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Dark chocolate
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<p>Dark chocolate is a form of <a href="/facts/Chocolate/4drs8ryf">chocolate</a> made from <a href="/facts/Cocoa_solids/ew1SrzP7">cocoa solids</a>, <a href="/facts/Cocoa_butter/QYplogvG">cocoa butter</a> and <a href="/facts/Sugar/jb5KXRHT">sugar</a>. It has a higher cocoa percentage than <a href="/facts/White_chocolate/HleL9Xg4">white chocolate</a>, <a href="/facts/Milk_chocolate/wG3jo2BQ">milk chocolate</a>, and <a href="/facts/Semisweet_chocolate/76gSPMRM">semisweet chocolate</a>. Dark chocolate is valued for <a href="/facts/Health_claim/QS48z3ws">claimed</a>—though unsupported—health benefits, and for being a sophisticated choice of chocolate. Similar to milk and white chocolate, dark chocolate is used to make <a href="/facts/Chocolate_bar/tWIDdXFP">chocolate bars</a> and as a <a href="/facts/Enrober/jdzcedsT">coating</a> for <a href="/facts/Confectionery/7h760gLH">confectionery</a>. </p><p>Dark chocolate gained much of its reputation from an effort by <a href="/facts/French_chocolate/HKvs0nsI">French chocolatiers</a> in the late 20th century to assert a preference for dark chocolate in the French national palate, over milk chocolate. As this palate was exported to other countries, such as the United States, the associated values of <a href="/facts/Terroir/vCL8F7HX">terroir</a>, <a href="/facts/Bean-to-bar/UE1BPKPn">bean-to-bar</a> chocolate making and gourmet chocolates followed. Due to the high cocoa percentage, dark chocolate can contain particularly high amounts of <a href="/facts/Heavy_metal_(elements)/Cblmy8qI">heavy metals</a> such as <a href="/facts/Lead/EYljasJN">lead</a> and <a href="/facts/Cadmium/wXkV2eIX">cadmium</a>. </p><p>Dark chocolate has a more bitter and intense flavor than other types of chocolate, and compared to other <a href="/facts/Types_of_chocolate/76gSPMRM">types of chocolate</a>, is reliant on the quality of the <a href="/facts/Cocoa_bean/cAdQvQxy">cocoa beans</a> and cocoa butter used as ingredients. Making dark chocolate involves a process of mixing, refining, <a href="/facts/Conching/HtPuyPR0">conching</a>, and standardizing. Government and industry standards of what products may be labeled "dark chocolate" <a href="/facts/Legal_definitions_of_chocolate/76gSPMRM">vary by country and market</a>. </p>