How Many Types of Chocolate Are There?

When we think of chocolate, the first thing that comes to our mind is its smooth texture and sweetness. Chocolate is undoubtedly a popular sweet treat, and it comes in a variety of types and flavors. In this blog, Lucky Fruit will go over how many types of chocolate there are and cover the ingredients of each, as well as their possibilities as a chocolate coverd snack.

How many types of chocolate are there? Explore 10 Types of Chocolate

There are three main categories of chocolate. This includes dark, milk, and white chocolate. However, there are various chocolate types within those four main categories.

Raw Chocolate

Raw chocolate is the purest form of chocolate and undergoes minimal processing. Raw chocolate has only one ingredient, cocoa liquor. What is cocoa liquor? It is a brown, smooth liquid made from ground cocoa nibs.

Raw chocolate has a rich flavor because it doesn’t have any milk or sugar added to balance the bitterness. Some chocolate makers add extra cocoa butter to make the chocolate less bitter and also to make it smoother.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate has no more than 3 or 4 ingredients. This includes cocoa mass, sugar, lecithin, and sometimes vanilla. Dark chocolate contains between 65% and 99% cocoa.

Due to the addition of sugar, dark chocolate is not as strong in flavor as 100%. However, it is not as sweet as milk chocolate because it does not contain any milk powder. Due to the high cocoa mass content and relatively low sugar content, dark chocolate is believed to have many benefits for human health.

Dark Milk Chocolate

Dark milk chocolate is a type of chocolate between traditional milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It combines the soft sweetness of milk with the richness of dark chocolate. The cocoa flavor and milk aroma are perfectly blended, and the taste is rich and balanced. The cocoa ratio of dark milk can be between 50% and 70%.

Compared with dark chocolate, it is sweeter and has a richer texture. The addition of milk makes the chocolate smoother and gives it a creamy taste. Both dark milk chocolate and milk chocolate contain milk powder, but dark milk chocolate has a higher cocoa content.

Milk Chocolate

Milk chocolate is made of between 35% to 55% cocoa mass, 20% to 20% milk powder, and 20% to 25% sugar. Because of the higher percentage of milk and sugar content, milk chocolate is sweeter than dark milk chocolate. Good quality milk chocolate should avoid vegetable fats such as palm oil.

By law in the U.S. a milk chocolate bar needs to contain a minimum of 10% cocoa mass. The EU has set a minimum cocoa content of 25% for milk chocolate. However, there are more and more alternative milk chocolate bars available. These milk chocolate bars include animal-free milk including coconut, oat, or soy.

White Chocolate

White chocolate is made of 30% to 45% cocoa butter, 25% to 40% milk powder, and 25% to 55% sugar. It has a pale yellow or ivory color, a rich texture, and a sweet flavor. The high cocoa butter content gives white chocolate a smooth, creamy taste.

Although sometimes white chocolate is falsely labeled as not chocolate, white chocolate is really chocolate because it contains cocoa butter, a product of cocoa beans. In fact, cocoa butter makes up about 54% of the weight of the cocoa bean.

Premium white chocolate usually uses non-deodorized cocoa butter, and much of the original cocoa flavor is still there. However, many white chocolates now use deodorized cocoa butter, which removes the natural aroma of cocoa butter. To make up for the flavor, manufacturers often add vanilla or other ingredients, which is why people think white chocolate is very sweet and has an artificial taste.

Ruby Chocolate

Ruby chocolate was invented by Callebaut, a chocolate company, in 2017. Its composition is very similar to white chocolate as it contains around 40% to 55% cocoa mass, 15% to 30% milk powder, and 15% to 30% sugar.

Unlike traditional chocolate, Ruby chocolate retains the natural red color and fruity flavor of the cocoa beans through a specific processing method, and no coloring is added. Ruby chocolate has a unique taste, with a light berry flavor, a balance of sweet and sour, and a taste between white chocolate and milk chocolate.

