Is chocolate a candy? The answer to this is both yes and no. But it varies from product to product. After all, it is a debatable question. Moreover, each side – chocolate and candy – is refusing to bow to the other. Most people believe that there are only two factors that decide whether a sweet is candy or not:
- The sweet must not set in the fridge
- The sweet must not contain flour.
But the truth is far more complex than these two factors. For example, candy has sugars that chocolate does not. Clearly, there are tons of things that you need to consider before you decide whether chocolate is a candy. In this blog, we will explore the answer to this question and find what makes the chocolate within the candy category and what keeps it out. So, read till the end. Here we go!
Is Chocolate a Candy? – The Never-Ending Debate
To answer the question – Is chocolate a candy? – you need to consider ingredients, production method, and overall characteristics. Before we discuss what chocolate and candy are, you need to know the debate that surrounds these in detail. It will help you weigh both sides perfectly. So, the thing is that chocolate can be a candy – technically speaking.
"Chocolate is, by definition, a type of candy as it is made from sugar and other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces."
Still, at the same time, it is not candy. After all, candy is a confection. Primarily, it consists only of sugar. Now you might be thinking that there is sugar in most chocolate products. If so, you are right. And this is EXACTLY why people say that chocolate is a candy. However, not all chocolates have sugar in them – especially dark chocolate. So, it makes sense that chocolate is not candy. Now let’s explore candy and chocolate separately.
"Chocolate is not candy. It's a vegetable. It comes from cocoa beans, which are grown on the cocoa tree, which is a tree, which makes it a vegetable."
What is Candy?
As aforementioned, candy is a sweet that with sugar in it. In fact, most people refer to candies as ‘sweets.’ You will find these in almost every shop. After all, candies are made globally. However, you should know that it is a broad category – candy. There are so many confections within this category. For example, chewing gum and lollipops. And according to some people, even chocolates.
"Candy is a type of confectionery that is made from sugar, often flavored with fruit or nuts, and sometimes containing chocolate or other ingredients. It is usually formed into small pieces and is often served as a dessert or snack." - Cambridge English Dictionary
Cakes, cupcakes, and other baked items are not candies because you make them with flour. Clearly, candy is only made with sugar as a prime ingredient. What’s more, candies are smaller in size, and you can eat them by hand. You should also know that there are different types of candies: hard candies and soft candies. Lastly, candy only tastes like sugar. If you adjust the flavor, you can make it taste like caramel – but that is as far as it goes. You can also use natural sugar substitutes for making candy. For example:
- Molasses
- Coconut sugar
- Xylitol
- Erythritol
- Honey
But you should know that the candy that you make from these sweeteners has a different texture. It is not like traditional hard candy.
Did you know?
People say that candy that is made with natural sugar like honey is not actually candy.
What is Chocolate?
The next step to answering – Is chocolate a candy? – is knowing what chocolate is. Generally, you make chocolate with the following chocolate ingredients:
- Chocolate liquor
- Cocoa butter
- Cocoa Powder
- Added sweeteners
You can create the three main types of chocolate with a combination of these ingredients. Namely, Dark chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate. Let’s discuss this in more detail. First there is white chocolate. It contains only cocoa butter, milk, and sugar. You do not add any cocoa solids in it. After all, cocoa solids make chocolate bitter in taste and dark brown in color. This is why it is completely white and very, very sweet in taste. For making milk chocolate, you use cocoa butter, sugar, and a bit of cocoa solids – up to 34%. Milk chocolates are less sweet than white chocolates but more sweet than dark chocolates. Moreover, milk chocolates are brown in color. Lastly, there is dark chocolate: semi-sweet and bittersweet. There are roughly 35-50% cocoa solids in the former and at least 50% cocoa solids in the latter.
Fun fact! The most bitter chocolate is unsweetened chocolate. It has around 95% cocoa solids in it.
Is Chocolate a Candy, Yes, or No? – Candy vs Chocolate
Now that you know what candy and chocolate are, still the question persists – is chocolate a type of candy? The short answer to this is that it depends on the ingredients you use. For example, if you are making chocolate with primarily sugar, then maybe you can call it a candy. But if you are not using sugar to make it, then it is not technically a candy. Still, the debate is very dynamic, and you need to see the differences between chocolate bars, candy bars, and sugar candy to understand it.
Most chocolate lovers and candy enthusiasts find common ground in the fact that chocolate and candies are both types of sweets and you can enjoy almost both of them as dessert options.
You should also know that there are many chocolate products that are purely considered candy. For example, chocolate covered popcorn. But there are some chocolate products that are more in line with cakes and pastries – even when they are not. For example, chocolate truffles. So, you, see? When you consider facts like these, the debate becomes more dynamic and complex. Still, it is helpful to know the difference between chocolate bars, candy bars, and sugar candy.
