Comparing Chocolates: Trader Joe's vs. 365

Not sure if you know this about me, but I LOVE dark chocolate. It isn't as sticky sweet as milk chocolate, but it has a smooth taste that makes even a fast eater like me savor every small bite. The fact that it has loads of antioxidants is a nice added plus as well. Now, I cannot call myself a true dark chocolate lover because I don't like 85% cacao,  but I'm trying to work up to that eventually. But while I was out running errands today, I decided to stop by Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market and get some of their store brand chocolate to test it out. I don't have extra money to spend on the expensive brand name organic chocolate, but one day I hope to test them all. But for now, this is what I started with.

The Trader Joe's chocolate comes in a 3-pack and it costs $1.91 with tax. Not a bad price. There are several different types of this chocolate, one of them being 72% cacao dark chocolate. This chocolate does not advertise it's cacao percentage, but it is 56% cacao. Now onto Whole Foods 365 brand chocolate. It is also 56% cacao and it also comes in 39% cacao milk. I must give Whole Foods credit. They sell a large chocolate bar for $2.69 plus tax, but this little guy was only $.33 plus tax. Very clever, especially if you aren't sure you'll want a whole bar.

Taste results: I personally prefer the Trader Joe's. You get a lot more chocolate for your money, and I thought it tasted better. The 365 tasted more like milk chocolate to me and was too sweet, whereas the TJ had that smooth dark taste I crave. Also, something to note: the best dark chocolate is the kind that does not have sugar as its first and main ingredient. This means there is more cocoa than sugar. TJ's first ingredient was cocoa mass; 365's was cane sugar. This was probably why it tasted too sweet to me.

In the future, I plan to test out and try Theo Chocolate (tried it before and it was heavenly), Alter Eco, Lily's, Endangered Species, Equal Exchange Chocolates, Salazon, and any others I can get my hands on. If any readers have recommendations and/or advice, please send it my way! And happy chocolate eating. :)