When we featured a taste test of dark chocolate bars in 2020, one reader commented: “The best dark chocolate is milk chocolate.” A hot take, and one I agree with! So, we thought it was time for another experiment…
We couldn’t have asked for a better panel of judges: five seventh graders with sweet teeth and strong opinions. When Anton’s friends came over after school, we challenged them to rate 11 popular milk chocolate brands in a blind taste test.
Can you crop the top of this photo to avoid extra counter space?
Contender:
Only plain milk chocolate varieties were included (no nuts, fillings or flavors).
Can you brighten this picture a little?
modus operandi:
Following Jenny’s well-organized protocol, I served as master of ceremonies, with Joanna joining in as my hype lady. I prepared samples ahead of time, served the brands as “blind” as possible (those engraved with logos were turned upside down), as well as provided sparkling water and unsalted crackers to cleanse the palate between samples. Each sample was numbered, and only I had the keys to the corresponding brands.
I instructed the testers – Nick, Anton, Sienna, Juliet and Ella – to taste each sample at the same time and note characteristics such as sweetness, flavor, creaminess and flavor. then i asked him in private Rank each sample on a scale of 1-5 (5 is best). I also asked them to avoid guessing on chocolate brands to avoid influencing each other. Did he follow these last two instructions? No, not even for a second. (Future scientists, take note: middle school students can’t do this No talk to each other). But did they take the job of testing and ranking these chocolates very seriously? Yes, 100%.
When the testing was completed, I collected their score sheets and averaged the rankings for each sample. In retrospect, I should have also instructed them to round the decimals, to avoid a ranking like 4.12595982484636456467. But again, this was a flaw in my own process, and I can’t blame the kids for being precise.
In the end, it didn’t matter. After running the numbers and reviewing their comments, the results were pretty clear. Here are our findings – and scroll down for the overall winner:
the creamiest
Lindt Classic Recipe & Cadbury Dairy Milk:4.8
Both of these received high marks across the board (our only samples with equal scores), and both were known for their exceptionally smooth, creamy texture. One tester described Cadbury as having a “pure milk” taste, and many agreed that it was the “milkiest” milk chocolate ever. Not everyone liked the slim-but-not-too-slim shape of the Lindt bar.
best taste
milkman: 4.44
Chocolate: 4.3468
These two were also overall crowd pleasers (and at least Identifiable by taste – no one had any idea what brand they would be). Flavor-wise, MilkBoy got the biggest reaction and testers said they tasted raspberry, almond and even mint. Chocolov was noted for its fruity sweetness – pleasant, but not overpowering. And everyone really liked the domed shape of the squares.
Best size and shape
Pigeon:4.5
Ritter Sport Fine Milk Chocolate: 4.38
whole foods 365: 4.182
One definite conclusion from this taste test? Size matters. Like Chocolov, Dove Bar is divided into small, domed sections. That alone sent the score soaring and it was surprisingly one of the favorites (although some people found it a little too much). Another surprise was the Whole Foods 365 bar, which was praised for its texture. One described it as “waxy and very nice”. (I have to agree, the “wax” gives a satisfying flavor.) The Ritter Sport, with its thicker sections, also gets high marks on size, texture and its pleasant consistency. And it’s worth noting that, although the official testers weren’t surprised, Ritter was by far the adults’ favorite (Joanna and I tried them before the kids arrived, and our lips remained closed during testing).
outsiders
businessman who: 4.2682
endangered species: 3.84
One tester declared the Trader Joe’s sample a 5/5, straight away – no notes, loved everything about it. The remaining testers responded with a loud roar. The same happened with Endangered Species, which many testers thought was an accidental dark-chocolate mix (it has a higher cocoa content and could definitely be confused for dark). One tester liked it, while everyone else (myself included) found it too hard, too bitter, and too strong. No one wanted another bite.
least favorite
Hershey’s Symphony Bar: 3.8
Ouch! Remember when there were symphony bars Imagination Chocolate? Time has changed. These children were not affected. “It tastes just like a s’mores.”
big winner
Tony’s Chocolates: 4.98
Y’all, it wasn’t even close. Tony was the winner, everyone’s favorite. While it is not understood by most Anything – Not the creamiest, sweetest etc. – I actually think this worked in its favor. The balance was perfect. Another big plus was the size and shape: Tony’s is a decidedly chunky bar of chocolate, and it breaks into a bunch of uneven pieces, which is oddly satisfying. Brand recognition was definitely a factor here (“I got the lucky part!” said one tester, taking a bite of the small coin-sized piece in the center), but I doubt it would have been the winner either way. Tony is both good chocolate and fun chocolate. And, really, what more could you ask for?
Big thanks to our amazing judges, Anton, Nick, Juliet, Ella and Sienna! Are there any other milk chocolate fans? Do you have a favorite?
PS More taste tests, including the best vanilla ice cream and our favorite pasta sauce.
