SO Organic Dark Chocolate 70% 2.5kg
A 2.5kg block of certified organic dark premium couverture at 70% cocoa. The purist's choice. No lecithin, no vanilla, one sugar.
Rapunzel's Dark Premium Couverture at 70% is the most stripped-back formulation in the range. Four ingredients: cocoa mass, Cristallino cane sugar, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder. No lecithin (sunflower or otherwise), no vanilla, no Rapadura. Nothing to soften or complicate the cocoa character.
The result is an intensely flavoured dark couverture with a clean, direct bitterness and none of the sweetness or aromatic warmth present in the 55%. The single sugar (Cristallino fine cane sugar) contributes clean sweetness without the deep molasses notes of Rapadura, letting the cocoa speak for itself. This is the formulation for people who want to taste the chocolate, not the additions.
Compared to the 55% Dark Couverture, the 70% is drier, more intense, and less forgiving in applications where sweetness is needed. It is also the only one in the four-product range with no emulsifier at all, which gives it a slightly thicker melt and a more direct texture.
Fair trade certified Hand in Hand. 100% certified organic.
Who should choose the 70%
The 70% Premium is the right couverture for:
- Fine confectionery and pralines: where the chocolate shell needs to deliver intensity against a sweet centre
- Serious baking: tarts, flourless chocolate cakes, chocolate fondants, and applications where the recipe is built around the chocolate
- Raw and refined-sugar-free baking: the lower sugar content and clean ingredient list suits paleo, lower-sugar, and whole-food baking
- Vegan applications: no lecithin formulation suits customers sensitive to emulsifiers, and the may-contain dairy advisory is a trace risk, not a formulation risk
- Ganache for intensely flavoured truffles: where you want the chocolate dominant over the cream
- Blending with the 55%: dial back the intensity for specific percentage targets
Why people love it
- Minimum 70% cocoa, the most intense in the Rapunzel range
- Four ingredients only: cocoa mass, cane sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa powder
- No lecithin of any kind
- No vanilla
- Single sugar: Cristallino fine cane sugar only
- 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
How to use it
- Tempering: melt to 45 to 50°C, cool to 28°C, bring back to 31 to 32°C working temperature. The absence of lecithin means slightly thicker flow when melted, account for this in enrobing applications
- Ganache: melt with warm cream at 2:1 for firm ganache. Consider adding a small amount of butter for better emulsification given the absence of lecithin
- Fine patisserie: tart shells, fondants, marquise, and mirror glazes
- Chocolate bark: intense and dramatic with minimal toppings. Sea salt and a single nut is enough
- Blending with 55%: a 50:50 blend produces approximately a 62 to 63% couverture with the lecithin content of the 55%
Chopping and tempering
Chop from the block using a serrated knife from the corner. For tempering: melt to 45 to 50°C, cool to 27 to 28°C using tabling or seeding, bring to 31 to 32°C working temperature. Note: the lack of lecithin means this chocolate is slightly less fluid when melted than lecithin-containing couvertures. Adjust cream or fat ratios in ganache accordingly.
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 October 2026. Move this stock before the White Chocolate (July 2026) but plan accordingly.
Shipping note: couverture is heat-sensitive. Santos packs carefully but cannot be responsible for softening or bloom in transit. Express shipping recommended in warm weather.
Ingredients
Organic cocoa mass, organic cane sugar (Cristallino), organic cocoa butter, organic cocoa powder.
Cocoa solids: minimum 70%. No lecithin. No emulsifiers.
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.
