We Tried And Ranked Every Flavor Of Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Bars

In an adventurous tasting session, we delved into the diverse array of flavors offered by Tony's Chocolonely, a brand known for its commitment to ethical chocolate production. Each bar presented a unique experience, making the ranking process both challenging and delightful. The classic milk chocolate stood out for its creamy texture and perfect sweetness, serving as a reliable favorite among traditionalists. The dark chocolate varieties, including the rich 70% dark and the nuanced dark milk pretzel toffee, offered a sophisticated depth of flavor that appealed to more adventurous palates. The sea salt almond dark chocolate emerged as a standout, with its harmonious blend of savory and sweet, enhanced by the satisfying crunch of almonds. For those with a penchant for fruity notes, the milk chocolate raspberry pop rocks provided a playful twist with its burst of flavor and texture. Meanwhile, the white chocolate raspberry popping candy surprised many with its delightful balance of tangy and sweet. Overall, Tony's Chocolonely impressed with its innovative combinations and high-quality ingredients, making the tasting journey both a sensory delight and a testament to the brand's innovative spirit in the world of chocolate.
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12. White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake

This flavor is the outcome of a partnership between Tony's and the socially conscious ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's. In the summer of 2022, Ben & Jerry's started sourcing its cocoa through Tony's Open Chain to combat the 30,000 instances of exploitation and 1.56 million cases of child labor in the chocolate industry. Drawing inspiration from Ben & Jerry's iconic Strawberry Cheesecake flavor, this pink-tinted bar features white chocolate combined with sweet-tart dehydrated strawberries, crunchy cookie bits, and cheese powder to replicate the creamy, tangy essence of vanilla cheesecake.

The white chocolate is exceptionally smooth, with the strawberry pieces adding a delightful fruity burst and a slightly chewy texture that contrasts beautifully with the creaminess of the chocolate. I would have preferred the cookie bits to be more pronounced and wished for a greater quantity of strawberries—I wanted this bar to be overflowing with them! Nevertheless, we all enjoyed the resemblance to a white-chocolate-dipped strawberry, making it a fresh yet indulgent treat.

11. Dark Chocolate 70%

Fans of a simple square of dark chocolate as a post-meal indulgence will appreciate the flavor and texture of Tony's dark chocolate bar. With a minimum of 70% cacao, this bar offers a rich and expertly crafted interpretation of a classic favorite. It features that delightful combination of a crisp yet smooth texture that the finest dark chocolates are celebrated for.

Additionally, this brand is committed to 100% traceable fair trade cocoa and sugar, ensuring a better price for cocoa farmers, while also being free from palm oil. The packaging is made from recycled Forest Stewardship Council-certified (FSC) paper and is fully recyclable, making it an elegant choice you can feel good about. Personally, I enjoy pairing this chocolate bar with a glass of robust after-dinner fortified wine, such as a vintage Port or a rich Madeira, as the sweetness of these beverages beautifully balances the bitterness of the dark chocolate for an exceptionally refined flavor experience. I can also see it being a fantastic option for various cooking and baking applications.

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10. Milk Chocolate Hazelnut

I need to be honest about one important detail: I’m not typically a fan of hazelnuts in chocolate, likely due to my general aversion to Nutella. It might also be a result of a past experience in Italy, where I mistakenly ordered what I thought was plain chocolate gelato, only to receive a cup of Gianduja, the traditional Piedmontese flavor made with local hazelnuts and milk chocolate. Nevertheless, I take pride in my ability to remain completely objective when tasting, and I feel confident in evaluating the quality of this specific chocolate-hazelnut blend compared to others. Plus, I had my kids’ opinions to support me.

This bar is crafted from 32% fair trade milk chocolate and contains at least 10% hazelnuts, making it an instant favorite for anyone who enjoys that classic flavor pairing. According to Tony's, there’s a map of Western Africa cleverly hidden in the unevenly divided chocolate bar. Since the aim was to include whole hazelnuts, the Tony's team opted to merge the countries of Togo and Benin into a larger piece to accommodate the whole nuts.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm for the hazelnut-chocolate pairing, I found this chocolate bar to be truly delicious. Ironically, my kids and I all agreed that we actually wished for even more crunchy hazelnuts packed inside!

