There has always been one thing standing in the way of me cutting back on my consumptions of sweets. It is chocolate. If you are anything like me, chocolate is one of those things that I probably couldn’t live without. However, you don’t always have to feel guilty after eating chocolate. There are actually options for healthy chocolate bars. Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar could be exactly the chocolate bar you are looking for. If you love chocolate as much as I do, finding that good tasting, yet healthy chocolate bar is your life dream. So the question is, is the Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar the one? Hopefully this review will be able to help you determine if that is the case. 

Initial Thoughts

Over seven million tons of chocolate are consumed worldwide. That is an insane amount of chocolate. That means that it is likely that you ate around 2 pounds of chocolate last year. The chocolate we commonly eat is sugar heavy and diluted with tons of additives and sweeteners. That is what really makes chocolate so bad for you. Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar is supposedly much better for you because it contains 88% cocoa. The problem is that when the cocoa content gets that high a chocolate bar usually gets extremely bitter and difficult to stomach. Luckily, I hear that Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar is actually pretty sweet. However, looking at the ingredients, it makes me wonder how much sugar is actually in the chocolate. 

Ingredients

All of the ingredients in the Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar are completely organic and fair trade. Equal exchange definitely has a passion for the environment and has sourced the absolutely best ingredients possible for their chocolate. They also have a very simple chocolate bar, as it only has 4 ingredients. The best part about all of the ingredients in a Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar is that they are fair trade. Fair trade is when all people involved in purchase, distribution, and manufacturing of products are paid fairly.

Organic Chocolate Liquor

Chocolate liquor is a combination of solids and butter from the cocoa bean. The beans dried, separated from their skin, and then they are ground into a paste and then melted down into liquor. The paste is usually separated into solids and cocoa butter, but it can also be allowed to solidify again into raw chocolate. 

Organic Ground Vanilla Beans

Usually vanilla beans are usually used to give white chocolate its signature flavor. Using vanilla beans in Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate is a move to make the chocolate more smooth and sweet. Vanilla beans help balance the bitterness of the chocolate liquor. 

Organic Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is a great way to keep chocolate smooth and still use natural cocoa products. Cocoa butter is what helps Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate be so sweet and smooth. 

The Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar is all about making a really dark chocolate that doesn’t taste super bitter. They add 2 organic ingredients to their organic chocolate ingredients, vanilla beans and cane sugar. Both ingredients take away from the bitterness of the cocoa and help to create an smooth and sweet flavor that is much better tasting than the bitter flavor of regular dark chocolate. However, both ingredients are, combined, only about 22% of the bar, because the other 88% is cocoa. Many people really like Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate. A lot of reviews say that it is the very best chocolate that they have ever had. Any of the negative reviews that I have read have had more to do with the shipping and handling of the product than it had to do with the actual taste. Several costumers happened to get the wrong product. I guess there also used to be a larger bar size, and many people ordered this product expecting the larger bar, but the product clearly states that the bars are 2.8 oz. each. 

About This Company

Equal Exchange is a company dedicated to the equal rights and fair treatment of cocoa bean farms and processing facilities. Their products come from small farms all around the world. So much of the chocolate that is consumed worldwide is mass-produced under terrible conditions with little to no pay. Equal Exchange makes sure that isn’t the case with their chocolate. It is a very noble goal. This does, however, have its drawbacks. The price of the chocolate is higher than the stuff that is produced under terrible conditions. 

Pros:

The Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar is a great snack that will help you get that chocolate fix without making you feel guilty about breaking your diet. This chocolate bar also tastes sweeter than most other dark chocolates that contain the same percentage of cocoa. Dark chocolate also is great for your heart, brain, and circulatory system as long as it is taken in moderation.  

Cons:

Well, because this is chocolate, there aren’t that many cons. Chocolate is delicious. However, the price may be more than you would like to pay for chocolate. The only other con about this product is about the shipping. It is possible, though rare, to receive the wrong product in the mail. Make sure you are checking that you have clicked everything correctly before you submit your order. 

Final Thoughts:

Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate is a great product from an, ethically, very cool company. This is the exclusive chocolate bar of a lot customers because they have not been able to find one that they liked more. The price is more expensive than a regular store-bought brand, but the quality and morality of Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate makes that little bit extra feel like it went a long way. 

If you find that for some reason this product isn't for you, check out some of our other healthy chocolate options here at Green and Growing. Don't overlook the Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar however, because it is one of my personal favorites! 

Here are some top questions that I found for people seriously considering buying the Equal Exchange Organic Extreme Dark Chocolate Bar.

Related Article: ​​​Best Organic Chocolate: A Healthy and Enjoyable Treat