chocolate basics
Dark Chocolate Guide: Cocoa Percentage, Taste and Labels
Start with 70% cocoa, then adjust for sweetness and bitterness. Our guide explains labels and compares pack prices so you can choose dark chocolate to suit your taste and budget.
Quick answer: There is no single best percentage; it comes down to how much bitterness you like. 70% is a good place to start: it keeps some sweetness and lets the cocoa come through. On 24 October 2026, the Lindt 70% Cocoa bar is ৳630 for 100 g at nemahBites. Find it too bitter? Go lower. Want less sugar in the taste? Go higher.
What does the percentage on the pack mean?
It's the share of the bar that comes from cocoa: the cocoa solids plus the cocoa butter. So a 70% bar is about 70% cocoa, and the rest is mostly sugar, sometimes with other ingredients. The number won't tell you how good the beans were or how smooth the bar feels.
As a rule, the higher you go, the less sweet and more bitter it gets. But the beans, the roast and the recipe change the flavour too, so two 70% bars can taste quite different. Use the number to narrow things down, then read the ingredients. For how dark compares with milk and white, see our guide to dark, milk and white chocolate.
70%, 85% or 99%?
| Cocoa percentage | What it is like | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Lower percentages | Sweeter and milder | Anyone who finds strong bitterness hard going |
| 70% | Bitter and sweet in balance, with clear cocoa flavour | A good first dark bar; adjust from here |
| 85% | Stronger, with much less sweetness | People who already like intense cocoa; try a small piece first |
| 99% | Very bitter; the recipe decides the rest | Fans of that intensity, or a recipe that asks for it |
For eating, let your sweet tooth decide. For baking, use what the recipe asks for instead of reaching for the highest number. Our guide to dark chocolate for baking and eating goes into that.
What else should I read on the label?
Look at the ingredient order, sugar per serving and serving size, allergens, net weight and where the bar comes from. If texture matters to you, check for nuts, fruit, wafer or sweeteners.
A high percentage doesn't mean no added sugar. And a bar that says "dark chocolate" doesn't tell you its cocoa percentage unless the pack prints it, so we haven't guessed percentages for bars whose names leave them out.
How do I find the percentage I like?
Taste two or three percentages side by side at room temperature. Smell each one, let a small piece melt on your tongue, and notice the sweetness, any sourness, the roasted notes and what stays after. Too bitter? Step down. Too sweet? Step up.
Start with our dark chocolate range and narrow it by price and size. If you already like strong cocoa, look in the 70% and higher cocoa collection; check each pack's label.
What do these dark chocolate bars cost?
Prices were checked on 24 October 2026. The pack price is what you pay today; the price per 100 g helps you compare bars of different sizes.
| Product | Pack weight | Pack price | Price per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amul Dark Chocolate 35g | 35 g | ৳140 | ৳400/100g |
| Simply Dark Chocolate 100g | 100 g | ৳316 | ৳316/100g |
| Amul Dark Chocolate Bar 125g | 125 g | ৳411 | ৳329/100g |
| Lindt Dark Chocolate Bar 100g – 70% Cocoa | 100 g | ৳630 | ৳630/100g |
| Millennium 99% Dark Chocolate 100g | 100 g | ৳771 | ৳771/100g |
Live catalogue prices on 24 October 2026.
The small Amul pack costs less up front, but the 125g Amul bar is better value by weight. If you want the exact percentage, the Lindt and Millennium bars list it in the name. For more bars and dated prices, see the dark chocolate price table, and check the product cards for stock before you order.
Prices and weights in this guide were taken from the nemahBites catalogue on 24 October 2026 and can change with stock and import costs; the checkout price is final. We sell the products linked here, so treat this as shopping guidance rather than independent testing. Images marked as illustrations were made with AI; product photos are our catalogue photos.
Products in this guide
Prices and stock are from the catalogue at the site's last update. They can change afterwards; confirm again at checkout.
| Product | Pack size | Current price | Unit price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amul Dark Chocolate 35g | 35g | ৳140 | ৳400 / 100g | In stock |
| Simply Dark Chocolate 100g | 100g | ৳316 | ৳316 / 100g | In stock |
| Amul Dark Chocolate Bar 125g | 125g | ৳411 | ৳328.80 / 100g | In stock |
| Lindt Dark Chocolate Bar 100g – 70% Cocoa | 100g | ৳630 | ৳630 / 100g | In stock |
| Millennium 99% Dark Chocolate 100g | 100g | ৳771 | ৳771 / 100g | In stock |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dark chocolate percentage to start with?
Try 70% first. It is bitter enough to taste the cocoa but still a little sweet. If that is too strong, go lower; if you want it less sweet, try 85%.
Does the cocoa percentage count only cocoa solids?
No. It counts the cocoa solids and the cocoa butter together. The rest of the bar is mostly sugar, so also check the ingredient list.
Does 99% dark chocolate have no added sugar?
Not always. Even a very high percentage leaves room for sugar or other ingredients. The ingredient list and the sugar figure on the pack will tell you.
Do bars with the same percentage taste the same?
No. The beans, the roast and the recipe all change the flavour, so two 70% bars can taste quite different.
How should I compare dark chocolate prices?
Look at the pack price for what you pay today and the price per 100 g to compare sizes. Neither tells you which bar you will like, so let taste have the last word.