By Shreya Goswami
July 7, 2023
The percentage of cacao refers to the combined weight of cocoa solids and cocoa butter in a chocolate bar. Understanding this percentage can enhance your chocolate selection process. Here’s what those chocolate labels mean.
This percentage is typically found in white chocolate, which contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids but lacks cocoa solids.
Milk chocolate often falls within this range, offering a creamy and sweeter taste due to a higher sugar content and the addition of milk solids.
This percentage is commonly found in semisweet or dark chocolate, striking a balance between sweetness and the intensity of cocoa flavor.
Dark chocolate with 70% cacao content is a popular choice for those seeking a stronger chocolate flavor with a slightly bitter profile and less added sugar.
Dark chocolate with 80% cacao content provides a more robust and intense chocolate experience, with a higher concentration of cocoa solids and reduced sweetness.
This high cacao percentage is typically found in extra dark or intense dark chocolate, appealing to those who prefer a deep and bitter cocoa flavor with minimal sweetness.
A chocolate bar with 100% cacao content contains only cocoa solids and cocoa butter, with no added sugar. It offers an extremely intense and bitter taste.