The number one in my chocolate hit parade (Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate)

Member Name: markysparky

Product:	Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate
Date:	11/02/09 (84 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great taste, reasonably priced, readily available

Disadvantages: Chocolate shards can be messy

Growing up in the 1960s and '70s there was only really one "plain" chocolate, Cadbury's Bourneville. This had a more bitter taste than its milk chocolate counterparts but had a high milk solids and fat content. This product was not to my taste and it was one I identified with darker chocolate for the next 30 years.

A few years ago, I decided to try Lindt Excellence with 70% cocoa. My first impression was not favourable but I persevered and soon began to love its taste.

The large bar is good value (often in the £1 to £1.50 range although frequently on supermarket 'two for £2' or similar deals. Each bar has 10 large squares of the chocolate and is sufficient for 2 or 3 stuffings (that said, I have devoured a bar in a sitting on more than one occasion). Be careful unwrapping as there's often many small shards of choc which can make abit of a mess. For me, the taste is greatly enhanced by a chilling in the fridge.

Its presentation is attractive (card backed, siver foil wrapped, well designed card outer) making it gift material. Certain, well-reported, medical studies have indicated that there may be positive health effects from eating a small daily quantity of higher %age cocoa content (such as Excellence) which I cannot, of course, validate but it makes me feel less guilty when chomping on a bar.

I've tried the 85% cocoa variation but that proved somewhat too bitter for my tastebuds. The 70% variety is now my favourite choc and it would take something pretty spectacular to depose it from my number one spot.

Summary: A top notch dark chocolate treat