Difference Between Chocolate Bars, Candy Bars, and Sugar Candy
The differences that we are going to discuss will be helpful in answering the topic question: is chocolate a candy? After all, there are so many differences between chocolate bars, candy bars, and sugar candy. Here’s the main and most noticeable difference between these:
The main ingredient
You should know that solid chocolate bars are not really candy – even if people refer to them as. After all, these bars consist of a mixture of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and some sugar. The purpose of sugar in these bars is to sweeten it. But it is not the prime ingredient like it is in candy. When it comes to candy bars, the main ingredient is always chocolate. But these bars also have other sweet treats. For example:
- Pieces of sugar candy
- Toffee
- Caramel
- Nougat
- Marshmallows
- Ganache
- Wafers
- Biscuits
There is a ton of sugar in candy bars. This is why these bars have “candy” in their name as well. Clearly, these candy bars are incredibly sweet. Lastly, as aforementioned, the prime ingredient in sugar candy is sugar – or its substitutes.
The Size
Chocolate bars come in large sizes. However, candy chocolate bars are relatively small in size. The average shape and range of chocolate bars is roughly 2-8 inches (5-20cm). As for sugar candy, it is bite-size. You can mold it into lollipops or sugar canes, but that is the most you can do. In fact, you should know that most of the sugar candy is equal to the size of teeth in our mouth. Because sugar candy is made with too much sugar, small size helps you balance your sugar intake. After all, it can be bad to consume too much sugar for your health.
The consistency
When it comes to sugar candy, the consistency varies a lot. After all, it all depends on the stage you heat the sugar. There are some additives that do not require as much heat as the others. This is why some sugar candies are hard while others are soft. And when it comes to candy bars, the consistency again varies a lot. But you should know that these bars do not need texture like sugar candies – regardless of the consistency. As for chocolate bars, the consistency is the same – only different for each of the main three types. This is one of the main reasons so many people answer our main topic question – is chocolate a candy? – with a no.
Are chocolate bars candy?
No! Chocolate bars are not candy because they are not made with sugar as their prime ingredient. People can refer to them as candy. But when you think technically and logically, these bars are not candy in any way. Even if there are sweeteners in these bars, these are not candy.
Differences |
Chocolate bars |
Candy bars |
Sugar candy |
Main Ingredient |
Cocoa |
Chocolate |
Sugar |
Size |
Large |
Small |
Bite-size |
Consistency |
Uniform |
Variety |
Variety |
Similarities in Chocolate Bars, Candy Bars, and Sugar Candy
Now that you are aware of all the noticeable differences, you should also take a look at the similarities that chocolate bars, candy bars, and sugar candies share. Here we begin!
Sugar
There is sugar in both candy and candy bars. This sugar can be different, but it is there all the same. Moreover, it does not have to come from the same source. As for chocolate bars, there is no sugar in them. These bars have sweeteners. You can think of these sweeteners as alternatives to sugar. As aforementioned, these sweeteners include:
- Molasses
- Coconut sugar
- Xylitol
- Erythritol
- Honey
You should also know that one of the main reasons chocolate bars are expensive compared to sugar candy and sugar bars is because of these sweeteners. Sugar is inexpensive, these sweeteners are not.
Flavor Variety
You can flavor sugar candy with so many ingredients and in so many ways. For example, you can use the following:
- Extracts
- Concentrates
- Essences
Moreover, some sellers even have chocolate-flavored sugar candies in their listings. The same goes for chocolate. You can use extracts, concentrates, and essences to introduce a flavorful variety of chocolate. What’s more, you should know that white chocolate is the easiest to flavor and color. After all, it tastes just like sugar – by extension, sugar candies.
Long Shelf life
You can use so many stabilizers and additives to extend the shelf life of these treats. This is very helpful practice if you are mass-producing these treats.
Fun fact! Most of the chocolate bars, candy bars, and sugar candies can last up to two years if you store them correctly.
This extended shelf life is why these products do so well in the market. If you want to store these properly, you just have to keep these away from heat and sunlight. Moreover, it is also important that the container you use is airtight. Otherwise, these will absorb moisture from the air and change their form entirely.
Ending thoughts – is chocolate a candy?
Now we circle back to our main questions: is chocolate a candy? Are chocolate bars candy? And the answer is no. These are not candy – not technically at least. After all, their main ingredient is not sugar. The reason people call chocolate a candy is because it is usually sold with candy sweets. Besides, candy bars are also a reason why people take it to call chocolate a candy. But in the end, if you really get to thinking about it, chocolate is not candy. Sure, chocolate and sugar candy are both sweet, but these are very different from each other. You can think of these as different as the sun and moon.