9. White Chocolate Raspberry Popping Candy

This was definitely the bar I was most eager to try, and my kids felt the same way. Even though I’m well into adulthood, I still have a soft spot for the playful excitement of popping candy, which adds a delightful texture to chocolate.

Like the White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake bar, this one features a creamy white chocolate base, blended with freeze-dried raspberries and sprinkled with popping candy. As we unwrapped the pale pink bar, we were filled with a sense of wonder and anticipation, our mouths already tingling in expectation of the snap, crackle, and pop from the candies inside.

While the bar was undeniably delicious, reminiscent of a vanilla ice cream sundae topped with raspberry compote, we found ourselves on the lookout for the popping candy. We would squeal with joy whenever we discovered a big piece, laughing and keeping our mouths open to fully enjoy the delightful symphony of sizzling sounds. Since the popping candy was clearly a highlight for us, we couldn’t help but wish for even more of it.

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8. White Chocolate

I must admit that I wasn't particularly eager to try this bar, as I typically prefer milk or dark chocolate over white chocolate when treating myself. While I do enjoy white chocolate when it's paired with other ingredients, I've never been drawn to it on its own.

That being said, I was genuinely surprised by this offering. Tony's has somehow managed to take something quite simple and elevate it just enough to make it stand out. With a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a rich creaminess, this bar is a triumph for white chocolate aficionados. I can also see it being an excellent choice for any baking project that requires white chocolate. As with all of Tony's products, the cocoa butter used here is ethically sourced and made from 100% traceable cocoa beans, making it a great option for both chocolate lovers and pastry chefs.

7. Dark Milk Chocolate with Brownie

Another addition to the Ben & Jerry's collaboration collection, this bar draws inspiration from their beloved ice cream flavor, Chocolate Fudge Brownie. It is filled with crunchy brownie chunks nestled within what Tony's calls "dark milk chocolate"—a blend that combines the creaminess of milk chocolate with the boldness of dark chocolate.

This bar was truly indulgent; even a small piece was enough to satisfy any chocolate lover's cravings. My son, James, remarked that he expected the brownie pieces to be softer and more reminiscent of traditional brownie texture. I shared his anticipation, but I found the crunchiness of the brownie bits to be incredibly enjoyable, almost like tiny, rich cacao nibs embedded within. This was arguably the richest and most luxurious of all the bars we sampled, reminiscent of the fudgiest chocolate brownie sundaes. Take it from someone who may have indulged a bit too eagerly with this bar—less is definitely more!

6. Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie

I set aside all my doubts about hazelnut and chocolate for this one, and it quickly became one of my favorites. It features Tony's signature ultra-creamy milk chocolate, finely chopped hazelnuts, and crunchy wafer cookies. The texture is just right, and the flavor combination brings to mind those iconic gold-foil-wrapped Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Even my picky child, who usually avoids hazelnuts, enjoyed this treat.

The Milk Hazelnut Cookie bar was part of the original Sweet Solutions collection, launched in 2021 to encourage some of the world's largest chocolate brands to eliminate illegal child labor and exploitation in the chocolate industry. This collection included four bars that mimicked the look and taste of those brands' signature products but were made using Tony's 5 Sourcing Principles. While consumers loved these offerings, the major brands did not take action, leading Tony's to rebrand Sweet Solutions under their classic name, and thankfully, they made these bars a permanent addition to their lineup.

5. Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt

There's a reason why this chocolate bar from Tony is a global favorite — it's simply irresistible. What’s not to adore? The creamy milk chocolate is enhanced with crunchy caramel bits and a sprinkle of sea salt, creating the ideal balance of salty and sweet. My son, James, rated it a perfect ten across the board — in composition, flavor, and texture — and he kept trying to sneak extra pieces while we sampled the others.

I was particularly impressed by the texture. The caramel pieces had a delightful consistency reminiscent of high-quality nut brittle — perfectly crisp and almost buttery — making it the ideal contrast to the smoothness of the milk chocolate. I managed to save some of the chocolate for my mom to use in her indulgent Salted Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies, her twist on Alison Roman's classic recipe. The outcome was an even more delightful version of something that was already delicious, making it absolutely divine when paired with a cup of afternoon tea.

