''Researched and written by Ayesha Ijaz, MSc Food Systems student at University of Reading''
Chocolate is considered as the most known and appreciated food in the world. Dark
chocolate is made from the cacao tree seeds, and it is a bitter tasting chocolate made
from the processing of cocoa and butter(Samanta S. et.al. 2022). The premium
quality of dark chocolate contains 70% cocoa content. It also contains different
shades of colour depending on the cocoa content, ranging from light to dark brown.
The colour variation is depends on the damage to essential nutrients and compounds
during processing (Dias Als et.al. 2023).
2. Health benefits of dark chocolate:
Dark chocolate is renowned for its significant health benefits (due to presence of
various micro nutrients and others) and flavor.
2.1 Lowering blood pressure:
According to studies, dark chocolate consumption reduces the occurrence of high
blood pressure which ultimately leads to reduction of cardiovascular diseases.
Vascular endothelial dysfunction (damage to blood vessels is due to decreased nitric
oxide (essential molecule involve in various physiological processes) bio-activity
which ultimately leads to impaired flow. The nutrients present in cocoa enhances
blood circulation in arteries.
2.2 Improving obesity:
Dark chocolate is also preferred to be used in the improvement of obesity due to the
low calorie content of it. According to one study, regular consumption(6g in 24hr) of
dark chocolate have no effect on weight enhancement. Essential nutrients causes
depletion of fatty acids and reduced fat synthesis. Cocoa reduces visceral adipose
tissue (belly fat/ fat that surrounds the essential organs) by alternating the genes
expression and enzymes involved in synthesis of fatty acids(Katz DL.et.al. 2011).
2.3 Anticancer properties:
The antioxidant properties of cocoa contribute to reduction of cancer development
chances in human body. According to research on 10 healthy people the oxidative
(cell) damage to DNA was reduced in people consuming dark chocolate (Katz
DL.et.al. 2011).Fig. 01 Mechanism of dark chocolate health benefits.
2.4 Other benefits;
Essential compounds in dark chocolate like theobromine act as a mood booster and
improves mood.
It also improves the skin due to its antioxidant content.
It works as a source of essential minerals like iron.
It also reduces the risk of glucose spike in blood due to low glycemic index of it (Katz
DL.et.al. 2011).
Fig.01: Mechanism of Dark Chocolate health benefits
3. Nutritional value of dark chocolate:
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Trusted Source, a 100-gram
(g) bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cacao solids provides approximately,:
Calories: 600 kcals
Proteins: 7. 79g
Fats: 43.06 g
Carbs: 46.36 g
Dietary fibres: 11.00 g Sugars: 24.23 g
Iron: 11.9 milligrams (mg)
Magnesium: 228.00 mg
Zinc: 3.34 mg
Potassium: 715mg
Sodium: 20mg
4. Export of cocoa in United Kingdom supply chain:
United kingdom mainly imports cocoa beans from Ghana and Ivory Coast. After
going through the British import regulations which include legal (mycotoxins, heavy
metals and pesticides presence in cocoa) requirements, quality requirements (ISO’s
standards, HACCP,IFS etc.), labeling requirements (product name, country of origin,
batch code, net weight etc.) and packaging requirements (bulk shipment , vacuum
sealed) it enters into the supply chain or retailers market and is further used for cocoa
based food products, in confectionery industry, in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
industry. The larger retailers of cocoa in United Kingdom are the supermarkets like:
Aldi, Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Marks and Spencer, Amazon and Morrison's.
Following is the flow chart of cocoa export and mechanism of its entrance into the
supply chain:
Fig. 02 Supply chain of dark chocolate
5. Recipies for dark chocolate consumption:
There are various recipes available for dark chocolate consumption, especially to
reduce its bitterness. It can be used as :
Dark chocolate &cherry bar (as a dessert)
Raspberry & dark chocolate teacakes (as a snack)
Dark chocolate, orange & ginger bara birth (for celebrations)
Jaffa cakes (as a dessert)
Chocolate -orange french toast (dessert, brunch).
6. References:
Dias ALS, Fenger JA, Meudec E, Verbaere A, Costet P, Hue C, Coste F, Lair S,
Cheynier V, Boulet JC, Sommerer N. Shades of Fine Dark Chocolate Colours:
Polyphenol Metabolomics and Molecular Networking to Enlighten the Brown from
the Black. Metabolites. 2023 May 17;13(5):667. doi: 10.3390/metabo13050667.
PMID: 37233708; PMCID: PMC10224107.
Samanta S, Sarkar T, Chakraborty R, Rebezov M, Shariati MA, Thiruvengadam M,
Rengasamy KRR. Dark chocolate: An overview of its biological activity, processing,
and fortification approaches. Curr Res Food Sci. 2022 Oct 15;5:1916-1943. doi:
10.1016/j.crfs.2022.10.017. PMID: 36300165; PMCID: PMC9589144.
Katz DL, Doughty K, Ali A. Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease.
Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011 Nov 15;15(10):2779-811. doi: 10.1089/ars.2010.3697.
Epub 2011 Jun 13. PMID: 21470061; PMCID: PMC4696435.
https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/cocoa-cocoa-products/united-
kingdom/market-entry
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/dark-chocolate-recipes
