Quick Answer: Our top pick for dark chocolate on a charcuterie board is Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70% (4.4 out of 5). Value: Choceur Dark Chocolate. Splurge: Valrhona Manjari 64%. We ranked 7 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
A few squares of dark chocolate make a board feel finished, and they're excellent with aged cheddar, blue cheese, Parmesan and red wine. Bars between 60% and 75% cacao suit most guests: dark enough to taste like chocolate, sweet enough to eat. These rankings lean on three published taste tests, then how easily each bar breaks into pieces, ingredients, price and how easy it is to find.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked October 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70% ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.4 |
| Best value: Choceur Dark Chocolate ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.1 |
| Best splurge: Valrhona Manjari 64% ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70% ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.4 | Chunks on a cheese board |
| 2. Ghirardelli 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Individually wrapped squares |
| 3. Choceur Dark Chocolate ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | A budget board |
| 4. Godiva 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | Neat, wrapped pieces |
| 5. Theo Dark Chocolate Sea Salt 70% ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Salty-sweet with aged cheese |
| 6. Trader Joe's 72% Cacao Belgian Dark Chocolate ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | A cheap, well-balanced bar |
| 7. Valrhona Manjari 64% ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | A chocolate lover's board |
1. Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70%
★★★★½ 4.4 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: Chunks on a cheese board · $$ mid-range
Ranked 1st of 14 by Food Republic for a velvety texture, good snap and a balance of sugar and bitterness, and 2nd of 20 by Tasting Table for a rich, toasty flavor with nutty, coffee and cherry notes.
- Why we like it: Near the top of two big tests, and Fairtrade.
- Keep in mind: A thick bar with uneven sections. Break it into rough chunks.
- Where to buy: Target, Walmart, Whole Foods and most grocery stores.
2. Ghirardelli 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best for: Individually wrapped squares · $ budget
Food Republic ranked the 72% bar 5th of 14 for a good balance of chocolate and sugar and a clean snap. It's also sold as individually wrapped squares, which are the easiest chocolate to set out on a board.
- Why we like it: Squares are ready to serve, and it's in nearly every store.
- Keep in mind: Less complex than the top bars.
- Where to buy: Nearly every grocery store and pharmacy.
3. Choceur Dark Chocolate
★★★★☆ 4.1 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: A budget board · $ budget
Aldi's store brand ranked 1st of 20 grocery bars at Tasting Table for a fudgy, creamy, buttery texture and medium sweetness.
- Why we like it: Top-ranked flavor at an Aldi price.
- Keep in mind: It contains milk, so it isn't vegan, and it's only at Aldi.
- Where to buy: Aldi.
4. Godiva 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate
★★★★☆ 4.1 out of 5 · Best for: Neat, wrapped pieces · $$ mid-range
Sporked gave it 9 out of 10 for a good snap and a fruity, nutty, roasted flavor, sold as individually wrapped sticks.
- Why we like it: Wrapped sticks look tidy and stay clean on a board.
- Keep in mind: Pricier per ounce than a bar.
- Where to buy: Walmart, Target and Amazon.
5. Theo Dark Chocolate Sea Salt 70%
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: Salty-sweet with aged cheese · $$ mid-range
Sporked named it best of the best with 9 out of 10: smooth and creamy, with balanced bitter, sweet and salty notes.
- Why we like it: Organic and Fairtrade, and the salt suits a cheese board.
- Keep in mind: Pricier than the grocery bars.
- Where to buy: Whole Foods, Target and many grocery stores.
6. Trader Joe's 72% Cacao Belgian Dark Chocolate
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: A cheap, well-balanced bar · $ budget
Food Republic ranked Trader Joe's Fair Trade Organic 72% Belgian bar 2nd of 14 for a rich, smooth, well-balanced flavor at about $4. Sporked gave Trader Joe's organic dark bar 8 out of 10 and suggested it for cheese boards.
- Why we like it: Excellent value, and organic.
- Keep in mind: Only at Trader Joe's.
- Where to buy: Trader Joe's.
7. Valrhona Manjari 64%
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best splurge · Best for: A chocolate lover's board · $$$ premium
From the French chocolate maker used by pastry chefs. Tasting Table ranked it 4th of 20 for a dried-fruit flavor with a slight tang and well-balanced sweetness.
- Why we like it: The most complex, fruity flavor here.
- Keep in mind: Expensive and mostly sold online.
- Where to buy: Amazon, Whole Foods and specialty grocers.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate 70% | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.4 |
| Ghirardelli 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.2 |
| Choceur Dark Chocolate | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4.1 |
| Godiva 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4.1 |
| Theo Dark Chocolate Sea Salt 70% | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Trader Joe's 72% Cacao Belgian Dark Chocolate | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4.0 |
| Valrhona Manjari 64% | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.5 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: Cacao between 60% and 75%, with cocoa beans or cocoa mass listed before sugar. "Dark chocolate" with no percentage is usually sweeter.
Skip: Bars over 85% for a mixed crowd. They're bitter and chalky to most guests. Also skip anything with fillings that melt on a warm board.
Serving it: break bars into rough 1-inch pieces, or set out wrapped squares, about 1 ounce for every 2 guests. Put the chocolate near aged cheddar, blue cheese, Parmesan or dried fruit, and keep it away from the sun so it doesn't soften.
For what dark chocolate pairs with and how to serve it, see the dark chocolate guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Dark chocolate questions
What is the best dark chocolate for a charcuterie board?
Tony's Chocolonely 70% ranked at or near the top of two big taste tests. For easy serving, Ghirardelli's 72% squares and Godiva's wrapped sticks are already in bite-size pieces.
What cheese goes with dark chocolate?
Aged cheddar, blue cheese, Parmesan, aged Gouda and Manchego. Salty, nutty and sharp cheeses stand up to dark chocolate.
What percentage of dark chocolate is best?
60% to 75% cacao suits most guests. Above 85% tastes bitter to many people.
Is dark chocolate vegan?
Often, but not always. Some bars, including Aldi's Choceur, contain milk. Check the label.
Giving it as a gift?
These make easy host gifts. See our charcuterie gifts under $25, hostess gifts and the DIY charcuterie gift basket.
Sources
- Tasting Table: 20 Grocery Store Dark Chocolate Bars, Ranked Worst To Best
- Sporked: 10 Best Dark Chocolate Bars
- Food Republic: 14 Store-Bought Dark Chocolate Bars, Ranked
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