274265 Mon Nov 07 12:05:49 -0800 2005 8 28 Kosher 0 1443559 I have heard that any Swiss or Belgian plain dark chocolate is kosher and doesn't require certification. I'm wondering if this is a reasonable assumption, and if it would be true for plain (not filled) milk chocolate as well. I'd also welcome recommendations for kosher-certified top quality chocolate (for baking and eating). Thank you. Phyllis Mon Nov 07 12:05:49 -0800 2005 0 phyllis 1 1443561 I never heard about plain chocolate not requiring kosher certification. As for great chocolate, Godiva is OU-Dairy and in my experience, nothing even comes close. Mon Nov 07 14:22:44 -0800 2005 1443559 0 food lover 1 1443562 Scharffen Berger is certified kosher, as is Callebaut, I believe. Ghirardelli is certified kosher as well. I use different ones (or more often, combinations of them) for baking, depending on what I'm doing. I love Trader Joe's dark chocolate, but don't think it's certified kosher. Note: Even the dark chocolates from various companies are often dairy, so I often have to resort to the standard kosher pareve brands when it's for a dessert following a meat meal. In my case, that's not often. Mon Nov 07 14:56:06 -0800 2005 1443559 0 Clarissa 2 1443564 Trader Joe's dark chocolate chips are certified kosher and are pareve, and are delicious and quite reasonably priced as well. Excellent when added to brownies, or tucked into cookies. Mon Nov 07 16:29:09 -0800 2005 1443562 0 p.j. 3 1443565 I forgot about those -- I have used them and they're very good. I'm still sad about TJ's little dark chocolate bars, which are great but not certified. I think it stacks up against some high end brands. I'm sure they're manufactured by a different company than the chips, which is why they're not kosher. Oh well, maybe someday... Mon Nov 07 17:07:44 -0800 2005 1443564 0 Clarissa 4 1443572 I enjoy a 60%-75% 1oz square daily for heart health. Ghirardelli 60% square bags are sold cheapest at Target, Costco has the squares in a variety of flavors cheap too, and they all have a Chof-K on their 60-count bags. If you are feeling adventurous, check out this link. If you buy in quantity, shop around and compare the pricing with shipping included. Sometimes even major drug store chains like Walgreens sell Lindt cheapest. Purists will tell you that a lot of commercial chocolate from European makers are actually made here, so be aware of this issue should you find taste/quality inconsistencies. Link: http://www.chocosphere.com/ Image: http://www.chocosphere.com/images/dagoba/round-logo.gif Mon Nov 07 22:49:19 -0800 2005 1443565 0 Joe Berger 2 1443569 Yes, Callebaut is kosher (and just announced expansion plans for facilities on the West Coast). Many of the plain chocolates are kosher certified. Chocolate, good chocolate, is made by VERY few manufacturers in this country. It requires a ton of equipment, etc. Most places buy from one of the larger manufacturers. By the way, Wal-Mart choco chips (dark) are kosher and most are parve - and pretty darn good. One of the really good kosher bakers around here uses the chips for industrial baking because they can't get anything of similar or better quality for the price. Sorry to go off on a rant, this is one of my favorite subjects. Mon Nov 07 21:52:53 -0800 2005 1443562 0 texasmensch 2 1445189 Hi. Various chocolates that are kosher include: scharffen berger (KSA) Callebaut (OK) Chocolove (Torah-Scroll-K) Ghiradelli (Kof-K) Guittard (OU) Bonnat (from France) French hasgacha Chocovic (Ou-D) Thu Mar 30 20:33:01 -0800 2006 1443562 0 alyssa kaplan 1 1443593 Lately I've been using Schmerling's plain bittersweet chocolate bars, the ones labeled 72% cocoa. I've seen them in my local Key Food and Shop Rite in the kosher aisle. Wed Nov 09 11:27:18 -0800 2005 1443559 0 malka_101