Chocolate is one of the most commonly craved foods in the world.

And it's likely because cocoa butter melts in your mouth, providing "a moment of ecstasy," said Elizabeth Somer, a registered dietician and author of "Food and Mood."

How Often? | Chocolate Good For You?

This craving is even more powerful among women, she said.

"While men may receive bottles of whiskey as gifts, women often receive chocolates, forming a link between chocolate and love," Somer said.

Regardless of the reason you love it, a bar here and a piece there adds up to about 12 pounds of chocolate being consumed each year by the typical American.

And while chocolate can pack on the pounds, some solace should be taken in knowing that chocolate releases endorphins in the brain, providing pleasure.

While some think chocolate is just chocolate, that's not really true. Many people have favorites and preferences.

With this in mind, I gathered a tasting panel and set out to find the tastiest, most decadent, most delicious, and most affordable chocolate.

The four brands tested were Hershey’s, Dove, Ghirardelli and Gorant milk chocolate bars. While the first three can be purchased at most stores, Gorant can be found at Carlton Cards locations in shopping malls throughout the country.

Because packaging and name brands can influence opinions, all the chocolate was provided on numbered paper plates. The panelists were asked to rank the chocolate from 1 to 10.

The tasting panel was composed of all females -- two adults ages 39 and 48, and three girls, ages 8,10 and 13.

Which Tastes Best?

Gorant chocolate was a favorite among the other younger panelists, but older panelists were not impressed with the specialty cards brand.

“It’s plain -- nothing fabulous. It’s just chocolate,” said Karen Barham, the 48-year-old panel member.

Meanwhile, Ghirardelli, the most expensive chocolate bar, rated best among the two adults.

“This one has more flavor, more 'oomph,” said Lisa Manning, 39.

That added kick scored a 10 of 10 from Manning and Barham.

Most every vending machine contains a Hershey’s bar -- with our without almonds -- but Hershey did not fare well among the tasting panel, though it is my favorite.

Alexandria Manning, the teen panelist, who says she hasn't eaten much chocolate in her life, also chose that classic brand, despite others' preference for other brands.

“It is not as heavy,” she said.

Below is a summary of the ratings, based on a scale to 50, of each brand based on texture, taste and overall chocolate experience.

Ghirardelli:
This brand was rated highest among the adult panel members. They believed the flavor to be rich and the texture smooth. Both adults scored the chocolate bar at 10, along with one panelist scoring it at 8 and the other two members at 9.
Total Score: 47

Dove:
This brand rated the lowest among all panelists. One panelist, who does not enjoy coffee, thought it tasted like coffee. Another panelist thought it was a generic brand. Still, all panelists conveyed their displeasure with the bar. It rated 5 or below among all panelists.
Total Score: 22

Gorant:
This brand ranked best among two of the adolescent panelists, and it may be because Gorant contained the most sugar. Both the 10- and 8-year-olds scored Gorant at 10. When the brand of the chocolate bar was revealed, the two younger girls said they had never heard of it and wondered where they could purchase it.
Total Score: 40

Hershey's:
This brand ranked at a 9 for only one panel. It ranked 7 for the other adolescents. Although this bar ranked third in the taste test, one panelist said she thought it "tasted like cooking chocolate."
Total Score: 35

Conclusion

While Dove did not fare well among the panel members, it is the chocolate bar that contains the least amount of calories. It is also important to note that Dove had the lowest amount of saturated fat. Gorant had the highest amount of calories, and Ghirardelli was the only bar to contain a small amount of vitamin A and vitamin C.

Below are the nutrition facts of each chocolate bar.

Bar	Calories	Fat	Sat. fat	Cholesterol	Sodium	Sugars	Protein	Calcium	Iron
Gorant	270	16g	10g	10mg	30mg	28g	4g	10%	2%
Ghirardelli	220	13g	8g	10mg	30mg	24g	3g	8%	4%
Dove	180	11g	6g	5mg	20mg	18	2g	4%	2%
Hershey	230	13g	9g	10mg	40mg	22g	3g	8%	2%

*Percentage of recommended daily allowance

When a chocolate craving hits, it’s unlikely that the nutritional content will be gauged in the decision. It’s typically a mindless decision reached when standing in the checkout counter of the grocery store or perusing an aisle of candies.

Sometimes, a decision may even be reached based on cost.

No matter how you pick your chocolate bar, keep in mind that chocolate is a treat. It truly comes down to treating yourself with a chocolate bar that tastes good to you. Other Diet Features:

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