Gianduja Chocolate

Gianduja is a type of chocolate that originates from the Piedmont region of Italy. The biggest difference between it and other chocolates is that it is mixed with hazelnut paste. Gianduja chocolate originated in Italy in the early 19th century. Due to the shortage of cocoa at the time, people used hazelnut paste to replace part of the cocoa to make chocolate. In the European Union, it must contain at least 32% cocoa mass to be labeled as chocolate.

The combination of hazelnuts and chocolate brings a unique nutty aroma and the sweetness of chocolate. Due to the large amount of hazelnut paste mixed in, Gianduja chocolate has a very smooth texture and a melt-in-the-mouth taste. Nowadays Gianduja chocolate is widely used in making chocolate bars, pralines, spreads, and various desserts and baked goods.

Couverture Chocolate

Couverture chocolate is a high-quality chocolate that contains a higher percentage of cocoa butter than other varieties. Its cocoa butter content is at least 31% or more, and some are even higher. The high percentage of cocoa powder gives Couverture chocolate a rich chocolate flavor.

Couverture chocolate occupies an important position in professional chocolate making and pastry making. Because of its high cocoa butter content and good melting properties, the chocolate is smoother and easier to handle when melted, making it very suitable for making chocolate shells and decorations. Therefore, it is favored by professional chocolate makers and pastry chefs.

Couverture chocolate usually needs to be tempered to ensure that it has a good gloss and crispness after cooling. Couverture chocolate is widely used in making high-end chocolate products, chocolate decorations, coverings, coatings and handmade chocolates.

Flavored Chocolate

Flavored chocolate is a type of chocolate that has a unique flavor by adding various flavor ingredients. It contains a variety of natural or artificial flavor ingredients, including fruits, nuts, spices, flowers and other seasonings.

Flavored chocolate can present a variety of flavors based on various flavor additives to meet different taste requirements. Many flavored chocolates not only have unique flavors, but also enhance the visual effect by adding flavor ingredients such as fruit slices and chopped nuts. Chocolate manufacturers often launch new products with innovative flavor combinations to attract consumers.

Flavored chocolate may contain allergens such as nuts and dairy products, so pay attention to the ingredient list. The fruit and spice ingredients added to some flavored chocolates may affect the storage life and conditions of the chocolate, and the storage recommendations on the packaging should be followed.

Sugar-Free Chocolate

Sugar-Free Chocolate is a type of chocolate designed for consumers who want to avoid sugar. It usually contains cocoa powder or cocoa mass, which provide the main flavor of chocolate. Unlike other chocolates, sugar-free chocolate uses sweeteners instead of sugar. These sweeteners are low in calories or calorie-free and will not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar, so they are suitable for diabetics, dieters, or people who need to control their sugar intake.

In some sugar-free milk chocolates, milk or milk powder may be contained to give it a soft taste. Some manufacturers also use vanilla, salt, and emulsifiers (such as soy lecithin) to improve the flavor and texture. The texture of sugar-free chocolate is similar to regular chocolate, but the taste may be slightly different because sweeteners and sugars have different melting points and textures.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chocolate

How many types of chocolate are there?

There are many types of chocolate, mainly dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. There are also raspberry chocolate with high cocoa butter content, Gianduja chocolate mixed with hazelnut paste, and flavored chocolate with various flavors added. In addition, there are sugar-free chocolate and unique Ruby chocolate. Each chocolate has its own characteristics in ingredients, taste and use, suitable for different tastes and needs.

Which chocolate is the best?

Like all foods, taste is very subjective. The “best” chocolate varies from person to person because everyone has different taste preferences. Here are some common types of chocolate and their unique features:

1. Dark Chocolate: Suitable for people who like rich cocoa flavor and slightly bitter taste, usually with a higher cocoa content and health benefits.
2. Milk Chocolate: Suitable for people who like sweet and smooth taste, contains milk and sugar, and has a mild flavor.
3. White Chocolate: Suitable for people who like sweet and milky flavors, does not contain cocoa solids, and is mainly made of cocoa butter, sugar and dairy products.
4. Gianduja Chocolate: Suitable for people who like the combination of nuts and chocolate, it contains hazelnut paste, smooth texture and rich flavor.
5. Flavored Chocolate: Suitable for people who like innovative flavors, it adds various flavors such as fruits, spices, nuts, etc. to provide a diverse experience.
6. Ruby Chocolate: Suitable for people who like unique taste and visual experience, with natural pink color and unique fruity flavor.

