Organic Dark Chocolate: A Sweet Seller Year-Round

Consumers are always looking for chocolate to give to their sweetheart or satisfy their own chocolate cravings. Thus, organic dark chocolate is a reliable choice for your store. It’s in high demand around Valentine’s Day, but it’s a good seller any time of year.

Selling Organic Dark Chocolate is a Smart Choice 

•  People want to make healthier choices. This has led to a decline in sales of candy other than chocolate.
• However, as a Euromonitor survey reports, people are still buying more chocolate. U.S. chocolate sales rose from $14.2 billion in 2007 to $18.9 billion in 2017. 
• Dark chocolate outperforms other kinds of chocolate in sales. In 2015, dark chocolate experienced a 6.8% sales growth, while chocolate overall experienced a 2.5% sales growth (Nielsen).
• Also, choosing organic dark chocolate lets you reap the benefits of selling organic food.
• After all, consumers perceive organic as healthier than non-organic.
• In addition, organic farmers use healthier practices to produce ingredients, since they can’t use pesticides and other dangerous artificial chemicals.

Dark Chocolate is Healthier than Milk Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains more ingredients that come from the original cacao bean.

• Cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and chocolate liquor all come straight from the bean.
• All of these ingredients count towards the percentage of chocolate shown on an organic dark chocolate package.
• Cacao percentages in organic dark chocolates range from 50% to over 80%.
• But milk chocolate only contains around 5% cocoa.

The more cacao, the healthier the chocolate.

• Most crucially, more cacao means more flavonoids (antioxidants) are in the chocolate.
• Flavonoids help stop inflammation. Therefore, they may even reduce blood pressure and help heart health.
• But flavonoids are only present in cocoa solids. (Cocoa powder is another name for cocoa solids.)
• The larger amount of cocoa in dark chocolate means it contains fewer additives, like milk and sugar.
• Meanwhile, the additives in milk chocolate sharply reduce the amount of pure cocoa solids. This negates the potential health benefits of flavonoids.
• So, consumers who choose organic chocolate make a healthier choice.

Organic and Dark: The Perfect Combination

• For a chocolate to be USDA Certified Organic, it must not contain artificial ingredients.
• It’s easier to make organic dark chocolate than organic milk chocolate.
• After all, the smaller the amount of additive ingredients required, the easier it is to keep a chocolate organic.
• Dark chocolate is less processed. It involves fewer additives that threaten the quality and organic purity of the cacao.
• Organic chocolate must not contain genetically modified ingredients. And corn syrup and sugar from sugar beets are common genetically modified foods. These unhealthy sweeteners show up in many non-organic chocolates.
• Also, many cows used to produce milk eat non-organic feed. Thus, the milk from these cows is not organic, based on organic farming requirements. So, it can’t be an ingredient in organic chocolate.
• Organic dark chocolate makers use organic sugar and small amounts of organic milk instead.  And some avoid milk completely.
• Those who produce organic dark chocolate use practices that are healthier for consumers and better for the environment.

Chocolate Choices

Because of the organic food requirements, a wide variety of organic dark chocolate is available to sell to health-conscious consumers.

In this article, I will provide an overview of 12 organic dark chocolates to sell. All of these chocolates come from popular brands, so they’re reliable choices for your store. Plus, the variety of cacao amounts and flavors on this list appeal to diverse consumer tastes. Most importantly, though, they’re all USDA Certified Organic—they have 95% or more organic ingredients.

I’ve divided these dark chocolates into categories: classic, fruity, dark chocolate cups, salted, spicy and truffles.

Read on for more details about these sweet organic chocolate choices.

Classic Dark Chocolate

Dagoba Organic Chocolate: Dark (59% Cacao)

• Combines the depth and richness of dark chocolate with the creaminess of milk chocolate.
• Like all Dagoba chocolate products, this bar is USDA Certified Organic.
• Also, it’s gluten-free.
• In addition, it’s made with Rainforest Alliance Certified organic cacao, sustainably sourced from small farms. All Dagoba bars bear this certification.

Chocolove Organic Dark Chocolate (73% Cacao)

• This Chocolove bar is perfect for those who love an intense chocolate with a balance of fruitiness, acidity, and bitterness.
• Premium-quality and full-bodied, with “tangy bittersweet cocoa flavor.”
• Fully-ripened cacao beans allow for the best chocolate flavor when carefully roasted.
• Kosher (dairy).
• Made with Belgian chocolate and artisan European chocolate-making techniques.
• Each bar includes a love poem, making Chocolove perfect for a Valentine’s present or a sweetheart gift anytime!
• USDA Certified Organic. Also Fair Trade Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Vivani 100% Organic Dark Chocolate (85% Cacao)

• 85% cocoa solids make this bar a prime choice for health-conscious consumers—and serious premium dark chocolate lovers.
• The thinner, bigger bar allows for more of a deep dark chocolate punch.
• USDA Certified Organic and Vegan. Kosher (dairy equipment).
• Made with 100% organic ingredients!
• No soy lecithin.
• DLG Award winner (for food quality standards based on rigorous testing).
• Vivani stands against child slavery by donating to prevention projects in Haiti. The company also ensures that the cocoa farmers it sources chocolate from do not employ child labor.

