Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is a form of chocolate containing cocoa solids and cocoa butter without the milk or butter found in milk chocolate.[1] Dark chocolate without added sweetener is known as bitter chocolate[2] or unsweetened chocolate.[3] As with the other two main types of chocolate (milk and white), dark chocolate is used for chocolate bars or as a coating in confectionery.
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 2,500 kJ (600 kcal) |
45.9 g | |
| Sugars | 24 g |
| Dietary fiber | 10.9 g |
42.6 g | |
| Saturated | 24.5 g |
| Trans | 0.03 g |
| Monounsaturated | 12.8 g |
| Polyunsaturated | 1.26 g |
7.79 g | |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Vitamin A equiv. | 0% 2 μg |
| Vitamin A | 39 IU |
| Thiamine (B1) | 3% 0.034 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 7% 0.078 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 7% 1.05 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 8% 0.418 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 3% 0.038 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 12% 0.28 μg |
| Vitamin E | 4% 0.59 mg |
| Vitamin K | 7% 7.3 μg |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 7% 73 mg |
| Copper | 89% 1.77 mg |
| Iron | 92% 11.90 mg |
| Magnesium | 64% 228 mg |
| Manganese | 93% 1.95 mg |
| Phosphorus | 44% 308 mg |
| Potassium | 15% 715 mg |
| Selenium | 10% 6.8 μg |
| Sodium | 1% 20 mg |
| Zinc | 35% 3.31 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Water | 1.37 g |
| Caffeine | 80 mg |
| Cholesterol | 3 mg |
| Theobromine | 802 mg |
| |
| †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA FoodData Central | |
Government and industry standards of what products may be labeled "dark chocolate" vary by country and market.
There is no high-quality evidence for any health effects of dark chocolate, such as on blood pressure.[4]
History
Chocolate is made from the tropical Theobroma cacao tree seeds. Chocolate has been around for over 3,000 years.[1] It was developed around 1900 B.C[5] in Central and South America as a drink.[6] Later, it was also made into a drink for the Mayan peoples for ceremonial purposes.[7]
The Spanish encountered chocolate in the early 1500s and brought it back to Europe. They would add honey and cane sugar to make it sweeter, and other additional flavourings. They would also use boiling water instead of cold water to make the first hot chocolate drinks.[8] Soon after, in the late 1600s, milk was also added to the dark chocolate beverage by Hans Sloane, who resided in Jamaica at the time.[1] Chocolate was finally made into a solid form in the 18th century and started to be mass-produced in the 19th century, thanks to several innovations, in particular by Van Houten[9] and Lindt.[10]
In the late 19th century, thanks to innovations by Daniel Peter and Henri Nestlé, milk chocolate became a new type of chocolate, which would quickly become popular. As a consequence, the term dark chocolate was coined to distinguish the traditional chocolate from its new rival. In the late 20th century, dark chocolate regained popularity due to its superior supposed health benefits over milk chocolate.[1]
Research
As of 2018, high-quality clinical research has not been conducted to evaluate the effects of compounds found in cocoa on physiological outcomes, such as blood pressure, for which only small (1–2 mmHg) changes resulted from short-term consumption of chocolate up to 105 grams and 670 milligrams of flavonols per day.[4] Flavanols found in dark chocolate include the monomers catechin and epicatechin, and (to a lesser extent) the polymeric procyanidins, which remain under laboratory research.[4]
Nutrients in dark chocolate include 46% carbohydrates, 43% fats, 8% protein, and 1% water (table). In a 100-gram (3+1⁄2-ounce) reference serving, dark chocolate provides 2,500 kilojoules (600 kilocalories) of food energy and is a rich source (defined as more than 20% of the Daily Value, DV) of several dietary minerals, such as iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. It also contains a moderate amount of vitamin B12 (see table for further statistics).
Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, may also contain appreciable levels of toxic heavy metals, such as cadmium, which may be present naturally in the soil of cocoa plantations.[11] For products containing over 50% cocoa, the European Commission has set a limit for cadmium of 0.8 mg/kg, while for chocolate containing between 30%-50% cocoa, the limit is 0.3 mg/kg.[11] The state of California recommends a maximum daily intake of 4.1 micrograms of cadmium.[12] According to a Consumer Reports study in 2022, several dark chocolate products were found to contain high levels of lead and cadmium when compared against California's maximum allowable daily dose levels.[13]
References
- Tara Mchugh (16 April 2016). "How dark chocolate is processed". PhysOrg. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- Mushet, C.; Sur La Table; Caruso, M. (2008). The Art and Soul of Baking. Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-0-7407-7334-1.
- Patrick-Goudreau, C. (2007). The Joy of Vegan Baking: The Compassionate Cooks' Traditional Treats and Sinful Sweets. Fair Winds Press. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-61673-850-1.
- Ried, K.; Sullivan, T. R.; Fakler, P.; Frank, O. R.; Stocks, N. P. (25 April 2017). "Effect of cocoa on blood pressure". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 4 (4): CD008893. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008893.pub3. PMC 6478304. PMID 28439881.
- Watson, Traci (22 January 2013). "Earliest Evidence of Chocolate in North America". Science. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- "History of Chocolate". history.com. History (American TV network). 14 December 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- "Chocolate: A Mesoamerican Luxury 250–900 C.E. (A.D.) – Making Chocolate". Field Museum. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
- Notter, Ewald (18 January 2011). The Art of the Chocolatier: From Classic Confections to Sensational Showpieces. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-39884-5.
- "History of Chocolate". Field Museum. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- Klein, Christopher (14 February 2014). "The Sweet History of Chocolate". History (U.S. TV channel). Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
- "Cadmium in chocolate" (PDF). European Commission. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- "Cadmium". California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. 1 May 1997. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- Kevin Loria (15 December 2022). "Lead and cadmium could be in your dark chocolate". Consumer Reports. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
