Guardian staff conducted a blind taste test of 10 premium, ethically sourced chocolate bars to find the very best for Valentine's Day gifting, revealing only four truly exceptional choices.
The article likens finding the perfect chocolate bar to dating, emphasizing the search for unique, premium brands beyond common options like Godiva or Hershey's, especially for Valentine's Day. Recent research indicates a surge in "premium" chocolates, with grocery shelves now featuring artisanal, fair trade, organic, and bean-to-bar varieties. To identify the best, 10 Guardian colleagues blind-tested 10 top US chocolate brands. The selection prioritized independent brands with fair trade or direct trade claims and certifications from watchdogs like Fair Trade, Fair for Life, and Ecocert, while avoiding mass-market companies with poor ethical records. Tasters wore blindfolds to prevent packaging bias, rated each bar on overall impression, flavor, and aftertaste from 0 to 5 hearts, and used strawberries as palate cleansers. Reviews ranged from "I’ll marry this one" to "If someone gave that to me on a date, I’d go to the bathroom and not come back." Ultimately, only four chocolate bars scored above 3 hearts and were deemed worthy of gifting. The top recommendations are: * **Best Milk Chocolate:** Endangered Species 48% Cocoa (5 hearts). Praised for its creamy, not-overly-sweet, balanced "holiday chocolate" taste. It's Fairtrade America certified and contributes to wildlife conservation. * **Best Dark Chocolate:** Theo 70% Cacao (4 hearts). Described as balanced, smooth, and an approachable introduction to dark chocolate, ideal for snacking or pairing with wine. It's Fair for Life certified and North America's first organic and fair trade-certified chocolate factory. * **Best Vegan Chocolate:** Hu Kitchen Cashew Butter + Raspberry (4 hearts). A complex, fruity dark chocolate bar, vegan and gluten-free, made with organic ingredients and known for its nut butter fillings. Certified by Fairtrade America. * **Best Flavored Chocolate:** Beyond Good (4 hearts). Sourced directly from farmers in Uganda and Madagascar, its bars, especially the hazelnut, were loved for their bold flavors and crunchy textures. Offers gift-wrapping services. Six other bars tested were found to be divisive or worse, with one even being spit out by a tester. These included Maeve Moon Rocks, Blue Stripes Pure Dark, Divine Deliciously Smooth Dark, TCHO Perfect Matcha, Spring & Mulberry Mixed Berry Date-Sweetened, and Alter Eco Total Blackout, which received 0 hearts and was described as "pure bitterness" and "unfinishable." The article also suggests gift pairings like flowers, cookies, or a wine subscription.