Fruity Dark Chocolate

Chocolove Cherries in Organic Dark Chocolate (Fair Trade)

• Deep dark chocolate (73% cacao) and the brightness of Fair Trade cherries combine for a romantic balance.
• Made with Belgian chocolate and artisan European chocolate-making techniques.
• Chewy, tangy dried cherry pieces bring the variety to traditional artisan chocolate.
• Each bar includes a love poem. Thus, Chocolove is perfect for a Valentine’s present or a sweetheart gift anytime!
• USDA Certified Organic. Also, Fair Trade Certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Kosher (dairy).

Green & Black’s Organic Maya Gold

• The “full, dynamic flavor” of 60% Trinitarian cacao combines with “subtle flavors of orange,” cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
• So, it’s a contemporary take on the Maya tradition of spiced chocolate! Let the flavors and aromas transport you to ancient Belize.
• Made with fair trade chocolate that’s also UN Certified Ethically Sourced.
• USDA Certified Organic and suitable for vegetarians.

 Dark Chocolate Cups

Newman’s Own Organic Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cups

• Lovers of deep dark chocolate and rich peppermint will devour these Newman’s Own peppermint cups.
• 3 chocolate cups included per package.
• USDA Certified Organic and Kosher. Also, made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa.
• Feel good because Newman’s Own donates all profits to charity.

Justin’s Dark Mini Peanut Butter Cups

• Craving the classic pairing of chocolate and peanut butter, but with an organic, dark chocolate twist? Then grab Justin’s mini peanut butter cups.
• The smaller size makes them perfect for sharing. But, they have all the big flavor of larger peanut butter cups.
• Made with Justin’s Peanut Butter.
• USDA Certified Organic, gluten-free, and Kosher (dairy).
• Also contains Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa and orangutan-friendly palm oil.

Salted Dark Chocolate

Theo Sea Salt

• Rich dark chocolate (70% cacao) enhanced with just enough sea salt satisfies those looking for something salty or something sweet.
• USDA Certified Organic, Fair for Life fair trade certified, and Non-GMO Project Verified, like all Theo chocolate bars.
• Kosher, vegan, soy-free and gluten-free.
• Also, Theo is committed to making sure its chocolate is responsibly sourced and ethically produced, from “bean to bar.” So, everyone involved in making the chocolate, from chocolate harvesters to manufacturers, receives fair wages and working conditions.

 Alter Eco Salted Brown Butter

• Alter Eco uses 70% cacao sourced from Ecuador for this bar.
• Salted with fleur de sel (French sea salt) and blended with browned butter from heritage Swiss cows’ milk.
• Enjoy a “salty, sweet, luxuriously smooth bite.”
• USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Fair Trade certified.
• Also gluten-free and soy-free, with no artificial flavors or emulsifiers.

Spicy Dark Chocolate

Dagoba Xocolatl

• The Aztec bitter spiced chocolate drink Xocolatl (choco-lat’tl) inspired this  Dagoba Xocolatl bar.
• Made with 74% rich cacao.
• Spicy chili and bitter, crunchy roasted cacao nibs (cocoa beans with shells removed) bring the flavors of the drink together in this vibrant bar.
• A bit of citrus oil ties these flavors together.
• This bar is USDA Certified Organic, just like all Dagoba bars.
• Also, it’s gluten-free.
• In addition, like all Dagoba products, it’s made with Rainforest Alliance Certified organic cacao, sustainably sourced from small farms.

Theo Chili

• Want to spice up your chocolate list? Then turn to this chocolate bar with an exciting blend of chili spices.  It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “hot chocolate!”
• Premium dark chocolate (70% cacao) provides the foundation. Then, 3 chilis combine to heat things up—ancho chili, California chili, and cayenne chili. Finally, cinnamon and a hint of citrus complement the chilis.
• Kosher, vegan, soy-free and gluten-free.
• Just like all Theo chocolate bars, this bar is USDA Certified Organic, Fair for Life fair trade certified, and Non-GMO Project Verified.
• Theo makes sure its chocolate is responsibly sourced and ethically produced, from “bean to bar.” Everyone involved in making the chocolate, from chocolate harvesters to manufacturers, receives fair wages and working conditions.

Dark Chocolate Truffles

Alter Eco Black Truffles

• The silky, creamy truffle taste consumers love, but reinvented in a healthier way.
• Alter Eco uses over 53% cacao to craft these truffles, from the inside out.
• And, for the signature center, Alter Eco combines organic cacao with the superfood coconut oil.
• The pure organic coconut oil comes from Indian farms that use sustainable farming practices. Hence, these farms mirror virgin rainforests, so they give wild animals like elephants a safe place to roam.
• USDA Organic, Fair Trade certified, and gluten-free.

Interested in drop shipping these and other popular organic dark chocolates to sell in your store using blind drop shipping? Request a catalog and learn more.

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