Chocolate is more than just delicious. It’s downright healthy. It’s loaded with antioxidants, and it contains iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, and vitamin C. Chocolate can improve blood flow to the brain, reduce cortisol levels, (our stress hormone), increase serotonin (our brain’s happy chemical), and can even help protect against cardiovascular disease.
A few squares of dark chocolate a day can reduce the risk of death from heart attack by almost 50% in some cases. — Diane Becker, MPH, ScD, researcher with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
But let’s be real. This doesn’t mean your Snickers bar is good for you. When it comes to the healthiest chocolate, the higher percentage of cacao, the better.
What’s cacao? The Theobroma cacao ( “food of the Gods”) tree produces a large fruit called cacao (click here to hear how it’s pronounced) that grows in the shape of a pod. Inside the pods are brown seeds, which you can see the brown seeds in the pod on the right in the picture below.
Cacao seeds look a lot like coffee beans, which is why they are commonly referred to as cacao “beans.” All that yummy chocolate we love is derived from cacao beans.
Chocolate aficionados have undoubtedly heard that “raw” chocolate is the healthiest form of chocolate. Raw chocolate means the cacao beans were minimally processed and not heated above 108—118 degrees Fahrenheit. There is some debate about whether raw chocolate can be considered raw when the beans are processed and exposed to heat. Having said that, cacao beans must be processed, and minimally processed is better than being heavily processed and exposed to high temperatures, which destroys all the health benefits.
Setting aside the debate about whether raw actually means raw, you can’t go wrong with 100% raw cacao or cacao nibs (bits of the cacao bean). But be warned, 100% cacao can taste BITTER! This is why chocolatiers add sugar. If you want all the health benefits of chocolate, but not the bitterness, buy a bar that is around 70% cacao. The higher the percentage of cacao, the less sugar and other additives in your chocolate.
If you’re trying to eliminate or avoid cane sugar, there are some chocolate manufacturers using alternatives sweeteners like yacon root, maple, and coconut blossom sugar. See the list below for some options.
A few terms to know when you’re searching for healthy chocolate: USDA certified organic (this means it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals), fair trade (farmers are paid a fair wage), single-sourced or single-origin (harvested from one region), minimally processed, and bean-to-bar (every step of the chocolate making process is completed by the chocolate maker, from selecting the bean to making the bars).
Not sure where to start? Here are a few choices:
100% CACAO – UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE
Pacari (means “nature” in Quechua)
BAR: Raw 100%
PACARI’S GOOD STUFF: organic, biodynamic, kosher, fair trade, single region, single-origin (100% Ecuadorian), raw, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, vegan
MADE IN: Ecuador
PRICE: $5.50 (1.76 oz)
Akesson’s
BAR: 100% Criollo Cocoa Chocolate
AKESSON’S GOOD STUFF: organic and bean-to-bar
MADE IN: Notting Hill, London & Schulenburg, TX
PRICE: $11.99 U.S. (2.12 oz)
AWARDS: 2016 Great Taste Award; 2016 Academy of Chocolate Award: Gold; 2016 International Chocolate Award, Best Bar Over 85%: Silver
Antidote
BAR: Raw 100% Cacao with bits of dates ANTIDOTE’S GOOD STUFF: vegan, gluten free, kosher, made with biologic cacao (no pesticides), bean-to-bar, most of their bars are organic, non GMO, committed to sustainability
MADE IN: Brooklyn, NY
PRICE: $8.50 (2.3 oz)
NOTE: They make other bars, including 73% Coffee & Cardamom and Banana & Cayenne
SWEETENED, BUT NOT WITH CANE SUGAR
Nohmad Snack Co.
BAR: Sprouted Almonds & Smoked Sea Salt 74% Cacao & Extra Dark 85% Cacao
NOHMAD’S GOOD STUFF: organic, paleo and vegan friendly, raw, bean-to-bar, gluten-free, soy-free, no refined sugar, sustainably sourced, non-GMO
SWEETENED WITH: maple sugar
MADE IN: Torrance, CA
PRICE: $7.50 (2.25 oz)
Starchild Chocolate 
BAR: 70% Tanzania, Kokoa Kamili
STARCHILD’S GOOD STUFF: handcrafted, bean-to-bar, gluten free, soy free, dairy free, non-GMO
SWEETENED WITH: organic unrefined coconut sugar
MADE IN: Mendocino County, CA
PRICE: $7.00 (1.75 oz)
AWARDS: 2016 International Chocolate Award (Americas): Bronze and 2016 International Chocolate Award (USA): Silver
Pacari
BAR: Andean Mint, Andean Rose, Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass
PACARI’S GOOD STUFF: organic, biodynamic, kosher, fair trade, single region, single-origin (100% Ecuadorian), raw, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, vegan
SWEETENED WITH: coconut sugar
MADE IN: Ecuador
PRICE: $5.50 (1.76 oz)
AWARDS: The Andean Mint bar won Gold at the 2016 International Chocolate Awards; the Andean Rose, Lemon Verbena, and Lemongrass bars each won Silver at the 2016 International Chocolate Awards
Raaka
BAR: Yacon (79% cacao) + other options, including Ghost Pepper (try at your own risk!)
