Lindt 85% Dark Chocolate contains 3 syns per 10g square — the standard serving size on the back of the bar. Green & Black's 85% is 5 syns per 18g square. The higher the cocoa percentage, the more intense the flavour and the smaller a satisfying portion needs to be.
Dark chocolate is one of the few SW treats where a single square genuinely does satisfy a craving for a lot of members. The bitterness slows you down in a way that milk chocolate doesn't. One or two squares at 3–6 syns is achievable on most days.
This guide covers syn values for every mainstream dark chocolate bar in UK supermarkets — from Lindt Excellence to Green & Black's to the supermarket own-label options.
Lindt 85% Dark Chocolate contains 3 syns per 10g square. A standard 100g bar has 10 squares — the whole bar is 30 syns. One or two squares per evening is how most members use it on plan.
The 85% variety is the most popular for Slimming World because the intensity means one square is genuinely satisfying. Lindt 70% is slightly sweeter at 3 syns per square but with slightly more sugar — the syn difference is minimal. Lindt 90% tastes extremely bitter to most palates and isn't widely recommended.
The table below covers syn values, calories, and WW SmartPoints for the most popular dark chocolate bars sold in UK supermarkets.
| Dark chocolate | Serving | Calories | SW Syns | WW Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindt 85% Excellence | 10g (1 square) | 60 kcal | 3 | 3 |
| Lindt 70% Excellence | 10g (1 square) | 57 kcal | 3 | 3 |
| Lindt 90% Excellence | 10g (1 square) | 62 kcal | 3 | 3 |
| Green & Black's 85% | 18g (1 square) | 107 kcal | 5 | 5 |
| Green & Black's 70% | 18g (1 square) | 103 kcal | 5 | 5 |
| Bournville Dark | 10g (2 chunks) | 52 kcal | 2.5 | 2 |
| Tesco Dark Chocolate 72% | 10g | 55 kcal | 2.5 | 2 |
| Sainsbury's Dark 74% | 10g | 56 kcal | 3 | 3 |
| Montezuma's 100% Dark | 10g | 63 kcal | 3 | 3 |
Green & Black's squares are considerably larger than Lindt squares — that's why the syn count is higher. Per gram, most 70–85% dark chocolates are broadly similar at around 5.5–6 kcal per gram.
Lindt 85% is one of the most popular dark chocolate choices on Slimming World at 3 syns per square. The small square format makes portion control straightforward — you can see exactly what one portion looks like and it is physically easy to stop at one or two pieces.
The high cocoa content means it is rich enough that most people find one or two squares genuinely satisfying. Block chocolate with higher sugar content (below 70% cocoa) tends to lead to eating more pieces to feel satisfied. If you struggle to stop at one square of milk chocolate but can stop at one square of Lindt 85%, the switch is worth making even before accounting for the syn difference.
Not significantly on a per-gram basis. A 10g square of Lindt 85% is 3 syns. A 10g piece of Dairy Milk is also around 2.5–3 syns. The syn difference is small.
The advantage of dark chocolate on plan is not the syn count — it is the portion size. Most people eat a smaller volume of dark chocolate before feeling satisfied than they do with milk chocolate. A Curly Wurly at 97 kcal and 5 syns uses more syns than two Lindt squares but lasts longer and satisfies differently. Both are valid — it depends on what kind of chocolate experience you're after.
Green & Black's 85% Dark Chocolate contains 5 syns per 18g square. The squares are almost double the size of a Lindt square — 18g versus 10g — which is why the syn count is higher even though the calorie density per gram is similar.
Green & Black's 70% is also 5 syns per 18g square. Both varieties are available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose. If you prefer Green & Black's flavour profile, one square at 5 syns is a perfectly manageable treat. Two squares would be 10 syns — at that point you're better off with a full Curly Wurly or Freddo for 5 syns and more chocolate overall.
Bournville Dark and supermarket own-label 70%+ bars are typically 2–2.5 syns per 10g serving — the lowest syn dark chocolate available in UK supermarkets. Both are widely available and considerably cheaper than Lindt or Green & Black's.
Bournville has a slightly sweeter flavour than Lindt 85% because the cocoa content is lower at around 36% — it sits between milk and proper dark chocolate in terms of intensity. For members who find Lindt 85% too bitter but want something lower syn than milk chocolate, Bournville is a reasonable middle ground at 2.5 syns per two chunks.
Related Articles
