Posted on 10/13/2006 5:17:54 PM PDT by blam
Dark times ahead for chocolate
By David Derbyshire, Consumer Affairs Editor
(Filed: 14/10/2006)
Britain's taste for chocolate is growing more sophisticated, figures out yesterday suggest.
Sales of dark chocolate have trebled in a year, while the number of dark mainstream brands has risen tenfold.
Confectionary analysts say the figures reflect a more discerning palate. They also follow several studies — some funded by chocolate makers — indicating that dark chocolate can have health benefits.
Antioxidants in dark chocolate can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure, say researchers. However, dark and milk contain the same amount of fat and sugar.
Although milk still outsells dark, the rapid recent growth of the latter has surprised many in the industry.
Woolworths, Britain's biggest confectionary retailer, reported £600,000 worth of dark sales in 2005. The figure for the first eight months of 2006 was nearly £1.5 million.
Stephen MacDavid, the company's chocolate buyer, said: "Dark chocolate is in vogue at the moment. It is fast catching milk chocolate in terms of sales and there are now over 30 dark chocolate bars on the market compared with only three last year."
Older shoppers are fuelling much of the boom. Nestlé, which launched a dark KitKat this year, said it was now the most popular variety among 34 to 45-year-olds.
Dark chocolate tastes OK, but I can't digest it. Give me a good Lindt or Cadbury milk chocolate bar.
This is a sad story. My husband loves dark chocolate. He just got diabetes this year and has had to stop eating so many of the things he loves. But he can still eat limited amounts of chocolate. But I loathe it. Give me good 'ol milk chocolate any time. I've had to endure coffee going dark. Now chocolate too? [I'm happy for my husband, but I'm in a selfish mood!]
Chocolate...I am addicted to it so of course I would click on this thread....lol. My favorite is Symphony, the one with the tofeee chips in it.
I have noticed that I am in a better mood when eating chocolate (so my husband always brings me some home....lol)
I am an absolute dark chocolate fanatic...I love it and my wife hates it! My son will eat it, though.
Can't you buy a milk chocolate bar while buying a dark one for him?
I found an awesome candy bar when I was in the UK this past spring. It's called Mars Delight. Unfortunately it isn't sold here, so I've ended up ordering it from a UK seller on eBay.
If I'm in a good mood! Seriously, my husband is picky. Actually, I buy little chocolate for myself even. I prefer a good cup of coffee, which is harder to find than good chocolate. But he will probably get some good dark chocolate in his stocking this year.
I'd probably lose 10 pounds if I stopped eating chocolate alone.
(I'm even eating chocolate ice cream as I read this thread LOL.)
Cadbury hazelnut, Hmmmmm.
Dark KitKat and Milky Way Midnight Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Dark Russel Stover anything mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Wow...you must be very discerning on your coffee.
I'd like to try the coffee you pick out. I bet it's good.
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That depends on the type of dark chocolate. A lot of the fancy dark chocolate from Europe has been Dutched or alkalized. While this process makes the chocolate easier to dissolve in liquids and gives the chocolate a darker color, it destroys most of the antioxidants. If you are eating dark chocolate for any health benefits, look at the label and make sure it hasn't been Dutched. If you are only eating for taste, it probably won't matter.
There will always be milk chocolate - never fear.
Also the Lindor balls they sell by the checkout at our local Borders. I can never buy just a book...have to throw a handful of the Lindor balls in as well. (Raspberry or Hazelnut filled chocolate balls are wonderful.)
If it gave you a migraine headache that lasted from 12 to 20 hours you'd quit eating it. I didn't know what caused it until I had allergy test run. If I ate chocolate at night for dessert the headache wouldn't start until about 4am. what a rotten way to wake up.
Wow, desperate times call for desperate measures! :o)
I've been thinking about how to order some very special chocolate from Belgium, myself!
I would definitely sadly sacrifice my chocolate if it caused migraines.