RAAKA’S GOOD STUFF: organic, cask-aged cocoa beans, vegan, soy free, nut free, gluten free, fair trade, sustainable practices, bean-to-bar
SWEETENED WITH: Yacón, a root vegetable from the Peruvian Andes; other bars sweetened with organic maple and cane sugar
MADE IN: Brooklyn, New York
PRICE: $7.95 (1.8 oz)
Zotter
BAR: Medium Raw 75%, contains acai, matcha green tea powder, chlorella algae, reishi mushrooms and maca
ZOTTER’S GOOD STUFF: organic, bean-to-bar, fair trade, single-origin, sustainable practices, gluten free, vegan, dairy free, plus they have unique chocolate wrappers!
SWEETENED WITH: coconut blossom sugar (other bars have raw cane sugar)
MADE IN: Cape Coral, Florida
PRICE: $5.95 (2.47 oz)
AWARDS: They won 2 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze awards at the 2016 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London
NOTE: They sell 82% & 100% cacao chocolate bars as well
eatingEVOLVED – “Chocolate: It’s Food, Not Candy”
BAR: Almond Sea Salt
EATING EVOLVED’S GOOD STUFF: organic, fair trade, soy-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, single-origin, paleo friendly
SWEETENED WITH: organic coconut sugar
MADE IN: Setauket, NY
PRICE: $4.99 (2.5 oz)
SWEETENED WITH ORGANIC CANE SUGAR
Hummingbird Chocolate
BAR: Hispaniola 70% Cacao
HUMMINGBIRD’S GOOD STUFF: organic, single origin, fair trade, cacao grown sustainably, bean-to-bar, vegan, gluten and soy free
SWEETENED WITH: organic cane sugar
MADE IN: Ontario, Canada
PRICE: $7.99 (2.1 oz)
AWARDS: 2016 Academy of Chocolates’ Golden Bean Award & 2015 International Chocolate Awards (World): Silver
Dick Taylor Chocolate
BAR: 72% Belize, Toledo
DICK TAYLOR’S GOOD STUFF: bean-to-bar, hand crafted, organic cacao
SWEETENED WITH: organic cane sugar
MADE IN: Eureka, CA
PRICE: $8.50 (2 oz)
AWARDS: 2016 International Chocolate Awards (Americas): Bronze and 2016 Academy of Chocolate Awards: Bronze
Askinosie Chocolate
BAR: 72% Mababu, Tanzania Dark Chocolate Bar
ASKINOSIE’S GOOD STUFF: kosher, single origin, fair trade, non-GMO, vegan, gluten free, soy free
SWEETENED WITH: organic cane sugar
MADE IN: Springfield, MO
PRICE: $8.50 (3 oz)
AWARDS: 2016 Academy of Chocolates’ Golden Bean Award: Silver
Fruition Chocolate 
BAR: Maranon Canyon Dark 76% & Maranon Canyon Dark Milk 68%
FRUITION’S GOOD STUFF: hand crafted, bean-to-bar, fair trade, organic beans, made from exclusive Pure Nacional cocoa beans from the remote Maranon Canyon of Peru
SWEETENED WITH: organic cane sugar
MADE IN: Shokan (in the Catskill Mountains), NY
PRICE: $12.95 (2.11 oz)
AWARDS: The Maranon Canyon Dark bar won the 2015 ChocoFiles Bar of Excellence Award. The Maranon Canyon Dark Milk won the 2015 & 2016 International Chocolate Awards (World): Gold and a 2017 Good Foods Award
Ritual
BAR: Mid Mountain Blend 70%
RITUAL’S GOOD STUFF: organic beans when available, bean-to-bar, no soy, non-GMO
SWEETENED WITH: organic cane sugar
MADE IN: Park City, Utah
PRICE: $10.00 (2.2 oz)
AWARDS: 2016 Good Food Award; 2016 Academy of Chocolate Awards: Gold
Patric Chocolate
BAR: 67% Madagascar Dark
PATIC’S GOOD STUFF: organic ingredients, no soy, fair trade, non-GMO, devoted to sustainability—they donate cocao shell waste as mulch to local farmers. Their packaging is made from 30% recycled material.
SWEETENED WITH: organic cane sugar
MADE IN: Columbia, MO
PRICE: $12.00 (2.3 oz)
AWARDS: Winner of 15 Good Food Awards (2011—2016)
Nathan Miller Chocolate
BAR: 70% Ghana
NATHAN MILLER’S GOOD STUFF: bean-to-bar, single origin, fair trade, some organic ingredients, handcrafted
SWEETENED WITH: organic cane sugar
MADE IN: Chambersburg, PA
PRICE: $8.00 (2 oz)
AWARDS: 2015 Good Food Award
Dandelion Chocolate
BAR: Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania 70%
DANDELION’S GOOD STUFF: artisan, bean-to-bar, hand made, sustainable practices, single-sourced, fair wages, no soy
SWEETENED WITH: organic sugar cane
MADE IN: San Francisco, CA
PRICE: $8.00 (2 oz)
AWARD: 2016 Academy of Chocolates’ Golden Bean Award for Dark Bean to Bar Under 80%: Silver
Order Chocolate Online
If you can’t find these bars in your area, you can order them from the makers’ websites. Enjoy!
Learn More
International Chocolate Awards – “World Final Winners 2016”
Good Food Awards
Academy of Chocolate Awards
Great Taste Awards
Chicago Sun Times – “The Sweet Truth: Chocolate really can be good for you”
Livestrong.com – “Health Benefits of Raw Cacao Nibs”
Fooducate – “What is Soy Lecithin and Why is it Found in so Many Products?
Feature image courtesy of Sarah Robinson on Flickr @Creative Commons
