Photo Gallery: 5 new sweet-tooth tempting haute chocolate bars

Sep. 2, 2012

Alter Eco Dark Coconut Toffee

Organic toasted coconut and 47 percent cacao milk chocolate combine with buttery toffee and a touch of sea salt for a treat best described as sweet perfection. But beyond flavor, this bar stands out for high quality standards. All eight of Alter Eco’s chocolate flavors are certified organic and fair trade, and the interior packaging shares the stories of the cacao bean farmers.
Fearless Super Seeds

This bar disguises essential fatty acids in 70 percent dark chocolate peppered with omega-3-rich flax, chia and hemp seeds. OK, so it may not be an efficacious dose of omegas, but a somewhat functional edge isn’t all this bar has going for it: Super Seeds is also raw, vegan, certified organic and, most importantly, delicious.
Nibmor Daily Dose of Dark Mint + Nibs

Props to Nibmor for reminding us that chocolate can be an essential part of a balanced diet. In addition to being vegan, certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, these 0.35-ounce, 50-calorie squares deliver heart-healthy flavanols from 72 percent dark chocolate and delightfully crunchy cocoa nibs.
Lily’s Dark Chocolate Almond

Lily’s may not be the first stevia-sweetened chocolate on the market, but I think it’s the best tasting. Instead of being overly sweet and somewhat chalky like many stevia-laced chocolate bars, this 55 percent cacoa indulgence leaves just a hint of stevia flavor on the tongue. Its stellar nutritionals erase any cloying aftertaste. A 1.5-ounce serving offers 11 grams of dietary fiber and less than 1 gram of sugar.
Justin’s Milk Chocolate Almond

It’s not exactly a chocolate bar, but how could I overlook this latest product from Justin’s that just may revolutionize the chocolate confections category? The gluten-free Snickers taste-alike delivers nutty, nougaty flavor without hydrogenated oils, high- fructose corn syrup, preservatives or trans fats. Still, with 280 calories and 16 grams of fat per serving, don’t mistake this sweet treat for a nutrition bar.

Be they spiced, salted or seeded, new chocolate bars and confections to suit nearly every palate abound.Innovation’s the name of the game when it comes to this category’s growth, according to market research firm Mintel, and even leading conventional brands are developing more health-conscious combinations.

New launches such as Mars’ goodnessknows snack squares play up cacao’s natural nutritional benefits while pairing chocolate with nuts, dried fruits and other nutrient-dense ingredients to make each indulgence that much sweeter. This approach is paying off. Chocolate confectionery sales grew 16 percent between 2006 and 2011 to reach $18.6 billion, Mintel reports. Better-for-you ingredients combined with special diet considerations and third-party quality standards differentiate these next-generation chocolates. Taste, however, remains paramount.

Raw, organic, fair trade and/or vegan bars mimic longtime conventional standbys such as Snickers, Hershey’s Milk Chocolate with Almonds and Andes Mints to deliver familiar flavors with a nutritional boost.