Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Squares Vs. Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate

Ghirardelli's 60% Cacao Squares and Hershey's Special Dark chocolate are two very well-known chocolate products. I received packages of both recently and was able to test the chocolates for taste, texture, packaging, and general quality. How does Ghirardelli 60% Cacao compare to Hershey's Special Dark? In this article, I will tell exactly how they compare.

Lovers of dark chocolate enjoy dark chocolate for many reasons. For one thing, dark chocolate is known to have health benefits due to the higher concentration of cacao. Cacao has antioxidant flavanoids which help prevent blood clots and arterial plaque build-up. The more cacao a product contains, the better the benefits. Of course, the main reason dark chocolate lovers enjoy this kind of chocolate is taste. Taste, therefore, is what I will tackle first.

Comparing the taste of Ghirardelli 60%Cacao Squares with Hershey's Special Dark

The difference between Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Squares and Hershey's Special Dark chocolate is stark. Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Squares have a rich dark chocolate flavor. It is not too sweet and not too bitter. Dark chocolate lovers love dark chocolate for the very rich flavor. Ghirardelli dark chocolate will appeal more to lovers of dark chocolate, who will savor the richer flavor.

Hershey's Special Dark is significantly sweeter than Ghirardelli. Hershey's dark chocolate simply contains too much sugar. The sweetness covers up the chocolate flavor in an unappealing way.

Texture

Ghirardelli's dark chocolate has a firm, but not waxy texture. Hershey's was less waxy than I expected (many Hershey products have a waxy texture) but was not as pleasantly firm as Ghirardelli. Special Dark is somewhat chalky and grainy compared to Ghirardelli.

Presentation

Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Squares are thinner than Hershey's special dark and resemble thin, delicate dinner mints. Ghirardelli would be at home at a formal dinner whereas Hershey's special dark, with its chunkier look and less delicate taste is not as suitable for formal occasions.

Price