Types of Chocolate: The Ultimate Guide

Milk chocolate is dark chocolate that's made with sugar, cocoa solids and milk, for a creamier, sweeter taste. It's no wonder this is one of the most popular types of chocolate around. Good quality milk chocolate should have a good level of shine and a slight snap. It's best stored at room temperature and is brilliant for baking, although you could temper some of the sweetness by using a mixture of milk and dark chocolate, as in this banana and chocolate cake recipe. Try our responsibly sourced Choc Marks Milk Chocolate, which is crafted by our experts in Switzerland and has the perfect velvety, rich texture.

Dark chocolate contains higher levels of cocoa than milk or white chocolate, giving it a richer, less sweet taste. Look out for the cocoa levels stated on the front of the pack – more cocoa will mean a more intensely chocolatey tasting bar, while less will mean it's slightly sweeter and more rounded. Single origin dark chocolate means the beans are sourced from a single source, allowing the chocolate to develop a distinctive flavour characteristic. Look out for our heady, dark and intense Collection Single Origin Dark Chocolate from Peru and Ecuadorian dark chocolate, with its lively floral flavours.

White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar and milk, but unlike milk and dark chocolate doesn't contain cocoa solids. This means it tastes super creamy and is irresistibly sweet. Temper the sweetness by using in recipes with zingy, acidic ingredients which will cut through, as in our raspberry and white chocolate panna cotta traybake Golden blond chocolate is caramelised white chocolate, which creates a rich, butterscotch-like flavour. It works a treat with nuts – try our Collection Golden Blond Chocolate Coated Pecans or Collection Blond Chocolate with Almonds.

Best dairy-free chocolate

Discover PLAYin CHOC, where organic chocolate comes with an extra surprise. The multi-award winning range is dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free and completely plastic-free, with fully recyclable packaging.

Choose a JustChoc Bar for a chocolate treat, or a ToyChoc Box featuring a collectable toy and educational fact cards.

Made with quality ingredients and designed to inspire curiosity, PLAYin CHOC offers something a little different for chocolate lovers of all ages.

Find PLAYin CHOC in the Made Without aisle.

Looking for a gift to keep the chocaholic in your life sweet? Treat them to our Choc Marks Library – five of our signature, chunky chocolate bars in a tempting variety of flavours, like pretzel and salted caramel. Or for an elegant gift, our Italian-made Collection Chocolate Hazelnut Nougat has a beautifully light texture. Treat them to a chocolate tasting flight with our Collection Shot Packs – rich and smooth chocolates with caramel, coffee, and nut fillings. Or share a bag of our irresistibly moreish Swiss Clouds Milk Chocolate with Cookies, Malt and Cornflakes.

Step away from the fridge! Proper chocolate storage is essential for preserving its flavour and texture. Store your chocolate in a cool (ideally 15°C to 18°C) and dark place, like a store cupboard, to prevent melting or bloom, where cocoa butter surfaces and creates a white, chalky appearance. Humidity is another factor; keep your storage area dry (below 55% humidity) and store opened chocolate in an airtight container to prevent mold and the absorption of strong odors. If you do need to place your choc in the fridge or cool bag on a particularly hot day, let it return to room temperature before eating to fully appreciate the flavours.

If you’re planning to whip up a chocolatey creation, you may be tasked with melting down the chocolate into a silky-smooth liquid. To avoid chocolate burning, it’s best to melt the chocolate in bain-marie. Simply fill a saucepan with hot water and place over a heatproof bowl (making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Add the broken chocolate to a bowl and heat over a low heat. Keep stirring until the chocolate is melted and then quickly remove from the heat. If you’re short on time, a microwave also does the job. Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds at a time and stir. Repeat until the chocolate is melted.

For chocolatey recipe inspiration, head on over to our home of recipes and discover our ultimate chocolate fridge cake, vegan coconut chocolate truffles, air fryer double chocolate hazelnut brownies and more.

What could be better than pairing your favourite tipple with a sensational sweet treat? If you love a robust red wine, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, match its rich tannins with an intense and fruity dark chocolate, such as our Collection 60% Peruvian Dark Chocolate with Raspberry. For fans of Chardonnay, the zesty, vibrant flavours pair perfectly with citrus chocolate, like Collection Chocolate Orange Ganache pots or Choc Marks Chocolate Candy Beans, Orange Jellies and Popping Candy Milk Chocolate.

More of a beer drinker? We’ve got you. Drink your go-to ale alongside some seriously snackable chocolate nuts. Why not try our new Milk Chocolate Covered Pistachios or 70% Dark Chocolate Dusted Almonds? Finally, go full-on fruity by marrying up your IPA with our 70% Dark Chocolate Coated Mango or 70% Dark Chocolate Covered Sour Cherries.