Dark chocolate has long had a “better for you” halo, and not without reason. Compared to milk chocolate, dark varieties contain more fibre, iron, magnesium and much-discussed polyphenols – plant compounds linked to heart health and reduced inflammation. While it’s hardly a substitute for a balanced diet, choosing a bar with at least 70 per cent cocoa does tilt things in a more virtuous direction, nutritionally speaking.
The rich, fruity and earthy can be an acquired taste. But what starts as a slightly bitter square at 70 per cent can, over time, become genuinely enjoyable. And you may find yourself reaching for 85 or even 90 per cent bars – personally, I’ve found myself gradually nudging up the cocoa scale as I satisfy that post-dinner treat.
That said, this habit doesn’t come cheap. With many branded bars creeping past the £3 mark, dark chocolate can quickly become one of those small luxuries that quietly inflate your weekly food shop. And while premium options often promise superior sourcing and flavour profiles, it raises an obvious question: are they always worth it?
So, in the interest of both taste and price, I set out to find the best supermarket dark chocolate, testing accessible 55 per cent options to punchy 85 per cent bars – and everything in between.
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The best supermarket dark chocolate bars for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Asda 73% Madagascan dark chocolate: £2.28, Asda.com
- Best premium – M&S collection Peruvian dark chocolate: £3, Ocado.com
- Best budget buy – Aldi Moser Roth dark 85% cocoa chocolate: £2.49, Aldi.co.uk
- Best low cocoa bar – M&S choc marks dark chocolate bar: £3.50, Ocado.com
- Best for baking – Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Belgian dark 85% cocoa cooking chocolate: £2.40, Sainsburys.co.uk
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Asda 73% Madagascan dark chocolate
Best: supermarket dark chocolate overall
Why we love it
- Very tasty
Take note
- Not that rich
Asda’s Madagascan dark chocolate is the best supermarket option because it’s approachable, has a high cocoa percentage and is very enjoyable. While it’s not especially rich, it’s buttery and light, balancing the high cocoa solids with a gentle sweetness that keeps it easy to eat.
The Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa mass and cocoa butter are sourced from farms that adhere to strict standards designed to protect the environment, improve farmer livelihoods, and promote human rights – a big tick in my books. It also offers great value for money at £2.28 for a 100g bar.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.28, Asda.com
M&S collection Peruvian dark chocolate
Best: premium dark chocolate
Why we love it
- High quality, tasty chocolate
The M&S Collection dark chocolate is one to savour. The chocolate has a satisfying snap to it and tastes delicious. Made of single-origin 85 per cent cocoa, it is aromatic with a deep berry flavour and smooth on the palate. It hails from a family-owned chocolatier near Milan. At £3, you’re paying for quality and supporting Fairtrade practices with this bar.
Key specifications
Buy now £3, Ocado.com
Aldi Moser Roth dark 85% cocoa chocolate
Best: budget dark chocolate
Why we love it
- Affordable for 85% cocoa
Take note
- Not high quality tasting
At a time when chocolate is feeling the inflation, finding a good-value bar really comes into its own. Aldi’s 85 per cent dark chocolate costs less than £2.50 for 125g, making it a hit even before tucking in. When you do, there’s a lot to like: it’s a glossy, rich and overly tasty high cocoa bar that, while it doesn’t feel super high quality, is very enjoyable. My downside is that every two squares come individually wrapped, which seems like unnecessary extra packaging.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.49, Aldi.co.uk
Co-op irresistible fairtrade dark chocolate 85%
Best: crowd-pleasing 85% dark chocolate
Why we love it
- Easy eating for a 85% bar
Take note
- A little sweet
Co-op’s dark chocolate is moreish, made from single-origin cocoa and Fairtrade ingredients. While it’s described as very intense, I found the chocolate milder than other 85 per cent bars, with the bitterness balanced by added flavouring and sugar. And the texture is satisfying with its smoothness.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.95, Coop.co.uk
M&S choc marks dark chocolate bar
Best: low cocoa percentage dark chocolate
Why we love it
- Great tasting chocolate
- Chunky bar
Wrapped in a punchy red sleeve with graphic style writing, the M&S choc marks dark chocolate bar is hard to miss, and you shouldn’t. The bar is reminiscent of a Tony’s Chocolonely design, split into uneven chunks. Design aside, it is the bar I’d recommend if you’re new to dark chocolate. At 55 per cent cocoa, it’s an easy-eating yet rich choice and slightly sweeter than most. All in all, a crowd-pleasing bar that makes up for its steep initial price tag of £3.50 in chocolate weight.
Key specifications
Buy now £3.5, Ocado.com
Asda Ecuadorian dark chocolate 60% with sea salt
Best: dark chocolate with sea salt
Why we love it
- Delicious salt and chocolate pairing
Take note
- Salty flavour won't be strong enough for some
Biting into this 60 per cent bar from Asda, you get an instant sweetness on the palate. The taste is then rounded by the addition of sea salt, which is the perfect partner to the cocoa flavour. While I’d have liked a bigger salty hit, the bar is overall a light dark chocolate that’s very easy to devour.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.28, Asda.com
Co-op irresistible fairtrade single origin dark 57% orange
Best: dark chocolate orange flavour
Why we love it
- Texture is on point
Take note
- Expensive
Co-op’s dark chocolate orange bar is a grown-up take on the crowd-pleasing flavour. The bar is infused with orange oil and candied orange peel throughout, giving it a slightly soft chew. The dark chocolate itself is rich with a touch of sweetness – steering clear of the sickly nature often associated with orange-flavoured chocolate. The price is its downside at £2.95 for 100g.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.95, Coop.co.uk
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Belgian dark 85% cocoa cooking chocolate
Best: for baking
Why we love it
- Affordable high cocoa bar for baking
Take note
- Not tasty as other 85% bars uncooked
If you’re after a high cocoa chocolate that works excellently in baking, consider this bar from Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range. It’s quite sweet for an 85 per cent bar and creamy, but not as rich and rounded as others. But I used it to bake chocolate chip cookies, where it came into its own, providing a punch of richness to the cookie dough and fared well under heat.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.4, Sainsburys.co.uk
What is the best supermarket dark chocolate?
As someone who enjoys a rich dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa, the M&S Collection Peruvian dark chocolate and the Co-op bar stood out as they both balanced the bitterness well. However, not everyone enjoys the high cocoa taste, so the best overall is the Asda Madagascan dark chocolate; it’s easy to enjoy and has a well-rounded flavour.
How I tested and selected the best supermarket dark chocolate
I focused on several key factors when evaluating the chocolate, including quality, flavour, sustainability and value for money. Here’s my process in more detail:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds is a writer and production journalist at IndyBest. A self-confessed foodie, she has covered food and drink launches and reviews, including the best supermarket pizza, best Easter eggs, and best creatine supplements. Beyond food, sustainability is one of Alice’s interests, so for this review, she noted how the chocolate was sourced.
From supplements and health foods to supermarket buys like olive oil and wine, the wider IndyBest team have hand-picked the best of the best. As we test everything in real-life settings, we’ll only recommend something truly worth your money.
