How Much Cocoa Is In Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate?

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Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar may be an American classic, but dark chocolate lovers could argue that the Pennsylvanian brand's Special Dark Chocolate is where it's at. This chocolate, which comes in candy bars and cocoa powder, is perfectly rich, slightly bitter, and mildly sweet, satisfying every sweet tooth craving. But how much cocoa is actually in Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate? And is there a certain amount that qualifies chocolate to be labeled "dark?" According to European and U.S. food regulations, the answer is yes.

Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate contains 45% cocoa, according to a reply to a customer comment on the Hersheyland website. This includes a combination of cocoa butter and cocoa processed with alkali — a type of Dutch cocoa powder that's processed to neutralize the acidic flavor of the cocoa beans. Other ingredients include sugar, milk fat, lecithin (a preservative), and PGPR, an emulsifier used in chocolate to make it soft and easily moldable.

Turns out, this chocolate just hits the mark for what can legally be considered dark chocolate. In Europe, recipes must contain at least 35% cocoa solids to be considered dark chocolate; in the U.S., that's 35% chocolate liquor (the liquid form of cocoa). Still, professional chocolatiers and even Harvard Nutrition Source argue that true dark chocolate contains around 50% to 90% cocoa solids, along with cocoa butter, sugar, and little to no milk. So while legally, Hershey's Special Dark is indeed dark chocolate, cocoa snobs may argue it's really milk chocolate in disguise.

Hershey's fans love this chocolate's slightly sweet flavor and soft texture. "The texture is really nice, flavor is consistent, not too sweet, dark and lovely. These are a must-have for a treat," one reviewer wrote on Hershey's website. Another reviewer said, "This is what I use when I make chocolate pies. Also as a fancy topping on marble cakes as decoration. Easy to chop and curl when you need a small amount of dark milk chocolate. Better price, also love the way it melts and tastes."

Despite its higher milk fat and lower cocoa content, Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate is still a popular pick for on-the-go snacking. But if you're looking for grocery store chocolate brands that fall into the 50% to 90% cocoa range, keep scanning the candy aisle. Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate Bar, for instance, is a top choice per our reviewer and contains 70% cocoa along with notes of cherry, coffee, and nuts. Another generally well-regarded pick, going by customer reviews, is Harison Swiss Premium Dark Chocolate, which has 74% cocoa and is low in sweetness, but makes up for it with a rich, smooth flavor and texture.