"...the rapid recent growth of [dark chocolate] has surprised many in the industry."
Well, Duh! Dark chocolate tastes terrific with Red Wine.
What planet do these people live on? (See tagline...)
LOL! I was just gonna ping you to this thread too.
LOL, I knew it wouldn't take long for a Nagin reference.
Not necessarily. I don't like dark roast. I prefer the coffee I make at home. I like beans my husband finds at Trader Joe's, although that's getting harder to find because it's getting too dark for my taste. And I like the beans I pick up at Costco sometimes. I also really like Eight O'Clock coffee. Pretty simple, really. Now add a good piece of milk chocolate... and life is good.
Cadbury bars from the UK taste better than the ones from the US. They don't have the wax in them. You can get lots of great UK Cadbury and other UK chocolates in Canada or at the duty-free shop at the border. I love the "Flake" bars from Cadbury, which are milk chocolate, but usually I prefer dark chocolate otherwise. Lindt truffles get their creamy texture from palm kernal oil.
Well you've given me a good idea for my next cup of coffee which I have never tried before. Thanks!
Great minds, minutes apart, LOL!
OT, but: Amy Lunde just called me. I signed up to be a Poll Watcher on November 7th for Mark Green. Just let those 'rats try to cheat! I'll tear 'em to pieces! Grrrrrrr! ;)
LOL @ tagline!
Lindt 70% bars, available at all grocery and drug stores, is my absolute favorite. I just can't seem to step up to the 85% though, because it just tastes like a totally different thing to me.
If anyone has any recomendations of a good 70% that is available online, please let me know.
I saw those percentages marked on chocolate wrappers, and I just didn't get it. I'm going to check out that website you mentioned. Thanks.
When I visited the States in 1997 I really noticed the difference in the taste of the chocolate from Britain.
Though many of your chocolate makers do the same type of bars - many of them made under licence the recipe or the ingredients are not quite the same.
I believe one of the things is with Cadbury's chocolate in Britain it is always made with liquid milk and many other manufacturers I believe use the dried variety.
Our local German supermarket does a great 84% or it is 85%
Merci chocolates are also good and you get a variety of chocoate mixtures and flavors in each box. (Target sells them.)
But first, drop everything and go buy a bar of Lindt 70%. It's about 2 bucks at the drug store, and now they even have a smaller bar on the rack with all the other crappy candy bars. A little goes a long way, and a big bar lasts me about 4 days. It is a very satisfying chocolate experience.
Sales of dark chocolate are increasing because milk chocolate tastes like crap.
Scharffen Berger 70% you can find it at www.scharffenberger.com
Trader Joe's dark chocolate...made in Belgium...58% chocolate...3-1.75oz. bars in a package for $1.29. I think that once you get past 65% cocoa, it's too bitter.
I've found that when on a diet, just a small taste of very strong (80 to 85%) will take away that chocolate craving for very, very few calories.
Anyone else here try CocoaVia? Not bad.
Then I've probably flat-lined by now.
:-)
I have a bi-cuspid valve in my heart and I also have an aorta that is showing signs of a thinning wall. I have a history of aortic rupture in my family. I am monitored by my HMO for deterioration in either of those conditions which will necessitate surgery. After two years of eating dark chocolate my conditions are IMPROVING. Doctors have even said I may never need surgery.
What type of dark chocolate are you eating? Dutched or non-Dutched? If the label says noting about Dutched or alkalized, the chocolate is most likely non-Dutched.
I'll try it! I know I've seen the big bars in a number of supermarkets in my area. I didn't buy one, because who wants to get a big bar and not like it. I may have seen the smaller ones, too. I'll look for the small bar first.
Is it bittersweet, or what?
Wow! When I'm watching my intake, as soon as I get home from work, I let myself have a square of chocolate and a cup of coffee. It's just enough to take away my "mouth hunger," so I won't grab a lot of junk, or eat a big dinner.
Glad to see I'm not the only one!
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