The 7 Best Dark Chocolate Bars You Need To Try

Dark chocolate is one of those controversial ingredients. Either you love its bitter flavor and intensity—or you don't. If you're a member of the former camp, then this list is for you. Don't click away if you're the latter, though: we've got a few selections that may just bring you over to the dark side. But before we get to that, here are a few things about dark chocolate you need to know.

What Is Dark Chocolate?

The origins of chocolate can be traced back to the Olmecs of southern Mexico, who were probably the first people to ferment, roast, and grind cacao beans. But what we'd today think of as dark chocolate likely hit full tilt during Mayan times, when it was used to make drinks for celebrations and medicinal purposes. It wasn't until the late 19th and early 20th century, however, that modern chocolate manufacturers like Nestlé and Cadbury came on the scene. They heralded the era of milk chocolate, which went on to become the most most popular style of chocolate across the globe.

Dark chocolate, however, has—and has always had—a unique charm. Though it technically has no legal definition, within the confectionery industry dark chocolate is recognized as having a cocoa content of 50 percent or higher. (To use the word "chocolate" in the U.S., a chocolate bar must have at least 10 percent cocoa—which is kind of a low bar!) As for the other 50 percent? It's made up of milk, sugar, or any other ingredients the chocolate makers add.

Why Do People Love It?

The bitter stuff enjoyed a wave of popularity in the late 20th and early 21st century when an array of studies suggested that dark chocolate had health benefits. It was likely too good to be true, though: Vox found that a lot of these studies had dubious backers (many were funded by Big Chocolate companies, like Mars, Incorporated) and further studies found that cocoa likely can’t, in fact, directly lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Sure, dark chocolate is probably better for you than milk chocolate and does contain flavanols, a chemical compound in fruits and veggies that can improve blood flow. But the amount of these flavanols varies from product to product, and most of them also pack not-so-healthy extras like sugar.

Still, dark chocolate has benefits beyond the health realm. Generally speaking, the higher a chocolate bar's cocoa content, the less sweet its flavor. When the palate isn't bombarded by sugar, it's better able to pick up on the chocolate's more nuanced notes, like fruitiness or nuttiness.

So, long story short, don’t eat dark chocolate thinking you’re being healthy. Instead, be like the Mayans and eat dark chocolate to celebrate life and appreciate its wide range of flavors. Here’s a list of dark chocolate brands we love.