Is white chocolate REAL chocolate?

Yes! Although white chocolate does not contain cocoa solids, some people believe that it is not real chocolate because it lacks the main ingredient of chocolate – cocoa powder. However, according to the standards of chocolate manufacturing, as long as the product contains a certain percentage of cocoa butter, it can be called chocolate.

What does the percentage of chocolate mean?

The percentage of chocolate refers to the amount of cocoa in the chocolate, including cocoa solids and cocoa butter. A higher percentage means a stronger cocoa flavor and lower sugar content, while a lower percentage means a sweeter taste and more added ingredients.

The percentage of chocolate refers to the amount of cocoa in chocolate, including cocoa solids and cocoa butter. A higher percentage means a stronger cocoa flavor and lower sugar content, with more cocoa polyphenols and antioxidants, which are good for health. A lower percentage means a sweeter taste and more added ingredients, with high sugar content but relatively low nutritional value.

The impact of chocolate percentage on taste:

1. High cocoa percentage: such as more than 70%, chocolate will have a stronger cocoa flavor, usually with a certain bitterness, lower sugar content, and a purer taste.
2. Medium cocoa percentage: such as 50%-70%, chocolate has a balanced cocoa flavor and sweetness, suitable for most people’s taste.
3. Low cocoa percentage: such as 30%-50%, chocolate is sweeter, usually milk chocolate, contains more sugar and dairy products, and has a smooth and sweet taste.

Creative Chocolate Coated Snack Ideas

Lucky Fruit Food Company focuses on the research and development, production, and sales of chocolate snacks. In the future, we will innovate more flavors of chocolate and chocolate snacks, and no matter which type of chocolate you like, you can taste its beauty and unique flavor.

Our innovative snack series includes chocolate sunflower seeds, chocolate gummy candy, chocolate popping candy, etc. These innovative chocolate snacks are loved by consumers all over the world.

Chocolate Sunflower Seeds

Chocolate Sunflower Seeds combines healthy sunflower seeds with delicious chocolate coating. Each sunflower seed is wrapped in a layer of rich chocolate, providing a pleasant taste. A variety of chocolate coating flavors are available, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, matcha chocolate, etc., to meet the taste buds of different consumers. Lucky Fruit wholesales Chocolate Sunflower Seeds services to meet various business needs. We can also adjust the flavor or add healthy raw materials according to your needs, such as adding lactic acid bacteria or vitamins to the outer chocolate coating to make your customized chocolate sunflower seeds healthier.

Chocolate Gummy Candy

This new type of chocolate candy perfectly combines classic gummy candy with smooth chocolate to create a unique dual taste experience. The outer layer is wrapped with rich chocolate, and the inner layer is filled with various fruity gummy candies, bringing a double enjoyment of sweetness and chocolate. Lucky Fruit’s wholesale chocolate gummy candy has rich and diverse flavors, such as strawberry, green grape, mango, peach and other fruity gummy candies with different types of chocolate coating, and provides customized snack packaging for your needs.

Chocolate Popping Candy

Chocolate Popping Candy is a snack full of fun and surprises, which perfectly combines chocolate with popping candy. The outer layer of chocolate coating wraps the popping candy inside, and you can feel the smoothness of chocolate and the snapping sound of popping candy as soon as you put it in your mouth, bringing you a unique taste and hearing enjoyment. The popping candy center contains a variety of flavors and a variety of chocolate coating options, providing you with a wealth of choices. This innovative chocolate snack is suitable for all occasions, supports customization and wholesale, and is a new favorite in the market.

Lucky Fruit believes that through our innovative combinations and diverse flavors, we can bring consumers a new snacking experience. Welcome to buy our wholesale chocolate snacks in bulk, contact us for more information and quotes.