There’s a general chocolate rule here in the U.S. that you’ve probably heard before:
The higher the percentage on your chocolate’s label, the better-for-you it is.
There is a general truth in that. A higher percentage means more cocoa content, which means less of all the sugar and filler and more of those coveted antioxidants and magnesium, right?
But the chocolate world is a complex one, and European chocolate and American chocolate have their own personalities. In fact, they can both be labeled “70%” and taste completely different!
SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
The sneaky truth is, those percentages on each label indicate the “cocoa content,” which is any ingredient derived from the cocoa bean. This is where the difference becomes most obvious to your taste buds.
European chocolate tends to have a richer, creamier mouthfeel due to a higher percentage of the “cocoa content” being cocoa butter, the natural fat extracted directly from the cocoa bean. Meanwhile, American chocolate’s “cocoa content” comes mostly from chocolate liquor, which is made of cocoa beans roasted and ground up into a liquid paste. American chocolate also generally includes more sugar than European chocolate to offset the bitterness.
This is why higher-percentage European chocolate is often branded a luxury; it presents a denser, richer, and overall more exquisite product that tends to taste darker in percentage than its American counterpart.
As most of you know, we work exclusively with European chocolate, as our mission is to spread the joy of European chocolate tradition, so of course when we say 70%, we’re talking the “European” language.
But you need to taste it to really understand.
WE’VE GOT THE PROOF
You’re in luck! We’ve finally introduced a 70% European dark chocolate product line here at Divine Treasures. The good news for many: it’s completely soy-free, and due to the percentage, paleo-friendly too!
It starts off as a big (and very heavy!) bag of untempered dark chocolate pieces derived from cocoa beans cultivated in South America, prepped through traditional processes in Europe. Always fair-trade from a small family-owned company in Europe, we specially selected this 70% soy-free dark chocolate and temper it to the perfect smooth, liquid consistency.
And that’s where the real fun begins.
TIME TO PLAY
Developing a new product at Divine Treasures is always exciting, and so many creative ideas and trial runs bounce around the kitchen before we land on a product we believe our customers—new and regular—will most enjoy.
Aiming for health, we knew simple yet sophisticated clusters were the way to go. We tested a variety of whole food combinations of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits with our 70% European chocolate to create a box that fulfilled our mission of keeping everything 100% soy-free, and every ingredient organic, natural, and as minimally-processed as possible.
INTRODUCING THE CLUSTER TEAM
In the end, we narrowed it down to three very different cluster combos—and we’re dying to know your favorite!
COCOLICIOUS
The first clear winner was quickly dubbed the Cocolicious. Shredded coconut and dark chocolate are an incredible team, but we pushed it one step further by adding raw cacao nibs and pumpkin seeds to the mix. The natural subtle saltiness of the pumpkin seeds counter the rich chocolate flavor deliciously—but the secret weapons here are the cacao nibs. Tiny, crunchy, and bitter on their own, raw organic cacao nibs intensify the flavor profile of the 70% chocolate, and really enhance how special this new bittersweet chocolate is.
BLACK FOREST BLISS
Next up is a combination we’ve been hooked on before, but knew we could bring to the next level with our 70% European chocolate. This one’s for all you fans of the cherry-chocolate pairing. We can’t deny that dark, tart dried cherries will always go perfectly with a bittersweet dark chocolate. We threw chopped almonds into the mix for a little crunch, since the flavors of cherry and almond pair so well even on their own. And lastly, the bow on the package, we added Penzey’s fine ground cinnamon to create an underlying depth of flavor that ties all the rest together. The end result is pure bliss on the palate—fittingly named the Black Forest Bliss.
BLUEBBERRY MAINER
This last cluster may be familiar to you—but turned into a completely fresh experience with the 70%! The Blueberry Mainer gives off a whole new vibe when paired with this bittersweet chocolate. That’s because wild Maine blueberries are bolder in flavor than the typical grocery store blueberry, and when dried, they add rich fruity undertones to the bittersweet profile of the 70%, creating a unique (and addictive!) flavor balance. The toasty, nutty flavor of chopped hazelnuts add complexity, and of course that delightful crunch!
All that decadence and we managed to keep it soy-free, paleo-friendly, always vegan and gluten-free, and made only of organic ingredients that are natural and very minimally (if at all!) processed.
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR HANDS ON IT?
While decadence and taste is key in the chocolate world, health matters too, and we really wanted to develop a product for the more health-conscious among our customers. We call this cluster collection “The 70% Fix,” because it delivers the right dose to cure your craving, giving you a gourmet artisan chocolate experience that doesn’t sabotage your health goals. Reap the benefits of all the superfoods we included and feel completely indulgent at the same time!
Our 70% Fix box is available right now in our storefront in Manchester CT and online, available to ship nationwide. Taste the new 70% chocolate as it’s pure, solitary self with a chocolate bar available in-store too!
We can’t wait for you to try it. Check out our instagram reel to see our 70% chocolate in action!