# What's the best chocolate (candy) you can buy in the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362 "2012-07-16T00:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/21 "2012-07-16T12:36:50Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > You can also get higher-end brands, American and otherwise, at a lot of places. It’s not hard for me to find Vosges, Ghirardelli, and a handful of others I’m not remembering in various stores in my small town. And these aren’t fancy stores - I’m talking grocery stores, liquor stores, etc. > > . I gotta disagree here, there are large parts of the southern USA where you are lucky to have one supermarket available. Not that many years ago the only place to shop in the town my sister lived in at the time was a decrepit looking decades old Wal-mart that closed at 8pm!(I didn’t even know they still existed, all were 24 hour in Houston). Now in Houston there are a wealth of places to not only get good chocolate, but actual imported chocolates from Europe and elsewhere. But that is the big city. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/22 "2012-07-16T13:15:29Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I gotta disagree here, there are large parts of the southern USA where you are lucky to have one supermarket available. Not that many years ago the only place to shop in the town my sister lived in at the time was a decrepit looking decades old Wal-mart that closed at 8pm!(I didn’t even know they still existed, all were 24 hour in Houston). Obviously I haven’t been to EVERY small town in the US, but according to the WalMart website, they carry [Lindt](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Lindt-Milk-Chocolate-W-A-Smooth-Filling-Lindor-Truffles-5.1-oz/10312254) and [Ghirardelli](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ghirardelli-Chocolate-Squares-Dark-60-Cacao-Chocolate-5.25-oz/10898995), both excellent chocolates. Target has those and others. Maybe not at every location, but I still stand behind my assertion that it’s not that hard to find decent chocolate in most of the US. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/23 "2012-07-16T13:22:43Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > There’s TONS of good chocolate available in the US, including a whole lot of European brands that are often the ones the people who like to compare European chocolate to Hershey’s are comparing it to (Cadbury/Lindt/etc). But Cadbury’s is not a high-end brand in Britain, it is the standard, with Cadbury’s Dairy Milk occupying essentially the niche the Hereshy bar does in America.\* The difference is that the basic, cheap British Cadbury bar is _way_ better than a regular Hershey bar. You are right, of course, that there is plenty of excellent American made chocolate for those who want to pay for it: the top end of the market, and even the middle, is as good as or better than anywhere else, but the bottom end is distinctly worse. \*Actually I think British Galaxy chocolate, which is also a major brand, is a bit cheaper than Cadbury’s, and, I think, distinctly inferior. It is still way better than a Hershey Bat, though. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/24 "2012-07-16T14:45:18Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I’m generally a Lindt/Green&Blacks/Handmade Belgian kind of guy, and most US chocs are not to my taste, but I can tolerate See’s. I can tolerate it like a motherf… See’s is a favorite of mine, but I think their chocolate is actually sourced from Guittard ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/25 "2012-07-16T17:30:57Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I have been a chocolate aficionado and have tried many, many different bars from many countries. **My current favorite is the Mosen Roth 85% bar from ALDI.** It is, in my opinion, the best chocolate I’ve ever had–low acid, nice snap, with a very special buttery finish. Happily, it costs a quarter of what my previous favorites did. Indeed! Excellent and cheap, [one of the hidden gems of Aldi](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=657386). ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/26 "2012-07-16T17:33:54Z")
My favorite is Vosges. The Mo’s Bacon Bar is phenomenal, as is the Barcelona Bar. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/27 "2012-07-16T17:58:15Z")
See’s is likely the best value for your chocolate dollar. Super-fresh. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/28 "2012-07-16T18:27:28Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I still prefer milk chocolate. Best I’ve ever had is Callebaut. It was originally Belgian but got bought out by a Swiss company in the '90s. I don’t know where it’s made these days. Callebaut milk chocloate is outstanding. Believe it or not, [I think its production is now centred in Canada](http://www.bernardcallebaut.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=4638). That would certainly explain why I can find it here so readily. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/29 "2012-07-16T19:57:10Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Dove in both milk and dark flavors is probably the best mass market chocolate in the USA, excluding harder to find products and pricey gourmet stuff. Seconded. And for an outstanding local chocolatier, may I recommend Mitchell’s: > **[Mitchell's Fine Chocolates](https://www.mitchellschocolates.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/30 "2012-07-16T20:46:39Z")
