Why Lindt EXCELLENCE 78% Cacao feels like a quiet upgrade for dark chocolate fans

Reviewed: ad hoc news Software & Services desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-19, 00:54. Details in the imprint.

With Lindt EXCELLENCE 78% Cacao, the Swiss chocolatier slips in a dark bar that feels like a quiet, confident step up from the familiar 70%. The tablet looks almost black on the plate, but the first bite still melts gently instead of hitting you with bitterness.

Where 78% hits the sweet spot

The EXCELLENCE 78% Cacao bar sits neatly between Lindt's classic 70% and the noticeably more austere 85% variants, and that narrow gap changes the experience more than the numbers suggest. Official Lindt EXCELLENCE page

On the tongue, the 78% tablet starts with a clear cocoa hit, followed by a restrained sweetness that keeps the flavour from tipping into harsh territory. You taste roasted notes and a hint of dried fruit rather than the sharp acidity some high-percentage bars bring.

Mouthfeel, snap and aroma

Take a square from the foil and it snaps with a tidy, clean sound, thanks to the relatively thin format Lindt uses across the EXCELLENCE range. Canadian product listing

Between the fingers, the chocolate feels firm but not rock-hard, softening quickly as your body heat works on the cocoa butter. On the nose, you get a mix of cocoa powder, a hint of coffee and a subtle vanilla note from Lindt's house style.

How it differs from 70% and 85%

Compared with EXCELLENCE 70%, the 78% version dials down the sugar and pushes cocoa flavour forward, yet it still feels forgiving enough for people who are only starting to explore darker bars. EXCELLENCE range overview

Next to the 85% bar, the 78% looks and smells slightly less intense but offers a smoother, more rounded finish. There is less of the lingering bitterness and almost no astringent dryness on the palate, which makes it easier to pair with coffee or red wine in everyday life.

Ingredients and sustainability angle

Lindt formulates the EXCELLENCE 78% Cacao tablet with cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, low-fat cocoa powder and natural flavouring, keeping the ingredient list focused on chocolate rather than added extras. Ingredient details

For cocoa sourcing, the group now states that it procures 100% of its cocoa volume as Rainforest Alliance-certified through the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program, a step that supports traceability back to farmer level and responds to investor pressure on sustainability. German press release on certification

Packaging, portioning and use cases

The bar comes in Lindt's familiar flat 100 g format with fine scoring, so you can break off small, rectangular pieces that feel almost wafer-thin on the tongue. That geometry helps the chocolate melt quickly and makes mindful snacking easier.

The paper-and-foil combination feels practical rather than luxurious, but it protects aroma well if you fold it back carefully. In the kitchen, the 78% bar works as an elegant shortcut for rich hot chocolate, mousses or as shavings over desserts when you want depth without overwhelming bitterness.

Pricing and availability

In many European supermarkets, the EXCELLENCE 78% Cacao bar typically sits in the mid-premium band, often around the 2 to 3 euro mark per 100 g on promotion, slightly above standard milk chocolate but below niche bean-to-bar products.

Distribution focuses on mainstream grocery and drugstores as well as Lindt's own boutiques, with additional online availability via large e-commerce retailers. The bar is part of the permanent EXCELLENCE line-up rather than a seasonal special, so shelf presence is relatively stable for consumers.

Company context and stock reference

For Lindt & Sprüngli, the EXCELLENCE range including the 78% Cacao variant fits neatly into a strategy of driving mix towards higher cocoa content and premium positioning, an approach that has supported organic growth in recent reporting periods. Recent growth statement

Shares of Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG (CH0010570759) trade primarily on SIX Swiss Exchange in Swiss francs.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.