The Best Chocolate Bars

We asked chocolate guru Mark Bitterman to recommend a variety of supremely indulgent bars in the dark and trendy milk-chocolate categories. Although pricey, one bar can please a whole table of chocoholics at the end of your celebration meal. Order bars online at atthemeadow.com. First up is the Amedei Chuao 70% dark.

What Mark says: These makers let the chocolate and bean speak for themselves—no need for funky flavor and texture additions here. Creamy, hazelnutty, caramelly—a truly rich, decadent experience for the chocolate purist.

What we say: Universally loved by tasters for its pure dark flavor and milky chocolate mouthfeel.

Made in Italy, $17/50g bar

What Mark says: Tremendously good chocolate with a New American edge. Very sexy, approachable, and simple with just two ingredients: cacao and cane sugar.

What we say: For those who like their dark chocolate absolutely full-on. There's amazing tannic cacao power here.

Made in California, $9/57g bar

What Mark says: The rare Criollo bean makes for an opulent, beautiful chocolate—lush and full-flavored at 45% cacao to intensify the palate.

What we say: You'll swoon over this one—luscious and silky with a hint of caramel. We liked that the bar easily breaks off into bite-sized bits of goodness.

Made in France, $10/100g bar

What Mark says: These insanely high-quality beans yield a beautifully sweet, fragrant, fruity flavor. Astonishingly decadent.

What we say: You've never met a milk chocolate quite like this. For the milk skeptics, this chocolate has real dark notes from 58% cacao content—nearly 40% higher than most supermarket milk chocolates.

Made in Missouri, $13/65g bar