4. Milk Chocolate Caramel Cookie

Tony's take on a Twix Bar—crafted with ethically sourced ingredients—this delightful treat combines crunchy cookie pieces and chewy caramel chunks, all enveloped in Tony's signature milk chocolate. Both of my kids rated it a perfect 10, and I had to pry it from their hands at one point. I enjoyed the flavor blend but lean towards the crunchy caramel texture found in some of Tony's other chocolate bar offerings.

The Caramel Cookie bar is also part of their Sweet Solution collection, which aims to encourage "Big Chocolate" to join Tony's mission to eliminate exploitation in the chocolate industry and promote positive change throughout the supply chain. While those major brands may not have responded positively, we're thrilled to include this chocolate bar in our regular stash of treats at home. It's a guilty pleasure we can all feel good about.

3. Milk Chocolate Honey Almond Nougat

I couldn't resist this chocolate bar. The smooth 32% milk chocolate pairs perfectly with the sticky, chewy nougat crafted from honey and almonds. As I savored each bite, I delved into what makes nougat so unique and why it complements chocolate so well. This delightful treat has a history that spans thousands of years, with various interpretations found worldwide. The finest varieties are made with honey, egg whites, and nuts, and can be enjoyed either enveloped in white, dark, or milk chocolate or on their own.

The texture of this chocolate bar is simply divine, reminiscent of the classic triangular Swiss Toblerone bars that I used to find in my Christmas stocking as a child. However, in Tony's version, the flavors of honey and almond shine through distinctly, creating a sophisticated and intricate milk chocolate experience that has quickly become a favorite of mine. I'm even tempted to try it in a chocolate fondue!

2. Everything Bar

Don't confuse this with the "everything" of an everything bagel; this delightful creation skips the dried onion, sesame, and poppy seeds. Instead, it features smooth milk chocolate filled with chunks of salty pretzel, sweet and sticky nougat, caramel, crunchy almonds, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. In essence, it combines every ingredient you can imagine that belongs in chocolate, all in one bar.

While my youngest son, Luke, who isn't a fan of pretzels, felt that the pretzel flavor dominated the rest, his brother and I considered this to be one of the highlights of the bar. With the ideal blend of salty and sweet, crunchy and creamy, Tony's Everything Bar embodies everything a chocolate treat should be, in my opinion. I had a hard time finding any flaws, though I would suggest that the Tony's team think about creating a version that includes peanut butter to enhance this already fantastic combination.

1. Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie

"Enjoy your cookies and savor them too," proclaims Tony's about this incredibly scrumptious chocolate bar, which truly showcases an exceptional blend of flavor and texture. My kids and I all agreed that this was the standout choice among all Tony's Chocolonely offerings (though the Everything Bar came very close in my opinion). We even found ourselves vying for the last piece.

The bar begins with Tony's signature fair trade milk chocolate, which is already top-notch on its own. It features just the right amount of crunch — and an unexpected lift — from the tender-crisp bits of chocolate chip cookies. It's a treat you might want to keep all to yourself, yet you also feel the urge to share it with someone special, as it seems almost unfair not to highlight the existence of something so delightful in this world. I adore the thought of savoring this bar slowly and mindfully, paired with an ice-cold glass of milk for the ultimate nostalgic indulgence.

Methodology

I received a total of 12 full-sized chocolate bars from the PR team at Tony's Chocolonely. Our ranking focused exclusively on these full-sized bars, excluding seasonal and promotional items, bundles, and different sizes or packaging. Each full-sized chocolate bar is priced at $5.95 on the Tony's Chocolonely website.

I sampled each bar alongside my two sons, James and Luke. We evaluated them based on composition (how well the flavors blend), taste, and texture, using a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest rating. We also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each bar, and I noted various comments where relevant. The final ranking is based on a cumulative score out of a possible 45 points (15 points per person). The top score was a perfect 45 for the number one bar (Milk Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie), while the lowest score was 19 for the number 12 bar (White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake), with the others falling in between. Several bars tied with 34 points, and I used my personal ratings to break those ties.

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