SO Organic Dark Chocolate 55% 2.5kg
A 2.5kg block of certified organic dark couverture at 55% cocoa. The most versatile percentage in the Rapunzel dark range, balanced between intensity and sweetness.
Rapunzel Organic Dark Couverture at 55% sits at the approachable end of the dark chocolate spectrum. It has enough cocoa character to read unmistakably as dark chocolate, but enough sweetness from the dual cane sugar formulation to appeal to a broad audience, making it the right choice for applications where you want dark chocolate flavour without the austerity of a high-percentage couverture.
Like the milk couverture, this 55% uses both Rapadura whole cane sugar (for depth and warmth) and Cristallino cane sugar (for clean sweetness), giving a more layered flavour than single-sugar dark chocolates. Sunflower lecithin is used as the emulsifier, not soy. No milk powder in the formulation, though the may-contain dairy trace advisory applies due to shared production.
Fair trade certified under Rapunzel's Hand in Hand programme. 100% certified organic throughout.
Who should choose the 55%
The 55% is the right couverture for:
- General baking: cookies, brownies, cakes, and slices where you want recognisable dark chocolate without an intense bitter note
- Rocky road and confectionery: approachable enough for customers who don't eat very dark chocolate
- Ganache for truffles and pralines: a 55% ganache is richer and less bitter than a 70%, better suited to sweeter centres
- Chocolate bark and dipping: for mixed audiences including children and anyone who finds 70%+ too intense
- Blending: combine with the 70% Premium to dial in a custom percentage for specific applications
Why people love it
- Minimum 55% cocoa, the versatile middle ground of the dark range
- Dual sugar formulation: Rapadura whole cane sugar and Cristallino cane sugar
- Sunflower lecithin emulsifier, not soy
- No milk powder in formulation (dairy trace advisory applies)
- 100% certified organic throughout
- Fair trade certified Hand in Hand
- EU organic certified DE-ÖKO-001
- Produced in Germany by Rapunzel
- 2.5kg block, professional and high-volume baking format
- Best before March 2027
How to use it
- Tempering: melt to 45 to 50°C, cool to 27°C, bring back to 31 to 32°C working temperature for dark chocolate
- Ganache: melt with warm cream at 2:1 chocolate to cream for firm ganache, 1:1 for pourable
- Baking: chop into chunks for cookies, brownies, and tarts
- Enrobing and dipping: fruits, biscuits, truffles, and caramels
- Chocolate bark: pour melted couverture onto baking paper, top with nuts, dried fruit, or sea salt
- Blending with the 70%: mix ratios to achieve a custom cocoa percentage
Chopping and tempering
Chop from the block using a serrated knife, working from the corner. For tempering: melt to 45 to 50°C, cool to 27°C using tabling or seeding method, bring back to 31 to 32°C working temperature. Properly tempered dark chocolate sets with a clean snap and glossy surface.
Storage
Store at 16 to 18°C in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and strong odours. Do not refrigerate. Wrap unused portions tightly after cutting. Best before March 2027.
Shipping note: couverture is heat-sensitive. Santos packs carefully but cannot be responsible for softening or bloom in transit. Express shipping and a monitored delivery address recommended in warm weather.
Ingredients
Organic sugars (Rapadura whole cane sugar, Cristallino cane sugar), organic cocoa butter, organic cocoa mass, emulsifier: organic sunflower lecithin.
Cocoa solids: minimum 55%. Dairy free formulation.
May contain traces of: almonds, hazelnuts, soy, and milk.
Country of origin: Produced in Germany. Non-EU agricultural ingredients.
Certification: EU Organic (DE-ÖKO-001), Fair Trade (Hand in Hand by Rapunzel).
Santos Organics is not your average grocery store; it's a not-for-profit social enterprise and environmental charity. Since 1978, we've pioneered the organic wholefood movement. Our stores serve as community hubs where people connect with our team and fellow community members, sharing a journey toward optimal health and wellness. The palpable sense of community forms part of the social and cultural fabric of the Byron Shire and Northern Rivers. Employing over 70 passionate locals, we support hundreds of local farmers, makers, and artisans, promoting the local economy, building community resilience, and strengthening the local food system. Approximately 75% of the food on our shelves is locally grown, produced, or supplied, nurturing interconnectedness and supporting those passionate about clean, wholesome food and sustainable living.
Santos Organics makes conscious shopping easy by sourcing the best organic food and natural lifestyle products. We invest in ethics research through a dedicated Ethics Specialist position, ensuring our products meet rigorous standards before reaching our shelves. Our Care Check process aligns products with our social impact and environmental goals, providing customers with confidence in their purchases. Our commitment to ethical product procurement extends to partnerships with local farmers through initiatives like the Grow the Growers Project. This project helps local farmers establish pathways to the organic retail market, making fresh, locally grown organic food more available and affordable. By incorporating supply agreements and mutual marketing support, we foster connections between customers and the farmers behind their food.
Santos Organics significantly impacts the local community and economy. Over the last three years, our investments in local employment, goods from local suppliers and distributors, rent, and hiring local tradespeople have retained over $26 million within the Northern Rivers. In the past year alone, $5.3 million was circulated back into the local economy through these efforts, supporting over 100 Northern Rivers-based suppliers and distributors. This investment sustains our community's vitality and unique culture. Employing over 70 local team members ensures money stays within the local economy, enhancing opportunities for community interaction and support. Our local suppliers share our vision of promoting creative, sustainable, and healthy product development, strengthening the reputation of the Byron Bay region as a hub for innovation and sustainability.
