gorgeous, pure dark choc. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/19 "2006-12-14T04:50:49Z")
[Dagoba](http://www.dagobachocolate.com/shop/home.php?cat=8) organic chocolate. Their 87% Eclipse is lovely. Plus, it’s kinda like Yoda’s jungly planet, so if he’s a Star Wars buff, there ya go… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022/20 "2006-12-14T05:21:00Z")
Does Hershey’s still make Hershey’s Dark chocolate bars? I used to love those. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-very-dark-chocolate/384022.md?page=2)