How much caffeine is in Chocolate?
The amount of caffeine in chocolate is very low. A 1.4- ounce piece of milk chocolate contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee. There is an average of 6 mg. of caffeine in both an ounce of milk chocolate and a cup of decaf coffee, while a cup of regular coffee contains between 65 and 150 mg. of caffeine.
Although there is less caffeine in chocolate that there is in a cup of coffee, people who are avoiding caffeine should unfortunately stay away from chocolate as well. There are about 30 milligrams of caffeine in your average chocolate bar, while a cup of coffee contains around 100 to 150 milligrams. For more information on the specifics of caffeine in chocolate, consult the Caffeine FAQ, available on the WWW at http://daisy.uwaterloo.ca/~alopez-o/caffaq.
Chocolate is derived from the cacao tree, and is generally made into sweets in the Western world, although it may also be drunk or eaten in its bitter form or with spice added. It is one of the most popular flavors on earth for sweets, and ranges widely in both style and cost. High-end chocolates have seen an upswing in recent years, but traditional standbys still make up a large portion of candy sales throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to being sweet, however, many people have heard that there is caffeine present in chocolate, leading to concerns that it can keep people awake or make them agitated. Although there are a number of stimulants in chocolate, the caffeine present is negligible, and so does not have much of an effect on energy or mood. The sugar present in chocolate is much more likely to create a surge in energy or to make people feel agitated, especially in much sweeter chocolates, which actually have lower cacao contents, and therefore have even less of
A. The small amount of caffeine present in chocolate occurs naturally in the cocoa bean, unlike the caffeine in soft drinks which is added during the manufacturing process. Here are some comparisons that may be helpful: Coffee 8 fl. oz. 65-120 mg Cola-type soft drinks 12 oz. 30-55 mg Milk Chocolate 1 oz. 5-10 mg Dark Chocolate 1.4 oz. 7-50 mg The amounts of caffeine in specific HERSHEY’S chocolate products are listed on the Chocolate Products Caffeine page.
