Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Chocolate has been around for over 3,000 years. It was developed as a beverage in Central and South America around 1900 BC. Later, it was also made as a drink for the Maya people for ceremonial purposes.
Dark chocolate is a form of chocolate that contains cocoa
solids and cocoa butter without the milk or butter found in milk chocolate.
Dark chocolate without sweetness is called bitter chocolate or unsweetened
chocolate. Like the other two main types of chocolate (milk and white), dark
chocolate is used as a coating for chocolate bars or in confectionery.
Government and industry standards for which products can be
labeled "dark chocolate" vary by country and market.
There is no high-quality evidence that dark chocolate has
any health effects, such as on blood pressure.
Dark Chocolate Energy
Energy |
2,500 kJ (600 kcal) |
Dark Chocolate Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates |
45.9 g |
Sugars |
24 g |
Dietary Fiber |
10.9 g |
Dark Chocolate Fat
Fat |
42.6 g |
Saturated |
24.5 g |
Trans |
0.03 g |
Monounsaturated |
12.8 g |
Polyunsaturated |
1.26 g |
Dark Chocolate Protein
Protein |
7.79 g |
Dark Chocolate Vitamins
Vitamin A equiv. |
2 μg |
Vitamin A |
39 IU |
Thiamine (B1) |
0.034 mg |
Riboflavin (B2) |
0.078 mg |
Niacin (B3) |
1.05 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) |
0.418 mg |
Vitamin B6 |
0.038 mg |
Vitamin B12 |
0.28 μg |
Vitamin E |
0.59 mg |
Vitamin K |
7.3 μg |
Dark Chocolate Minerals
Calcium |
73 mg |
Copper |
1.77 mg |
Iron |
11.90 mg |
Magnesium |
228 mg |
Manganese |
1.95 mg |
Phosphorus |
308 mg |
Potassium |
715 mg |
Selenium |
6.8 μg |
Sodium |
20 mg |
Zinc |
3.31 mg |
Dark Chocolate Other Constituents
Water |
1.37 g |
Caffeine |
80 mg |
Cholesterol |
3 mg |
Theobromine |
802 mg |
Dark Chocolate History
Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical Theobroma
cacao tree. Chocolate has been around for over 3,000 years. It was developed as
a beverage in Central and South America around 1900 BC. Later, it was also made
as a drink for the Maya people for ceremonial purposes.
The Spanish encountered chocolate in the early 1500s and
brought it back to Europe. They used to add honey and cane sugar and other
additional flavors to make it sweet. They will also use boiling water instead
of cold water to make the first hot chocolate drink. Soon after, in the late
1600s, milk was also added to dark chocolate drinks by Hans Sloane, who lived
in Jamaica at the time. Chocolate was finally solidified in the 18th century
and began to be mass-produced in the 19th century, notably due to several
innovations by Van Houten and Lindt.
In the late 19th century, due to the innovations of Daniel Peter and Henry Nestlé, milk chocolate became a new type of chocolate that quickly became popular. As a result, the term dark chocolate was coined to distinguish traditional chocolate from its new competitor. In the late 20th century, dark chocolate regained popularity due to its superior health benefits compared to milk chocolate.
Top Dark Chocolate Manufacturers Industry
- Amul
- Barry Callebaut AG
- Blommer Chocolate Company
- Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG
- Ferrero International S.A.
- Guittard Chocolate Company
- Cargill
- The Hershey Company
- Federation of Migros Cooperatives
- Nestlé S.A.
- Valrhona, Inc.
- República del Cacao
Dark Chocolate Eat 8 Healthy Reasons
- Dark Chocolate May Help Prevent Heart Disease and Lower the Risk of Stroke
- The Treat May Improve Cognition, Prevent Memory Loss, and Boost Your Mood
- It Fights Free Radicals and May Play a Role in Cancer Prevention
- Dark Chocolate Could Improve Blood Sugar Levels, and Reduce the Risk of Developing Diabetes
- It's Good for Your Skin
- Chocolate Is Good for Your Gut and May Help With Weight Loss
- Dark Chocolate Is Nutritious — and Delicious
- Dark Chocolate May Send Good Cholesterol up, Bad Cholesterol Down