Why we picked it
-
Real orange peel goes into this, not just an extract, and you can taste the difference.
-
Lemon powder behind the orange is a smart move. It keeps the citrus from going syrupy.
-
63% is the right strength for a citrus bar. Higher and the fruit gets buried.
-
No emulsifier and no vanillin, in a category where both are standard.
What to look for in Chocolate?
What to look for in Chocolate?
- 01Check the fat. Real chocolate is set with cocoa butter. If the label says vegetable fat, palm oil or hydrogenated fat, FSSAI requires it to be called compound chocolate, not chocolate.
- 02Read the ingredient order. If sugar comes before cacao, it is a sugar bar with cocoa in it, whatever the percentage on the front says.
- 03Look for PGPR (INS 476). It is added to cut the amount of cocoa butter a bar needs, and it is a sign the recipe is being made cheaper.
- 04Check the emulsifier. Soy lecithin (INS 322) is the default; sunflower lecithin is the cleaner swap and matters if you avoid soy.
- 05Vanillin is synthetic vanilla flavour. Good chocolate does not need it, and its presence usually means the cacao underneath is thin.
- 06A bar labelled dark can still contain milk solids. If you are dairy-free, read the list rather than trusting the word dark.
- 07Cocoa processed with alkali (dutched) is easier on the palate but strips much of the flavanol content. Unalkalised cacao keeps it.
- 08Sugar-free bars are usually sweetened with maltitol or sorbitol. They are legal, but they are sugar alcohols and can unsettle a stomach in quantity.
What's inside
Whole Indian cacao beans roasted and ground in-house. Bean-to-bar means Darkins controls the roast rather than melting down bought-in couverture.
Cane sugar that keeps its molasses instead of being refined white.
The natural fat of the cacao bean. This is what makes it chocolate rather than compound chocolate, which uses palm or hydrogenated vegetable fat.
Real orange peel, not candied. These are the orange pieces you see in the bar.
Keeps the citrus sharp rather than syrupy.
Carries the orange note through the bar between the pieces.
Darkins 63% Dark Chocolate with Orange Zest vs other dark chocolates
| What to compare | Darkins Dark Chocolate | Other dark chocolates |
|---|---|---|
| Fat used | Cocoa butter only | Often palm or hydrogenated vegetable fat, sold as compound chocolate |
| Cacao | Single-origin Indian beans, roasted and ground in-house (bean-to-bar) | Bought-in couverture or cocoa mass, origin not stated |
| Emulsifier | None | Soy lecithin (INS 322), often with PGPR (INS 476) |
| Sweetener | Organic unrefined cane sugar | Refined white sugar |
| Flavouring | No vanillin | Vanillin (synthetic vanilla) is common |
Nutrition facts · per 100 g
Converted from the per-25 g panel printed on the pack (x4).
- Energy
- 536.8 kcal
- Protein
- 6.8 g
- Carbohydrate
- 55.2 g
- Total sugars
- Not declared
- Added sugars
- 35.6 g
- Dietary fibre
- 14 g
- Total fat
- 32.8 g
- Saturated fat
- 19.6 g
- Trans fat
- Not declared
- Salt
- 0 g
How to use it
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from strong smells
- Best enjoyed at room temperature
- A change in temperature or humidity can bring a pale bloom to the surface; it does not affect the chocolate
- Break rather than bite for a cleaner snap
- Best before 6 months from the date of packaging
Is it for you?
Good for
Vegan and dairy-free diets
Anyone avoiding palm oil and soy
Chocolate orange lovers who want a cleaner bar
A gift for someone who finds very dark chocolate too bitter
Avoid if
Anyone with a severe tree nut allergy
Anyone looking for a sugar-free bar
Product details
- Sold by
- Purepicked
- Brand
- Darkins
- Type
- Chocolates & Toffee
Also on the label
Questions people ask
Is it vegan?
Yes. There is no dairy in it. The six ingredients are cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, orange peel, lemon powder and natural orange extract.
Is it gluten-free?
The pack says gluten-free, and none of the six ingredients contain gluten. Darkins does make one other bar with oat flour, so if you have coeliac disease, check with them first.
How bitter is it?
Mild for a dark bar. At 63% it is softer than a 70%, and the orange keeps it bright.
Does it contain nuts?
Not as an ingredient. Darkins also makes nut bars, so we cannot rule out traces.
Still unsure? Ask us on WhatsApp