I’m not a connoisseur, but I do like Ritter Sport Dark Chocolate (71%). It is both tasty and convenient to find, as well as very reasonably priced. I also like the mold they use, that makes it easy to break into pieces. In earlier days I have been known to snack on baker’s chocolate, if that was all that was in the house. Bitter, yes, but if you let a small piece soften in your mouth it’s just mega-strong chocolate flavor. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/31 "2012-07-16T20:56:56Z")
Ritter Sport is delicious—so many different varieties! I love Cadbury Fruit and Nut bars. The ones in Canada are like those I had in Britain, in my experience. Godiva is excellent, though pricey. I love Hershey bars, too—at least the way they used to taste. I haven’t had one in a long time. Belgian and Swiss chocolates are to die for! Here is an interesting article on one über-expensive US/Canadian brand. It’s quite long, but well worth the read; it’s always nice to know exactly what you’re paying for! [http://dallasfood.org/2006/12/noka-chocolate-part-1/](http://dallasfood.org/2006/12/noka-chocolate-part-1/) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/32 "2012-07-16T21:11:24Z")
I came in to say Dove. Even their sugar-free stuff is darn good! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/33 "2012-07-16T21:16:44Z")
Any body remember [“Ice Cubes”](http://www.amazon.com/Ice-Cubes-120-count/dp/B004CH57Y6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1342473276&sr=8-2&keywords=ice+cube+chocolate) chocolates? They always had a super-smooth texture. ---
**Author:** ![TheTerribleTako](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@TheTerribleTako](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTerribleTako)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/34 "2012-07-16T22:11:19Z")
For people that find Scharffenberger too astringent, try their milk chocolate variety (the one with the orange/peach wrapper). I find that one has a great creaminess without any of the acidic undertones of their darker chocolates. [Theo Chocolate](http://www.theochocolate.com/), in Seattle, has a pretty good line-up as well. I’m partial to their dark orange chocolate bar and the hazelnut crunch. They also have a fun tour as well, although it requires a small fee. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/35 "2012-07-16T23:35:02Z")
I like Dove and Godiva, and I prefer dark chocolate from both makers. Dove is quite easy to find, but I think that Godiva tastes better. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/36 "2012-07-16T23:41:14Z")
These guys: [http://www.fineeuropeanchocolate.com/](http://www.fineeuropeanchocolate.com/) But, for walk-down-to-the-store chocolate, Dove is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/37 "2012-07-17T00:05:18Z")
double post ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/38 "2012-07-17T00:07:20Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > See’s is a favorite of mine, but I think their chocolate is actually sourced from Guittard That is correct. I came in to say See’s. Guittard has started putting out line of candy bars, but See’s is still better. Available at least on the West Coast. I’m eating some now. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![QuarkChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c5a1d2/32.png) [@QuarkChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuarkChild)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/39 "2012-07-17T00:09:20Z")
I like Taza stone-ground chocolate. Nothing else even compares. Unfortunately I can’t find it in stores in my current state (VA). I used to be able to get it when I lived in Santa Cruz. > **[Amazon.com : Taza Chocolate Organic Mexicano Disc 50% Dark Chocolate, Vanilla,...](https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Mexicano-Vanilla-Certified-Organic/dp/B002L9WBXW)** > > Amazon.com : Taza Chocolate Organic Mexicano Disc 50% Dark Chocolate, Vanilla, 2.7 Ounce (1 Count), Vegan : Chocolate Candy : Grocery & Gourmet Food ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362/40 "2012-07-17T01:15:06Z")
> [@QuarkChild](#): > > I like Taza stone-ground chocolate. Nothing else even compares. Unfortunately I can’t find it in stores in my current state (VA). It’s nice living next door to the factory. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-chocolate-candy-you-can-buy-in-the-u-s/628362.md?page=3)