There is great debate on European versus American chocolates: is one better than the other? However there is no debate. Neither European nor American chocolate can be considered better, it’s really just a matter of taste preference.
To distinguish between American and European chocolates, there are four major differences you will find. One is the cocoa content. The United States requires a lesser percentage cacao in their chocolates, ten percent to be exact, while in Europe anything considered “chocolate” is twenty percent or higher. For example, if you were to compare a Hershey bar made in America versus a Cadbury Dairy Milk bar made in Europe, you would find a significant taste difference. That’s because those Cadbury milk bars contain 23 percent cacao in comparison to the American-made Hershey bars, which contain only eleven percent cacao, resulting in a much darker, richer taste in the Cadbury bar.
The second major difference is sugar content. As a result of American-made chocolate having lesser percentage cacao, there is a higher sugar content. That’s why Americans are usually known for their lighter, sweeter milk chocolates while Europeans consider their chocolates to be almost bitter as a result of the low sugar content.
Fat content is another distinguisher between American and European chocolates. When adding cocoa butter and cream to their chocolates, Americans and Europeans differ in both the amount and the fat content. European chocolates, with their smoother, richer flavor, use European butter and cream, which has a higher fat content. To accentuate the smoothness of the chocolates, Europe also uses more cocoa butter, further accentuating the difference in taste.
Finally, there is a difference between where Europe and America get their cocoa beans. American chocolatiers tend to use beans from South America, while Europeans, such as those in Great Britain, often use beans from West Africa instead. Different beans do result in different flavors, so depending on your palette one type of bean may taste better to you than another.
Thus, there really is no debate between whether American or European chocolate is better; it is really only a matter of preference. American chocolates are lighter and sweeter; using a smaller variety of ingredients like caramel, almonds, peanuts, and chocolate cream. European chocolate, in comparison, is darker and richer. Its ingredients could be anything from fruits, nuts, spices, and herbs, to caramels, ganaches and more. It’s up to you to decide which you like better!
Want to try out our European and American chocolates? Or maybe explore them in a Virtual Chocolate Tasting? We got you covered!
26 comments
Great Article!!
Nice Article!!
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I’ve had European Chocolate all my life and then I went to America. Hershey Bars in the States beat all!!
I am an American who abhors “American” chocolate (e.g., Hershey’s). There is no comparison whatsoever. American chocolate is waxy and hard. European chocolate is rich, creamy, and has a distinct aftertaste that is incredibly delicious! I would also like to point out that the Cadbury bars in the U.S. are not the same as the ones in the U.K., which was bought out by Hersheys. I noticed the change in Cadbury the first time I bit into a waxy Cadbury, after which I discovered why it’s taste and texture was so like a Hershey bar.. it was now being made by Hershey! I stopped buying Cadburys. Eventually, our stores started importing all kinds of European chocolates, much to my delight!