90-99% Cocoa Chocolate
56 chocolate bars in this cocoa band.
The 90% to 99% band has almost no sugar, just cocoa solids and a touch of cocoa butter, which is why it rewards slow tasting and a small bite.
Most common tasting notes at this cocoa percentage: fruity, nutty, citrus, roasted coffee, smoky and caramel.
What is 90-99% cocoa chocolate?
90% to 99% cocoa chocolate sits just below pure cocoa. A small amount of sugar, usually under 10% of the bar, and sometimes a little added cocoa butter take the hardest edges off while keeping the bar firmly cocoa-led. It rewards slow tasting and a small bite.
This band is for people who want the depth of very dark chocolate with a touch more roundness than a 100%. The sliver of sugar is enough to carry the cocoa flavour rather than mask it, so you still taste the origin clearly: the fruit of a bright Madagascar, the nuttiness of a classic Venezuelan, the earthiness of a robust African bean.
Texture matters more here than in sweeter bands. Added cocoa butter and careful conching decide whether a 95% melts smoothly or feels dry and grainy. As with 100%, fermentation and roast faults have nowhere to hide.
Top origins in this band
Most active makers at this cocoa percentage
Other cocoa bands
90%
90% Cacao + Nib
90% Cacao + Pear
90% Cacao + Salt
90% Cacao São Tomé
90% Dark
90% Peru
94% Cacao Single Origin
97% Cacao Chuncho
An Eclipse of the Senses
Andhra 95%
Belize 90%
Bitter 90%
Bitter 90%
Chuao 90%
Chuncho 90%
Cioccolato artigianale 90% Puro
Cocoa Lovers Collection 92% Ghana Blend
Congo 92%
Costa Rica Maleku 92%
Dark 92%
Dark Velvet Noir 90%
El Ceibo 90%
Excellence 90% Cacao
Excellence 95%
Excellence 99%
Fine Dark 92% Cacao
Fine Dark 99% Cacao
High Cacao 90%
Idukki 90%
Idukki 90%
Intense Dark 95% Cocoa
Kerala 90%
L'Extra Noir 90%
Labooko Bolivia 90%
Legend 90%
Frequently asked about 90-99% cocoa chocolate
What is the difference between 90% and 100% chocolate?
A 90% to 99% bar contains a small amount of sugar, usually under 10%, and sometimes extra cocoa butter, which rounds off the bitterness and smooths the texture. A 100% bar has neither, so it tastes more intense and depends entirely on the bean and the roast.
Is 90% dark chocolate very bitter?
It is firmly bitter and cocoa-led, but the small amount of sugar makes it noticeably easier to eat than a 100%. Quality, roast level and origin decide whether the bitterness is smooth and fruity or sharp and flat.
How much sugar is in 90% to 99% chocolate?
Usually under 10% of the bar by weight, with the rest made up of cocoa solids and cocoa butter. The exact figure varies by recipe, so always check the wrapper if you are counting precisely.
What does 90-99% cocoa chocolate taste like?
The 90% to 99% band has almost no sugar, just cocoa solids and a touch of cocoa butter, which is why it rewards slow tasting and a small bite.
Which tasting notes show up most often at this cocoa percentage?
Across the bars on Chof in this band, the most frequent flavor notes are fruity, nutty, citrus, roasted coffee, smoky and caramel.
How many bars are in the 90-99% cocoa chocolate band on Chof?
Chof currently lists 56 bars matching this band.
Which origins are most common in this band?
The most common cacao origins for bars in this band on Chof are India, Colombia, Peru, Dominican Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe.
Which makers are most active in this cocoa range?
The makers with the most bars on Chof at this cocoa percentage are Taza, Ether Atelier, Lindt, Alter Eco, Bon-Fiction.
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