Things to Consider When Choosing Dark Chocolate With Almonds
There are several things you should consider before you purchase your next dark chocolate bar. Continue reading to see our recommendations.
Dark chocolate or dark milk chocolate
Many chocolate candies claim to be dark chocolate even though they are made from milk chocolate. To classify as dark chocolate, the chocolate must contain over 50% cocoa and not contain milk.
Dark milk chocolate has over 50% cocoa but uses milk as an ingredient. This combination makes the chocolate a little less bitter but with a similar strong taste as dark chocolate.
Chocolate bar or chocolate-covered almond
Dark chocolate with almonds is available in different varieties. For example, you could buy a dark chocolate and almond candy bar, chocolate-covered almonds, or a bag containing both almonds and chocolate nibs.
The product you choose is entirely down to your preference. You should consider whether you want more chocolate than almonds and vice versa.
Almond-chocolate ratio
If you want more chocolate than almonds, opt for a chocolate-covered almond bar. If you wish to have more almonds than chocolate, look for chocolate-covered almonds. Always check the ingredients if you're not sure.
The ingredients section will list the most prevalent ingredient first and end on the ingredient used the least in the product. This is a good way you see if there is more chocolate or more almonds.
Fair Trade
Buying fair trade products ensures you are contributing to a company that pays its suppliers well. In addition, fair trade has policies in place that protect the people involved in dealing with the companies who use the fair trade label, ensuring everyone gets a fair wage and good working conditions.
To be classed as fair trade, crops must be from a renewable source and be organic. Fair trade products are also free from GMOs.
Kosher
Although it is easy to assume all dark chocolate with almonds is kosher, this is not the case. Therefore, you may need to check online to ensure the product is kosher.
Resealable packaging
Unless you plan to eat all of your dark chocolate with almonds in one sitting, buy a product with resealable packaging. This will keep your chocolate fresher for longer and means you can come back to it another day.
Calories
If you are counting your calories, make sure you are aware of the portion size. For example, a bag of chocolate-covered almonds might seem like it is one portion, but it could be three. Often the calories are stated for one portion.
If you eat the entire bag of chocolate almonds, you are not eating a single portion worth of calories (let's say 100 calories) but three portions worth of calories (let’s say 300 calories).
Sugar content
Sugar can cause bad skin, teeth, and mood swings. It is also not conducive to a diet. The amount of sugar per portion size is often different from the amount of sugar per pack.
Sugar alternatives
If you are trying to lower your sugar intake significantly, several ingredients will make the transition easier. Look for stevia, monk fruit extract, tagatose, coconut palm sugar, sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol, and date sugar.
Added salt
Some dark chocolate with almonds will contain added salt for a sweet and savory flavor. Whether you prefer this or not depends on your personal preference, though be sure to watch your sodium intake in response.
Extra ingredients
You may like your dark chocolate and almonds with extra ingredients, such as a variety of nuts and fruit or a mixture of different chocolates. Most combinations you desire will be available in one way or another.
Portion size
Some products will have larger portion sizes and yet fewer calories, salt, and sugar. Choose your candy wisely to maintain a healthy diet.
Customer reviews
Before buying dark chocolate and almonds, read the customer reviews of the products you are interested in. This will give you an idea of how well the sweets fare in transit, what they taste like, and if they are good value for money.
How we choose the best dark chocolate with almonds
To choose the best dark chocolate with almonds, we considered the taste, the nutritional value, the packaging, and company values. We also read many customer reviews and only recommend products that have a majority of positive reviews.
Dark Chocolate FAQ
Q: When is the best time to eat dark chocolate?
A: The best time to eat dark chocolate is on an empty stomach. Alternatively, you can eat it 30 minutes after a meal. Doing so will make it easier for your stomach to digest it and will speed up your metabolism. Also, consuming only a small amount of chocolate can help you lose weight.
Q: Is all dark chocolate vegan?
A: As we mentioned earlier in the article, dark chocolate does not contain milk. However, some products labeled as dark chocolate are dark milk chocolate, which does have milk. Cow’s milk is not vegan.
Some dark chocolate also contains honey - another non-vegan product. Therefore, it is always wise to check the ingredients list and know exactly what you are buying.
Q: What are the main differences between European and American chocolate?
A: There are several differences between European and American chocolate, mainly the cocoa content. In Europe, chocolate requires a cocoa content of at least 20% to be considered chocolate. In America, the minimum amount of cocoa needed is only 10%.
American chocolate replaces the difference in cocoa with sugar, making it much sweeter, and making European chocolate taste darker and richer. Europeans predominantly use cocoa beans sourced from West Africa, and Americans use cocoa beans from South America. This alone results in different tasting chocolate.